Celebrating The Wait

During my personal devotion time this morning, I was reading Psalm 130 and read through verse 5:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,

and in His word do I hope." Psalm 130:5

Within the margin of my Bible, I had written:

"11/13/2009, Joni & I were approved by the adoption agency yesterday. Now, we wait to be chosen."

Tears of joy filled my eyes as I paused this morning to reflect on the brief journey Joni & I have taken since I recorded that note last year.

The following week of 11/20/2009, Joni & I had received our first adoption situation (teen birthmother in Kentucky cast on MTV's '16 & Pregnant') followed by two other situations over the next four months. All three ending when the birthmothers selected other families to parent their children.

The process was a powerful, emotional roller coaster that caught both of us by surprise.

THEN, on March 26, 2010 (4 months & 3 days from my above note AND 3 days from the conclusion of the third adoption situation), we surprisingly discovered God had chosen us to parent our own biological child!

What a mighty God we serve!

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope."

Psalm 130:5

Today, we CELEBRATE the wait for December 2, 2010 when (Lord wiling) we will welcome our little miracle (Joel Delano Bowen) home.

Thank you for your continued prayers,

Rod & Joni

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Initial photos from Joel's room [a work in progress]: