SO COOL!

Want to know something amazing?  :)

This weekend we planted a second garden, and worked really hard on it!  First we transplanted these flowers to new spots.

 Then mixed all four months worth of compost together with the soil.  We ripped out roots, dug, plowed and raked until our backs and hands hurt, but we felt like with each drop of sweat, it was an ode to our children that we were building something beautiful for them!  That their new home would be fun, amazing and have homegrown and nutritious food.

 We had to enlist some help, but he was pretty talented with the dirt and compost.  His shovel skills were unmatched.

Notice the cloth diapers drying in the foreground :)

"PRINKLERS!!!"

Teamwork

So, here's the best part!

 Today, Friday, not even one week after planting the seeds, we had our first sprouting!  And guess which vegetable decided to make it's debut first?  I'll give you a hint, we bought it specifically with Maria in mind...

BABY BEET SEEDLINGS!

How cool is that!  Looks like we will have no shortage of Borsch soup!  We fell in love with it while in Russia, and we know it will be so special for our girl, and I bet our boys will love it too! 

It was just so special to see!  We can't wait to bring you home soon baby girl!  This home is your home, your mama and papa are your mama and papa, and we can't believe how soon it is that we get to take you in our arms again!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge."  Pslam 19:1-2

Keepin on!

Thanks for bearing with me during my sad moment in the last post!  Oh man, I was missing the kids, and feeling so helpless to help them while they are in need. 

But!

Today we are celebrating, so before you read, you can listen to our little celebration song! 

Because we got our I-600A response!  Hurray!  That means at least one of the two countries who need to, have approved us! (ours :)  One down, one to go!  I loved getting our finger prints, the sweetest asian man was finger printing me.  "Oh wow!  You adopting a girl who is ten?  That so great!  She will flip out!  She will say, 'Wow mom and dad!' Cause we have Disneyland, Sea World, Lego land, everything.  She'll just love it!"  He was the best.  I filled out a comment card about him, saying he was the most awesome part of our day.

Then yesterday, I detoured to Costco and got my visa pictures taken, it was SO awesome.  When they handed me my two tiny, square photos it was like my photo was saying, "you're going back mama!"   Thank you photo of myself!

This morning, I was able to go to our 'mommy book club' which I had to miss the first two weeks of.  Awesome sitters watched our kids, and we gathered around with fruit and treats, opening our books.  As soon as we started sharing, I felt it coming on fast.  Uh oh...

The question was, "What do we find a hard time surrendering to God?"

After a few shared, I finally I opened my mouth, and as soon as I did the tears just poured out of my face.  I said it was hard to surrender the fact that I feel like the kids are not getting what they need.  That my kids aren't getting what they need, and there's nothing I can do about it...

But I shared with them what God had shared with me, that I seriously keep forgetting.  That HE is the father to the fatherless.  He told me twice, two days in a row.  And truthfully, I know it.  When I was with those kids, I felt God's presence because they are his kids, as forgotten as they seem, I felt His spirit hovering over them like I hadn't experienced before.  It felt good to share, to get it out.  Like, REALLY good.  I feel like a new person sharing with my sweet, compassionate friends.  And I know they are praying.

I feel better.  What would we do without our community, free therapy when you're down! Hah.

Even the sadness is a gift.  It means we have gone, and seen and held and loved.  And it also means that the best is yet to come!  What would I rather?  That I would have guarded my emotions in a bubble and said no to going because I knew I had to wait?  No, even the sadness is blessing.

My plan for Elijah when he gets home is pretty much to have him live in the moby wrap.  He'll get the physical contact he needs, he'll be so close to me, and be able to interact with his siblings and papa, and if he needs a little break, I can just pull up the side and he can have a few moments to center, or just fall asleep on his mama.  We'll be making up for lost time of being nurtured and held!  I just can't wait!  Plus, if he's in the wrap, it will give me the ability to run around and play with the other two!

Learning to JOYFULLY wait for two more to feed at the BBQs

And today it's starting to feel less of a choice, and more of just how we feel.  Joyful!


What was the verse of the day, you ask?

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27: 14

Well, that's pretty clear!

We love you all guys, thanks for reading and sharing this journey with us!

