An Introduction and Update on Erin's Family

A few weeks ago, I let you know that we are in the process of another adoption. It is a very exciting time for our family. And while I love to blog, for the moment my blog posts may be somewhat sparse.

Let me introduce my family to you as we currently are (but not for long): My husband and I have been married for 12 years this December. Adoption was always part of our plan. While we were living in southern CA, and my husband was going to seminary, we decided to become foster parents with the intention of adopting. Isaiah was placed with us when he was 7 days old. He is now 4 years old (about to be 5) and we thank God so much for the gift He gave us in Isaiah. Josiah is our middle child. He was born to us about a year after we moved to the Pittsburgh, PA area (where we are today). Nathanael followed Josiah 13 months later. (Nathanael will be 2 in December.)

Directly after moving to the Pittsburgh area we started to get the adoption process underway again (we are serious about adopting). While we decided to put the process on hold during my two pregnancies, we still were committed to adding more children to our family though adoption. Then earlier this year some of you may remember that we were matched with a sibling set of three. What most of you did not know was that at the same time we were matched, I found out that I was pregnant again. You would think that we would pull out of the adoption. We didn't. Yes, we felt the weight that 7 kids would be, but we were excited, and ready to tackle this enormous joy.

Then during March of this year, I lost the baby (I was at the beginning of my 2nd trimester). The loss of my little baby was very hard (still brings tears quickly to my eyes). While the grief was great, I have a God who sustains me. I knew that I had three children at home who needed me and I was soon to have three more who would also need me greatly. Then, exactly 1 week after the loss of our baby, our adoption of the siblings fell though too. That was a very difficult time for us. We do not understand why God did what He did, but we know that He is always good! He allowed us to go through this pain for a reason . . . We may never know that reason, but we do know that God knows all things and He works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Following the loss of the children, my husband and I once again focused on adopting. : ) We interviewed for several children, but nothing happened. Then on the day we were supposed to leave on a trip to Alabama (so my eldest, Isaiah, could be the ring bearer at a family wedding) a social worker wanted to interview us for an older child - a 10 year old boy. Following the interview, we packed our bags and loaded the car. We were in AL one week. Just 5 days after we returned we were notified that we had been matched once again. That was July 5th.

Last Monday (July 11th), we met our soon-to-be son for the very first time. : ) What a day!! This past Saturday we introduced our three boys to their new brother. Then yesterday (July 19th), we were able to show him around our house. God is indeed very good!

So if you are wondering where I am or where the regular posts are . . . they'll be back. No offense, but I've got more important things to do right now. (I'll get out the posts I can, but I'm not going to lose precious time with my family.)

One last thing, if we have learned anything with adoption it is this: nothing is totally certain until the adoption is final. . . so please pray with us.