Gotcha Day -- One Year Later

I just have to laugh at the title I chose for this blog!  What's One More?  Really? Ha!  One more can be so much!  (Actually, the title comes from something that Quincy's dad used to say.  He actually wanted to adopt a child from Poland.  He already had five children, and international adoptions certainly weren't as common place or easy (hahahhaha!!!) as they are now -- but his philosophy was, "What's One More?  Just throw another potato in the pot!")

I guarantee you that we never thought it would be as simple as throwing another potato in the pot, but I doubt that we had any idea just what was ahead of us. I know for a fact that I had no idea how much growing up I still needed to do, how much one little girl could take me to the end of any ounce of self-righteousness I possessed and drop me, completely helpless and broken, at the throne of Grace. 

Now, before you get the wrong idea of poor, sweet Sasha -- let me assure you that she was being exactly what she was -- a hurting and desperately lonely orphan child who didn't know how to trust nor what love really was.  And I was being exactly what I had always been -- confident, in-control, and able to get this thing done!  The problem was that none of what I already was would ever be what I needed for this calling.  It wasn't long before I figured it out.  In fact, starting on the second night out of the orphanage, I knew this wasn't going to be simple.  Nothing so easy as throwing another potato in the pot!  What I've learned mostly is that I really can do all things through Christ who strengthens me -- and I can do very little without Him.

I am so thankful to my family and friends who have encouraged me over and over again through this year.  I really would not have made it without each of you!  You have been the rock beneath my shifting sands.

So, now a quick update on Sasha!  She has come SO FAR!  I've created this video to celebrate her first year.  Honestly, I just wanted the first year pictures and video in one presentation for the future -- so it's long!  I warn you.  If you really want to watch the whole thing, grab a tissue and find a comfortable spot -- it's about 16 minutes long, I think!

You'll be able to see in the video that Sasha looks so different than a year ago.  She looks like it's been more like 2-3 years!  I'm sure part of this is just her age and she experienced a genuine major growth spurt!  She doesn't remember any Russian.  It's completely gone!  I'm still so amazed by that!  She's had to change not only her speaking and listening language -- but her thinking language too!  Remarkable!  She's made such great strides in developing into a typical American kid her age.  She so rarely has any temper tantrums anymore -- and usually only when she's tired now.  Yet, she still retains that innocent exuberance of a much younger child.  She's a blessing to so many!  I know that we went over there and got her -- but I know it wasn't just for us.  So many people in our church, school, and even our community have been touched by Sasha's sweet smile.

We are a truly happy family!  I would ask that you still pray for Sasha.  Mostly for two things -- first, that she would continue to progress in school.  Maybe even more quickly and successfully than she is doing now.  Second, that as we go through this second year and the years to come, she would be open to dealing with the emotional pain in her spirit.  Right now, she's like a tea kettle!  Things slowly build up until there's just this pressure that bursts and screams!  She has not had the language nor the maturity to ask the hard questions about her past -- but she will.  Pray that God will prepare her heart even now to accept that He was there.  That His grace is always sufficient.  That forgiveness is freeing.  Pray that Quincy and I will have wisdom for the road ahead.  Thank you all for walking this journey with us so far.  We'll keep you posted!

Half a year? More like half a lifetime!

Today is the day!  It's been six months since we drove up to that dreadful institution and got our girl out of there!  Six months.  Wow.  Seems like A LOT longer.

I've been thinking again of what I would want to share in this update.  I went back and read the last post at our three month Gotcha' anniversary and had to laugh at a few spots.  Some things haven't changed at all yet!  But others have.

Just a quick profile -- Sasha is doing well.  Many people who have more limited contact with her see some great strides in her social behavior, and I do, too.  She doesn't constantly introduce herself to cashiers.  She does insist on thanking them. every time. before they've done anything. but whatever.  

She can spend more time alone and has even attempted some creative playing.  It's so sad that a group of children thrust together in an institution still have no capacity for imaginative play.  They spend their time just passing the time.  I guess they have no world in which they care to imagine -- or hope.

She is learning English very well!  She understands almost everything spoken to her, though we are careful to try to use words that she already knows.  It's amazing how you have to think about the homonyms when teaching a child English -- to, too, two, like (can be used two ways).  Her confusions are cute.  For example, right now, she thinks that "ear" and "hear" are the same thing -- So, she'll say, "Mom, ear me?"

Some days, she is still desperate for MY attention.  It's difficult, and we struggle with this.  But, she is learning sloooooowly that she just has to find things to do.  She has a room full of toys -- and nothing to do.  But she can find a string on the ground and carry it around and play with it for hours -- and shed tears if it's taken away from her.  Yet, she doesn't hesitate to break a real toy to see what's inside or just for the sake of having something to do.  This is very common behavior for institutionalized kids -- and it's part of the learning process to teach her that certain things have value.  And it's part of OUR learning process to remember that certain things are not nearly as valuable as we once thought they were.

Mostly, we are working on her learning to react like a "big girl, " teaching her that I expect her to TELL me her problems and not throw herself on the floor screaming about things.  She is learning. 

As for me, I'm not sure that I can really relate all that these six months have been.  All that I've learned.  I've been to some of my lowest moments ever.  I've cried and yelled at God -- and at my kids and husband ... and even my mom!  Yes, I'm going to be honest with you.  Thankfully, both God AND my family are merciful and forgiving.  That's my real lesson these last three months since my last update.  Mercy.  There really is no hope of anything without mercy.  I've always been a people pleaser, but more significantly, I've always cared passionately about pleasing God.  Don't think this is a good thing.  It can lead to a lot of self-righteousness.  And when all the good that you think is in you basically falls apart . . . and you see how desperately weak you are . . .  only Mercy remains.

I continue to see the orphan in me every day.  If I can't continually forgive Sasha when she rages, or lies, or steals, or even just monopolizes my time and attention . . . then she really is never fully redeemed.  She's rescued, sure.  But she's only redeemed through our constant mercy.  And we are only redeemed through His constant mercy.  If she understands that even in her darkest hours, we are still loving her -- holding up a standard for all of her struggles to accomplish within her -- and we still love . . .  If she knows that she can be hurtful and still loved . . .  Then she will be truly ransomed.  And the same is true of me.  If I can see that I can be at my utmost shameful and immature, and really truly believe that God loves me and forgives . . . then I will be completely ransomed.

I am truly excited about the next six months!  There will be so many fun things!  School starts in a month (we have decided to enroll Sasha in school because she really wants to go and we think that is the best option for her), there will be a BIG birthday party in October, Thanksgiving, Christmas . . . and, of course, our ONE  YEAR GOTCHA ANNIVERSARY PARTY!  So much to look forward to -- so many firsts still to come.  I want to close this post by just saying again how much I admire Sasha.  She will probably be the person in my life that drives me the most crazy . . . but I will always respect her for what she's already accomplishing in her life.  And I will be thankful for what God is accomplishing in my life because of her.  I realized that for those of you only on the blog, you may not know that the EEG showed that she was having up to 100 absence seizures a day, and by getting on the new RIGHT medication, there is just absolutely nothing that will stop her from accomplishing ALL that HE has for her.  And she'll do it all, too.  She's just that determined to live her life fully!  I'm really so proud of her -- and all my kids -- for all the many ways that they continue to amaze me!

