Twas the Week Before Christmas...

It seems so hard to believe that Christmas is only a few days away! I'm sure everyone is running down their mental check lists, checking them twice, to make sure all they had planned to do has been done. As I sit back and rest a bit, I pray that you, too, might have the chance to relax, reflecting on WHY and WHO we are celebrating.  May your Christmas this year be less of you and more of the ONE whom we are celebrating. 

Update from us- so sorry I have not kept up with everything over the past 3 weeks.  Not sure, but possibly a mild pneumonia, or severe bronchitis, has kept me from accomplishing all but the necessary things recently.  But Hallelujah!! I am starting to feel better!! Yeah, God!!

On the adoption front.  We received some perplexing news last Tuesday.  This is what we heard:

This past Spring it was announced that the United States and Russia had finally developed a bi-lateral agreement that all parties would accept. Since this agreement we’ve known that some changes would be taking place with the Russian adoption process. As we move into 2012 we will doubtless begin to see those change go into effect and we will update each adoptive family and our informational documents (guidelines, website, etc.) accordingly.

A new law that is going into effect as of January 1, 2012 is the extension of the 10 day waiting/appeal period post court finalization. This waiting period will now be a mandated 30 days, thus turning the Russia adoption process into a three short trip process rather than two trips. We anticipate that each trip will be approximately 5-7 days in duration. We realize that a family’s first concern will be the additional costs of traveling, and while you will be making three round trips to Russia, we do want to highlight some positive aspects of this change:

1. Less vacation and FMLA time will be spent actually traveling and more will be available to each family to spend in post adoption with the child(ren)in their new home, helping to make the transition better.

2. The old process required families to spend several thousand dollars actually living in Russia for up to a month, now, instead of expending money to reside in the country for several weeks you will expend approximately the same, if not less, simply on the travel portion. Theoretically, the overall cost of the adoption will not increase because of the change, the money will just be spent elsewhere.

3. Think of all the frequent flyer miles!

While the process will now require three trips, families do have the option of remaining in Russia during the 30 day wait period. This would mean that the second trip will be 5-6 weeks. All families still waiting to receive a referral or travel will be effected by this change as it will be implemented immediately beginning in January 2012.

As I was telling a friend at work about this news, I realized that, in a way, it was an answer to prayer.  We had been concerned repeating the process in Russia that we would compare our second child to Eli, saying stuff like- wow, this is more difficult that with Eli, or boy, this is easier.  God has definitely delivered!! This trip will be nothing like our first was:)  

So, looks like we will actually have about 2 1-week trips and 1 2 to 21/2- week trip to bring home our second child.  This will make it easier to not be away from Eli for so long, though I do hope and pray that we will have adequate time to visit with our child in the babyhome so we are the known entity as we take them out into the unknown world.  Hang on baby!! We are praying and praying that we can bring you home soon!!

Both Hands Update

Our second, much smaller work project went so well.  We had about 7 or 8 guys show up and they had the shingles on and everything cleaned up by early afternoon.  Eli and I went and visited with Alice for a few hours, taking pictures and getting lunch ready. 

Tim and Paul worked a little more on the shower, finishing up the drywall.  Only a coat of paint and trim left for around the shower and Alice's house will be complete.  We have been enjoying spending time with her, and I think she has been enjoying the company as the final touches are being added.  They were able to remove the remaining tools from her garage:)

We finished our followup letter this morning, adding the link to our video.  Check it out:
Youtube video

I'll try to recall some of the funny stories so far... I wish I had written more down, I'm sure many have been forgotten....

While riding tubes with Tim at Massanuten on vacation this summer, the boys went down the dark tube- pitch black.  Eli was looking nervous, so Tim told him they needed to scream really loud to have lots of fun.  Eli told Tim at the end of the ride that he just remembered that God was a light to his path!

When talking of his brother and sister he has been praying for over the last 2 years or more, "Mommy and Daddy, would you please say it right??? It is "a...n...d" not "o...r"  You keep saying it wrong!!"

When driving home from town a few weeks ago, he asks, out of the blue as we are driving past Walmart and Bob Evans, "Mommy, does Santa live in China?"
"No," I replied.  "Last I heard, Santa lives at the North Pole, and that is much further north."

"OK...then Mommy, do the elves live in China????" he asked after a short pause.

"No," I replied. "As far as I know they live at the North Pole with Santa and work in the workshop with him."
After a brief pause, as I am beginning to see where this is going, I asked, "Why do you ask?"

"WELL, Mommy, the other day I was looking at my toy I got for my birthday and my toy that Santa gave me last year for Christmas, and on the back it says, 'MADE IN CHINA."

