"....his name is Dereje...."

..."his name is Dereje...."
..."he is thirteen months old...."
..."he weighs about 14 pounds..."

The first week of July is a memorable week for the Timmons family.

Specifically, JULY 2nd.

In the last 4 years two events have happened on July 2nd that have turned our family upside down....in a VERY good way.

4 years ago on this day we arrived at Hannah's Hope Orphanage in Guatemala City, Guatemala to gather our third child into our arms forever. In adoption lingo it's called "Gotcha Day".....but anyone who has experienced one will tell you that title is vastly inadequate!!

And then 3 years later. Last year. 2009. JULY 2nd.....

We received a phone call that simultaneously thrilled, excited, scared, baffled, shocked and amazed us.

I have never described the details of that day on this blog. But it is a day I will never forget....a day that I pray will bring glory to God for what it did to our family. For the path that led up to it. For the step of faith required after it. And certainly for the miracle it ushered into our family.

Our caseworker from All God's Children called. It was early in the afternoon and I was shopping at Walmart. ((Because where else would you NOT want to be when you get a phone call like that?!?!))

The first sentence out of her mouth was "I have a little boy in Ethiopia that I would like to talk you about." The next few minutes are a blur. I scrambled to find a pen and a piece of paper in my purse. I scribbled down details as she gave them. 13 months. 14 pounds. So small. Malnutrition. Sitting up. Not walking. Developmental delay. Adjusting well. Loves to cuddle into the nanny's chest. Quiet.

She told us to talk about it. Pray about it. She would email pictures.
I called Chad, rushed through the checkout to get home, pulled up the pictures for Chad and I to see.
And this was our first glimpse of him:



I don't remember much about the rest of the day....talking to friends and family....discussing health concerns the international pediatrician raised....praying....praying....praying....celebrating.

And now a year later.




July 2nd.
A day we are especially thankful...a day we sing praises to the Sovereign God who has woven it all together....a day we rejoice over the plans that were laid for this family before time began.