Two New Gumms - identified!

We had such fun on Christmas day making a big announcement to all our present family members. After everyone opened their gifts we presented them with one last gift - a framed picture of the little boy and girl that will be the newest members of the Gumm family!

That’s right, we know who they are already.

Early on in the process as I was researching adoption agencies I found The African Widows and Orphans Project. They had a photo listing of waiting children and so I emailed the director and asked for the password, etc. to view it. She said that they were going to be updating it very shortly as well as having a new DVD of waiting children video interviews and she would send them as soon as she got them.

To make a long story short (although I’ll post the long version sometime) there were two sibling groups that matched the age ranges we were looking for - both adorable. I went to bed with a heavy heart, grieving for these children and the loss they have suffered. I continued to pray for them throughout the week but one of the sibling sets kept coming to the front of my mind over and over. Finally about a week later during one of these times I just asked the Lord “Are these the kids we are supposed to adopt?” and I heard a resounding (but not audible) “YES!” I know without a doubt (although I can begin to doubt if I let myself) that it was God giving me an answer.

So, we are “tentatively matched” with these wonderful children. When our Home Study gets officially approved then we can be “officially matched”. I cannot share pictures until much further down in the process but for now we’ll be referring to them as W-boy and B-girl.

W-boy is 8 years old and very social. He speaks some English and likes to read and play soccer. Younger sister B-girl is 6, seems a little shy, and likes to read and play jump rope. She is in 1st grade so she is just beginning to learn some English.

We are all very excited and already feel as if they are becoming part of our family. It makes the paperwork all the more pressing and is spurring me on to action