Coming HOME!

It’s quiet here in our apartment this morning. David is still sleeping and we are packing our few last things to come home. It’s been an amazing 17 days since we left home. We have learned a lot, prayed a lot and come to love Latvia and its people.

We will leave part of our hearts here in Latvia.

Yesterday was hard, but ended with pillow fighting and wrestling. I think it helped relieve the stress of the day.

His visit with his friends went well, and I survived by praying a lot. We knew basically where he was and could have stood out there to watch over him, but choose not to. We kept in contact by phone and texting while he was out. It’s so hard to remember he has been “on his own” since he was about 4 years old. It’s a totally different culture here and kids are very self sufficient.  In America we’d not think twice to leave him home alone while I went to the grocery store, after all, he’s going to be 15 years old in a few months, but for me here is was hard. This was normal for him, but not for us. We will be doing a lot of learning in the next few months about how to grow as a family.

I was very glad to see him come back tired and dirty, yet happy and I think he has a bit more closure. Many may not agree with our decision to let him have this short time with his friends, and all I can say is you had to be here to understand why this was important we showed him we trusted him. We were very close to where he was, he was with 3 other friends and tons of people in a public place. He was always safe.

There is so much more to say and write about what we’ve learned, this city and its people.

I have a sense of peacefulness right this minute. We are far from finished on this journey, and I am really starting to think this first part of paperwork and waiting maybe the easiest part. I am so looking forward to having our son home and spending time together as a family this summer before school starts.

Last September when we were getting one “bad” news after another about timing for this I was praying “when Lord, when will we have our son?” & I heard the Lord saying “JUNE.” I was not thrilled with His answer back then as it seemed like such a long time. I kept praying “will we be ALL done in June?” but never got an answer other than “June.”

Well, yesterday was June 1 and we have our son. If all goes well we will be flying in a few short hours to bring him home.  

I can’t wait to hug our other babies when we get home! Last night Elijah told us it went “fast” for him. I am glad. This is the longest they have ever been away from us. I am sure they have “grown” while we were gone too. Maybe not in size, but in maturity. They have been amazing on this journey with us watching us as we walked in faith. It’s been hard for them and they have given up a lot in this last year to have a new brother. I am very proud of all of them. Hopefully things will get back to “normal” at home … Hmmm or maybe our new normal…. Either way, we are a family and we will go through it together with the Lord guiding our paths.

Got to go finish packing to come HOME!