of all the blessings

I feel like I need to dedicate another post to a very special family. This family has come to mean so much more to us than a resource; more than our 'get out of jail' card; and more than a friend we have on the other side of the world.

This family is God inspired. Intellectually, I the divine workings of the Holy Spirit, but many times it's hard for me to see, feel and touch those things in my everyday life. In this case, it didn't take long, especially when you consider our prayers for the past zillion years.

You see, our prayers have been pretty basic. Every night, it went something like this:

"Heavenly Father, please place your hand on our adoption process. Help us to get through the paperwork, and present a case that the Judge in Irkutsk will accept and grant. Lord, protect Anya until we can bring her into our family. We pray that all those who touch Anya's life and our adoption process seek Your wisdom, grace and love. We thank you in advance for your perfect timing, and the way you are working out every little detail for our extended stay in Russia to bring Anya home."

Not only have Steve and Tami been an incredible support to us, and shown us God's love in ways we've never experienced - they pray for Anya's relationship with Christ. They want her to know Him as much as we do. The love they show her through talking about Jesus to her (in Russian) makes my heart sing!

That is why when Steve and Tami (and Ashley, Andrew and Melissa) gave Anya this very special gift - I was a bit overwhelmed.

funny things from Anya

Anya let us know that she loves her tooth paste. So much, that she wants to eat it.

Anya has named her stuffed cat (from the Matafin girls) Jayme. Where she got that name, I have no idea. I have a friend named Jayme - and I talk about her, who knows!

Last night, Marty made chicken and rice for dinner. Anya thought this was a very tasty meal - after we started eating, she exclaimed (in her BIG Russian voice) - SPACEEBA DADDY, FAKOOSNA! (Thank you Daddy, tasty!)

She has picked up enough English, that she is mixing it in with Russian. At night, we have a bedtime routine, that includes going to bed, praying, Daddy saying goodnight, Mommy saying goodnight and then Anya deciding when Mommy and Daddy should go to bed (picking my battles here people!). Tonight she said "Mommy se chas sleep" (Mommy, sleep now!). But the sleep is more like schleeeeep.

Anya likes to pray before meals, and at bedtime. She has paid very close attention to what we say when we pray, and with a little help - she does a great job. Hope to post a video of that soon! Tonight she prayed for the usual, and included 'Jesus please help Melissa and Ashlea Jackson". Not sure what they are in need of help for, but rest assured Jackson mom and dad - it has been prayed for!

Dog Sled

Here is a quick video of Anya dog sledding at the Jackson's. Astra was a good dog and very patient with his new passenger! This was taken on the Jackson's street - for all of you in subdivisions who get irritated with the lack of snow plow response - check out this video...this is on a road.

the day at the Jackson's

On Thursday, we went to the Jackson's house for the afternoon. It was so nice to see Ans pay with other kids. I know she is bored out of her mind with us...and I hate that. There isn't much to do in the apartment (that I am not lovingly calling the 'cell'...bars on the windows, gray walls...kinda fits).

Anyway, it was a great afternoon.

Steve took the kids on a dog sled ride with their family's dog, Astra.

Anya and Melissa had a lot of fun playing. Melissa is 6. Here, they're having 'girl talk' over some hot chocolate.
When we first got to their house, Anya was shy, so we played Candy Land. This is one of her favorite games. She quickly warmed up to the other kids, and before I knew it - she was even being a little bossy! But the kids all had a good time, and we're very grateful for the invitation!

the award for the nicest family goes to.....

When we got home from court on Wednesday, the Jackson family met us at the door with big smiles. They also made us a 'congratulations' banner, and Melissa (the youngest Jackson) made us a card.

We've been blessed beyond words by this family.

for Debbie

today we had hash brown casserole quiche for breakfast, skipped lunch and had lentil soup for dinner.

hee hee! I crack myself up!

for Debbie

I have to tease my friend Debbie. When she and her husband were here a year ago, she would keep us all updates on her blog with the happenings of the day, complete with the day's menu.

So, in keeping with Debbie's foodie posts...here is what we had today:

Home made chocolate chip cupcakes
home made mac-n-cheese
broccoli (that was grown in the backyard of the home where we are staying)
an orange (from Egypt, but not that much different than California naval oranges)
and some ice cream

No - don't get all excited. I didn't all the sudden become all domestic and learn to cook overnight. Tami, our gracious hostess, made all of this. She is amazing (and doesn't know it). I think she should open a restaurant for American families visiting Irkutsk.

we are being spoiled!

We are staying with the Jackson family, and let me tell you – we’re getting spoiled! They have really gone out of their way to make our stay in their home comfortable. Steve has been acting as our driver since we got here – and for that we are SO GRATEFUL! Tami has been making such good home-cooked food for us; I thought I was going to lose weight when we came here…ha! Not with blueberry pancakes for breakfast, homemade soup for lunch and tacos for dinner!

The kids (Ashley, Andrew and Melissa) have all been so helpful too. They’ve been helping us with ideas on what to play with Anya and so on. Melissa is 6, and is really looking forward to meeting Anya and playing together. I am too! I don’t think Anya has ever played girl-games before (dolls, dress up etc.), so I am really excited to see her with other girls playing together.

I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to repay the kindness the Jackson’s are showing us.

