New Year, New Elijah

Hello friends! I'm not exactly sure who is reading this anymore, mostly because I haven't posted in so long. But I have felt for a while that it was time to update, regardless who may or may not be reading. At the very least, it is Elijah's history, and it will be important to him. It has been over a year and a half since we came home from Russia with Elijah. Let's just say that the first year and change were trials of the most Jamesian proportions (I made up a word...cool). But through prayer and tears we are happy to say that things have turned a corner for the positive. The tantrums have almost completely subsided. The breaking of toys has calmed down to a normal 4-year-old level. The physical acting out is gone. The best way to describe it is that he's a different kid. Now don't get me wrong. He still has his moments. But by the grace of God he is showing all signs of becoming a well-adjusted little boy. We have high hopes for the young man he will become.

He just celebrated his 4th birthday on the 7th of January (Russian Christmas). It was so much fun. For his third birthday he had been with us for just a little over 6 months, and he wasn't quite sure what was going on. But this time, he had watched his three brothers' birthdays come and go, so he knew what was in store by the time it was his turn. Even though we knew that an entire day dedicated to him might be a little overwhelming for him, we thought "who cares". It only comes once a year, and he's worth it. So the day was filled with wide eyes as we went from one activity to the next. Nothing extravagant, just a day doing his favorite things and eating his favorite foods. He spent the morning asking "Will it still be my birthday after I eat breakfast?" "Will is still be my birthday after I go to the bathroom?" What a wonderful day!

To see the Lord change the heart of Elijah over the past year and a half has been nothing short of miraculous. I know that we will have more bumps in the road ahead of us. But for now I rejoice in the fact that I know he is happier and more content then he's ever been in his life. And it fills me with hope. If the Lord can do such an amazing work in Elijah, I guess there's still hope for the rest of us too...

JP

Wow....life!

It's been a pathetically long time since we posted last. Blah, blah, blah...there's my excuse. Elijah is doing amazingly well. He still has rough days, but all things considered he is thriving. Short of the chronic diarrhea that we are still dealing with, he is healthy and growing. Language is coming along well. He still has some definite speech delay, but he understands everything and communicates very well once you decifer what he's saying. He loves to ride in the van and go to the store with Daddy on special trips. He just got done singing "I Love You, Lord" to me when he woke up from his nap. Holy cow, the kid can sing on key! He'll be the first in our family where that comes naturally. He loves playing baseball in the backyard, and hits left-handed. Daddy's got big plans for him! His brothers love him like he's always been here...and pick on him like he's always been here too.

FACES, the Adoption and Orphan Care Ministry we have started at our church is growing. We have had a few "Adoptive Mom's" groups and did a group study on the book Fields of the Fatherless as well. We are planning an "Evening of Prayer" for foster and waiting children, hopefully to happen in June. We have many at our church that are excited about what we are doing, and I am confident that we can start affecting the culture of our church and making it a light in the community for orphan care.

With all those things going well, it wouldn't be life without some struggles. Right now we are dealing with the fact that the County of San Diego is taking our home to make room to widen the road in front of our house. We have anywhere between 9 months and a year until they come with their offer. In the meantime, we pray and wait as we decide what next step to take. It is not easy to think about the house we've lived in for the past 8 years being leveled by a bulldozer. It is a very modest home, but we have poured our blood, sweat, and tears into it. It is the only home that any of the boys remember, and it is Elijah's first home. It saddens me that we are going to have to uproot him so early in his time with us. Please pray that the transition for all of us will be smooth. We are confident that what God has in store for us will be better than what we've had before. Happy Easter to all. I will try to post pictures of Elijah's first Easter as soon as I have them.

JP

Happy 3rd Birthday Elijah!!!

Elijah celebrated turning 3 with his first birthday party. He had already seen the birthdays of his three brothers, so he kind of knew what to expect. Upon waking up, he entered the living room, breaking huge smiles at the decorations and balloons, with presents and his cake on the table. All day he repeated "Happy Birthday Elijah" (or something close to that) and tried to make the number "3" with his fingers.
After I returned home from work, he opened his gifts. Watching him tear into wrapping paper, dig into bags, and seeing his eyes light up every time brought smiles and laughter to all of us. His brothers decided that he would enjoy going to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza and games, so we packed into the van and headed out. All went well until the six-foot tall monster rat that is Chucky came by to greet the birthday boy. The look of terror on Elijah's face was like straight out of a horror film. I couldn't help but laugh. While Chucky sulked in the corner, Elijah enjoyed the rest of his time playing games like bowling for tickets and punching rubber duckies.
We ran out of time that evening, so the next day we sang "Happy Birthday" and blew out the candles on the cake. His smiles during "Happy Birthday" were priceless, and he blew out his candles like an old pro. What a special time for us, and by the look on his face, for one of the first times in his life I believe that he truly felt special too...

JP

Elijah's First Christmas, and a Fighting Chance

Elijah's first American Christmas has come and gone. We tried not to make it too overwhelming for him. He did extremely well, all things considered. We visited Santa Claus at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. He loved all the lights and looking at the animals, but didn't care too much for Santa. Which is what we figured. But he did pose for a picture with Daddy in front of some of the lights (see right). The next night was Christmas Eve, and we opened presents, just the six of us. He was very meticulous in the opening of his gifts (reminded me of his great-grandma). I think he liked cleaning up all the wrapping paper and putting in the trash bag more than anything (the boy's a clean-freak- leftovers from his old home). Christmas day was a bit more hectic for him with more people, but it ended up being a special time celebrating two first Christmas's (Elijah's and his baby cousin Savannah's).

