Swallow the Ocean - Another moving song!

 There are certain songs that cause me to want to get up and move. As far back as I can remember, songs like this were used as motivators in cleaning. The beat of the song made the task or chore seem less daunting and almost enjoyable. This song reminds me of those days. It not only motivates me to get up and clean, but also reminds me of God's presence in my everyday happenings. I hope you feel "moved" too!

Loved- A Valentine's Reminder

A Russia adoption mama put this together to remind all of us why we are doing what we are doing. Every child deserves to feel loved! I wish I could hold our sweet girl in my arms and let her know how much she is loved already! "Happy Valentine's Day my sweet #3! Even though you don't know it yet, you are loved!"

 

Final Home Study Visit-Complete!

Today we had our final home study visit with our social worker. We absolutely LOVE our caseworker, she is amazing, and so far our agency has been very professional and thorough. Now that we have everything submitted, it will take about a month to write up/edit everything and then it will be submitted to a judge. Once it is submitted, we will have to wait another few weeks until we know if it has been approved. But at least the ball is no longer in our hands...

This has been a very difficult week. I know I say that every week, but each day tends to get a little harder knowing we have no answers. In a pregnancy, there is an end in sight. Even prior to the ban, we knew that most likely we were looking at 14-16 months of waiting. Now, we have no idea when our opportunity to rescue our sweet one will come. Another Russian mommy made the comment this week that maybe when Putin leaves office in 6 years, there will be a resolve.....6 YEARS! We are praying God's might will move mountains a little sooner, but you never know.

Please continue to pray as we attempt to move forward as much as we can. Once our home study is done, there is not much more we can do other then pray and wait.

On a particularly rough day this week, I came across this song on my car radio TWICE! Once again, I feel encouraged through music. Hope it encourages you as well. 

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