tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10483975123377410702024-03-13T13:47:42.585-04:00Our GirlsKrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-33514171375274790172010-03-24T12:02:00.003-04:002010-03-24T12:20:02.517-04:00Need A Blog Makeover???I wanted to share with you a lady that did a blog makeover for one of my other blogs. I spent many hours trying to add special features without any luck. You can go to <a href="http://www.saving4aseason.blogspot.com/">saving4aseason</a> to see her artwork. She's an adoptive mom and does an amazing job of corresponding with you and making your blog all your own. I wish I had found her when I was trying to muddle through adding special things to this blog. Go <a href="http://customblogdesigns.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> to check her out! Her prices are the most reasonable that I found and part of her blog makeover fee goes to a charity or orphan fund.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-87810007631775102282010-03-02T14:04:00.002-05:002010-03-02T14:13:04.176-05:00Kaz Needs Our Prayers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSxfUa1wMeqOSedJaXZ2aencwnOp5JIp1xYz4ZZzc1HKcW5BVjaX2bTvR7PcPysbO67_CZCCc1EYdkGti7_p8MbfpLd_lNI9WA5DIW6t1eZeiTK1uGuD5t8ImSvrZ_nXJEcBUZHJyGGE/s1600-h/IMG_0327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSxfUa1wMeqOSedJaXZ2aencwnOp5JIp1xYz4ZZzc1HKcW5BVjaX2bTvR7PcPysbO67_CZCCc1EYdkGti7_p8MbfpLd_lNI9WA5DIW6t1eZeiTK1uGuD5t8ImSvrZ_nXJEcBUZHJyGGE/s200/IMG_0327.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444116597719824626" /></a><br />Anyone who has followed my blog knows that my "baby" sister and her family have been missionaries in Kazakhstan for the past 8 years. They received news yesterday that the Kazakhstan government has made a new law that will only allow foreigners who are there on business to stay in the country a total of 120 days a year. They will be coming back to the U.S. in June and their mission agency will no longer be able to have a permanent group of people in Kaz sharing Jesus. I don't believe that this affects the adoption community at all but it sure affects the people of Kazakhstan. Please be in prayer for these people that they will have leaders rise up that will continue to teach this generation of Kazakhstan children about Jesus. <br /><br />Brent and Beth don't feel that God has called them off the foreign mission field so please be in prayer for them as he guides them to their next assignment.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-57429289170652304282010-02-19T23:03:00.003-05:002010-02-19T23:19:50.759-05:006 MonthsI never thought I would add any more posts but this past week our adoption journey has been on my mind alot. I have had many moments in the past months where I think of Galina and Tanya and wonder if they have had regrets about refusing our family. I hurt for them as I know that they walked away from a life full of love and support. My love for Galina still takes up a piece of my heart. I know that we would have been able to love and embrace Tanya as our own also. <br /><br />I was listening to the radio yesterday and the announcer was talking about God adopting us into his family and I had an AHHA moment. Isn't our adoption experience a good representation of what happens with many of us with God? He loves us and works behind the scenes for years to bring us into his family. He invests his time, energy, love and resources into us. We finally come to a moment when we know he is wooing us and asking us to join his family. We have the same opportunity to join him. Are we going to let fear and what others have told us take away this amazing opportunity? Are we going to trust him and allow this life changing event? <br /><br />I continue to have a dream that God has placed in my heart for orphans. I don't know what to do with it at this point. I am trying to be patient and know that God has used all of this to prepare our family for a bigger plan up ahead. I look forward to what he has in store for us. We are in a quiet place now listening and waiting.