Ouch

Ouch

My heart

this wait is going to be the death of me

I can't even share what I see in those eyes

My little boy :(

It's been one week

without two of our children

seriously ouch



and I was really starting to feel like adoption was easy...
I guess I finally found the hard part.

But at least we are one week closer to being together,
as opposed to if we had said no



my goodness.

6 cool things

1.  Our favorite blanky company Comfort Silkie just told us they are donating a comfort blanket for both Maria and Elijah to bring with us . . . . AND one for EVERY baby in the orphanage! Oh my goodness, how amazing is that? These blankies promote comfort and healing, perfect for these forgotten little ones in cribs!

(And they are the ONLY reason Finley learned how to sleep in his crib through the night, they simulate the silkiness of amnionic fluid)


HURRRRRRAY!!!!!!!!  What a gift!

They are a small, family run business and this is a big, generous gift!  I was thinking we should all 'like' them on facebook to show them support for showing support for the kids, I just really would love for them to know how awesome their gift truly is. 

  http://www.facebook.com/ComfortSilkieFB <---like 'em!  Let's overwhelm them with gratitude, and set a precedent for supporting good, ethical companies with heart!

Tiny Finley, asleep in his crib with TWO Comfort Silkies

2.  This weekend at a garage sale, I found a cartoon DVD of "How to brush and floss your teeth," and the lady gave it to me FOR FREE for the orphanage!  That's just what I was looking for!!  I can't get over how excited I am to bring this to this kids.

3. We ate "dirt cups"

4.  Us 6 decided day of to go to our 10 year high school reunion (It was the reunion for us girls, these are just our cute husbands.  In fact, we've been friends since kindergarten!)

5. We love "HIPPOS!"

6. We planted a pluot and a plum tree  #moremouthstofeed!!

Trying to live life as normally as possible with two of our children so very far away.
Ouch
Keeping our eyes lifted to heaven.

Adoption Travel Tips

This blog brought to you by my wise husband, because he was the brains behind all this travel stuff.

Alright, so you've made it this far.

You've accomplished paper work, and a date is given.

You've eaten lentil soup for dinner on Fridays nights instead of dining out, but in the process realized they're pretty good!

To pay for your visas, you've cut out cable, put the tv in the garage, but noticed how much more time your family has together, and how much more your kids have been enjoying reading.

When you go to bed one night this week, a huge rip forms in your only pair of sheets.  Dang it!  Instead of being able to buy new ones, you pull out a needle and thread, and their good as new!  Then you notice that sewing is fun and suddenly you child's room has new curtains from old fabric!

You sell most everything you own, and find your house is cleaner, and there is less stuff to organize.  "This is fun!" you say. 

You can't even afford Craigslist prices for a dresser, so you hoist yourself up at 5:30 in the morning to go garage sale-ing, and find one for $5.  Then a water table for $1, and some wooden puzzles for $2.  Why didn't I think of this earlier?

You and your husband plant a garden together on the weekend, and find it's way more fun than an afternoon at the newest movie theater.

You and your husband grow closer as a team of building and saving, creating and reclaiming, planting and growing, and you find that saving money to put towards the adoption actually brings a lot more joy and satisfaction and calm than before you were adopting and spending money to try and simulate the same feelings.  At the end of the day, you have worked a bit harder, and have dirt on your hands, but by then the crock pot is done cooking, and your dinner is ready, so enjoy--you've accomplished a lot today.

Crock Pot Soup and homemade bread

Pumpkin plant from last years seeds

Coloring

And when the day approaches for you to LEAVE and meet your child that is waiting just for you, SOUND THE TRUMPETS!  Let rose petals fall from the sky (Well, unless they cost money, then the trumpets are just fine)

Flying:

The flights are looooong, and when you arrive in country, you hit the ground running, so make it your goal to be as ready and rested as possible on the flight.  (We met Maria 2 hours after we landed from a 22 hours of traveling)

Stock up on anything that will get you as much sleep as possible.  Here what we got:
1. These awesome flight pillows.
2. Ear plugs
3. Eye masks
4. Melatonin

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugar like the plague.  I know, sad, even sugar, but seriously it won't be good for sleeping or for the energy you need when you land.

Drink LOTS of water.  We brought a 24 ounce bottle with us, and filled it up at a fountain after getting through security.  We bought these electrolyte water enhancers, dropped them in and they were amazing.  And then each time your flight attendant Boris asks you what you would like to drink, you say, "water."

