It has been longer than usual since I have posted and thought it would be good to give an update of things. Last night we had some friends over for dinner and a great time of devotion, sharing how God is moving in each of our lives. We always know first hand how God is working in our own lives, but it is so amazing to hear how he is working in others lives at the same time ! God has placed the right people in my life at the right time and this Christmas that is what I am thankful for the most. Of course for my own children he gave me, when he gave them to me, and now for the 2 beautiful daughters I have fallen in Love with. His timing is always perfect ! But beyond that, he has placed amazing, supportive family members, and friends that have become my family throughout all of these changes that this year has brought. Most days I feel like I do not deserve how he has provided for us in abundance the way he has. This time of the year, it is always easy to think about where you started this year and where you are sitting now. WOW !!! I never would have guessed it would have been like this for us. That is why God's plan is always better than ours!
The excitement and the anticipation has been building round here the past few weeks. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. But so many times, I have been reminded to take in and absorb every moment of this process we are in. Seeing the people who are ahead of us in this process over there with their kids and interacting with other kids, it has given me so much excitement and anticipation to go see our girls ! I am excited to get to know them better, I am excited for the all the hugs I am going to get, I am excited to meet their friends, who have been there family the last 6 years of their life, and I am ready to see what life is like for them at the orphanage. I knew this whole time, that going there and seeing where they came from was going to be the moment that made this the most real for me. When they were here in America, all the kids were happy and easy to get to know and fall in Love with. They got enough food, enough hugs, enough entertainment...etc. But I knew going there and seeing them in the midst of the orphanage and seeing kids that don't have a family, that is is going to hit me. When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to travel with a missions team to Russia. The experience was unlike anything I had ever experienced to that point in my life. We went and visited a few orphanages and I can remember it like it was yesterday. As a 15 year old kid myself, it was almost too much to take in. I remember the looks on their faces and the hopelessness that was behind all the big eyes. It made me feel angry that those kids had to endure what they were. I can remember leaving one orphanage in particular with the knowing that they did not stand too good of a chance, and that really bothered me. The whole trip for me was overwhelming and almost too much for me to process as a child myself. I told people when I returned that I was glad I went, but would never go back and realized that I was not going to be a missionary after that trip. Deep inside though, I knew that there would always to be something inside of me that had a desire to help others. It was too hard for me to face the reality of those kids lives and situation at the time, so I tried to forget and move forward. Do I think it is a coincidence that God is now taking me back to the same part of the world now this time around being able to do what I wanted to do all those years ago but couldn't? No, he started preparing me all those years ago for this very moment when I get to go back. Why is it so many times we forget about certain emotions and hide them just to deal with them easier. I came home from my 2 week mission trip all those years ago, seeing the roughest, hardest conditions I have ever seen, even to this day, and I made myself forget, so I didn't have to think about it. As americans, we have to luxury to forget about all those who are suffering and have less than us. We don't have to acknowledge it, we can live our lives, our way and that is that. But God knows we are capable of better. It only a few moments of meeting Ana and these other kids to bring those feelings back and the feeling of doing more. It is somewhat hard to explain what these kids have done for me. It is like a new kind of love and emotion that you have never felt before, and once you have felt it, you HAVE to have more of it. I cling to every word, every picture that I see from this orphanage. I Love all these kids and want to be around all of them. It is a simple love.
We got to skype about an hour ago with our girls,my Mom and Eric, my brother Dema, Artyr, and Vika McCracken. What a gift it is every time. I actually did not even have too many words because it hit me that these 2 beautiful girls I was looking at on the computer screen Love me back and want me to be their Mama. I can't comprehend how nobody would not want them or how nobody in their remaining family has came to visit them in the past 6 years. Russie and I can give them what they don't have right now, a family, love and we are able to provide for them, and they in turn are giving us new Love that we would have lived our whole life without if God had not of chosen them for our family. Thank you for your continued prayers and the prayers that you have supported my Mom and Eric with. They had their court date today and will finish it up on Monday. They have a peace and assurance that it will end the way they want it to, but none the less, they are asking for prayers for Dema, for the stress it has taken on him. Dema is so excited to come to America and he asks Syvette everyday, when he can go. I pray each of you have a wonderful and blessed CHRISTmas this year and the best new year yet ! I know I couldn't be more excited how our new year is starting out !!!
Here is our Christmas Card for this year...and I am also posting some video and pictures of the girls taken in the last few weeks..
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| If you notice the picture on the back of the card here, there is a story behind this picture...when the girls were we went to a picnic with my Mom's church...we were all sitting on that log getting our picture when out of no where comes Artyr ( Soon to be Artyr Rose ) with a squirt gun and just lets loose on us. It was great moment and thank you Artyr for making a great shot for our card !!! |
Not sure if you can read the text or not, but I could not make it any bigger.
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| The girls modeling their new coats we sent over for them, Lori had asked Anslee if there was anything she wanted brought back over for her when she came back and she told her a warm coat and some boots. |
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| Trying out her new camera, we are excited to see all the pictures they took when we come over |
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| Vika with her new camera. She was in the hospital for 12 days. I guess it is routine for every 12 year old to go to the hospital for testing. We are so glad to see her back at the orphanage so she can catch up with all her family and friends !! |
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| My Mom, Dema, Eric, Vika McCracken, and all smiles in the back is Artyr . |
And here is a video clip that Eric took of Anslee and Lena dancing in their Christmas play. We asked her this morning if she was going to dance in America, and we are hoping she will. She said " Papa Dance", so I am thinking if we can get Russie to do a few dances, she will too when she comes !!!
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