Faith. Hope. Love.

On Saturday, February 14th over 200 individuals came to Walnut Grove Park in San Marcos to be a part of saving two lives. 

Lives that have been abandoned, forgotten. 

Lives of two children, a 12 year old girl and 16 year old boy. 

Lives that are currently being lived without parents, with less than 3 small meals, in an orphanage, in a country at war.

They came to show love, not the romantic love associated with Valentine's Day but a better love, a stronger love. 200 people gave up their Valentine's Day morning to donate to a cause and run/walk 3.11 miles for two children that most do not know. Chick Fil a donated 210 chicken sandwiches. Boo Hoo Crew donated over an hour of entertainment, cliff bars, and even wrote a song for the event. Ryan Brothers Coffee donated coffee. The Inbetween Pizza donated a gift card for the winner. Not to mention our other amazing sponsors, Mama Kats, Old California Mining Company, Sign Shop San Diego (contact number is 858 722-7569), Corcoran Coaching... all willingly, without question, to help just 2 of the 153 million orphans in the world.

Many people of those 200 are wearing t-shirts that will spread awareness that their are orphans in the world, orphans that deserve more than what they have been born into. They need faith. They need hope. They need love.
It was not their fault. They are the victims, but yet they are still being punished.

The more I am involved in this cause, in the lives of these children, the more I am beat down by statistics.
How can I do more God? How can I do more?

"Trust in the Lord all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path."

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Emails from Ukrainian facilitators, the adoption agency and messages from Alex fill my inbox.
I am traveling, but when? 
Sources say the end of March.  But I still do not know for sure and will not know until 2-3 weeks before my court date. My first of three trips will be 1 week (most likely over Easter).
Leaving the Easter Bunny and my husband to care for two little girls.

Love them too much

I will be able to visit the children I put on an airplane way back in August. 
It has been 6 months since Yana woke us up yelling for the dog. I can still hear her "YADY, YADY" and Alex in a raspy tired voice telling Yana to leave Lady alone, it 's only 5 am.
It has been 6 months since I have watched Alex fall off his bike, requiring bandaged cuts.
I will bring them more supplies when I go, things like tylenol and vitamins, tooth paste and deodorant, luxuries for them right now. I will spend 3 hours during "visiting hours" with them each day before I return to San Diego. Leaving them to spend more weeks maybe months in the orphanage. 

I am Faithful that God will provide the remaining 13,000 dollars we need to be fully funded.

I am Hopeful that they will be ours before summer. 

I am Loving that this Journey is almost done!

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I have to put in one more order of t-shirts, so if you want to spread awareness and support the adoption of Yana and Alex, please donate to our you caring account 15 dollars per shirt before Friday, February 20th, 2015. Make sure to leave your shirt size and your email address, so I can email you and find out where to send the shirt.



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Summer hosting is up... Here are a few links of organizations 

A Heart for Hosting (the organization we used)

New Horizons For Children




If you feel called to donate toward Alex and Yana, please do so here 

Thank you, 
Kimmy

automatic

"Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race but only one receives the prize? Run in a such a way that you may win."

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

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Things become automatic, sometimes I go through life just going through the motions. Sometimes I am not running the race, or even on the field...

I can drive to work and not even know how I got there. Never thinking once to turn this way or stop at this light.

Things get so busy, most days I am just worried about getting through the day rather than actually living it, actually playing the game.

But I don't want to just play, NO, I want to win.

But what is the prize? Something so much larger than a Lombardi Trophy. So much larger than any gift I could ever receive.

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I seem to be this person that joins every committee.  I can do it, what's one more thing?

I want to be a "good steward." I want to show God's love. Right? but sometimes it's those things that I am joining that become chores, making me overwhelmed with the world around me. More about people and less about God.

It's during those times I loose sight of what is important, "Who am I serving?" (Thank you Meghan)

I am not going to please the world, I am not going to please everyone. But I do not live my life to please everyone.. I am here to please the One who is always faithful to me.

I am here to play the game he wants me to play. 

It's not a daily decision, no, it's an every choice decision. It's a ever time I open my big mouth decision.  

I want to do good works for him, because of my faith in Him and my love for Him. Now, why can't I always remember that?

