Alrighty. The time is finally here! I gotta say, this doesn't feel real yet. We'll probably get home from the trip, look at each other, and say "did that all really just happen?" I hope to be able to update the blog while we're gone, but I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to.
I'm stealing an idea from my friend, Lori, to ask for specific prayers for every day we're gone.
Day 1 - November 19: Safe travel as we drive to Clovis and a fun evening with my family celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday.
Day 2 - November 20: We get up to drive to Amarillo at three in the morning. So, prayers for safety for that part of the trip and also for our air travel, which is all day and all night. Peace for the kiddos as the reality of us being gone sets in.
Day 3 - November 21: Arrive in Paris. Prayers for us to be able to navigate the metro and not be too terribly jet lagged. Prayers for our kids' hearts to be full and for Maci, especially, to be content. Always a hard date. We had our first miscarriage nine years ago.
Day 4 - November 22: Sightseeing all day - Louve, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe. Prayers for us to relax and enjoy each other. Prayers for the grandparents in Clovis juggling the fab four and their schoolwork.
Day 5 - November 23: Sightseeing all day - Versailles, Eiffel Tower. Prayers for our kids to cooperate as they do their school and to be a blessing for the shut-ins they're delivering meals-on-wheels to. Prayers for Maci to be able to fall asleep at night without me there.
Day 6 - November 24: Travel all day - Paris, Frankfurt, Ethiopia! Prayers for travel safety, for flights to be on time, to get our visa with no problems, and to pass through customs with no issues with all of our donations. Prayers for the kids. They're probably really starting to miss us now. Trip is halfway over.
Day 7 - November 25: Happy Thanksgiving! Orientation with Holt, meeting with Little E's pediatrician, and finally MEETING LITTLE E!!! Please pray for it to be a blessed time and for him to not be confused by the whole thing. Pray for us to have peace that this child is part of God's plan for our lives. Evening - we're meeting several other couples for dinner. Praise that we're able to connect with others who are on similar journeys. Prayers for our families and kids as we're apart on this holiday. I've never even spent a major holiday away from my parents, so this day is monumental in so many ways.
Day 8 - November 25: Court hearing. Pray for us to hear the words that he is our child and for all of the necessary paperwork to be in place. Pray for our hearts and Little E's as we say goodbye. Our prayer is for him to not realize that anything out of the ordinary is going on. We don't want him to have any more trauma in his little life. We fly out in the evening, so travel mercies.
Day 9 - November 26: Fly all Friday night and all day Saturday. Addis, Frankfurt, Houston, Amarillo. 36 hours total, I think. Prayer for our hearts as we continue to deal with having children on opposite sides of the world. Travel safety. Praise that Tio and Chyanne are able to meet us at the airport so we can see our kids two hours sooner and to help drive us to Clovis, if necessary because we're so tired. Prayers for the kids to not drive Tio and Chyanne a bit crazy with their excitement. Praise - we get to see our kids!
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Your prayers will be lifted up. Like I told you once, it won't seem real until you see that little face that God has chosen as yours. Sometimes I still wonder if it was real that we went to China and that was over 2 years ago. Oh, and as far as the jet lag, it's worse going over than coming back. We usually didn't have any problems coming to the States from that direction. I don't know if you'll get this in time, but melatonin is supposed to work good for jet lag. Stay awake when you get to Paris. Don't be tempted to take that nap that you are going to so desperately want. Most importantly ~ ENJOY your journey!
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