OOOOF!

Funny story: We have a wagon that we pull behind the bike and the two boys ride in it...well, I decided that this afternoon we would ride over to my mom's house to pick up some stuff that I need for work...So, Ruthie on her bike with her helmet on and me on Adam's bike (he usually pulls the boys) with the boys in the wagon set off for my mom's...she lives about two miles from us. We come to a bridge that we have to ride over and I notice that the side walk narrows and on either side are pilings...so, because I am pulling about 80lbs uphill, I decide to get off to make sure we clear it...but once we clear it I get back on to ride down the hill. However, on the other side, the sidewalk narrows again but I am going too fast now and I have 80lbs pushing me down the hill...one of the wheels on the wagon gets caught on a piling and rips the wagon off the back of the bike and launches me forward. No one is harmed...the wagon is ruined and left for dead on the side of the road and we had to walk back to our house...only about 1/2 mile...good times.

In adoption news: The dates I proposed for a visit were shot down but my FC assures me that our facilitator will check with the in country staff as well as the orphanage director and he will give me the dates I can go visit. So, it may not be a convenient time for me to go, but they will allow me to go. The reason for this is that there are currently families in country and other families scheduled for court that will need the drivers to get them where they need to be...this is certainly understandable and I will expect the same when I go, so...how can I complain? (at least I will get to go.) And, if I go later in Feb. I may be able to carry over my agency's new license as well as my children's medicals...we'll see.

Also, the woman that traveled with us on our first trip has asked to go for a visit as well so I assume that they will schedule us at the same time and we will be able to share a room, driver's fees etc. We have already talked and we will likely meet in Atlanta and fly accross together as well. Yea!

This Just In...

I wasn't expecting to hear anything from our agency until at least the middle of February regarding, well, anything. I was doing really good with this over the last few days. On Thursday, I had resigned myself to a March court date and in my mind began to hope for early March. I made a pact with myself not to email or call my FC until she emailed me first with some news. (I have a tendency to email her at least twice a week with questions) So yesterday, she emailed me at 5:05PM...I did not get it until 5:45 when I am sure she had already left her office....uuugh!

Basically this was the request for the additional docs they need for our file before it can be submitted for a court date. I am taking this as good news in that they are looking at our file! I am, however, holding myself in check as far as getting too excited. One of the things they are requesting is updated medicals on our children. Next to this line item, she wrote, "middle of March ok." I immediately began to wonder if she meant update them in the middle of March or it is ok for them to expire in the middle of March. If it means update them in the middle of March than I fear they do not anticipate us getting a court date prior to late March at the earliest. This is not the news I am hoping for but it will give me a time frame to work with and when I have my expectations set to a realistic time clock, I find I function much better in this process.

The other items needed are just copies of the home study agency's license for the periods when the original and both updates were completed, the new license (which is not yet in), and a power of attorney for the facilitator in Russia to act on our behalf with the court there. I can have all of this done today with the exception of the missing license but I am waiting for word from my FC regarding the timing of the medicals.

Update: My Fc says to wait on renewing the children's medicals until closer to March...these are good for 3 months so I am not happy with this news but I am going to deal with it. The Coordinator is not estimating on time frame for court dates...my FC says he has been leery of doing this recently...another not so good sign. So, I will get the docs in that I can now and I will wait on the medicals until mid to late Feb. if they expire in May and we still do not have our daughter home...someone will have to Baker Act me. lol.

I have asked if it would be permissible for me to go visit her in Mid-Feb. I am waiting to hear back on that. I do not know if we can swing it financially but if we can and I am allowed, I am going. Stay tuned...

My Night Light

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." John 12:46

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed.."

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap . I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

On Love

So, now that I have got it into my head that I will not have a court date until March, my spirits have come up from the pit they were in most of last week. Adam and I took the kids to Gainesville on Saturday to see the Auburn swim team in a dual meet with UF. Our girls lost and our guys won. The drive was nice and it was a relief to get out of the house and away from everything for the day. After the meet we asked some locals for a good pizza spot and the directed us to a great spot in downtown Gainesville where we ate some delicious and extremely pricey pizza.

