We are in need of prayers (is that unuaual for us? LOL). Much to our surprise, our dossier and request to adopt "Flower" is already being looked into! I can't believe the SDA is already looking into things, that is great because they could just say "no" but they are checking into the situation instead.
No need to write details but please continue to pray over this situation. I know what I just posted sounds all good but trust me, if you know Ukrainian adoptions, you know that very little good comes without potential for great concern. Please pray that things will not be distorted and cause the foster family to be concerned about their support.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
We're In !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes! We have been submitted!!!
We included pics of us with "Flower" and letters from "Flower" and letters from the foster family (probably the most important of all the extras), that tells of their support of us adopting "Flower" and how "Flower" cries for us, etc. We have heard that the SDA often will not allow extra documents to be submitted with the dossier and if they do get in, they will be sent back or tossed out. Well, our good news, the SDA official that went through our documents upon submission "promised" they would read the letters!!
Of course this doesn't necessarily mean anything but it certainly is good news. I'm so excited!
Please keep praying for "Flower" and "Hope!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We included pics of us with "Flower" and letters from "Flower" and letters from the foster family (probably the most important of all the extras), that tells of their support of us adopting "Flower" and how "Flower" cries for us, etc. We have heard that the SDA often will not allow extra documents to be submitted with the dossier and if they do get in, they will be sent back or tossed out. Well, our good news, the SDA official that went through our documents upon submission "promised" they would read the letters!!
Of course this doesn't necessarily mean anything but it certainly is good news. I'm so excited!
Please keep praying for "Flower" and "Hope!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Calling All April & May Submitted Families!
The past 2 weeks I have been becoming more and more addicted to searching blogs and post for what's going on at the SDA. Dan calls me a blogoholic. I blog hop, looking for signs and clues of what might be in store for us. It's crazy!
Anyway, while my heart is believing God, fear must be creeping into my subconscious because I can feel the tension between my shoulder blades. I can feel the tightness in my chest,making it hard to breath. I can feel the tears filling my eyes over the smallest things. I just cannot stay in this place for the next 4 months, or whatever it is until we travel. So if you could help me out with some prayers, I sure could use some.
Now about my call to April & May submissions. I am looking for blogs of families submitted in April. I am curious to read what appointments they are being scheduled. Good news for May families, it looks like the gap from submission to travel is closing a bit. It went from 3 months then started really pushing to 4 months, now it is appearing much closer to 3 months with one family receiving a date LESS than 3 months from submission.
I need to connect with more families in the process where we are (we will be submitted on Monday, prayerfully). Please pray all goes well and I don't somehow implode during this process, 'cause that could totally happen. ;)
Anyway, while my heart is believing God, fear must be creeping into my subconscious because I can feel the tension between my shoulder blades. I can feel the tightness in my chest,making it hard to breath. I can feel the tears filling my eyes over the smallest things. I just cannot stay in this place for the next 4 months, or whatever it is until we travel. So if you could help me out with some prayers, I sure could use some.
Now about my call to April & May submissions. I am looking for blogs of families submitted in April. I am curious to read what appointments they are being scheduled. Good news for May families, it looks like the gap from submission to travel is closing a bit. It went from 3 months then started really pushing to 4 months, now it is appearing much closer to 3 months with one family receiving a date LESS than 3 months from submission.
I need to connect with more families in the process where we are (we will be submitted on Monday, prayerfully). Please pray all goes well and I don't somehow implode during this process, 'cause that could totally happen. ;)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Hope Floats
That's Hope Floats as in the movie, not "Hope" Floats as in the child :)
Hope Floats is one of my all time FAV movies. There are very few movies I can stand to watch more than once, but this one I've seen a hundred times and can watch it a hundred more. Of course, I cry everytime.
Well, it's been a while. We moved and I haven't located the tape. Yes, I said TAPE. I need someone to buy me the DVD as a gift or something but anyway...I saw it was on tv last night. I caught it in the middle but then saw it was playing again right after, so Yana and I watched it together.