I just  don't want things to be automatic.

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Reality

In the copy room yesterday, I was talking to a co-worker. She asked me how I was, and I responded livin' the dream...which is my usual response to that question. 

Reality: Apple cider and 7 pm, we were in bed by 8:30

She made me laugh and think when she replied, I know I am your friend on Facebook.

It's funny because, that's not real life, at least that's not my real life. 
Facebook posts are the times when my family is actually getting along and not running down hallways or screaming because they don't have the pink plate. The times when my 3 year old has clothes on. There the times in my day/week when all is calm...so like the 2-5%. Reality is the other 95-98%.

As I look back on my posts, I noticed I portray our family as having it all together.  Why wouldn't we adopt, we all play cards on a Thursday night?!?

Reality: Elliot threw her cards like 3 minutes later, game over.

Well, let me give you a glimpse of the real life uncommon that is actually quiet COMMON (or should I say chaotic?).

Reality:I held Lily's hand up the entire time, look closely at her wrist (my hand)

Reality: The picture says it all

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As I sit not even four feet from my children Tuesday afternoon around 2:00, after giving up on actually having them nap that day, I began to make copies of the 5th (yes, 5th) copy of our Dossier. Trying to make sure I have 3 copies of this form, and 4 copies of that form, but only two copies of the other form...when I hear a loud series of thumps and a cry.
"What happened?" as I look down the stair way...
My five year old put my three year old into their hamper and rolled her down the stairs.
Reality.
A bandaid on a non-bleeding-booboo and one-kiss-from-mommy-later, Elliot and Lily were best friends again, for a second. Then one has the Rapunzel barbie and the other wants it. 
Who wants to watch TV until I can finish this?

Reality: This is like the 15th picture of these three

I can't believe they're trusting me with more kids.

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What are we thinking?

It would be so much easier not to do it. 
I have kids, that are a handful, do I really need more? No. 
Is it easy to leave for almost 17-25 days in the middle of the school year when you are a 2nd grade teacher with 2 little ones at home? No.
Isn't it fun always asking for money from the same small network of people? No, quite possibly the worst part for me.
Then why? Why adopt a 12 year old girl and a 16 year boy?

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These are actual quotes I have heard from people after telling them we are adopting two more. 

"You are such a nice family." Actually we are pretty normal, and totally imperfect even though my Facebook page tells a different story.


"They are so lucky." The last thing I would call Y& A is lucky. They have lived in an institution for almost all their lives. They have to move and leave everything they have ever known (their other siblings, their friends, their life). They will be part of a family with a parent that would have been 15 years old when Alex was born. They will have rules and obligations for the first time in their lives. Lucky would not be the word I would use to describe their situation. (A friend's blog about teenage adopted trials)

Reality: first and last time I have had coffee in bed

"Are they adopted too?" (referring to E&L) No, Lily and Elliot are our biological children, I am not adopting because I can not have my own. It's so much more than that.

"You must have always wanted a big family." hmmm, I guess.

"4 kids, that's a lot." Yup. That is a lot.

"Do they speak English?" They are from Ukraine, but they will learn.

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This is what we are thinking...

This summer, 2 lives walked into our home. They stayed for 8 weeks. They cried, they yelled, they pouted, they ran away (tried to), they cooked, they cleaned, they sang, they laughed, they loved. 
Then they went home.
Two lives back in an orphanage.

You see, we are so blessed, we have been given the opportunity to change two lives for the better. To give 2 lives a future. To give two lives love.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

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We are adopting Alex and Yana because they are 12 and 16 and they need a home. We are adopting Alex and Yana because we are blessed and want to bless others. We are adopting Alex and Yana because they need and deserve love.  We are adopting Alex and Yana so they have a family and friends that will look out and care for them. We are adopting Alex and Yana because God has called us to be their parents. We are adopting Alex and Yana because the greatest is love.

We could have never done it without the amazing support of all our friends and family. 
I am amazed and humbled by the amount of love that our family has received and am so grateful. 

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I guess my point is that we do not have to be a family livin' the dream to adopt. We just have to be a family that loves each other unconditionally; even when our 5 year old rolls our 3 year old down a flight of stairs and we do that.

