Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Soundtrack by Roberta

"His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him."--Charles Dickens, about Ebenezer Scrooge.

I woke up wide awake this morning at 5:00 am, worried because our little cat Buddy wasn't sleeping beside me like usual. In fact, the last I'd seen him was at 9:30 when he scampered out of the kitty door, miffed about all the noise going on in the house (we had friends over, with four kids running around).

I got up and called him, but he didn't come. I woke Ted up, and he got dressed and went walking around in the rain calling him. Ted does these sorts of things not because he's worried about Buddy but because he loves me. Sometimes I think I'm indulged more than I'm worth.
I managed to go back to sleep but all I dreamed about was Buddy getting lost or run over by a car or chased by coyotes. When I woke up again, Buddy still wasn't around, so I put on clothes and hat and walked around the block, checking the gutters and curbs for...you know. My mind goes to that dark place. Sorry.

As I walked back home, the stupid cat comes running up to me, meeowing. Where he'd been, I have no idea. But I think I got a taste of what it means to parent a teenager who doesn't come home on time. I was happy to see him but a little mad at him too for making me have dark dreams about his violent demise.


Satisfied that all the living things in my care were safe again, I sat down at the computer with my hot cup of PGTips to read emails, many of which were sweet, encouraging comments from people about the Wait.

Half an hour later, the phone rang. It was Mary, our Gladney caseworker, and for about half a second, I thought it might be our referral call. But then I realized that we weren't going to hear about our referral until January, and Mary then started answering a question I'd emailed her about this week. Whew. She answered my question but didn't hang right up. She lingered. I didn't know what to say. I thought, "Uh, Mary? Aren't you kind of busy these days? Didn't I hear something about you guys working late nights lately? Shouldn't you be doing something important?"

It turns out that the important thing was to make sure I was seated because...she was calling about a certain little 6-month-old boy named Abenezer who is going to become Our Own Rooney! Yowzers!

Because Ted had his night disturbed by searching for our wayward lil' bastard, he was sleeping in. I went upstairs and found him hanging with Bang Bang. With his signature Rooney morning face, he gazed at me, but it was clear he wasn't getting it. When I gave him a thumbs up and mouthed the word "Referral!," he sprung out of bed. Later, he told me that at that moment it felt like it was Christmas morning and he'd overslept and was awakened with that news of an extra big surprise under the tree with his name on it.


The next half hour sitting in front of the computer was the most surreal moment of my life to date. As Mary went through all the information about this little guy, I only heard about half of it. My head was swimming, and the thing I never thought would happen did: I fell in love with a photograph. People, our little Christmas Abenezer Scrooge Rooney is STUNNING.


For all of you parents out there still in process, feeling overwhelmed by notaries, by having every intimate detail of your life scrutinized by strangers, by papercuts and signatures, and copy machines, by the hours spent pouring over blogs, by the occasional dumb question, and by the long, long wait: be of good faith! It's all worth it for the moment that you see that face.


I've been hearing Roberta Flack singing in my head all day "The first time ever I saw your face, I thought the sun rose in your eyes...," this beautiful, beautiful day.

PS: No, we are not naming him Christmas Abenezer Scrooge Rooney. And hang in there, pictures are coming :)

42 comments:

Momma said...

What a blessed day ~ Congratulations and rejoice in your wonderful news. We cannot wait to see the pics! Us bloggers sure do love those pics, don't we!

Mary Ann (Tsebay & Kozette's Mimi)

graceling said...

How wonderful!

Can't wait to see pics:)

Amy said...

Lori and Ted! I just had a sneaking suspicion after I saw the Breedloves got their referral, that you received yours too! Congratulations! What a great story! Can't wait to see pictures of sweet Abenezer! What does his name mean?
Sweet stuff! Yah! Congratulations!

Tara said...

Very tricky! You had me fooled- I just thought this was a regular old post because there was no picture or "REFERRAL" heading...very tricky indeed. :)
But YAAAAHOOOO! I want to see his face!! I am so excited for you guys...congrats mom!!!
We want pics, we want pics...

Amanda said...

Praise God Almighty! I think this is the most exciting Christmas ever! I cannot wait to meet Abenezer. Hee hee. He's Abe. That's cute.

Nicholas said...

Congratulations!!!!!!!! What a wonderful gift right before Christmas too... Yay for your family. I can't wait to see him!
Lori (NH)

Amy B. said...

That is too funny about the song. The picture frame I got the other day...so I could have whenever we got our referral...says "the first time ever I saw your face". I am so thrilled for you guys. I would just be overjoyed if all works out for us to meet up in Addis. I don't know if tonight I will sleep better than I have in months or not be able to sleep at all. It has been a pretty emotionally exhausting day.

Take care...we will talk again soon! Amy

Drew Carey Show said...

We are so excited for you guys! Your very own Rooney, planned for you from the beginning. What a miracle! He's just a couple of weeks older than Zoe, and they were hospital buds together. What a wonderful story they'll have. So glad you're in our lives! Much love, Carey, Drew & Zoe

Jo Hertel said...

I am so excited for you! I am thanking the Lord, as I'm sure you are, for giving you the desire of your heart. Merry Christmas!

m&r said...

Congratulations! Your blog was one of the first I came across when I started the adoption progress with Gladney. I was so excited to see your great news today - what a wonderful way to start celebrating the holidays!

Stephanie said...

Oh, Lori! You have made me cry. Tears of absolute joy, of course. I'm sooo excited for you. I cannot wait to fall in love with his face too! I already love him. Congratulations to you and Ted. The WAIT is over, and yet it's just begun. Now you have to wait for travel, but you can keep busy with shopping for awesome things for him! :D

You're all in my prayers. That Buddy too, he should be ashamed!

