Our Adoption update

Since I can't post photo's until the adoption is finalized I thought this might be ok.  One of our little fella's had a sore finger when we met him, but this is one of them hugging papa.  These photos have become so precious to us during this hard wait.
It is so hard seeing them, where they live, and leaving them there.  I sort of feel like our live is a bit on hold at the moment (apart from getting the house ready before they arrive).  I think about them all the time and miss them so much.  I wish they knew that someone loves them and is trying everything they can to get back to them.

The beginning of this year has bought new challenges to our journey to adopt these kids.  We were already stretched funding it all, and now we have found out that Russia has changed a law that means we either go back there for two more trips or stay over a month in Russia.  (three trips in all) This really means we have to find another eight to ten thousand dollars just for the extra trip, depending on how we do it.

We will do it somehow, these kids need a home and we fell in love with them when we were there.

On a brighter note, we have been asked to prepare more documents, one to apply for our court hearing in Russia, and the other to get all our NZ medicals, X-rays, blood tests done ....... I know you must be thinking, why would I be happy about that?  Well, it just means we are getting closer to going back and those boys joining our family so any progress is good.  We have been waiting for this part since November, so at least there is movement.  I think we maybe only a month or two from the next step, fingers crossed.

Adoption has tough parts to it, but the reward are amazing.

Giving a meaningful gift this Christmas

Well, I get asked from time to time about sponsoring children, so I have decided it is possibly easier to post it on my blog.


I know personally that these organizations are doing amazing things for children in Romania, China, Russia, Africa, India, Nepal and possibly a few other places.
I would love to put a challenge out for you to consider even just a few dollars towards one of these charities this Christmas, to help someone who is desperately in need.  It takes a small amount from a lot of people to make a difference.  I think sometimes it can feel overwhelming at the need in the world and so we often do nothing.  I have seen over the years that we can make a huge difference if we choose to, and for that person our small decision is everything.

The Boy and The Starfish

One day, an old man was walking along the beach in the early morning and noticed the tide had washed thousands of starfish up on the shore. Up ahead in the distance he spotted a boy who appeared to be gathering up the starfish, and one by one tossing them back into the ocean.

He approached the boy and asked him why he spent so much energy doing what seemed to be a waste of time.

The boy replied, "If these starfish are left out here like this they will bake in the sun, and by this afternoon they will all be dead."

The old man gazed out as far as he could see and responded, "But, there must be hundreds of miles of beach and thousands of starfish. You can't possibly rescue all of them. What difference is throwing a few back going to make anyway?"

The boy then held up the starfish he had in his hand and replied, "It's sure going to make a lot of difference to this one!"

http://www.orphansaidinternational.org/index.htm
Working with Orphans In Romania, Russia, Nepal, India and soon Uganda

http://www.hopechest.org/
Working Russia, Swaziland, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Haiti, Guatemala, Moldova, and India.

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/programs/medical/sponsor-a-child/
Working to improve the lives of Chinese Orphans, medical, foster care, school, nutrition etc.

http://www.orphansatplay.org/GiveaGrandmaDonationHolidayCards
Russia

http://www.worldvision.org/
World Wide


http://altrusa.info/amity/amity_index.htm

Back from Russia

I only have 5 minutes to write this, but if I don't do it now I will never find the time.
We have been back from Russia 2 weeks today.  It feels like a long time ago we were there, but feels like only yesterday I held my 2 son's in my arms and said goodbye.
I think I cried most of the way home on and off.  It was a horrible feeling, one I knew going in to this would be hard, but you really never know until you face it.
One of our boys "Mr A" was smiley from the start, and made games with us as soon as he could.  He is active and has a sense of humor.  He did get quieter as the week went on, especially being sick.  "Mr I" his brother was very serious for the first couple of days and we never saw a smile until day 3. Well, that melted our hearts until day 4 when we new we had to say goodbye, but we knew he would think we would be back again tomorrow.  He crawled over to 'his papa to be', lay on his chest and rubbed his face.  It made us happy and sad, you kind of feel like you have tricked them in a way.
We thought we would be back to get them in 2-3 months, but have now been told it is more like 4-5 months.
It is so hard when you see how they are living, the caregiver is crying because she is grateful they will be out of there soon, and you can't speed things up.
So we are happy and sad, and can't wait to go and bring them home, they are not well and need some good food, love and sunshine.

Train station

I will add more photos when I have time, I wish I could show pictures of the boys, but you will have to wait till after court on our second trip, until then, their identities are secret according to Russian law.

Hospital where they live

A church in Vladivostok

Hospital entrance

Train station

Vlad Inn where we stayed

Outside Nakhodka city where the boys live

Vladivostok

Vladivostok

Hospital/orphanage

Vladivostok

Vladivostok

3 days till we leave

Well it is 3 days till we leave Tauranga for our journey to Vladivostok Russia.  I am starting to get serious butterflies in my stomach now.

For those of you of my friends who are the praying kind and have asked me what to pray for, these are a few things:

• We will know the right decision on choosing what child is right for us/have a peace
• Safe travels, flights all connect and bags won't get lost
• our kids that are left home especially Chanel who doesn't understand whats going on will be safe and happy
• A smooth process

Those are kind of the main areas I guess on my mind.

Thanks for all the love and support , it so makes a difference  xxxx

Quick Update

Well it is all finally happening, we are leaving in a week (28th October) to meet our referral.
There is so much to get organized and so much emotional energy involved in this.  I haven't slept properly for days, all mostly excitement.
It will be so nice when we are home again, and can actually tell people.  I can say this, we are still laughing about the referral, quite a curve ball.
So this is a bit more excitement and intrigue with it than we thought :)

We have NEWS!

Well I am super excited that we actually have a referral as of this morning.  We are not allowed to know who as yet because it has to be approved by social welfare, but in a few days we should see ??? face.
At the moment we do know gender and age, and nationality.  So we will have another little asian face in our family.  (sorry we can't give details)
Travel all going smoothly, will mean we have to be in Russia in three weeks.  We are very relieved and happy, that soon ???? will be un-orphaned, and we will blessed with another child.  Happy days!!!

Waiting for the phone to ring

This week I rang the adoption agency about something really unexciting, not expecting to hear anything, because even though our homestudy is in Russia it has to be translated etc for a few weeks longer before it goes to the MOE  and they start finding a child for us.

WELL........She said "no" all the translation is finished and this week they have been talking about children for us.  She said we wont find out this week because she has other families over in Russia at the moment, but fingers crossed it maybe next week.
Hence to say we are so excited at the moment.   I don't know if I will be able to go out next week, I think I will be waiting by the phone :)