 

What a Difference Three Months Makes!

There are so many ways I've thought about starting this post.  Talk about all the changes in Sasha's life?  All the changes in our lives?  How much Sasha has learned?  How much we have learned?  The good, the bad, and the ugly?  So much to say -- so little space.  Maybe I will just list some ways that my life has changed in the last three months.

1.  Every morning, no later than 6:15 usually, I'm greeted with a very chipper, "Good Morning, Mommy!"  This while I'm still in bed and she has barged into the room.  I'm still trying to decide if I'm happy that she's the only child in our house that is that cheery in the morning or if I would prefer to just keep sleeping!

2.  For the better part of the day, I have a shadow.  A shadow that seeks constant attention.  A shadow that interrupts any other child who also needs to talk to me.  A shadow that says, "Mommy, look" about 100 times in one day and "I love you" just as many.

3. Whenever I go to the store, Sasha absolutely MUST introduce herself to the cashier, which means that I MUST then explain that she is speaking Russian . . . which then leads to a brief narrative of her story, etc.  Sometime last week, Sasha just started telling the cashier (and any other random stranger) that "I speak Russian."  Of course, she tells them that in English.  So, again, the explanation.

4.  Random things must be put away at random times.  I can be in the middle of making hamburger patties and Sasha might bring me a hair barrette that was left on a table.  When this happens about 50 times in one day, well . . . it's certainly motivation to put things where they belong!  

5.  Usually, the last thing she asks me each night is, "machina zaftra?" which means, "van tomorrow?" -- She loves going out!  She gets very disappointed if I say No to that question!

6.  When overly bored or not getting enough attention, she will pick fights.  Just pushing those little buttons that she knows will drive her brothers and sister crazy!  As I'm writing this now, a storm is brewing in the next room.  Sparks will fly!  Sasha has very little concept that her actions toward other people have consequences.  As much as she wants love, attention, and acceptance, she does not comprehend that her own actions can make that difficult sometimes.

7.  I am regularly being bossed around by a nine year old.  This, of course, isn't going to work!  She is learning phrases like "May I?" and "please" quite quickly now!!

8.  Sasha insists on a routine at night.  At first, this was frustrating -- knowing that she was just trying to prolong the agony of being forced to go to bed . . . but with a little attitude adjustment (on our part), we have learned to appreciate the things that she insists on doing -- like giving her brothers a hug and kiss!  We were certainly never delayed putting the kids to bed by THAT before! 
 
Those are just a FEW of the many ways that my life has changed.  Overall, Sasha  is doing really well.  She is learning the language quickly -- even getting confused about what is English and what is Russian.  I will be interested to see how she does talking on Skype with some other children in Ukraine right now who are being adopted.  I wonder if she will intermix her English and Russian with them.  I hope not!  I certainly don't want her to forget her Russian, but I am being careful of how often she hears it and where since she almost had a seizure when she heard it in the doctor's office a few months ago. Speaking of doctors, we have gotten her to the dentist to have 5 cavities filled (she did great so far, one more appointment to go!), the pediatrician to rid her body of parasites, and finally to the neurologist to determine the reason for her seizures.  We are waiting for test results and an MRI on that.  The neurologist seems to think that she will, ultimately, be fine!  She agrees that we should at least try to get her off the medication to see what happens.  She is now at less than half of her original dosage on the anti-seizure medication.  You may wonder why we are taking her off of the medication.  Well, you have to understand that she was put on the medication 2 years before she ever had her first seizure.  Often, children in institutions are put on medication to control their emotions.  Instead of a hug, they get a pill.

I could go on and on about the many lessons that God is teaching me in this journey.  But, they can all be summed up in the phrase, "Take up your cross daily and follow Me."  I am learning that in EVERYTHING I do, I am not my own, I am His.  And Sasha is His.  And I must be His hands and feet to her.  My time is His time.  My feelings must be His feelings.  My goals must be whatever His goals are for her!  I still absolutely covet your prayers.  I want His name to be glorified -- I want to lead ALL of my children to Christ.  I truly will have "no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth."  Stay tuned for the six month update!

A Quick Pic Look at our Journey

My dad asked if I could come up with some sort of slide show for his work where they would be throwing him a retirement party at the end of February -- and they all wanted to hear more about our adoption journey.  This has been such an awesome experience for me to go back and see what God has done in the past 6 months!  6 MONTHS!  That's all!  We saw Sasha's picture 6 months ago -- and now, she's home.  And when I look back at where she was . . . and where she is now . . . I have so much hope and joy!  God is doing incredible things in her life.  He is sowing peace into her Spirit.  My prayer over her every night (and you can join me, if you want!) is that God would heal her body, soul, and spirit!  She has come so far.  She is truly my daughter now.

Yesterday, we were finally able to get together with Maria and her girls.  Maria is the one you will see in the video at the beginning.  She is the one who posted Sasha's picture . . . she is the reason we have Sasha now.  Anyway, she came to visit -- and, for just a bit, I thought, "What would I feel if Sasha acted like she wanted to go home with Maria?"  You may be thinking, "Huh?" -- but if I'm going to be honest, which I have throughout this blog, I would have to say that there are still some times when I think, "How do I really FEEL about Sasha?"  There's so much to do, teach, fix, clean, etc. for her -- that sometimes, I don't think about how I feel!  But, I knew that I needed to face that question.  After all, Maria DID get to know her first -- and I certainly didn't begrudge all the hugs and kisses she got yesterday from Sasha -- but, I was glad, when every once in a while, she would come back over to me and "tag home base."  And I was even more glad to know that I absolutely wanted her to do that!

I am so proud of all of Sasha's accomplishments!  She does get in her moods occasionally, but -- don't we all??  So, looking back over this journey has brought me to where I am now -- so thankful, so joyful, and so hopeful!  I just CAN NOT WAIT to see what God has planned for her!

Hope you enjoy!

One Month Later . . .

I had every intention of writing a post on the EXACT one month anniversary of our breaking Sasha out of the orphanage (Feb. 16) -- but like everything else in this past month, things don't often work out on my schedule!! 

I feel like, in so many ways, my life has gone back to what it was like when I had toddlers and young children.  Sasha has so much to learn that I seem to only have time for the absolute essentials - food, laundry, keep the house under control -- and school!  But, I'm sure you're not reading this post to hear about MY life!  I know you are curious about Sasha and how her adjustments are coming!

