New template.
New family pic.
Edited right side bar.
Safe to say, I'm back!
Not sure how often I'll post, but I'm going to try to get and keep this going again. I love looking back on my blog, and for the last year and five months, there isn't a thing to look back on! Wow, time flies!
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Friday, September 5, 2014
Karina
Last year in October we learned that Karina (formally known as 'Lily'), the then 15 year old we'd planned to adopt along with Nastya ('Stella'), did not want to be adopted. We were devastated.
We have never stopped loving or praying for Karina. We met her in Ukraine while visiting Nastya. It was all I could do not to hug her and tell her who we were. But we didn't. We couldn't. We didn't want to make things awkward for her. But I was able to snap a picture with her permission, and I have treasured it so much. It was a picture I'd desired to take for such a long time. One of both my girls. But only one came home with us.
On February 19, 2014 unbeknownst to me at the time, but Karina's last day as a 15 year old, I pulled out of the orphanage parking lot for the last time. Nastya and I looked out the window of the car toward the windows of the orphanage where several children waved goodbye until we were out of sight. Karina was one of them. I stared at her until I could see her no more. I cried, but I was able to explain my tears away to Nastya as it was an emotional and happy day regarding her!
We told Nastya of our desires to adopt Karina once we'd left her city and were in Kiev. We didn't want her learning it from someone else. She was sad Karina had made the decision she did. We all were.
In late July we got a call that rocked our world.
She changed her mind! Karina changed her mind!! She wanted us to come for her.
Rather than the elation you'd think I'd have felt in that moment, I actually just froze and my heart sunk and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.
She turned 16 on February 20. It was too late. Though we still have a spot open according to our gov't and an active home study, all rules change when these kids turn 16. There wasn't anything we could do. And I knew it.
But it didn't stop us. I still called/e-mailed everyone and every agency I could think to contact. A member of our stateside team. USCIS (US Immigration). The US Embassy in Ukraine. Nothing. Not a thing could be done.
Then came the even harder part. I had to tell her. That process was difficult as when we tried to call her the phone would always cut out, or because of the time difference it was hard to find a time when we could call and she'd be awake.
But I finally got in touch with her.
"Is it true?! You want to adopt me?"
"Yes. We want to. But Karina, I'm so so sorry. We cannot come. The laws don't allow us to come."
It went downhill from there for a while. I felt like I was going to lose her forever. That she'd be angry at us. But soon it turned.
"So it's the stupid laws that won't let you come?"
"Yes. If we could come, we'd be there soon!"
Through a social media site there similar to Facebook we began to chat. The last three days I've talked to her daily!! It's been amazing.
She calls me 'Mama.' It makes my heart smile and brings me great joy!!
"I know I can't live with you, Mama, but can you come see me?"
"Yes!! I don't know when, but we will come. And we will hug you and kiss you."
"When you hug me, I won't let go, Mama. I love you and I miss you."
God has answered our prayers. Not exactly the way we wanted, but to have a relationship with our Karina is HUGE!
We are continuing to look into ways to get her to the US at some point. We've talked to many people and agencies and done extensive research. It's very hard to get a visa for a young single female from Eastern Europe to the States. But we won't give up. We will never give up on her.
There is no piece of paper saying Karina is our daughter, but this girl, my friends, is our daughter.
We have never stopped loving or praying for Karina. We met her in Ukraine while visiting Nastya. It was all I could do not to hug her and tell her who we were. But we didn't. We couldn't. We didn't want to make things awkward for her. But I was able to snap a picture with her permission, and I have treasured it so much. It was a picture I'd desired to take for such a long time. One of both my girls. But only one came home with us.
On February 19, 2014 unbeknownst to me at the time, but Karina's last day as a 15 year old, I pulled out of the orphanage parking lot for the last time. Nastya and I looked out the window of the car toward the windows of the orphanage where several children waved goodbye until we were out of sight. Karina was one of them. I stared at her until I could see her no more. I cried, but I was able to explain my tears away to Nastya as it was an emotional and happy day regarding her!
We told Nastya of our desires to adopt Karina once we'd left her city and were in Kiev. We didn't want her learning it from someone else. She was sad Karina had made the decision she did. We all were.
