Life With Janaa

Well, we're here.  Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.  Home of the King.  Lots of people.  And the last bits of paperwork to finish everything up.  We're staying at the Ambassador Hotel.  Sort of an Art-Deco look that the designer got really tired of while designing.  The room is clean.  But alas, no internet.  I'm in the "Business Centre", paying 30 baht (1.00) for 10 minutes and 3 baht per minute after that.  So I'm going to be brief.  We have our first meeting tomorrow and I have no clue what we are supposed to do.  I have been trying to contact a lady that will be our liason/translator here in town, with no luck. 

We met up with Kosharah and are waiting for Janaa's surprise, I'll let Rachel write about that.  We're goin to Hard Rock for supper tonight.  We may change hotels, but don't know for sure yet.  If we can just get through this week, everything will be ok.  Keep us in your prayers.  I remind myself that God has gotten us this far and won't let us down.   If you're reading....let us know you're out there!!!

Brent

We're at the beach, but we have no internet.  It has made things extremely difficult.  Sorry for typos and hard to read sentences.  We're paying by the minute at a hole in the wall and Janaa is getting tired of being here.

Tomorrow we're heading back to Bangkok.  We're ready to be there. Please pray our hotel is nice, and most importantly has the internet. It's hard for a 3 year old to understand why there's no internet when they say they have it.  It's much more than a luxury at this poing. Plus, We really need to be able to relax and that would help a lot.  We're most excited because we get to see Kosharah.  A piece of Chiang Mai we deeply miss.  Hind site is always 20/20, but we do wish we'd have skipped the beach to stay in Chiang Mai a little longer.  We're good though.  God is ever faithful.

We are home from our dinner out.  It was so much fun.  What a great time of fellowship and friends.  I'm getting ready to empty suitecases and repack everything so it could be a long night.  We spent the day at the zoo this morning.  Brent even picked up a snake.  J and I kept a good distance from him so we could run if necessary.  I know this sounds crazy, but pray that our luggage isn't too heavy or people will be understanding if we're overweight.  We will all miss Chiang Mai very much.  It could become our home away from home. 

Wow...talk about a wonderful trip so far!  After 24 hours in the air, 5 hours in a hotel room, then another hour on a plane, and almost 3 days here, I do not know what to think or what to say.  God is good.  I can't even begin to tell you the feelings I had when I saw her at the airport.  That first hug, the first time you hear her in the flesh call you Daddy.  These experiences are truly what the word 'awesome' should be used for.  This trip has affirmed to me not only God's mercy, His grace, but most of all attirbutes, His Sovreignty.  When this all started out 2 years ago, I really didn't know if it would happen.   In the end though, I had to say, "Lord if anyone is going to make this happen, You will."  I was anxious in the last week or so before I was to come to Thailand, but I can tell you that from day one, I have had an amazing peace about this entire process.  For one thing I guess that I thought that there was no risk in stepping out on faith and going for the gold.   I can honestly say that there is nothing that has happened in this situation that I helped to create or accomplish.  God has given me the ability to work to make money to pay for the fees we've had to continually pay it seems, but nothing else have I done to make this happen. 

The "odds" were against us when we started.  Slim chance of being able to request a child.  Slim chance of it getting past that point.  Slim chance of us being able to pay for it somehow.  Slim chance of me being able to get off work to go to Thailand.  Slim Chances.  Not only do I serve a God of second chances, but I serve one who is the best odds maker in the world.  With Him, nothing is impossible.  I can attest to that now and forever.  Not only that, but I cherish and understand my salvation so much more.

Ephesians 1:4-6

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

He chose me.  Rachel and I chose Janaa.  I understand so much more His love, though I will never fully understand it. 

Tomorrow will be a day of goodbyes.  We leave for the beach for a few days for some family time before we have to jump into the week in Bangkok with all of the paperwork and waiting.  I'm sure Rachel will follow up with some more entries, but I thought it would be nice to say hello to everyone.

As an aside about my title....for those of you concerned, I have expanded my diet to more than potato chips, ranch and texas pete.  :)  As far as the picture, I am teaching her early.  A favorite catch phrase now is "Go Heels!"  Plus, she's the only person that I will let wear one of my hats.  I don't know why she would....it's pretty smelly....haha.....bye for now!!!!

Today has been packed with things to do.  We started off at the elephant camp.  We rode an elephant, something Janaa has been waiting a long time to do.  It was really neat, but I didn't expect to feel as if I would fall off.  Janaa loved it until we had to go down a steep hill.  I was kinda nervous myself.  Okay, so I was holding on for dear life! 

We headed out to the gorge to eat lunch then over to the orphanage again.  We forgot to take our gifts yesterday.  I was kinda frustrated with myself for forgetting.  It was very obvious the Lord allowed me to forget. Today we thought we would just drop them off then leave.  However, the director invited us in to sit and chat for awhile.  It was a wonderful opportunity for Rachel to get to know her and for them to see how well adjusted Rachel's children are.  Their ideas of child care are much different than ours.  I pray that it will open doors for her to share more about foster care and through that, Christ.  We ended up in a room with the 3 year olds.  Janaa and Chay had a snack with the kids and we all had a chance to spend a bit more time with them.  It is a harsh reminder that orphanages are not the best place for children to be raised.  That God has a reason for putting us in families.

We're planning on leaving soon for the Night Safari.  Three outings in one day.  The kids are getting tired, but doing well.  Please keep praying for Janaa.  It seems that each day that passes brings more difficult goodbyes.  Also, keep the next 2 days in your prayers.  Pray that we will have quality time together.  These next few days will be very important days for all of us.  Some of most important of our lives.