3rd trip preparations

So we leave in just a few more days for Russia. This will be our third (and last) trip to Nizhny Novgorod and we will be bringing our boys home this time. Hallelujah! Because it has taken so long to finally get to this point - it will be 15 months total from the time we started the home study to bringing the boys home - I have been repressing the feelings of excitement of having the boys home. No more. I am full of joy knowing that 3 weeks from now I will have 2 new sons in my family, under my roof, in my loving care. I have been nesting like crazy. Once I got clothes and shoes organized for Calvin & Silas, I have moved on to organizing other parts of the house, too. We are moving back to OH in August, and so I figure that anything I can do now to be better organized will prove helpful towards that move.

I must say that this adoption has been quite expensive. I know that many of you readers have adopted or are in the process of adoption. Talking about expenses in adoption seems to be not found on most blogs - or, at least, I have never read how much it costs on the many adoption blogs that I follow - but I don't have a problem with sharing total costs here. I think it's important to know how much the process costs to bring a child from Ukraine or Russia into your home. With our Keith & Iryna, we paid $33,000 to bring them home and we are still paying on that adoption. With Calvin and Silas, it will be about $55,000 to bring them home. We were anticipating it to be around $50,000, so needless to say, money is quite tight right now. I am trying to focus on the joy of this adoption, but lately the financial aspect is getting me down. I am praying for God to open the heavens and to bless us with financial miracles or opportunities to bring in more income, such as my Choffy business.

I do want to share a sweet story from my day yesterday. I went to the commissary to buy some groceries and when I went through the checkout, I was pleased to see Santina as my checker. I have spoken with her a few times before about our adoption and she was happy to hear that we leave next week for Russia. And then she said that if we could use some groceries after we come home that she would be happy to help us. I was blown away by her kindness. I have only spoken with her a few times. I became emotional and had to reign myself in so I wouldn't cry.

Another quick story, I was at Iryna's school talking with the nurse, Loretta. Loretta's boss was there going through inventory. Loretta mentioned that I was adopting two special needs children from Russia. Her boss became emotional and began to cry, saying how special of a person I was for doing this. I, of course, became emotional, too. People tell me that what we're doing is wonderful and that we are special people, but I don't regard myself as being any better than anyone else. God has called me to adopt special needs and I have answered his call, and we have been so blessed in doing so.

Order in the court

Just got a phone call that Sveta has all the forms she needs and will be going to see the judge this Friday to get our court date! God has surely blessed us. What a miracle!

A miracle

My good friend Sarah had been planning to watch our children during our trip to Russia. We had thought we would be going in September. Then October. Definitely November. And here we are in December and we're leaving next week. The timing isn't ideal, as I loathe the idea of being away from Anna, Keith, & Iryna, but I feel God calling me to go and I will obey. I was talking with Sarah yesterday and she said she wouldn't be able to watch the kids. She just found out she is pregnant and was called to be the Relief Society President - a very demanding calling at church - and this is her first Christmas with her husband. I understand these reasons, but I will admit that I was scared to death after our conversation. We had already bought tickets to leave and we were one week away from being in Russia.

Tyler came home for lunch and we made a list of family in OK to ask. We made phone calls. Nothing was working out. I finally sent out an email asking local friends if they could help us. We thought about splitting up the kids over the course of the month. Then it happened. I got an email. My friend, Emily, said her sister, Danielle, could do the job. I asked her how long she could watch them - Emily said the entire time. I spoke with Danielle. She said her time here in FL was flexible and she could stay as long as we needed her. I was blown away. Not only was it a miracle, but it strengthened my resolve that buying those plane tickets was the right thing to do - God was helping us to do His will for our family.

And so...I am planning and packing now. We leave one week from today. Your prayers and support are, as always, greatly appreciated. :)

I believe in miracles

I have been blessed to see many miracles in my life and I just witnessed another one today. My husband called Bridgette and she said she would sign the form. She said that normally she would not sign it, but she doesn't want to prevent our adoption from continuing due to this. I am so grateful for her change of heart. I prayed that her heart would be touched. Most people in the business of adoption care about the children - that is their focus - and Bridgette has shown me that she cares about the children. I highly recommend this adoption agency: Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc, located in FL.

And so, we're back on track for Nizhny Novgorod! Speaking of our trip, here is a flyer I want to share with you:

If you are able to donate any of these items, we will take them with us to Nizhny Novgorod and give them to the orphanages there. It's a great way to help others. A BIG THANK YOU to my talented sister-in-law, Tisha, for making this flyer. You can email me or leave a comment if you have any questions: jilldpierce at yahoo dot com. Together, we can make a difference!

We need a miracle

Where to start? Our home study is done. Finally. I got the notarized copies in the mail today. That's the good news. The bad news is that Russia requires the Home Study Agency to be obligated to help the adoptive family register the new children with the Russian Embassy and send them the post-adoption reports. Well, our home study agency says that they are NOT obligated to do so and wouldn't sign the form. Without the form being signed, we cannot adopt in Russia. You can see our problem, yes?

Tomorrow morning, Tyler and Victoria (from our Adoption Placement Agency) are both going to call Bridgette (the head honcho at our home study agency) and try to explain the situation further and hopefully persuade her to sign the form. You see, we don't need for anyone to help us register our children and send post-adoption reports. We are reliable, responsible people. We get it done. So, by having Bridgette sign this form will not put her out at all, yet it will allow us to continue with our adoption. If she does not sign the form, we cannot continue with this adoption.

We have asked Victoria if Russia would allow for us to sign up with another home study agency just for that one form, but it doesn't seem likely that Russia will accept it. They aren't the most flexible people. (Don't tell them I said that). Everything has to be "just so" and this is no exception.

And so, my faithful friends, I need a miracle. I know that God can change the heart of Bridgette so she will sign that paper. I would ask that all of you please join with us and say a prayer tonight and tomorrow morning that all will go well in our conversations with her. I believe in miracles and I know that if God wants for us to adopt in Nizhny, that He will clear the path before us. Please pray for us. Thank you.