So long farewell aufwiedersehn goodnight...

Oh yes, I love Sound of Music just that much to bring it to the blog...so a rather big announcement for us.

After 6.5 years in Georgia, our family will be beginning a new chapter mid-October and moving to the DC area for Steve’s job. Earlier this week we accepted an offer on our house here. We will most likely settle in the Harper's Ferry, WV area.

I don’t really know how to blog about this because I’ve realized it’s terribly bittersweet. We talked for so long about going back North where there are 4 seasons but now I also realize that after this long SO much of life is here. When we came to GA we had recently gotten married and I was pregnant with Gavin so now the thought of starting from scratch with 4 kids in an area I know absolute nobody is horribly daunting at times. Finding a new church, and new cub scout pack and new doctors/dentists…not to mention new housing, friends etc. But this is a new chapter for our family and we’re ready to embrace it!

We’ve held off on starting any part of the home study which is a really good thing since we now have to complete it in another state!! We are still planning on starting the process sometime more towards the end of 2013 or early 2014. Please pray for the right timing and that God SHOUTS it loudly b/c sometimes we know we can be hard of hearing… we believe adoption is part of His plan for our family, just need His timing made perfectly clear ;-)

GA friends & family: We would LOVE if you follow the blog and keep up with our family through this move and also adoption progress. I realize there isn’t much going on at the moment with the adoption but in a few short months there will be and being away from the friends we’ve had for the past 6.5 years I can guarantee it’ll be nice to keep up and hear from everyone through the blog! 

Guess that’s about it for right now. So Please prayers for our sanity, new housing, transfer date to coincide with moving date etc as we embark on this new adventure!!

Random tidbit: Gavin is the only child who has seen snow and he was just 2 yrs old. Nobody has boots or winter jackets except Steve and I. I’m horribly curious to see what they think of snow… ;-)

It's been yet another month...

So, logged in today to share some of the exciting things going on lately! Been a VERY busy few weeks!

So, first up. Last weekend Sabrina (www.myheartforuganda.blogspot.com) and I held our first yard sale at St Luke’s in Rincon on Saturday Aug 12th. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who donated items to us!!  We got there with Steve’s car, my car and Sabrina’s car plus a borrowed trailer packed FULL. We split the proceeds and are a little bit closer to JJ and ‘snow angel’! Side note: If anyone is looking to sell some items or crafts, the 2^nd Saturday of every month at St Luke’s on Goshen Rd in Rincon is a GREAT place to do it! Thank you St Luke’s!

 

Currently collaborating with 2 other local families on something much bigger for December 21^st so PLEASE keep that evening OPEN!! Promise of an awesome FAMILY event that will really get you into the Christmas spirit!!

Also want to say thank you to my friend Anne Marie who helped me out and brought some of my handmade items to a buy/sell/trade event on Aug 12^th. I couldn’t be in two places at once and I truly appreciate you helping me out! Every little bit counts!! If anyone is interested in natural cleaning products as well as other natural balms etc check her out on FB! (www.facebook.com/northsouthnaturals.com )

Update on everyone here:  Gavin is on his first alone trip to Mimma’s up in Virginia and LOVING it. He better enjoy it b/c school is hardcore when he comes home ;-) Caden is starting school with us this year and so far not fighting any of it ;-)  And the twins…they still just hang out and play. They’ve started chasing each other and screeching…plus babbling up a storm which is just fun to hear! Steve just working hard for our family and I hope he realizes just how much I appreciate it!! I’ve been busy painting and purging my way through the house. More to come on that topic at a later date… Also been busy making some new loveys…First 2 sold immediately and 5 more ordered for Christmas! THANK YOU to those who have ordered and let me know if you are interested ;-). Using my own templates and tweaking as I go!

 

Prayers for my friend Sabrina and her family as they continue to try and get JJ home from Uganda. Been a busy month for her and another busy month to come while they welcome home her husband and try and finish up home study and adoption paperwork. JJ has some special needs and the sooner they get him home the better!  They are running several fundraisers as well to help with expenses. Please check it out! www.myheartforuganda.blogspot.com ! Prayers for JJ until they can get to him. He’s a cute little guy with just a HUGE smile!

Prayers for our family(several ‘life’ aspects), His timing and of course for ‘snow angel’. She may very well be on this Earth already and prayers for her safety would be great! Thank you again for those who have supported us and helped with donations, prayers etc!!

Wow...since February?

Did not realize it had been quite that long since posting. I don't really have adoption news to post or anything...other than we are so many months closer to being able to start our home study and sign on with the agency!! I *think* we'd narrowed down the agency. Based out of North Carolina actually. We are looking at starting the home study this fall as well as some fundraising so Stay Tuned! I will try not to overwhelm! Signing on with the agency and getting the dossier sent off early 2014...and then we wait :) ..........for a really long time..............(pray for patience!)

Exciting other news...good friend Sabrina and her family are adopting sooner than expected...a little boy named JJ who has some extra medical considerations. They are running a number of different fundraisers to help bring JJ home as soon as possible... so PLEASE check out what's they've got going on www.myheartforuganda.blogspot.com . And start praying for the Scheerer family and JJ :)

The name change...

