June 11, 2022 I posted the above picture on Facebook with the caption, “what’s next?”
What I thought was next was the long-awaited end of a four-year journey of trying to finalize our adoption through COVID shutdowns and politically-instigated backlogs in the Turkish judiciary. We began our adoption journey with the expectation that it would take about a year. Not that we would have made a different decision, but, you know—expectations.
Four years to finalize the adoption, never sure whether we would actually make it to the finish line, and then another almost six months of American bureaucracy to obtain an “expedited” visa that would allow Joy to enter our country.
What’s next?
I can close my eyes and remember the relief in the moment captured above. The feel of sand between my toes. The crazy wind blowing our hair and clothes. The deep-down consolation of finishing the race without losing my footing, a fear that had loomed large and dark the last year or so.
We were all giddy, laughing, joyous. And then we went to bed, got up, took a van to the airport with our million bags, and Joy was refused exit.
What was next? Soul-crushing, hope-smashing, bitter, bitter gall. The cold, hard knowledge that we were a pawn between two political powers flexing their might, without the ability to save ourselves. A long fall to an even-darker depth of impotence than previous historical lows.
Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been twenty feet from the finish line of a difficult race, one that you threw every ounce of every part of yourself into persevering to finish well, only to find yourself, instead, falling into a firepit?
What’s next?
I’ve thought a lot in the last year about the Israelites standing on the shore of the Red Sea. Pharoah to their back, a watery grave to their front, their children beside them looking up with an expression not unlike Joy’s at the airport, one that I can see to this day in my mind’s eye.
What were they thinking? Were they anticipating a party in the desert, a freedom they hadn’t known in generations, the wonderful plan God had for their life? Were they blindsided by the impassable waters?
This Saturday we are going to gather with local friends and family to celebrate the parting of our own Red Sea, the miraculous demonstration of God’s power over kings, governments, petty officials and international airline schedules. He orchestrated a symphony to allow our exit from Turkey on June 24, 2022, and we are going to feast and sing His praises!
And yet, this anniversary has me pondering the year to come. I have some expectations, some hopes, some questions. But in terms of my actual, mortal stance, in many ways I’m in the exact same position as last year, wondering what’s next?
Which is alright with me, just to be clear. Because whether it be fires or wonders, I have the lived experience that proves both His goodness and His sufficiency to walk me through.
And what’s next for Jodi Cowles, the brand? Well I’m so glad you asked. 😏
Cold Turkey, my first foray into romantic comedy, is launching the first week of September.
Joy’s World: The Cousins are Coming, the first in a planned multi-book children’s bilingual series is well under way, with hopes for launching in September or October.
The 10th Anniversary Edition of Thirst, the allegory I wrote about global outreach work, will be relaunched in the next couple weeks. I hope to relaunch the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Minor Protection Act a few weeks later.
Heaven and Nature Sing, an advent anthology to which I’ve submitted poetry, is launching in October.
Some Wandered in the Desert is in the middle of a rewrite, with hopes to relaunch it and the next two books in the series early 2024.
Meanwhile, The Unknown Authors Club (the publishing company I co-founded) is going full steam. We’ll be celebrating the release of our first paid publishing gig in July with Covered: My Breast Cancer Story & Practical Insight for Yours.
And, if you’re an independent author, you might be interested in this—our anthology was included along with 40+ other products in a bundle called Write, Publish & Profit 6.0. It’s available this week only, for $49, and has a lot of cool products for those interested in writing for a living. Click here to find out more, and as usual, if you buy we’ll get a small affiliate fee at no extra cost to you.
Super Fans Only Section 😆
(for those who want to help power forward Jodi Cowles, the brand)
I’m looking for reliable connections who are fluent in the following languages and would be willing to translate a short piece of text (about a page) for a small fee and/or donation:
German
Dutch
Austrian
Belgian
Swiss
Danish
Swedish
Bulgarian
Italian
Russian
Greek
Norwegian
Please reply if you know someone!
That’s it for now, but I’m going to leave you with an illustration from Joy’s World because I’m pretty excited about how it’s coming along! I’m working with a fabulous Turkish illustrator, and although my husband said it doesn’t look too much like the real Turkey 🤣🤣 I said it’s perfect from a kids-eye view!
I think J has grown 4 inches this year. 🥰