Adoption update

As I wait on the one final form, clearance from USCIS, reality is setting in. My new reality, a soon-to-be mama of four. God is good.

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Fundraiser time

We are having a 5k here in San Marcos. This Valentine's Day come run for Love. 

Just go on to our donation page, donate 25 for 1 runner or 45 for a family and in the message part write your t-shirt(s) sizes. And your registered. 

If you are out of town-ers, and still want to support us, you can buy a shirt the same way. Go to our donation page and donate 15 dollars but make sure you leave your email so I can get your address. All shirts traveling through the mail will have to wait until after Valentine's day. 

In the "O": "This shirt helped find a home for an orphan in Ukraine"

Thank you all so much!

Kimmy

the happenings

Life style picture to be submitted to Ukraine with our Dossier

So many people have asked what I am doing, how do you adopt, what does it entail... 
I decided to tell you all about what my next 3 weeks will involve as I begin to submit my dossier. This is a fancy smancy word for all the paperwork, documents, interviews, history, blah blah... that is submitted to Ukraine.

I try to wake up a 4 am and get adoption stuff done, emails, appointments, filling out papers. It is the only time in this house that I am alone. It is quite and I have no one bothering me :)

It's actually happening.
Scattered across my antique desk in the upstairs hallway are 5 piles of papers. To do piles. For the last few months, I felt as though this was never going to happen, but as I sit here with these forms and my checklist it seems so reasonable. A huge paradigm shift from my feelings last week. 

So grateful for this feeling Lord, and my many piles. 

Pile #1: Today's todo list: FBI criminal report requests filled out, finger print cards (the real cool old fashion ink kind),  credit card authorization, and USPS priority mail envelope ready to be sent. When I receive the criminal report for both Adam and I, it will need to be notarized and apostilled.

Pile #2: Medical reports to be copied on kaiser letterhead and filled out in blue ink by our amazing doctor (who has already filled out 3 different forms from us in the last 6 months.) As well as a place for him to copy a license. Then it will be notarized and apostilled.

Pile #3: A salary verification form to be filled out by our human resources department, where she has to write in blue pen our net income for the last 6 months starting in July 2014, but first copy it on the district letter head. Then that will be notarized and apostilled.

Pile #4: Proof of home ownership to be filled out by any real estate agent verifying the market value of our home and our monthly payments. Also then notarized and apostilled.

And finally pile #5: Everything else :) 4 copies of Adam's and my passports, petition for a specific child (thats the most exciting form: that one has Alex and Yana's name on it. Asking Ukraine if we can have these specific kiddos, our kiddos), 11 or so other forms that we need to sign in front of a notary. 6 photos  of our everyday life to be submitted, and of course 3 copies of our completed home study. On top of that large pile is a name of a courier.  A person living in sacramento that will walk our completed notarized dossier to California's Secartary of State office to have everything apostilled and sent back to us the same day, for a fee of course.

These are a few of the life style pictures we are submitting to Ukraine

life style picture

When my piles are gone and submitted, I get my dates to travel about a month later. Hopefully my desk will be empty by late January. 
Ukraine here I come.

If you feel called to donate to bringing home Yana and Alex before the new year please do so here.

And thank you, every little bit helps.

This link is the estimated cost of adopting 1 child from Ukraine if anyone is interested. 

Is tomorrow Christmas eve?

"Mommy, how many more days until Christmas?"
"Mommy, is tomorrow Christmas Eve?"
"Mommy you said 2 more days?"

Yesterday, two little girls were hiding behind the decorated christmas tree, slowly peeling back tape on the tissue paper wrapped gifts sent from Grandma in Ohio.

"What are you doing?" I suspiciously questioned from the back yard.
No answer...crickets!
Adam walks inside the house from weeding the hill outside.
"You guys don't need to be over there, we have to wait until Christmas."

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Wait...Waiting. All this preparation, the build up, the excitement, just to WAIT!

"I'm Elliot!"

I remember being a child and wanting to unwrap every gift... oh the despair! Would Christmas ever come?

I also remember the feeling I had when I didn't wait. It was worse...