We took these hippie homeopathic No-Jet-Lag pills only on the flight home, they seemed pretty legit, and we definitely had no jet-lag.

I am usually notorious for not sleeping on long flights, so I brought melatonin with us, and had one just after dinner, and I was OUT.  Plus, they help at night in country when it's time for bed, but your body tells you it's 10am.

Watch one movie so that you can eat your din din without interruptions, then get ready to sleep.  Pack a tooth brush, go to the bathroom and brush your teeth, you'll be so happy you did.  I brought facial wipes for my face.

Take your shoes off before you sleep, cause your feet are going to swell up, floatation device not needed in case of water landing type of swell.  I wore Toms, and they were genius!  Easy to slip on and off for security, light weight, etc.

In Country

Have the best time of your life!  Don't be sad, don't be scared.  Be in the word each morning,  pray and give each day to God.  You are going to have an AMAZING time!

Still avoid sugar.

Don't drink the water out of the tap (In Russia)

Bring a hotpot and pack some instant oatmeal.  It's the perfect, cheap easy breakfast and will save you a bunch of money.  Bring some green tea too since you'll already have hot water.

Look for ways to encourage and smile at people.  You are representing all the families with waiting children from America.  Make friends, tell jokes, give hugs, kiss snot-nosed babies--it will be time to go home in the blink of an eye, make the most of every opportunity.

If you feel a bout of homesickness one day, send out an email to close friends asking how their week is going!  When you hear back, you'll feel good.  Pray, go for a walk.  Rent paddle boats out on the sea.

If you leave kids at home, don't punish yourself for having a good time, because they are having a good time too.

Bring as many donations as possible.

Try all the local food, yum!

Stretch or do yoga in the morning, cause you will be in the car for a while on your way to the orphanage.

All right, that's all I can think of!  Hopefully this helps!  What else should I add Marj, Cilla, Heather, Molly?

Thank You

Today we received a donation that brought us to our knees.  We felt weak. 

Thank you.

From the bottom of our hearts.  For helping us reach our babies.  We don't even have the right words to thank you.  The only way we know how to say thank you is to love these kids like they've never known before, forever.  Each and every day.  Thank you for being a part of their story, for being the bridge.

Donations for the Kids

We're going back soon, and for a shorter amount of days so we'll have maybe even a bit more room!

A list of needs for the orphanage:

1. FAMILIES!!!!!  :)  Think about it, seriously!  Best thing ever :)

2.  They really need thick tights!  The girls and boys both wear them all the time, and they look pretty tattered.  Not the thin American type, but thick, wooly kind.  I don't even know where to find those, especially this time of year, so if you do, that's amazing!!

3.  Tennis shoes!!  This is serious need!  We don't have a whole lot of room in our suitcase, so it would be best to buy one or two really nice pair that will last and last, than a bunch of cheaper ones.  Poor babes walk around in old uncomfortable dress shoes, or even sandals with socks.  :(

4.  Underwear and socks.

5.  Sweaters and jackets.

6.  Any sort of education enrichment.  If you can find picture books in Russian, that would be HUGE!  They had a whole set up newish colored pencils with no tips because they didn't have a pencil sharpeners, so Andrew and I are bringing an electric one.  Any sort of drawing, or art, or crayons or anything.  Even though these kids are "older" they just thrive off of little kid stuff, they LOVE it.

7.  Hygiene items, especially for teeth.  We saw a lot of cavities in poor little mouths.  No mamas to make sure they're brushing :(

8.  Fun outdoor toys like jump ropes!  All the kids love jump roping.  (I wish ten year olds out here liked stuff like that, you know?)

9.  And anything else you think might be GREAT!  Our facilitators had never visited this orphanage before, people don't usually adopt from here (missing out!), so their supplies are low.

**We could also bring a cash donation and buy supplies while out there too if we run out of room, or if you don't want to shop for stuff!  If you give money, I will take a picture of everything your donation bought and send it to you!!  You can also tell me what kind of things you'd want me to buy in your name!

Donations can be sent here:
PO Box 731
Vista CA 92085

We won't go back for a least 2 months (but we're praying less!!!! Join us) so you got a little time.

