24 Hours

Here is the blog I posted on Facebook after we landed in Seoul...

February 24-25, 2016

Tulsa International Airport early in the morning

First flight to Dallas

The looooong flight to Seoul

I was told my blog might not let me post from Korea, annnnd... it won't post. Soooo... as we continue waiting in the Seoul airport for our driver (going on 4 hours now since we landed)... here is the blog I wrote during our flight today.

I posted this blog on Facebook with this guy in my lap at the Seoul/Incheon Airport

Trust. My word for the year is "trust." As I type this on my phone we have just crossed the International Date Line. We are cruising over the Bering Strait, preparing to fly over Russia and China, and will finally land this bird in South Korea. Every year I pray for God to show me where I need to focus and grow for the year. I have been intentional, present, and this year... I trust.

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters... wherever You would call me."

We began the adoption process two years ago. We were one of the Guinea pigs in our agency's new "Open Options" program. We knew we were called to adopt, but were having a hard time selecting a country. Open Options allowed us to be matched with ANY child, from ANY country or even our local DHS. Our philosophy was, "We'll go anywhere, God. Show us our child, and we will bring him/her home."

As we neared the end of the "open" portion of the process, we had still not been matched with a child. It was looking like we might actually have to choose a country. Matt and I prayed and agreed that we weren't really "feeling any connection" to the Asian countries, so we looked more closely at Haiti.

Bwahahaha! God has such a sense of humor. We just threw God the perfect pitch. Right in His strike zone (as if He needs one). I should know better than to give God the easy hit. Some of my other famous "strike zone" utterances: "I will NEVER drive one of those behemoth Suburbans like those other Texas moms," (We just sold the Suburban after 11 years... and bought a Yukon XL.) and Matt's favorite, "I am NOT moving to Oklahoma." This summer marks 10 years in Tulsa.

A little over 18 months ago we received the call that would change everything. As the cherubic eight month old cutie we now call Tai giggled and laughed at us from the computer screen, it was as if He and God had been in it together all along. Quite suddenly, we felt an undeniable, unexplainable connection to Asia. To South Korea. We knew we were looking at our son.

"Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander. And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior."

In exactly 24 hours we meet our son for the very first time. I am trusting God that our meeting will help prepare his little heart for what will be yet another loss in his young life. My spirit soars at the thought of finally holding his pudgy little hands and hugging him close to my heart, where he has been growing for the past two years. However, this will be hard. His foster mother may cry. She, too, is preparing for a great loss. His birth mother will be signing the final papers. Receiving word that he is going to live with his forever family. I pray that she knows that we will do everything in our power to enable him to live up to her hopes and dreams for him. I will most certainly cry.

Please join me in trusting God in this next step of faith.

Hugs from somewhere over Russia!

"So I will call upon Your name. And keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise... My soul will rest in Your embrace... For I am Yours and You are mine."

*Music lyrics from "Oceans" by Hillsong United