THE Call - yes THE CALL

Ok - I just can't contain myself any longer!  THE CALL came at about 4:30 pm on Thursday - June 23, 2011.  I didn't have my personal phone with me and missed a call earlier - oops.  Just busy at work preparing for a big audit next week.  anyhow I was in shock and just really out of it - taking as many notes from the conversation with Sally - our wonderful AAI Ethiopian Team Leader (not sure what to call her - but she's special).  She told me about a beautiful little boy named Karesso he's 10 months old and very healthy!  I also was texting Craig in all this time - and awaiting the emails with the details - but mostly those pictures.

Well that did it - me not fall in love instantly after seeing those chubby little cheeks and those eyes - wow those eyes!  Just perfect.  So we thought about it on Thursday - debating on doing the international adoption doctor review (decided they'd tell us what we read already - so opted not to) - tried talking to Nate's pediatrician - and didn't get a call back.  So this morning - the three of us had a very quick family meeting - YES - Karesso will be ours.

The call came at one of the most needed weeks.  This past week was the 7th anniversary of my mom's passing.  So Its typically a very painful week.  Lots of sad memories mixed in with the beautiful ones.  My coworker Nancy told me that she felt my mom was working very close to God this week in bringing us this news on THAT day - helping us to let go of the pain and focus on the good in life and her life in happiness.  And I have to agree -

Yesterday I was driving to my dad's to pick up Nate after him being there for a week.  I was listening to Sirus XM - the Message station and just became so overwhelmed with the joy and timing of it all - God sure does have a plan - the timing of it all - was amazing.

On top of it all - on Friday my brother proposed to his beautiful girlfriend - so we're also adding another person to our family!  That on top of our referral - has topped this week as so special - we have so many happy things.  Mom helped to give me a baby and brought my brother his true love together this week!  Thanks mom - we miss you tons - but again realize you are still watching over us and helping to take care of us from heaven!

So unfortunately we can not post pictures of Karesso right now.  We're still discussing names - we probably going to give him a new first name and keep Karesso as his middle name.  Nate wants all sorts of Star Wars names - trying to keep away from Anikin at the moment - or Skywalker.  Those are just a few of his ideas.  He also l likes Alex and Craig likes Kristopher/Christopher - but our soon to be nephew is going to be named that - so we'll see.

Lots to think about -a LOT of challenges - not sure how we will make it all work - guess we'll be playing the lucky Lotto or something and just pray for another miracle to pull it all together - but we just keep saying god will help us make it work.

we were expecting 2 totally different calls last week - maybe one of those will come through and make it a HOME RUN!  as they say - sometimes things come in 3's!

thanks for letting me share the good news from the Backus / Wilcox family on this Sunday morning - I just couldn't wait any longer.

For those of you waiting - hang in there - your time IS coming!  I believe that.  I still pray we get to travel at the same time as my new friends down in Memphis - I believe God brought us together for a reason in this process - we will make.  I never in my wildest dreams thought this referral would come this past week or this soon - especially after all the changes in March - but it looks like positive things are happening over there in ET - and we're blessed to have seen our little boy - and now need to really baby proof the house again!

Love you all
Gail