There are so many things about this adoption that have been unexpected. We never expected our baby to be in another state, which means we didn't expect long distance or extended travel to be involved. But our baby IS in another state, so travel has thrown us for a loop!
For awhile we went back and forth about our mode of travel. Drive or fly? We had several people reach out to us offering their assistance with flights. It was still difficult when we have no idea when we actually need to leave or how long we'll be gone. My mom is traveling with us, so it's important to us that we can all travel together. It will cut down on a lot of the unknown.
Austin's dad has offered his help, and we've now been able to form a plan. There's still some unknown, but the fact is that there is NO way to plan for such a spur of the moment trip! We are going to plan to drive. If Austin's dad can get last minute tickets when the time comes, we'll fly! If not, we'll drive. Of course we'd love to fly and skip out on the 14 hour drive, but there really are so many pros and cons to both options, so either avenue will be fine! And at the end of it all, a car or a plane will get us to our little boy, so that's all that matters!
Lodging.
Sheesh! This has been hard! A hotel for possibly two weeks just isn't an option. It will be more expensive and less comfortable. We looked into airbnbs, and those seemed to be our best option because a lot are less expensive than a hotel, and they would provide the space and comfort needed with a newborn baby. We could have a small kitchen to avoid eating out too much and a free washer and dryer. Still though, the cheapest we could find was $55 per night. (Amazing! But even that adds up to a lot when you're staying several days.) However, I messaged the owner of that particular airbnb and explained our situation about not knowing when and for how long we'd need to stay. The owner responded and was SO precious and kind! She said for our situation she would only charge $45 per night, but since we don't have specific dates, she can't guarantee that it will be available. Completely understandable. That was definitely our best option, but even with that we couldn't guarantee availability, so we kept that in our minds but were open any time a friend had a suggestion.
A few people have called or messaged telling us of friends near Charlotte who would like to help. For one reason or another, none of them worked out. For example, a student's mom told me her cousin lives near that area and got me in contact with her. The cousin was so incredibly sweet and invited us to stay with them. However, they lived just across the border in South Carolina, and we won't be able to leave NC even though they would be SO CLOSE! Still this sweet woman reminded me that they are close if we needed anything while we were there! So kind!!
A few different instances like the one described above came up. I have consistently been in awe of how giving people are. So many people want to help!
Saturday night I was riding out with Austin as he worked when I got a Facebook message from a woman I know from Carthage, TX named Janet. I've only met her a couple of times, so we really don't know each other well; however, Janet knew about our needs and wanted to help. We spoke on the phone Saturday evening, and she told me she had reached out to friends to find a connection in the Charlotte area. One of her friends has a former pastor who used to live in Houston, but now lives and pastors right outside of Charlotte! Janet got in touch with the pastor's wife, and she told Janet to pass her contact info along to me. I called the pastor's wife yesterday. She was so sweet, and it was like chatting with a friend! She said she and her husband have an adopted daughter, and their church has an adoption ministry, so clearly this family and church all have hearts for adoption. She told me to give her a couple of days because she was going to reach out to the church to try to find a "host home" for us!
This morning as I was walking from my car to the school, I got a text from the pastor's wife saying she found a place for us to stay with a church member! It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders in that very moment! The unknown and the guessing is over! I can't explain the relief! The pastor's wife even said at the end of her message, "I'll be giving you guys support along the way." Knowing there are good people who will be there for us during such a wonderful but crazy time is so encouraging!
THIS is God at work. THIS is the body of Christ doing what the body is called to do. These people and this church are reaching out to do whatever they can. When I spoke to the pastor's wife yesterday, she asked me to tell her about what we're doing and asked what our needs are. She never asked if we are Christians. She never asked if or where we go to church. She never asked if we even believe in God. She simply asked what we need. Then toward the end, she said if we have the opportunity while we're there, she would love to have us at their church so they could love on us some more. This is the love of Jesus. It didn't matter our background. All that mattered to this woman and her church was that there was a family from Texas who needed some help. Not only have I been completely blessed by them already without meeting yet, but I have also been encouraged to love others like this. No reservations. No prerequisites. Just unconditional, Christ-like love.
Are all our bags packed? No. Is our apartment packed to move to our house? No. Is our living room an obstacle course of baby stuff? Yes.
But I don't even care anymore! For the first time in a few weeks, I'm not stressed! I have sub plans done. I have an amazing sub lined up. We have travel plans. We have lodging plans. We have a church who is prepared to love on us when we get there. We have the essentials needed to bring this baby boy home. The packing and the moving will work out. God has had this all planned out all along, and anyone who can't see God in all of this is choosing to miss Him!
Caleb Austin, you can come now!
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