by Tammy Ott
photo credit: Flickr
This is our story. It's an action-packed, faith-led story of terror, excitement, frustration, anticipation and love. We hope our journey from fostering to adoption encourages you to jump on board!
We walked up to the station neither of us knowing what to expect. After all, we had never been on a ride like this. It was hard to determine if the screams ahead of us were of terror or excitement. Nevertheless, we held onto each other a little tighter and moved forward. I gazed into the faces of the fellow passengers as we crept forward...kind of like cattle being led to the end. Some faces were filled with excitement; anticipation of the ride ahead. The seasoned veterans were easy to spot out as they had either a look of confidence or a cloudy daze. They faced the ride with total and complete trust or with resigned determination. The first time riders, like us, we're also easy to pick out. Uncertainty. Fear. Excitement...Something unknown was drawing us and we walked on.
photo credit: Flickr
This is our story. It's an action-packed, faith-led story of terror, excitement, frustration, anticipation and love. We hope our journey from fostering to adoption encourages you to jump on board!
We walked up to the station neither of us knowing what to expect. After all, we had never been on a ride like this. It was hard to determine if the screams ahead of us were of terror or excitement. Nevertheless, we held onto each other a little tighter and moved forward. I gazed into the faces of the fellow passengers as we crept forward...kind of like cattle being led to the end. Some faces were filled with excitement; anticipation of the ride ahead. The seasoned veterans were easy to spot out as they had either a look of confidence or a cloudy daze. They faced the ride with total and complete trust or with resigned determination. The first time riders, like us, we're also easy to pick out. Uncertainty. Fear. Excitement...Something unknown was drawing us and we walked on.
While inching forward in line, we heard screams coming from outside the station. "Are you crazy?" one yelled. "I hope they're paying you!" called another. There were also caring, gentle calls, "You can do this! How can we help? We love and support you!" Were the words that pushed us to board the train.
The screams on the track were getting closer; pulling us in. We tried not to look at the twisting track and the brightly painted twists and turns. We moved a little closer as we hung on to each other.
The last bend in the line brought us into perfect view of the first hill. An incline so tall it left us speechless; breathless. The train ascending was so full of excitement. Up, up it groaned as it's riders were in for the ride of their life. Seeing the height of their journey, we wanted to turn; to run back to the comfort and safety we knew far from here... we couldn't run. The screech of metal called us.
The train screamed into the station and loads of relieved passengers scrambled out. The faces of fear were hard to seek out. Excitement lit their eyes. "Let's go again! I'm going for the front car this time!" a few screamed, as they raced for their place back in line.
The seats were empty. Those behind us were waiting for us to take our seat. It would have been so easy to walk through; to step over and out; away from the unknown ride ahead. Instead, we sat. The safety harness cinched us in. There was no escaping.
Up, up we jerked. Higher than we'd ever been. It seemed like an eternity until we reached the top. Higher and higher. A few brave ones threw up their arms. We held onto each other and enjoyed the view. Up there you could see things you never dreamed... We reached the top. There was nowhere to go except down. Down. Down. Halfway through the descent, we threw up our arms and screamed with the crowd. Up. Down. Twist. Turn. We rode on. Screaming, laughing, crying, smiling we raised our intertwined hands and rode on. Twisting, turning, lunging, jolting we rode on. The tunnels were dark but we passed through to lighted, plunging hills that turned our insides out. We rode on. Left, right we hung on a little tighter. The end was in sight.
Screeching Metal returned us to the station. If not for the harness, the ending jolt would have throw us out...kind of like Jonah being vomited on the shore. We were back. Safe. Together. The memories of terror were replaced with laughter. Clings of fear were forgotten and replaced with slaps of victory. Like the crowd before us, we stumbled out, making way for those behind.
So here we are, addicted to the adventure; drawn by the excitement and led by the anticipation. Once again, we are in line for one of the most terrifying, exciting, frustrating and fulfilling, faith-led rides of our lives. Want to join us? Beware you might end up in line more than once!
Many Kind Regards,
Tammy
Jodi shares her thoughts on being a grown up adoptee.
Tammy Ott is a wife, mother and business owner. She and her husband have been riding the coaster for 3 years, and they are blessed to count their children by their Ott name.
The screams on the track were getting closer; pulling us in. We tried not to look at the twisting track and the brightly painted twists and turns. We moved a little closer as we hung on to each other.
The last bend in the line brought us into perfect view of the first hill. An incline so tall it left us speechless; breathless. The train ascending was so full of excitement. Up, up it groaned as it's riders were in for the ride of their life. Seeing the height of their journey, we wanted to turn; to run back to the comfort and safety we knew far from here... we couldn't run. The screech of metal called us.
The train screamed into the station and loads of relieved passengers scrambled out. The faces of fear were hard to seek out. Excitement lit their eyes. "Let's go again! I'm going for the front car this time!" a few screamed, as they raced for their place back in line.
The seats were empty. Those behind us were waiting for us to take our seat. It would have been so easy to walk through; to step over and out; away from the unknown ride ahead. Instead, we sat. The safety harness cinched us in. There was no escaping.
Up, up we jerked. Higher than we'd ever been. It seemed like an eternity until we reached the top. Higher and higher. A few brave ones threw up their arms. We held onto each other and enjoyed the view. Up there you could see things you never dreamed... We reached the top. There was nowhere to go except down. Down. Down. Halfway through the descent, we threw up our arms and screamed with the crowd. Up. Down. Twist. Turn. We rode on. Screaming, laughing, crying, smiling we raised our intertwined hands and rode on. Twisting, turning, lunging, jolting we rode on. The tunnels were dark but we passed through to lighted, plunging hills that turned our insides out. We rode on. Left, right we hung on a little tighter. The end was in sight.
Screeching Metal returned us to the station. If not for the harness, the ending jolt would have throw us out...kind of like Jonah being vomited on the shore. We were back. Safe. Together. The memories of terror were replaced with laughter. Clings of fear were forgotten and replaced with slaps of victory. Like the crowd before us, we stumbled out, making way for those behind.
So here we are, addicted to the adventure; drawn by the excitement and led by the anticipation. Once again, we are in line for one of the most terrifying, exciting, frustrating and fulfilling, faith-led rides of our lives. Want to join us? Beware you might end up in line more than once!
Many Kind Regards,
Tammy
Jodi shares her thoughts on being a grown up adoptee.
Tammy Ott is a wife, mother and business owner. She and her husband have been riding the coaster for 3 years, and they are blessed to count their children by their Ott name.
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