Well, we are finally going to be returning to Irkutsk. It has been almost seven months since we met Tatiana and promised her that we would return. We will fly out of Grand Rapids tomorow at 6:30 am. It is an exciting time for our family and a difficult time for us.
Caleb and Jared are at Kevin's parents house and are definately experiencing the same mixed emotions Kevin and I are having. We are all glad that finally the time has come to bring Tatiana home and we are feeling sad that we have to be away from each other again. On monday Caleb broke his collar bone and that has amplified all of our feelings. We pray that Jared and Caleb will have a great couple of weeks with their grandparents and that they will be safe and happy.
During this time apart each of the five of us will wear an identical necklace called the "sheild of faith": it is a silver charm in the shape of a shield, with a cross on one side and on the other is written: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" Joushua 1:9. " We will continue to rest in these words while we are apart and know that He is with each of us. And we will count the days until Kevin, Tatiana and I return to Caleb and Jared. -Melanie
