Where did all that hair come from?

It happens all the time. In the grocery store, at the library, basically anywhere that involves standing in a line for more than 2 minutes. It's just enough time for someone to look over, see Isaiah and exclaim, "Wow! Where did all that hair come from?" Followed by several quick back and forth glances, looking at me, back to Isaiah, back to me, and I see the confusion all over their faces.

I'm not about to respond "Oh, we'll he's adopted." to some stranger. So instead I say, "It's amazing isn't it! We really love it!" From this point one of two things happen, either the person says, "Yes it's fantastic!" or, and I really don't understand why after I've politely evaded the question this would ever be ok, they insist, "No, really. Where did he get that hair?"

Since my momma bears continuously prowls just below the surface ready to attack at the slightest hint of adoption related junk comments I have to consiously reign myself in. So with a big smile I say, "We don't know but we're glad he's got it!" And sometimes to my amazement people keep pushing and I end up stonewalling with non answers. Or sometmes, if I'm simply not in the mood, I'll say with a straight face, "From me". And as an honest Christian girl I hate it when my frustrations get the best of me and I lie. Ugh.

I wonder, how do parents of internationally adopted children do it? Our than our wildly different hair it's not too difficult to assume Isaiah was born to me. But what if he was of a completely different race? How many more comments would be leveled at us wherever we went? Seriously. Those parents have my respect.

And here's that hair in case you're wondering what all the fuss is about!

A New Adventure

A couple weeks ago my husband received an email that will change my life. We've been invited to join a charitable organization called Helimission in Papua, Indonesia. My husband Ben is a helicopter pilot and mechanic and will use these skills to support the tribal people living around our soon to be home town of Wamena. Air support is especially crucial when you need a doctor and there are no roads to get you to the hospital.

I am excited about this new adventure. Although the timing of the email was surprising, it wasn't unexpected. We've been working towards this goal for the last eight years. We just thought it would be a couple more years until we actually got to go.

The really crazy thing is that this is the second email to drastically change my life in less than six months. At the end of last September we were contacted about at little boy named Isaiah and adopted him a little over a week ago on Valentine's Day (so sweet, I know!). Isaiah is two years old and an absolute delight. He can definately throw a temper trantrum with the best of them, but for the most part he is a very happy child. We feel so blessed to be his parents!

And here we are. Just starting to learn to be a family and now preparing to sell everything and move across the globe. Intimidating? Yes, but I'm up for it!

The first step of this move is to attend a semester of bible college in NY. I've lived in Florida the last eight years so hoping the fall and winter up north are kind to me. Next, we go for language school in Indoneia 8 months or so. Once we have a reasonable grasp of the language we'll move to Wamena and start a three year term.

From now until August we'll get the word out about our move and raise financial support. Yep, this gig is totally voluntary! But we know it'll work out. I simply don't have time to write about all the amazing ways God has confirmed this path to us.

I invite you to join me on this journey. I have no idea what it will look like, but jump in. We've got plenty of room and always love company.