Our ever-expanding extended family...

I'm just thrilled to death about the new additions and soon-to-be additions to our family. Jill gave birth to my nephew, Israel James, just 3.5 weeks ago. He's perfect and precious in every way. Now, my brother-in-law, Neil, is in Ethiopia as I sit here writing this picking up my nephew, Gashaw. It has finally come to be! Gashaw is coming home to join his forever family, and I am overjoyed!
God's faithfulness shines through and through in the story of this family. If they would have learned they were pregnant before they chose Gashaw, they would have put a hold on the adoption process, and Gashaw might still be waiting to be adopted. In the years and moments leading up to the pregnancy and adoption, God's ways seemed more than just mysterious- at times, it seemed cruel. After being passed over by quite a few birth mothers, hope was fading and the heart ache was almost more than they could bear. But, how else could God have done it? Gashaw wasn't up for adoption yet, and although He knew he would grant them a child from Jill's womb, He also ordained Gashaw for their family. And, of course, Israel is the baby God had for their family. No other baby would do!
The waiting was a necessary part of the process for their family to be exactly what it is today, which is just as God has destined it to be. It's miraculous when you really consider all that had to be orchestrated. They found out about the pregnancy just DAYS after their referral for Gashaw was accepted. Only God puts together stories like this! I get to meet my newest nephew on Friday. My stomach has butterflies each time I think of it! And, in a few more weeks, we will welcome another niece/nephew to the family when my twin brother and sister-in-law have their second child- that will be number 9 on my side of the family. Big families are totally crazy, totally fun, totally beautiful :)