I love the Bryan Adams song from the movie, When You Love Someone. I have added it to my Playlist and made it number one. I think it fits quite perfectly, and well, I'm just loving & missing "Flower" like crazy.
- Brian Adams Lyrics
We will make our weekly phone call to her shortly and Ihope it is a good day, she is full of giggles and excitement. Unfortunately, sometimes when we call she sounds so down. In either situation she does not like the phone call to end, especially if she is down. But the thing is, when she is down, she doesn't really talk. Then we run out of things to say (Yana can only translate so much) but "Flower" just wants to be comforted by knowing we are "near". My heart yearns for her.
God, please work out all the details, move mountains, give us a miracle so "Flower" can be with her Mama & Papa, where she longs to be.
Hope Floats is one of my all time FAV movies. There are very few movies I can stand to watch more than once, but this one I've seen a hundred times and can watch it a hundred more. Of course, I cry everytime.
Well, it's been a while. We moved and I haven't located the tape. Yes, I said TAPE. I need someone to buy me the DVD as a gift or something but anyway...I saw it was on tv last night. I caught it in the middle but then saw it was playing again right after, so Yana and I watched it together.
I love the Bryan Adams song from the movie, When You Love Someone. I have added it to my Playlist and made it number one. I think it fits quite perfectly, and well, I'm just loving & missing "Flower" like crazy.
- Brian Adams Lyrics
We will make our weekly phone call to her shortly and Ihope it is a good day, she is full of giggles and excitement. Unfortunately, sometimes when we call she sounds so down. In either situation she does not like the phone call to end, especially if she is down. But the thing is, when she is down, she doesn't really talk. Then we run out of things to say (Yana can only translate so much) but "Flower" just wants to be comforted by knowing we are "near". My heart yearns for her.
God, please work out all the details, move mountains, give us a miracle so "Flower" can be with her Mama & Papa, where she longs to be.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Singer Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter is struck, killed by car
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/NEWS01/805220370/1006
"Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home. "
My heart is aching for this family. I cannot even imagine the immense pain they must be in for all of their children. Please remember to lift this family up in prayer, only the healing power of our Almighty God can ease their pain.
"Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday evening after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home. "
My heart is aching for this family. I cannot even imagine the immense pain they must be in for all of their children. Please remember to lift this family up in prayer, only the healing power of our Almighty God can ease their pain.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Last Few Posts From The Other Blog
Saturday, May 17th 2008
1:29 PM
Praying for “Hope”
Since we have such awesome prayer warriors out there, many we have never met face to face, I want to share the latest with you.
We have learned about a little girl with CP that we will likely pursue for adoption. Please do not email me for details as to how we found out about her; I am already hesitant to post much right now. But we have learned about her through someone who is advocating for her and I believe God is tugging on my heart.
In a previous post, someone (I think it was Amy EDIT: oops, it was Jennifer lol) suggested that we call her “Hope” (at the time, we were talking about an unknown child we hoped to adopt). It was funny that she posted this because of many reasons (I will definitely share after our adoption is complete) and has become even MORE than appropriate for this child.
This tug I feel is a familiar feeling. It is much like the tug that lead us to pursue “Flower”. If you don’t know the story or have forgotten, read these to old blog posts:
http://www.findingrdaughter.braveblog.com/entry/19635
http://www.findingrdaughter.braveblog.com/entry/19840
So please pray for “Hope”. I am really becoming convinced that God is speaking to my heart about pursuing this child but, of course, want to be sure it is Him. I am really starting to get excited about the fact that we could be in Ukraine in just 4 months! Wow, how cool is that. Again, praying that all will go smoothly from here on out. I believe God has already moved our mountain to adopt “Flower” though we have no particular reason for believing that other than we have faith in God and I just feel it in my heart.