It rained the whole way home (about 2.5 hrs) and the kids watched a DVD with the head phones on so it gave us time to just talk in the car. When there are three children around, sometimes even though you live with a person, sleep with a person, doesn't mean you actually get to talk to the person.

On Sunday, we were again busy...after church, we got some lunch and the kids were promised a bike ride so Adam took them to do that while I was catching up on some work. Then we went to our church business meeting where Adam was voted in as the newest deacon...so that was exciting and tonight we kick off a week long revival that we are really excited about.

Not much happening in adoption news...another family from our agency received a court date and we were told that will likely be the last one for February. (19th) I haven't heard that anyone has received the 26th (our region only holds court for adoptions on Tuesdays) so, it is not impossible that others will not get that date. There are currently 3 families in front of us so when we see that they have received their court dates, we will know we are close to ours. Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide miracles for these families, that He will continue to go before us and our paperwork and pave the way to bringing these children home.

We are just a few days away from February and Valentine's Day is coming quickly...how will you show your love? I leave you with an email I received from my step mom, Susan.

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean? "The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

*"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca- age 8

*"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

*"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5

*"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy - age 6

*"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4

*"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7

*"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8

*"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

*"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

*"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7

*"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6

*"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people
watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8

*"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6

*"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5

*"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7

*"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4

*"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

*"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)
Karen - age 7

*"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6

*"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

*And a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

Her Mommy, Until I Really Am

I added a new ticker to the side bar...time since we met Ellie. It is helping me to keep some perspective. I think in my mind I had actually convinced myself we have been waiting for a court date forever. Not so. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I will willingly wait another 2.5 months...I will go kicking and screaming if that is the way of it...but alas, I will go one way or another.

So, after a minor attitude adjustment on my part, I am focused once again. I have begun to collect some additional copies of documents the court seems to be asking for from the families that have just or are about to receive their court dates. Among them are another copy of our marriage certificate (I just happened to have a certified copy of this because the last time I had to renew it, I got an extra one, just in case.) Also, a certified copy of the HS agencies licence from the year we did our original HS. I am also going to do another financial statement. We have already submitted this to region but since I don't know if it went to the court or the MOE, I am doing another one. I hope to have all of this by early next week. The only thing I am waiting for is a copy of the licence from 2005.

Our social worker has told me that the state will not issue a letter stating that their licence is good until the new one comes but she does think that they will send her the new one earlier rather than later. So, I am praying this is true. Ideally, I would like for it to come and be in Russia before it ever expires but my FC says that she does not think that this doc expiring will keep us from getting a court date.

I have resigned myself to a March court date. I am trying to decide what cake mix to take over for her birthday and I am finding it difficult to get myself psyched up for spending Easter away from these three and in Russia. To be truthful, I think I am starting to get anxious about being away for a month, any month.

All of Ellie's clothes are packed already. Although I did buy some new things, My friend Dinah gave me a bunch of stuff and a lot of it was Ruthie's from when she was little. So, she has a mix of new clothes and some treasures from the past.

I have gotten together most of what we need from our very comprehensive packing list...still to buy: a drain plug, clothes line and clothes pins. Also, I have to get some drugs together:0)

We have just a few more things to get accomplished in Ellie's room. I need to get a mattress for her trundle (in case one of us needs to sleep in there for a while), we need to put some shelving up in her closets and we have to hang some things on the wall. I would also like to buy a shelving unit to house these really cute baskets I bought that match her bedding. In the next few weeks I plan to go through the remaining clothes and toys we have on hand to see if we have enough clothing in her size to get us through the first few weeks at home. Our weather is just a wee bit different than the weather there (approximately 90 degrees different since it is -17 over there right now) so, she will need different clothing once we get home. These are things I enjoy doing right now...as if getting things ready for her is somehow being her mommy until the day when I really am.

I am a Christian

Ok, I thought after yesterday's extremely uplifting post(:0) I might get my act together and my focus where it needs to be. I got a pretty cool forward from a friend of mine this morning. I needed it...and after I shed a few tears, went for a run, had a talk with God and got into the word, I am on my way back from one of my worst days since this whole thing started.

Today I say, I am a Christian.

Christians

by Maya Angelou

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'" I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Thanks For sharing Jill!

