Here in Russia

We made it to Russia. Wow, what a long trip. We are extremely beat. Check-in in London Heathrow was a nightmare. They didn't allow any liquids with your carry-on and only one carry-on per person. This was different than what United allowed during our initial check-in, so we were duped. Had to stand in a thousand queues to finally have to repack our bags and re-check them in. Ugh!!! Then when we meet our driver in Moscow, we hit the road for the city and there is bumper to bumper traffic, due to a big "futbol" game and an electronics expo in town, there was no getting anywhere fast. Our driver, very ingenious man, took a million different side streets allowing us to get a close-up view of Moscow neighborhoods. Beautiful city! Their are a lot of huge apartments everywhere that look somewhat similar to housing projects. Not too many single family homes. Our tour of the backroads was the good news, the bad news was that it took over 4.5 hours to reach our hotel (9:30PM tired and hungry). Weary, weary are we. Then we are told we need to meet our driver in the lobby at 7:20AM. What???? Why? Doesn't the train depart at 4:00PM for Yaroslavl? Yes, but there is an express train that departs at 8:15AM that they want us to be on. OK, whatever you want. First we need to eat and sleep at least a couple hours. This is all I can say for now, time to hit the sack. Excited, nervous and tired about the events that lay ahead. Plan to check in tommorrow evening.

Thanksgiving a month early!!!

We just got our referrals!!!!! Two in fact! One is for a 6 year old boy, the other is another boy almost 5. We are busting at the seams with excitement!!!! Things will be crazy from now on. Leaving Oct 30th for Moscow. We will do our best to keep this site up to date. It is time now to take a pause to give our thanks. First and foremost to God, who has been in charge of this journey all along. But I also want to thank all of you who have been holding us up in prayer and best wishes. I know this miracle has been a community effort and I am sending blessings to all of you for it. Please don't stop yet though, we still need you to get us through till we bring the boys home. There are still many paperwork hurdles to jump through. In fact, I think we need you all now more than ever.

Adeen eelee Dva? (One or Two?)

Haven't received the referral for our boy yet. We are told that they are trying to process the paperwork for a brother. We did ask for two, so they are trying to accommodate our original request. If the paperwork on the 2nd boy does not clear by Friday, they will send the 1st one alone. So we are wondering, will we have a family of four or three? We will wait and see continuing to put our trust in the Lord, who knows far more than we do about what is best for all of us. We still expect to travel before the month is out. Even Ken is showing signs of excitement. He woke me up yesterday morning with a file on life insurance, expecting me to understand the different types as I wipe the sleep from my eyes. He thinks we need more. I know Ken well enough to read these signs of excitement. Blessed be God.

Friday the 13th, Our Lucky Day!!!!!!

Hoorah! Today we got the phone call that we thought would never come, that we can expect a referral to come on Monday for a little 6 yr. old. We will be making plans to go and visit him. We expect to leave for Russia before the month is out. Our new luckiest day is Friday the 13th!!!!!

Waiting

I wanted to share some recent reflections I have had on this long, horrendous, challenging, painful wait. I realize that many, in fact I think I can say "most," who find their families through adoption, experience this excruciating wait. I have spoken to some who have waited 3 to 5 months and say every minute of that was excruciating. While there are others of us who can count our wait in years. It all seems so unfair, but what is fair anyway? and why does it matter? These are tough questions. I have found some consolation in the Book of Job. Job had everything and was a pious man. Then, he was struck down with a long period of horrendous suffering. He loses everything, his family is killed, his wealth demolished and he contracts a loathsome disease. He is truly in the pits. He does do plenty of whining and complaining, but never speaks against God. There are moments when he just wants to die. He gets some encouragement from friends, some of which is right on, some is not. Job calls out to God over and over. He acknowledges God's greatness and begs for an answer or explanation. God does eventually answer him and restores Job to a greatness beyond what he experienced before. Job is the best example I have seen yet of someone who waits on the Lord. There was no good explanation of what Job went through, but what is important is that he was deepened in faith and strength through his suffering, and God DID answer him.

TGIF

In this case, thank God it's FRUA. FRUA stands for Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption. We have been a member for a couple of months and attended a few workshops they have hosted and a dinner meeting where we were able to talk to other pre-adoptive parents and adoptive parents who brought their children. This weekend we attended the FRUA annual picnic. It was a wonderful event. There were over 150 people in attendance. It was very encouraging to meet and talk to them. Most of the attendees were already adoptive parents and had their children with them. We were able to talk to many children who were adopted either as infants or older children. All the kids were so beautiful and amazing. Observing the families together gave us a vision of where we are going. It was all so very encouraging. It is so great to be able to share our thoughts and feelings with others who truly understand, others who have already been where we are going. We got alot of good advice and positive encouragement. I think it was great for the kids too, to be able to bond with others who also have so much in common with them. I can't wait to bring our kids with us next year. Another positive aspect of this experience was noticing that many (and when I say many, I mean most) of the adoptive parents were very close to our age. In fact, quite a few were even older than us. I am going to put the paranoia I have had about our age, to rest once and for all. TGIF!

Guardian Angels

We heard last week that the Russian Adoption Center had picked out a couple of children for us and were doing the final record check when they found that the biological mother had recently been visiting them even though she had already signed off on the relinquishment form. So, our referral was cancelled and they started a another search for our true children. At first, I was sad and hurt. Just another delay in this long, long journey. Wondering if I would really be able to make it till the end. But after praying about it and asking Jesus to help me understand, I realize that my guardian angel is looking out for me. We would have been much more devastated had we gone to see these children, bonded, and then had their mother come to contest at the last minute. I see now that we were truly being protected. I am thanking God for that. Today is the Feast day of Guardian Angels. A perfect day for this insight.