The Diaper Bag

I love this diaper bag. I bought it when Gracie was a baby. It wasn't the first diaper bag I bought, however. I naively started out with a cheap bag, and after a few weeks, it was tearing up. So I wised up and realized that this was a bag I would be loading with baby necessities and carrying daily and it would be worth investing some money in. I love all things Fossil, and I found this bag at Macy's. It wasn't a designated diaper bag, but it was roomy and waterproof and had lots of pockets. And I loved the colors and design. So I got my beloved diaper bag.

I carried it with Gracie, and I carried it with Judah. I held onto it after I didn't need it as a diaper bag anymore, because I still loved it and it came in handy when I had to tote a lot of things around (to a pool, beach, picnic, etc.). But it had been out of regular rotation for several years, yielding to the more compact and stylish purses that a mom can carry when she no longer has a baby to haul around.

But for the past two and a half weeks, my trusty friend is back on my shoulder on a daily basis. Because two and a half weeks ago, we got another baby.

No, I wasn't pregnant; I didn't "have" a baby. I got one. I dislike using the word "got" for this; it sounds like the verb you use for a new car or TV or a Christmas gift. But I don't know how else to describe it. One day we were a family of six, the next day a family of seven, because we got a baby, a fifteen-month-old boy, to be exact.

We can't share all of the details (or any photos of him) until the adoption is finalized. What we can share at this point is as follows. About three months ago, we learned that a family member had a baby boy whom she could no longer care for. We were approached to consider adopting him if that situation became permanent. Harvey and I have adopted before, and we had casually discussed adopting again at some point (but not taken any steps to pursue it). When we learned about this baby, who was in our family, whom we did not pursue but were approached about, we wondered whether God was giving us an opportunity to adopt again. So we began taking the necessary steps to become approved to foster/adopt in DC. We filled out forms, got fingerprinted, did background checks, and had a home study. Things went surprisingly fast (the case worker said she'd never seen anyone be approved so quickly). When the court date arrived (September 26), we were ready to take the baby.

And a week later, we did. The case worker flew him out to us from Texas. We had no baby clothes, one pack of diapers, a borrowed car seat, our old pack-and-play for a bed, and a lovingly worn but still sturdy diaper bag. Baby A arrived in DC on October 4, and since then he's charmed us all and we've transitioned fairly smoothly back into baby mode.

I cannot express how the Lord has shown us his mercy, grace, and provision in the past two and a half weeks. In making the decision to take A, to adopt again (which was not an easy one--there are so many reasons why we shouldn't: We already have four kids! We are almost 40! We were done with diapers!), we were trying to be obedient to what we believed God was calling us to do. However, we know he does not owe us ease or comfort--smooth sailing--in return for our obedience. I had fears of sleepless nights, endless screaming, and stressful afternoons juggling four kids' homework plus a fussy, busy toddler. But God has been gracious to help A adjust; he's happy, rarely fusses, and eats and sleeps well. The other four kids are in love with him and are ready helpers when I need a hand.

On top of that, our church and neighbors have been exceedingly generous in helping provide for our needs. My dear neighbor friend Lauren collected donations from other neighbors who know me and some of her friends (who don't)! Our church, led by my friend Stephanie, is giving us a shower this Sunday. And already we've been given a crib and mattress, strollers, a high chair, diapers (a box of 180 from a friend of Lauren's I don't even know!), a video monitor, meals, and several hundred dollars in gift cards. We want for nothing.

As we were deciding whether to open our home to A, verses from James stood out to me. Of course, Harvey and I have always taken James 1:27 seriously, that "religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction." In addition, God led me to James 4:17, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." In spite of our concerns about and objections to another adoption, for us, it was the right thing to do, and we did not want to be guilty of disobedience. In the days since receiving A, in experiencing the kindness and generosity of friends and strangers, the Lord has brought to my mind 2 Corinthians 9, especially verse 11: "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." I believe God is the one who has prompted others' generosity toward us, and I thank them but I also thank him!

So just as I was getting used to a new routine, quiet days to myself while all four of my kids went to school, I've had to relearn an old one. Each morning I take the diapers, the wipes, the pacifiers, the bibs, the sippy cups, and the baby snacks and happily load up my old diaper bag for adventures with my new little companion, Baby A (who happens to be napping soundly at the moment). An old bag, a new baby, a happy mom, a blessed family.

Please feel free to contact us privately if you have questions! As always, thanks for reading!