Change is Coming
Last night on the two hour drive home from our son’s football game (they lost, 27-0, boo-hoo), John and I had a good talk about the changes that will be coming to our family. We both feel that it’s important to mark this with some intentionality. As we talked, a ritual began to take shape in our minds.
Our thought was to do something like the following. On the night before we leave, we will gather in our living room around the coffee table – probably all seated on pillows or the floor(eye level) – and, using photos, we will talk about how God has brought our family into being. First, John and I will talk a little about our separate lives and show a few pictures from our own childhoods. Then, we will talk about finding each other, dating, deciding to marry and then, finally, show some pictures from our wedding and our life together in those first years. We will talk about our desire for family and struggles with infertility.
Then, we talk about our son John’s adoption. How we heard the news and what is was like when he came to be with us. We have some great baby pictures, family portraits of the three of us, and will probably show some of those. So first, we were individuals, then two, then three.
Next, we’ll talk about trying to adopt the second time (four failed attempts – two domestic, two international) and how, so faithfully and miraculously, God brought Ana into our family and we’ll show some more baby pictures, and pictures of us as a family of four.
Each time as an addition is made, we’ll offer a short prayer of thanksgiving.
I also envision us lighting candles (priest stuff, naturally, you have to have candles!). Starting out with one candle burning in the center, which since we are Christians will represent the presence of Jesus. Around the center candle will be a circle of four other candles representing each one of us. Each one will represent a family member, and we’ll light one as we each speak about adding that person to the family. We’ll also put some unlit candles in the circle and leave those unlit for now. We’ll say a prayer for each member of our family and for those who will be coming to join us. Pray, and then, eat supper and have fun.
I think we will probably leave this set up while we are away.
Final touch, when our new family members come, we will repeat the ritual (having a translator present), but this time add a candle, by name, for each new one to the circle and say a prayer of thanksgiving. Then again, have a great supper and have some fun!
I think this sounds OK. I’d be interested in any comments.
Our other getting ready is moving along. John (Dad) has been converting the garage to a work space and is almost done. Son John will move into what was Dad’s office, and the bunks are about to get set up in the other bedrooms. We are trying to make sure that all our paperwork is in order and that the schools, etc. all know we will be gone (my sister and her husband will staying with the kids!). We are a bit apprehensive and very excited. God is so good. We can’t wait to see what He will do in
God’s peace, Jennie