February 26th - Cake and Continents

     Sometimes the more things change the more they stay the same, not sure how that works but it does tend to in some way. The focus of this trip to Indiana has always been on the adoption process, so that has taken the first priority. With that being said we knew that there would be plenty of space for other aspects of life as well to fit around the time spent on the adoption prep meetings, interviews and trainings. Coming back to Indiana where we have spent 11 1/2 years of our married lives together means that we are able to see many people who we have relationship with, some for many years. At times on this trip it has meant doing what we used to do for fun i.e. high school basketball games, shopping at night, getting together to play games with friends; it has also been hanging out with old friends, and having it feel like time almost hasn't past, especially 3 1/2 years worth of time. It has meant going to our favorite places to eat out, mostly Mexican might I add which is not readily available in England, and being able to be at Family Worship Center each Sunday of our trip. What a blessing that has been, to be where we have been sent from and be able to have input there, great relationships there and meet with the Lord while gathering with the saints there.
     Reflecting on our time this past week there has been much adoption prep with our profile and online course that we have taken but also many of the aforementioned activities as well. We've asked ourselves many a time how many other people are so fortunate, no blessed to have not only an amazing set of friends and family in one location (in our case continent) and another grouping of friends and family in a far different location. That is our experience, so many close relationships throughout Northern Indiana and so many throughout the whole of England and especially the Basingstoke area. 
     As a result of this adoption being run through Indiana we get the opportunity at some point, when that point is we don't know, to come back here for another two month stretch while the adoption is being finalized. During that time we'll once again have many of the experiences that this trip has afforded us, that will be great to have that kind of space with friends and family here in the States. We will we miss our lives in England of course we will, but for us this is part of the journey that we are on, it is a bit like having our cake and eating it too. So for now we finish up our adoption process meetings in the near future and then wait to be approved as a potential adoptive family and go from there. All the while knowing that we have many walking with us whether that is from the east or west of the Atlantic, and that is a wonderful place to be.