We Have a Boy!!

I am writing a day after all of the excitement, because we're still trying to soak in all of the news. But, I'm going to give you a recap of our day, and it might take a while...so sit back and relive the moment with me. Before we get started I want to type out a couple of verses from Psalm 92: "4You thrill me Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. 5O Lord, what great works you do!"

May 8, 2009 7:33am
Paul and I got up with the boys and Paul decided to take the boys out for breakfast (donuts...they loved it). I was meeting a friend, Stacy, for a humongous neighborhood garage sale (50+ sales is definitely motivation), and before I left to meet her, I was reading Psalm 90-92. I could not move past 92:4-5 as I was constantly thinking about everything that God has done for us during this adoption process. He truly has provided for us and done great things. I love the wording in verse 4 "You THRILL me, Lord, with all you have done for me!" So, I was sitting and remembering things that God has done for us, and thanking Him again for every provision.

So, off to the garage sale...I didn't "hit the jackpot" as I was hoping (a little envious that Stacy did), but we ran into some people from church who were asking about the adoption. I was able to share with them what I had read that morning and in my heart again, I was "singing for joy because of what [God] has done for me". After 9 months of waiting, I didn't think anything about it being a special adoption day.

Heading to Stacy's house for lunch with all of the kids and husbands (Paul was helping Kevin with his landscaping), we fixed some sausages and hot dogs on the grill. Fed the kids, went for a wagon ride, and pushed them on the swings. Because they were outside all morning, they were filthy. I left to go home while Paul stayed to continue helping with the yardwork. Got home, put Landon in the tub, (in case you forgot...Logan's still in school, and was pouring myself a drink when the phone rang...

Knowing that we might be getting the "phone call" anytime, I've been answering it anytime there's an out of area number. This time I answered it and Terra (our family coordinator) asks, "Is this Amanda?" I said, "Yeeees!" (you have to imagine the yes being really loud and going up the scale) She said, "this is Terra from America World" I totally interrupted her with my question "IS THIS IT??" She said, "I have some really good news for you." I screamed a little, and was wishing Paul were here. I told her "I have my son in the tub, but he's going to stay in there until I'm done with you, because I don't want you to get off the phone. She asked me if Paul was home and I said, "no'. She asked if she could conference call him in, and I said, "Absolutely." Knowing he was still at our friends house, I was picturing his cell phone on the patio furniture where he probably wouldn't be able to hear it. She tried a couple of times and then clicked back on saying he wasn't answering. I said, "I know he's at our friend's house, can you call him there?" and I gave her the number.

Well, Stacy (Hope you don't mind me sharing this, because we all do it) saw a number calling and thought it was a telemarketer and picked up and then immediately hung it up. Terra called right back, and Stacy thought the call back was unusual so she answered it. Terra said, "Is Paul Armitage there? Amanda Armitage gave me this number. It's important. May I speak with him?" Well, Stacy ran out back yelling for Paul and gave him the phone, and after seeing the look on Paul's face, she knew exactly what phone call it was!

Paul and I were on the call together as Terra was for the first time, introducing us to A****. He's 18 months old, and is malnourished. She told us that he is receiving a formula that is easy for his body to digest, and will strengthen him with extra nutrients. She told us that she is emailing us his history, medical info, and PICTURES right away. We asked a few questions, and that was it. After she hung up, Paul and I were still on the line and I said, "HURRY HOME, Paul!!"

You don't understand how hard it was to not look right away at our son in Ethiopia. Even though Paul only had a 15-minute drive, I called him once to find out where he was...haha He got home and we prayed for our son, thanking God that he had provided us with another member of our family and prayed for protection over his little body.

We opened the attachments, were in awe of what a cutie he is, and started waiting for Logan to get home off of the schoolbus. Logan came home and looked at him and just smiled. He stared at him for about 15 seconds with a smile on his face. And Landon looked at him and noticed the shirt he had on (Elmo). We called our family and let them know about their new grandson/nephew, and were loving every minute. We celebrated our "Referral Day" by going to eat at Applebee's, and coming home to cake and ice cream supplied by our friends, Kevin and Stacy".

We are so blessed, and just want to shout to the whole world our awesome news. We are unable to put any pics of him on our blog, but we will immediately the moment we can. So keep checking in...

Paul and I had talked about names for him and we have decided to call him Levi. The name Levi is a Hebrew name that means---get ready for this, it's cool---"join". We thought that was a very appropriate name for him since he was joining our family and becoming an Armitage. So his name will be Levi A**** Armitage. Please continue to pray for Levi's health, his nanny that's taking care of him, and his transition to the U.S. and with us. Please pray for Logan and Landon as they will have to transition, also. This is such an exciting time in our lives and we are thankful, grateful, amazed at what God has done in us and for us during this process. It's been an awesome journey so far, and now we're holding on because it's gonna be a wild ride.

Psalm 92:4-5: "You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do!"