All day yesterday I reflected on her growing up years (and Dane's too).
When Evan was about 2, Star Church held its first ever Baby Dedication service. Evan was older but she was still considered a baby. I remember the day well because the other children were still babies being held by their mommies and daddies. Evan was big enough to walk and talk. She DID NOT want to be held. She DID NOT want to stand by us. She laid in the floor and threw and fit. :) Just a little stressful for a mom who was trying to have the "perfect" Christian family. It wasn't until years later when I was a MOPS mentor at Little Chapel that I truly understood the words that we said that day. DeWayne and I are her parents but God is her true Father and the way we have pointed her her whole life. She has made so many decisions in her 21 years that have reflected that walk that I am beyond proud.
I did not cry when we dropped her off and prayed with her before we left. (Very unusual for me!) My thought all day was: I gave her back to God when she was two and have tried to be a good steward as her earthly parent since. Have I aways been perfect? Heck NO! That being said, I have placed my trust in God for this summer. He is in control and it's up to me to trust Him. Am I going to miss her? Oh, Yeah! Am I sad that I can't just call her and talk to her anytime I want. You bet! But, God has a greater plan for Evan in the Ukraine.
When Dane was 20, he went to Minnesotta for the summer to work at a church camp. Not that far and still in the US. It might as well have been the Ukraine! He had no cell phone service and only sketchy internet. We did see him for a couple of days that summer which helped. I would call his cell phone just to listen to his voicemail message and hang up. :D He went back to camp the next summer too. Not as hard the second time around but my heart ached for wanting to see and talk to him. I just missed him! I still Just miss him and he only lives in Elizabethtown. LOL So I am kind of knowing what this summer will look like. :D
My sister, Marsha, who's daughter died when she was three, will sometimes with a heavy heart say: "I just miss her!" I am sure that heaviness will come for me and it will come at the least expected moment. Good thing there is email and Skype and Facebook and Twitter and Blogspot. :D
To keep up with Evan this summer you can check out her blog:
http://evansukrainiansummer.blogspot.com/
Evan & DeWayne at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
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