Coming Home Today!!!

In a matter of hours Joshua will enter into the next chapter of his life. I am currently writing this somewhere over Greenland, and Mr. joshua is fast asleep. I sit and watch him resting peacefully and I am almost dumbfounded that tonight I will finally tuck him in his own bed, in his own home, surrounded by his own family. It is hours away and all I can do is reflect on how God's hand has been all over this incredible journey.
This process has been filled with a lot of "hurry up and wait". We've rushed to meetings, court hearings, medical appointments, Embassy visits and visa interviews and when we asked "how long until we have an answer?" we have been told, "Just wait, we don't really know." So when I reflect on how quickly things actually have happened, and the obvious miracles that have taken place, I am humbled that God has chosen to show Himself mighty and have mercy on our family.
Many adoptive families have spent months in Uganda navigating the system. And truly when you stand back and look at it, SO much of it is luck of the draw. What lawyer you have, what Judge you have been assigned, what holidays are taking place, if people decide to show up for your scheduled appointment or not, and if they do show up...what kind of mood they are in. We knew that this was the nature of this beast and yet we knew Joshua would be WELL worth the potential of any amount of extended separation and frustration that we may encounter. But we also knew that our God is more powerful than any "adoption process", and that if He saw fit, we could be home in record time... and HE SAW FIT!
I believe (because His word says) that our Father "hears the prayers of the righteous". I know how many of you have prayed over our family over the last several weeks, even a group of incredible prayer warrior sisters spent a day fasting and praying over our Visa interview. (Boy-oh-boy did God provide a mighty miracle that day!!!) I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the outpouring of love, prayers and support that has covered our family. Thank you, my friends for being true family!
I believe with all my heart that God knew us and formed us in our mothers wombs. I also believe that Joshua was knit together in his mothers womb with a purpose. Whether or not Joshua was planned by his biological parents is a moot point... after all isn't that a moot point for all of us? We were intended, planned, loved and desired by the King of kings before we ever took our first breath. God knew that shortly after Joshua's 2nd birthday, we would come and get him from the orphanage, and bring him to his intended home, into his intended family, into his loving church family and welcoming community. Just as you all are blessing him by welcoming him with loving arms and prayers on your lips, I am convinced that in turn he will bless this world ten fold.
We are on our way home and I could not be more excited to proudly introduce the newest member of our family to his new world.  Thank you for following along on this journey with us, thank you for loving us , thank you for holding us up to the Father, thank you for loving our son before ever meeting him!  I love you all.  We are coming home!!!!!!

12 hours!

In 12 hours Joshua and I will be in our Visa interview.  That means that the Judge signed our documents on Monday as hoped!  Woo Hoo!!!  Our lawyer had to camp out at her office from 10 am to 2 pm, until she finally signed it.  As soon as we had it in our hot little hand, we raced over to the US Embassy to drop off all of our paperwork and ask for an appointment on Wed.  (adoption Visa interviews are only done on Mondays and Wednesdays). We were seen by a woman at 5 pm to submit our documents, and were told that it would be difficult to get an appointment this Wed.  We continued to chat, while I silently prayed that God would soften her heart.  By the end of our 10 minute visit, I had the first appointment on Wed... of this week!  Our God is so powerful!
So tomorrow at 2:00 pm (1 am, Medford time) Joshua and I will be in our Visa interview.  PLEASE keep us in your prayers.  While we waited to submit our docs for an appointment, we watched 3 other families come out of their Visa interviews... 2 of them crying! The interviewer is a tough cookie from what I understand, and has the authority to go over everything with a fine tooth comb.  This is a VERY good thing, as the safety and legitimacy of every adoption should be the priority, but that doesn't mean that I am not a bit nervous that every "I" was not dotted and every "T" crossed.
I am praying for peace, acceptance and a miracle!
My dear friend, Sandy, reminded me today that I need to enjoy this 1 on 1 time that I have with Joshua.  Once we get home, "alone time" with one of my children is infrequent and invaluable.  But my heart still yearns to be a complete family again! When they were here in Uganda and we were all together, time FLEW by... but now that they are on the other side of the globe and our family is disjointed, one day feels like 10.  But I will trust that God is in charge and that His timing is perfect! So, I will hope for the best and prepare my heart that God's definition of  "the best", may not be mine. 
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!  If you want to pray for the interviewer by name, her name is Bridgett, and once we "pass" the interview, the woman actually issuing the visa is Freda. Freda said if we pass the interview on Wed, that the Visa would likely be ready on Friday... but we are hoping to fly out on Thursday night instead so we dont have to add another 4 hour leg to our flight.  So we are also Praying for that miracle as well!  He is able, He is mighty, He is good...always.  Even when we don't get what we want!  But that wont stop me from asking, care to join me?  I love you all and hope to see you soon!!!!
Heather 