My mom was on a flight (she was a flight attendant) and my dad was at work. The babysitter preoccupied with my baby sister. I snuck into my parents room from the back yard. Quietly pulling open the rolling mirrored doors. Finding the power ranger toys in my parents closet, all 5 guys where there..I went through the clothes, the candy, there wasn't one thing I didn't uncover.
I have never told anyone this and as I sit here and write, I feel like such a stinker.

I thought it was so much fun, but then hearing something in the hall way, I shoved everything back in the closet and ran outside to pretend like I was swinging on the swings the entire time.

Christmas came that year, and there wasn't one thing in the stocking or under the tree that was special, that was new or exciting. I took away the the marvel, the wonder, the anticipation of the day. I robbed my parents of the expression on my face when I saw the gifts for the first time. I robbed myself of believing.

Things are better when you wait. When you can share the experience with people that truly love you. To be in the timing God wants, not rushed or pushed, but the right time.

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 So lately, "waiting" has been everywhere in my life. Obviously with the Christmas season, but also with the adoption process.
I am trying to wrap my head around how to wait faithfully when there are no signs of encouragement. Only the pressure to push forward from myself, and my friends chatter in my ear to go go go. The question of "when..."

We hadn't received some important papers from our agency and after emailing them 3 times this month we still had not received them.  It was heart wrenching. I asked Adam to get involved and write an email.
(I have really tried to take the reins during this adoption process, since I am only working part-time this year and Adam is in a new position. I basically come to him with stacks of paper and say sign here, and kinda let him know where we are at.) 

So we have basically been at a stand still, so Adam wrote an email asking whats going on and our agency had informed us they will get it done today and send it out, that was Monday. By Friday we still had not received it (or so I thought). This time Adam wrote another email that was not as kind as the first.
Adam is a gracious, kind, warm man, I am the brat in the relationship and it is so obvious that he wrote it because I was loosing faith and couldn't understand why we were still waiting.

 Basically not living by his grace but by my own timing.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path."

Proverbs 3:5-6

After the email was sent, I had a feeling to check the mail again, so I did. In the long mail slot pushed to the way back of our community mail box was a key that said #2. Oh Cr**! I thought...I suck.

I opened the larger mail box and the large orange envelope was sitting there with instructions on what to do next with 5 copies of the pack of papers I needed to move on.

It's official now and all paperwork with a 720 dollar check and 180 dollar check have been sent, or should I say "rushed" to Texas.

And now I wait! We wait! Alex and Yana wait! 

But this time, I got the message God, I will FAITHFULLY wait.

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Yesterday, a guest pastor at our church said something and it made me laugh.

On Thanksgiving day, you smell the turkey cooking in the oven and you just want to pull it out and start the good eatin'...but you know what happens if you don't wait for the turkey to be done???

Salmonella. You are sick with salmonella.
I don't want a life of salmonella. If I rush and push for my timing, than that is what this process will end up being.
A long life of salmonella. Not fun.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

Lamentations 3:25

Thank you God for knowing the path in my life, thank you God for helping me recognize how to minimize the salmonella. Teaching me to wait for you. Trusting in your perfect timing.

I am learning to marvel in His amazing wonder, to faithfully wait and love Him. Everything will fall into place.

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So no more peeking for me, but how do explain this to Lily and Elliot.

I'm not sure my 3 and 5 year old are going to have the peace of trusting in God's timing, and waiting until Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas!
Lots of Love,
Kimmy

Donate to bring Yana and Alex home here

"But for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me."

Micah 7:7

Shampoo for Christmas

"What do you want for Christmas?" 
A question every adult asks around this time of year. 

In the past, I have tried to meet every need, want, care of my girls. I am so guilty of completely over-indulging in the wonderful Christmas season. Which seemed like a good idea, except every year the day has ended with crying, tantrums, screaming, and fighting from over stimulated, extra tired, little girls not quite understanding what we are celebrating. They are/were missing the point. I was missing the point.

But not this year...
Now don't get me wrong, my girls are still getting their roller skates from Santa, but we have completely scaled back. Way. Back. 

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Reality check!
My daughters needs are met here in our warm two story home in San Diego. There is food in our fridge and avocados on our counter. There is hot and cold fresh water coming out of our faucets, jackets hanging in their closets and a mommy and daddy that love them more than life itself.

