9 turns 5!

Isaiah Cole Karnemaat our 9^th child turns 5 today, heretofore the catchy blog title. This will be our 2^nd birthday celebration with Isaiah. He came to live in our house in June of 2010. It’s difficult to describe Isaiah’s impact on our family with words.  

He entered our lives through a sweet picture in a Bethany Publication, his name was Jin-seok Gim. He was an orphan; I was a mom with 8 kids. We were an unlikely pair. But God is full of grace, mercy and yes…

SURPRISES.

I want you to know that I have successfully looked through every Bethany publication that has come to my house since 1998, when I met Gillian. I have prayed for those “waiting children” and never felt any compulsion to inquire on the case of any one of those precious children. Until on a day in May when the January issue re-circulated through our house, I noticed a boy and wondered if anyone was praying about being his family.

So on a day when Kent was probably busy planting some of the seeds that needed a home to produce a crop for our harvest. I called him and inquired about getting busy checking on a boy who needed a home, little did I know that the harvest that his adoption would produce would be filled with such rich, amazing blessings for so many.

We began the journey and had a pause in July when another family who was also interested in Jin, pursued further testing for a medical condition I wasn’t even aware was a possibility. My social worker, Ann told me that unless this test for Fanconi Anemia came back positive the family was certain they would be adopting Jin. I was saddened by this news, apparently I have no skills at keeping my heartstrings intact until the details are finalized. But I reminded myself that we were praying for a family for Jin, and if we weren’t the family and God had another, at least we could be a part of bringing a child home, in that way.  About a month later Ann called again to let me know that the other family had backed out of the process. I didn’t understand, because the test had come back negative once again. Ann relayed that the family’s pediatrician still felt that this disease was a very real possibility and that it could mask itself sometimes. I was certain beyond certain, that God had chosen our family for Jin and he didn’t have this awful disease, God just knew I needed confirmation that this boy was for us. We began going through the paper process, required for us to adopt Jin. At the end of August a surprising phone call came. Jin’s latest blood work indicated a stronger possibility for Fanconi Anemia and our social worker advised us to talk with a Genetic Counselor in Minnesota before proceeding any further with the adoption.

I remember my first call to the orginazation that raises funds for Fanconi Anemia, the volunteer on the other end was very sweet and kind, but when I told her that we were in a process and looking to adopt a boy with Fanconi Anemia, she said. “Oh, I am so sorry.” I remember being really hurt by that, I wasn’t sorry, why was she so sorry.

Hmmmm, because she knew a little bit more about the disease than I did at that point. We then called the genetic counselor.  It was a pretty lousy phone call, we met Heather Zierhut, a sweet, articulate, honest soul with a heart for helping families deal with this obscure disease. She didn’t candy-coat anything. We started to get a clearer picture of this foe we were facing, wow was it ugly. We were perplexed.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

I was so sure I knew what God was up to, but alas my grand plan didn’t include this awful news. Those were

praying days,

crying days,

looking for a word from God days.

He spoke in a variety of ways, but in the end the confirmation to proceed with Jin’s adoption was unquestionable for both Kent and I. For that, I am so grateful. We went forward as one, completely aware of an awful disease, but more aware of a mighty God, who frankly moves mountains on a regular basis. A God who promised that He would always be with us, no matter what. He was gracious enough to allow continued confirmation at random moments through the process.

We met Isaiah in person on June 3, 2010. Without a doubt, it was love at first sight, I cannot explain it, he was ours by an extravagant gift from our Heavenly Father, who led us on a journey that would deepen our faith, trust and love for Him. His ways our truly beyond my understanding.

I am daily amazed at the way God has equipped this boy that He has made. As I watch him work a crowd with his sweet smile and love of life. I have lost count of how many people he has met and within minutes they are wanting a hug or a high five. He is charismatic, someone people just love to watch and observe and laugh with. If I were going to equip someone to fight a mighty battle, I’d give them Isaiah’s personality. He’s a “get ‘r done”  kind of boy. He would prefer to figure out how to do it with his hands, than have another pair of hands helping him. There have been countless opportunities for growth as we watch him face something, we’re pretty sure he can’t do. Just last week, Kent was playing baseball outside with the boys, out comes Isaiah. Kent shared with me that his heart sank. He just wanted to cry. But the neat thing is that Isaiah is oblivious to the obstacle. Baseball? Why yes I think I’d like that. We’ve faced buttons, zippers and a host of daily tasks that I take for granted, Isaiah always finds a way.

I want to be more like Isaiah.

When there are obstacles I want to think, yep, let’s do this. God has placed me here with this equipment and we can do this together.

 I want to love every minute of my life the way I see him loving his.

 I want no worries about tomorrow, because God isn’t asking me to live tomorrow yet, just today! Isaiah does that well.

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.  --Corrie Ten Boom

Today, I am so thankful that God chose Isaiah to be my son, I am learning far more from him than I could ever teach him. He is a mighty man of God and he just turned 5.