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!!!