We live too far out in the country to go trick or treating, even if we wanted to.  But Eli was learning all about Halloween at school and all the kids were talking about trick or treating.  So we came up with our own version.  We took turns singing in the bathroom to let the other know when we were ready.  Then the other person would come over and knock on the door.  After several sessions of this game, each of us trading places, we began improvising costumes.  I grabbed my blue snuggie and wrapped it around me and called myself a blueberry! He thought that was hysterical!! Then he disappeared. For a while.  I was getting rather bored when suddenly I hear him say, "Start singing!" 

Then a little voice saying, "Trick or treat, Mommy!!"

I opened the door and there he stood, decked out in full cowboy gear, including hat and rope.  I offer him a toy or candy and he looks at me funny, bends one knee to rest leg on toe instead of foot.  And then... he begins to pump that leg up and down in time with his little song, "If you're ever down in Texas, if you're ever down in Texas, if you're ever down in Texas, Give a yell, YEHAW!!!!" And tipped his hat after lifting off his head and giving a bow.  

I laughed so hard:)  What a wonderful funny little boy!! I love him soo much!

Both Hands project

Saturday, 11.19.2011
1119 Moxahala Ave  (How cool- the address was the same as the date and fell on National Adoption Day)

The day dawned overcast and chilly.  We were up and about early, getting breakfast, packing up last minute items.  Mom and Dad had arrived earlier the last evening.  As I was preparing breakfast for Eli, Tim came somewhat somberly up the stairs.  A coworker had called off, causing one of our volunteers and his son and brother (our plumber and floor/tile expert) to be derailed from our project.  At first it seemed a staggering blow, but then I realized that God knows what is going on.  This is being done for His glory.  I knew he would see it through.

I got in the car a little later than I wanted to and took off.  Just before I hit the drive I received a text that one of our friends from church had a sick child and was not going to be able to make it.  Again, I repeated to myself, God is in control and He is the one guiding and directing this.  Though, to be quite honest, I was beginning to get a feeling for how Gideon felt as he watched so many soldiers place their faces in the water to drink.  "So many, Lord? May we glorify you all the same!!"

Then a song came on the radio.  In the lyrics God is talking to you saying don't be afraid of what you see, He is in control.  He will do what He promised and He will receive the Glory!! Soon after that, just before I turned onto Alice's road, I looked up and saw a rainbow in the sky.  Not a full blown across, but a hint of one without the darker colors.  Amazing since it was below freezing!! God's "little" promise warmed my heart and energized me for the rest of the day.

Our project was amazing!! We ended up having over 50 people at the site!! Some came by to watch and ask questions, while an absolutely amazing group of people took over the yard and house.  WOW!!

This is a description of what went on that I sent earlier in an email:

Our project went well;) we ended up with 50 people and 3 children, and an extension to complete project this next weekend. 

We got the old roof off. Tim said it was in terrible shape:( slate off, boards down, chimney out, new lath board in, chimney covered, new roof on, tar paper Down;) still need to put shingles on... Trying to plan for Friday or Sat this week.

They finished laying the ceramic tile in the kitchen, Tim and another worker went back today and grouted the tile and cleaned it up.... Looks beautiful!!

Got the tub out, drywall put in and the handicapped shower put in... Still a little to do with the plumbing... Missing a part for the shower, and the shower doors.  A plumber that came a little later in the day to hang shower door said he could get a brand new door for us, he'll come sometime this week and install it.

Got the basement cleaned, rooms painted, outside railing fixed and painted out front on porch, upstairs totally cleaned, pulling out beds and dressers and taking everything off walls to wipe down walls and Christmas decorations put out. (We had a lot of "unskilled" workers that couldn't do roofing and there wasn't enough room in bathroom or kitchen, so we found lots of other stuff to do;) and we moved all the Christmas decorations twice while cleaning basement;) we had a great day! ) A lot of work.. But so much fun when we did it all together!

It was overwhelming for me, realizing all these folks are helping because of us, and to help bring home our baby. They were so touched by this project! I have a few that have told me they've asked family members to give to both hands for us as their Christmas gift!! So touching!!  I was in tears several times as I checked in with each group making sure they all had supplies they needed or more workforce;)

Over all amazing day... Still some work to be done... But so much accomplished!

It was so incredible to watch God at work.  I was the procurement person at the site.  I went from project to project seeing what was needed and trying to find it.  Almost every time we needed something, it was right there.  "Is there a shop vac?" I looked down and there was one sitting behind me.  "Is there a dust pan?" I looked up and saw one sitting on top of the papertowels.  "Are there wire brushes so we can do the railing as well?"  We looked for about 3 minutes in the garage and found 3 and a scraper!! Over and over it went, folks asking for something to complete their jobs, and God providing.

