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Weeks after I started as interim at the church, a volunteer came to me on a Wednesday night. “One of my kids doesn’t own a Bible.” On a mission to make sure the child didn’t leave without one, I found an unused stash of Bibles in a closet, and handed it to the volunteer to give to her. At the end of the evening, this little girl ran to me with a tiny, simple note and a big, extraordinary smile. She threw her arms around me and exclaimed “I’ve never had one before!” and she bounced out the door proudly clutching His word. “Thank you for the Bible” the note said. The next day, I took some tape and hung it on the back of my empty office door. A marker on a door for the night I knew I didn’t just want to be the interim. A year later, no longer interim but experiencing one of the hard days that come with ministry, struggling to remember why I should press on, I read Acts 11:23 in my office. I highlighted it in my Bible and then I took out pen and a post it and wrote a tiny, simple phrase with a big, extraordinary mission “Remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” and taped it inside a cabinet above my desk. An ebenezer on a cabinet for the day God gave me a clear vision. This past November, Libby and I drove in the wee morning hours to a specialist in the metroplex, the sun rising in front of us. We had been searching for answers the past 5 months for some health issues she was having. I checked on her in my rear view mirror as her hand held its spot on the place that ached and she stared out the window. Worship music kept rhythm with our car and I thought about the day before when I entered the conference room at the church for ministerial staff prayer time and 6 men sang a loud and hearty “Happy birthday” to me and then moments later quietly and earnestly pleaded for answers for our little girl. I grinned. Tears slipped down my cheeks as hope and gratitude filled our car. Our Maker was showing His majesty in the colors of the sky in front of me, a team of people were lifting us up, and I felt like each mile marker we passed was a little bit closer to answers for us. I whispered a tiny, simple prayer with a big, extraordinary hope “Help us to trust Your plans, whatever they are.” A benediction in the car, for the day God gave me peace. This past week, I cleaned out my office. Took books off shelves, threw trash away, put picture frames in boxes. While I worked, I wished the preschool halls around me hadn’t been vacant for months. I pulled a bunch of post its off my cabinet door and set aside the one with a vision from years ago. I ached for the sounds of families checking in, volunteers greeting people, kids shouting. I took all the cards and coloring sheets off my office door and buried underneath I found that very first card. Our entire family longed for one more”normal Sunday” before we said goodbyes but it was not meant to be. Very soon, we will leave this town we have called home for the last 13 years, and we will head west, this time with the sun rising behind us. Tears will probably slip down my cheeks but I’m trusting that hope and gratitude will fill our car because we know He is our future and we know our past gives us so much to be thankful for. “Help us trust Your plans, whatever they are” I will whisper. As we pass the mile markers on our way to our new town, I will remember the mission straight from His word (Acts 11:24) and ask Him to help us “Remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.” And I will voice it because I feel the light of His Word directing our path “Thank you for the Bible, God” Take our tiny, simple prayers Jesus and make them something extraordinary for Your Kingdom.  
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7 years ago, your daddy and I picked up a pen and filled out an application and we said yes to a journey that we had no idea where it would take us. There were weeks, and then months, and then years and we didn’t know it at the time, but the One who made you was leading us to you. 3 weeks ago, we bordered a plane with hearts full of hope and stomachs full of butterflies and flew across the world to a country that was never part of the original plan.  A few days later, we stood on a curb and hopped into a van that would take us to where we would meet you. We had shaking hands and excitement in our eyes and prayers in our hearts and we all bowed together and asked for grace on our way to you. Just 15 minutes later, we walked up steps and rode an elevator, and in a whirlwind you were there in front of us- time that will always be our family's moments to know and remember- but there was fear and there was joy and there was all of us together in that space… a family of five finally.  And just the next day, we walked back into that small room and into the crowded chaos, and we stamped your hand and signed our names (and thankfully someone other than us thought to take a picture) and we said yes, not to just a happy moment or a joyful feeling, but a lifetime of no matter what. Because that’s what forever family means.  A week later, we stood in the US Consulate and held up a hand along side other families and we all took an oath and we promised to take care of our children always and we confirmed the steps that made you an American citizen when you stepped foot on US soil. Then just a few days later, we boarded a plane with hearts full of hopes and stomachs full of butterflies and we flew back across the world again... with you by our side.  And on Saturday evening, we walked into our home, the first time with you. And in those moments, it was the beginning of a new journey and we have no idea where it will take us. But this time, 7 years later, the journey includes you.  Welcome home, precious boy. You are now always and irrevocably a part of a family. Our family. An Edfeldt. Son. Brother. Known. Chosen. Loved.  Thankful List for December: This was a pretty exciting month of movement for us. -applied for the kids passports (the post office person was late for our appointment so we got a quick stop at 8th St. Coffee House while we waited for him to get there!) -they came in way faster than we hoped! -I800 approval (final immigration approval) came in while we were on the way to Georgia. Thankful for USPS informed delivery and for the college student who made an extra stop at our house to open it for us. -GUZ # and NVC cabled the next day -finished all of our ornaments and got them delivered -getting some gifts for Zane at Christmas!  