I HAVE A NEPHEW!!!!!!!!!!!

introducing.... Micah Dallas JONES!!!

Proud Aunt Sarah!!!

top - the ceremony at the courthouse - look how my brother is beaming

second - Andy and Stephanie with Micah and Judge Muriel Robinson - who happens to be mine and Andy's cousin somehow

third - Micah chilling out at his party

below - Isn't Micah adorable???? I JUST LOVE HIM! Oh yeah, it was Andy's birthday yesterday. And they got to adopt Micah today! Needless to say, I forgot about Andy's birthday because I was so excited about Micah! Sorry bro!















Well, as you may have figured out, I now OFFICIALLY have an adorable nephew! Yep, a new family member has arrived weighing about 15-20 pounds and a really big baby! He can even crawl, sit up, and already eats solids!!! :)

Andy and Stephanie (my brother and his wife) had signed up to do foster parenting about this time last year. It took them a while to complete the training but by the beginning of December, they were ready. It is such a cool story because they weren't actually even in the computer system. They should have been, but there was some hang up and they weren't in. They were a little surprised they hadn't gotten any calls. Well, their caseworker called one day and asked if they wanted a brand new baby. The caseworker said he thought of Andy and Stephanie first thing. They had a lot of experience with kids - Stephanie has especially worked with small children for years. But, a brand new baby? One whose mom had been on drugs and was premature and tiny? But, they went for it! We were all so thrilled, but we were also very hesitant to get excited about the possibility of adoption. So many people wanted babies, and Andy and Stephanie weren't even looking for a permanent situation necessarily.

But, time went on, Andy and Stephanie have gone through process after process. Micah didn't suffer ANY side effects from the drugs in his mother's system, and he is now up to an acceptable weight for his age! His birth mother gave up custody, then dad never came forward, they fought red tape and legal issues. And, finally, 10 months later, Micah is OURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am tearing up just thinking about how excited I am this day has come. It's interesting to realize just how hesitant I've been to resist against getting my heart broken. I've just been careful about getting attached too much - although that's been impossible. But, now that he's ours, he's really ours, I am just flooded with such love for him and excitement. I loved him before, but knowing he is ours forever with no chance of losing him just thrills my heart to no end.

As I was experiencing these feelings this morning, I thought of our relationship with God. God, in the same way I thought, must be so thrilled when we come to accept him. When we accept Christ, the Bible says we are ADOPTED into his family as SONS. We have all the rights and privileges of sonship with our heavenly Father. Just as Andy and Stephanie will never give Micah up no matter what, even moreso with God. Just as Andy and Stephanie have loved him before this official day of adoption, they love him even more with such joy! Just as God - except that God loved us FULLY while we were still sinners! He didn't guard his heart against loving us too much, He didn't worry about loving us and his heart breaking. He just loved and sent his Son to die for us. He does hurt when some reject him. And, he does rejoice even moreso than we ever could when we are finally ADOPTED into the family. He is thrilled when we are finally HIS! Once we are his, we are in his hand, our names are written in the Book of Life, and NOTHING can take us away. If we rejoice in the earthly adoption of a sweet baby, just imagine God's joy at knowing he has us for eternity! No wonder the angels rejoice when someone is saved - I can just hear them praising and singing, "He's (or she) is ours! They are ours! They are on our side! They will be with us forever!!!" This is what I was thinking this morning and all day about Micah. I'm just so thrilled, but it is amazing to think of how much greater God's love is over our own decisions to come to him! WHOO HOO!!!

Pray for Andy, Stephanie, and Micah. They are actually right now in the process of applying/ looking into the possibility of moving to Atlanta to be houseparents in a group home for children who have been taken out of their own homes. It will be a huge move for them to be away from all of their family as well as a major life change. They are an amazing couple who I know God has blessed in a phenomenal way. They would do a great job wherever He uses them, and they have such big hearts that just want to love and care for those that need it. They both have such servant's hearts and truly get what it means to love someone else more than themselves.

I'm so proud of my baby brother and Stephanie! I so admire them both and am just thrilled for them! Now, how do we let them know that they have to leave Micah here if they leave???