that OTHER agency

Many of you have asked me about our agency. The long and short answer is...we don't have one. I am our agency. I guess you could say THE FRIEND AGENCY is handling our adoption (hee hee!).

I do want to ask for your prayers on one thing. You all know about THE OTHER AGENCY. The one we started with in 2004; the one who took $12,000* of our hard earned moola and then left us stranded right before a trip to Irkutsk in 2006, and stopped returning our phone calls. This is the same agency I ranted about a few months back when the director wanted to "friend" me on Facebook.

*note: I thought it was $8,000 - but when I went back and looked at all the fees we paid to her, and her agents in Russia - it was actually $12,000...that motivated me to write her a letter

Well, I sent the Director (owner, whatever) a letter today. FedEx'ed it to her. It is a very nice letter (I promise!). I asked her to prayerfully consider refunding our money.

Will you all pray with us on this? You all know adoption money is a pretty big issue for us right now. If this woman could find it in her conscious, heart (pension fund, home equity) to refund even 1/2 of what we paid her, it would be a HUGE help.

God's Plan is ALWAYS better than mine

So, where do I even start?!


I mean - nothing is ever easy. I know that - especially with adoptions, and this adoption in particular. I KNOW THIS, I embrace it - I have LIVED it for over 5 years.

But the past 24 hours might take the cake.

Yesterday night at about 8pm, I got online to complete the shipping label for the DHL package that was to be shipped to Irkutsk today. Today I planned to go to Indianapolis to the State House and get everything done that needed to be done - and get the documents in the mail. January 11th is the deadline the Judge in Russia has given us on these last few documents - which means I wanted to get everything there by the 5-6th.







Well, DHL.com wasn't playing nicely with others. Wouldn't let me log in. So I call the 800#, and when the lady answers, I decide to ask her about transit times with the holiday weekend instead of helping me with the log in issue. Why? It was God.

She proceeds to tell me that the delivery date for something mailed to Irkutsk today would be January 13th...JANUARY 13TH! (did I mention that everything was being presented to the count on the 11th?)


Hence starts freak out #1.




I quickly find out that my only option with DHL is to ship through a TSA Authorized business shipper, and even if I find one of those - there is no guarantee because of customs. TO get it through customs, I would have to hire a Broker...and no one could tell me how to hire a broker.


The nice DHL woman also suggested we hire a courier - that would ONLY cost about $3,000 - $4,000.







So I call FedEx. Basically, they told me the same story, but they were giving me a delivery date of January 18th (it's getting worse)




Thus begins freak out #2


I seriously went crazy at this point. I don't cry. I am not a very emotional person. The Fed Ex lady obviously could tell by the tone in my voice that I was desperate. She told me about a service called "Next Flight" - this is only open to authorized shippers who hold a Fed Ex account. After figuring out all of the requirements, and getting everyone involved all over Twitter and Facebook - we found a Plan A, B and C. This wasn't a cheap option, but it was workable.



Then God stepped in and took control.


I should have known that He would have a better plan. An easier plan. A perfect plan.






Our friends that live in Irkutsk told us that they knew of a man that lives in Maine who was flying to Irkutsk on Monday...this Monday! This means he would be arriving in Irkutsk the morning of the 6th. THE 6th! All I would have to do would be to overnight the documents to him in Maine!



I called him - he is VERY VERY nice, and will put the documents in his carry-on baggage to make sure nothing happens to them. Did I mention he is a VERY VERY nice man?



From where I sit, the Jackson's and Mr. Keef were little pieces of Heaven to me.


So - shipping situation handled. Off to Indianapolis.

I go to the State Police Department. I've done this criminal check thing about a million times in the past. I know the drill. You go to the office, you pay $10 and get what you need.

Well, they changed the drill...apparently sometime between when I called last week and when I walked in the doors this afternoon. The secretary told me the check would take 2 weeks, and would have to be mailed to me.

Insert freak out #3 here

It's a long story, but let's just say it got done - I cried in public, had a stranger offer me a Kleenex, and it cost me $30, but it's done...and there is an Indiana State Police Officer who got a nice lunch today.

FREAK OUTS OVER

Thank God.

I am ever so grateful for several things:

1. Good friends who read my random Tweets and Facebook updates, and are always so willing to jump in the middle of my drama to help
2. For Mr. Keef - praying safe travels for him
3. For one of my dearest friends, Stacy - who I always bomb in on when I am in Indianapolis. She is a little dose of reality for me...and tonight was no exception
4. Blessed with crazy random connections to get stuff done...thanks to Jackie Walorski for helping us this round (and yes, this is a political plug - VOTE FOR HER!)
5. For the goodness and perfect plan of God!

So the next time I freak out, will someone please remind me that God has it under control?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

I think things have finally stared to settle in with me today. I've been a misty eyed mess most of the day. Today is when my 'to do' list is widdled down, all of my projects are done, and I am officially DONE...well, you know me - as done as I ever am.

Many of you have asked questions about the court date. That won't be given until after Jan. 11. Anya's documents will be presented at that time, as well as the final few things we need to send. After those are given to the court, a firm date will be given.

The fundraising over the past week and 1/2 has gone well...we are working on a big concert to be held on January 15th. Most of you know that my husband is a crazy talented guy, well, so are many of our friends. I even have a friend who is flown to Nashville often to sing as a back up singer for BIG names! Crazy!

Anyway, we're going to have a fun low-key concert. Some Contemporary Christian stuff, some original stuff (Seth Bible is going to be a part...he is WOW!), and some fun things thrown in.

Marty is in the process of perfecting a song that he wrote called "home" (well, that is the working title, it might change between now and then). Anyway, it is a song about Anya. He didn't tell me he was writing it...he just played a rough cut for me today in the car. I need forewarning of things like this! I am not a good crier...I went into the ugly cry!

So save the date, tell your friends...this is going to be our big fundraiser.

We haven't nailed down a location yet - trying to find somewhere with a sound system that can hold a lot of people...kinda a tall order. We are waiting to hear back from one location that would be perfect. Hope to have good news on that place by the weekend.

Stay Tuned!

the call - well, the email

After 5 years, 4 months and 3 weeks…

After 5 trips to Russia,

After working with and through 2 agencies, 4 Judges, 3 lawyers, the Secretary of State, Embassy and DHL…

After unmentionable sums of money, energy, frustration, anger, humiliation, praise, glee and prayer

OUR DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE JUDGE IN RUSSIA…and we will have a court date the end of January.

I’m not kidding.

Ever since the news hit my email in-box yesterday morning, I have been in this constant dialog with God. The conversation is going something like this:

Me: “really? Really? REALLY?”

God: “yes”

Me: “Are you serious, really?”

And so we take this last step in the process to bring Anya home, knowing tat God hears our prayers…and remembering that HE is in control. Yes – we take this step with a nervous shake in our legs – but HE is in control!

God has answered our prayers, because we have trusted Him – completely. He has already shown us that HE is in control and all of the little (and big!) details, and it will all work out for His glory. For that, we are already praising God!

NOW WHAT

There are a few documents we need to update by January 11. By few, I mean 5…only 5 little things (that we’ve done before a million times, but are now expired). Once these documents are submitted to the court, a firm date will be given. Right now, we’re looking at the week of January 25^th.

There is a lot to do, plans to be made, money to be gotten, freaking out to be had. But, it’s all good!

WE ARE GOING TO BRING OUR LITTLE GIRL HOME!