Well, I have to say that, for the most part, I am super proud of all that she has learned and experienced.  She said that she was "sorry" today for the first time!  I mean, in English!!  And on her own!!  I think that I have told her maybe 5 times in the past to say "I'm sorry" to somebody for something that she had done.  Today, she said it completely on her own -- I wasn't even sure that she knew what I was telling her to say on those previous times.  I just can't believe that anybody EVER gave her a "mild mental retardation" diagnosis.

It seems that from the moment she left the orphanage, her mind began to just open up.  She craves new experiences, new things to learn, new foods to eat (especially if it involves meat), and new people to hug (or even the same people to hug!).  She absolutely must be busy!  And this is another reason I feel like I've reverted back to my toddler mommy years.  I am used to my kids being able to entertain themselves -- so, sometimes, trying to keep Sasha busy is no small challenge.  Thank the Good Lord for the Amazon Kindle and all the great educational apps!

As for matters of the heart, Sasha is coming along well!  We honestly had no idea what to expect when we brought her home.  We knew we had HEARD things -- like "She will need time to just learn what it means to be in a family."  We get that now.  It means, for Sasha, that she needs to know that Mom and Dad are in charge -- and it's not going to do her any good to dig in her heels about things.  But, even with that, she's learning.  She goes to bed now without any difficulty (except on a few rare occasions).  It means that she has to learn to trust us -- that we will not hurt her physically as she has been in the past.  And it means that we have three other children whom we love -- and it's not a competition.  It also means that for all the hundreds of hugs she gives out to other people -- it's OUR hugs that will truly bring her healing.

For so long, I just wanted to get Sasha home and get the process of her healing started!  I am so glad to be at this point, but it's not always easy.  We still needs lots of prayer cover!!  There is so much hope in this house -- but, occasionally, I admit, I am a little frustrated -- and I do NOT want to give Satan any more of a stronghold in Sasha's heart than what he already has -- or in our family.  So, we needs lots of wisdom -- and overwhelming grace from God to keep on this road of bringing her to her true Home -- His HEART!!!  THANK YOU for your prayers!!!!

The Chaos That Was Ukraine

In so many ways, and on so many levels, I'd rather NOT talk about Ukraine -- but I can't let that experience in my life go by without some reflection on the significance it has had and will continue to have in my life and the life of my family.

I will not bore you with all the details.  Just a few quick notes about the second trip that I took with my dad to get Sasha and bring her home.  A brief mention of intense spiritual battles . . . "we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers" --

1.  The first two days in Zap were spent traveling back and forth between two cities, trying to collect all the documents needed.  I spent $430 in taxi on just those two days

2.  When we had finally collected all the documents and were on our way to break Sasha out -- the orphanage lawyer called to say that there was a misspelled word in the court decree and she would not release "the child" until we got the judge to fix it.  Seriously? (The word was an insignificant nothing word -- not a name or anything like that!).  Halya called the judge who told her to tell the lawyer that she could face up to 3 years in prison if she didn't obey a court decree, to which she responded, "Well, fine, then hurry up, the child is waiting."  Thankfully, I was blissfully unaware of all of this until it was over. 

3.  Our passport did not arrive on Monday as we had planned, putting us a day behind in our schedule, but that was OK, because we had planned for an extra day "just in case."

4. No train tickets to Kiev on the night we needed them.  Andrew, our driver, who is one well-connected individual, managed to get some tickets that were on reserve for VIP occasions.

5.  We almost did NOT get medical clearance.  The doctor wanted to order a psychiatric evaluation of Sasha because she couldn't remember how old she was.  (Like, when was the last time she had a birthday party?).  They put her in a room with baby toys and wanted to watch her play!  Ummm . . . wouldn't that PROVE that she was mentally retarded?  They continued to insist that we wait for the psychologist (which, if we did, we would miss our visa appointment at the consulate, meaning we would not be leaving Ukraine the next morning).  I picked up the phone to call the consulate twice before they finally gave in and said they would give me the paper with a note on it that I refused the psychological evaluation.  There is so much more to that story.  It was over 3 hours into the whole ordeal before they tried to switch their story and claim that they were worried about the epilepsy on the plane, and when I said, "Fine -- but she's on medication for that" -- They were like, "Oh, she's on medication???"  THREE HOURS LATER!  I finally got the paper, got to the consulate an hour late, and got the visa.  Dad slipped out of the van at the medical clinic, so I was worried about him as I watched him walk up and down the hall trying to work out the pain in his knee and hip!

6.  We missed our plane in Chicago and had to wait 5 hours!  Sasha was on overdrive and couldn't seem to burn out.  I gave her a Benadryl -- but it didn't kick in until we got on the plane.  When we finally got on the plane, a seat was broken, so we had to wait for maintenance to come clear the plane for take-off.

7.  We finally landed in Tampa after 11:30.  Sasha was so incredibly tired by that point that she just couldn't handle the emotions of it all and had a seizure.  It was very short and not severe, and then she promptly fell back asleep on the floor of the airport.  The paramedics checked her over while she continued to sleep.  We decided not to take her to the hospital, but instead to take her home and let her sleep.  We were all in bed sometime around 2:30.

It's difficult to put into words just how spiritually difficult this journey was.  Even after getting Sasha (or perhaps, even more so, after getting her), the battle was no longer really about would Sasha be free -- but would Satan work his way into our relationship, breaking bonds before we even had a chance to really build them.  I am NO super spiritual person, trust me.  Quincy and I have been doing this whole journey scared!  I shrink at those comments on Facebook that make us appear to be some kind of spiritual giant!  Ha!  I'm not even at the point where I would say, "Oh, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."  I certainly wouldn't trade Sasha's freedom from the orphanage for anything ... but I must be honest and say that I'm still not 100% sure I can handle it.  Well, I'm 100% sure that I can't handle it without a lot of leaning on Him.  And, even this early on, . . . I'll get a glimpse of what God is going to do, what He's already doing in her life.  She has, not once, had a meltdown over bedtime.  Her little battle of wills are getting shorter, and we are all learning what will work and what won't.  I see redemption -- for all of us.  We are still climbing a very steep mountain and we are still fighting the fear ... but, we'll just keep doing it scared, and eventually, "perfect love casts out fear."

An Orphan No More!

It's official Sasha is ours!  January 4, 2013 is a day that changed our lives forever, and I have to say, I expected to feel a little something more than I did.  Now, before you start to worry, don't.  I honestly can't explain to anybody, except perhaps to another adoptive mom who has experienced the same thing, but when the judge came back in and "officially decreed" that he would grant our application to adopt Sasha and officially change her name -- there was just this sense of . . . hmmmmm . . . how can I explain this?

