At home with family - but not really?!

We have now been home about 10 days after our first trip. So many friends and family have been supportive far beyond our expectations and for that we are truly grateful. Many have asked, "So what was it like?" My answer to them probably included some of the following thoughts:

God gave us an overwhelming sense of peace as we left our three kids for a three-week global adventure! Our time in Kazakhstan was extremely challenging and difficult while at the same time being abundantly rewarding as we met a beautiful little one-year-old boy who captured our hearts. God gave us an incredible unconditional love for him in such a short time…(of course our family HAS been praying for this unknown baby for well over a year). We fell in love with little Noah Timur only to come to the end of our three weeks and face the reality that we had to say “goodbye.” John 14:18 continued to echo in my mind… “I will not Leave you as orphans, I will come to you…” Ultimately, I don’t care about the reality of the court’s custody status. Noah IS OUR SON and we can’t wait to get the little rascal home. What’s it like? Ultimately, financial impact, the 12-hour jet-lag, the foreign food, culture and language all fade into background… Picture coming home to 3 young children whom you haven’t seen in three weeks, only to be hit with the reality that you have left one of your sons on the other side of the globe! Yes, I’ve felt better things in my life but we continue to trust in God’s timing and have been given a continued sense of peace. Having peace, however, doesn’t mean a lack of emotions as I have shed tears more days than not. After missing several weeks, it was a joy to be encouraged in worship and I leave you with a few words of one of the first songs we sang at church after being back:

"Where You send us
God, we will go
You're the answer
We want the world to know

We will trust You
When You call our name
Where You lead us
We'll follow all the way..." -Chris Tomlin

Continue to pray with us as we await our second trip for our court date in about 5 weeks (Lord willing). ~Shane

We are home!

After one long car ride, 2 long flights, and hardly any sleep we are home! Our flight landed yesterday afternoon and we were greeted by mom and dad Sterk, Micah, Emma, and Elijah! It was a joyous and tearful reunion! Praise God for traveling mercies, our family, our Kazakhstan baby, and our own bed!

Our Guardianship appointment on Friday went well and we received consent to petition the courts for the adoption of Timur. We have been told that our court date will be about 4-6 weeks from now. We are happy to be home for now and will be excited to return and be one step closer to bringing him home. Before leaving Taraz on Saturday, we made a quick stop to the baby house to say good bye to Noah. We smothered him with kisses and said we would be back. One of his caregivers said that he had been "naughty". We asked why and she said that he just wants to be held all the time. He cries until someone picks him up, and when he is put back down he is unhappy again. Over the last 2 1/2 weeks, we fell in love with a little boy. We loved on him as much as we could and it's nice to know that he felt it!