Alice, our widow, summed up our team very well.  She said she didn't meet anyone that wasn't super nice... what a great bunch of folks.  And, of course, she said she can't wait til we are all in Heaven so she can direct us in the choir:0)

The roofers worked non stop from 8am til 4:30.  They didn't even pause for a picture, and some for lunch. They got an amazing amount accomplished during that time! They put on a new roof and had everything finished except the shingles.  The tile laying crew stayed at it for 12 hours straight and walked away with all the tile laid.  The shower team accomplished much as well, all these teams making it easy for Tim and a friend of ours from church to go back today and grout, finish off shower with caulking and covering 2 sides of roof with shingles by themselves. 

Hoping to get back on Sat with a team to do the remaining 2 sides that will require much taller ladders.

How does one even begin to express the emotions inside during a day like this?  Thank you is far too paltry a word.  Gratitude doesn't even come close.  Realizing the sacrifice they've made, giving up a Saturday, asking family and friends to sponsor them as they work, trying to bring our baby home from Russia.  When I mentioned that I felt so bad about asking so much for myself (it is very hard to allow others to help, especially when you are a helper yourself!!) I was gently reminded that they aren't really doing this for me.  They are doing this to bring a beautiful, sweet child HOME to a LOVING FAMILY that is LONGING with so much PASSION to complete their family through ADOPTION.  WOW..

God's Blessings

Oh, it is so exciting!! We can't wait to be able to see your face for the first time!! We are in awe as we watch how God is doing this amazing thing to bring you home!! He promised, and repeated that promise to me, on several occasions- He will provide!!

Tomorrow is our group meeting, and next Saturday is the big day.  We are so excited that God provided a way that we could involve so many people, changing lives and improving lives for so many.  Hard to tell where the blessings will stop!!

The Union at Daddy's work contributed a rather large amount yesterday.  Oh my, it made me cry as I caught just a glimpse of how God might be using us to further His kingdom.  It is so hard to ask others to help, but I know that most are delighted to, as would we if someone asked us!!

We so desire to be the people God wants us to be.  No inhibitions.  No false pride.  No fear, only perfect love, knowing that what God called us to, He will complete and accomplish, if only we will step aside and let Him. Oh sweet joy of my heart, we all long for your presence in our home!! You have a whole family looking forward to the first night you lay your head on your very own pillow in your very own room in your new house with your forever family forever.  I know that day will come.  I pray it will be soon!

Family Vacations

We had the grandest time this summer!! Just after mailing out the Both Hands info mentioned in last post, we all traveled to Virginia to relax and spend some time together as a family.  It was soo nice to be able to see everyone in my family.  It is usually only for a day or 2 around the Christmas/New year and July 4th holidays, so a week together was amazing!!

We were able to do so many things this year that we've never done before!! Usually Tim, Eli and I just do little stuff- playgrounds, maybe the water park... This year we hit all the big stuff!! Luray Caverns was amazing!! We had so much fun seeing the amazing world underground that God created. Eli was having a ball until we mentioned that bears hibernate over winter and he was sure he was going to find a bear!

The Go cart races with the guys, the bungee jumping and ropes course/ zip lines were so incredibly fun! And who could forget going to Monticello with our family.  The children's tour was amazing!! The children enjoyed the tour, and so did the adults, learning what it was like to live at Monticello as one of Thomas Jefferson's grandchildren.

I do wish I'd posted much during the last few months... there have been many funny stories. 

Both Hands

It has been such a long time since I have blogged.  So much has happened!!

Late July we turned in an application for an amazing fund raiser called Both Hands.  This is a participant sponsored charity fundraiser.  But instead of doing a one day event that is then complete and everyone moves on, like a golf tournament or a 5K, a widow is chosen and her house is renovated.  The sponsorship dollars, through Lifesong for Orphans, bring home the orphan.  What an amazing idea!!

We found out mid to late September that we were accepted to do this fund raiser, and found our widow in the early weeks of October.  Knowing that there were so many people out there that would benefit from a project like this, we prayed and prayed and gladly decided that we would allow a new friend that we'd just met to chose the widow for us.

Rod works at Bethel Mission in the Putnam area of Zanesville.  It's his heart's mission and dream to see teams of Christians coming together to be the hands and feet of God in a practical way, helping others both physically (fixing up homes) and spiritually (realizing that God truly does care for them and Christians do exist that are trying to model what Christ showed us).

