{growing a family}... Macy

My sweet, darling Macy turns 2 this week.
And I realized I never did her "official" story.
So, I get to be all mushy and relive this amazing miracle...

In April 2010, I was a busy mom with 4 little kids.
My days were full of wrestling, kissing owies, and trying to accomplish long to do lists.
But I couldn't help but feel that my arms were empty.
{they were supposed to be holding someone}
{but I wasn't sure how that would happen, so I pushed them to the side}
On Fast Sunday, I stayed home with a sick and feverish little boy.
While He slept, I started reading a conference talk online.
The spirit hit me hard, our family was missing a baby girl.
{that I needed to be holding in my arms}
I knew that in foster care babies are not typically up for adoption, so
I immediatly went online and found a maternity insurance plan and filled out the application.
{all before the other kids and hubby came home from church}
I felt an urgency and I couldn't deny it.
When I told my amazing hubby about my promptings, he quickly agreed.
We began praying and fasting to be led in the right direction.
{waiting a year for the insurance to be effective didn't feel right}
So I canceled the insurance after a month, and called our adoption specialist.
I told her that we were interested in adopting a child under 3 years old.
{i gave no specifics. That way the Lord would be in control}

Just a few weeks later,
During the last week of May, on a busy Friday morning, my phone rang.
It was our adoption specialist Trisha.
She said to me,
"There is a darling 5 month old baby girl that is in need of an adoptive family.
She is seriously developmentally delayed, she is african american..."
I cut her off and yelled, "YES! Yes!"
The spirit overcame me.
Within 1 sentence I knew she was mine.
 I knew she was the missing piece.
I knew she was my darling baby that needed to be in my arms.
I hung up the phone and within 30 seconds, Jake walked in the door.
{i got to telll him the news in person}
We decided not to say anything to anyone until we found out more details.
{and fast for direction, just to be sure}
That Sunday was the Gila Valley Temple dedication.
As I sat there listening to a Prophet of God tell about sealing the first african american family in the temple, instead I saw my family at the temple, dressed in white, with a precious, little, chocolate brown face there.
{I got my definitive answer}
We went home and told our parents about her.
I began painting her room and moving tate to a big boy bed the next day.

Within 3 days of the original "call", I got another phone call, this time from my mom.
"Jenni, what is her name?"
I told her.
"She and her foster mom are in Lisa's ward. They are good friends.
Her foster mom has been praying for her to find a wonderful home."
I felt the burn of non-cooincidence in my heart.

A week later, it was time to meet our precious angel baby for the first time.
I remember looking at her absolutely beautiful face and into her sparkling eyes.
I felt like I had seen her before.
Like I knew her.
Like I had promised her I would take care of her, love her, and teach her.
She was my baby.

Things legally were not quite as simple.
The case worker wasn't willing to do the quick transition and wanted to look into other families.
{I was worried, but unusually confident}
A court date was set and I tagged along with her amazing foster mom.
I went fasting and praying with all of the faith I could muster.
Before we got to court Carrie {foster mom} and I both knew how it would turn out.
The once hard -hearted case worker changed right before my eyes and announced to the judge that an adoptive family had been chosen.
{that was us}
{that was a miracle}
She told Carrie and I to arrange transition and assured us that adoption could take place in 3 months.
{in adoption world, that is super quick}
I squeezed my little baby girl in my arms.
She could finally come home!

3 1/2 months later, just days before Christmas, my not so little family knelt,
dressed in white in the temple.
{and there with us was that darling, precious, chocolate brown face}
 I cuddled and held my beautiful baby girl,
And my arms no longer felt empty.