  

Past due pictures!

Papa at the Market with a Sugar Cane Sword!

Nana & Joshua enjoying breakfast

Joshua putting his dishes away... in the cupboard...dirty! At least he's trying!

Getting some love from Daddy while on Safari!

Men on an African Safari! (can you tell what Simon thought of it?)

At a salt crater lake in West Uganda.

My AWESOME children!

Grandpa teaching Joshua how to shave.

High five! On our way to court!

Safely "house"

So the rest of my family arrived safely home in Medford on Friday night.  My adorable husband e-mailed me as soon as they got home and the first 2 lines of his message were this:
"My lovely bride, we are safely home!  Well, I should say we are house, because that is all this building is without you and Josh here."  
Boy, does he know how to make a girl pine for him!  The next day (yesterday) we were able to use "Skype" which is a free internet video conferencing type thing (for those who don't know).  I can see their faces and hear their voices and vice versa.  There is some delay and the image is a bit choppy but it was AMAZING to see and hear each other!  Joshua spent a good 1/2 an hour singing to his siblings on skype today while they were eating breakfast and we were getting ready for dinner.  What a blessing it is to live in a time where we have this technological capability!  It has made this confusing transition so much easier for Joshua. (and me!) I enjoyed breakfast with my family this evening and it was wonderful! It was like I was there. Life was just happening as it does on a busy Sunday morning in the Koehler house and I was there to enjoy every bit of it... except for the part when Russ said "Heather, can I make you an egg on toast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee?" Now that was just mean!  You have no idea how gross the eggs are here, and the instant coffee isn't quite cutting it! (and He knows it!) ;)  Fortunately, I have decided not to hold it against him, and I'll just remind him that I only have 1 toddler in my care, therefor I can take naps in the middle of the day, if I so choose (although I always find something else to do) Says the girl who is up past midnight writing this.
Tomorrow is Monday and we are praying and praying that the Judge signs our court documents.  She is supposed to be back in the office tomorrow to wrap up old business (after moving to a new district last week).  But there are SO MANY "supposed to's" that don't always pan out here.  But I will hold on to hope and pray that she comes in and signs our document.  It is the last piece of paper that is needed to go to the Embassy and get Joshua's Visa (but the visa interview couldn't be until Wed)  So, if everything goes well, we "should be" home on Friday evening. Please pray!
I took my parents to Watoto church today and it was AMAZING...again!  The music, the message, the atmosphere, was nothing short of spirit filled!  Gods presence was tangible!  I prayed with the woman next to me.  I prayed for some personal problems she is struggling with and she prayed over my disjointed family and the adoption process! Later my mom joined us and we prayed for our home church in Medford and the process of finding a new pastor who will be a vessel of God's grace and might!  I was honored to worship along side this sister in Christ!
I hope to have good news tomorrow of complete paperwork, and a Visa apointment on Wed.  I love you all!