Hills

So many ups and downs in this journey...it's hard to even say how I feel right now with out being repetitious. It just feels like we will never get to the end of this. The families that are immediately in front of us in the timeline have had requests for additional documents...not really additional but rather more original copies of the same old thing. One family that received a court date last week has had it postponed with no rescheduled date yet given because the judge apparently had other plans that day...(are they for real?) At this point I find myself laughing out loud as I load the washing machine, wash dishes and then burst into tears at the total idiocy of this whole process. I mean, really, how many copies of the same document does one country need? The MOE which is literally within minutes of the court is not sharing copies of documents...so, we have to run around and collect certified original copies of the documents...all of which takes more money and time. Then they have to be apostilled and mailed to Russia and translated, yes, again. (More time) Then, it gets resubmitted for court. You know, time really is money...all the while, more docs are expiring and needing to be updated, more fees are going up, the dollar is going down and we are going broke. And all I really want is to bring my little girl home.

This news seems to have happened on Friday or maybe Monday, while I was out of town with my kids. We had a wonderful time skiing in Vermont and it was nice to not really think about this whole situation for a while. The Kids really progressed this year and Flip was on the lift his third day on skis. They were really excited this year and it was cool to see how well they retained what they learned this year and how much better they got in just three days on the slopes. It went by so quickly and the ski clothes are now washed and packed away until next year when I pray we will be taking Ellie with us.

It seems illogical to think that that we would not have her home by this time next year and yet with constant set backs and delays, my mind can't help but entertain the possibility. I am tired of this race. Today, it has gotten the better of me.

Update

WOOO HOO! Two more families got court dates in Kras. The date is 2/5 so we are now into February. This is really exciting news! One family is with our agency and the other family is not but it is significant that we heard about the 1/29 dates on Friday and the 2/5 dates just yesterday. It appears that the Russians are ready to move! This news came on the coat tails of an update from our agency:

All documents must be present and current in order to be submitted for court. I pray that our FBI clearances are in fact present and that we get our court date before our home study agency's license expires on 2/20. That means we would need the 2/12 or 2/19 dates. The license has not come in before the previous one expired the last two times we have had to update this document. I am currently waiting for news from the director as to whether or not we can obtain a letter that says the old license is valid until the new one arrives.

In addition, we found out that the CPS letter will no longer be required. (among other docs that don't really effect us) This is a praise because this letter has been extremely hard to get in FL. We did manage to find a woman who was diligently helping us get the letter together and I thank God for her spirit of kindness and for lifting the burden of this letter from the families chasing paper for court.

So, there are now possibly 2-4 families in front of us with our agency, depending on when all docs get where they are going and how the facilitators go about getting us submitted for court. So far, people have gotten court dates in the same order that they have traveled for trip one. I continue to rest in the Lord's timing of this process, to lift up my daughter for His protection and to ask for a speedy court date. Today is 8 weeks since I have seen my child. I pray that I can hold her in my arms again soon.

Yada, Yada

I have been trying to get more organized...more focused. I have found it extremely hard to concentrate on work when there are so many blogs and so many emails coming across all day long. So, I haven't been reading blogs or checking my email as much over the last few days. I haven't run in for one last check before bed since Thursday and therefore I didn't even find out about the court dates until SATURDAY! Humph!

Two AWAA families got court dates on Friday...mind you this was before "they" anticipated we would hear anything! God just doesn't care about our time tables:0) This is such awesome news! I mentioned before that there was the possibility of a second judge coming on in the new year. I still have not confirmed this to be the case but if it does happen, things should really begin to move. There are about 4-5 families within our agency and in our region that traveled before us and are all paper ready for court. I am anxiously waiting to hear that they have received court dates so I will know that we are coming up as well.

We got some disappointing news yesterday afternoon that the foreign fee is going up $2000 due to the dollar losing it's value in Russia. We are now shuffling finances trying to figure out how we can do this without having to charge anything and without robbing other savings that will needed at the end of the year to pay our taxes and insurance. It seems so wrong to talk about money when a child's life is on the line. The money means nothing to me other than I pray we have enough. We thought we had all the expenses covered and over the last two years and having to redo paperwork 2-3 times, mail, go to doctors more than the insurance will allow and now a fee increase, the final projection for total expenses puts us $8000 over what we thought we would pay when we began this journey. The Lord has put us on this path and I have faith that when the time comes, He will provide the funds.