In late July we got a call that rocked our world.
She changed her mind! Karina changed her mind!! She wanted us to come for her.
Rather than the elation you'd think I'd have felt in that moment, I actually just froze and my heart sunk and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.
She turned 16 on February 20. It was too late. Though we still have a spot open according to our gov't and an active home study, all rules change when these kids turn 16. There wasn't anything we could do. And I knew it.
But it didn't stop us. I still called/e-mailed everyone and every agency I could think to contact. A member of our stateside team. USCIS (US Immigration). The US Embassy in Ukraine. Nothing. Not a thing could be done.
Then came the even harder part. I had to tell her. That process was difficult as when we tried to call her the phone would always cut out, or because of the time difference it was hard to find a time when we could call and she'd be awake.
But I finally got in touch with her.
"Is it true?! You want to adopt me?"
"Yes. We want to. But Karina, I'm so so sorry. We cannot come. The laws don't allow us to come."
It went downhill from there for a while. I felt like I was going to lose her forever. That she'd be angry at us. But soon it turned.
"So it's the stupid laws that won't let you come?"
"Yes. If we could come, we'd be there soon!"
Through a social media site there similar to Facebook we began to chat. The last three days I've talked to her daily!! It's been amazing.
She calls me 'Mama.' It makes my heart smile and brings me great joy!!
"I know I can't live with you, Mama, but can you come see me?"
"Yes!! I don't know when, but we will come. And we will hug you and kiss you."
"When you hug me, I won't let go, Mama. I love you and I miss you."
God has answered our prayers. Not exactly the way we wanted, but to have a relationship with our Karina is HUGE!
We are continuing to look into ways to get her to the US at some point. We've talked to many people and agencies and done extensive research. It's very hard to get a visa for a young single female from Eastern Europe to the States. But we won't give up. We will never give up on her.
There is no piece of paper saying Karina is our daughter, but this girl, my friends, is our daughter.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Meeting 'Stella'
After traveling for what seemed like days (was about 18 hours) we landed in the capital city of our girl's country. A driver picked us up at the airport, took us by a grocery store to change money and get some food and then took us to our apt to settle in. For the next 3 nights we stayed in a lovely, modern apt and enjoyed the city.
On Sunday, our first full day in the capital city, our driver took us on a great little tour of part of the city. We went to a fabulous history museum. We also drove by the adoption dept. I'd seen so many pictures of it as well as so many pics of the beautiful church directly across the street. It was surreal to see it all with my own eyes. It was even more surreal to go back on Monday and have our own adoption appointment and to get a referral for our our girl!!! Her file contained very little info, but on Jan 20, we were thrilled to accept her referral. We went back to the adoption dept on Jan 21 to pick up the official paperwork that would allow the in-country process to really begin.
After we picked up our referral paperwork on Jan 21 we had dinner with three other lovely families, one of which we learned lives only about 30-40 minutes away from us in NC! They'd adopted four children from this country and were back to adopt two more. After our meal, we hurried through the beginnings of a decently big snow storm to grab our bags and board the overnight train for our girl's region.
We arrived in region about 6:00am. We were exhausted after little sleep and running on adrenaline. Our facilitator and driver took us to a store to grab something for breakfast, and then we headed for the apartment where we'd stay for the remainder of our time in region. We had just over an hour to get cleaned up before we'd leave the apartment and go to the regional social worker's office to get more paperwork taken care of before we could go to the orphanage. That meeting went well, and we were off to the orphanage.
Pulling into the orphanage driveway for the first time was so exciting. I knew our girl was inside those walls waiting on us to show up so she could meet us. I couldn't think much about myself because I was thinking so much about her. Was she excited? Scared? She knew were were coming.. that she'd be meeting us that day. She'd been kept home from school while all her friends left for a typical day. Her day would be anything but typical.
We met with the assistant director and some other personnel. We spent about 15 minutes going over her file and at the end of their little briefing, we were asked if we wanted to meet her. Of course we said yes!!