LOVE,
A&A&M&F&E

The day we left

Did you know it was supposed to rain everyday that we were in Russia?  That was the forecast, but we never saw rain, except while we slept for one night, then on the morning we left, it began to rain, the sky dark.

Our hearts were heavy, the weather matched.

We had been praying for Maria's heart to be prepared for months, and months and months, and it was.  Miraculously, as were ours to say goodbye to a 10 year old for a short time before we brought her home.

But Elijah.

As we held and loved him in the orphanage, we saw the other babies, on their hands and knees, rocking themselves back and forth cause no one else would.  Because he was in our arms, we never saw Elijah rocking, staring at us from behind white bars from where he was all month, and where he would be for months to come.  But us leaving means he will be.  He would be just another baby, rocking himself for lack of mama and papa.

"Stop," I told myself.

 I needed to stop torturing myself, stop thinking about this.   This is one of the reasons we almost didn't say yes.  Once he's yours, it hurts like nothing else to leave.

As we waited for Dasha and Sveta to come pick us up one final time, I turned my thoughts to God, making them more productive, "God, comfort Elijah, preserve his heart, his mind and his body."

I flipped through my phone to the bible app, since I was praying anyway to see 'the verse of the day.'

As the rain streaked the windows, it was this:

"Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him--his name is the Lord.  A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."

Psalm 68: 4-5

I just stared at it, not even rereading it.  The day I leave them, the day God tells me that He is the father to the fatherless, He will be caring for them.  I don't remember seeing an orphan verse before from the 'verse of the day.'

I seriously felt better, God is good, and my job is to rejoice and thank Him, because He's the one who gave us these gifts, not to pout and be sad about it.

We had time to visit Elijah one more time before we headed to the airport, and we took him into the play room full of toys that no one ever plays in....

"Andrew, I think we need to sing," I said.  "I think we need to sing together, to praise God."

"OK, but why?" he asked.

"Well, that verse God gave us today, saying He would care for our kids, the beginning said to 'Sing to God,' and since it's really the easiest thing he's asked us to do all week, I think we probably should."

We put on Finley's 'birth mix' on Rdio, worship songs, and let it play.  And sang to our son, and to our Lord, sang it out in that empty room.

I remembered in birthing class, they said that singing helped, because it happens in the opposite side of your brain than pain, and helps you to push through the pain.

Push through the pain to meet your son.  I've had to do it once before, and I can do it again.  God is here, guiding even in the small things.

***************

We got on the plane, Korean Air and it was amazing.  I mean, seriously, wow.  It would have been an hour flight to Korea, but we had to fly all the way around North Korea as not to fly over it, making the flight 2.5 hours.  The Korean airport was INSANE!!!!!  We were in such culture shock.  Every high end, name brand store was PACKED with people, buying everything, a parade, live music, delicious food.

In Russia, they didn't even have McDonalds or Starbucks, and we both felt our appetites go down, being satisfied with soup.  But, in the Korean airport, we had dinner, then walked by Burger King and wanted a hamburger!  I suppose we aren't as impermeable to advertising as we'd like to think!

From there we flew to LAX, and it was glorious.  We watched movies, ate yummy food, Korean air had metal utensils, and glass cups.  Their slogan is "Excellence in Flight," and it's true.  Did I spend my time wallowing in my sadness for my kids left behind?  Nope, I watched The Artist, and 21 Jump Street and we laughed our faces off.  (If you are a RR family, or a family member, do NOT watch this movie...seriously not appropriate!  We don't endorse it, but, it's funny I tell ya)  And I don't like love movies, so when I turned on The Vow, I told Andrew he should watch it instead, because he loves them.  And he did.  Then, we drank our electrolyte water, put in our ear plugs, got out our amazing flight pillows and crashed out until it was time for brown rice and green tea porridge for breakfast.  No wonder those Koreans are so skinny!  It was an amazing time.

On the drive home from LAX, I started getting so impatient to see Finley.  My heart was racing.  I didn't know if he would act out, be mad, happy to see us, upset...

I ran in and saw his little face, and he smiled and raised his arms to me.  "MAMA!" he smiled.  He looked HUGE and HEALTHY compared to the babies I was used to.  He was just himself, like we had only just been gone that morning.  We read books, played, and he went to bed.  It was great!