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-19843583517203385762009-09-20T21:37:00.006-04:002009-09-21T06:14:59.159-04:00The End of Our Kazakhtan Adoption JourneyWhen we left Kazakhstan we left with questions in our minds and hearts whether there was a child/children that we were suppose to meet. We received information this past week about one specific child that we had met and others that our agency requested that we consider. After much thought and prayer we have made a final decision that our adoption journey to Kazakhstan is done. We still believe that it was a journey that God called us on. It didn't end as we had anticipated but we are better people for having stepped out and traveled along this road. The people we have met and experiences that we have had have been life changing. We will continue to support and pray for the children's lives in Kazakhstan that we are blessed to be a part of. We look forward to the day that God reveals to us the "whole" picture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8gi1xPmQa7hbc3XzJ60gP88WmUVA7WDuBI3vbyhU68xzlkim_FyHW7fEyBUMG2WZ-KlWjZy1_UeemiRcs3eRXq7JaHx6g82W6_BrKz2E-_hDoWQVgdL6jL3zHpriYT58xE2wkeEgnAk/s1600-h/august2009+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8gi1xPmQa7hbc3XzJ60gP88WmUVA7WDuBI3vbyhU68xzlkim_FyHW7fEyBUMG2WZ-KlWjZy1_UeemiRcs3eRXq7JaHx6g82W6_BrKz2E-_hDoWQVgdL6jL3zHpriYT58xE2wkeEgnAk/s200/august2009+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383731718041182130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9eBww8AWIehMybopHddDDWVbaUaXIOf1CrPkOQ4O4gCWY8SLhY9rvP5vtADrdqYp7PH65t-nyw5JXD3JiiL5gjgxVgNm1rmkyl6t79p2304bUe3EZABvbw4HB7rtL1usNEk3iQmSM38/s1600-h/DSC02885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9eBww8AWIehMybopHddDDWVbaUaXIOf1CrPkOQ4O4gCWY8SLhY9rvP5vtADrdqYp7PH65t-nyw5JXD3JiiL5gjgxVgNm1rmkyl6t79p2304bUe3EZABvbw4HB7rtL1usNEk3iQmSM38/s200/DSC02885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383731705161541666" /></a>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-90347043860218768332009-09-09T08:12:00.002-04:002009-09-09T08:34:22.254-04:00One Month AgoOur trip to Ust seems surreal or like a dream. One month ago today we arrived in Ust so full of hopes and dreams. We were finally going to see Galina again and meet Tanya. We expected "bumps" in the road but I don't think we ever believed that they would not want to come home with us. It has been an interesting 3 weeks since we arrived home. The first week we were both pretty numb. The second week many emotions started surfacing and have continued to surface. We have been blessed to have many people to talk to and to help us process our journey. The day after we arrived home our son Nichol returned from a summer job out west. He is our child that infuses energy into our home and he loved on us and did his job. God's timing?? The second week our son Gabe and his family came to visit from Orlando. Gabe could only stay 2 days because of work obligations but Christina and Cash stayed for a week which was much needed grandparent time. Christina allowed me to "takeover" Cash for the week. For all of you who know me babies are my thing! I can't think of anything that would help me heal better than cuddling with my grandson. God's time?? Lacey has been around since we arrived home from the airport. She is such a huge support and truly not only my daughter but best friend. She is an amazing young lady that also is grieving the loss of her sisters. We are still trying to figure out what we are suppose to do with all we have gained in the past 5 years with our adoption journey. There have been many blessings along the way. We have made wonderful friendships. We know in our head that what has happened was all part of God's plan and we are trying to embrace that knowledge in our hearts. It's been hard. It's been confusing. We've been discouraged. We have grown. We've learned so much. It's been soooo worth it!!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-33563810648807672912009-08-17T11:22:00.004-04:002009-08-17T15:15:54.401-04:00We've Arrived HomeAfter over 30 hours of travel we arrived home safe and sound. It was an incredible week that has stretch us and tested our faith beyond anything we could have imagined. We remain confidant in the knowledge that we have had an experience that is only a small part of a huge picture that we may never understand. Yes, we are hurting and praying for Galina and Tanya. We know that our lives will continue and be blessed but as we turn these two children over to our God we wonder what their lives will be like in the future. Mark has prayed this entire journey that if this journey that we were on wasn't going to bless our family then he wanted God to stop it. It has been stoppped with both of us knowing that it was God's plan. Our oldest son Gabe told me he thinks that maybe God allowed us to go and spend time with the girls so that I would be allowed closure. I know in my heart that it was necessary for me to see Galina and hear her declare that she didn't want to be a part of our family for me to believe the truth. We have been so blessed by so many of you who have walked with us and at times held us up. We have established life long friendships through our adoption journey. We had the opportunity to meet and hold our Kazakhstan granddaughter, Simbat, and spend time with her mother Madina between our flights home. It's time to put this journey behind us and move forward and hold fast to the knowledge that we have gained.