I am preparing the docs needed for the US embassy...these are mainly just copies of tax returns, forms stating we will immunize the baby, copies of our immigration approval letter. These just have to be notarized. Thank goodness for the lovely ladies in Adam's office who notarize on the spot for us! (HI Darcie and Susan) I have also began to really start thinking about packing as this is such a major trip. Thirty days in a country that does not have Walmart is intimidating!

In other news:

• 
  
  The kids and I leave THursday for Vermont to ski this weekend away! I can't wait to see how they progress this year! Flip is moving out of the little day care ski camp and will be in full blown ski school and Ruthie is pretty much ready to ski with the big boys now.


• 
  
  I have decided that 2007 will be the year of the journal. As far as my scrap book goes for the year, everything will be mounted on black paper with photo corners and a journaling block. I am too far behind and I don't want to forget things before I journal. I have a life book to start as well as already being into 2008. So, with the exception of firsts: Kindergarten for Rusty, lost tooth, etc. this is how this scrapbook will be done. I am pleased with this decision:0)


• 
  
  We scrapped the carpeting. We will live with the ugly floor and the big concrete section will get covered with a rug. Too much $$$ right now. I had the area rugs cleaned and I am rearranging the furniture and finally hanging some of my stuff on the walls after living here for over 5 years.

And these are the days of our lives....

A New Perspective

So, after my most recent post, I got an email from Adam's cousin (and mine:0) and she titled it, "A New Perspective." Nothing that she wrote was anything I had never thought to myself a hundred times but when it comes from someone else, it is uplifting in ways that talking to yourself just isn't! She made me cry and reflect (again) on all the wonderful things that I have learned during this process...the people I have come to know but have never met, my outlook on the world and it's priorities, my view of myself as a mother and a wife, my relationship with my husband and children and most importantly, my walk with the Lord. So, I wanted to share what Karen had to say. I pray that it will be uplifting to all my other PAPs out there...just waiting...

Hey Lori,

Okay, so I've been keeping up with your blog and how you have to wait and how I KNOW how miserable it is, etc. So, even though you didn't ask for it, I'm going to give you a new perspective.

*Maybe in two weeks baby will catch a winter cold and God doesn't want her to travel.

*Maybe in three weeks baby will get to go outside and build her very first snowman and God wants her to experience it.

*Maybe in four weeks Flip will do something so cute and special that God doesn't want you to miss because you're flying to Russia.

*Maybe in five weeks the weather conditions will not be safe to travel, so God wants to wait just a little bit longer to avoid putting you and baby in danger.

*Maybe baby has a very special friend who in six weeks will go to a new family and God wants the two of them to spend as much time together before they never see each other again.

*Maybe in seven weeks the Lord will be completely through preparing you, family and especially baby for the emotional transition.

Don't focus on the time. Focus on all the ways you and your little angel are being protected by His timing and be grateful that He would never do less than what is best for you or baby. You know that song ... "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers." He may never show you the reason you're having to wait, but know that it's a PERFECT one.

Voice Of Truth

What is it about six weeks? Doesn't it seem like everything is six weeks? "How long will take?" "oh, I'd say about six weeks." Report cards: 6weeks, healing: 6 weeks, government forms: 6 weeks.

Today is 6 weeks since I last saw my daughter. Although it seems like a very long time going in, it has really gone by somewhat quickly. The holidays and projects around the house have helped the days go by a little quicker. I can't say I'd like to go through another 6 weeks but it's possible we will.

Yesterday, I was emailing back and forth with my FC...I do this a lot, I am sure I drive her nuts but I am not sure I can help myself...I just need to ask things. Anyway, she is in a tough position. She can't really say, "I think you will get your court date_______." She tries to prepare me for the wait by reminding me that there are families in our agency that traveled before us and still have not received court dates. I don't really want to hear this. I like to keep in mind that maybe these families are not "paper ready." Most of them are, I know that and I genuinely want them to get their court dates as well. So, then I go to the thought that a second judge is supposed to be coming on in the next week or so and that will help to get the court dates moving a little quicker. And then I realize the truth: My Father in heaven knows when we will get our court date. My human, controlling brain continues to try to rationalize it's way through this process and it can't. My FC doesn't know and neither do I. I cannot say that I will not continue to watch the boards for news that other families have gotten court dates, I will.

