We're Home

Sorry about the delay in posting a new update. It has been a whirlwind since we got home. But here's the quick synopsis.

We said goodbye to the Franks early Wed morning, both happy and sad at the same time. It's not just any couple that you could meet for a few short days five months prior, and then spend a whole month with and feel like you had been friends forever. What a journey it was with you guys! Thanks for making the trip so enjoyable and special (Dennis- I'm proud of you for not killing anyone...I wouldn't have come to visit you in the Gulag).

Vladimir (our driver) drove us to the airport in typical Vladimir style. It was the most gorgeous day of the entire trip, and we got to enjoy it from the confines of a four-door VW sedan and the center section of a 767 (you can't win them all). Passport control and check-in went without incident, and we even were able to smuggle our bottle of water through to the plane. They did confiscate the lighter I bought for my father though (complete with Communist decoration). Flammable liquids next to clothing in an enclosed space (I don't see what the problem is...do you?).

The 13-hour flight went well for the four of us (Me, Sara, Elijah, and the Benedryl), and he slept about 6 hours in the middle of the flight. LAX Customs was uneventful as well, and we passed through immigration without a hitch. As we wheeled the luggage cart around the corner to where all the people were waiting, I was flooded with emotion. Seeing my boys and my family standing behind the glass was unforgetable. Waving and cameras flashing. I felt like a rock star! OK, so it wasn't exactly for me. Elijah was quite the rock star. He took to everyone well, and many hugs were exchanged.

We have been home now for 3 days, and I am happy to announce that things are going really well. Better than we could have hoped or expected. Misha is adapting extremely well. He's loving his new surroundings (with the exception of the dogs...he's still getting used to them). He is such a bright ray of sunshine. Took him to church for the first time tonight, and we were able to introduce him to so many of our friends. It was incredible. He was in rare form, running and laughing and goofing around (which he does well). All of our friends have been so involved in this adoption from the beginning, and to be able to share him with them finally after 2 1/2 years of waiting was just as special to them as it was to us. Just a great time of rejoicing over God's faithfulness.

Even though we feel like a major part of this adoption process is over, God is definitely not done with us. He's still speaking, like through our pastor tonight. One of the passages we looked at tonight was from Galatians. It says "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ". Galatians 6:2. What a huge statment. Not "and thus do something good" or "and thus make God kind of happy", but "fulfill the law of Christ". What a summation of what Christianity is all about. The law is fulfilled when we bear one another's burdens. Just as Christ bore the burden of our sins upon the cross, we experience Christ in His fullness when we are bearing each others burdens. And there are so many friends that have born this adoption burden with us along the way. It brings me so much joy to know that your actions have not only pleased God, but served to strengthen your understanding of who He is and what this life is all about. To all those that have born our burden, bring yours on. I can't wait to shoulder some load for you...

JP