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-13971758624587146822009-08-14T09:11:00.003-04:002009-08-14T09:20:30.053-04:00We Are Coming HomeWe want to thank you all for your support and prayers. We did as many of you suggested today and what Mark and I also felt was something that we needed to do to make sure that we were fulfilling God's plan for our family. We talked to our in country coordinator and agreed to meet other children that were available for adoption. We met 4 children ages 4-7. We knew as soon as we met each child that they were not meant to be ours. We did meet a 7 year old boy on the playground that we both felt could be our son. We inquired about him and late this afternoon we were told that he has 3 siblings and it would be complicated to adopt him. We have prayed and prayed and prayed about our situation and we feel we have done everything that we could/should do in this journey. We are so blessed to have so many family and friends that have been so supportive both here (Ault's and Howell's) and back home. Our kids have been amazing!!! We have purchased our tickets home and will be arriving in Chicago late Sunday afternoon. We will be spending tomorrow with Madina(our exchange student daughter from 2001) and her new daughter in Almaty. It's time to close this chapter in our lives and move on to being Cash's Grandpa and Grandma!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-23450027824505736932009-08-13T05:31:00.003-04:002009-08-13T05:41:00.983-04:00Very Sad NewsIt is very difficult to write this and we don't even know what to say. We were called to go to the orphanage early today for our bonding time. When we arrived our in country coordinator was there with 2 social workers. They had been talking to Galina for over an hour. Galina has refused to become part of our family. We did have the opportunity to talk to Galina and Tanya. Galina was very definite in her decision. She wouldn't even make eye contact with us. Tanya said that if Galina wasn't going she was afraid to go and seemed relieved. Our hearts are broken and we are wondering God's plan in all of this. Please pray for our family.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-6492881293074850872009-08-12T22:44:00.000-04:002009-08-12T22:46:05.776-04:00Hello Out ThereOK, if anyone's reading our blog we would sure like to know. We check it every morning for comments. Only 1 comment today. Have we already been forgotten? Please let us know that you've been here!!!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-59814711834028988462009-08-12T08:42:00.000-04:002009-08-12T08:47:18.668-04:00Eating OutMark and I went to the bazaar this afternoon and went to a small restaurant off of the meat market. The people in the restaurant couldn't speak English and the menu was in Russian so the man brought out different things that he thought we would like. We had a bowl of noodles with broth, meat?, green peppers and onions. It was very tasty. The one thing we knew that we ate was palmani. The other families that are here are going to wait and see if we get sick to see if it's a place they should eat. LOL!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-28936565675230090462009-08-12T03:23:00.000-04:002009-08-12T03:58:22.568-04:00Day Three Bonding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvcwLBAJWFPzZmbWpdAtM4uUCHLn5FXGk4QPbM8p11pLCsyk658gj-8zO-ir5jxK6gt7PlVXg_dHiAvXb2sWJLyl1Vd0E2ZAQbSeRxRKGjBiwWNiB5ZexCv-C-h7IEdg-5CmQo4ALR24/s1600-h/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvcwLBAJWFPzZmbWpdAtM4uUCHLn5FXGk4QPbM8p11pLCsyk658gj-8zO-ir5jxK6gt7PlVXg_dHiAvXb2sWJLyl1Vd0E2ZAQbSeRxRKGjBiwWNiB5ZexCv-C-h7IEdg-5CmQo4ALR24/s200/022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368982160213791170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDs_cDtG_bsEl-0KcYUa6vNCR1FZwwACEN-aHq9Eg_BEl96qE6KAPj6YG4GM6POzsiVg48GETJsJICPHGpWGylbMYpabKCINv8BipFkgmopZ8duoBXOIZXUM7HwHbz8_P4OXNerasIu1s/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDs_cDtG_bsEl-0KcYUa6vNCR1FZwwACEN-aHq9Eg_BEl96qE6KAPj6YG4GM6POzsiVg48GETJsJICPHGpWGylbMYpabKCINv8BipFkgmopZ8duoBXOIZXUM7HwHbz8_P4OXNerasIu1s/s200/018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368980752655057250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmvWE8Bf97H7PT1dMT5E6FerNuCOGFLWZwUfhnbFazNA-nQ3z9XA39KYJlEuWprQwsjLDJgZZ43slYxwuJSVf8Ti98hOROc8J_OLfBfNyn4MxYEtKR9yRPVhfTvimgzLSy9QEgiMUE_o/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmvWE8Bf97H7PT1dMT5E6FerNuCOGFLWZwUfhnbFazNA-nQ3z9XA39KYJlEuWprQwsjLDJgZZ43slYxwuJSVf8Ti98hOROc8J_OLfBfNyn4MxYEtKR9yRPVhfTvimgzLSy9QEgiMUE_o/s200/014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368980750772242626" /></a><br />Today we started doing our bonding for 3 hours instead of splitting it up into 2 sessions. We arrived at the orphanage at 10a.m. and were met by the orphanage director. She came special just to meet us because there are no children there right now. She told us Tanya's history and gave us the chance to ask questions. Galina came in the room first and was crying. Apparently, Tanya was picking on her. She came over and sat on my lap for hugs. I had made arrangements for Lacey to call so Galina got to talk to Lacey. This brought a smile to her face right away. Mark is learning more and more Russian. I think he might be learning more Russian than the girls are learning English. We asked permission to go for a walk and actually went to a magazine (store) and got some pastries, juice, chips and chocolate. We took a blanket and went and sat by the river. We gave the girls dry erase boards and started teaching them some basic English words. After about an hour they got bored with us and we went and walked down by the river. Mark tried to teach them how to skip rocks and also juggle with rocks. We then returned to the orphanage and Alma was there waiting for us. Galina started crying again and said she wants to go home and to see her boyfriend. Alma is concerned about Galina and thinks she's going to be rebellious. She asked me whether we think that she is going to agree to come with us. We are hoping and praying that she will. Alma said that she is filing papers today for us to adopt the girls. I am going to have a talk with Galina tomorrow to make sure that she understands what is happening and that she is agreeable.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-44504933766329899882009-08-11T10:13:00.000-04:002009-08-11T10:42:43.253-04:00Day Two Bonding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TSnd9k194FI2ctzvonLMZEvZmR3IFvkglHHdMzfRj29Iq3xkicQ55Fdrde3xtVgBwXO0e_By8RNoX_fTo8ShH4apSqQLHLo7bjthIP9kqT8ULmcqKORZo4s3q2oQzx-XiQIkbC8RUT8/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TSnd9k194FI2ctzvonLMZEvZmR3IFvkglHHdMzfRj29Iq3xkicQ55Fdrde3xtVgBwXO0e_By8RNoX_fTo8ShH4apSqQLHLo7bjthIP9kqT8ULmcqKORZo4s3q2oQzx-XiQIkbC8RUT8/s200/007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368716625746800386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigimgyfDtM4eWw0fAM3ch9EJafCTfUHcAoUq_q7zfH9gcaIcTlUBvXsjMCiUTOwkpfw-2xdvH-NZQRazXcgZtG7AlPVLMRFGJ5KqvQVpYw_9QtEuFACBRaWLCXFuVIUYgMq7Obd4dlKY/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigimgyfDtM4eWw0fAM3ch9EJafCTfUHcAoUq_q7zfH9gcaIcTlUBvXsjMCiUTOwkpfw-2xdvH-NZQRazXcgZtG7AlPVLMRFGJ5KqvQVpYw_9QtEuFACBRaWLCXFuVIUYgMq7Obd4dlKY/s200/006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368716621222623442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7W-F7TBMopWl7Or3RfWOClMBmDXW-naBNWkSJLhMqxQ4CLDtXCPksRA3mlSPD6NSAIcXeqpuIzocjXSDx5CPyNm61MxdpY35B-j5LkOI7FRAJp1ExMNiUNWZxnxiB08zVSHO0XdEWg/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w7W-F7TBMopWl7Or3RfWOClMBmDXW-naBNWkSJLhMqxQ4CLDtXCPksRA3mlSPD6NSAIcXeqpuIzocjXSDx5CPyNm61MxdpY35B-j5LkOI7FRAJp1ExMNiUNWZxnxiB08zVSHO0XdEWg/s200/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368713954400974754" /></a><br />It was quite a day. We went to the orphanage at 10:30a.m. Tanya was crying ALOT. She wasn't even able to answer any questions or talk. We finally asked her to show us around the orphanage and she started to feel better. As we were going to her classroom Galina arrived. She immediately started crying and came over and hugged us. We talked for a few minutes and then finished having Tanya show us around. Galina came over and grabbed my hand as we were walking. We went back to the room we had been meeting Tanya in. Galina started crying really hard then. The director of her orphanage brought her and she went over to her and cried and cried. After about 15 minutes of her being really upset they told us that