We got the call Tuesday afternoon as Josh, Lydia and I were driving home. A baby boy was born in Detroit and he was ready to take home. Wow! There were tears and we were shocked. How quick it can happen!
This is no lie, that morning I read Luke 11:8-11 where Jesus tells us to be bold in our prayers and that we should ask, seek and knock and He will answer, be found, and open the door. So I prayed that the adoption would happen TODAY. And God did it. Wow!
So Makai was born three weeks early by c-section. He is 6lbs 7oz and 19in. long - perfect! And he is healthy.
The hard part is that his mother couldn't care for him and did a very selfless and loving act of carrying him to full term and handing him safely over to the hospital to find a family to love him. Pray for this woman wherever she is. May God's love surround her.
The rest of the day was a flurry of activity, excitement, sharing - all still in shock. Josh and Lydia got "Welcome Baby Boy!" balloons so when the kids got home from school we could tell them the big news. How fun to see them see the balloons and ask. Grace was the best. She burst into tears letting out all the emotions of months of let down and waiting. We called the grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and shocked them too. Everyone just kept saying, "Wow." Just like I did. We stopped by my sisters' houses to get some baby things and to our storage to get the clothes we had ready there. It all just seemed unreal at this point.
We received the call about our baby Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning we were driving to Detroit to meet him and bring him home. What a rush! Josh and I met with Adoption Associates to do some paper work then headed to the hospital. We were so excited! I am not sure you can describe the feelings of meeting your adoptive child for the first time, but I can say I had complete peace. We met the social worker who told us how cute Makai is. We walked into the nursery and saw him. Cute as a button, black hair, tiny bundle, precious and so perfect. I cried, as I am writing this. There is just so much emotion. So much love. I just marvel at this perfect, beautiful baby boy who God saved and who God entrusted to us. I just love him so much and think he is incredibly special. He is a miracle.
Josh and I spent the next couple hours just holding Makai, loving on him, getting to know him, and just looking at our new baby boy. It was just one of those surreal times in life. Some of my first reactions were what a beautiful baby, round face, tiny, very calm and just so sweet. The nurses were super nice to us and so happy for us. The nurse said he is a very good baby. We were very encouraged by everyone.
Before we left the hospital we changed Makai. He woke up and showed us his beautiful dark eyes. He looked at us as if to say "who are you." Josh talked to Makai and he just studied Josh. It was a super sweet moment.
We walked out as proud parents with our new son! It was so hard to ride almost three hours home having to only look at him and not be able to hold him. We picked up our kids from my sister's house and they got their first look at their new brother. It is all so unbelievable. It took time for them to grasp it all too.
We are all now settling into the reality of this and life with a new born. Makai has lots of people who want to hold him. I don't put him down much - I have 9 months to make up for! Bonding is pretty special. We get time together each night when everyone else is sleeping. Makai is a very sweet, good, quiet, and alert baby so far. He eats well and loves his pacifier! I love when he is awake and just looks at us - gets to know us. I just look at him and smile. Take lots of pictures. He is so cute. Such a gift. What bliss.
Our kids are so very happy to have a little brother! And they are all a lot of help.
God has answered so many prayers! I prayed that the adoption would happen by February, that we had to be here right now, that we have time to complete the adoption process...And God gave me the desires of my heart just because He can and He loves us - a boy, a different or mixed race, a good baby. God's hand is all over this adoption and this timing. He has given us Makai. It is an amazing thing to be chosen to be someone's parents. To be entrusted with such a precious life. What a privilege.
We praise the Lord who is faithful, trustworthy and good! He prepared us, prepared the way, orchestrated all things, knit together Makai and saw his unformed body in his mother's womb, He knew the days of his life before one came to be...Oh God, You are too wonderful for me to understand! I worship you. Thank you for Makai Samuel Lee Shaarda. We asked You for him. He is a gift from You.
(We cannot post pictures of Makai yet at this point in the legal process, so more to come soon!)
We received the call about our baby Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning we were driving to Detroit to meet him and bring him home. What a rush! Josh and I met with Adoption Associates to do some paper work then headed to the hospital. We were so excited! I am not sure you can describe the feelings of meeting your adoptive child for the first time, but I can say I had complete peace. We met the social worker who told us how cute Makai is. We walked into the nursery and saw him. Cute as a button, black hair, tiny bundle, precious and so perfect. I cried, as I am writing this. There is just so much emotion. So much love. I just marvel at this perfect, beautiful baby boy who God saved and who God entrusted to us. I just love him so much and think he is incredibly special. He is a miracle.
Josh and I spent the next couple hours just holding Makai, loving on him, getting to know him, and just looking at our new baby boy. It was just one of those surreal times in life. Some of my first reactions were what a beautiful baby, round face, tiny, very calm and just so sweet. The nurses were super nice to us and so happy for us. The nurse said he is a very good baby. We were very encouraged by everyone.
Before we left the hospital we changed Makai. He woke up and showed us his beautiful dark eyes. He looked at us as if to say "who are you." Josh talked to Makai and he just studied Josh. It was a super sweet moment.
We walked out as proud parents with our new son! It was so hard to ride almost three hours home having to only look at him and not be able to hold him. We picked up our kids from my sister's house and they got their first look at their new brother. It is all so unbelievable. It took time for them to grasp it all too.
We are all now settling into the reality of this and life with a new born. Makai has lots of people who want to hold him. I don't put him down much - I have 9 months to make up for! Bonding is pretty special. We get time together each night when everyone else is sleeping. Makai is a very sweet, good, quiet, and alert baby so far. He eats well and loves his pacifier! I love when he is awake and just looks at us - gets to know us. I just look at him and smile. Take lots of pictures. He is so cute. Such a gift. What bliss.
Our kids are so very happy to have a little brother! And they are all a lot of help.
God has answered so many prayers! I prayed that the adoption would happen by February, that we had to be here right now, that we have time to complete the adoption process...And God gave me the desires of my heart just because He can and He loves us - a boy, a different or mixed race, a good baby. God's hand is all over this adoption and this timing. He has given us Makai. It is an amazing thing to be chosen to be someone's parents. To be entrusted with such a precious life. What a privilege.
We praise the Lord who is faithful, trustworthy and good! He prepared us, prepared the way, orchestrated all things, knit together Makai and saw his unformed body in his mother's womb, He knew the days of his life before one came to be...Oh God, You are too wonderful for me to understand! I worship you. Thank you for Makai Samuel Lee Shaarda. We asked You for him. He is a gift from You.
(We cannot post pictures of Makai yet at this point in the legal process, so more to come soon!)