I will continue to lift my requests up to my Father, to rejoice in the work He has done and thank Him for all that He is about to do. His is the voice of truth, none other.

Happy Birthday, Flip!

Praising the Lord for 4 Awesome years with this child! He is healthy, happy, loving and so bright! I am so proud to be his mother...Thank you Father for this precious gift!

3 Ring Circus

In Ring #1: Home Depot called today and the installer doesn't like my tile...SHOCKER!!!! Neither do I, that's why I want the carpet over it. Well, what they really don't like are the grout lines, they are huge, in between nice, big, ugly Mexican tile that was laid poorly and has seen better days, I think. What they are saying is that the carpet will start to sink into the grout lines...and it makes sense when you think about it...the grout lines are like the grand canyon. So, they want to pull up the tile or lay thin set which will basically double the cost of laying the carpeting which seemed to me to be too much to begin with. That floor continues to plague me.

In Ring #2: The baseboard that was used in said room is not to be matched...soooo, we will have to put a piece of wood behind the baseboard we are going to use that is the closest we can find to matching...whatever!

In Ring #3: Our new Christmas tree will not fit into the hole that is the entrance to the attic..this is a problem because there is NO WHERE else for this tree to go. We do not have a garage, we have a leaky shed but uh, it leaks so, I cannot put my new pre-lit Christmas tree in it and really, I can't put anything in it; So, why is there? Although I can say all my Christmas stuff is down and packed, I cannot claim that it is all put away. I still have a tree in a very nice storage bag sitting in the middle of my living room...it's future is uncertain at this time.

Is anything around this house ever going to be easy? Probably not!

On a another note, we did go to the circus...last night. The kids had a really good time. My mom has been taking me every year since I was very young and now she treats the kids to it annually as well. They gorged on pretzels, snow cones, and cotton candy while seeing amazing feats of strength and wonder. Oh, and they got to stay up late on a school night. Jack Pot!

In adoption news...we will be getting back the Alabama background checks later this week and we will send those back to AL for apostille and then forward them on to the agency. They have not told us we will need these but they said we could do either the state check for every state we have lived in or the federal check...we are going to assume that Russia will ask for both at some point so we are doing both..."just in case" is a catch phrase in this house!

Also, I received two gifts this weekend for our girl...My mom takes us all skiing once a year...we started this about 3 years ago and so, as the kids grow they need new snow suits. She picked up the cutest little pink one for Els. (that's what I am calling her these days) Then, today in the mail, I got a bracelet that matches the one I have (Ruthie has one too)...this was from my mother in law...it is so small and I can't wait to put it on her. Both are already in the suit case and ready for Russia. (The current temperature in Kras is 0 Degrees F and it gets colder in Feb)

So, the wait continues...there are a lot of people getting referrals, traveling to meet their children and waiting on court dates. A lot of children are waiting to be brought home to their forever families. Our chat group has set aside today, the Russian Orthodox Christmas, to be in prayer for one another, our children, the officials and all the hands that guide our documents and this process. I pray that our Father will continue to grant favor upon us and that we will hear news soon.

Merry Christmas, Ellie!

Chilling Out...In More Ways than One

What a difference a day makes. Today we got up into the 60's and it looks to get warmer through the weekend. Today was absolutely beautiful and I would love to live somewhere that has weather like this year round...I am not sure such a place exists.