99 sheep

Last night, was certainly one of the hardest nights of my life. I said goodbye to my husband, my 4 oldest children, and my in-laws for an indefinite amount of time. They will return home on Friday evening to the comfort & much anticipated familiarity of our home. I have been dreading that goodbye for months now, and it was harder than I anticipated. I tried too keep a confident face but the wobbles in my voice and the tears streaming down my face did not match the words of assurance that I was trying to convey. I could see in there eyes the fear, pain and confusion that they were feeling, but they too, were trying their hardest to comfort me with their manufactured strength. When I told them to be brave and strong, they'd say through their tears "We will mommy." I assured them Joshua and I would be home as soon as possible and that time would fly by, and they'd say "o.k. mommy." Russ and I shared agonizing glances that said "I don't want to do this. I miss you already. My heart is being torn in two!", but not a word was spoken. Our family unit is disjointed and not knowing when we will be reunited is so painful
When Jesus shared the parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18:12 He said "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" He later talks of the joy of finding that lost sheep and bringing it back into the fold... but I wish He would have touched on the inevitable pain that the sheppard must have felt when he had to walk away from the 99 that he loved just as much, in order to bring the one lost sheep home. As he walked away, I imagine that sheppard looking over his shoulder every few seconds as the distance between his flock and their guardian widened. I imagine the almost sickening feeling he must have felt in the pit of his stomach, from not knowing when he would return to them. I imagine he worried about them each step of the way. I imagine that every minute that passed felt like an eternity. I imagine he asked God "Why" a million different times and a million different ways.
But I will choose be thankful and take courage. Thankful that God has provided us with another wonderful son, no matter how he chooses to bring him to us. And take courage that He who has begun a good work will see it to completion. We will be home soon and our family will be complete. But until that day, please pray that The Great Comforter will be tangibly felt by each member of our family. Joshua at only 2 years old, instantly noticed that his family was gone when he woke this morning. (He was asleep last night when they left at 9:15 pm) This morning, he asked for each one by name with a question in his voice (Daddy? Nana? Papa? Uncle P.K.? Carmen? Faith? Hank? Simon? and each time I tried to explain that they went to a different house to get his room ready for him and that we would go to meet them soon. But I don't think he really gets it. He just keeps asking for them and is clearly not himself today. This house is too quiet! I dont like it. And neither does Joshua.
My parents arrived last night about 2 hours after the rest of my family headed to the airport. What a gift to be able to share this experience with so many members of my family!! Mom watched Joshua sleep and cried that she could hear him breathe and touch his body. Dad beamed with pride over another grandchild. Dad woke before Mom this morning and Joshy and I were already awake. Dad came down the stairs and I said "Joshua, look, this is 'Grandpa'". He smiled big and said "Gah-pah!" They played cars and read a book and Joshua showed off by singing his ABC's. Grandma came down a little later and gave him a new blue matchbox car and they were fast friends. But even though he is surrounded by people who absolutely adore him, the house is eerily quiet without his siblings. The absence of their noise is almost deafening.
If everything goes ridiculously perfectly, in theroy, we could leave Tuesday night and be home wednesday evening... but we are in Uganda, and things dont always "line up". One piece of paper that takes 30 seconds to sign, can take 3 weeks to obtain. Please pray that our God would show Himself mighty and that we would be able to leave next week. Thank you! I love all dearly! I'll update again soon.
Blessings, Heather

Watoto Villages, Are you Kidding Me?

Hello my friends!  I am so sorry for the delay in posting, I think the whole "African time" is getting to me (that is nobody here wears a watch or needs one).  So I exhausted and promise more info later, but here we go...

Picture #1:  This is Peter and he is the Watoto sponsor child of the Sagunsky's from our church of WPC.  When we met him, we had to pull him from his studies for finals for secondary school.  He is an excellent student and he will be entering university to study Law and will be a lawyer in 5 more years.  Incredible young man and incredible opportunity because of the Sagunsky's and the Watoto church!

Picture #2:  These are girls from the second Watoto visit to our church, WPC two years ago.  Remarkably they remembered our girls names without being told what they were!  They have their hair shaved because when they get back from choir tour it is too much for the girls to care for their own hair, so it gets shaved off.  Very sad for us to know that, but for them it is a welcome relief from all the time it takes to care for it.

Picture #3:  Williams family here you go!!!  Here are your boys from two years ago!  I have cool stories to tell you about them, but I wanted to give you a brief photo to remember them by and my eyes are crossed from exhaustion.  Very cool boys, and they remembered you!

