A Perfect Day

July 27, 2012.

It was a day we never dreamed we'd be marking as special- the day we officially welcomed two more children, Vanya Timothy Rowe and Pavlina Alisa Rowe, into our family.

Just before leaving for our court hearing, we prayed with the kids and thanked God for the day. We talked with them about how this was similar to a Christian getting baptized. We explained how there is nothing magical in the water when someone gets baptized, but it is a symbol that communicates to others the commitment that has been made in a person's heart to follow Christ and to be in God's family for the rest of their life. Similar to baptism, although in our hearts we were already a family, this act of going to court to finalize our decision would communicate to the world our intentions of being a family.  We were all so very ready to go and make it official!

We filed into the courtroom at 1:00 as the only adoption case for the day and sat down with our attorney and the sherriff, waiting for the judge to enter. The actual hearing was more formal than we expected. Rather than being nervous, however, we rested comfortably in knowing that the judge who orchestrated this was not the one wearing the black robe sitting behind the bench, but our righteous Judge who "executes justice for the orphan and the widow..."Deuteronomy 10:18. In less than 20 minutes, Vanya and Pavlina were declared Rowes. That was it! He signed the decree and they were part of our family. It reminded us of how simple it is to become part of God's family. All we have to do is believe that He signed the decree 2000 years ago with Christ's blood that says we are welcome in His family and then invite Him to be Lord of our lives. "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. Oh, Praise God that "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will." Ephesians 1:5.

We left the courtroom and had fun hugging and shaking hands repeating "Hello, Pavlina Rowe, Hello, Vanya Rowe". We waited in the lobby for our attorney to make a copy of the adoption decree and splurged on the gum ball machines. Mulu hit the jackpot by getting THREE for 25 cents!







We returned home to prepare for a "Welcome Home" celebration with some close friends and family. Even the storms that blew in during the party couldn't put a damper on the blessings we received by the presence of so many who have encouraged and supported us along this journey .

It really was a perfect day! Our true joy, however, comes in knowing that this is nothing compared to the perfection that awaits us in heaven where, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain..." Revelation 21:4. The Perfect Day!!!

We Got the Call

I love to go back and re-read journal entries when hindsight is 20-20. Most of the journaling is Scripture which either speaks clearly to something we are dealing with or a theme that I see in all of the verses I've read that particular day. In attempting to find the words this morning to communicate our exciting adoption news, I looked back in my journal to the days leading up to our meeting Vanya and Pavlina. Although we had no idea what God was about to present to us, we can see through His word that He was clearly preparing us to hear it.

Feb. 3, 2012- (2 days before learning of their need)
Romans 11:29 "...for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
I Corinthians 1:26-27 "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh..."
Ephesians 1:18-19 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."
Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
II Thessalonians 1:11-12 "To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, accoridng to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
II Timothy 1:8-9 "...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."
II Peter 1:10 "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things you will never stumble.".


Two days later we received the news that there were two children who needed a new home. After praying about it and looking into Scripture, we felt strongly that we should offer to help by providing them a temporary place to stay until other permanent arrangements were made. On Tuesday, February 7th, they walked into our home and our hearts, and we soon discovered that this was the calling for which God had been preparing us- loving and welcoming into our family a 14 and 16 yr. old brother and sister who were struggling in their adoptive family. Thankfully, further confirmation came through Scripture the next few days:


Feb. 5th (the day we received the news of their situation)- Ephesians 4:1-3 "Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."


Feb. 6th - I Corinthians 7:17 "Only as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk."


Feb. 7th (the day they entered our home)- Hebrews 13:1-3 "...Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also in the body."
II Peter 1:10 9(again) "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you..."


Feb. 8th (the first full day they were with us- I certainly needed to hear this!) II Cor. 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." Matthew 25:35 "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

It is very hard to describe what has been happening in our hearts and home these past five months. Although difficult at times (only because of our own selfish tendencies and prideful desires to hang onto the control of our lives), we have watched God's redemptive power transform two broken individuals while weaving together our family to look nothing like we ever imagined. And now, it is time to make it official. Yesterday we got the call from our attorney informing us of our court date. Next Friday, July 27th, we will stand before a judge and watch as he rules that Vanya and Pavlina are legally a part of our family. Clearly this will be a time of celebration for us all. It reminds us of the inexpressible joy we have as children adopted into God's family, Romans 8:15-17 "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."


We praise Him for grace that allows us, in our inadequacies, to participate in His amazing plans that
 are so much bigger than ours. And on those days when we ask, "How in the world did we get here?" or "Are you sure this is our calling?" (I asked both of those questions just yesterday.) He reminds us that, "...the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21