Thank you Brother-In-Law!

My brother-in-law recently approached us about whether or not we had heard of the website gofundme.com. I got online and found out that it is a website that helps people needing to raise funds, hopefully for a good cause. It sets up a profile where random people can read your profile and choose to donate money to your cause. He then offered to set us up a profile to help us with our adoption costs. It is such a great feeling to know our family is supporting our steps to adopt this little one. Thank you so much brother-in-law for your thoughtfulness in helping us with our journey!

So you will notice we added this widget to our blog. Feel free to share it! Thanks to everyone for all their help and support! It means the world to us!

Music Mondays-One Month

As I have stated before, music really speaks to my heart. So because I am constantly finding songs that minister to me and specifically the journey our family is on, I am going to start "Music Mondays". I am going to try to update the blog with a song that has spoken to me that week. (At least I will try to keep up with it.) That way I can feel like I am contributing to this blog, even on weeks where there is really nothing to report. Feel free to also comment and share music that has spoken to you. That way we may all be blessed!

Today marks one month since President Putin signed the adoption ban for Americans. I can not even begin to tell you how much longer it has felt then just one month. As the song states, my heart feels so heavy thinking about all the uncertainty. We know our government is working hard to get these children home; however the focus will come in waves. First, the families who had already passed court and were waiting to bring their child home. (5 families from the Reece's Rainbow site have traveled who had been in this category. Last weekend, three of the five families are now home WITH their children. The other two are waiting in Russia for some paperwork to be completed, but have been told that they will be leaving WITH their children as well, Praise God!) The next wave will be the familes that have already met and bonded with their children. There is a lawsuit that is being pursued to the European Supreme Court. Other then that, there is no real clear idea on how the following families earlier in the process will be able to proceed. BUT, we are still trying to hold on to hope...

Please continue to pray for us as well as the other families in the middle of the horrible situation. We are working to finish up our home study right now. We have our final social worker visit on the 9th. After our home study is written, it will be given to a judge for approval. Arizona is the only state that does this. This does add 6-8 weeks of waiting time but we found out that Russia likes how "official" it is and it may make our adoption one tiny bit easier down the road.

*Also, our home study will be written specifically for Russia. Our agency has told us that within three months of the home study completion, we have a chance to ammend the document with no additonal charge to reflect a different country. After the three month period, we will have to pay an additional $300 to change it. But again, this is just a "what if "we are hoping to not have to consider.

God knows what he is doing!

So our waiting continues. We have no new news to report with the situation in Russia. There was a march in Moscow last weekend where thousands of Russians stood up to show that they are not in agreement with what their government is doing to the little helpless children sitting in orphanages and institutions. There are numerous reports and news articles saying one thing, and then the next day saying another.  I am getting very weary trying to keep up with it all. The emotional roller coaster that all of these families are having to go through is just heartbreaking. 

Today in my exhaustion, I came across this quote. 

"Hold On...God Knows What He Is Doing"

In that phrase, I found another boost of strength to hold out for God's beautiful plan through all this. I am amazed with how many times I have been given a song, quote or encouragement from a friend at the precise moment I need it that allows me to keep "holding on".

And so, we continue to wait and hold on to the belief that this little one is the missing piece to our family. 

As I have said in the past, I am often touched by music. So often we can be in our cars, going about our day, with the weight of the world on our shoulders....and a song hits us in just the right spot. Today, on my way home, this song came on the radio.  

And I was once again reminded that God has a plan. No matter what the outcome, there is purpose in this journey. God knew the hurdles we would jump over to get here and he knows the ones that we haven't reached yet.

I have to trust in the fact that He is the one that is holding this special little soul until we can get there....no matter how long it takes. 

A news article with our sweet Yana!

A friend of mine that is adopting from the same region came across this news article. Both Yana and the other little boy mentioned, Nicolas, have mommies coming for them. We are just praying for a miracle right now that we will be allowed to continue.

Isn't she amazing!!

Russia braces for US adoption ban protest - Asia - Al Jazeera English

"While I'm Waiting"

Throughout my life I have always felt very moved through music. Throughout this adoption process, you will probably see many videos that speak to me in some way. Right now I feel like I am in limbo...waiting to find out what the next step is. 

There is an amendment going before the Russian lawmakers that would exclude children with special needs from the recent bill. All levels of their government will need to vote in favor of this, with Putin signing it in the end. This is the last glimmer of hope that many of these families see right now. We will not know anything for a few more weeks due to Russia being on holiday. Thank you for your continued prayers for the people involved.  I have to keep reminding myself that we are not waiting alone. God has a plan for our family and for this sweet little one he has brought us to. So we will continue to wait on the Lord. 

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31

 

Waiting...

One of the things I have learned so far on this adoption journey, is to be patient. God has known my heart for adoption, specifically that of a special little one. Often it has been truly difficult to wait for God's perfect timing;  however, in this period of waiting, I have grown closer to Him and have a deeper  understanding of what it means to cherish my family. As we were sending off our initial documentation, I thought my waiting was only going to be for a little while longer as we placed all of our ducks in a row to bring our daughter home. It seems that God is asking us to wait a little longer.

Currently Russia is passing a bill that will no longer allow Americans to adopt from Russia. Today President Putin stated that he will sign the bill and make it law. This is in response to America passing the Magnitsky Act, which has nothing to do with adoption; however, Russia is wanting to lash out at Americans any way they can. Too bad that the victims of this will be the children waiting in orphanages and institutions for a mommy and daddy to hold and cherish them for the special gifts that they are....one of which is our Yana.

My heart aches not only for my little one, but also for the friends I have made along this journey so far. There are many families that are hurting because they have been able to hold their babies and reassure them that they will be back soon for them. All I have is a picture, and a heart full of love.

I am sure I am not the only one that is confused by what to do next. I have spoken to both or agencies (one here in PHX and the other based out of Missouri that will be doing our Russia stuff). Our local one is telling us to push through. Arizona is one of the only states that requires a judge to approve our home study which means it takes a minimum of 90 days. Our other agency is halting our application until they know more about what will be happening in the future. If we proceed, we will not know the time in which we would be "waiting" for Russia to open back up. However, the Lord has placed this special little face on my heart and we can not abandon her.

So I am asking for prayer. Prayer for the families of those adopting from Russia, prayer for the little ones that will be stuck waiting and prayer for the leaders of both countries. God has a purpose in all things. So we will wait a little more.......

"You are loved"

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my all-time favorite singers, especially his Christmas music. Yesterday I heard this song on the radio and immediately thought of my little girl waiting for someone to love her. I wish I could make her feel the love I feel for her in my heart. But we know God is holding her tightly in His arms until we can bring her home. We will just have to hold on to the thought of the many Christmas' we will have with her someday. You are loved, sweet one!