And a few random things to do with adoption: -Chickasha Festival of Lights with our family and college students... who would have guessed we got to ride a camel! -decorating for Christmas -listening to the kids sing and play with Stix N Tones at church   -SS Class Christmas party -Libby's first piano recital -Emma Kate's graduation party  -Kasi coming to visit -Annual College Girls' Ornament Painting Party at our house -watching Behold The Lamb of God with students  -walking through Advent as a family -Mission Arlington trip (and of course, getting to watch Caleb propose to Emma Kate!)   -and the Christmas travel adventures began: Georgia: -1st stop- getting to have an evening with the Cash family and getting to see their beautiful home now that they are back in the states  -the boys getting to go to Auburn for a basketball game (thanks Uncle Cooper for making this happen) -girls day shopping and wrapping gifts and watching Hallmark movies -afternoon at the Warnocks   -Christmas celebrations with my family -Six Flags trip in Atlanta in the cold- short lines, fake snow, sweet memories   -short stop in Rome to have lunch with our college minister and his family. And a short visit on campus to show our kids where we met.  -getting to see another person who impacted us in college,Dub Darville, briefly on our way to Alabama Alabama: -lots of time with Ben's extended family playing games and eating  -Christmas gift exchanging with Ben's family -getting to celebrate Brook and Mick's upcoming wedding with a Mexican fiesta -time with the new babies in the family  -acrobats -music playing  -safe travels home!  Thankful List for October: -DTC (stands for Dossier to China) was official at the beginning of October. This is a big pile of paperwork that feels like it takes half your life to collect, then papers have to be notarized, certified, authenticated- all while your head spins and your hair turns gray. Huge milestone!!! -LID (stands for Logged in Date) happened mid October. The day our dossier was officially logged into the Chinese system. -after its logged in... back to lots of waiting. Officially waiting for LOA (Letter of Acceptance)... approval from China to adopt the specific child you are requesting to adopt. And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -Libby's growing love for the piano -flamingo painting class -Ben Milam Family fun night (and Carson walking my kids around)  --sweet October visit with Nana and Papa -pumpkin patches   -MSU homecoming fun  -Tuck deciding to mow the grass to surprise his Dad (I didn't even know he knew how to start the lawnmower) -watching Tuck light up getting to show us what he was learning in TAG -the Morningside park   -wonderful time with our dear friends, the Weavers, in Missouri  -Halloween fun (Libby is a fairy princess and Tuck is Klaus Baudelaire)  Thankful List for November: -received the amazing pictures our dear friend Meegan took -began painting ornaments as a fundraiser.... we made over $2,000. Thank you to Ben, my in-laws, and Krista Tiller who all helped cut ribbons and put together packages. Thanks to my Mom who bought and sent super cute bags for them to go in. Thank you, thank you to everyone who purchased... we were so overhwhelmed!! -LOA (Letter of Acceptance) received at the end of the month... lots of celebrating!!! -our dear friends, the Bachmans, officially matching with a little girl!! "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:14    And a few random things that have nothing to do with adoption: -Red Ribbon week: career day (writer and baseball player) and 80's day  -school events (touch the truck night and passing out thank you letters to Veterans) -time celebrating birthdays and victories with friends  -beginning Deepen Discipleship with Lauren -sweet Thanksgiving visit with Mimi and Pops  -a big brother and his desire to help his sister feel safe... setting up tons of pillows and a barricade to protect her in bed. Curious George is definitely a fierce protector -fall leaves -getting to watch Hannah Padilla  -Christmas celebrating beginning in November... end of year party in Children's Ministry, Libby's game of Christmas Land, kids getting big enough to put up the tree by themselves (this feels HUGE!)  "If the joy Jesus promises is real and you believe Him, there's no circumstance that can steal your thanksgiving."
-Jon Bloom I was in Sam's shopping for work when I got the phone call early last week. I was standing in the snack aisle when she told me that we received our LOA (letter of acceptance) from China to adopt you. I stood there for a moment crying, trying to stop my spinning mind long enough to think what I should ask. I got off the phone, and I wandered aimlessly for a good 20 minutes putting random things in my cart, not able to remember why I was there. I called her back 20 minutes later with all the questions I suddenly had. After 7.5 months of unusual, frustrating, baffling delays that no one could explain, the last 3+ months have finally been a series of steps forward. When our dossier (collection of documents) finally sailed off to China at the end of September, I merely dared to hope we would get our approval by the end of December. That seemed a safe dream, something that wouldn't set me up for another disappointment. So when, at the end of November, I stood in a store listening to the words "I have good news!" I was overcome, overwhelmed, overjoyed... 6 1/2 years of delays, closed doors, and "no's" and here, finally... a "yes". And I keep thinking about what your name means, a promise I repeat to myself: "God is gracious." You are going to be a son. A brother. An Edfeldt. I'm tucking our 5th stocking away for yet another year but I'm trusting that next year will finally be the year it hangs on our mantle. Across the world, we are waiting for you. Hoping for you. Praying for you. Preparing for you. Loving you already.  Merry Christmas, sweet boy.
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AuthorWe are a family of five (Ben, Beth, Tucker, Libby, and Zane). We started this blog during our 7 year journey to bring home a child through adoption. This is our story of how God is faithful in the good, the bad, and all the in between. 
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