Monday, March 30, 2009
Hands to hold
The anticipation is high in our family. We are full of excitement and anxiety as we await news of our official court date. Justin and I are so ready to give Blake the biggest hug ever. Brady and Madison are excited for us to get over there and get back so they can begin to teach Blake all of their newest tricks. As I was looking through a few pictures, I realized how excited I was to see Justin’s big hands (and heart) holding Blake again. We are so blessed. So here is a sneak peak at the hands we can’t wait to hold!
Look PaPa! Fish stickers for everyone!
High Piat! (Piat is 5 in Russian)
Looking through his pictures. Lovin’ the blue tights!
Oye! Papa is such big help with the train!
Can’t get enough of that water! (Looks like that bottle must have come from Seoul) and look at those cute cheeks!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Another step in the right direction!
It seems like months ago that our papers were submitted to the court, when in reality it was just 4 days ago. We received another mini update from our agency today. I can’t tell you how even the smallest updates sooth our nerves. It is like craving chocolate and getting just ONE Hershey’s Kiss – it is just enough to take the edge off! (o: So here is the latest info…
Our dossier (that is the fancy name for all of our paperwork) was submitted to court. The judge was assigned and has already reviewed our documents. Right now our documents are being reviewed by the prosecutor's office. Once that is done we should find out the court date. Our agency still believes that our court date will be sometime in April. Our first documents to expire are our medicals. If you remember they cannot be more than three months old. The three month mark is on April 24th. Hopefully we are looking at a date prior to the 24th.
Enjoy the upcoming weekend. Amy and Tatiana should be returning home from Vlad. We have been praying for safe travels for them and also for Nancy and her family. They head out for Vlad tomorrow. We get to head to Cedar Rapids, IA to Madison’s dance competition, and we will be taking my niece along with us. I am excited to spend time with her. Thanks for all of your continued support. We are especially thankful for our amazing prayer warriors. We appreciate you all so much! Have a blessed weekend!
Our dossier (that is the fancy name for all of our paperwork) was submitted to court. The judge was assigned and has already reviewed our documents. Right now our documents are being reviewed by the prosecutor's office. Once that is done we should find out the court date. Our agency still believes that our court date will be sometime in April. Our first documents to expire are our medicals. If you remember they cannot be more than three months old. The three month mark is on April 24th. Hopefully we are looking at a date prior to the 24th.
Enjoy the upcoming weekend. Amy and Tatiana should be returning home from Vlad. We have been praying for safe travels for them and also for Nancy and her family. They head out for Vlad tomorrow. We get to head to Cedar Rapids, IA to Madison’s dance competition, and we will be taking my niece along with us. I am excited to spend time with her. Thanks for all of your continued support. We are especially thankful for our amazing prayer warriors. We appreciate you all so much! Have a blessed weekend!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Cake lesson
No word from Russia yet.
I ran across these words on a blog (I wish I remember which one) back in December and have thought about it often. I thought it would be appropriate to share now as we wait anxiously for good news. I have a feeling each of you can relate in some way.
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake." "Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!" To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
I ran across these words on a blog (I wish I remember which one) back in December and have thought about it often. I thought it would be appropriate to share now as we wait anxiously for good news. I have a feeling each of you can relate in some way.
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake." "Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!" To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Extreme Bedroom Moveover: Overstreet Edition
You can see from the pictures below that we were crazy busy this weekend. Brady and Madison have both been asking us to repaint their bedrooms ever since we finished Blake’s room. So Saturday we began by taking everything off the walls and painting. Today we put up the border and moved the furniture back. Whew! Just in time.
I have had several people ask what it means to have our papers go in front of the judge. I completely forget sometimes that not everyone lives, eats, and breaths international adoption! So there are about 3 things that can happen when the judge gets our paperwork. 1)The judge could say “thank you for dropping off the files. I will look at them when I have time.” And we wait an unknown number of days before we know anything. 2) The judge can actually look at our paperwork and say… “Hmmm I don’t like how these 3 documents are signed, or these 6 are stapled, or the dates on these 2. When they redo those documents you can resubmit them and I’ll review them again”. OR 3) she can just be in a super good mood, look at our documents, and see how eager we are to be reunited with our son and say “they can come to court on such and such date.” So essentially we have no idea what to expect, but regardless we are so thankful to be moving forward!
Here is Brady’s room before.
Here is Brady’s room with the addition of the Determined Orange paint and sports border he chose. He is a huge Illini, Bears, and MHS Bomber fan so we should be good to go with the orange for some time!
Here is Madison’s room before.
Here is Madison’s room with the Tany Pink paint and purse border. I think we were taught at one time pink and purple didn’t go together, but now it is a fashion statement!
