Summer Hosting 2009

Since God brought Jon and I to hosting, we've hosted a child every summer and winter since. Not all those were planned, sometimes we were backups. Either way, we've had someone every single program since 2007. We've always been open to God's movement in regards to any that were to be permanent members of our family, but more often than not, he has another role for us to play. We hope for more children, but don't want to get ahead of God and now that Ryan is here, feel we have so much more to consider as it relates to him. The truth is though, Ryan has had a longing for siblings since the day we brought him home. He wants to host and loves to have kids in the house, he feels so helpful as he speaks in their native language and puts them at ease by answering a question or explaining something that isn't clear. It's when I see him most confident in himself... and when I see him the most compassionate and loving. It's been clear to me that God did have someone else special for him and us, someone that would make "family" feel like a more complete picture in Ryan's eyes.

When we applied for Ryan's adoption, we elected to adopt 2 children. It wasn't a grand master plan, just a safety net in our eyes in case he had a sibling pop-up along the way. But, since he had no siblings to speak of, that left us with approval for an additional child in the eyes of the US government and the Latvian government who had approved us accordingly. Again, we didn't automatically assume this was God's will, but were open to it.

I went on the New Horizons mission trip back in January and February 2009. That was a long trip taking me into Latvia, Ukraine and Russia. We started in Latvia and I wondered, prior to that trip, if God had someone to show me. Preparation I guess... and as I stepped out of the van on our last stop in Latvia, I quietly contemplated if this final stop in Latvia was more than just an interview. In my mind, I would walk in to find the cutest blonde-haired set of pig tails ever imagined! (I do anticipate the day he brings me my girl...) However, what I did walk into was the cutest, blonde-haired, blue-eyed set of dimples imaginable on a very small boy who simply said, "Hello." I can honestly say, he had me at hello! I couldn't believe it, but it was another BOY! What was it with BOYS? Very similar to Ryan, there was something immediately. As God started opening my heart and awakening my spirit... it was there... something that can't be explained or defined... just something. I knew it.

So, that little man did arrive in Atlanta on June 24th and spent almost 6 weeks with us this summer before he returned on August 4th to Latvia. The fact that I am doing this blog post-hosting should tell you what a crazy summer it was. I actually took a position with New Horizons in December, so this was my first summer working the hosting program, as well as being a parent, as well as hosting!

We had a blast with Ryan and Vladislavs. While Jon and Ryan had football all summer and I was working with the hosting program, he just tagged along and we fit in every little placement of extra-special fun we could! We visited my parents in Gatlingburg, always a treat for kids with all those go-karts and arcades. There were bikes and trampoline jumping, water fights in the back yard, swimming at the pools, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, dressing up in boy costumes, Fourth of July Fireworks, playing with the dogs, a trip to the zoo and Aquarium, Vacation Bible School, the spinning restaurant atop the Westin hotel, basketball outside, bowling, skating, my birthday, Ryan's birthday, Vladislav's "early" birthday, a trip to the ocean at Hilton Head... and the summer was GONE!

But, in the middle of all that, was a precious, loving little boy who followed Ryan like a shadow, adored Jon and let me tuck him in at night and gives him kisses. He was gracious, polite, affectionate, fun, brave, excitable, crazy, loud, shy... everything you could hope for in a host child. And, on his final morning with us, he burst into big, fat tears that kept rolling half-way to the airport. In his first 4 days home, he had called us 4 times. Most recently, he let us know he would like to come for "all time."