Now a New Year approaches, and it greets me doing a lot of soul-searching. I know this sounds crazy, but I long to go back to Russia. I know that right now it is not a possibility, but I miss it, if that possibly makes sense. I know that it's not the only place to find God, but it's where He wanted me to find Him. And while since I've been back I have been studying what God is doing in other parts of the world and places where He is needed most (Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), I find myself still drawn to Russia. I still remember my conversation with a group of missionaries in Moscow, and being saddened to hear how the years of Communism have left a nation almost completely devoid of personal interaction with the God of this universe. And I am heartbroken. And I think about all the little ones we saw in Baby House #5, ones that we knew would probably never spend a Christmas with a loving family. And I think about the hopelessness that many of them will feel when they become adults and have to leave the only homes they have ever known, never to return and alone. And I think, if only they knew there was a God out there who loved them. That even though they may not have a "family" in the normal context, there was a man who walked this earth 2000 years ago, bringing hope to orphans just like themselves, healing the broken just like themselves, and laying down his life so that they might live. I feel like if someone at least told them this, they might stand a fighting chance...

JP

On to the next peak...

I could list all the excuses for over a month between blog entries, but there's no point. I'm sure it's the same story for everyone.

This weekend marked the one-year anniversary of meeting Elijah for the first time. We spent some time watching video of our first trip, and just thinking about how far we have come and how far Elijah has come in that time. Wow, what changes. This time of the year will forever bring back memories of Russia. The four amazingly hectic, stressful, enlightening, and life-changing days we spent with the Franks, where when we parted we felt we had known them for a lifetime and knew that we would remain friends for at least that long. And when the Christmas songs start to play and a crispness fills the air, I am reminded of my firsthand meeting with God in a Siberian orphanage. I can honestly tell you that God is more real to me today than He ever has been before or I ever dreamed He could be. And it's all thanks to a little boy who showed me that faith is not best expressed with words, but with actions. For the first time I heard the voice of God, clear and unmistakeable, speak to me and I followed. I followed half-way across the world, and when I met Elijah I heard God say "Here I am". It was like being blind for 30 years and finally being able to see.

And it's crazy. Our jouney has been like climbing a mountain. But it's not as if when we brought Elijah home, God said "Nice job. You made it to the top. Have a seat, sit back and enjoy the view." Instead, He has said "Nice job. You've made it to the top. Take a look over there. See that peak off in the distance. Yes, the one higher than the one we are standing on. The one with the jagged rocks and the sheer edges. That looks like fun. What do you say?" And like an adrenaline-laced mountain climber, I say "Why not? Bring it on!"

One year ago I truly tasted God and found that He was good. Yet I have been left with a thirst for more. And as our life continues to take twists and turns, hills and valleys, I am confident that God has so much more in store for me and my family. There is a huge world out there in need. In physical need (poverty, starvation, slavery) as well as in spiritual need (they need to know Jesus). And He has made it clear to me and my family that there is still work to be done. We've only scratched the surface. This one little boy named Mikhail (Elijah) was only the starting point for us. May He be glorified in every "next peak" that we scale. And I know we'll reach the top because we have the only Guide who knows the way.

Merry Christmas to all!

J

Happy 1st Halloween

Hey, better than last time. Only 2 weeks or so. Well, this was Elijah's first Halloween, and I am happy to say that he exceeded all of our expectations and then some. We had a wonderful night cruising the neighborhood by our house and playing at the carnival hosted by our church. Elijah enjoyed every minute of it, and we have some great memories.

It has been slow progress with Elijah, but progress nevertheless. We seek God's strength and wisdom every day, and He always provides. Our broken little boy is mending slowly, but as I see it, he is ours forever. So if it takes forever, that's how long we'll keep working at it...

Here are some pictures to tide you over:

The family at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, just 5 minutes from our house.































Day Trip to Big Bear in the Mountains east of Los Angeles



Had to bribe Benjamin into being the woman. Elijah didn't know any better.

That was the face before he realized what was inside the pumpkin...



























Happy Halloween

No, Isaac's not Richard Simmons, in case you were wondering. Couldn't find the red, white, and blue old-school P.E. shorts...

JP

My Little Russian Nesting Doll

Hello all from the Land of Confusion (for those Genesis fans out there, the band not the book of the Bible). Has it really been this long since I last posted? Take that as an indication of what life has been like for the past month.

God bless his little broken heart, Elijah is certainly keeping us on our toes here. He is a wonderful little boy who just can't bring himself to come home yet. I use a bit of Russian imagery to describe our little barrel of wonders. He is like a Russian nesting doll. Take one layer apart, and there is another layer below. And each new layer is a new little "surprise". Most nesting dolls range from 5 to 12 layers deep. We've blasted through those, and as we continue to peal we don't see the end in sight.

We have exhausted all the "parenting techniques" that we used with our three older boys, and we are blazing new trails as we speak. To those who question the wisdom of God in how he planned his creation to work, be it in marriage or in how the family is supposed to be structured, I would put up Elijah as an example of what happens when we stray from doing things the way God had inteded, what happens to an innocent little boy when he makes the best of a situation that was not as God had intended. And while he is making very small and very slow strides, the damage runs deep with him and will take time, patience, prayer, and perseverance to see any significant improvement in his healing.

While I don't believe that orphans were part of God's original plan for his creation, they are the result of living in a fallen world, and I praise God everyday for adoption as part of his redemption plan for this fallen world.

Please continue to pray for patience and wisdom for our family and specifically for Elijah that God would continue to use us to break down those walls he's created to protect himself and that His grace will mend the broken pieces of his little broken soul...

JP

(p.s. Still planning on making part two of that video for you. As my father always says, "These things take time...")