Galina didn't want to be adopted. The director of her orphanage told her that if that was still her decision after 10 days she would come back and get her. There was much discussion for the next several minutes and then it was time for us to leave. Our in country coordinator pulled us aside as we were leaving and told us that she was going to give Galina 5 days to make a decision and she was going to talk to her about the seriousness of it tomorrow. She told us that if she decided not to be adopted she wanted us to think about adopting another child. Neither of us was very upset because we thought she might have problems thinking we had abandoned her all these years. We went back in the afternoon for another visit and arrived to two smiling girls. They talked about many things. Galina remembers everything about being at our house. She had all of the photos and the backpack that we had given her. She could remember everyone's names. She told us that she lives in a group home instead of the main orphanage because she is such a good girl. She writes poetry and has had some published. We didn't ask her during this visit if she had changed her mind but our translator told us that she has. We aren't going to pressure her at this point and just try to have some fun with the girls. I took our laptop and went through all of the pictures and they really liked doing that. Galina had also been brought from summer camp. She told us she had a boyfriend there and he didn't want her to leave. Galina is just as we remembered her. Please pray for all of us that we keep our focus on God's plan for our family.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-7475828330814086372009-08-10T10:01:00.000-04:002009-08-10T12:25:25.886-04:00Day One Bonding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG2fn4reC43Y6I90_Gs2c3NOZRl6ZxcKIFgRlRJEps9uoHIT-Z_VwY-BoDEbcAhyA6SZDp4aPyU6_B39I3AnswAt5JFHG6dY9hxXCEZ0GrE1VUQ9fHXRaM-A4StCO4TdEGUu1X1UOF5k/s1600-h/Adoption2009+054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG2fn4reC43Y6I90_Gs2c3NOZRl6ZxcKIFgRlRJEps9uoHIT-Z_VwY-BoDEbcAhyA6SZDp4aPyU6_B39I3AnswAt5JFHG6dY9hxXCEZ0GrE1VUQ9fHXRaM-A4StCO4TdEGUu1X1UOF5k/s200/Adoption2009+054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368372027859275282" /></a><br />We arrived in Ust Kamenogorsk at 2 this afternoon, were taken to the hotel and then went to meet Tanya. Galina will be brought from her orphanage tomorrow to Tanya's orphanage for our bonding. Our impression of Tanya is very good. She is a very gracious young girl. She is shy but made eye contact and answered our many questions. She came over and sat between us and at one point started crying when the social worker was explaining to her what being adopted entailed. For her this is a last hope for a family and a chance in life. The social worker asked Mark and I many questions about why we wanted older children, if we were scared and how our grown children felt about it. After Mark answered these questions she said that if we were OK with it then they were too.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-87174180528892665342009-08-08T07:16:00.000-04:002009-08-08T07:33:50.361-04:00Today's the DayWow, what a week!!! First I want to thank everyone for their prayers and calls of encouragement. We are 11 hours away from takeoff and less than 72 hours from seeing Tanya and Galina. We received our passports with visas by special courier last night at about 8:30p.m. We also celebrated Mark's birthday last night since today with all the last minute details he might be forgotten. Everything's packed thanks to Beth's experienced hand. We have 4 pieces of luggage all weighing close to the max. Brent and Beth will take us to the airport and drop us on the curb. They want our truck for the month. LOL! We are looking forward to meeting Mike, Vonda and Luke at McDonald's in Frankfurt. We became blog friends back in February and soon discovered that we were moving along step by step together. We prayed that we would travel together and God has answered our prayers!! We will also meet another family that has been in Ust for 2 weeks already. Several months ago we all dreamed of sharing a pizza together at Pizza Blues. As we tried to work out all the details God already had it done. <br /><br />Prayer Requests:<br />1. Safe travel.<br />2. Protection for our kids left back in the states. Lacey and Nichol will be moving into new apartments while we're gone. Gabe, Christine and Cash will be coming to Michigan for a wedding.