A few years ago, we were down in Santa Cruz with some of our
friends, traveling as a “band” for a Junior High Weekend Summer Camp.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on that last
statement, especially the word in quotes. So for those of you who thought we
weren’t rockstars…
Boom.
We went down to the Boardwalk for an afternoon of childhood
delight, which included roller coasters, carousals with ring tosses and amazing
carnival-esk food.
This experience also included my biggest fear.
The Double Shot.
For any of you who have experienced what this is, I am
sorry.
For those who haven’t…
You are welcome for the warning.
The Double Shot is a 125-foot tower of death that shoots you
straight up into the air without warning, then straight drops you back down to
earth in a horrifying plummet.
Not once. No, that would be to kind.
Twice.
Twice, people.
This is not from God.
It stands hovering over the Boardwalk beckoning “Do you
dare?”
No, Tower of Death. I do not dare.
However, my friend Matt thought differently. Kindly, opening
his hand, 5 orange tickets staring me in the face, he said, “I bought these for
you. You wouldn’t turn away a gift, would you?”
Honest thought…
“Matt, you just wasted $10.”
Spoken thought…
“Oh thanks, Matt! Sure!”
And thus preceded the worst 180 seconds of my life.
I did not breath. Not once.
I secretly wish I had bought the $50 picture that they take
of you while you are torturously free falling through the air because it fully
embraced the saying “A pictures says a thousand words.”
My "words" may have been a bit “colorful”.
I may be acting a bit dramatic (although I will probably
never make my way back onto the Double Shot).
I will say, that there is something in me now that sees the
Double Shot and makes me do one of those chest hitting "come at me bro" pump fake moves. Like, "Don't mess with this. I'm a conqueror."
A conqueror of something that would have otherwise stopped
me in my tracks and diminished me into a weeping mess of a little girl.
It took a friend, $10, and a plummet (or two) of faith to
realize that some of the most terrifying things in life can indeed be
conquered.
And so…
We find ourselves, standing at the entrance of our own
Double Shot.
Big.
Terrifying.
Seemingly insurmountable.
Yet conquerable.
There are a lot of details that need to fall into place. A
lot of paperwork that needs to be filled out. A lot of prayers prayed. A lot of
dollars to be raised.
But in short…
We have been presented with the chance to have a beautiful
girl from South Africa become a part of our family.
And we said yes.
We are at the beginning. And as in the adoption process,
things could change at any second.
And, yes, we will still be continuing with our Ethiopian
adoption process at the same time.
But, you heard it correctly. We are adopting again.
Two adoptions at once.
The Double Shot.
We have handed in our tickets, have strapped into the
seats and are prepared to be life-altered, not once, but twice by the
incredible plans that God has in store for us.
Here we go…again.
