Travel!?!?

We heard back TWO days after accepting the referral that Russia wanted us there in TWO weeks!!!! WHAT!?!?!? I was still in Birmingham when I got this call (of course) and really started freaking out at this point. Barry can’t travel then! AND the dates that they wanted us there are over my brother’s wedding. :( I couldn’t get in touch with Barry and went from crying to shaking to just being an emotional wreck. Finally (it seemed like years but it probably was only 10 minutes) I heard back from Barry and was able to share the dates that Russia requested us there. He told me that he would talk to his supervisors to figure out if this was at all a possibility but was doubtful that he would be able to travel that week. (He works at a nuclear power plant and at this point in the process they are taking final tests, etc. that CANNOT be missed.)

While he looked into if we could make this work, my lovely friends kept me calm, talked through everything with me and really helped me keep my sanity. When I heard back from Barry he sounded excited and the first thing he said was, “God worked out all of the details!” A huge weight just lifted from my shoulders and I started crying, again….like almost boo-hooing crying. I was so relieved!

The way his schedule was originally set up he would not have been able to travel that week but three weeks ago the schedule changed, freeing up that exact week!!! It is so amazing to me how God just works out all of those details. Why oh why do we ever doubt Him?? We still will be missing my brother’s wedding which is extremely sad…but luckily my family is so supportive and completely understands. Thanks David and Emily! :)

We will be travelling to Russia May 14-19 to meet our baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess What!?!?!

We have a referral!!!!

I received the call from our worker, Terri, while sitting at a gas station :) letting us know that we had a referral! The call we have waited for soooo long to get!!! And of course, I was on the road headed to a big work event. It seems like EVERY time I get adoption news I am headed to a work event, I am in the car with my coworkers and I have no access to computers/UPS/etc. It’s pretty weird actually, but I’ll take it. :) And thank GOODNESS for smart phones!! Thankfully I was able to get in touch with Barry at work and was able to share the news with him. I think we were both in shock but so very very excited that this day had come!

Stay tuned for more to come of our story... :)

Adoption Book Reviews

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately to get ready for Russia and our child! I thought I would share a few of the books that I have read in case anyone is interested in educating themselves about international adoption. :)

 

 

“Adopting a Toddler: What Size Show Does She Wear?” by Denise Harris Hoppenhauer

This is a great book for anyone that is adopting a toddler, specifically internationally. She goes through very specific suggestions for what to bring when you travel, questions to ask orphanage workers, how to figure out what size shoe your child wears, how to handle bed time, meal time, etc. Some of it is very basic parenting advice that is a review for anyone who has any experience working with children, but the adoption specific information was great! I made myself a ton of lists/notes from the book!

 

“Risk and Promise: a Handbook for Parents Adopting a Child From Overseas” by Chasnoff, Schwartz, Pratt and Neuberger

Another great book! This one starts off a little technical but gets more applicable as you go. A lot of the book prepares you for the background and history of your child and how to interpret/understand it. The book covers everything from pregnancy and the factors (drugs, alcohol, maternal age, gestational age, etc) that may effect the health and growth of the newborn. It discusses possible infections (HIV, Hepatitis A,B,C, etc), growth patterns, child development, etc. And then the best part are all of the charts in the back of the book. It includes growth charts, parent observation forms to take to the orphanage/foster home with you, questions for orphanage staff, developmental checklist, attachment observations, etc. Very helpful!! I have many of them printed off to take with us to Russia.

 

 

“In On It: What Adoptive Parents Would Like You to Know About Adoption…A Guide for Relatives and Friends” by Elisabeth O’Toole

Very basic overview of the adoption process, paperwork, child’s privacy, talking about adoption, how to answer difficult questions, etc. It is a very easy read and I think a really good book for anyone that is touched by adoption, including grandparents, friends, etc.

 

 

“Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child: From Your First Hours Together Through the Teen Years” by Patty Cogen

I am not sure how I feel about this book. She has some great suggestions and thoughts…for one, I like how she refers to the child’s family age. If the child is chronologically a 5 year old but has only been in your home for one month you cannot expect him to act like a 5 year old! Instead, nurture him like you would a child that is much longer. She also talks some about the brain and the impact that neglect/abuse/trauma can have on brain development, attachment and growth. That part was good. Some of her ideas though I think are sort of out there and a little wonky. It’s a really long book and I got bored halfway through and have still not finished.

 

Okay, that’s all for now. I hope that helped someone. :) What good adoption books have you read?

Quote of the Week

“Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic.”

That’s good isn’t it?? I read it in my devotional this past week and have been able to apply it about a hundred times since then. :) Just wanted to share!

Adoption is Greater Than The Universe

Here is a short five minute clip of John Piper talking about God’s heart for adoption…
(You'll have to pause the music on the bottom of the blog page to hear it.)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6