FAQ

We have had a lot of people ask a lot of questions and we are so thankful that everyone is interested in what we are doing!!  Thank you for asking questions.  Thank you for praying.  We are blessed and there is no other way to put it.  I thought I would put together a list of some of the questions we get asked the most.  :)

• Are you going to Ukraine to actually bring the kids home?

          Nooooooo, why would you think that?  We are actually flying all the way across the ocean to the other side of the world to take some pictures of the kids and then we will head back home to catch the Super Bowl!  Ummmmmmmmm....YES, the plan is to go and bring the kids home.  However, we are treating this like a pregnancy and just like if you are 9 months preganant and getting ready to deliver, anything can happen.  Please don't feel bad if you were one of the many people that asked us this question.....it really is a valid question because people that haven't adopted truly don't know how it works - it is just kinda funny to be on the receiving end of the question.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be liking asking someone who is in labor and heading to the hospital...."are you going to the hospital to actually have the baby?"  For that person, they are probably thinking, "duh, what else would I be going to the hospital for" but for the person who truly doesn't know, it isn't a silly question. :)

• How long will you be gone and are all three of you going?

          Yes, all three of us are going!  We wouldn't want Coby to miss out on this opportunity for the world!!  This will be a life changing experience for him.  We want him to experience the culture of his siblings and really gain an understanding of where they live, how they live, what they eat, where they sleep, etc.  Danny and Coby will come home after court; which will be about 2-3 weeks and then April will stay the rest of the time.  April will be gone anywhere from 5-8 weeks.  But don't worry - someone will be at our house and holding the fort down here.

• If Coby is going - is it going to be OK for him to miss that much school?

          Yes!  We are very blessed by a very understanding school and teacher.  Coby has been working on schoolwork for the past 2 weeks and he is going to school on Saturday to try and get some more work done.  His teacher is going to take time our of her schedule on a Saturday to meet with him - what a blessing she is!!!!  And - I would never think any child would be excited to go to school on a Saturday.....except mine!  Haha!!

• What does Coby think about you adopting?

         Coby has been asking for siblings since he was 2 years old.  He is very excited to have a brother and a sister.  He will struggle and have some challenges but if you can show me a family with more than one child that doesn't have any struggles or challenges, I'd love to meet them!!!  We have been in prayer about this very seriously for the past 2 years.  God has made it clear that this is what he wants for our lives.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).  So, I am not worried - I know God's got this.  Coby and all.
 

• How come you are adopting kids in the Ukraine when we have so many children in America that need families?

          This is a really long answer and I don't want to bore you to death.  So, I am giving you the shortened, long version!  For one, we are doing what we feel the Lord is leading us to do.  I am not saying that to be cliche....I really mean it!  This is the direction He has put for our lives and so we are going.  Two, we do understand that there are many children in America that need families.  However, statistically, orphans in America can still make something out of their lives, if they choose to.  They do have that choice.  Orphans in these Eastern European countries simply do not have that choice.  They literally are dealt their fate.  They are told where they will go to school and what they will study.  And the jobs they are offered are awful.......just awful!  They are not treated like human beings...they are just a number.  And the statistics of what happens to orphans once they "age out of the system" is astonishing.  I am not quoting exact statistics here but just to give you an idea....approximately 90% of orphans will fall to drugs, alcohol, crime, human trafficking or suicide.  It's a very sad reality and that is part of the reason we are driven to help these children.

• How much does it cost to adopt and aren't there a lot of other ways you could help and not spend so much money?  

          It will cost us approximately $34,000.  Yes, there are other ways that we could help and not spend so much money but it will be worth all of the effort, time and money invested.  Every minute.  Every penny.  These children are priceless.

•  When you come home with the kids, can we come to the airport to welcome them home?  

            YES!!!!!  Please do!!!  We want to show Lilya and Alex that they are loved by a lot of people and I think the best way to initially show them is to have a huge welcoming crew at the airport!  Come with signs, balloons, stuff animals, lots of hugs and smiles!!!  They will be very excited and surprised to see how "famous" they will be the day they arrive home!  Shoot - if the media wants to show up, we welcome them, too!!!  It will be a huge celebration!  
  

We will take lots of photos and I will be blogging.  I have had some suggestions to post lots of pictures and blog just a little!  So, I will definitely try and post a lot of pictures!!!  Thank you for following our journey.  We leave in three days to go see what is so precious to us!

I hit the Jackpot Today!

I scored the jackpot today!!  A Lego Magazine came in the mail and Coby freaked out - he was so excited!  You would have thought he won the lottery!