OK, let's go back to the very first time I saw Sasha's picture. I felt like I had seen her face 1000 times already.  On the very first day I met Sasha and she hung on my shoulder, trembly and self-conscious, I felt like she had already been there, and I'd held her up and patted her head a hundred times before.  She just felt like mine.  So, when the judge came in and gave his little spiel, I felt like . . . hmmmmm . . . still can't quite explain it.

I mean, I KNOW that it all becoming official is very important.  It's vital, of course, that she become legally ours.  But, I guess that the whole legal thing didn't mean that much to ME because I had already become her mom a few months ago.  It was just a relief, really, that the legal process was FINALLY coming to a close and we could breathe a little easier.  But, to me, there was nothing "official" about the judge's decree.  It was "official" before the foundations of the earth when God knew she would be ours -- and "official" when God wrote her name on our hearts back in August.

So, yes, Petyk Oleksandra is now officially Oleksandra Elizabeth Wylupek.  And, for that, we are INCREDIBLY thankful!!!  This journey is just beginning . . . but I want to say how proud I am of my youngest daughter.  She shows incredible courage and determination to walk into a whole new world with people who can't even understand a word she is saying!  But, she understands our love -- and she trusts that.  That's quite a thing for a 9 year old!

On Being an Orphan

I woke up this morning with another lesson from the Lord in my heart.  You know -- I'm just like Sasha -- with HIM.  Too often, I'm the orphan that doesn't feel very attached to Him -- I don't spend the time with Him that I should, I'm the one that doesn't trust that He will love me completely with all my issues -- and I'm "in it" for the goods, too, sometimes.  LOL!  I know one thing -- I want to go home -- but I don't want to go home the same.  I want to learn everything I can on this journey -- and I'm learning so much about myself and this calling that He has for us.  We were supposed to see Sasha again today, but Halya called and said -- don't go today because you'll need to go tomorrow and Friday -- so this will be the 2nd day in a row without seeing her at all.  I'm happy to report that I miss seeing her!  It's like I said before -- I just want to get her and go.  That orphanage is just a place of bondage -- for all of us.  Sasha is stuck there -- and our relationship with her is stuck at a certain point until we can get her out of there.  I still believe that God has set this lonely little girl in our family -- and when I think about it -- SHE is the truly brave one.  She doesn't know us, she can't even speak to us, and she really knows no other life than that orphanage -- but she is brave enough to step boldly into our arms and trust us.  THAT is the heart of God -- open arms for us.  We are just a very poor example of the very deepest part of his heart -- setting the lonely into HIS family.

On a lighter note -- here's our girl -- the typical kid addicted to the Kindle!

Christmas Eve

I'll have to admit that today has been one of the most difficult days that we have had here in Ukraine. It's Christmas Eve, and I expect that tomorrow won't be a whole lot easier.  There are no twinkling lights on a Christmas tree in the corner.  No presents.  No Silent Night.  It's not even Christmas Eve here! (They don't celebrate until January 7.)  No turkey or ham or green bean casserole.

But, I can tell you, without a doubt, this is the most meaningful Christmas I've ever had.  This is the Christmas that I've come the closest to understanding how hard it must have been for the Father to send His Son to a wretched place to save a bunch of no-accounts like us!  This is the Christmas when I realize how much we've been saved from.  This is the Christmas when it's not about the presents, or the tree, or the sweet potato casserole, or what everyone should wear for the Christmas Eve pictures.  This time -- it's just about Him.

I so wish I could be home right now.  But more than that, I want to win this battle of faith.  It's a scary thing we are doing -- no doubt about it.  Bringing a child into our home and family with whom we can't easily communicate, a child that is emotionally damaged and frail, a child that doesn't seem to care for much except what we've brought her -- well, we sometimes get a little scared.

But, wait -- isn't that really what Christmas is about?  Aren't we all that child?  Aren't we all emotionally frail and damaged?  Selfish?  Spiritually inept?  And yet, the Father saw such value in us, that He sent His own Son in the form of a little baby to grow up just so that He could adopt us!  And it wasn't such a simple process and tidy fee -- it was a bloody mess on our suffering Lord that saved us from our own orphan bondage.  We are orphans no more!  We are FAMILY!

And so, when we see Christmas from that perspective . . . and when we see ourselves in Sasha . . . well, we just know that God's grace will ALWAYS be enough.    

So, about that 1% Miracle . . .

I know some of you are wondering IF we actually got our 1% miracle.  Well, before I answer that, let me tell you a bit about our day.

God is so good!  Our goals for today were to get ALL of the paperwork needed to submit our final application to the MSP in Kiev tomorrow morning -- AND to get a court date set.  There are so many things involved that it could really set the head spinning -- if I could only understand Russian!  LOL!!!

We went first to the Notary to get the official application for adoption notarized for the MSP tomorrow morning.  That all went well.  Except that I left my hat there.  BUT, they actually called Halya and told me that I left it there.  I have no idea if/ when I'll be able to get it!  Anyway . . .

The next stop was the orphanage.  But before I get to that, let me tell you about the book I've been reading on my Kindle as we're traveling back and forth to the orphanage.  God saw fit that it was the ONLY book on there (it's a new Kindle!).  It's called Kisses from Katie, and if you're ready for God to sit you down and give you a good talking-to -- this is a great book for you to read.  I have been so encouraged, humbled, and convicted by this young woman's wisdom and commitment to be radically abandoned to the Father.  She has literally given up everything to go to Uganda and be a mommy to 14 girls (she's now only 24), start a feeding ministry to some of the poorest people on earth, and organize a sponsorship program for children to go to school and be fed.  Seriously, read the book!  As I've been reading this book, God has reminded me again and again, (through Katie's words in the book) that the most courageous thing we can do is to love with abandon.  So, here's where it gets a little tricky.  I KNEW that I wanted that 1% miracle for one reason ONLY -- ME!  I didn't want to stay any longer in Ukraine than I needed to.  BUT, I also felt like leaving Sasha here would be the wrong thing to do for those 10 days.  So, I came to a moment of surrender this morning -- I told the Lord and Quincy that I believed that if we didn't get the 10 day waiting period waived, that I should stay.  I knew that Dad would come and I wouldn't be alone -- but I believed that Sasha would be our daughter then, and there's no way on God's green earth that I would leave any of my other kids in Ukraine for 10 days without me!  So, that was the beginning of my day . . . willing to surrender it!


Anyway -- one final medical something-or-other was needed from the orphanage.  We really didn't have much time to spend with Sasha, and she was pretty upset when we had to leave.  She hid in a little playhouse and wouldn't come out.  It's SO HARD to know what to do.  I'm not her mom yet -- and I can't speak her language.  The caretaker told two of the older kids to go in and get her out.  She still wouldn't come out.  I finally went over and, by this point, she was slowly coming around.  I used gum as a bribe to get her to put her jacket and stuff back on -- then let her share the gum with a few people around us.  She eventually got out of her mood.  See -- that's where it's so hard.  I don't bribe my kids to obey -- but, the orphanage is just so weird.  I honestly can't explain it.  We will have so much work to do with her when she gets home!

