Sometimes I just sit amazed at ALL God has done in one year's time.
One year ago today, we met Zareb Jeremiah.
He was all dressed up in layers of funny colors as only an orphanage could do!
That moment that the director brought him in to her office to meet his parents was a holy moment.
I KNOW I heard angels' wings flutter. "Shhhh! This is the MOMENT!!" they must have said.
"Jeremiah, this is your Mummy and your Daddy," said Barbara, the director. She led a silent, wide-eyed little boy over to the chairs where we sat waiting with big round eyes ourselves. It was a moment we had all been anticipating and none of us could believe was happening.
"Hullo Mummy." He said in the softest voice, barely lifting his eyes.
"And this is your Daddy," Barbara guided.
"Hullo Daddy." he breathed, looking at his shoes.
We thanked Barbara profusely for choosing us to be his parents. She waved her hand, "No no, I didn't do this, GOD DID." (in a fabulous Ugandan accent)
From there, we immediately got into a taxi to take his passport picture. Note how happy WE were...and how scared to death poor little "Jeremiah" was!
Then I compare that with how he is now.
It's an astounding change.
He loves freely.
Covers my face with sloppy wet kisses of his own volition.
Giggles.
Eats like there's no tomorrow.
Twirls and sings.
Beats the African drums with his brother and daddy.
Loudly declares his opinions while playing.
He rides a bike without training wheels.
Loves to swim in the pool.
Drops everything and breaks into an all-out run when he learns his daddy is home!
Early in the mornings he crawls into bed with me declaring, "It's snuggle time!"
When we snuggle, he remembers. We talk. He mentions the orphanage. How we came to get him and we brought him here.
Deeper snuggle.
"Will you always keep me safe?" he asks.
"I will."
"We need to get Toby out of the orphanage too, Mommy." This comment breaks my reverie and snaps me back to the job of bringing Toby home.
Reality comes in like an unwanted icy blast...dear little Toby does not yet know the freedom to come find mommy and snuggle and hear that life is going to be alright.
I had NO IDEA that one year from today we would be delighting in Zebby and collectively aching to bring home yet ANOTHER orphan.
It kind of amazes me.
If I were writing the text of my life story, I would have never added these chapters. These adoption chapters of sons.
But God.
He is writing our lives, and we are committed to the task of keeping our eyes on Him and obeying. We no more than finalized Zareb's adoption in April and He led us to the file of a Dong BaoKun in China. I think I would have given us a little breather...but not God! Here we go!
I wonder where we will be next August 11 as we mark 2 years of knowing Zareb?
Only God and time will tell.
One year ago today, we met Zareb Jeremiah.
He was all dressed up in layers of funny colors as only an orphanage could do!
That moment that the director brought him in to her office to meet his parents was a holy moment.
I KNOW I heard angels' wings flutter. "Shhhh! This is the MOMENT!!" they must have said.
"Jeremiah, this is your Mummy and your Daddy," said Barbara, the director. She led a silent, wide-eyed little boy over to the chairs where we sat waiting with big round eyes ourselves. It was a moment we had all been anticipating and none of us could believe was happening.
"Hullo Mummy." He said in the softest voice, barely lifting his eyes.
"And this is your Daddy," Barbara guided.
"Hullo Daddy." he breathed, looking at his shoes.
We thanked Barbara profusely for choosing us to be his parents. She waved her hand, "No no, I didn't do this, GOD DID." (in a fabulous Ugandan accent)
From there, we immediately got into a taxi to take his passport picture. Note how happy WE were...and how scared to death poor little "Jeremiah" was!
That scared look was appropriate! Who in the world were we?? He left the orphanage for the first time in TEN MONTHS! And with these strange white people!
Then I compare that with how he is now.
It's an astounding change.
He loves freely.
Covers my face with sloppy wet kisses of his own volition.
Giggles.
Eats like there's no tomorrow.
Twirls and sings.
Beats the African drums with his brother and daddy.
Loudly declares his opinions while playing.
He rides a bike without training wheels.
Loves to swim in the pool.
Drops everything and breaks into an all-out run when he learns his daddy is home!
Early in the mornings he crawls into bed with me declaring, "It's snuggle time!"
When we snuggle, he remembers. We talk. He mentions the orphanage. How we came to get him and we brought him here.
Deeper snuggle.
"Will you always keep me safe?" he asks.
"I will."
"We need to get Toby out of the orphanage too, Mommy." This comment breaks my reverie and snaps me back to the job of bringing Toby home.
Reality comes in like an unwanted icy blast...dear little Toby does not yet know the freedom to come find mommy and snuggle and hear that life is going to be alright.
I had NO IDEA that one year from today we would be delighting in Zebby and collectively aching to bring home yet ANOTHER orphan.
It kind of amazes me.
If I were writing the text of my life story, I would have never added these chapters. These adoption chapters of sons.
But God.
He is writing our lives, and we are committed to the task of keeping our eyes on Him and obeying. We no more than finalized Zareb's adoption in April and He led us to the file of a Dong BaoKun in China. I think I would have given us a little breather...but not God! Here we go!
I wonder where we will be next August 11 as we mark 2 years of knowing Zareb?
Only God and time will tell.
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