Happy Referral Day!

Exactly one year ago yesterday we went out to dinner for my 40th birthday. The kids were well-behaved, we had a nice conversation, and we came to the conclusion that we were in such a good place and things were going so well that maybe we were foolish to continue pursuing the adoption. We wrapped our heads around the idea of being happy with our foursome and moving on. We felt ourselves moving into a more mature family phase.

Exactly one year ago today we received the call from our agency that we had a referral (they had told me a few days earlier than this that we wouldn't get a referral for probably another 3 months). Even though we knew we should not get our hopes up or get attached prematurely, we still all gathered round the computer and opened up these pictures. And all four of us caught our breath and said, "Oh! He's sooooo cute!"

We spent Thanksgiving a few days later with friends, and even though I had told myself that I would not share his picture with anyone in case this didn't work out, I brought his picture out and showed him off instead. "We're going to call him Owen," I told them.

I can't say that I didn't still have my doubts that it would ever happen. But it felt right. And these three pictures kept me going for another three and a half months until we met him in person.

Happy Referral Day, to my sweet baby boy who was so far away a year ago. In some ways it seems like a lifetime ago that we first saw your face. And yet, it also seems that we have known you forever. We can't imagine life without you.

(And Happy Birthday to Grandpa, who shares his birthday with Owen's Referral Day!)