The Double Shot

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.