<br />3. Discernment when we meet the girls and God's peace that passes all understanding that they are meant them for our family.<br />4. That Tanya and Galina will know that they will be loved and cared for. <br />5. Anything else you can think of because at this point we are beyond words that God has blessed us with this opportunity!<br /><br />I probably won't post again until after we meet the girls. We are hoping it will be Monday when we arrive in Ust. Ust is 10 hours ahead of Michigan. Look for an update when you get up on Tuesday morning.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-73456422864698616482009-08-06T22:15:00.000-04:002009-08-06T22:23:36.163-04:00Off and running!!!I called in the troups. Brent, Beth, Ty and Chelsea came to our house today to divide and conquer. Lacey, Beth and Chelsea went and got the last few gifts we needed. Me, Brent and Tyler went and got a laptop. Our flights have been purchased. We will leave from Detroit at 6p.m. on Saturday night then on to Frankfurt where we will meet up with our blog friends Mike, Vonda and Luke. From there we will all travel together to Almaty and arrive at 11:55p.m. on Sunday night. On Monday we will fly to Ust Kamenogorsk where we will meet our daughters. Our visas are being picked up tomorrow by Fedex same day delivery. They will board a commercial jet at Washington Dulles airport and be picked up at Detroit airport by a courier who will deliver them to our home around 10:30p.m. Friday night. It has been a day filled with joy, fear and excitement. We ended our day today with our small group having dinner at our home and great fun and fellowship.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-51140731989179816372009-08-06T11:33:00.000-04:002009-08-06T11:35:37.682-04:00We Have Been Given Faver!!Just a quick note to everyone who has been praying for us. WE ARE going this Saturday, the 8th. The man at the embassy is expediting our visas. I will post more about soooo many answers to prayer that we have received over the past several days when I can calm down.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-61782682919063166972009-08-04T19:17:00.000-04:002009-08-04T19:28:44.767-04:00Office Closed Due to Vacation...AGAINReally truly I do not like drama but the past 24 hours has been full of it. Maybe, I should say, the last 6 years of our adoption journey. As I posted yesterday we received our LOI and were told that we would travel on August 15th. That changed today. We have been told that the judge in our region will be leaving on vacation on August 31st so that wouldn't allow time for our court hearing. We were first told that if we couldn't leave by this Saturday, August 8th, that we can't go until September 20th. Our visa application is en route right now to Assistant Stork and the embassy is closed tomorrow. The embassy no longer will expedite a visa. I asked what our options were and if we could travel on Monday or Tuesday if that would leave us enough time. We could be on that plane tomorrow if we just had our visas. AA told us that they will call Ust tonight and get a cut off date for us. In the meantime, AA told us to call Assistant Stork and ask them if it was possible for them to request our visa overnight. The man at Assistant Stork was wonderful. He had me print off our flight itinerary for August 8th which Eldo at Golden Rule Travel is able to hold for us until Friday. He then told me to write a pleading letter to the man at the embassy. He said it will depend on what kind of mood he is in whether he will grant us an expedited visa. Assistant Stork will let us know by Thursday at noon whether we will have our visas by our flight on Saturday. If not, we are hoping that we can still go the beginning of next week. So close! On the positive side all of our papers are in order and we will go... it's just a matter of Gods' time.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-23443748910935413712009-08-03T16:55:00.000-04:002009-08-03T16:57:10.447-04:00LOIWE GOT IT!!!!!! I received a call this afternoon. We will be leaving on Saturday, August 15th to be in Ust Kamengorsk on the 17th. Two weeks from today we will be hugging our girls. PRAISE GOD!!!!! More details to follow.