Vladivostok

I have been searching a lot on line about Vladivostok, Russia. Wow it is very interesting. According to blogs from couples that have adopted from there recently, we will probably be staying at the Vlad Motor Inn when we get there. It sounds cheesy but is evidently very nice with large rooms and a nice kitchenette. I have been watching videos of families adoption journeys and it is so hard to watch. I cry a lot these days. My heart aches for all the little ones who will never know a mother and father. I would take them all if it were up to me. I heard a Christmas song by Steven Curtis Chapman the other day called "All I Want Is A Family." It totally caught me off guard and I was crying like a baby in the middle of Walmart parking lot! We don't always hear the other side of the story from the perspective of the child wanting to be adopted. We think about us and what it will be like for them when they come to live with us and what we can give them but how much rejection have they faced before us? We may never know. I hope everyone reading this has a Merry Christmas and I hope you remember to thank Jesus Christ for all you have been given and maybe be persuaded to give some of it away to those who need it so much more than you do.

Sorry it's been so long!

It is already December. My how the time goes by! A lot has happened since my last post. Just to update everyone, we are officially done with our home study and we are approved! Now we are working on our dossier. So many things to do! I am sure everyone adopting that is reading this blog can identify with that but it is so worth it. I have a friend in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship International) that just happens to be in my group this year (no coincidence by the way, only God's Sovereignty) that adopted from Russia 12 or 13 years ago and just happened to adopt 2 at the same time like us. We did not know each other until this year and now we have been placed together. I love it! She always has little nuggets of advice and this week was to only look at one piece at a time, no the whole picture. Our placing agency, World Links International, is good about not inundating us with more paperwork than necessary at one time. I think that is great. I knew we chose this agency for a reason. Their specialty is Eastern Europe so they know what is needed and when of course. Today I sent off several dossier documents and also sent of our application for USCIS. I also went to the bank to borrow money. A necessity now. We have found out that we will be registering in the Vladivostok, Primorsky regional data base in Russia. There is no good way to get there without costing 2 arms and 2 legs so I need to come up with some kind of fund raiser or something. I love to make wreaths and I love to bake. I'm not sure how to use those things or rather to promote those things to others. I went to pharmacy school for goodness sake you'd think I could be creative and come up with something! I suppose I could work more but that defeats the purpose of me being at home with the kids. I am praying about this and I know God will lead me in the right direction soon. We have also officially left our church to begin a church plant here in Cape Girardeau. It is us and 3 other families from the area and we will officially meet together for the first time this Sunday, Dec. 20th at our house. I am so excited! We are so looking forward to a sweet time of worship and fellowship afterward. I spoke with my friend today about being able to cook the main portion of the fellowship meal each week because I just love to cook. I am so amazed at how God has brought all of us together with our different talents and gifts to be able to serve Him by serving and blessing others with those gifts. So far I have been assured that I will not take anyone's joy away by wanting to cook! Our meals are about just being together not about being gluttonous and I am glad we are all in agreement with that. I don't think anything else is new and since things are picking up again with the adoption proceedings I will have more to write more frequently!