Yes, it has changed! Our family is moving toward bringing our daughter home from Bulgaria. This is a long process but we know SO worth it in the end!

She'll most likely be 2.5-3 yrs old by the time she comes home. We are looking at a wait on average of 36 months. Bulgaria is a Hague country which makes it a much more reliable program than Russia ever was...still, a lot can happen in 36 months!!

Currently trying to decide on an agency and if necessary a home study provider.

Prayer request: That He shows us the agency He wants us to go through on this journey. That we do not become anxious during this process!

I just need to remind myself when I start to feel anxious...'He's got this'.......................

Wow...didn't see that coming...

So, it's been a Long time since I posted anything. Just a lot with the holidays and such.

By now everyone pretty much knows about Putin signing the law that prohibits Americans from adopting Russia children. First my heart goes out to all of the families that have met their children and are now having to leave them behind, indefinitely. I could go on and on about how angry this makes me...quick stats in case anyone has NOT read them...740,000 without parental custody in Russia...and only 18,000 Russian families waiting to adopt...gee, political or not SUCH a good move Putin...but I won't even start b/c it won't help the issue. Honestly this is Steve's worst fear about International adoption.

That being said, we're still sure this is right. Still sure. B/c the #'s alone tell you how many kids NEED a family. I've been asked quite a bit about 'what now?' And the honest answer is we simply don't know. We *thought* God wanted Russia and us to work with this particular agency. Now I just don't know. As the very wise 'Momma Bo' put it this morning, this may simply be God's way of 'really, really' putting adoption on our hearts. NOW we need to listen closely to find out where our daughter is.

So now we go back to praying for direction and waiting. I'm continuing 'My Hands to Russia' craftiness and will change the name accordingly at some point in the future. We KNOW this is still in the future, it just remains to be seen where God shows us to go from here. For right now, I'm just thankful for an acquaintance who gets to welcome her baby girl home from the Ukraine TONIGHT. It has been an incredibly 'trying' journey to bring this particular little girl home so I'm SO happy for her and her family!

Please pray for those families already in the process who are perhaps losing life savings and can not afford to adopt from another country...or those who are leaving their children behind in Russia b/c of this. Please also pray for the 740,000 children in Russia who are going to bed tonight, tomorrow and each night after that without a mom or dad tucking them in and assuring them that they are loved! That's all the Putin has accomplished.

Progress

Progress these days is not measured in terms of the adoption. I plan to share more than JUST adoption info on this blog. It's about our family going through this process...so here's family update...

We are currently about 9 weeks into homeschooling Gavin and after a few bumpy weeks we seem to have a decent system down. He knows mroe what to expect and he seems to be doing pretty well. Seeming to retain what I'm teaching him. I think I've learned more about the Vikings and the Romans and the Bible than I have in MANY years ;) Gavin is also doing well in Awana and will be starting riding lessons soon. Random fact: He knows John 3:16...ask him next time you see him ;)

Caden is doing pretty well also. He sits with us and does 'school' with us in the morning for a little while. He's learning his letters/some sounds and reciting Bible verses along with Gavin. Peeing on the potty which is AWESOME to not have his diapers too! Random fact: Caden LOVES cheese....

Owen & Rylan are now crawling and are 9 months tomorrow. They're pulling up to a standing position as well. It won't be long before things are REALLY loud and crazy upstairs ;)

Steve is busy every Saturday...college football(go Badgers!!). I've been keeping busy with my mini store My Hands to Russia( https://hyenacart.com/stores/myhandstorussia ). 100% of profits of course go into the adoption account.

Overall as a family we're just living life and enjoying the chaos of the moment. We headed out to a pumpkin patch(it wasn't worth the $$ tho) last weekend and we're enjoying the cooler weather (FINALLY!!!). We were getting ready to start the home study but now we're teeter tottering again. We're weighing job options once again. We simply never intended to stay here in GA for 6 years. So we shall see...we know it is totally not up to us!

Current needs:
1. Prayers for His perfect timing and the safety of our daughter wherever she is in this world!
2. Prayers for clarification on where we should be location wise. This is something Steve and I constantly struggle with!
3. Spread the word on My Hands to Russia! Like me on FB too!

Thank you all for your support!!

For our снежный ангелочек

For our 'snow angel'...

Our bracelets are IN!

They are $2 each. Each bracelet purchased is helping us complete our homestudy and application fees!! Yellow was chosen as it's the 'adoptive parents' color.

These bracelets are so much more than just silicone to us...this is our first 'loud-and-clear-for-all-to-hear' step towards bringing our daughter home. Friends and family, we're committed to bringing her home to our family. Now it's time to spread the word and humbly ask for a bit of help(in bright yellow!) For a couple of dollars you are showing us that you support God's addition to our family
and also helping raise awareness about adoption in general(people ask about these bracelets which can spawn a whole other convo). You just never know who might support or even be thinking about adoption in your workplace, or at your church, or within your own family!

I'm asking all of you to keep up prayers and/or start saying a prayer...for her safety wherever she is and also for our family through this process. We know it's not easy, cheap or quick but we truly feel like this is something we're being led to do. We know God will put the right people in our path(some I KNOW have already been placed!!) to guide us and support us through this.

Thank you in advance for the support and please share our blog with anyone you think might enjoy following our journey!!