Steph

Crazy Thorne's said...

Congratulations! Cant wait to see the pictures! What a special day and a Christmas you will remember forever! Pam

Anonymous said...

Just great news, what a perfect Christmas gift. Can't wait to meet him and see you all together as a family!

Jocelyn said...

You had me fooled too...I was reading and went OH!! Pictures, Pictures...come on, we want to see his beautiful face:-) And maybe, just maybe, you and Amy will get a court date around mine and we can all meet in Addis!!

Congrats, I am so happy for you!!

Danni and Tommy said...

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. It's the most amazing feeling, huh!?! Can't wait to see his face...But, we already know he's absolutely amazing!

Anonymous said...

JOY, JOY, JOY!! I am SOOOOO happy for you guys! I just checked back on our list for Sophie of babies in the house when we arrived and I have an Abenezer listed! I don't think I have a picture of him, but if I do I'll send it along. Either way, I feel blessed that he and Sophie shared a home for a little while. I'm going to abandon "Where's Ted" for awhile and wonder "Where's Abenezer", so post pictures asap!!! xoxo

Meredith said...

Woweee Zowwwwee! You are a tricky one with this posting! I am sooo thrilled for you guys. I want to see pictures of your own ASAP!
Congrats guys!
Mere

Angie said...

What a GREAT story! I just saw Amy Breedlove's referal and now yours - I can hardly contain myself!!! I can't wait for my husband to get home so I can fill him in. We're so happy for you! :)
CONGRATULATIONS on your baby BOY!!

Liza said...

I can't even imagine how thrilled you two must be. Congratulations!

What will his full name be?

-Samantha- said...

Congratulations cheeky little blog friends! I hope we all get to meet in Ethiopia.

Erica said...

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations! I can't wait to see his cute little self in pictures. What does his name mean? VERY cool - I'm thrilled for you both!

Karen said...

So happy for you! Can't wait to see the photos.

Shelia Earl Photography said...

Oh, Lori -- this has been ONE BIG day in the referral world, hasn't it? Congratulations to you both!! We are on cloud 9 today -- with a new grandson -- and now we see your referral and Samantha's coming through at the same time. What a WONDERFUL Christmas we will all have, huh? Hoping that you can all travel together. Wouldn't that be a BLAST!! Shelia (Amy's mom) Skopje

mama becca said...

You tricked me!!!! I had no idea this was the REFERRAL post!!!! AAAHHHH!!!
I'm over the moon for you!
Congratulations!!!!!! If we get our referral soon, maybe we too will be traveling with you... that would be such a delight.
Glory be to God!
becca

jennifer said...

I was reading the EthiopianBlog digest this morning when I saw your message that you received a referral! I have been following your blog for a long time...a big CONGRATULATIONS! Can't wait to see photos of Abenezer. I will give him hugs and kisses when I see him in person next week!

Renee said...

Congratulations! I can't wait to see pictures. We'll be sure to give the little guy lot's of love next week!

Gretchen said...

Lori! YAY! I am so happy for you and Ted! There was some sort of excitement I could read in your comment on my blog- enough that made me check your site out (something that I rarely, RARELY do prior to the work day beginning)! CONGRATULATIONS on your little boy!!!! I can't wait to see pictures.... YAY!

MB said...

Yay!! I stumbled across your blog today - what a day for that! Congratulations on your referral!!!

Beau Fournet said...

Yea!!! Congratulations on your baby! What a wonderful story!

~Laura~ said...

WOO HOO!! How flippin' exciting! I'm just so overjoyed for you guys. YAY! Can't wait to see pics.

Stacie said...

Yay! Congratulations!! I love the name Christmas Abenezer Scrooge Rooney! :) Very cute. (I know - it's not his name! :)
I can't wait to see pictures!!!! SO HAPPY for you!!

Mollie said...

Yayyyyyy aw I'm so happy for you guys Lori.. I know you're just over the moon with excitement... Congratulations on your very first Christmas as a MOMMY!!! =)

Mollie

Quinn Girls said...

What a great day! Congratulations and bring on the pics. Happy Holidays.

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS! I've been following your blog religiously and have been waiting for this moment for you both. I can't wait to see pictures and to hear of your upcoming adventure as you go to meet your little guy. I'm so happy for you!
Love,
Staci

Anonymous said...

Lori and Ted,
We are absolutely thrilled for you! Praise God, indeed. Thank you for sharing this exciting news.
Nan & Lindsay

Anonymous said...

What wonderful news! Congratulations. I'm sure he would love to come to East Rosebud sometime :)

Kristi said...

Congratulations.....it doesn't get much better than that :-)

Susan Isaacs said...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

neola said...

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! :)

i can't wait to meet him! :)

Melissa said...

I am so ecstatic for you. When you called to tell me, immediately tears were pouring down my face. I didn't realize that I too was beginning to impatiently anticipate this news for you.
The two of you couldn't be more deserving of such a precious gift. Not only did God give his own son to the world that we celebrate this christmas but he too has given you a new son to brighten your world.
He is absolutely beautiful. You think its exciting to see his picture, wait until the first time you hold him in your arms. Better bring the xanax!
Love you both!!!

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! Tears of joy for you both. I remember sitting with you at Swork earlier this year just talking about the idea of this and now here you are with your very own baby with a quite theatrical name. Not to make it about me, but I got a traffic ticket this morning and I was talking to God saying, hey you know I could really use some good news about now. Could not have asked for a better good news than to arrive at work go onto your blog and see this. Makes me want to sing! Love, Pattie

coffeemom said...

A year later, and it will still make me cry. Oh, this special boy for this special family...just wow. love m