Here's how this played out. 

Me:  Oh honey, you have to earn that magazine. 
Coby:  Whaaaat?!?!  That's cheap, Mom (as he STOMPS across the house).  What do I HAVE to do to earn it?  Please do not say I have to do ALL my homework!
Me:  Well, first of all, when you say "that's cheap, Mom", I find that very disrespectful.  And second of all, stomping across the house, well now THAT really makes me want to give you the magazine.  Third of all, you are lucky I don't say that you have to do ALL your homework every day this week before you can earn it. 
Coby:  OK, I'm sorry, Mom...I didn't mean to be disrespectful.  What do I have to do to earn it?
Me:  As a matter of fact, you DO have to do ALL your homework (all my friends out there - you knew that was coming, didn't you?!?!  I mean, did he walk right into that one or what??), you have to do ALL your chores and THEN.... I will still decide if you have earned it based on the aforementioned AND your *attitude*.
Coby:  Sigh....OK.  I will do all my homework and I will do all my chores and I promise to have a good attitude!

Result:  Homework done?  Check.  Chores done?  Check.  AMAZING attitude?  Check!  As a matter of fact, he finished all his homework and chores before dinner (note this is a record) and then asked if he could now have his magazine.  When I said, "No, we need to eat dinner first and then we will see how your attitude is", he said, "OK, no problem.  As a matter of fact, I am going to go ahead and do another History Sheet while I am waiting!"  Whaaat?!?!  Where did my son go?  Did he just volunteer to do MORE homework??  Then, he also OFFERED to help me clean up the kitchen??

Can Lego send my son a magazine in the mail EVERY DAY?

Rest for my weary soul

I am so blessed.  I say that often and I don't mean it to be cliché....I truly, truly feel blessed.  The Lord has blessed us beyond measure.  Even during the battle, He has blessed us.  Actually....it's during the battle that I feel the most blessed. Why?  Well, because that's when I see Him do the most work!!!  When Danny and I are walking through the fire, that is when we can see the hand of the Lord God Almighty at work most in our lives.  I've looked back through the times when we has allowed us to walk around the fire and realize that we were not nearly as blessed as the times when we had to walk through the fire.  

This is no exception.  Adoption is not for those who want to walk around the fire.  It just isn't.  Especially if you are adopting from the same Eastern European Country that we are.  It is unbelievably hard.  It is challenging on my faith.  I have cried out many times to God "WHY Lord God....WHY?!?"  However, if I had to do it all over again......I wouldn't change a thing.  While it challenges my faith, it also strengthens my faith beyond what I would have possibly imagined!  I love seeing the Lord answer prayers.  Even when the answer is "no".  And we are never promised that we will find out why the Lord chooses to say no but when we do find out why.....oh, it is splendid!!!!!  We have had the joys in this adoption journey of hearing the Lord say "no" and then realizing later that His 'no' was very good!!!  Love when that happens!!!!

 

We have been waiting and waiting for a travel date.  The dossier process that started on August 1st has made me weary.  I am tired.  There are times when I am cranky.  I have cried many tears.  I have just felt the need for a nap and didn't wake for 3 hours.  When our dossier was submitted, I thought to myself, "whew....glad that's over.  Now, I can rest".  Ummmmm...yeah right!  Sometimes just the waiting part alone doesn't allow you to rest.  On top of that, all the things that must be done....especially as a business owner.  Oh my, the things we have had to do.  But....but....but....the hardest part.....has been the wait.  The unknown.  And now.....we know.  Now, I feel that I may have some rest for my weary soul!!  Of course, the only true rest for our weary souls is found in Christ!!!

So, the answer everyone has probably been waiting for......our SDA Appointment will be on November 19!!!!  We will be booking our airline ticket soon and should be leaving on Friday, November 16.  We will get to bring our kids home!!!!  We may not be home before Christmas but that matters not because we will still celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Even if it means celebrating apart and then celebrating again once we reunite!  I will keep the blog updated while I am gone and will post lots of pictures.

The biggest issue between now and November 16th is the fact that we are still shy from being funded.  Will you prayerfully consider how you can help?  I have said it many, many times but I really hope that if you are reading this and thinking "but I don't have much to give"....that is OK!!  Every bit helps.  Every dollar.  Some can only give $20 and that is a stretch for them.  Others can give $100 and that is a stretch for them.  If you can give anything...anything at all, will you please give?  Please be in prayer and consider how you can help.  If you have already given.......THANK YOU!!!