What do they need... there is never a time that we can not afford to buy them new socks or shoes. There is never a time that we can't afford dinner. I mean things get tight but there has never been a time that God hasn't provided.

He has provided my husband and I jobs. Jobs that support our growing family. And for that I am so grateful.

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"How are you? I miss you. What do you want for Christmas, Alex?"
2 days later I receive a response through Ukrainian Facebook. 
"I cold. I want shampoo." 

The same question was asked by me as a message to Yana. The response I got,
"I too miss you."
She didn't even ask for anything for Christmas. There has been so many times in her life that she has gone without, does she not even know what to ask for? Or is it she doesn't want to be disappointed if the item never comes?

They live in a world I will never know. In a world where Head and Shoulder Shampoo is a luxury. 
I spoke to Vlad, a boy adopted 7 months ago. He told me he would wear 3 pairs of pants and many shirts to keep warm during the winter. And many nights to cold to sleep.

I am sending a box, 29 lbs, filled with winter gloves, coats, Oreos, head and shoulder shampoo (Alex's favorite), almonds, peanut butter pretzels, deck of cards, floss, tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, razors....everything that we take for granted. Everything that we buy in bulk at Costco, and most of it just sits in our cupboards. 

These everyday items are gifts to kids across the world, to kids that do not have a thing that is their own.  Shampoo is a luxury to them.

It makes me stop and think how truly blessed I am. 

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What do you want for Christmas you ask?

Adam and I are a little more focused this year. A paradigm shift from the previous years. 

I have swapped Elf on the Shelf with the Truth About Tinsel this advent season. 
We decided that instead of Christmas gifts, we are going to build family memories. It sounds so much more fun than just opening presents they will play with for a week and then leave in the toy chest. (This is our last Christmas as a family of four, so lets make it memorable).  

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We have been given so much this year. And have been blessed by so many people.  

 I really feel called to give back.

And during this time of year, it's so easy to give...there are so many opportunities.

Every store I go into has a bell reminding me of God's glorious grace, and the fact that I am in a position to give to others. So cool. 
Also, I love those shoe boxes, and the fact I can track them! The girls have tried guessing where our deflated soccer balls are going to go. They think Ukraine.
Oh, not to mention those Angel Trees, they get me every. time. Seeing a sweet kiddos name hanging on a Douglas Fir, I have to take it off and see what they want. I loved having the girls pick out things for an 8 year old boy who likes action figures and Lego's and wears a size 7/8. 

"The LORD sends poverty and Wealth; he humbles and he exalts."

1 Samuel 2:7

Now, I would love to say the girls have totally changed this Christmas season, but that is sooooo not true.

The girls still do not understand that receiving does not need to be in excess. 
"I want. I want. I want." is a phrase that is oh so popular in their 3 and 5 year old vernacular. 
I pray that they learn to be satisfied with all they have, and not feel the need to always want more. 
It's crazy, walking through stores with them is like a scene from Finding Nemo. "Mine. Mine. Mine."

Someday they will get it. I hope.

Adoption Update...so we didn't make the December 10th deadline. Frustrating, I know, but everyone who says adoptions take forever...they are very right.

We are currently doing a Adorn for Adoption jewelry fundraiser. A fellow mommy, who has adopted from the same orphanage has graciously offered to sell Chloe+Isabel Jewelry on our behalf. All proceeds go to bringing Yana and Alex home. Please check it out, all purchase made through this link will fund our adoption. This fundraiser ends Monday December 8. Order now and get it in time for Christmas. Jewelry Fundraiser. 

And as always if you feel called to help, donate here.

Lots of love,
Kimmy

A Free Garage Sale?

One of my favorite passage in the bible is Philippians chapter 2, especially the first part where we are told to imitate Christ's humility.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Philippians 2:1-4

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On Saturday, we had another fundraiser, with all the proceeds going to bring Yana and Alex home. 

Garage sale #2

My neighborhood only allows one garage sale a year, so a friend of mine offered to have it at her house. After the last sale, I was ready to donate everything but was convinced by friends that we needed to do another one. 

I half-heartedly agreed to the fiasco, kicking and screaming, saying it's too much work. 

Only 1 of 3 loads of donations being brought to my friend house.

