7 Days and Counting.......

What a blessed yet whirlwind of a week!  The highlight was finally getting to speak with Elena on the phone.   We are excited to actually be able to see her and adopt her SOON, God-willing!  There are many details that we are hoping to finalize this weekend since next week is sure to fly by at the speed of light.

We were able to get our airplane tickets and were also able to get inexpensive airplane tickets for travel in Ukraine so we won't need to take the 17 hour train ride (one way) -that is a huge praise and answer to prayer!  Another huge praise is God's provision of Lauren's eyeglasses with clear vision.  Sounds simple, however in this case, it took 9 separate trips total with the kids  to either the eye doctor's office and/or lenscrafters (and a lot of extra time).  Rejoicing in God's goodness and provision in this way!

By His grace, we were able to start packing, start getting miscellaneous and requested items for the translators/helpers in Ukraine, and  a good friend helped us by making Elena's birthday card (in Russian).  Elena's birthday is June 3rd (she turns 11).    Natalia (whom Lauren has known for 20 years) made a beautiful card for Elena and we are excited to hand deliver it to her along with a snickers bar!   While we were hosting Elena, Lauren would ask Micah to get his sneakers on.  Immediately, Elena's eyes lit up and she said SNEAKERS!   To this day, Micah still calls Snicker's bars "sneakers"!!!  Apparently, over the summer hosting period last year, Elena discovered Snickers. 

One more bit of great news we learned today is that the orphanage director is holding Elena back from going to camp which shows she approves of this adoption and is cooperating with the necessary proceedings!  This is an unbelievable praise unto the Lord.  If Elena and Lauren return home in a timely manner, we will be able to accompany Jay on a business trip in South Georgia on a lovely beach.   This would be a special treat for our family and provide something better than the orphanage camp for Elena. 

Another bit of encouraging news is that Promise 686 offered to have a special prayer time for us before we leave, and help with coordinating meals and various needs when we need it!   For us, that is incredibly encouraging and helpful (and a refreshing first time experience)!  By the way, if you have not taken a peek yet, please check out the Promise 686 web site at: http://www.promise686.org/ This is an amazing ministry! 

Lauren took the kids to Lake Lanier today (Friday) to a fun birthday party.  It was a gorgeous day, the lake was clear and cool and it couldn't have been a better opportunity to set aside the adoption stuff and just have fun with them.   They even had a chance to ride on a motor boat that the birthday boy's parents rented.    The kids were able to swim or dip in the water when they were hot, play games, toss water balloons, eat lots of goodies and just enjoy being out in this really nice lake park!  I didn't have the camera with me (oh well)!

We are enjoying putting the finishing touches on our preparations at home.  It is a nesting of a different sort but nesting nevertheless.  The bunk bed is ready to go (another praise story), and just a few minor details are left.  We had a sweet surprise though when Lauren called Amy at Promise 686 one day.  One of their volunteer workers, asked Amy if we could use a desk.   Since she doesn't know us and never met us before, only the Lord knew that we had been using a very old desk (made out of pressed "wood") and had been something we discussed replacing before we hosted Elena.  Since we started pursuing the hosting/adoption track, it took a backseat and we never gave it a thought again until Amy asked us that question.  Well, we would have been eager to get any desk at this point if it didn't cost much money.  This kind woman, had no idea of any of this when she asked if we could use a desk at no charge since she was downsizing and wanted it to be in a good home.  Well, Jay went to pick up the desk and we had no idea from the picture how nice it was!  It is by far the nicest desk we have ever had-and appears to be solid cherry wood!   Now, we had to re-organize the schoolroom/office.   This forced us to do what we had needed to do but were dreading doing.  It is just so much better to have this done before Elena arrives.   It has just been another reminder of the Lord's gracious and generous kindness toward us!

Seven days and counting.........stay tuned!  If you wish to receive more detailed email updates just email us now and we will add you to our Ukraine prayer list.

We're going to Ukraine!!!

We heard this morning that our dossier was approved and we have our appointment with the Ukraine government on June 7th.  We are in the process of booking our airplane tickets, but we should be leaving on June 4th.  This will have us arriving in Kiev on June 5th.  This gives us one day to rest and catch up on sleep before our appointment (we are looking at 17 hours total of travel time including layovers just to  get to Kyiv [Kiev])!  We are so excited and praising the Lord!!!!

This gives us about 2 weeks to finalize our child care arrangements, get last minute items, pack and mentally/spiritually prepare ourselves for the last phase of the adoption process.  Our heads are spinning with all the details.

Still Waiting

Although we expected to hear by yesterday (Thursday) on our appointment date in the Ukraine, we are still waiting.   The earliest we expect to hear anything now would be Monday since appointments are not given on Friday.   If we don't hear on Monday, it is not likely we will make it to Elena's orphanage on her birthday (she turns 11).   We are confident though that the Lord will orchestrate all according to His perfect will and timing!

We did find out that the orphanage director at Elena's orphanage was told that we are planning on adopting Elena.  The director was pleased with this and said she would tell Elena.  She also asked when we would be adopting her.  She was told that our dossier has been submitted.  This is very good news to hear that Elena's director is positive regarding the adoption.

Update

We have several praises in this update.  First, we want to thank everyone who gave toward Elena's adoption!  We wanted to let people know that we reached our support goal for money raised through Promise686!  Praise His Holy Name!

We received word today from our facilitator that we should probably hear back from the Ukrainian government next week with our appointment date.  Our appointment should be about 2 weeks after that!  We are very excited yet also very, very busy!

Additionally, we have received our packing list.  What is a packing list you ask?  Well, it contains many detailed items of what we are to bring along with us.  There are many items that need to go in one bag for each of us!  We were told to bring LOTS of crafts and games so we can play with Elena along with the other orphans interested in joining in the fun. There will be plenty of down time, and we will definitely be bringing books to read (we are avid readers) but must be careful not to exceed our 50 pound limit. We will also be bringing Elena's things since we can expect that she will be sent off by the orphanage with the clothes on her back.  We would like to find room for birthday goodies and much to share with her friends there. Yes, if all goes smoothly and on schedule we should be there for her 11th birthday!   That has been our prayer if the Lord wills!   What an amazing birthday gift for Elena-a forever family!  Can you just imagine that?!   "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

We also have  incredible help lined up to care for our kids as well as a very dear friend staying in our home to help care for our kids.  That is an absolute huge help and answer to prayer!

While we pack and prepare, excitement fills the air. Yet, we have detected a bit of our youngest being extra clingy. We must remember that 2 weeks being apart from both of us is almost like a year or more to our precious little ones and a month might seem even longer!   We must also remember that as much as we are overjoyed to be bringing Elena home, we can expect her to feel a bit conflicted and her departure may be more of a bittersweet one as she leaves behind all she has ever known and enters into the "unknown".

Please stay tuned in, and get ready to fasten your seat belts with us on this incredible journey ahead!