Nice Suprise

Thursday was a holiday here in Russia. I don’t know the name of it (insert wisdom from Kate here – haha!), but it is the end of winter. Which I think is pretty funny considering it is -30 outside. Anyway, with the holiday come some traditions. As in the U.S., that might mean sharing a meal with a neighbor. Which is exactly what happened!

We were fortunate enough to meet Tami and Steve’s neighbors. They are a wonderful Russian couple. We had a really good time sharing a meal with them, and laughing..and laughing….and laughing!

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?

meet Luda

Before I get into this post, I feel like I need to share something with all of you. As you remember, months back I took this blog private. I did that for several reasons...primarily because I wanted to keep the very PRIVATE details of the last leg of this nightmares PRIVATE.

Russia has some pretty specific laws about photographs of orphans. I won't beat around the bush here....if the Judge got wind that I was using Anya's photo on the Internet, it would NOT be a good thing.

For that reason, I feel like I need to ask you to PLEASE PLEASE not share photos or information that I post here with anyone (ANYONE!). I personally know each and every one of you, that is why I feel comfortable in sharing a lot of very private information here, and posting photos of Anya. Thank you for understanding this delicate place we're in.

I've mentioned the Jackson family before. I have been following their journey in Irkutsk for quite some time. Tami (the Mom) and I traded emailed for a while, and then when I was in Irkutsk in January - I got to spend some time with their family. Since then, they've become very special to us...and we kind of think of them as our family who lives in Irkutsk.

The Jackson's have a wonderful woman, named Luda, who comes to their home to help out from time to time. Luda is from Shelechov, the same city where Anya lives. Luda was an orphan. She grew up in the same orphanage where Anya is. Luda has found Christ, and is sharing God's love with the orphans in that orphanage! In Russia....this is a REALLY BIG DEAL.

To put this into perspective: in January, I had a conversation with one of the caregivers (via a translator) about God. The caregiver didn't know what God was, and was calling God "the god". The translator didn't know what 'the god' was either, so couldn't translate for me.

This is why the fact that Luda has found the hope that only comes from Jesus Christ...in Irkutsk...is WOW! And, she chooses to share this Love with orphans! Yes, we love Luda!

...meet Luda. Here she is with Anya at a weekly Bible Study.



This photo Luda sent to us - I posted a Facebook message about it, commenting on Anya's "ball boy" shirt. She is not a boy! It makes me so sad to see her little chubby cheeks go away! This means she is growing up....far too fast for my liking!

This is the Bible Study group Anya is a part of. She is the youngest in the group, but is in this group because Luda teaches it. All of those faces deserve the Love of Jesus, and I thank HIM every day that Luda is showing them this kind of love!

Thursday with the Jackson family

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Jackson family yesterday. They are from Illinois – and have been living here in Irkutsk for 8 years. They have 3 beautiful children (who I just wanted to scoop up!), and a great home near the airport. The kids are 12, 9 and 4 (I hope I have remembered that right).

I am horrible with remembering names (Tami, if this is was off base, let me know):

Ashley – the 12 year old, is a very grown up, smart little girl. Loves horses.
Andrew – 9 year old – pretty sure he is going to be an engineer
Melissa – 4 year old, loves Disney princesses, singing. Adorable! (Michelle - Belle and Melissa would have so much fun playing together!)

Steve and came to pick me up around 11 yesterday morning. They took me to their home, where Tami and the girls met me at the door. Ya know, I don’t know what it is about seeing a friendly smile and hearing English – but it was just what I needed!

The kids eagerly showed me their home and things they got for Christmas. We had lunch, then Tami and I talked for hours! She is so sweet! I wish all of you could meet her – to those in my Panera Bible Study – you’d LOVE her! It was great to ruminate about all the distinctively Russian things that we Americans don’t get. Things like:

• Needing the exact change to purchase something
• The notion of what ‘matches’ in outfits here
• How Russian people eat
• The things that is the norm for children
• What we think are crazy medical cures
• The Russian need for fresh air – especially for kids – regardless of the temperature (did you know that it isn’t uncommon for babies to be set out on porches to take naps? Bundled up in a million blankets – but outside nonetheless.)
  
  I am glad to know that the things that have always made me raise an eyebrow and say ‘huh?’ are things all Americans question.

And I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of them! I had my camera, and just forgot.

To other PAPs – the Jackson family would love to meet all of you, and help you in any way they can when you are here. They have graciously offered to open their home if you need a place to stay – or offer any assistance you might need. They are truly the nicest most welcoming people ever! They helped me exchange some money (kind of traded Steve American dollars for rubles), and Steve gave me a longer phone cord (don’t know if I mentioned, but the phone cord is about 1ft. long – and the phone jack is by the front door in the boot room of the apartment. So, to be online I have been sitting on the floor- the longer cord is super helpful – now I can sit in a chair and be online – yahooey!).

Heading to see Anya this a.m., and then hopefully go downtown to get some shopping done for the party. I hope Julia will be able to go with me and help – if for no other reason, than to help me carry stuff – that would be awesome! I don’t think I am going to be able to do the party today – I will need a little time to prepare everything – so tomorrow. Going to have Julia get all the permissions today for that.

I'm working on about hour 5 of my 100 minute prepaid internet access card. Don't you love the small blessings in life?

Happy New Year!