The Final Moments

Ok...we are in the final moments. We will be on the plane in less than twelve hours bound to the other side of the Earth to meet my Sweet Girl. (which means I'll be up in less than 6 hours if I get any sleep at all tonight!)

So many people have helped make this adoption happen. I wish I had the space to thank you all. Your personal, spiritual, financial and practical investment into our lives is is living extension of God's care of us. Thank you <3  I need to thank the precious couple that is staying in our home while we are gone--thank you, thank you. What a blessing that is to us. I dub thee 'estate managers'!  

For as far as we have come, it would be easy to take a big breathe and declare "we made it!", but really the journey is just beginning. We now fight for a little heart that has been abandoned and declared unworthy of a family. We respond by claiming the path between our Albanian apartment and the orphanage as holy ground--you, precious child of God are WORTHY, you are LOVED, you have a HOPE, you have a FUTURE, you have a FAMILY that will walk along side you for the rest of our days as you let our Heavenly Father love you and you learn to love Him in return.  

As we start this portion of the adoption road, will you continue to pray?  I've jotted some notes down below, but please allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.  We enter into this chapter fully aware that satan does not approve of redemption and will do whatever it takes to destroy it. (But God has already won!)

I hope to post updates on a regular basis, so keep an eye out. 

THANK YOU to EVERYONE. 

* Travel mercies, specifically over our luggage: We only just an hour layover at JFK and in Rome before we land in Albania. We need a miraculous transfer of our luggage to keep up with us!  Especially, as I am scheduled to meet my girly just 4 hours after landing---Momma is going to need a shower and fresh clothes!

*Physical safety & health for everyone: Stress and heat and change and un-potable water can be a nasty combo.  We are coming prepared with ALL the medications and my medical bag but staying healthy would be preferred. 

*Team unity: Feels weird to request that when traveling with family, but satan will use anything to his advantage, and this is very much a team mission trip. Join me in praying for grace, joy, adventure, flexibility, sense of fun and creative use of time (LOTS of down time is expected). I would love to look back at this summer and think "What an amazing experience in Albania! I can't wait to go back again!".  

*Cultural sensitivity: We've done our homework and are going to attempt to speak the language, but truly we will stick out like bumbling Americans. The last thing I want to do is unintentionally offend or cause any damage to the lovely people of Albania. We want to be a loving testimony of God's absolute passion for the nations.  

*Peace over my girl's heart and mind: There is a lot of change about to happen for her. I want so desperately that she is not scared or confused. Please be praying for divine understanding..and even JOY...to wash over her! The joy of a family--even a crazy little one like ours. The joy of a future. The joy of a crazy long airplane ride and cousins and her own bed and a new school. 

*Supernatural communication: My girly doesn't speak English and while I've been learning Albanian, let's be honest...no hablo Albanian bueno.  We have visual communication cards with us and translation apps and charades and the Holy Spirit; I'm relying on the last one the most!  There is a lot to grieve and process when leaving all that you've known for 13 years. I'll need divine wisdom to help her process this. 

*Peace over Isaac: 17 hours on a plane, 9 hours time difference, 90 degree heat, a wildly fluctuating schedule, the immediate departure of his momma in a strange place...on paper, none of this looks good. BUT GOD.  We have been talking about Sister for many months and he is SUPER excited about getting on an airplane, but I don't think he has a full idea of what is happening.  Again, BUT GOD. I've been praying that his little heart, which seems to understand so much more than I give him credit for, will just relax into the peace of God that surrounds us. He likes adventures!  There is probably no bigger adventure than moving to Albania for a summer!

*Miraculous binding of Isaac and his new big sister: He has been an only child his entire life. She has been in an orphanage setting for the length of hers. Sharing/having a momma will be a new experience for them both. I look forward to the day I hear them both giggling together from another room, but I know that may take some time. Please be praying for wisdom for me as I help them navigate their new relationship; and may the giggles come quickly!  (The good giggles. Not the 'mom isn't looking, let's flush things down the toilet'-giggles). 

*Relationship building: We will be living in an apartment in the center of town near the orphanage and will have the opportunity to build relationships with those around us and the sisters at the orphanage. Who knows--maybe even at the hospital and Down Syndrome center in the capital. We'll certainly have lots of time with the missionaries in Albania (who happen to be from Tacoma!)  Please pray that they would feel respected, supported and overwhelmingly loved. If we can raise the arms of those doing the Lord's work in Albania, even for just a moment I would be honored. 

*Continued favor over our file and court proceedings: The Albanian legislature changed the rules regarding adoptions earlier this year. Unfortunately, there is wide variation on how these rules are interpreted and how they are being implemented.  The judge assigned to us is interpreting the rules in a way that will decrease the number of times we need to be in court and ultimately how long we stay in country (much less is what we are expecting!). This is wonderfully favorable! And we are praying that favor continues to rest upon our files. 

*Quick & accurate processing of the adoption: As noted above, we have the potential opportunity to be away from US soil for much less time than we expected. This is good, but more importantly we need all the I-s dotted and Ts crossed accurately so there are no issues that could impact our adoption or future adoptions. 

*Most importantly--that the Lord would be glorified through every step, every word, every interaction we have on this journey. He clearly has ordained this process, moved the mountains and split the seas to get us to this place. To be brought to this beautiful country of glorious mountains nestled on the Adriatic sea is not lost on me. There is a testimony of His love and redemption that is waiting to burst forth from this adventure. I pray the story of our little family, our feeble YES to our Heavenly Father will impact many.