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-55562470863381426072009-08-01T11:48:00.000-04:002009-08-01T11:59:03.552-04:00Questions?????We've had an interesting week. Last Friday we received a call from an associate pastor at our church asking us for help. There is a teenage boy in our community that was adopted from Ukraine 6 years ago and has disrupted from his family. The principle at his school has been caring for him for the past 6 weeks and they are looking for a family for him. He immediately thought of us and called. Mark and I were very perplexed by this, asking God, why now when we are maybe a week or two away from going to get our girls would you put this on us. I met with 3 ladies on Thursday to talk about this child's situation. We brought it to our small group for prayer on Thursday evening. The tables have been turned to where Mark can't stop thinking about him and I am thinking... not an option. We've been talking and really praying about it and went our separate ways to do errands this a.m. and Mark just called me from his cell phone. He said he was driving and praying and God really spoke to him about this situation. He referred to Nehemiah 6:3 <span style="font-style:italic;">I'm doing a</span> <span style="font-style:italic;">great work and I can not come down</span>. We have a plaque as you enter our home that was made by Mark's best friend after studying Nehemiah in our small group and this is what the plaque says. We need to keep to the work that God has given us and not get distracted. When Mark shared this with me I got chills. Our adoption has been a HUGE walk of faith for Mark. Thank you Lord for speaking to Mark and him being open to listening to your voice!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-56094533734001705912009-07-29T09:41:00.000-04:002009-08-02T12:18:11.720-04:00Permission NeededWell, it was a very frustrating night last night. It's been a struggle to hold back the tears. I talked to the head of AA and was told that they haven't gotten permission from our girls brothers. Our LOI is ready to be issued but they won't issue it until they get this permission. She told me that the in country coordinator has made a few calls trying to find them but hasn't had any luck yet. We've known all along that this might be a problem but are frustrated because we've also been told several times over the past 5 months that they were going to get it taken care of so there wasn't a delay when our LOI was ready. SIGH!!! God's time! This is very reminscent of our journey 4 years ago which doesn't help my anxiety level. I have made contact with several people to see if I can find the brothers. My nephew got on Russian facebook. No luck. I have sent an email to my friends family that went and found Igor last time to see if they remember any info that might help us locate him again. Not heard back yet. I sent an email to a young lady named Anya who is the daughter of the pastor of a church in Ust. She emailed me back and told me that she has an uncle and cousin who live in the city that Igor was last known to live in. She is checking with them for us. We would also love to have the opportunity to meet the boys when we adopt the girls. We feel it is very important for the girls to reestablish contact and maintain it with their brothers. We also thought that Sasha was going to be our son at one time and would love the chance to meet him and have a relationship with him in the coming years. Alla will be talking again to the in country coordinator in the next few days and will touch base again with us on Thursday. PLEASE PRAY!!!!<br /><br />A very good friend/coworker shared her morning devotion with me:<br /><br />Do not let your heart be troubled.<br /><br />Peace be still.<br /><br />I will send you a counselor and he will tell you the things from the Father.<em></em>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-77942620052729806282009-07-27T17:13:00.000-04:002009-07-27T17:16:53.660-04:00We've Come Out of the Desert!Our 40 day waiting period is over. Yeeeehaw! I received a call today letting us know that our dossier has been approved and released by the MOE and is on it's way to Ust Kamenogorsk!! We also were told that we will be traveling with another family that we have become very good blog/email friends with. What an amazing blessing!!!!! God is sooooo good.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-11705348372306886902009-07-13T10:25:00.000-04:002009-07-13T10:29:38.197-04:00Living LifeI just came across the following saying. It really says what Mark and I strive to do on a daily basis. It reminded me to "enjoy the journey" no matter what twists and turns it takes. I hope you are blessed by reading it!<br /><br /><em> "Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.