Going the Distance

We admit it. We are crazy!

The day that we decided to adopt from Eastern Europe was also the day that we decided that Dave would apply to a job in Boston. Would it be crazy to do both concurrently?  Yes.  Was it impossible? No.  Are we just THAT good that we could pull it off?  YES!  We just needed to keep our home through the adoption process, and then we would be fine.

When Dave and I first started dating in 2003, we were 5 hours away from one another at our respective colleges.  In 2004 when I moved out to the Philly burbs and Dave was still at school, we were 6 hours apart.  Every other weekend or so, we would log the miles to see each other, desperate just to see each other's smiles!

Since September, Dave has been in Boston working M-Th, driving back to Philly on Thursday evening, and driving back to Boston on Sunday afternoon.  He has been living in a dinky little room at a family run inn, eating the individual servings of left overs I so lovingly pack up for him each week, and talking to Noah and Audrey once or twice a week over video chat.

Once a month, I will venture up to the great north.  6+ hours with 2 kids in a minivan is not my idea of a perfect day, but having our whole family together, even if it is just for a brief weekend rendezvous, is just plain awesome.

As we get ready to move up to Boston and reunite as a family, I can't help but to think how lucky we are to have had this experience of distance.  I LOVE the fact that each week, we get to prove to each other how much we mean to one another.  I love that ours isn't just a marriage of convenience, of rhythm, or even ease. We make the effort to truly enjoy each other and strengthen our marriage and family.  I love that Noah and Audrey get to see that and experience it first hand.

I also think of how much of a pain this adoption process is, and we haven't even made the 10+ hour flight to Eastern Europe once, let alone 3 times!!  I think this situation falls into the same category!

To us, it proves that our family is worth it. Again and again and again until we are ALL finally together, we will go the distance!

Drumroll Please......

It's a  BOY!!!

We are so thrilled to announce that we have committed to a fantastic little boy named "Hudson" (Hudson is his adoption alias) in Eastern Europe and we couldn't be happier.

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Hudson is so super cute!    Want to know a little more about him? Great, because I was going to tell you anyway. What mom can resist the urge to brag about her kiddo??

He turned 2 in October 2012.  Since we didn't know the exact date, we celebrated with cupcakes, candles and singing Happy Birthday on Oct. 31.  

He has big beautiful gray eyes, and the cutest little gap in his teeth. 

He has some physical delays.  Hudson isn't walking yet, but Noah assures me that he will teach him and the doctors can help.  

He has a few more needs than he we were planning to take on, but God has really worked on our hearts the past month.  Dave, in particular, was drawn to this little guy from the get go.  Once nervous about all special needs, Dave was the one to step up to the plate and assure us that whatever Hudson needed, we could provide. We couldn't think of anyone we knew that could handle his needs better, so why were we so afraid?  God would not put him on our hearts if He didn't have a plan.  To see Dave's heart mold to God's calling was amazing.  To hear Dave fighting for Hudson when I only wanted to take the easy path in this process was inspiring.  I have honestly never been so proud of my husband. He is truly standing up for the orphan. He is an awesome man of God and I have never found it so easy to submit and follow him.

After much hmming and hahhhing, it just comes down to this:  He needs us.

And we are pretty certain we need him right back!