Answered Prayers! :)

I think it is slowly starting to hit me that this is all real! :) That we actually have a little teeny babe in our house, that we have TWO kids, that Allie finally has a sibling, and that we are a "party of four" now. :)- and that it isn't a dream- (well it is -but I'm not going to wake up and it all be just a dream).  I am in awe of God once again. I wish we could share the story in detail here... but we feel it isn't wise due to the details. If you are following along and have been for a while and really want to know- contact us and I can share... I even have it all written out... :)

I knew that the wait would be worth it. I knew that God had been working on it. Sometimes the human emotions get in the way of the end result and clouded my focus.  I knew all of this because I had SEEN Him work through Allie's sweet story. I know that we serve a God who is bigger than all of our issues and all of our storms.  And I know that He is a loving and good God- who wants to bless.

Here are a few of the answered prayers that we got to see - and it is not a full list... :) Just the tip. :)

* A quick situation. Even though we waited for 2 and a half years, and had over 33 birth moms view our profile (and grew to hate the words, "The birth mom has decided to procede with a different family- we hope to be in-contact soon with a new situation for you.")  this was an incredibly quick situation.  He was born Friday, we got the call for profiles Friday, found out the birth mom liked us LATE Saturday, met her and him on Sunday and brought him home LATE Monday... that's quick! :)

*We got to involve our parents while still surprising them (and everyone else- something we wanted to do clear from the very beginning- (one of the reasons we waited six months to even tell people we were searching for baby number 2 way back in 2010!)).  Our parents got to go shop for us- to get us necessary BOY clothes- of which we had none! :)  And our siblings and other friends and family had no clue what we were doing... :)

*Our birth mom was/is amazing... we have such a huge amount of respect for her. For her choices, for her maturity, for her sweetness and for the amount of self-less-ness she has! She really is amazing and we are blessed to have gotten to spend 4 hours with her!!!!!

* We didn't have to stress about her signing her paperwork- and possibly changing her mind. We knew that there is ALWAYS a chance they will not be able to go through with the signing- when that paperwork is laid before them... (do you really blame them? talk about the darkest hour ever! I honestly can't imagine her heart and sacrifice here!!!)  but she was confident that this was the best for this little boy and while she LOVED him SO much (you could tell when she held him and looked at him!) she was self-less! We were guardedly confident she would go through with it all.

*He is healthy and wasn't exposed to anything in-utero that was dangerous or toxic or addictive to his system.  He is perfect! :)

*We got to see (and give all the credit to) God at work the WHOLE weekend! (And along the whole process really!) He was at work in EVERY little detail.  WE seriously prayed for a big God story- that we could share and give Him the glory for and He delivered! :)  He never left- was always hard at work in the details... and it is amazing! :)

*The timing of this all happened when daddy could be away from work without much backlash. Since he started this new position- he has been working longer hours and has been more stressed trying to learn everything. He is amazing and I'm not sure how he is juggling it all so wonderfully (God again!) but when Braedan was born, there was a large lull in his new job and it was perfect timing to take some time off for family :).

*Allie got to see God working and her prayers of two and a half years for a baby- be answered. :) We have gotten to show her how by praying for something- God hears and listens. We always would tell her that God was working on it- and she got to see first hand- how He works. :) I love that! :)

*The amount of love and support we have received has been truly an answer to prayer as well. :) Knowing that you all love us, have prayed so hard for us- and Braedan to come, and have showered us with gifts and meals... you are all an answer to prayer! We thank you! :)

There are MANY more... like I said- just a few... We are SO blessed! :) God is good and He is mighty to be praised! :)