Basically, only thinking of myself, being selfish, rather than thinking of the reason why we are having these fundraisers. Adopting two children, my children. 

My friends, whom I have known for years and years, because of my gracious attitude told me I wasn't allowed to help.

I wasn't allowed to be in control (which I love to be)...

I wasn't allowed to organize...

I wasn't allowed to worry.... 

I wasn't allowed to show up until the day of the event. 

Good friends, the ones that were looking out for me, and the ones I can't be insulted by because they are really doing whats best for me. I consider myself lucky because through this journey, I have been able to count on SO many people like this. 

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Waking at a crisp 4:30 am, I was up and ready 2 hours before I was allowed to come...Swingin' by a Starbucks as a thank you to everyone, I showed up at 5:45 (Starbucks doesn't open until 5:30 on Saturday). Only to be told I wasn't suppose to be there for another half hour, "but i just couldn't wait!!!"

I walked into the event feeling so humbled by all the items donated and all the work put into it. 

I felt like sharing that blessing...

Isn't that what we are suppose to do, bless others as we have been blessed. Knowing that this would probably be the last garage sale and already having donation centers set up to donate the leftovers (A women's shelter and Goodwill) we could give to everyone. 

 Lord,  let everyone who needs these items feel called to come, 

let them be blessed by the event. Let them have their needs met today.

We decided to give it to God! Let him to do his work in people. 

We made it an outreach rather than just another garage sale.

Around 9:45, we decide everything was going to be free. We decide to just ask for donations to the cause, whatever they wanted to give for the items they were taking, whatever God called them to give. People received boxes of new clothes, a bike, decor, shoes...for what ever they felt called to give.

It was an amazing outreach, telling people the story of Yana and Alex and sharing the statistics of orphans in Ukraine that have aged out of the system. I much prefer this conversation, rather than giving people prices and bartering.  It became about Jesus, and his love.

We were able love on and meet so many people that may have only been strangers to us if we had given prices. We heard their stories and their experiences. The things they needed. 

A women came around 11am, she was wearing a white tank top and a pair jeans held on by a rubber band around the button.Three inches of her pregnant belly lay bare in between her bottoms and top. She must be around 8 months pregnant.

Her large belly made it troublesome to sort through the enormous pile of women's clothing lying on two tarps. So, I began to pull out pieces, I thought might fit her.  
She was given 4 pairs of maternity jeans and 3 maternity tops, with a few other baby items. Nothing extravagant, only baby necessities. 

Her worried eyes glanced at the pile we began to make for her. As she started to put things back, we told her with our arms and my spanish accents "no, no.."
She only smiled in astonishment when I explained in broken spanish the items were  "solo donación," only donations. She graciously picked up the items and began to open her wallet. Maybe she didn't understand, I thought... but she did, she gave us all she had, 3 dollars and 16 cents. 
As her thin arms cling to the clothing, and she slowly walked off the driveway and down the hill, I thought of the widow's offering and how she gave all she had to the temple, and there I thanked the Lord.

Thank you God for sending her today. 

I prayed that we blessed those who needed the things at the sale. I prayed that we planted seeds and informed those who wanted to hear of the love of God and what He is doing in our lives.

"for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." 

Phillipians 2:13

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I obviously fall so short of being the person in the bible passage I love. But, on Saturday, I was able to live for the Lord more than my common day to day life. Through all the donations, all the blessings, I could bless others and share the love of Christ. I could live out my favorite passage. 

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Confession time:

I have been garage shopping too, so if I am wearing your boots or shirt or sweater next time you see me...I promise I traded an item from my closet for every item I took. And thank you. :)

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Adoption update: 

We are half way funded in a short 2 months! (AMAZING!) 

Homestudy is complete and has been sent to USCIS, only recently. 

We are hoping to submit our paperwork to Ukraine by December 10, if we can’t :( we will have wait until the end of January, as Ukraine does not accept anymore applications until then. This will put the adoption time line back almost 7 weeks. 

Please join me in prayer that everything is submitted prior to the 10th of December, and is approved. That God will rush everything, we will have our children home before Spring. 

Lily, Yana and Elliot, being a family (I do not know what's on Yana head) :)

If you feel called to help, please donate here.