This picture is significant. Not only is Sarala growing into a beautiful young girl...no longer a baby, but she's wearing "big girl underwear." She's getting tall, talking so much, and is now in the midst of potty training. She's doing well and we're very proud of her.
Summer has officially begun at our house since Crystal and I are both off for the summer and yes...we're settling into the slow, amazing rhythm of summer.
I "disappeared" from technology during the month of May due to another school year coming to a close...always a busy time. There were also changes taking place that required prayer...thought...planning...time.
Here is a quick recap:
This is a video shown at the in-law's anniversary party last Friday night, April 24th, 2009.
Easter 07'
Easter 08'
Easter 09'
Easter 09'
All I gotta say...look at all that hair!
March 9th, 2007...Sarala came to Missouri on a plane. It was a surreal experience...preparing for her arrival, getting her room ready, heading to the airport with an empty car seat, taking a little baby into our arms that only had the clothes she was wearing and a blanket, toy...wow.
The picture above is Crystal and I holding Sarala for the first time...she looks so scared. The picture below is her in her car seat...changed into her pajamas after we signed off and were able to take her home with us. What a weird thing...head to the airport with an empty car seat...come home with a baby. 
It seemed like time slowed way down while we waited to get everything in order so we could adopt Sarala. Paperwork, home-visits, more paperwork...the state of Missouri working with the state of California...waiting, waiting...and yes...more waiting.
The way most of it worked required us doing things according to this crazy time-line. Deadlines...things that only could happen at certain times. Fingerprints for instance...who knew that fingerprints would/could be such an issue.
I remember Crystal and I having an appointment to get fingerprints done for a background check...scheduled for a week-day afternoon, right after school in Farmington. This was during basketball season so I asked my fellow coach if he would ride the bus with my team to Perryville, which is a hour and a half bus ride one way. I remember racing over there, then racing to Perryville to coach a basketball game...then I rode it back. Wow...what craziness.
I know that we were separated from Sarala for her time in the hospital for a reason...there is no way that I would've been able to leave her if I or Crystal were able to see her. The only knowledge about her came from an occasional discussion with her medical social worker.
Then came the day that Sarala was to be released from the NICU into a high-risk medical foster home. It was early November 2006. She was going to live with a nurse until she came to Missouri...which we were at the mercy of the paperwork and Missouri.
I remember Crystal talking to the foster mom...Laura...and being able to hear Sarala "goo", giggle, and cry in the background. Very weird but it brought tears to our eyes...it was our baby girl.
Then...miss Laura did something awesome...like the neurosurgeon...she sent us a picture of Sarala:
You could see the bald spot from her surgery. She's smiling though...which is amazing considering all that she had been through up to that point. This picture...in addition to the one we received from doctor...were HUGELY encouraging to us. God was doing an amazing work...in and through Sarala. I am changed because of that time...the work...the challenge.
Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.The work that God was doing in me was renewing this love for God that grew my faith...prayer-life. I found myself spending a lot of time in the book of James.... Sarala...she was coming to live with us soon...our baby girl.
James 1:12
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
Happy Day - Tim Hughes
How Great Thou Art - rocked-out version
Jesus Messiah - Chris Tomlin
By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
Only a God like You - Tommy Walker?
I have to admit...it is hard to see God in things...in the world. The way people think about each other...treat each other. Take this picture for instance. This is Plunder Palace. If you're familiar with the place...if you pan out from "GOD"...there's a bunch of junk...clutter...chaos. It's hard to focus on God amidst the chaos...but He's there. I love the visual...the connection to life.
Maybe it's societal, cultural...attitudes...whatever you want to call it...we don't really look for God in things. We get caught up in the clutter most of the time...I just as much as the next person. We tend to forget about God's presence...in situations...circumstances...the fact that He's really in control. Not us. Hard to admit....
Also...our perspective may cover our eyes so we only look at the world in a certain way...in a way that doesn't think or believe that God acts anymore...focused on the clutter...the peripheral...that miracles are only stories from the Bible. I had this view of things...and this is where we continue Sarala's journey.
My prayer-life...faith-life...began a journey during the time that Sarala was in the hospital that continues to this day. We were being told all of these terrible things...and...you could say they were "reality"...but at that point I decided that it wasn't a reality that "had" to be.
A question began to surface...why do we have to accept this? Why can't she get better? At that point our prayers turned towards action...pleading with God to act on Sarala's behalf...heal her.
I was soaking up everything...connecting with God like never before. My prayers...worship...reading took on new significance. I began to read into the book of James. James...after a greeting from James...starts out as below:Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
James 1:2-8
God has a way with words. He's also merciful, loving, powerful...listening...speaking. It's up to us to pursue a relationship with him. This can only occur through Jesus. What an amazing gift...grace...salvation through the blood of Jesus...bled on the cross over 2,000 years ago. This time of Easter...celebration...God is present...more present than what we think...and Jesus is alive....
Sarala is a miracle. The way God moved during her 67 days in the NICU is utterly amazing and has given Sarala a powerful testimony to God's love, action, mercy, and redemptive power.
Have a blessed Easter weekend!
Today is my first day of Spring (Easter) Break. Therefore...I'm taking a break from the blog for today anyway...to relax...recharge...enjoy the day of non-work. ;)
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