mikerusch:

…where to begin to say thank you?

at this point, we have been home with Sosi for just over a week. Hard to comprehend just that very fact. However, very easy to understand that life is now very different than it was just two weeks ago prior to our travel to Ethiopia.

I think right now is really the first moment that I have had to sit in the quiet shadows of a morning & reflect on just what has taken place. I am finding that reflecting is still far too overwhelming. I try and boil it all down into words, and I fail.

So I sit…

but I sit knowing that…

there are still a thousand photos and hours of video to go through with each moment spent causing me again to reflect and try to understand…

there are still hundreds of messages & thank you cards to return where I will humbly try to express what has been done for us…

there are still memories and experiences from our trip that may never be fully understood but will never be forgotten…

…however, at this moment, I can attempt to express my deep gratitude to all of those who have made this journey possible…who have helped to bring my little girl home.

…to those that have prayed for us, our hearts have been filled to capacity because of you.

…to those who have listened to our longing hearts for these past 20 months, you have given us the power to be real in our lament that has now been turned to joy.

…to those who have embraced us & welcomed us into a new community of fellow travelers, we feel at home.

…to those who have given their resources to us, you have truly purchased treasures in heaven that we will repay here on earth to others who have begun their journeys of adoption.

…to those who have begun their adoption journeys over this past 20 months, we are now here for you, and we watch with eager anticipation the gospel story unfold in your lives

…to our friends and family (we have a hard time differentiating), you embraced this little girl before you knew she even existed. You have shown us the love of a God who loves without condition or measure. You have lived out the prophecy here on earth that the kingdom of God will be made of those from every nation, tribe and tongue. You have given much, endured greatly & loved richly. What joy ahead we have!

…to my bride, our life is definitely not what we dreamed about 13 years ago…and for that I rejoice! Never could I have imagined that God would have taken us down this path, but this is why I am not in control :-). Our life will be forever different now, and I would choose no one else to share it with. You have given me strength by showing me there is no corner of this world you will not go for our family. You have sacrificed greatly, toiled sometimes in vain, but through it all you never lost hope. I am humbled to be loved by you, and I can not wait to share where God will take us next. I love you deeply.

…to Sosi who is asleep upstairs. Thank you for waiting for us. You are now home. Know that for the rest of my life you will know that you are loved, accepted, wanted & needed. There is simply no life ahead for me that does not include you. You have been in my heart from the moment you were born, and that is far more important that the date of when I first held you. In you I see my rescue, and in you I see who I am in the arms of a loving father. You have changed me forever… There is nothing I can do that will ever compare with what you have given to me… I love you…

…to those parents who still wait for their children to come home, do not lose strength for a day is coming when you hearts and hands will hold the same thing. We pray that day comes quickly.

…and one final thing (for now).

…to everyone who has been a part of this story, one thing is true.

It is far from over.

Our little girl is home, but this is a new beginning for many others. Follow their stories, learn from them & watch the Gospel story unfold before them.

this list is not finished, but now the story continues in the lives of…

• Josh and Jennifer Arkins
• Scott and Mollie Page
• Seth and Amber Haines
• Kirk and Becca Robins
• Ryan and Robyn Maner
• Tim and Genessa Newberry
• Ryan and Debi Hale
• Ben and Danielle May

I pray that Grace & Peace may abound in your lives as it does in mine…