Home Study, Paperwork and Stories...OH MY!

I have our registration packet pretty much ready to go out the door. The biggest challenge was getting a close up picture of David and I. Can you believe we don't have pictures of just us over the last year or so? This is what happens when children enter your life. We had Katelyn (our 4 year old) take a picture. She is really good with a camera. Thank goodness for digital! Our final home study meeting is next week and the home study should be completed about 2 weeks after that date. I spoke with our agency contact for over an hour today. We went over the Russian paperwork in detail. I'm going to start working on it full steam ahead over the coming weeks. We feel fairly confident we should have our child early next year. Apparently Russia shuts down for almost the entire month of January so February/March is fairly realistic if we don't have any major bumps along the way. Anyone who knows me is already chuckling at the fact I'll be in Russia during the dead of winter. AM I CRAZY?!?

We spoke to a friend of a friend tonight about his experience with adopting from the Ukraine. He has two boys (adopted ages of 2 and 4). He adopted them almost 4 years ago and they're doing great. He had a pretty amazing story to tell. The part that sticks out most in my mind is how much these children just want to be loved. They just want someone to nurture them. I know the trips to Russia are going to be hard on me and will really test me. I will witness a world I choose to normally pretend doesn't exist. It's so much easier to think all children are healthy, happy and loved. Reality will hit me hard and I know my emotions will be hard to keep controlled.

And as a final thought....please pray for our son. He is living in Russia and has no idea how much his life is going to change in just a few months. Until the day we hold him in our arms may God keep him safe. Yes, just like a pregnancy you love them before you even hold them....