Wheels Up and a Bit of Turbulence

Well, it's taken miracle after miracle, but we've finally made out of town and in route to South Africa. These miracles started Friday afternoon when our final piece of paper from immigration made its way to our mailbox. After it arrived we learned it had to be notarized, authenticated by the Knox county clerks office and then state sealed at the secretary of state's office in Nashville. Nothing like cutting it close. We're so thankful it came and that we had some amazing volunteers to drive it to Nashville on Monday to get ready to go. So, here's how the Lord has been at work in orchestrating these events. The adoption agency wanted us to leave on 14th, but tickets were so much cheaper to leave on the 16th that they made an exception to let us come later. If we hadn't requested a later departure date, we wouldn't have our immigration paperwork. Praise Jesus!

Are delayed departure was also in the Lord's plan because last wednesday Ethan had his monthly blood work, and for the first time in several months it had dropped down. With the delayed departure, we were able to take him back in Monday afternoon to repeat his labs. Unfortunately, they were still low. We have reason to believe it could be a small virus that he is having trouble fighting off, but because his condition is unchartered territory, it is always a bit unnerving when the numbers drop. After the doctor and I discussed rechecking him on Friday and left the room, Ethan reached up for me to hold him. As I looked at his sweet face, I became teary at the thought of all my sweet boy has been through and how sick he could become. Just before I started sobbing on the poor boy he grabbed my face and said with the biggest grin on his face, "Mommy, why are you not smiling?" So I smiled at him as he began to sing, "a joyful heart is good medicine, good medicine, a joyful heart." Out of the mouth of babes...

So on Monday afternoon, we set aside our massive to do list and plans for packing, and we cried out to the Lord. The unknowns are always so great with Ethan's little body and the thought of leaving the country with a sick boy at home was just overwhelming to us. We had to come to the point that we laid it all on the table. Ethan, travel to South Africa, adoption of Baby South Africa, our family, etc...all of it had to make its way to the alter at the feet of Jesus. It was a hard and emotional afternoon as we sought so much wisdom, direction and peace from the Lord. And it shouldn't have been a surprise to us that we began to be totally overcome by peace. Peace that Ethan has always been and will always be in the arms of Jesus. Peace that our journey to adoption is happening exactly when it should be. Peace that the Lord has not brought us to this place to leave us, but to show himself as absolute Provider, Healer, Protector and perfect Planner.

So with inexplainable peace, we said goodbye to Ethan and Addison, letting them have tons of fun with grandparents over the next few weeks, and we boarded a plane on Tuesday morning to start our journey to South Africa. We depart praising the Lord for the amazing details he has worked out and great excitement for meeting Baby South Africa. But we also take with us heavy hearts for Ethan's health and prayers of pleading for sustained health and complete healing over his little body.

Journeying On,
Sara