I have had several people ask what it means to have our papers go in front of the judge. I completely forget sometimes that not everyone lives, eats, and breaths international adoption! So there are about 3 things that can happen when the judge gets our paperwork. 1)The judge could say “thank you for dropping off the files. I will look at them when I have time.” And we wait an unknown number of days before we know anything. 2) The judge can actually look at our paperwork and say… “Hmmm I don’t like how these 3 documents are signed, or these 6 are stapled, or the dates on these 2. When they redo those documents you can resubmit them and I’ll review them again”. OR 3) she can just be in a super good mood, look at our documents, and see how eager we are to be reunited with our son and say “they can come to court on such and such date.” So essentially we have no idea what to expect, but regardless we are so thankful to be moving forward!
Here is Brady’s room before.
Here is Brady’s room with the addition of the Determined Orange paint and sports border he chose. He is a huge Illini, Bears, and MHS Bomber fan so we should be good to go with the orange for some time!
Here is Madison’s room before.
Here is Madison’s room with the Tany Pink paint and purse border. I think we were taught at one time pink and purple didn’t go together, but now it is a fashion statement!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Celebrating Good News!
Yahoooooooooooooooooooo! Great news came our way today from our agency. Our papers are going to the judge on Monday and we are looking at an April court date!!!!!!! Justin and I are so excited. We will keep you posted on the details when we know more.
(Pam H. thanks for leaving for Hawaii – you were right!!!)
(Pam H. thanks for leaving for Hawaii – you were right!!!)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
We don’t know
Ok, we are still relishing in the joy that Amy’s pictures brought AND we are excited that we can send word to Blake via Nancy and her family. Can you sense a ‘but’ coming? Here it is. BUT we are discouraged with a bit of news this week - nothing specific to us, but still a reality check of sorts. Our Vlad informant ;o) has told us that there are 3 Children’s Hope International (CHI) families in Vlad for court right now. They all travelled at the end of September. We traveled in December. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about what that could mean for us.
People are always asking us these questions. Why haven’t you gone back to Russia? What is taking so long? Or why is it that some people return so much faster than others? We are honest and just say we don’t know. We seriously do not know what we are waiting on. I sometimes feel that when we share that we don’t know what it is we are waiting on that some people look at us like we are crazy or that perhaps the whole situation is a farce. Maybe I am being overly sensitive, but really I do get that feeling. PAUSE – Justin just verified for me that I am not being overly sensitive. He feels the same way. He elaborated by stating that he gets the feeling that people are thinking that we aren’t trying to get back over there. Or they are thinking “what is your problem, why don’t you just call them up and tell them you are ready.” Ohh if it were only that easy. (BTW – I am thinking it may be Justin’s turn for a blog entry!)
I don’t want to sound like a whiner. We are doing ok really. We truly believe that God’s timing will be impeccable for us. Honestly - we believe that. It is just a weakness I have of trying to figure out before hand what God’s timing is going to be. I am still working on relinquishing control. I am sure He will get it through my thick skull before this journey enters a new stage!
People are always asking us these questions. Why haven’t you gone back to Russia? What is taking so long? Or why is it that some people return so much faster than others? We are honest and just say we don’t know. We seriously do not know what we are waiting on. I sometimes feel that when we share that we don’t know what it is we are waiting on that some people look at us like we are crazy or that perhaps the whole situation is a farce. Maybe I am being overly sensitive, but really I do get that feeling. PAUSE – Justin just verified for me that I am not being overly sensitive. He feels the same way. He elaborated by stating that he gets the feeling that people are thinking that we aren’t trying to get back over there. Or they are thinking “what is your problem, why don’t you just call them up and tell them you are ready.” Ohh if it were only that easy. (BTW – I am thinking it may be Justin’s turn for a blog entry!)
I don’t want to sound like a whiner. We are doing ok really. We truly believe that God’s timing will be impeccable for us. Honestly - we believe that. It is just a weakness I have of trying to figure out before hand what God’s timing is going to be. I am still working on relinquishing control. I am sure He will get it through my thick skull before this journey enters a new stage!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thanks!
Thank you for all of your creative suggestions. (For my scrapbooking friends and family check out the record your voice sheets that Amy mentions). I knew I could count on you guys to help us out. We have decided to take Nancy’s suggestion and make a short video for them to play for Blake. We are a bit nervous about this because we only know like 10 Russian words and they don’t really go together to make any sense (hello, good bye, thank you, please, etc…) But we do know Ya tibya lo bloo which is perhaps the most important one – I love you! We have to get our act together though because Nancy, Nathan and Brian leave on March 28th to head to Vlad. YIKES! The pressure is on, but again we are very grateful to have ‘met’ such caring people through this process. To know that Blake is going to get another dose of reassurance that we love him and are in deed coming back for him is a blessing.
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