Blake Scott Gilchrist

We were finally able to get in to see and hold little Blake tonight.  He's a cute kiddo!  Jamie is staying with him at the hospital, as they have him under special lights to help with jaundice I think.  Or maybe they are just wanting to see if he glows in the dark?  Anyway, we are thrilled, to say the least, and anxious to take him with us.  He may be released from the hospital tomorrow, or they may keep him another day... depending on how well he glows I suppose.  :^)  We will stay in Utah until the state-to-state requirements are met and we are allowed to bring him home.  Hopefully that will happen in the next few days.  We really miss our girls, and can't wait to have the family all together.

Bryant was excited to finally meet "Little Brother", whom we have been praying for as a family for quite some time.  And he wanted to see if Blake was indeed about the size of a football or not.  After giving Blake an exploratory poke, Bryant's comment was, "He's squishy".  Gotta love kids!

We spent a brief time with Mariah (birth mother) this evening.  It was emotional all around.  She loved this little boy, but had no way to keep him.  Please pray for her if you think about it.  This whole thing was very hard for her.  Jamie and I liked her very much, and wished that we could have demonstrated the love of God to her more, but we have been restricted from approaching her unless she initiated.  We have been praying that God would send a Christian friend into her life, and that she would come to know joy and peace in believing.  I do not know if we will ever see her again, but if not in this life, then we sincerely desire to in the next.

As I held little Blake this evening, I was awash once again with the wonder of adoption, and it's part (to our immense benefit!) in God's perfect plan for "summing up all things in Christ".  What a wonderful family we have all been adopted into!  I also felt the sobering weight of responsibility, as I did with each of our children.

Father, grant us grace to be a good parents to little Blake, to love selflessly and wisely, and to point him to You for life.  May he know You and love You more than anything or anyone else.  Thank You for blessing us yet again.