It's Time for Labor Day!

In the midst of all the packing lists, last minute preparations, finalizing itinerary details, compiling necessary paperwork, and savoring last moments as a couple, I wanted to pause and reflect on the many moments of God’s goodness, provisions, and blessings that have marked these last few weeks. 

Christmas in July 

It was July 25th, and I was about to turn in for the night, weary from a long day of endless demands and a pounding headache. I happened to check my messages with a lingering hope in my heart that an update about our court process might miraculously come through. Well, much to my delight, I had an unread message notification from our case worker at Lifeline! She actually happened to be in India that week for Lifeline-related business and work, but she took the time to reach out to me to share that our family had gotten the VERBAL court order we had been waiting so many months for!! It was much too late at night for such a surge of energy and excitement, but I spontaneously called out to Steven who was finishing up in the nearby restroom before bed. With tears in my eyes and the greatest joy welling up in my chest, I looked him in the eyes and shared the 3 words we had endured countless weeks and months to earn:

We passed court.

We hugged each other and held each other tight, feeling all the weight of the wait rush from our weary bodies and flow out the open door of our bedroom in a welcomed goodbye- for this news was a precious moment of celebration and victory for us. 

We knew that the timeline from here would begin to move quickly.

The Pace Picks Up

We began the wait for the written court order to come through from the Indian court to our son’s orphanage, and it was only a week and a half later that we got the phone call that it had arrived! 

We knew at that point that our gotcha trip could be just 4-8 weeks away!! The reality set in that afternoon. The nearness of this journey coming to a close fell on me with all of the emotions one could possibly experience when change and adventure and long-awaited treasure is within reach. I put my nose to the ground and began to crank out all the tasks and to-do lists, feeling the freedom run though my veins! Feeling the excitement of the coming joy! Seeing the glimpse of a light at the end of a long tunnel! Reveling in the thought that our wait was coming to a soon close.

Next, we were notified of the other items that had come through- Article 23 and then his birth certificate! 

Seeing Aaro’s birth certificate brought a new wave of special feelings and emotions for me. Reading our names as his parents? Seeing our given name printed on this official document of his “birth”? What a strange and delightful feeling. This child who has been alive in this world for almost a year and a half was issued a brand new birth certificate with an entirely new name and identity... Oh how I felt the spiritual significance in that moment! The beauty and mystery of being adopted into a new family, given a new name and identity. Receiving all of the love and inheritance of a natural born son. Whew! 

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5

Finally, the last needed item came through—his Indian passport. I was sitting in the car with my parents and brother driving on the freeway in Northern California headed towards the Redwood Forest, soaking up final moments of precious family time with brothers and nieces and nephews that I no longer see on a regular basis. The road was hazy and my head was spinning. In a whirlwind phone conversation, our caseworker and I began discussing travel dates and trip details, and immediately my stomach dropped! Could we really be stepping on a plane to India in less than a week? It seemed so. I had to pinch myself and remind myself that I wasn’t just California dreaming. This was really happening...

It’s time for Labor Day

And now, here we are, stepping onto a plane in about 24 hours headed towards India for the most exciting plane ride of our lives!! We will spend the weekend in a neighboring city in his state (Mumbai) and then take a car ride to his city on Monday, September 2nd. And as the Lord would so creatively orchestrate, it seems that I will be stepping into motherhood as “Labor Day” comes to a close. My 16-month old child will be placed in my arms on Tuesday morning, September 3rd as I reflect back on all of the days spent in expectancy with this child and preparing for his arrival into our family. God's timing is perfect. 

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul. Proverbs 13:19a  

Unexpected Blessings and Gifts

A sweet friend surprised me with a necklace of India, not even knowing what city he lives in. Look how perfectly placed the little heart is!

While we were discussing our flight itinerary with our case worker, we received the overwhelming news that a couple from our church offered to pay for our flights for our trip!!!! 🤯🤯🤯

A family that just got home from their gotcha trip in India sent us the sweetest gift by mail: their remaining rupees (Indian currency) from their trip! They gifted it towards our trip. So very generous and thoughtful!