So, we assembled our team quickly, determining that we needed to have our work project on the 19th of November.  Enough time to get our t's crossed and i's dotted and not too late to be in bad weather or into the holidays.

I have to say, the hardest part of this project is very easily the first hand part- The second hand, the hand for the widow? no problem!! We are wired to give.  The first hand, though, is an entirely different story.  It is such a wonderful cause and is drawing together a very large group of people making them aware of adoption in a new way, allowing them to participate in helping a widow and allowing us to bring home our child through God's provision.  So, any of you reading this that got a letter.... we finally determined that whomever we wanted to send out "Gotcha Day" pictures to was going to find out about our incredible journey to bring home our child as well:)  For those of you who didn't get a letter- please send us your address- we likely just don't have it:)

Our project is just a little over a week away.  It has been amazing to us to see how this is all coming together.  There were a few days when we didn't think it would happen.  We had a few very close to us that were incredulous we would ask others for money. It so mirrored my prideful stance that says I can do it all by myself that I found my enthusiasm flag and my smile turn upside down as I questioned my own motives.  I got so down that I was ready to chuck the whole project for the orphan part, finish the widow project and try to figure out where we were going to be able to borrow the monies from.

In steps the New Testament Challenge.  Our church has been reading through the New Testament over the last 2 months.  So incredibly amazing that at each turn, when I was ready to give up hope and faith in this happening, God stepped in and pulled out a scripture, reducing me to tears on more days than I can remember.

On this particular day, feeling so low and forgetting to look up!! I was listening to my CD version in the car as I was traveling.  There, as if God Himself was talking to me, the scripture was from Hebrews 10:35...

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will.  Then you will receive all that he has promised.

I remember stopping the CD several times so I could listen to it again.  It reminded me that God is in control in all situations.  His gentle, yet firm reminders several times when we started this process about Him providing and us not worrying about it.  Who was I to question His working in this?  Yet even so, it is difficult to not second guess everything and I continually remind myself not to worry or fret.  Just lean on Him.

Amen and amen!! Can't wait to give an update on how everything is going!

Amazing

God is so incredibly amazing. 

We heard just after the last post of our fingerprinting date for the USCIS.  We went June 10.  We received our I171-H back- which allows, through homeland security, for us to bring our child back to the United States.

We are done with all the paperwork we need for trip one by mid June.

It was a shock to hear from our family coordinator that she was planning on sending the next round of info to us in November.  I have felt all along like God was trying to prepare us for the process to be a quick one.  This would require a lot more faith for the financing end, which we have also felt God impressing on our hearts not to worry about.

So, now we are going to get all our paperwork done that we can, so that we can finalize it at a moments notice and take most of it with us on trip one.  There is a hope that by doing that the wait will be lessened.  Most of the paperwork will already be translated, and that way there are only a few things needed after we return to send in to set us up for a court date.

Eli shocked and humbled me the other night.  We were trying to get Tim out the door to work, kinda late, a few weeks ago.  We had just returned from my parents and he had to go in to finish the night shift.  I asked Eli a few times to come in and quiet so we could pray and get Daddy on the road before the storm got any worse.
He looked at me and said, "Mommy, you can't control the storm! You should only worry about things you can control!"
WOW! I have been applying that to my life continuously for the last few weeks.  It is such a great truth!!

Dossier Done!!

Took the docs in Monday morning to get Apostilled.  That went so smoothly:) I was able to get a parking spot right next to the building.
I went from there to meet with Olga- what a nice conversation we had- her, her boyfriend and myself. 
After copying the apostille pages and grouping all the docs together, I went to FedEx and mailed everything out to AWAA.
Yesterday saw the completion of our project for the Perspectives class:) And then....

Oh Baby!! I am soo excited! Our documents were received by AWAA today and will be sent on to Russia shortly.  It is amazing to see how this process is going!!
I did laugh... referring to this process as our "preemie" dossier...:)  The paperwork was only 3 pounds this time.  Apparently, our bulk of paperwork is now done for the regional paperwork and not as much for the initial dossier.
Praying continually, can't wait to bring you home!! Eli is so excited, as we all are!!
Thank you, God, that you are in control of every detail, knowing exactly when everything is going to happen, holding our hand and leading and guiding us through the process!!

Amazing God!!

Tim and I have been taking the Perspectives course over the last 14 weeks- only 2 more to go! We have a final project, actually a choice of 2.  I have chosen to do a personal interview, and have been praying for a Russian international to interview, hoping for someone close to the area where Eli and our future child are from.  How cool that would be, I surmised that God would have us be taking this course so we could learn more about how to share the gospel with others during our extended stay there.

