Prayers that Avail Much

Andrew and Kathlena Oct 25, 2008

Mommy's little helper

Reading time

The boys helping me cook in the kitchen

Kathlena helping make blueberry pie

The number of buckets of tears cried during our adoption and waiting process were more than I can count. At times they were tears of frustration, longing to get through red tape and just bring home our longed for children and other times they were tears of great joy that we were one step closer to the reality of bringing them home. Praising the Lord in those difficult days that seemed they would never end in hopes of being in the days we are in now was hard. But He is so faithful to redeem the time. Though, difficult at times to swallow the loss of those years when you adopt an older child we are seeing so much fruit in such a short time. We praise the Lord for each day of Andrew and Kathlena's lives even when those days were spent apart.

When adopting older children the word "time" seems to take on new meaning. You have time lost, catch-up time, time passing, time waiting and thankfully time redeemed. In the past six months(really since we began the adoption process) I have prayed, mourned, and rejoiced over all of these facets of time. Trusting the Lord to faithfully grow us together as a family.

The day we took custody of Andrew and Kathlena we began right away to teach our newest family members what was most important to us...reading God's Word with us, praying with us, and serving each other with love. It wasn't long before Andrew picked up on our daily disciplines of praying before meals and reading the Bible with Daddy as something to expect. At about 1 month with us he had enough English verbal skills to utter a simple prayer on his own and wanted to, saying "Thank you for this food, Amen". It was so sweet and the beginnings of him participating and assuming a responsibility as a member of our family. In time we began to see him increase his words, mimicking what he has heard his father say as he learns through the Hebrew method of time spent seeing, hearing and doing things one on one. His depth of thinking revealed through his practice of praying gave us a good measure of what he was thinking of that day and was precious encouragement to Mom and Dad. Especially on those days when it seemed we were going backwards more than forwards...more joyful tearful buckets filled.

As Andrew's knowledge and understanding of his new world has grown we have been able to discuss more in depth why we do what we do. What started as a simple prayer that gave him confidence that he belonged has in time also led to great conversations with him about who we are talking to when we pray and why we pray. Similar conversations are held about why we read the psalms each night at dinner and why we listen and read scripture daily. Quickly, he has learned that our faith is important-not because we say it is but because he sees us striving to make it a priority. Having young children "drinking from the fire hose" so to speak, in our home watching more than listening to us has been very humbling. We see the Lord redeeming the time not only in Andrew and Kathlena's lives, but in all of us.

Our older children have been such a blessing and they are learning up close that love is a sacrifice and a decision not just a feeling. How thankful I am that the Lord made a way for them to be with us at every turn of this adoption journey-traveling both trips to Russia. They have endured the pain and the triumphs, I can't even imagine the depth of character and strength the Lord is refining in them through this process, but I pray it is all to His glory. I have seen both Emily and J.Michael rise up to the task, imperfectly, but with great resolve to do what it takes to bring Andrew and Kathlena into the fold of our family.

Today was one of those "Aha" days for Kathlena and Andrew. It was so precious...my bucket was running over...

At lunch we sat outside and as usual Andrew asked to pray which is then usually followed by Kathlena praying. Andrew has such a grateful heart and he loves to pray about everything. It is not unusual for him to pray about every item of food on the table, all of us, the toys he has played with that day and the places we have been, but in addition to that today he prayed thanking the Lord that "Daddy loves Andrew and will always be Daddy for Andrew and for Mommy who loves me so much and Andrew loves Mommy and Mommy will always be Andrew's Mommy. " We have spoken these phrases to him since day one and prayed that somehow he would understand and know that this is not temporary but forever. I believe we are seeing the dawn of that understanding taking place in his heart. Okay, where is my bucket...I am getting my keyboard wet even now remembering this. All praise be to the Lord for answering our feeble prayers and allowing us to taste the sweet fruit of trusting in His perfect timing.

Then Kathlena asked to pray and we are expecting her usual sweet "Foood, men" but she began to clearly speak "Food, Mommy, Daddy, Mimi, Lily(EMily),Bubbie, water, food, Thank you Mommy," at this point Andrew elbows her and says "Kathlena don't forget the Andrews" to which she continues with some inaudible random words then clearly says "Andrew, aMen" Kathlena is just beginning to really blossom verbally. Institutional life made her very silent, withdrawn verbally, but now she is gaining speed and we believe the wave of words is about to hit shore. The dots are connecting and she has much to say! So precious to see the time redeemed...years of silence and solitude now broken and replaced with the fullness of being loved and tremendous growth. The Lord is so faithful and we praise Him for his mercy and grace on our family through difficult days of not seeing progress, but pressing on to see the "Aha, I get!" days that we long for and trust will come in His perfect timing.