Ukraine's Forgotten Children

I wanted to share this documentary so that some of our followers can understand why we are choosing to adopt a child internationally versus domestically. No matter where you go, children are not always treated as the kings and queens that they are. But this particular area seems to really not value a child with special needs. Some desperately try to advocate for change; however, sometimes their cries fall on deaf ears. 

*There are a few children in this video that have either found their forever families or their families are working towards them currently!!)

(Be prepared, this video is about an hour and a half in length.)

With A Kiss And A Prayer!

OUR PAPERWORK IS OFFICIALLY OFF!!!

Below you will see a long line of papers that were sent off. Keep in mind this is about 1/3 of the papers, the other 2/3s has already been sent on ahead!

 Tessa wasn't quite sure what to make of all these papers. She did ask to color on them....which I promptly proceeded to say....NO!

 Nate is very excited about "baby brother". He went with me to mail off our final envelope.

 He gave it one final kiss before we sent it off!

We are praying that it gets there quickly and that we can have a quick submittal. Now that we are in the home stretch, I think the waiting is going to become even more unbearable. 

Hold on little one!! We are coming!

Yippee!!!!!!

I am speechless.....

We are ecstatic to report.....that we are FULLY FUNDED!!

Praise God! 

There really are no words in which I can truly express my gratitude towards all that helped us get there. You have all made an imprint on our family and in the life of a little boy waiting for us. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

You are all such a blessing to us!

With Pain, Comes Joy!

I have been wanting to update you all on where we are in the process. Recently we received the two pieces of paperwork that we had been waiting for. One of the documents needs to be sent on to Washington DC to get authenticated. Once we have received that paper.....(drum roll please) our paperwork will be complete and we will be ready to submit. Once our in-country facilitators have received our documents and had them translated, we will be submitted and receive a our travel dates shortly after. Once you are submitted, the average currently is about 8-9 weeks before you are traveling. So we are looking at traveling hopefully in September!!

Now on to the financial update....

As many of you know, we are currently doing a puzzle fundraiser. We have about 25 pieces sold currently out of 500. So we still have a ways to go. However, we are not feeling too discouraged yet. We are not sure how much our flights will be so our "fully funded number" is uncertain. But we have received an AMAZING gift. 

Our heart continues to break daily for our little girl waiting in an orphanage in Russia. This is not our only heartbreak. So many of our friends are also in a place where they are stuck, worried about their little one. Many, like us, have chosen to use this time to push through an alternate adoption.....continuing to pray and wait for the day that Russia reopens. Many, however are choosing to just wait it out. 

One special family has chosen to do something different. 

The Kelley family are our angels....They have chosen to bless us with an amazing gift....the gift of being fully funded. As many adoptive families know, this is a HUGE weight lifted from our shoulders. The hard part for me is accepting this gift with such a heavy heart. 

The Kelley family is committed to adopt a little boy in Russia named Isaac. They have held him, smelled him, giggled with him, and wept when they had to leave him. Ever since I first learned of their adoption, I have prayed for this family and for their little boy across the sea. Little did I know that he would have such a integral part in our own adoption. 

Thank you Jason and Jaime (and Isaac) for this amazing gift! I can't wait to return the favor someday and help you bring your sweet Isaac home. (Nigel and Isaac are going to be BFFs someday!) 

We are eternally grateful for your gift! You are such a special family! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!