Reflection on 2008!

So this is probably going to be long, but that's fine! Christmas was so great! It is so much fun with kids! I didn't download my pics yet- but Gabe was super cute! I don't think that he really got it- but he loved opening presents and playing with them! I have been feeling really blessed this last little while and as I thought about it, the whole year has taught me amazing things! First- a year ago today exactly- is the day when our lives were changed forever! I got a phone call from the adoption agency and our caseworker explained to us a "special situation." She then asked if we would consider this little boy. I called Jon at work and talked to him about it and then we called her back and told her that we would be happy to! We set up a meeting with Gabe's birthmom for Thursday.
We went into the meeting totally nervous and bearing gifts! We brought a book about tractors and a ball that had elmo on one side and cookie monster on the other! It shook and laughed- I quite enjoyed it- but gabe was scared of it! Anyways- we met the mom and her foster mom and chatted a while. When we were leaving Gabe looked up and smiled at Jon and reached for him- it was so cute and it was that smile that melted our hearts! I called our caseworker the next day to see how it went from the other side and she just pretty much told us that there were other couples and that she would get back to us! The next day she called and said that the mom wanted to get to know us better-so we set up the meeting for Monday. We went into the meeting with bubbles this time and then his birthmom said "Why do you want my son?" I totally started rambling on taken back by the question and Jon saved us by simply saying that he had won our hearts when he smiled at us! Next thing we know the birth mom left the room and then the foster mom followed. I thought that we had blown it and that she was really upset, when all of the sudden the door flew open and there was the birthmom with this basket full of stuff and balloons! She picked us!
In one week our lives changed forever! We got to take him home with us for the day and it was amazing! That is how the first week of 2008 started for us. There have been rough trials but also so many blessings! Who would have thought that we would be expecting another!? Crazy but wonderful! I am so excited for the new year and all of the changes- good and bad- that may come our way! Happy New Years!