For the least of these: Dynamics of a Family

Wow! I've been in my little bubble of a family of three, with one child, for 10 years now. Let me tell you that the dynamics of a family changes drastically when you triple your child count. Hmmm, what if you wake up tomorrow with 6 kids? 9 kids? 12 kids? What would that look like for your family? OK, some of my friends already have 6, 9 or 12 kids but for some of us, that would be a really big deal! For our family, much has changed. We go through almost an entire jug of orange juice in one sitting. We run the dishwasher daily. We go through almost a dozen eggs at breakfast. We buy more than one watermelon at a time (see the last picture). Brushing teeth takes 3 times as long. Showers seem never ending. And other things changed that I just can't explain in writing. Things such as trying to be fair (which is especially hard when we don't speak Russian), spreading our love equally, making sure everyone gets our attention, determining "who started it" etc. Before, there were no worries about determining "who started it" because there was only one "who" that could have started it!

We hosted last summer (twice) and this time around, it is different as night and day. However, a lot within those two hostings prepared us for this hosting. As much as we were heartbroken when Lidiya, Andriy and Vlad did not want to be adopted, I sort of feel like maybe, just maybe, God kinda knew what He was doing. Gotta love when that happens! When I am with these kids, I just feel...............complete. They had me at "privet"!! I honestly can't say I felt that way before. I don't know what it is, I just know that it is different.

From the minute they got off the plane, I felt it. They practically ran into our arms. Alex held me so tight and did not want to let go. They had tears in their eyes and it was such a special moment. Even the chaperone had tears in her eyes!! They fit into our family. It feels natural. Lilya has a cute personality and likes to tease and play around. Today, we ran errands together and at the post office, she took my keys without me seeing and put them in her pocket. When we got out to the truck, I searched frantically for them...in my purse, in my pocket, everywhere...I even start to head back into the post office to search. She starts cracking up and pulls the keys out of her pocket and says, "Haha Mama"!! Too funny!!! Oh and yep, they call me "mama"! And I love it!

Alex just melts my heart when he wakes up in the morning and says "dobroe utro" (good morning) and gives me a big hug...one where he wraps his arms all the way around me!!

I've gotten more hugs and kisses from them in the 4 days that they've been here than I got in the entire 5 weeks last summer. They show an ability to bond. They freely give hugs and kisses. They are very thankful for everything they are given. They have emotions and aren't afraid to show them. The other day Alex was "joking" and told Coby he was fat. When papa told him that wasn't nice, he said that he was only joking but papa told him that wasn't a funny joke. When we got home, he went in his room and cried uncontrollably. We called someone to help us ask him what was wrong. He said that he was sorry for saying that to Coby and that he really was a good boy. He felt really bad for what he said and this just gave us an opportunity to show grace and forgiveness!!

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

I know it has only been 4 days but holy toledo (am I "allowed" to say that as a Christian? I always wondered!!), I am in hog heaven!!! I have a fire under my tail to get moving on this adoption because I want to go back and get them.......like......yesterday!!!!! Tonight I asked Lilya if she liked living in the orphanage and she said, "No, who likes living there?" I want to get them out of that place!!! It is dark. It is dismal. I've been told it is one of the worst orphanages in Ukraine. Will you please help by praying that the Lord will move in mighty ways for us to get them? We need Him to move in the process so that it moves fast! We need Him to provide financially....the cost is approximately $32,250 and we have a total of $1,200 available to go towards their adoption. $1,200. One thousand, two hundred (just in case you thought maybe I was missing a zero or put the comma in the wrong place). We have a long ways to go but we know that the Will of God does not take you where Grace of God does not cover you.

2 Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

We truly believe that this is His will for our lives and we will go....we just need your help and most importantly, your prayers!

Here are some pictures of the kids since they have been here....

At the airport....very special moment I will never forget!