a trip to Sam's and a yes

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.