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A couple of nights ago we were invited to a very special event at the airport. Our friends, who are also adopting from South Korea were finally receiving their baby son after 17 months of

waiting.

As my husband and I watched, a precious, wide-eyed baby boy was escorted off a United Airlines plane by a sweet lady and just like that their family expanded. Right before our eyes.

We couldn't hold back the tears- tears of joy, tears of awe, tears of gratitude. And I couldn't help but think about their journey..we didn't know these friends when they first started this process. We knew 'of' their decision to adopt but hadn't connected personally yet. I can only imagine that during those 17 months they had emotions similar to what we are experiencing now as we climb each hurdle and complete each step of the process.

At times he was just an idea or dream in their hearts. Maybe their baby felt so close some days and so far away during others. Sometimes abstract. Sometimes wanted home so badly it hurt.

Waiting is hard.

Our friendship began right around the time they received their referral and we remember looking at a snapshot of a dark-haired angel. He was a real boy. A real orphan half-way around the world and he was now their son. He now had a family that wanted him to come here.

To come home!

In the past few months, we have discovered that they are just as passionate about orphan care and advocacy as we are. And we have connected on a friendship level outside of the adoption..make no mistake, God places people in your lives at just the right time.

These friends are well-timed.

And so we watched a mother lovingly cradle her new son and beam from ear to ear. She had commented she didn't know how she would react but it was obvious that she was in love at first sight.

We watched a father whisper tender words in his son's ear that only he and his son will know.

We watched a sweet, spunky 4 year old bow up with pride and run over and ask us ' do you just LOVE my baby brother?'

We watched a Korean escort cry when it was her turn to say goodbye to the baby she had cared for the past 24 hours, over an ocean and across a country. She had done her small but large part in completing this adoption story.

We watched a very private, very tender moment in a family's life played out in this very public place. Something that God has been weaving together for a long, long time only to be revealed in His time, exactly the way He had scripted it.

Although they received the bigger gift last night, our friends gave us a gift, as well. We witnessed God actively at work in those moments and I don't think we will ever forget it. And to know that God has this plan in store for our family..a journey similar to theirs but different and unique..is completely humbling.

We are honored to play a part in His story.

I have had a thought continue to rattle around in my brain since experiencing this last night...clearly we can relate to them because we are anticipating our own baby. But- I wonder if more people could watch something like this, could stop long enough to open their hearts to a child becoming part of a family...if more people at the airport, even could have paused their hurried pace long enough and been awed right along with us, how many less orphans in the world would there be?

Orphans aren't an idea you hear about on the news, read about on the internet, they aren't a hazy, abstract thought.

They're real.

And Jesus wants us to reach out to them in some way to care for them. And for us, and for this family..to welcome them home. So they won't have to carry that title around anymore. So they can become sons and daughters.

Our dear friends, thank you so much for inviting us to be there. We are so very, very grateful and so happy for you!

arriving at the airport..family of 3 for a few more minutes..



Waiting for the flight..



With their social worker and friend..(she's our social worker, too!)



The moment before they see him



He's here! They are waiting to hold him..



Finally in mama's arms!



And now a family of four!

Want to read more of their story? Go to http://www.jasonyounglive.com/