We were escorted into a very hot green room. Luke and I sat there with our facilitator waiting. Just a few minutes later, I glanced over my shoulder through the doorway, and I saw her walking toward the room where we were sitting!! For the first time, I laid eyes on my sweet girl.
The first few minutes were awkward. She was a nervous wreck. We were, too. We gave her a few gifts including a phone (for her own translation app, games and music - a glorified iPod) she'd been wanting. We got our first huge smile and a 'Thank You' in English.
I remember that one of the first things I said to her (that the facilitator translated) was "We're nervous, too." That seemed to put her at a bit of ease. We chatted for a few more minutes. Then our facilitator asked her if she wanted to be our daughter.
She said yes.
Our facilitator left the room with the other personnel to begin the paperwork process, and for the first time, we were alone with her. There wasn't much talking. We were all nervous and lost trying to figure out the best way to communicate. But it wouldn't take long.
Oh yeah... and her name was Anastasia "Nastya."
Friday, May 2, 2014
We Left 15 Weeks Ago
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Thanksgiving Trip Part 1
Just a few weeks ago we took our annual 10 day Thanksgiving trip. We always get a house/cabin with my dad's side of the family the weekend before Thanksgiving for three nights then make our way to Omaha for a few days of fun with Luke's family. While in Nebraska we celebrate Christmas (because we're not together then), Thanksgiving and our nephew Jackson's birthday.
It's truly one of my favorite weeks of the year! And this year, as you probably already know, just minutes into our trip the day we left we got a call with our appt/travel date! A day we'll always remember!
We had a great time with my family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia.
It's truly one of my favorite weeks of the year! And this year, as you probably already know, just minutes into our trip the day we left we got a call with our appt/travel date! A day we'll always remember!
We had a great time with my family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia.
The house we all stayed in. Complete with a 'heated' pool that some of those crazy people actually jumped into even though it was about 30 degrees outside! Eeek!
Games!
My sweet nephew Ben
Watching the Vandy vs. UT football game.
Told you some of those crazies got in! That would be my brother-on-law Doug, sister Christina and sister Kimberly. Christina's three nuts children and one of my cousins got in, too.
Micah and his cousin Seth
My parents and their family minus my brother-in-law Kyle
All of us that spent the weekend together. Love these guys!!
He got away with playing on the pool table again this year. :-)
Your friendly PSA.
Levi and Aunt Dana at lunch. We stopped with Uncle David, Aunt Dana, Davis & Dale at Pizza Hut on our way toward Nashville after leaving GA.
Levi, Davis, Micah & Dale. My kids have always had a special bond with Davis & Dale, and my cousins are so great with them (all of them; not just D&D!)! These boys make a point to make my kids feel so BIG & special!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Booked
And we'll be off on January 17!! From Charlotte we'll go to Munich and then on to the capital city of the country where we'll get to know and then bring home our girl(s)!!
Can.not.wait!
Can.not.wait!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Leaving on a Jet Plane
The weekend before Thanksgiving every year my dad's side of the family rents a house or cabin for 3 nights. There are usually about 25 of us in one house for 3 days, and we have a BLAST! It's one of my favorite weekends of the year.
Yesterday we left for this year's awesome annual trip, a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is amazing by the way.
About 30 minutes into our trip, my phone rang. It was Nancy, our amazing state-side facilitator. I was NOT expecting a call from her for at least 2 weeks, so I was actually a little nervous to see her name on my phone.
I'd quote the conversation for you, but I honestly don't remember most of it. What I do remember is her saying, "Hon, I have your date."
WHAT?!?!?! A date?! Already?!?! Only 4 weeks and 2 days after submission when we expected to wait 6-8 weeks for a date.
January 20. We will be in the capital city on January 20 for our official referral, and we'll be in region on January 22. We'll meet our girl(s) in 2 months.
2 months.
A date.
We're OVER THE MOON!!!!
Working on booking flights and expect to travel January 17th.
We're really on our way!!!!
Yesterday we left for this year's awesome annual trip, a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is amazing by the way.
About 30 minutes into our trip, my phone rang. It was Nancy, our amazing state-side facilitator. I was NOT expecting a call from her for at least 2 weeks, so I was actually a little nervous to see her name on my phone.
