Get Out of the Boat

This past Sunday, our pastor gave a sermon about Jesus walking on water.  How many times have I heard that story in my lifetime?  It's always been one of my favorite miracles from the Gospels.  We've even performed the scene during Christmas Live for the past few years.

You know how it goes:  The disciples start crossing the Sea of Galilee and a storm comes up.  Meanwhile, Jesus was back on land praying.  Then suddenly, the disciples see a "ghost" walking on the water!  They realize it's Jesus and Peter (a man after my own heart!) wants in on the miracle, so he steps out onto the water too. 

Did you catch that?  He stepped out on the water too.  Peter, a simple human with no God-like power whatsoever, stepped out and walked on water.  How did he do it?

Simple:  Jesus.  Oh, and the fact that Peter was willing to step out of the boat.

There is nothing in this world that could make you believe that you can walk on water.  It's just not physically possible!  Likewise, there is nothing in this world that can make the Etter family believe they can adopt a special needs child filled with trauma and show him the love of a family.

In just seven days, our lives as we know them will be forever changed.  We reminisce back to those few days before Vivien was born.  There was so much that we didn't know.  Nothing can prepare a new parent for the upheaval that a new child brings.  The same is true now for this new addition to our family.  There are plenty of unknowns.   We are excited and just a smidge terrified of them!

When we pick up Nikolay, we will be forever ripping him from the only home he has ever known.  There will be sadness and mourning that we will share with him over this.  He will grieve his life as he knew it, and we will also grieve our lives as well.   It will be difficult and tiresome for all of us - like any family with a new addition.  We will adapt, and we will learn, and we will love.

If there is anything we've learned over these last two-and-a-half years, it's to lean in on God.  Because adoption, much like parenting in general, is not done by our might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Pick-up Trip

Our official pick-up date is August 5, 2019.  This will be the first day of the rest of our lives.  Our son will officially be ours.  While there's a court document out there somewhere saying we are his parents, we won't obtain custody until the morning of August 5th.  

We will spend about 10 days in his country while his Visa and passport are processed and then we'll make the long trek to his forever home.

We are as ready as we can be.  His room is just about ready, doctors' appointments have been scheduled, meals have been prepped, and we are ready to expect the unexpected.

As we travel (Aug 3-14), please continue to pray.  Here are the specifics:

• Pray for Vivien and her Grams as they stay at home.
• Pray for the logistics of pick-up, medical appointments and Visa interviews
• Pray for us to be able to bond with our son and vice versa.
• Pray for travel logistics (there's no good way to get from here to there!)

We are excited and overwhelmed - much like any new parents who are expecting.  But God has called us and we will follow.  "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

He created this fingerpainting during our "Meetcha Trip."  We added the hearts and the sun.  Now it's hanging in his room waiting for him.

When he comes home, he'll know he's already part of the family.