It's a boy! Author R.K. Mortenson shares his joy.

Here's the story of my new son, Colby William Jay Mortenson. And a picture!

In late 2005 my wife Betsy and I began adoption paperwork through a local Christian adoption agency in Jacksonville, Florida, where we live. We were hoping and praying that by some miracle we might add another child to our family before leaving Florida in September 2006 (when I will be separating from the Navy). Each night at bedtime, we'd ask our 2 1/2-year-old daughter Kyra what she wanted to pray for. Her first reply was the same each night: "A new baby."

On January 31 of this year we turned in our "picture profile" to the adoption agency, thereby completing our application. We were prepared to wait for weeks or months for any news. We had told the social worker who conducted our home study just a few days earlier that we were open to any child God may have in mind for us.

Exactly one week after turning in the picture profile, the counselor at the agency called saying a woman had selected us to be the adoptive family for her child. Ours was the first profile she looked at. When asked if she wanted to see more profiles, she said, "No, this is the family." She was due in eight weeks!

It took just less than six weeks for the baby to be born. On Sunday, March 19 at 9:28AM Eastern time, Colby William Jay Mortenson was born in Jacksonville, FL. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 19 inches long. My wife and I were both present for the delivery, and Betsy got to snip the umbilical cord. What a miraculous blessing, in so many ways!

Two days later - and six weeks to the day after receiving the call from the agency - we brought Colby home.

We are so grateful, humbled, and happy, praising God for bringing Colby to us!

Peace and joy in Jesus,
R. K. Mortenson