We have received money gifts towards our toiletries and offers to help with things as we prepare or mow our lawn while we're away, gifts with hand written cards and prayers, and other thoughtful gifts! We are overwhelmed with the kindness and support!! 

A friend in another state sent us a baby sound machine by mail, so that it was one less item on our list of things we needed!

 

A week away in California spent with some of my family!

My youngest brother, Jason lives is LA and he drove up to meet me and my parents in San Francisco, and we spent a couple days together exploring the city. He took enough footage during our time in the city together to create a "Fool House" spoof video!! Hilarious. Genius. 

We drove from San Francisco to Crescent City in Northern California to spend a couple days with another one of my brothers, Danny & his big family at the Redwood Forest! We even drove into Oregon (30 minutes away!) for dinner together one night. It was a special time together, and a rare opportunity to see their family since they are now stationed in Alaska through their army assignment. I soaked up every moment with my 7 nieces and nephews! And it broke my heart all over again to say goodbye and wonder when I will get to see them again and spend time with them. We hope to make a big trip to Alaska to visit them eventually when things are settled with Aaro and we can save up the funds to do so. We want these kiddos to meet their new cousin! And his aunt and uncle, too. 

Our Itinerary inDia 

We’ll be leaving from the Atlanta international airport late afternoon on Thursday, August 29th and arriving in Mumbai, India early Saturday morning. We will spend a rest day in the city, then make our way to Aaro’s city of Pune, Maharashtra, India on Monday morning, September 2nd. 

We will get to have our first family day together on Tuesday, September 3rd!! We will be seeing him around 10am local time there, which is 12:30am on Monday “night” back home on eastern time. 

We will spend the next 3 days with Aaro at his orphanage and slowly transition him by taking him back with us to the hotel. We are hoping and praying that he will bond and attach to us quickly, making the transition as smooth as possible from the normalcy of everything he has ever known at the orphanage to being under our care. 

We will then fly to New Delhi later that week as we face some of the more technical aspects of the trip: medical appointment, embassy appointment, visa pick up, and obtaining exit permits to leave India. Our time frame in New Delhi is uncertain. If we obtain the exit permits early, then we could be looking at flying home by September 13th. If they take the max amount of time possible, we’d be looking at returning home around September 16th. We will be sure to share more information once we know our return dates more firmly that week. 

Adoption Airfare has been a God-send walking us through our flight bookings on all ends of our trip, and the humanitarian price rates that we qualify for are such a blessing! They assist both adoptive families and mission teams. They’re the best! 

Ways to Pray for us 

↠Please pray for REST as we recover from jet lag and adjust to the time zone differences there. Pray for good sleep as we adjust to having a toddler sleeping in our room with us for the first time! Pray for his little mind and body as he adjusts to new environments and stressors and stimulants. 

↠Please pray for each of us and our HEALTH, that we would remain free from illness or exposure to disease or infection. Please pray for wisdom as we navigate the cities in India and the food and transportation choices that we make. Please pray for Aaro's little body, as we have gotten word that he is fighting a cold.

↠Please pray for all of our HEARTS, for all of the change that is coming and the new dynamics and relationships involved, we are asking that the Lord fill us with His love and all of the fruit of the Spirit. Pray for Aaro as he leaves everything and everyone he has ever known in this life.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

↠Please pray for the season of COCOONING that we have ahead of us when we bring our sweet boy home. Our agency has advised that we take a sabbatical from our normal routines, commitments, and socializing to spend a concentrated time getting adjusted as a new family at home. We want to provide the needed time and space for our son to learn how to trust us and have all of his needs met by us, learning that we are his source of stable and secure love and support. Please pray for us as we pull away from our normal community of friends and family to commit our time and attention to him for several weeks. We know it will be tough as we pull away for a season and invest in our new family dynamic. We will want to introduce him to the world! But we ask for the prayer support to put his best interests first. 

Mommy and Daddy are coming for you, Aaro Isaiah Link!