Hebert's to Ethiopia: We got a referral!

It happened! It finally happened! And much sooner than we ever dreamt!
On April 14th, early afternoon the phone rang and Elizabeth shouts, "MOM! It's AAI!"

My heart jumped as I thought, "Surely there must be a problem as we wouldn't get a referral so quickly. Our dossier was only sent on Feb 17th! And here it is April 14th!"

Hesitantly I answered the phone and was greeted by Merrily, president of AAI.

She asked how we were doing and how was Maine. My heart is thumping.....

Then she says it, "We have a boy here we would like you to consider, he's 6 yrs old, medical looks good, health is good, school looks greeat, just needs help in general science, he's in KG2....and oh yes, his name is Abraham...."

Abraham!!! Why it was only a few weeks back that I was having a very casual conversation with the Lord, just telling Him the desires of my heart and I said, "Lord, it would be really neat if our child/ren already had a biblical name...." (Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD,and he will give you the desires of your heart.")

Oh Abraham....a man in the Bible known as the Father of many nations, one who was called out from his own country to a country he did not know. Oh Lord, thank You!

Merrily asked if we would be interested in seeing his picture and his file and I didn't hesitate to say YES YES YES!

Then for the next 30 minutes I must have hit that send and receive button in my e-mail 1000 times!

Then it came.....subject line with his full name...

My eyes were huge at this point as well as my children behind me, we must have looked like panting puppies!

I clicked open the picture and my heart jumped, I burts into tears...."Oh Father, this is our son You brought to us, there's no question Lord that this is the one...."

I have heard from many folks that you will KNOW when it is your 'forever' child.

I was smitten, his eyes, his smile, his teeth...I must have studied every detail of that sweet face.

Jeff came in and sat down, he looked at his picture and a huge smile lit up his face. And being the jokester that he is Jeff said,"awww...he gots wittle elf ears..." We all laughed and cried.

The next morning (April 15th) as soon as the doors to our pediatricians office was open I brought Abraham's file in. By that afternoon I receieved the call..."Besides being a tad anemic everything looks great.....and oh....he's a cutie.....a keeper for sure"

We called AAI and left a message for them to call back.

About an hour later we had officially accepted the referral for Abraham Hebert!

The next week we received the child packet acceptance forms and signed away! We felt like celebrities!