I had a good chat with my FC this morning and she set me straight on a few things I was wondering and confused about:

1. The Russian offices do reopen on the 9th but "they" are not expecting to hear anything until at least the 14th. I, however fully believe the Lord will move when He is ready regardless of when "they" think it will happen.
2. Court dates are going to be issued like such: If there are two families who are paper ready, the family who traveled on trip one will get their court date first. However, families who are paper ready do not have to wait for other families to become paper ready just because they traveled first. (Does that make any sense to anyone besides me?)
3. Although the court has been issuing court dates to the agency two at a time ie: two for you, two for you, this does not have to be the case...If AWAA has four paper ready families and Agency XYZ has none, AWAA could conceivably be given four court dates.
4. Although she could not 100% guarantee that a second judge was coming on in the New Year, she did say that she had "heard" that. Hopefully they will notice the number of families backing up in their region and feel the need to get things moving...who knows?
5. I am not done paper chasing. I will likely be chasing paper the day before I leave on trip two and may even have to call home and have other people chase paper for me...expect it, prepare for it and if it doesn't happen praise GOD!
6. I need to chill out.

Ok, she didn't say the last one. She may have implied it but she is way too nice to come right out with it. So, I felt really good after talking to her. She settles me down and really puts things in perspective. I found this on another mom's blog and I wanted it for my own...it expresses how I feel about our FC. (and this process) It was nice to see I am not the only one out there feeling exactly like this:

· The only time we will ever hear good/bad news is while we're at work. We aren't together hearing any of the news. We wait all day at work for a phone call, every day. We know that when we walk out of work for the day, our chances of hearing anything have dwindled to none. The next day is a new day. Fridays are especially hard, because we know that there's no chance of hearing anything until we walk back into work the following Monday.
· We think about this every second of every day. What the agency may perceive as excessive calls has likely been only one call of the thousands of thoughts about calling. Some of the crazy things going through our heads even go as far as 'maybe they just lost my work number' - totally unrealistic.
· When the agency personnel are at work, and reviewing paperwork/sending new requirements, we are at work too. Our only opportunity to complete these requirements is if we take off work or do it in our 'free' time. Delaying emails/messages until the next day is the worst possible thing for us because we lose an entire day to complete the action.

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful

Man it is cold outside...we had a freeze last night...I mean I know I complain about the heat but it is stinking cold out there...no where near Siberia but a bit drastic for central, COASTAL Florida...It is 9:15 am and it is still only 30 degrees outside. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong...I mean it is probably the only truly cold front we will get all year, so, I am going to enjoy it but that doesn't mean I can't say, "man, it is cold out there!"

Anyway, we had a nice New Year's celebration with some of our friends and are now settling into 2008...holy cow! 2008! As promised my Christmas decorations are coming down...the interior decorations are down and boxed, the exterior...well, did I tell you??? It is COLD out there! So, I hope to get to those later in the week. I still have plenty of work to get to on the inside. Adam has pretty much finished rolling the family room (it's a big room) and so I must begin the lovely job of "cutting in." This is the worst job ever for two people who hate to paint. Especially because I am not happy with paint unless it looks like we hired and paid someone a fortune to do it perfectly. Have I mentioned I am type A?

They came to measure for the carpeting in the family room yesterday. We should have install dates by early next week. How is this helping get ready for Ellie? Well, it isn't really...but it makes me feel better. And, I can justify it with,"she will be playing a lot on that floor and it grosses me out!" Her room, however, still looks like a storage shed *sigh* I am hoping we can tackle that this weekend.

In adoption news, I have a few praises. The woman at the DCF here in FL has been so helpful, calling me nearly everyday since the 28th to see if we have made any progress and this morning calling to get the proper spelling of our names because it seems she is writing the letter herself...Praise God for putting people like her in our path. She has been dedicated to making sure it got done since it came across her desk. I only have the Lord to thank for putting her in the middle of this process.

As far as the FBI clearance, it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. We got fingerprinted the same day we found out about the new requirement and and got it in the mail to WV. It went through the necessary steps there and was back in my hands on Monday. I got it out same day to the the Sec of State in WV for apostille and I called and the girl there got it done same day and it will be delivered to my agency this morning by 10:30...which is in just one hour...so, it could feasibly be in Russia before they reopen. More Praises for God...He continues to put the right people in my path.

I did have a moment of clarity in the car yesterday...it is where I have most of my "aha!" moments. We are already almost finished with the first week of silence out of Russia. They reopen on the 14th and so, tomorrow will finish up the first week! It wasn't so bad...I have a lot to keep me busy and things to look forward to over the next few weeks...

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

And He will Sustain me!