Not About the Art, But About the Artist

This is for the few remaining blog-checkers that have stuck with us even though we have been notoriously bad this time around with our updates. Here's where we stand. We just finished notarizing medical reports for the boys, will notarize our personal medicals next week, are waiting on a letter from the health insurance company and a letter from our homestudy agency that should be finished on Monday. Then we should be finished with our documents and ready to get a court date. Hopefully near the end of February. We are about $11,000 short still, but we know God is going to provide the rest. He has made it clear in so many ways that Aleksandr is supposed to be home with us. That's not going to change now.

I have to be honest. I thought that there were barriers to the completion of Elijah's adoption, but the difficulty this time around is definitely living up to what I expected. Last time it was the money that occupied most of my fears. For some reason, that's not the case this time. Maybe it's because I've witnessed God do that particular miracle once before, and I just know he can do it again. But life is different this time. One word-Chaos. Most of our life is in some state of flux or uncertainty. Why we even thought we could add this to our "plate" is absurd. But then again, is it "my" plate to begin with? A few years ago I had a chat with God. He told me a story about a little boy named Mikhail who needed my help. And that in order to help him I was going to have to put aside me and allow my heart to be broken. Forget my "plans" and supposed priorities. This is the task the Maker had for me. I thought my task was finished when Elijah came home. But God had other plans. He wasn't finished with me yet. There was another boy. Much like the first, but different. His brown eyes a testimony to his uniqueness. A one-of-a-kind creation that the Potter molded like clay and stepped back to look upon with a smile, well pleased with his creation. And this little boy needs me. It is I who must speak up on his behalf. It is I who must fight for him. It is I who must ruffle some feathers to see that he is not forgotten. It is I who must endure the extra stress, extra work, extra responsibility. And if I cared only about what was best for me, I would probably say "forget it". "I've got too much on my plate as it is." But then again I'm reminded. It's not about ME. It never has been. I'm simply doing what the Creator has made me to do. "Love Him with all my heart and love my neighbor as I would love myself." Even if that's at the expense of my comfort. And as I now believe, especially at the expense of my comfort. Because like Aleksandr, I too am a wonderful creation hand-crafted by the great Potter himself. And it's never been about the art, but about the artist.

JP

Elijah celebrated his 5th Birthday!