After we got the paper from the orphanage (we did have to wait about a half hour for the Director to sign some papers), we went to the Children's Services department again, and picked up their final paper!  Yeah!!!!!  That left only one more task -- the Court.

If I had know then what I know now -- I wouldn't have even worried about the 10 day waiting period -- there was so much MORE that could have gone wrong.  Turns out that the official process is this:  Halya would apply to the court, which had 10 business days (what's with the number 10 in this country!) to assign a judge, then we'd have to set a date with that judge.  OMGoodness!!!  Halya is amazing.  She knows how to get the job done.  Of course, she LITERALLY had to go around the corner of the courthouse (outside, in the freezing cold and dark so that nobody saw to pay the judge his money!  BUT, he agreed to take the case and give us a date before the end of the year (the 28th).  He did NOT agree to the 10 day waive.  I think if he did that it would look too suspicious!  Heaven forbid!

So, what's next??  WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS!  The MSP legally has 10 business days to finish their paper, however our court date is 10 regular days!  PLEASE PRAY that they will finish it!! Rumor is that they are taking their full 10 days.  Quincy is also assuring me that he wants us to go home during the 10 day waiting period.  It's very difficult to explain, but Sasha is still pretty clueless.  Even we don't understand this completely, but Halya says that she will be fine. The concept of a home and family is really just a strange theory in her mind. She doesn't really even know how to wish for it!  Obviously, she knows that we are one day going to come and take her away.  But she has no concept of what a family really looks like or what they do.  She knows that she's going to America -- but, to her, that could be the next town over!  Also, the 10 day waiting period will actually be 12 days because the last day falls on their Christmas.  So, now, we're talking close to a 2 week waiting period -- and still another week of paperwork after that in the country.  We have decided that Sasha really doesn't know any better at this point.  She will be disappointed that we are not visiting -- but she would not be devastated as we though she might be.  We will have Halya explain to her what is happening -- and then we will go home.  And I really DO think that we need time to prepare our kids at home for Sasha.  And I'd like to have a Christmas with our kids and Tia and Cody, too, before bringing Sasha home.  That may sound strange, but Sasha will be going through so many changes -- and already getting so much more than she has EVER known that adding presents under a Christmas tree to that will just be a bit too much, we think.  BTW, their "Saint Nicholas Day" is tomorrow and she will be getting presents at the orphanage!  And we have things at home for her too.

So -- that was our day!  In the end, we got EVERYTHING we needed!  And we didn't get what He knew we never did.  THANK you for your prayers for that 1% miracle!  Turns out that quite a few other miracles took place that we didn't even know we needed!  I know that it may be a little bitter sweet -- and some of you may question the wisdom in our decision to go home -- but we have a peace about it.  From now until the court date, we will visit Sasha every other day.  We're on our own now since Halya has gone back to Kiev and then home.  I'm sure we'll hang out at the apt. mostly on the days we don't go to the orphanage.  Tomorrow, it should be windy with a high in the low 20's -- so we definitely won't be picnicking in the park!!

She Said Yes!

When our heads hit the pillow last night, we knew that we were looking at a loong day ahead of us the next day.  We had to leave by 6:00 to be in Tokmok by 8:00 to pick up the Children's Services lady to come with us to the orphanage.  I knew that the main goal of the day was to collect all the needed documents from the orphanage, which included a medical exam (not normally needed at this point, but the orphanage didn't have the original report from her October exam to give us -- so they scheduled another one).  I also knew that Sasha was going to have to "make a declaration" or something like that that she wanted to be adopted by us.  Honestly, I wasn't a bit worried about that one!  Anybody within a mile radius of Sasha knows that she can't wait to leave with us!  She calls us Mama and Papa -- and shows us off to everybody.  But . . . apparently it's not quite that simple.

We met again in a large room (this time upstairs from the director's office) -- and again, there seemed to be some intention on some of the staff's part to persuade us that perhaps we didn't want Sasha.  Her teacher came in and gave us her handwriting and math books.  Honestly, I didn't think the handwriting one was all that bad!  I mean, I don't know a good Russian letter when I see one, but I could see that Sasha was attempting to do the work well -- at least for most of it.  Same with the math.  The only thing that struck me was how small they expected a 9 year old to write.  My little Quince would give up with spaces that small, too!  AND, why in the world do they think a very active girl like Sasha would want to just write her numbers over and over again in a notebook.  Learning needs to be fun -- at least for a little while. 

They also mentioned that she had had another fit that morning -- and I knew it was true because Sasha was very sorry toward her caregiver when the lady came in.  She went over and gave her a big hug.  I asked for specific details -- not because I'm worried so much as I want to know what kind of things set her off -- just as I know what sets my own children at home off.  I didn't get a lot of info -- just that they wanted her to do something that she didn't want to do -- so she was yelling, "I don't want to do it, I'm not going to do it!"  (I have no idea what IT was.)

Sasha was there while most of this was being said to us.  Her little lips were trembling and and she got a very furrowed brow!  She buried her head on Quincy's shoulder.  We had also already been told by Halya that she had been worried all morning that we had changed our mind because we hadn't come yet!  She goes through this every day, I guess -- but this was the first time we were hearing it.  I asked Halya to tell her that we will not change our mind (trying to get it through to her that it didn't matter what we were hearing or seeing -- we were her mom and dad -- and that's that!)

Finally, the time came for this "declaration" -- The assistant director had already marched in and out of the room a few times, barely acknowledging us.  She certainly never introduced herself to us.  She sat on one side of a very looooong table.  Q and I were off to the side in chairs --  not at the table but against the wall to Sasha's left.  Halya was between us and Sasha.  The children's services lady was to Sasha's right (thank the Lord for that lady!) and then were probably 4 other ladies in the room.  Sasha was incredibly nervous.  Who knows what she was actually thinking was happening.  I don't know that anybody explained anything to her before the assistant director asked her if she wanted to be adopted by these people.  Each time Sasha was asked, she answered "Da" (yes, in Russian) -- but the A.D. for some reason wanted Sasha to be able to say more.  The Children's Services lady always made what the A.D. just said sound great.  "Do you want to go to America and have them for your Mommy and Daddy?"  (Remember, Sasha was always answering yes.)  Finally, the A.D. said, "Do you understand what we are saying?  That you are going to America but you will retain your Ukrainian citizenship until you are 18?  Say that back to me."  UH OH.  There was no way Sasha was going to say all that -- or anything close to that.  Halya had tried to stay quiet because things are very touchy with the orphanage and it ALL depended on them at the moment.  Believe me, there wasn't a person in that room that didn't know exactly how Sasha felt.  Finally Halya said, "If you don't say it, they won't let you go."  Immediately, Sasha said, "I want to go!"  Thank the Lord (again) for the Children's Services lady, she immediately said, "That's good enough."  Still, all the orphanage people said they were too busy to type up the declaration (I think some of them didn't want to get in trouble with the A.D. -- so Halya said -- OK, I'll type it up!)  As I sat there and listened to everything (nothing was being translated, but I definitely understood that they wanted Sasha to say something specific -- and I knew that Sasha was not going to be able to overcome her shyness, I just prayed!  "Father, please don't let this sweet little girl with so much life in her be stuck in an orphanage because she can't say a few words right now. How incredibly tragic that would be!"  There was absolutely nothing Q or I could do, except pray.  To interrupt or try to help her would probably ruin it all.

