Chad and Tamisha (our son-in-law and oldest daughter of College Station, TX) surprised us Wednesday with the news that they were adopting a 12-week-old baby boy from their local area.

It all happened very quickly. The birth mother voluntarily signed over her parental rights on Thursday to Chad and Tamisha and they picked up the baby from her on Friday, which just happened to be National Adoption Day. They have named him Jake Utermark (middle name is yet to be determined).  

To say that we are all thrilled would be an understatement. Erma and I were traveling but we immediately changed our itinerary and flew to College Station to be a part of this grand occasion. I returned home on Saturday, but Erma is staying a few more days to help out.  

Judd is really happy about Jake joining their family. When I drove up to their house, he came running up to me wearing his new "Big Brother" T-shirt and said excitedly, "Papa, Mommy's going to have a (he paused for a moment)...we're going to have a baby!" Then he led me to the front porch and demonstrated to me that he could write his new little brother's name on the front porch with sidewalk chalk. He carefully spelled it out in big letters, "JAKE."

Judd went with Chad and Tamisha to pick up Jake. On their way home, the baby began to cry. What happened next was really special as Judd began to sing the children's song that he had recently learned in Sunday School - "Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus...come in today, come in to stay..." In just a few moments, Jake stopped crying as the sweet presence of the Lord filled their SUV.

Jake is one lucky little fella. He didn't come to his new home with much...except a very bright future! There weren't any toys in his little box of belongings, not even a pacifier. What he did have reeked with the smell of cigarette smoke. But now he has everything a child needs, and then some. Tamisha owns a wonderful children's boutique, Blue Kangaroo, so you can be sure that he won't lack for clothes and other things that a baby needs. Most importantly, he is surrounded by a loving and caring family.

The story of how all of this came to pass is almost unbelievable and nothing short of a miracle! As we approach this Thanksgiving Season, we are so very grateful to the Lord for this little bundle of joy that He has brought into our lives.