In the morning I thought he would be so happy to see that it was me coming in to get him from his crib.  I walked in and said, "Good morning Finley!"  He smiled at me and finally the words I had been waiting for.

"Milk?"

I laughed and got him out to get him his milk.

I seriously can't believe we almost didn't adopt our children because it would have been too hard to leave Finley.  I can't believe it.  He had an amazing week, so did all of his grandparents, and we had one of the best weeks of our lives.  We both feel like better parents to him after having come back, we feel closer as a couple.  I guess God knows what he's doing when He asks you to do things...

One day I'll learn that for keeps!

***Adding this now**

Ok, and how's THIS for cool.  Russia is one day ahead of us....so, when we got home, and I looked at the 'Verse of the Day,' guess which verse it was.

Yep, same one.  How's that for some kind of crazy time travel miracle.  God really wants to comfort me into know that He is the father to the fatherless here and in Russia.  God, you're so rad.

Our last day with our Maria

We were stretching out our gifts, but we decided to bring everything with us for the last day.  We had mini coloring books, stickers and toys for all the kids.  They were like joyful ants who just tasted sugar, milling about excitedly with smiles on their faces, clutching their gifts.
Not just Maria this time!

We had stopped at the store to buy some animal crackers to make it almost like a party.  Maria helped me pass them all out, and the kids chomped merrily as they scoped out each others gifts.  They were so kind and thankful.

Oh, our sweet Gliep.  We just love this child.

 

Angel Girl

 Today was the day Maria received her hair accessories, from Papa.  "Spaseba Papa," she smiled at him.

It's official, she's a size 6x!

We gave Maria the letter from her Auntie, Uncle and Cousins.  "We love you Maria and can't wait to meet you."

"Can you play with us?" the other kids begged us.

"We can't today," we told them.

"We need to talk to her today about how you guys have to leave," Dasha told us.  "I'll help translate."  We went outside to be alone with her, and I pulled out a jewelry kit I got at target.  We started making the charms together, all of us, and told her we had something to talk to her about.

"Maria, we love you very, very much.  Mama and Papa are working very hard to bring you home so that you can be with your family.  Tomorrow, Mama and Papa have to go home on an airplane, because the law here says we can't bring you home yet.  But listen to us, we will be thinking about you every single day, and we will be asking God to take care of you, and we will be getting your room ready.  It's going to feel like a really, really long time honey.  Our hearts will hurt without you with us, and right when it feels like it's almost been too long, you are going to look outside, and guess who is going to be knocking on the door, ready to come get you."

"Mama and Papa!" she said, happy.
 

She was happy!  She understood, she knew.  Her heart had been being prepared.

"Who is going to be thinking about you everyday, and will get on a plane and travel the world for our sweet girl, our precious daughter so, so soon?"

"Mama and Papa."

"Who do Mama and Papa love so, so much?"

She looked at us.  First me, then Andrew, and looked down.

"Me," she said softly, her smile wide.

We went upstairs and drew pictures of our family since we couldn't print any pictures of the three of us.

She always draws herself blonde

 We put the pictures in her locker, and wrote, "We love you Maria!  We will be back soon!" in English and in Russian.  (Thank goodness we had given her that Hello Kitty glitter glue!)

God's gift to us.  A treasure worth the search, worth any "sacrifice" and worth the wait.  Our angel.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephesians 3:20

Look out California!

Maria put her hands on mine and told me something in Russian. 

"I'm sorry baby, I don't understand," I said, sad.  "Is ok, mama!  I lurn inglish!  Fon, two free, four FIVE!" she said proudly to cheer me.

That girl :')

She remembered the numbers we were practicing in the car.

We took her in our arms, and I burried my face in her cheek to give her a kiss.  "We will be back soon," I whispered.  She grabbed both of our hands and we walked out, towards the car.  The other kids saw us leaving and RAN as fast as they could to meet us.  They ran to the gate and jumped and waved and blew kisses.  "DASVIDANA!!!  BYE!  DASVIDANA!!" It was a loud roar from the kids.

"BYE BYE BYE BYE!!!!!!!"

"Bye mama and papa"

Oh my heart.  Those children are incredible.

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." 

 Ephesians 3:17-19