On June 12, 2013 we submitted our letter of intent for Isaish in Guangdong. He turned 2 on the first of August. He has the most precious smile! On August 2 we received our Letter of Approval for him. It was a joyous day and we were celebrating but for some strange reason Elijah's LOA didn't come (and still hasn't). We are so excited to bring this little guy into our family though. I first saw his picture and video back in May when we were praying about finding our second son to bring home. He caught my attention then and even remember showing the girls his picture and video. At that moment, I didn't pursue it any more but for I kept thinking about him. Then I found out he was in Guangdong the same province Elijah is in. We were praying that our second match would be in this province or at Elijah's orphanage to save on our travel time and expenses. When another adoptive mom who is an awesome advocate for orphans (Brooke) told me that she thought he was in this province, I emailed his agency about seeing his file. To my surprise, she emailed me back almost immediately on a Sunday afternoon too. After looking and praying over his file, having my dad, Kristen Nelson, and another International Adoption Specialist doctor review his file we felt confident we should move ahead. We asked our agency to find out if they would be willing to transfer his file and they were. He is a special little guy and we know that God has some big plans for him. We pray he is strong and wise and brave as he grows.
Matt decided before we even found Isaiah that was the name he wanted to give our second son. I love that Isaiah means "God is my salvation". The fact that God is fighting for him and will make him into a man who depends on God for life and salvation is exactly what we dream for him.
We have verses we pray for each of our children. This is the one we have for Isaiah. It is a verse I've clung to this whole process and it seems to fit him perfectly.
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous
right hand
Isaiah 41:10
As we were trying to find a middle name we both liked and meant some thing to us, I discovered Dixon Edward Hoste. He was a missionary to China for over 30 years. He and the "Cambridge Seven," as they were called, went to work under Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission. One thing that stuck out to me about this man was that people stated he was a man faithful in prayer. I long for this to be true of Isaiah!
This is quote of Dixon Hoste's I found:
the man who doesn't not learn to wait upon the Lord and have his thoughts molded by Him will never possess that steady purpose and calm trust, which is essential to the exercise of wise influence upon others, in times of crisis and difficulty
the man who doesn't not learn to wait upon the Lord and have his thoughts molded by Him will never possess that steady purpose and calm trust, which is essential to the exercise of wise influence upon others, in times of crisis and difficulty
this is the first picture I saw of our little guy!
another adoptive mom sent this to me. i guess it was from around February. Both these little girls have gone home with their forever families. Isaiah is in a bunch of pictures with them. they must have been friends.
We sent him a cake for his 2nd birthday. This is where he lives right now.
another adoptive mom who went to get her daughter in May met his and this was a picture she took.
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