Well, here it is. I posted this on my facebook page and only like three people actually, "got it". Yes, before too long Yoseph will be a big brother. I am pregnant! Notice the title, "kind of" in shock. We knew we wanted another biological child, I went off the pills, and well, it kind of happened. We just laughed looking at that positive test. We are thrilled, but also a little anxious. We've only had two kids for about 6 months and very soon we will have 3.... Good Lord, hopefully only 3, twins run in my family. I'm only about 7 week pregnant, so obviously we're not good at keeping secrets.
We do still desire to adopt again, probably from Ethiopia again. The desire for Yoseph to have shared heritage with another child in our family is great and we would love to give another child a Forever Family. We are currently praying about the timing on that. Wait lists are now at 2-3 years. For a little perspective, for Yoseph's adoption we waited only 7 months- big difference. So technically if we started the adoption process soon we could have our 4th child home about 2-3 years after this one is born, which would be good timing. So, it could work, but we haven't made any definite decisions.
Having four kids two biological, two adopted has been how we've wanted to grow our family. Having just two kids seems so common and normal. Lately it seems if you have more than two kids you have a "big family". If you haven't noticed, I like to spice things up a little in my life.... adoption, living in the middle of nowhere, cloth diapers, homeschooling, having a transracial family, making 15 burritos at a time. We of course don't do those things just to be out of the ordinary, but by all means we are not afraid to be different. Being a Christian in itself is a lot different than the way many people in our society live. We want a "big family" if I guess that's what it means to have 4 kids.
Camp season has started. For those who read here who do not know, my husband and I are Directors at a Christian residential summer camp in eastern VA. Lately our days have been filled with meals with 18 college students, who love playing with Elijah and Yoseph. During these two training weeks Steve is at camp from sun up to sun down. He is working very hard getting the staff trained, certified, grounds and equipment ready and everything ready for the about five hundred kids that will be in our back yard over the next 7 weeks. These are pictures of Elijah about to ride on the v-swing for the first time.
On top of this, the construction on a new home on the property will begin soon. It will be a new home for our family, while another staff couple moves into the home we currently live in. So, we're at t-minus 8 months before we have to build a house to move into before the newest Gourley arrives.
Earlier this month Steve and I shared our 7 year wedding anniversary. Looking back I wonder if I would have been surprised by this life we have made. I don't think so. I think this life fits us just perfectly and I am very proud of how God is growing our family.