So, with a GREAT sigh of relief, we are happy to say that Sasha said YES!  The Director was still not too happy about signing the document -- he had "heard a rumor" that she hadn't really said it -- but I guess God won in the end.  AND, for some reason, they decided that Sasha didn't need the medical exam!  They would just re-do the one in October and put a new stamp on it!

Our prayers needed for tomorrow are that the mayor will be in his office tomorrow to sign the final paper that Halya needs before she can hop on a train tomorrow night and get the final paper submitted to the MSP on Wednesday in Kiev.  There should not be a problem with having the document ready -- or that he wouldn't agree to sign it -- just that he needs to be there!  The judge was also out of his office today and should be back tomorrow.  (If it weren't 11 degrees outside, I'd think they were out golfing together!)  Halya still doesn't hold out much hope that he would waive the 10 days since he never has before -- but she said that she will still ask.  It's OK if he says no -- we will definitely plan to go home for the 10 day waiting period -- if we can afford it.  I know that time will be hard on Sasha -- but I can use the time to really get our kids at home more prepared for Sasha's arrival.

PLEASE keep praying!  We still have that 1% chance!!!

Staying busy!

Well, staying busy may not be the best title for this post -- probably more like -- "on the move" -- we seem to have been mostly sitting in the car this past week, driving to the orphanage or Tokmok for paperwork, or at the notary's.  BUT we have now seen Sasha 4 times! 

There has been a lot of information given to us this week -- some of it true, some of it not.  We have been trying to observe Sasha and learn all we can (even with the language barrier) about what her needs really are.    Today we were given a piece of the puzzle by a caretaker that really helped us begin to see what that full picture of Sasha's life is. 

Sasha was brought to the orphanage when she was 4.  We weren't given the details of the home she was in, but whatever was happening there was enough to keep Sasha locked up in a little mental shell for a long time after coming to the orphanage.  She would not listen or respond to her caretakers.  She wouldn't even look at them.  They tried to teach her things, but she would not open up to them.  Slowly, she started coming out of this shell and if you could see her now, as you may have through videos on Facebook, she seems to be a well-adjusted, happy little girl.  But it doesn't take too long to realize that Sasha is still in the process of coming out of her emotional shell.  She is just learning to trust again.  Trust that someone loves her enough to put up with temper tantrums and silliness.  To let her be embarrased without being teased.  Her emotional reactions to things might be more the equivalent of what we would expect of a 5 or 6 year old.  I believe WITH ALL MY HEART that this is not the Sasha that will always be.  She will someday know that she is loved and always has a family, and she will continue to mature in those emotional reactions as she is allowed to experience them in a normal family situation -- with the discipline and love that parents have to offer.  But it will take some time.  As you watch her play with Quincy, it's a bit more like a 6 or 7 year old -- but then, she'll snap back to being 9 and talking like a 9 year old and certainly playing like one.  She does have that "tremble" in her hands, which gets a bit more pronounced the more excited she is.  It's like any child that is SUPER excited -- gets kind shaky with it all! 

Whatever experiences shaped Sasha's emotional development from birth to four years of age need to be healed in a loving home.  Once she is further along in the process of healing, we can really begin to teach her more academically.  I have to admit that I was shocked when we discovered that she didn't know her colors!  But Halya has assured us that the teachers do not force the children to learn.  If Sasha did not want to learn, they would not force her, in order to help her avoid getting so upset and slipping back into that emotional shell.  So, with time -- all will be healed -- and I KNOW that Sasha will be fine!

Quincy and I have been on an emotional rollercoaster this past week.  Today has been the first day (since leaving Kiev on Monday) that I have been able to really walk in faith ALL day, never wavering -- just trusting.  I still miss the kids at home -- and I still worry that they think we have just deserted them -- but I know that God is good.  And as my mom says, "This too shall pass!"

Sasha!!!

I know that so many are eager to hear about the details of our day -- it's certainly been a whirlwind!

Thankfully, we made it to the train last night with only 10 minutes to spare!  Whoah -- what an adventure!  Honestly, I didn't think the train ride was all that bad!  I had taken two herbal supplements to help me sleep -- and sleep I did!  Until about 2 AM when I woke up and, honestly, it felt like it must have been 90 degrees in our little cabin.  We had closed the door -- but we quickly opened it and fell back asleep!

After we got off the train, we went to our apt.  It's way nicer than any of you are thinking right now!  At least on the inside.  Zap looks like a dump on the outside!  I'll get pics on FB pretty soon.  Seriously, if you read the post before this one, you know that I was feeling kinda' guilty when we were in Kiev, thinking maybe we shouldn't be taking Sasha away from all this!  Well, I have NO PROBLEM now.  It's really sad, actually.  These are really nice people and they are so fashionable -- but their living conditions are pretty sad! 

So, anyway -- this whole time (since Monday morning) our facilitator has been with us.  She's actually staying in the apartment with us until some paperwork is completed and needs to be delivered back to Kiev.  So, we get to the apt. (we have the same driver the whole time we are here) and lie back down for a while.  Then, around 8 -- we head out to the Children's Services Department in a town about an hour away.  We needed to get some paperwork from them (permission, I guess you could call it.)  They seemed very friendly there and really want Sasha to find a home!

Finally, we get to the orphanage  We meet with the orphanage lawyer, who asks us a few tough questions.  I hate it when they ask you WHY you want to adopt?  I tried to come up with something -- how do you explain that you saw a little girl's picture (didn't even know if I could say this -- so I didn't) and just KNEW that God told you to come get her???  But, I managed to squeak out something like "we just think that children need to be in families and we are willing to open up our family" -- I don't remember exactly what I said.  Halya (our facilitator) rambled on for quite a while with the translation -- so I think she probably helped me out!  THEN, Sasha's main caregiver came in.  She told us a few things about her -- some of which we already knew -- some of it new.  BUT, I could tell right away that she was definitely advocating for Sasha to be adopted by  us.  It turns out that this lady had given Sasha our pictures quite a while ago -- and she would use these pictures to get her to behave and calm down sometimes, etc.  Telling her that her family is coming for her she needs to calm down.

