WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!

The Lord is a miracle worker! I just can't go through the week that I've been through and end up here without accepting that fact!

The boys left Monday night. We said what we thought would be our last goodbyes to them and their case worker drove off with them around 6:30. I actually didn't cry (Patrick did - I am sure he is so glad I share that!) but i think i just went numb. I guess it didn't really hit me. We had to get out of the house, so we went everywhere we could think of to keep ourselves distracted. Tuesday night we did the same thing and then it hit me...I cried all the way home from Grapevine Mills. I couldn't even stop enough to tell Patrick why I was crying - though I am sure he knows.

Then this afternoon we got an email from the boys' case worker. Their Uncle has accepted a job in Iraq for a year. Their Aunt called the case worker to tell her that she couldn't keep the boys if she was going to have to do it on her own - she has two other children of her own. She is very upset about this decision, but I am so impressed with her courage to make the tough decision for the benefit of these boys. I can't imagine that choice - we didn't have a choice and it was harder than we ever thought. I know she is devastated and I will continue to pray for her and her family as well. God will bless her for her sacrifice...I know he will.

But that means that the boys get to come back to us!!!!!!!!! And it is a very distinct possibility that we will get to keep them this time! I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes me, but I continue to be blown away by God's grace. As we have told people about this in the last few hours, many people of have said "when it rains, it pours" I never have ever thought of that statement as a positive one, but God is blessing us with so many things right now, it has to be "pouring". :) We don't yet have a guarantee about the permanency of this move, but the deadline date remains July 7th. If they don't have someone for them by then, that is it and we get to adopt them! AS far as we are aware, this Aunt was the only legitimate option, so we are trying to keep things in perspective, but are hoping for some great news in a month! :)

On the other front, we are still meeting with doctor and lawyers about adopting this baby (we are calling him Nicolas regardless at this point). We are praying for some direction for God about what this means for us for all three boys and continue to get the red balloons (twice on the way home today!). So we are not sure what God's plan is for us, but we keep praying and watching for our "signs". God is so great, he can make any of this work for us. We really are so blessed.

Please continue to pray for us. We don't yet know where things will lead, but we pray for God's will. We appreciate the prayers and support thus far and thank you for your continued involvement! :) We will keep you posted!