Tuesday, May 13th 2008
11:42 PM
A Strange Dream
I had a strange dream this morning that had me out of bed earlier than I would have liked. I couldn’t stop thinking about the dream when I woke up from it, so I gave up on trying to get more sleep.
I dreamt I was on the phone with my friend Colleen (not unusual, we talk often). Then my other phone rang (one must have been my cell phone) and it was another friend in the adoption world but for whatever reason in my dream her name was “Wendy” (no clue why she didn’t have her normal name and have no idea who Wendy is...maybe Wendy from Peter Pan?) LOL. “Wendy” tells me that the SDA Director is contacting the local administrators office, where “Flower” is, and requesting some documents to put with her SDA file. She said that the Director was going to be leaving, and to be replaced by a man but that he was also against adoptions (lovely, I know). However, I should not worry because it would be all taken care of in 2 weeks, so we would be able to adopt “Flower”.
Now, I’d like to think God was hooking me up with some prophecy but then why did my friend go by the name “Wendy”? LOL. I quickly decided that this dream was God telling me (or at least I hope so), that He is going to take care of everything so we can adopt “Flower”, though His plan may be through some very unexpected ways. I believe He is telling me that I cannot even begin to guess how He will take care of things, but that He will, and He can do anything.
Sunday, May 11th 2008
11:51 PM
How Could I Forget?!
Okay, 2nd posting for today, but I can’t believe I forgot to share my Mama’s Day gift from Dan. Dan has come around and agrees to adopt from Ukraine even if we can’t get “Flower”. Of course we both REALLY want “Flower” and she is priority but a denial of her referral does not mean we will pack it up and head home without the younger SN child (blind referral) that we hope to adopt (praying to come home with both girls). I asked if this is him doing this for me or if it is what he wants and he says it is what he wants. What a blessing!
Tomorrow we are headed back down to Columbia, AGAIN, for apostilles. We will be apostilling (is that a word?) the new Petition To Adopt and the addendum to our homestudy (just clarifies we are approved for TWO children between 3-13 yrs old). Got to get this stuff to Ukraine so our facilitator can translate it and get it ready to be submitted in a just a few more weeks.
I’m still believing God for this. I just really believe that we will come home with “Flower”, so please keep praying.
By the way, as usual, we spoke with “Flower” again on Friday. We haven’t been discussing her visiting this summer or any updates on the adoption, I really was not clear on what the foster mom had decided to tell her. This Friday, “Flower” asked if I was coming to Ukraine to ask the “caregiver” (I assume she means SDA Director) if we could adopt her. We told her “yes”. She wanted to know if anyone else was coming with me, we told her “Papa” and she cheered. LOL Too cute! We were going to take Anthony and Yana but due to the uncertainty with “Flower’s” adoption and also going for a blind referral, we think it is best they do not come. “Flower” asked when we were coming and Yana couldn’t remember how to translate “4-5 months” or “maybe September” which is probably for the best anyway, just in case. So we told her that we did not know yet, we have to wait until they tell us when we can come. I suppose this is the best way to handle it, telling her the truth that we will not know if we can adopt her until we come and ask. Once again I reminded her to pray. We tried to really stress the importance of prayer, especially prayers of orphans; I believe their prayers have so much power. She said she is praying, and of course we are too.
1:29 PM
Praying for “Hope”
Since we have such awesome prayer warriors out there, many we have never met face to face, I want to share the latest with you.
We have learned about a little girl with CP that we will likely pursue for adoption. Please do not email me for details as to how we found out about her; I am already hesitant to post much right now. But we have learned about her through someone who is advocating for her and I believe God is tugging on my heart.
In a previous post, someone (I think it was Amy EDIT: oops, it was Jennifer lol) suggested that we call her “Hope” (at the time, we were talking about an unknown child we hoped to adopt). It was funny that she posted this because of many reasons (I will definitely share after our adoption is complete) and has become even MORE than appropriate for this child.
