Dear Joshua,
We're driving along Interstate 88, close enough to O'Hare to see the airplanes taking off. We will be on one of those planes tomorrow morning. At 10:29 am Central Standard Time, 11:29 pm your time. You will be sound asleep, but we will be wide awake. We have never been more excited than we are for this trip.
We've packed lots of activities for tomorrow's fourteen hour flight, but there are some toys off limits for Andrew, Anna, and Jacob. We are saving those just for you.
The last few days have been a whirlwind, as we've poured over paperwork, stocked up on travel supplies, and weighed suitcases with our fingers crossed. We've shuttled Mickey Dog, Greg the Gecko, and a garden of plants to temporary homes . . . while neighbors still visit every day to feed Nemo and take care of the house.
Calls, emails, and cards have poured in from friends and family who love you already, who wish they were coming along. And they are coming along, joining us in spirit as they read this blog.
Several have asked us for a prayer list. So here's a peek at some of the prayers swirling around in our hearts.
We pray for safety and health for all of us as we journey through China and back to Iowa. We'd like a little more sleep than we've had recently. (But on the flip side, we hope to wake up when the alarm goes off!) We pray we've packed all the right clothes and toys, snacks and medicines, and especially forms and papers. We thank God for grandmothers and the great fortune to have Grandma coming along. We pray that all four of our children have the stamina to keep going, and the space to behold beauty and wonder. We pray that this journey will make the world seem smaller and God seem bigger. Most of all, we're praying for a little boy we haven't met, hoping that you'll find room in your heart to love us. We hope you see an invitation in our smiles and feel warmth in our arms. We're praying that somewhere between Chinese, English and sign language; we'll discover a language in common, a language of love.
We love you, Joshua. We're on our way!
Love,
Mama, Daddy, Andrew, Anna, and Jacob
Praying for you all as you are so close to meeting Joshua for the very first time. How wonderful to soon be able to hold him in your arms! We remember that special moment when we met and held Gracelin and Brielle for the first time. Words can't express the emotions we felt. It's only by God's grace that such an amazing miracle can happen!!! Soak up and enjoy each and every second as they all are incredible blessings.
ReplyDeleteOur love,
Scott, Amy, Shaylyn, Kali, Gracelin and Brielle