In 1986, we were chosen to have the opportunity to adopt our last child...a 18 month old little blond boy...
He had had a hard start in life, being born prematurely, life flighted to another city, and eventually put into foster care...
He had been available for adoption for several months, but for some reason was lost in the paper shuffle.
They contacted our family and we said "yes"... There would be a twelve year difference in ages between our first son and our last...
We made the trip, were brought up to speed on his records, his health, his life to this point and then we went to the foster care home...we rang the bell and were met with this little blond haired boy with his arms outstretched, welcoming us.. Our hearts melted at the sight and knew that he was going to be our next child...with this gesture...he wanted hugged and a permanent home...
The foster parents had been taking care of several babies ready for adoption and preparing them for homes for their own...they lived under the flight pattern for the local airport and our new little one was always pointing to the planes and saying, "plane, plane", his first words...he continued that word for a long time, always finding planes even when we couldn't...
We chose the name, "Matthew", meaning "gift of the Lord" because he had truly been a gift to us...which he has been throughout his life in our family...
He is the daredevil, riding motorcycles, Broncos, Bulls, ....he is the one who tested our limits...to the greatest, bringing us to our knees more than any of our four children...but, he loved babies, working with children at summer camps, a great soccer player and wrestler, a salesman through and through, loves story telling, a big help to many who know him...and now is the father of four precious little ones with an amazing wife...
Thank YOU for Matthew...Your gift to our family...through the years....You prepared him just for us...
These are the verses that God gave me for this son...
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 31:16-17 This is what the Lord says:“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,”declares the Lord.“They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,”declares the Lord.“Your children will return to their own land.
Happy birthday!!!!
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