Picture #4:  This is a photo of one of the girls from Watoto choir who stayed at our house almost four years ago!  It is funny, she didn't remember Heather by face, but remembered us when she saw our girls!  I think that is the first person I have met who didn't remember Heather after meeting her for the first time!!!  (This is Russ talking of course!)

Picture #5:  You have no idea of the insanity of driving children around in Uganda, but this gives you an idea.  Let me just say, no seat belts, no rules, no "one bottom to a seat" rule.  It was simply too many people, in too small a car, on too bumpy of a road, with no air conditioning, for more time than what would be expected.  It was a better ride than Disney land for the kids, and a nightmare for the parents!

Picture #6:    This is Henry, the Comerchero family's sponsor Watoto child!!!  He is an incredible young man, and what a gift it was to meet him in person.  He was delivered a package from the Comerchero family from us, and he sends his love and gratitude in return.

Picture #7:  This is the Bloomquist family's child from Watoto that they sponsor.  I can't tell you the surreal moment it is to meet a young man and shake his hand and know that you saw his picture on a photograph and watch a family (Bloomquists) agree to send money to sponsor him through his high school years!  Our God is much too big for my brain to rap around this!  He is a remarkable young man, and the criteria I always use when I meet a young man is "would I let him date my daughter?"  I can honestly say that almost all of the men coming through Watoto, including those that our church family sponsors, I would let date my daughter.  (Always easier to say now than when the time comes, so don't get your hopes up Carmen or Faith!)  Okay, more later, I am too tired.

R & H + 5

3 day Marathon!

We have a busy 3 days ahead of us, before the bulk of my family leaves and returns home on Thursday night, and my parents show up a few hours later to stay with me until our adoption  paperwork is wrapped up. 

Today we will spend the day with our friends from Watoto.  We will go to the village (about an hour outside of town) and give hugs, American candy and cards.  Our friends, who stayed with us when they were on choir tour in the states, are at two different villages on opposite sides of town, so this will be an all day (and long anticipated) adventure.   

Tomorrow we will all head to Jinja where we will see the source of the Nile and some of the beautiful waterfalls.  (We also hope to see some Lions and leopards too!)

And then Thursday, we will wrap up any last minute visits to the market and pack everyone’s carryon’s to head home.  We came with 17 fifty pound bags and will return with 1 small carry on per person.  You should have seen the back of Uncle P.K.’s truck when we showed up to the airport, it was almost overflowing!  We had so many bags, thanks to the generosity of so many people;

Thanks to the children of the 2009 Westminster Pres Vacation bible School who gave  much needed, toiletries, children’s shoes & underwear, school supplies, and  towels & sheets as a part of their mission that year.

Thanks to the multiple families who have given my children so many “hand-me-downs” over the years that we are able to pack our bags full of children’s clothing to leave for the children at Joshua’s Orphanage (and still have clothes at home!) The  Martins, VanWinkles, Scotts, , Winetrouts, Bloomquists, Jacksons, and I’m sure  more that I am forgetting (sorry)!

Thanks to the individuals who supported our family financially through purchasing my girls handmade “Mustard Seed” Jewelry! (That sure was an amazing and humbling miracle that God preformed through my children!  For those who don’t know, our children wanted to come with us to Uganda to welcome their new brother into the family, but we did not have the 8 thousand extra dollars it would take to purchase their plane tickets.  So our daughters said “We’ll raise the money selling earrings! You have always said God still woks miracles, even through kids, why wouldn’t this work?”  Never wanting to say the word “impossible” to our children we cautiously told them “All right, you can try, but don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out the way you hope.”  They made and sold over 300 pairs of earrings and God provided $8,500 through the generosity of His people!  Thank you & Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!)

And most importantly, thank you to the people who have prayed us through this journey!  We are convinced that without the prayers that have lifted our family up over the last year and a half, we would not be in the same blessed position we are in now. We are humbled and grateful beyond description!

Thank you to all of you who continue to lift us up in prayer!  If you are so moved, please continue to pray for safe travels for my family as they come and go from this place this week and for documents needed to complete the adoption to fall into place at record speed. (He still works miracles!)