Anyway -- we talked for a while -- and as far as we knew we were waiting for the doctor to come.  Then, they said -- OK let's go into a bigger room.  So, I'm thinking that we will go into the room and meet with the doctor.  Well, when we walk in -- THERE SHE IS!!!!!!  She was so incredibly nervous and shy -- but she just could not help herself -- she jumped up and ran over and gave Quincy the biggest hug!!!  After about 30 seconds of hanging on for dear life, she came to me -- and pretty much stuck TO me the rest of the time!  Her classroom teacher was there and told us more about her.  Some of the things that these ladies shared with us COULD be a little intimidating if we were not totally prepared to hear them and if we were not COMPLETELY convinced that we were called by the Lord to rescue Sasha from this orphanage.  (Honestly, through most of it, I'm thinking -- she sounds exactly like her brother!  Did I post that she's only 9 days older than Quince?) 

So -- to try to explain Sasha during this time -- very shy, kinda' trembly (can you imagine putting ALL of your hope in these two strangers that are now hearing a whole bunch of bad things about you?)  There was a lot of talk among the adults in the room.  So, I was trying to get her to look me in the eyes.  She finally did -- and I gave her a great big smile!  SLOOOOWLY she began to come out of her shell.  At first, she couldn't look at the pictures in the album that we brought for too long -- it was like she had to look quickly at them because it was all so much to take in!  I started to show her different people -- giving them their names, etc.  By the end of the time, she was carrying that album like it was a treasure.  She took it with her and was no doubt gonna show ANYONE who crossed her path.  She also started to talk to us.  I have NO IDEA what she was saying -- but she didn't seem to get frustrated.  I told her -- "Mama, English"  and Halya was busy talking to the adults so I couldn't even get her to translate. 

So, after a while, we asked her what she would like for us to bring her (Actually, Halya asked her that) -- she said -- "whatever you bring."  Then, they asked about something she likes to eat and she said bananas.  So, by golly, we stopped at this HUGE store (probably bigger than Wal Mart) and bought her some bananas!

Finally, we spoke with the doctor, and to make a long story short, Sasha most likely does NOT have epilepsy.  She has fainted 3 times and gotten kinda' trembly at the same time when she got VERY upset about something.  It seems that we are dealing with a hyper sensitive nervous system.  The doctor also was very encouraging that she thinks if Sasha can work on not getting so upset, then she will probably be fine!

So, we head back tomorrow!  I'm really looking forward to those hugs again!  I'm sorry, but I didn't take any pics or video today!  I was caught by surprise -- and then she really didn't let me go -- plus I'd rather wait until we are more alone tomorrow.  So, I'll get pics up tomorrow, I promise!!!!!!! 

It is SUCH a blessing to us to know that you all are praying and walking this road with us!  Our kids at home are doing great -- thanks to some very incredible people in their lives!  We'll keep posting!!

Getting Here

Well, I'm gonna be honest.  We're here -- and we wish we were home!  It's not that I don't want to get Sasha, I absolutely do -- and that's the ONLY thing keeping us here.  And it's not that we've had terrible snags on the way over -- we really haven't.  A few here and there.  And it's not that we don't like our little apartment in Kiev for the next couple of days.  It's just that Quincy and I are both home bodies.  We don't go out much and we really don't travel much -- mostly because we just don't want to!  Being home with the kids and taking our annual vacation to the mountains has always been good enough.  There was a moment when we were traipsing around the market here in Kiev trying to figure out what the food was (it actually wasn't that hard -- except that Q picked up sparkling water instead of "still" water -- yuck!) that I thought -- are we really doing the right thing?  Are we really supposed to take Sasha away from this country that is hers?  Maybe we really aren't supposed to be here -- let's just go home!!

And then we drove into downtown Kiev.  Whoah.  That's an experience.  It's like driving in NYC, except with a driver that doesn't speak your language!  I looked around and remembered that I know God has called Sasha out of this country.  Who knows -- maybe someday she'll come back!  Maybe she'll come back and do something great for this country!  I just know what I know right now - which is this, God has asked me to do something very difficult for a few weeks and it will literally change the life of one girl, who will grow to be a mommy who will have children who will have children . . ..  Sometimes the decisions we make literally affect generations -- for good or bad!  We can be uncomfortable and homesick for a few weeks if THAT much is depending on it.  BUT, I would just LOVE to have your prayers for us. 

We do want to get home as soon as possible so please pray that we will find favor (and speed) with all the government officials.  Also, I had a lot of pain (severe headache) when we were landing in Frankfurt and Kiev.  I've never had trouble flying before so I really wasn't prepared for that -- and I've still got a twinge of pain.  And, of course, PLEASE pray for our kids and us -- that the homesickness will ease up some!  Thanks!

It's FINALLY time!

I can hardly believe it!  Actually, I really can't believe it!  Tomorrow morning, 8:30 AM, we will leave here and head for Tampa Intl. Airport.  We will fly from Tampa to Newark, NJ, then on to Frankfurt, Germany then to Kiev, Ukraine! 

It's incredible to think that "before the foundations of the world," God knew that our daughter Sasha would be born in a country on the other side of the world.  He knew all the circumstances of her birth and why it would work out that way.  I would never have chosen that for her.  I would much rather have carried her in my tummy and given her a warm, safe, loving home from the very beginning.  I can only trust that He will be faithful in her life to turn those events into His glory and for her good.  I believe that God has amazing plans for Sasha.  We just feel so privileged to be part of that plan -- as with all of our children.

Some of you have asked about our 3 kids here at home.  They are all looking forward to Sasha coming home.  It's almost unbelievable (well, it's just a God thing) how much they feel that she is a part of our family.  I anticipated having to talk through how "Daddy and Mommy believe that God is calling us to bring Sasha home . . ." but, honestly, it's just been accepted from Day One with them.  They've NEVER questioned or expressed worry about what she will be like or how things would change.  In fact, I've TRIED to get them to think through all the changes that are coming.  Well, with my two boys, you might as well hang that up.  They don't think through anything! LOL!  With Carolyn, I kept assuring her that it would be OK to be worried about how Sasha might act or whatever . . . and she seems to only care about two things -- 1. How is she going to be able to be a good big sister and help her if she can't speak Russian (I feel the same way about being her Mommy!) and 2. She really doesn't want Sasha to think that her American Girl doll is "shareable."  LOL!  Well, we took care of #2 by buying Sasha her own doll (but much cheaper, from Sam's Club).

Don't get me wrong.  We KNOW that the dynamics of our family will change -- and there will most certainly be times when the transition from one family dynamic to another will not be easy!  BUT, underneath it all, there is a peace that we are truly going to Ukraine to bring our daughter home.

