Pictures for a book for Ana

Papa

Mama

Tater

Baby G, who isn't much of a baby. He is more aptly known as 'Small Porgies' or 'Porgies' for short :-)

We have travel dates!

Now pour on the wisdom, folks!

Only Papa can go, how do we communicate while he is in the country?

Any advice for what to pack/what not to pack?

He will be traveling at the end of June/beginning of July. We appreciate your prayers!

Waiting

Dear Anastacia,

We are waiting right now.  We would very much like to come visit you, meet you, and know who you are.  We pray for you.  Your biggest brother reminds me if I forget sometimes (but I don't forget you).  God knows you, and God does not forget you.  God has plans for you, Ana, and for our whole family.  I don't know what those are, but I know they are wiser than I could ever imagine.

We are working on the new house - it should be the house you come home to, and we want to make it clean, snug, and welcoming for you.  Your brothers are growing fast.  I wonder how big they will be when you come home.  (I wonder how big you will be when you come home.)  You have very nice brothers, and they will help take care of you.

You also have the best Mama in the world, though you don't know that yet.  You will.

Your Papa wants to lead his family to Jesus, and that's the most exciting thing we have to tell you: Jesus loves you.  We will work on this one a lot.  Your brothers are learning it, too. Your Mama and Papa are still learning it.

We love you,
Papa

Tater on Ana...

Our oldest is now somewhat aware of the adoption process and likes to talk about Ana.

Whenever he sees the picture of Ana, he says "there's Ana! She's wearing a zyelyony [Russian for green] shirt!"

When we listen to our CD of folk music from Ana's country, he announces "Ana knows this song!" at the beginning of every track.

"She will be a baby," he says. "She will think I am funny."

When he makes 'families' he always includes an Ana character.

I am so excited to see how they interact! I think he will be an excellent brother :-)

Approved (again)

Our updates to our I800a were finally approved! Hopefully this is the last thing needed to get our dossier reviewed in Ana's country!

Also Adeye at No Greater Joy Mom wrote this awesome encouraging post...

Dear Ana,

It has been a long time since we made a commitment to adopt you, and an even longer time since I first saw your sweet little face on Reece's Rainbow. I remember the excitement of scraping together everything in the bank to pay the commitment fee-we couldn't wait to get on our way to bringing you home!

Now it feels like we have been on our way forever. Your little brother G has grown from a newborn to a babbly crawly six month old and still we haven't made our first visit with you. 

I wonder about you; do you look at all like the picture that we have of you? Are you doing well? Are you warm enough at night? Do you get yummy nourishing food? Does anybody look at you and make you smile?

I pray for you, that God would keep you warm and safe and bring you home to us soon. I pray that He will prepare you for us, and that your little heart will be able to love your family.

We aren't much, just a mama and a papa and two brothers. Our house isn't that big, and we don't have fancy stuff. But we are a family. Papa and I are commited to loving every child in our family and giving them the very best. That means you, too, Ana! It won't always be easy, for us or for you, but God will take care of us and give us the strength to glorify Him as we love each other.

We hoped to have you home by August (that's when your country and every other country in Europe goes on vacation, sweetie), but now with the updates that we have had to do through USCIS I am not very hopeful. Maybe we can get our first set of travel dates before then?

Ana, I am so excited to meet you, because God has lead us to you and I know He only gives His people the very best. You will be the perfect daughter for us! You will be the perfect sister for your brothers, and cousin for your cousins, and niece for your Aunts and Uncles, and granddaughter for your grandparents! Did I tell you that we have a large extended family? We do. We will make sure that you don't get overwhelmed by them all at once and try to break them down in to manageable pieces :-)

Ana, I am praying that God will work wonders in the slow bureaucracy of our government and yours and bring you home to us speedily!

I love you!

Hugs and kisses,

Mama

Just waiting...

Doing the next right thing...

Trying not to be angry with institutions that seem so disorganized...

Trying not to feel guilty that we can't do more...

Wishing for travel dates...

Putting our trust in God that He is using all these little things for our good and His glory...

Praying for Anastacia that God would preserve her and encourage her while she waits and waits for the family that she doesn't know is coming...

Cast your burden on the LORD,

and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22