Good Friday, I got a call from one of our former class instructors  for Perspectives that works with international students at OSU in Columbus.  Wondering if I still was looking for a student to interview, he gave me the name and number of a young lady from Russia. I called her last Tues and had a delightful conversation with her.  We are meeting on Monday to do our interview, and I hope begin a new friendship!!

I have been on such a kick of getting our documents done as quickly as possible, actually chafing at times when it seems to not be moving.  But we are done!! I go tomorrow to have the initial dossier apostilled and sent away to be translated!! YEAH!!!! So exciting!! And overlapped with my interview, saving the money of gas for 2 separate trips :)

Last Thursday morning, I woke early.  The sun was shining so brightly in my face, my call to prayer:) I lay there conversing with God and I felt Him again tell me not to worry.  He would provide all we needed for this journey. STOP FRETTING!! I had received my bonus check on Wed, and was planning on using that to make our home equity loan payment.  I realized I would not be receiving our finalized paperwork in time to get it all done and turned in this week.  I was allowing myself to be very disappointed, but God had other plans.

I arrived at work, and one of my coworkers, who had been talking about renting our timeshare, said he definitely wanted 2 weeks- and could get me the money soon... I asked if Friday would be OK, and he said he'd get it for me on his lunch break.  So, within a few hours, I had the bonus check, the timeshare rental money and $200 I found in my purse!! I had enough to get our certified check for translation without borrowing any money, made a small payment on our home equity loan, and had enough left over for lunch and supper with Eli!! I sat in my car and cried tears of pure joy, so overwhelming is my Saviour's love for me!!

So, I ponder the questions.... I have been praying for 4 months for a Russian person to do our interview, one that lives close to the area we will be traveling to.  When she told me she lived not far away from there, why was I so shocked and so overwhelmed?  I was asking, believing God would answer, but I guess, maybe not fully trusting?
And when God told me He was going to provide, why did I feel so overwhelmed when He did just what He said He would do?

God, you soooo amaze me!! May I learn to trust fully and believe that you are....everything!!

Resting in You....

Happy Good Friday!!
Hard to believe, but the paperwork is done, just waiting on the final notarizing and apostilling.  How incredible this is!! The document that has been taking 3-4 months to come back was back in less than a month!! God, you are so amazing!
It is so hard to quench the anxiety to be sure everything is done as it can be.  Thank you that You are in control, and thank you for your reminder to leave that all in your hands.  You know the day, the hour, the minute it is all planned to be. Thank you for helping me to rest in that and in You!!

Hang tight, sweet child of ours.  I feel you in my heart and am doing all I can to bring you home to my arms. 

Eli is very excited about his Brother or Sister.  He still refers to both- even adding that he wants 2 of each:)  Thanking God that He has it all worked out in His perfect way and in His perfect time. 

I rest in you, dear God!!!

"Da" Day

Today was our 3 year anniversary of the judge saying "Da." It seems like just yesterday.  We are already thinking and planning in the backs of our minds for our next trip to meet you.
Last night, at 7, we received an email of our re acceptance into the program.  By 11 we had all the initial paperwork filled in and first fees paid.  Looking forward to getting into the meat of the paperwork and accomplishing what is in our power to accomplish.

The new beginning

Last night, we officially began the process to bring you home, as we submitted our application on-line to AWAA. Now begins the paperwork portion of the process, which we are praying will go smoothly and speedily.  You have been in our hearts for so long- all of us.  Eli has been praying for you to come home "forever" at this point.  We can't wait to see you and welcome you into our family, though only God knows the exact moment that will occur. 

Today at church, as I entered into worship, we were singing Mighty To Save...

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me

Well everyone needs forgiveness,
Kindness of a savior
The Hope of the nation

(Chorus)
Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save
Forever, author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything that i believe in
Now i surrender (and i surrender)

(Chorusx2)

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing, for the glory of the risen king, Jesus
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

(Chorusx2)

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing, for the glory of the risen king, Jesus
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

As we were singing that, God impressed so strongly on my heart, it was almost as if He spoke right into my ear, "Do not fear!!, Do not fear!! you are on the path I have for you!"

Just then, we reached the chorus- That He would move the mountains.  What a great promise as we listen to His Heart and begin our journey to bring you home and become the family He intended!!

God, may you be glorified in all we say and do in our lives, and especially through this process.  May we all grow ever closer to you and all you have for us.  May we be a blessing to others, as You have indeed been blessing us already!! Thank you for being on this journey with us, guiding us and directing us as we begin.  Take our fears and doubts and replace them with your thoughts and actions.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and are about to do!! We love you so much and desire that love to be spread to all peoples and nations.