This tug I feel is a familiar feeling. It is much like the tug that lead us to pursue “Flower”. If you don’t know the story or have forgotten, read these to old blog posts:
http://www.findingrdaughter.braveblog.com/entry/19635
http://www.findingrdaughter.braveblog.com/entry/19840
So please pray for “Hope”. I am really becoming convinced that God is speaking to my heart about pursuing this child but, of course, want to be sure it is Him. I am really starting to get excited about the fact that we could be in Ukraine in just 4 months! Wow, how cool is that. Again, praying that all will go smoothly from here on out. I believe God has already moved our mountain to adopt “Flower” though we have no particular reason for believing that other than we have faith in God and I just feel it in my heart.
Tuesday, May 13th 2008
11:42 PM
A Strange Dream
I had a strange dream this morning that had me out of bed earlier than I would have liked. I couldn’t stop thinking about the dream when I woke up from it, so I gave up on trying to get more sleep.
I dreamt I was on the phone with my friend Colleen (not unusual, we talk often). Then my other phone rang (one must have been my cell phone) and it was another friend in the adoption world but for whatever reason in my dream her name was “Wendy” (no clue why she didn’t have her normal name and have no idea who Wendy is...maybe Wendy from Peter Pan?) LOL. “Wendy” tells me that the SDA Director is contacting the local administrators office, where “Flower” is, and requesting some documents to put with her SDA file. She said that the Director was going to be leaving, and to be replaced by a man but that he was also against adoptions (lovely, I know). However, I should not worry because it would be all taken care of in 2 weeks, so we would be able to adopt “Flower”.
Now, I’d like to think God was hooking me up with some prophecy but then why did my friend go by the name “Wendy”? LOL. I quickly decided that this dream was God telling me (or at least I hope so), that He is going to take care of everything so we can adopt “Flower”, though His plan may be through some very unexpected ways. I believe He is telling me that I cannot even begin to guess how He will take care of things, but that He will, and He can do anything.
Sunday, May 11th 2008
11:51 PM
How Could I Forget?!
Okay, 2nd posting for today, but I can’t believe I forgot to share my Mama’s Day gift from Dan. Dan has come around and agrees to adopt from Ukraine even if we can’t get “Flower”. Of course we both REALLY want “Flower” and she is priority but a denial of her referral does not mean we will pack it up and head home without the younger SN child (blind referral) that we hope to adopt (praying to come home with both girls). I asked if this is him doing this for me or if it is what he wants and he says it is what he wants. What a blessing!
Tomorrow we are headed back down to Columbia, AGAIN, for apostilles. We will be apostilling (is that a word?) the new Petition To Adopt and the addendum to our homestudy (just clarifies we are approved for TWO children between 3-13 yrs old). Got to get this stuff to Ukraine so our facilitator can translate it and get it ready to be submitted in a just a few more weeks.
I’m still believing God for this. I just really believe that we will come home with “Flower”, so please keep praying.
By the way, as usual, we spoke with “Flower” again on Friday. We haven’t been discussing her visiting this summer or any updates on the adoption, I really was not clear on what the foster mom had decided to tell her. This Friday, “Flower” asked if I was coming to Ukraine to ask the “caregiver” (I assume she means SDA Director) if we could adopt her. We told her “yes”. She wanted to know if anyone else was coming with me, we told her “Papa” and she cheered. LOL Too cute! We were going to take Anthony and Yana but due to the uncertainty with “Flower’s” adoption and also going for a blind referral, we think it is best they do not come. “Flower” asked when we were coming and Yana couldn’t remember how to translate “4-5 months” or “maybe September” which is probably for the best anyway, just in case. So we told her that we did not know yet, we have to wait until they tell us when we can come. I suppose this is the best way to handle it, telling her the truth that we will not know if we can adopt her until we come and ask. Once again I reminded her to pray. We tried to really stress the importance of prayer, especially prayers of orphans; I believe their prayers have so much power. She said she is praying, and of course we are too.
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