As you can see, we are on an amazing journey! We wanted to share with you why we were chosen by our amazing birthmother, Maria. 

Side note: Would you join us in prayer for Maria? We have not met her but already love and admire her. Our social worker says she is short like me, quiet (of which I am not!) and very strong willed (of which I am!). Friends, I will not share her circumstances out of respect for her, but I will tell you she is bearing a burdensome load. One I'm not sure I could bear. More than that, she does not know Jesus. Yet. Please lift her up daily and pray for her salvation.

Back to being chosen.

I received a phone call from our amazing social worker at New Life Adoptions letting us know we had been chosen by a birthmother. My head was spinning and my heart was racing with excitement but the words she would tell me next brought tears to my eyes, "She chose you because of the birthmother letter Cooper wrote."

Yep. That did it for me! I wish you could witness with Chris and I the transformation God has done in expanding Cooper's heart to be a big brother. It has been a beautiful work to see him begin thinking outside of himself and to take thoughtful steps to begin caring for someone he hasn't even met! (He is practicing reading aloud so he can get his voices down for his little brother.)

So, with Cooper's permission, we would like to share with you his birthmother letter:

Dear Birthmother:

My name is Cooper! I am 12-years old and in sixth grade. Throughout my life I have loved to read and will highly enjoy reading books and the bible to my new brother or sister. This will be a very special thing for me because I have always wanted a younger sibling. We can play games together, spend time together and I can help him/her with things throughout life since I will have experienced them first.

I realize how hard it is for you to make this decision, knowing that this will determine how your child’s life will be. I will be very honored if you choose our family and will love this baby like no one else.

Love-
Cooper