</em>Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-85361081470729687822009-07-08T20:26:00.000-04:002009-07-10T14:45:39.460-04:00We're Grandparents<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91His9UEfSqAxhyphenhyphenEHwF4awBz_fzbG_9FNXBH9ZdQoCGTp02hBxIAXZNQTk4ilfJl-vRqzBxoXgE2XRF5SORD3ekdvtjQmutNKLjdF46lxu_hmVH2RRMIqtndNHJba3Br9R_8tcblVLRE/s1600-h/DSC03570_0012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91His9UEfSqAxhyphenhyphenEHwF4awBz_fzbG_9FNXBH9ZdQoCGTp02hBxIAXZNQTk4ilfJl-vRqzBxoXgE2XRF5SORD3ekdvtjQmutNKLjdF46lxu_hmVH2RRMIqtndNHJba3Br9R_8tcblVLRE/s200/DSC03570_0012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356904465026091522" /></a><br /><br />Cash Aaron Wolverton, our first grandchild, was born today at 7:47 a.m. to our oldest son Gabe and Christina. It was a grueling 26+ hours and as proven by the last generation of Wolverton boys/men they have huge heads! Cash weighed in at 7lbs 6 oz and is 19 1/2 inches. They are all doing wonderful but are totally exhausted. Mark and I will be spending some time in Orlando over the next week to have the chance to love on our little man. He's absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-23699555178695916422009-07-02T10:06:00.000-04:002009-07-02T10:39:13.374-04:00Forty Days and Forty NightsWe've been notified that our dossier will have a bit of a delay because a key government official is out of the office. One of the other families has blogged that this official will be gone 40 days. I found this information out last p.m. and woke up this a.m. thinking of several biblical references to forty days.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Seven days from now I will send rain on earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.</span> Genesis 7:4<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.</span> Exodus 24:18<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horab, the mountain of God.</span> <br />I Kings 19:7,8<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city..a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.</span> Jonah 3:3-5<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."</span> Matthew 4:1-4<br /><br />So we will also wait 40 days and stand on the promise that God will continue to protect Tanya and Galina. We will continue to believe that he will fulfill the call that he has placed on our family to pursue the adoption of these two young ladies. We will remain in his word so that we will be fed and not enter into temptation from the devil!! Our hunger will be for our family to be in the center of God's will.Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048397512337741070.post-39187779630899648712009-06-17T13:49:00.000-04:002009-06-17T14:01:47.948-04:00Sisters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhex3qqaGvDrZj4Zz0HlsfZ5po1-eQuD8v4NiS9hcqRNtUYJjfL-F4bOA9_PGxxfoGW5i0EvbcMuQoI7TxWY-sikn-RM9Ny8bre8uqc95dPuYKShkFMJOaB0Tp_xNgVWDUKNHC1o_VTU/s1600-h/Copy+(3)+of+galina+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhex3qqaGvDrZj4Zz0HlsfZ5po1-eQuD8v4NiS9hcqRNtUYJjfL-F4bOA9_PGxxfoGW5i0EvbcMuQoI7TxWY-sikn-RM9Ny8bre8uqc95dPuYKShkFMJOaB0Tp_xNgVWDUKNHC1o_VTU/s200/Copy+(3)+of+galina+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348357718435696066" /></a><br />What is the meaning of a sister? Our daughter Lacey has been asking us to find her a sister since she was about 5. She didn't think it was fair that she was the only girl in our family. Of course, I don't count because I'm a "mom girl". I am blessed to have 2 sisters and they are my best friends and confidants. I don't know what I would have done without them by my side. So I sympathize with Lacey and have made efforts for her to have close relationships with her girl cousins and we even had exchange student girls but it just hasn't been the same. As our adoption journey has lasted 6 years Lacey has been frustrated and sad that we haven't been able to get Galina home. You see she was at the airport when Galina arrived 6 years ago and there was no doubt in Lacey's 15 year old mind that Galina was her sister. Lacey went shopping this past weekend and found some awesome sales. She is my shopping girl. She called me and asked while she was in the checkout if I wanted her to go back and pick up a swim suit for Tanya and Galina. I told her to go for it. When she went back up to the cashier he teased her about having 3 suits and she said "The other ones are for her sisters". She called me all choked up because it really hit her that this time her dream of having sisters is really going to happen!!Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18317970521946734578noreply@blogger.com3