The God of Latvia {and VLOG #6!}

Friends, as I am starting to write this post, my heart is full of JOY because I love what I am about to share.

And, it’s really very simple…

GOD IS REAL.

Yep. That’s it. Simple, yet life-changing.

There have been moments in my life that God has felt more real to me than others. And those times when my heart was doubting were the times when I wasn’t seeking Him. ‘Cause when we seek Him, y’all, HE SHOWS UP!

The past year and a half of our adoption has been one of those times in my life that I will always look back with absolute certainty that God is Real. And not only is He real here in America, but He is real across the world.

He is the God of every tongue and nation.  

So I don’t know why I was surprised that when we arrived in Latvia in December of 2015 that God was there too.

I remember arriving at the airport, full of nerves, and we were greeted by Sania Louise and her foster family. It was the first time we had seen Sania Louise since we hosted her 5 months earlier, and the first time we had ever met the foster family in person.  Yet, we felt God’s love in their hugs and smiles, even though we didn’t speak their language.

They took us to dinner that night, and when we rode in their car to the restaurant, Christian worship music played softly on the radio.  We didn’t speak a word in the car because we didn’t share the same language, but as I listened to the worship music (in English,) I was reminded that we did share the same God.   I was absolutely overwhelmed with emotions and fought back tears. Because in that moment, on the other side of the world…God met us there.   And I was reminded that God is bigger than my little life in Kentucky.  He is God of the Universe.  And He is the God of Latvia.

Over the past year and a half, each time we were in Latvia, we had the joy of working with our adoption attorney and her team of workers…Godly women who love Jesus and love children.  They cried with us and prayed with us on the trip when we left Latvia without Sania Louise.  They prayed fervently for our family and Sania Louise as we sought to continue our adoption.  And they rejoiced with us and Praised God when Sania Louise officially became our forever daughter. 

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(I don’t have pictures of all of them, but this is sweet Liene.)

And don’t even get me started the foster family.  I could write a million posts about them and never be able to say all that I have to say.  They have become our family over the past year and a half.  It is because of their faithfulness and selfless love that Sania Louise is our daughter today.  They are truly the most beautiful people in this world.  

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How good God is to surround us with His hands and His feet through the people we met in Latvia.  The people who we have fallen deeply in love with.  And the people who will forever be a part of Sania Louise’s story.  

One of my favorite parts of our most recent trip was the night we got to eat at our adoption attorney, Kristine’s home.  She welcomed us into her home, and God met us there too.  Her children were so adorable, and her two oldest love music like our son, Jonathan.   So he went upstairs with them to their music room, and they worked together to “perform” a song for us.  Her sweet kiddos love to sing American praise music and know English well.    It was so precious to watch our children, from two difference countries and two different languages,  sing praises to the same God of us all.   (You can see their performance in Jonathan’s Vlog below.)

God has worked miracles right in front of my eyes the past year and a half.  And I see God’s miracle every single day when I look into the eyes of my daughter, Sania Louise.  It was nothing but His perfect handiwork that wove our stories together and made us a forever family.  

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Here is Jonathan’s latest Vlog.  It’s called “I accidentally hit a baby!” because as he was singing with Kristine’s children at her house, her youngest child, Jasmine, came in the room and started playing the drums and chimes in the background.  We were cracking up!! But then Jasmine came out from behind the drums and Jonathan didn’t see her, and his guitar hit her in the head.  He felt so bad!

But she rebounded quickly and was all smiles the rest of the night. :)

Lastly, if you want to hear the full version of the worship song that Jonathan was singing, (which is one of my favorite songs right now,) I’ve included the original version of the song below, along with the lyrics. 

 
 

 

Have a blessed day, friends!!  

xoxo

Traci

 

“O Come To The Altar”

[Verse 1:]
Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

[Chorus:]
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 2:]
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

[Chorus x2:]
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Bridge x2:]
Oh what a Savior
Isn’t he wonderful
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia, Christ is risen

[Chorus x2:]
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

[Verse 3:]
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you’ve found

 

19 Comments

  1. There are no words to express how happy I am for you and your family! From the time I started following your blog, but especially with the adoption of Sania Louise, I knew that God was with you every step of the way. I also don’t really have the words to express how thankful I am to have found your blog and have been able to go on this journey with you and your family! I receive such a Blessing to read your words, to see you with your family and to follow you with in your journey with your faith. You don’t know how much you, your family, the stories of your faith have meant to me, how they have helped me and make me believe more and feel so much stronger in my faith!. To me, you are an amazing woman, you and your family are so Blessed but deservingly so God Bless!!! xoxoxo

    1. Aw, Pam! You are too sweet to me. I truly feel unworthy of your kind words, but I am thankful that God has somehow worked through a broken vessel like me to help others draw closer to Him. Only He could do that! God bless you!! xoxo Traci

  2. What a beautiful story!! I have really enjoyed following your adoption, and I will continue to follow your blog now. I love your home too(: It is amazing how often God works in the lives of those who have the eyes to see Him.

  3. Beautiful story – beautiful family! I have felt like I”ve been on this journey with you from the beginning Traci. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this wonderful fullment of prayer. Sania Louise is truly blessed to be a Hutcherson. My heart is full :).

  4. You took a big step of faith when you hosted Sania Louise and also when
    you started the adoption process…..those steps led you to the joy you
    are now experiencing with your daughter. God bless you and your family.
    You are a great example of being obedient to God’s call.

    1. Thank you, Margaret. I wish I could say that I was obedient at all times, but I fail often. But I am so grateful that God gave us the strength to be obedient during this process. It was definitely worth it! :).

  5. What a beautiful post …. God is so good !!! Love the videos and pics…. “All things work together for the good …. ” :) … ( Elevation worship is one of my favs ) !!@

    Blessings to you and your family Traci!!!!

  6. Thank you so much for sharing. God has truly blessed you and your family. Can’t wait to see what God will do in Sinai’s life.

  7. Traci, I completely agree with you: God is Real! I recently went to Tanzania, East Africa on a missions trip and our group went out into the bush and enjoyed a church service with the Maasai tribe. I was overwhelmed with emotion for the Lord as we had no idea what words the tribe sang but they were praising Jesus! We all worshiped the Lord in different languages.

    I am so thrilled for your family and for Sania that you are all together permanently now. I am the mom of 4 boys and I would be very excited to have a little girl in the house. God bless you all!

    1. Thank you, Amy! I can only imagine how beautiful it was to hear the Maasai tribe sing!! That would be a dream of mine! Thank you for your sweet words of blessing. xoxo Traci

  8. Once again, a beautiful post and vlog by Jonathan! I had to laugh about the title – y’all are just so funny!
    So amazed at the way God has worked in your lives over the last year and a half (and forever, really, to get you where you are now!). Another true testament of his perfect timing. xoxo

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