CHOSEN!

About 3 weeks ago we received an email from an expectant mother through LDS Family Services. She told us she liked our profile and was interested in getting to know us better. We were very excited, to say the least, and started corresponding with her. She lives about 3 1/2 hours from us, is expecting a little boy in the middle of October, and has been searching for parents for this little boy for a long time. We only got emails from her once a week and it was hard to gauge how interested/serious she was about choosing us. So this past week I asked our case worker to ask her case worker what she was thinking, etc. We also sent her an email asking if we could take her to lunch or dinner this weekend, to meet her. Our case worker let us know that she was interested in us but she was also looking at another couple. She decided to do a face-to-face visit yesterday with both couples to help her make a final decision.

Of course we were super nervous. I think I tried on a dozen outfits and kept telling Anth how I wish I knew what she was looking for so I could change everything about myself to become just that. Anth told me I didn't have to change myself, that she'd pick us for us and if it was the Lord's will for this to happen, it would. We also talked about the other couple, how they wanted a baby as badly as we did so it'd be ok if they were picked; there'd be another one out there for us. (Anth has been incredible, he always calms and talks me through everything.)

We got up at 5:30am and left shortly after for the long road trip. It was a good trip and we made it just on time. Before we went into the room with the birth mother we were told her sister, mom and dad were with her. We were told they'd ask us questions and we could ask them questions. (Anth told me later he was the most nervous at this point, he was shaking. I was nervous but had worked it through that I would do my best and just be myself and if she didn't pick us it wouldn't be because she didn't get to know us.) As we walked into the room there was a very peaceful feeling. We had a wonderful visit. The birth mother is incredible! She has been through a lot and has turned to the Lord and her ward for help throughout this experience. It really was a delightful visit. Afterward I had nothing to regret, either saying or not saying. After our meeting we were getting directions to the temple and the case worker came out and said the birth mom had one more question. She asked if we were still interested in going out to eat and if we'd like to meet them for a late lunch after they met with this other couple. We said of course we'd love to. After we left her we were so excited because she couldn't want to see us again if she was going to pick the other couple, right?! We enjoyed the temple and met up with her and her family at Macaroni Grill. When we got there she handed me a note, saying it was a thank you note for coming all the way to meet her. I put it in my purse but then her father leaned over and told me to open it right now. I opened it and it was a card with little baby feet on it. On the inside it said "Choose the paint, get the hand-me-downs ready, 'peanut' is coming your way. I'm so happy I finally found you!" I freaked out! I can't describe the feeling. We were all a bit emotional and the best word to describe how we felt but doesn't come close to really describing it, was happy. We all just felt pure happiness. It was such a neat experience!

As we talked with her and her family she described how she's had a very difficult time choosing a family to place her child with and how at the beginning she wanted to have a powerful confirmation that a certain couple was "the one." As the months passed and she never felt anything for any of the prospective couples she got very frustrated. She got to the point where she just wanted to feel "ok" about a couple and that would be good enough. She had recently chosen us and the other couple and wasn't going to do a face-to-face and was leaning towards picking the other couple. She had a strong feeling that she should meet with both of us and it would help her make the final decision. The whole family commented how from the moment we walked into the visit/meeting they felt a very peaceful feeling and the birth mom knew when she met us that we were the parents for her child. She told us that she has been very emotional and confused throughout the pregnancy but when she met us and decided to place with us she has felt peace and clarity.

Our ride home was much better than the ride there, I'm pretty sure we flew. Cloud 9 is amazing! This little boy is due on the 18th of October. We can't really believe this is happening but know that the Lord is very aware of us. We told the birth mother that with her choosing us, she has answered a lot of people's prayers! Thank you to everyone who's prayed for us and who is excited for/with us! We don't really know how everything is going to work out and will update our blog when we get new info.