I'd quote the conversation for you, but I honestly don't remember most of it. What I do remember is her saying, "Hon, I have your date."
WHAT?!?!?! A date?! Already?!?! Only 4 weeks and 2 days after submission when we expected to wait 6-8 weeks for a date.
January 20. We will be in the capital city on January 20 for our official referral, and we'll be in region on January 22. We'll meet our girl(s) in 2 months.
2 months.
A date.
We're OVER THE MOON!!!!
Working on booking flights and expect to travel January 17th.
We're really on our way!!!!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Thank You and Some Updates
After combing through and removing/editing some things here, I have decided to go ahead and make this blog public once again.
I can't tell you how much I appreciated all the support I received when going private seemingly out of nowhere. So many of you sent such heartfelt and meaningful messages, and I appreciate those more than you know!
Just a few updates since I haven't posted in nearly a month:
As of Monday November 11, we are FULLY FUNDED!! A huge THANK YOU to all of you who've prayed for (and continue to pray), supported, encouraged, shared, donated and took part in any of our fundraisers. Thank you!
Our amazon link is still active! All funds received through this link through December 31 in excess of what we need to fund the adoption will be used to buy things for the orphanage where 'Stella' is. There are many things they desperately need and other things they want, and we'd like to be able to help with that. Luke and I have set aside a bit to purchase things for them as well.
Many have asked about our second daughter. Luke and I still hope to bring home two girls. We pray about this decision constantly. Because of the unique way in which this country works as well as other factors that I simply cannot share, we have decided to wait until we are in country to even attempt to make a decision regarding who. While we've felt since the beginning of this journey that God is calling us to adopt two girls, we are also open to the fact that maybe He is not. It only makes sense for us to get to country, weigh all options there, continue praying and then make a decision. We will let everyone know anything we can as soon as we are able. Please be in thought and prayer for us, Stella, the boys and who our 2nd daughter might be if there is indeed to be a second.
As of today, it has been four weeks since we were submitted. According to the current rate that travel dates are being given, we *should be* at least half way through our waiting time! Hoping to have news about that in 2-4 weeks!
Again, thank you for your support and encouraging words.
I can't tell you how much I appreciated all the support I received when going private seemingly out of nowhere. So many of you sent such heartfelt and meaningful messages, and I appreciate those more than you know!
Just a few updates since I haven't posted in nearly a month:
As of Monday November 11, we are FULLY FUNDED!! A huge THANK YOU to all of you who've prayed for (and continue to pray), supported, encouraged, shared, donated and took part in any of our fundraisers. Thank you!
Our amazon link is still active! All funds received through this link through December 31 in excess of what we need to fund the adoption will be used to buy things for the orphanage where 'Stella' is. There are many things they desperately need and other things they want, and we'd like to be able to help with that. Luke and I have set aside a bit to purchase things for them as well.
Many have asked about our second daughter. Luke and I still hope to bring home two girls. We pray about this decision constantly. Because of the unique way in which this country works as well as other factors that I simply cannot share, we have decided to wait until we are in country to even attempt to make a decision regarding who. While we've felt since the beginning of this journey that God is calling us to adopt two girls, we are also open to the fact that maybe He is not. It only makes sense for us to get to country, weigh all options there, continue praying and then make a decision. We will let everyone know anything we can as soon as we are able. Please be in thought and prayer for us, Stella, the boys and who our 2nd daughter might be if there is indeed to be a second.
As of today, it has been four weeks since we were submitted. According to the current rate that travel dates are being given, we *should be* at least half way through our waiting time! Hoping to have news about that in 2-4 weeks!
Again, thank you for your support and encouraging words.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
A Beautiful Word
SUBMITTED
We are submitted!!!
Praise the Lord!!
Next step... a travel date.
And if that wasn't enough... it was... not only did we get this AMAZING news today, we also got three new pics of Stella.
I love her. My heart is smiling.
We are submitted!!!
Praise the Lord!!
Next step... a travel date.
And if that wasn't enough... it was... not only did we get this AMAZING news today, we also got three new pics of Stella.
I love her. My heart is smiling.
**I have decided to remove the pictures originally posted.**
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