We would LOVE any and all prayers -- as the Lord lays us on your hearts!  We will be gone for about 3 weeks on the first trip -- then home for about a week, and then my dad and I will return to Ukraine to pick up Sasha.  We will be updating this blog and Facebook as much as possible while we are over there!

THANK you to all who have given and prayed and followed our journey so far!  You have blessed us beyond words.  Sasha will eventually learn how much she is loved by so many!

Moving along!

We are so excited!  Our dossier is officially delivered to our facilitator in Ukraine -- and she's in the process of translating it!  Then, hopefully, we'll be travelling in 5-7 weeks.  At least, that's the time frame we've been told!  I've been able to get to the point where things have slowed down -- the paperwork is done!  The auction is over and most items have been distributed -- so I can finally start to just think about Sasha again.  I'm so looking forward to getting to know her.  I wonder about the life experiences she's already had -- wondering about the healing . . . the process of redemption she will experience in her life.  I wonder about my biological kids -- how they will embrace her, how they will challenge her or she challenge them.

I know that we are called to be Sasha's parents.  Any concern that these thoughts bring just lead me back to the grace and sufficiency of HIS power at work in Quincy and me to bring healing and redemption into Sasha's life.

Please keep praying for our family as we walk this journey.  PLEASE pray for Sasha - for all that this change will bring into her life.  So much more than our own.  She will walk into a family, into a language, into a country, into a life -- that she knows nothing about.  God's grace will be all she needs!

Wondering and Waiting

So . . . our wait begins.  Now comes the time that everything is out of our hands.  First, we'll wait for USCIS (U.S. Immigration) approval to bring Sasha home -- then, as soon as that comes through, we're ready for a quick trip to Tallahassee and then mailing out the dossier to Ukraine.  Now, we just have to sit back and trust God for things to work out in His timing.  I think about Sasha a lot -- picturing her with us, wondering if she'll like my cooking any better than her brothers and sister (hey, one can always hope!), hoping it won't be too isolating for her to have to learn a new language, even wondering if I should bring a doll or stuffed animal with us to Ukraine.  Perhaps, I'll bring both.  I think about how I need to get her clothes (I gave all of Carolyn's clothes away!), wondering what size she even wears -- how do I know what to bring with me?  LOTS of things to wonder about.  I wonder how the kids at home will feel with us gone for a month.  Wondering if I can handle being in Ukraine alone if Q comes home.  Lots to think about.  Lots to pray about.  Never too much for HIM.

No If's

I've begun to really wrap my brain around all that is happening in our family.  At first, there was the excitement of seeing God move and spark a love for a little girl half way around the world that we didn't know.  Then, there was the slight panic of figuring out all that needed to be done and how much money we needed to raise -- but somewhere along the way, just recently, in fact -- I've been able to consider what a miracle it really is that God brought Sasha into our lives.

I guess the story would really need to start about 9 months ago (hey -- that sounds like a familiar amount of time, huh?) when I decided to enroll my kids in the homeschool co-op at Grace World Outreach.  I decided to teach a class because that's what I thought all the new moms did (turns out, that's not always true!) on geography for 3rd-5th grades.  In that class was a sweet girl named Gianna.  I didn't really know anything about Gianna - but as the semester went on, I learned that she had several adopted brothers and sisters, at least 1 with Downs Syndrome. 

Sometime during that semester, I went to a big children's used clothes/ toys sale at the fairgrounds where Gianna's mom (Maria) introduced herself to me.  I felt immediately at ease with Maria and even though we didn't stand around and talk, I really felt like I would enjoy getting to know her someday.  At some point, Maria and I became Facebook friends.  I can honestly say that I have no idea how this happened!  I don't remember if I friend-requested her or she did me!  BUT, it wasn't too much longer that I realized that Maria, her husband, and Gianna were all in Ukraine adopting another child.  I tried to keep posted on how things were going -- and then . . . I saw Sasha.  From that point on, I was pretty much glued to Maria's facebook page!

But, here's where the story turns more into a God-thing instead of just a coincidence, and, at first, I didn't really understand it all.  You see, the Falvo's son (also named Sasha) wasn't even normally supposed to be at our Sasha's orphanage ("boarding school")!  He was actually 1 1/2 hours away from his orphanage at a "summer camp" at Sasha's school.  So . . . as you can see, if all those parts didn't come together, we would have never seen our Sasha's picture.  If I hadn't joined the co-op . . . if I hadn't met Maria at the sale . . . if we hadn't have been Facebook friends . . . if the Falvos had been able to get to Ukraine earlier . . . if the Falvo's Sasha had been sent to a different "camp" . . . there are NO "if's" in God's plan for our lives!  He is constantly working things together for our good! 

What a day!

What a day today has been!  Started out typically -- trying to wrangle the boys into this new school year schedule (which isn't going well so far!), checking e-mails for anything new on the auction, checking Facebook for anything new on Sasha, but then . . . pow!  A message comes over Facebook that tells me we only have until the end of October to get our dossier to EE country.  Apparently, they stop taking dossiers from Nov - Feb -- and if we wait until Feb, all of our paperwork will need to be re-done.  I'm definitely the type to get things rolling, but I have to admit that I was overwhelmed for a few hours.  Right now, I still don't know if our home study is even done!  I also know that immigration can be a long wait.

But then . . . God.  He stepped in and provided some really encouraging news from friends who have gone before me on this journey.  Help from a sweet woman whom I've never even met.  And the simple peace to walk this road with faith.

Some prayer requests for my praying friends:

1. Passport will come quickly
2. We will find favor with immigration and get it streamlined through (possible contacts)
3. God will heal some hurt feelings (sorry, can't give details on that)
4. Dossier papers will be done right -- the FIRST time!
5. That I can get auction plug-in working on our auction website
6. That Chick-Fil-A will let us host a Spirit Night for the two families!

Praises:
1. Do not need state seal on birth certificates!
2. "Duplicate passports" just means copies -- not LITERAL duplicate passports
3. Fund raising opportunity this Saturday at downtown market
4. Do not need visa to travel to country
5. Feature article will be written on 2 families for Hernando Times
6. Friends who will be double-checking all our forms!

Our Silent Auction

So in these last few days before I officially start school back up again (that is, if Isaac doesn't hit us), I've been frantically working on trying to get a silent auction going!  I'm very excited about this.  Our family is working with the Boyer family to bring our girls home!  You can read about the Boyer adoption on their blog at www.eightwasnotenough.blogspot.com (Click on the link under "Friends and Links."

We are asking for donations of products, services, or treasures.  Then, we will take these items and ask for bids!  It's a great way for people to donate and still receive something in return!  I'm even going to create a website (www.ouradoptionauction.org) where people can bid on-line -- AND I can link any services or products to the website or e-mail of the donor!

Do you have anything you can donate to our auction?  We would be so incredibly blessed by your donation!  Please e-mail me at bwylupek@yahoo.com if you have something you can give!

THANKS!!!