Elated, doesn't begin.....

I wanted to let you know about our Russia dates! We will arrive in Russia July 12th (leaving the 11th), our court date is July 16th. We will come back home during our waiting period (it's less expensive to do it this way), either the 19th or 20th. We should return to Russia the 27th of July and arrive home August 7th or 8th with the new additions to our family (all the dates are not set in concrete, other than we have to be in Russia the 12th and our court date is the 16th). We are having a fund raising booth at the 100th boyscout camporee, in Pawhuska, OK on the 4th of July. We will be selling hot dogs, drinks, chips, etc. and anything else that's donated.

We can not begin to explain how elated we truly are! God is good!

New pic of Losha

I was so excited to check my email and see a new picture of Losha! Our friends that had their court date last week saw him,this is what she wrote: "Hi Guys,
We're home! While we were there we were asked to visit an orphanage where one of Tatyana's friends was. I was so surprised when your boy walked through the door! He and Tatyana worked on some adoption paperwork together and visited for awhile. He was smiling and looked well."
A ray of hope! He knows! I so hope Alexei knows we're coming for him too! I can not wait to see their smiling faces!

Wonder women

I type this as I sit with my Mom, while she's receiving her 2nd round of chemo. She is definitely wonder woman! I can't believe her attitude! I'm not sure I could be as positive as she is, if I were in her situation. We did have a good cry over the weekend (over losing the hair). She has her new hair (wig) and some really cute bandana scarfs. She looks beautiful and is back to her great attitude. What an example!
My grandmother is doing much better! She's staying in her house for the time being. She informed us "I have to get better, because Rosie might need me." And I wonder where my Mom gets it? Wonder women!! I did let Grandma know she is more than welcome to come stay a few days with us again, if she gets bored.
Although we did not receive any of the grants we'd applied for, God is at work!! We had another garage sale Saturday, it did well. We sold Jacky's tractor. We have someone coming to purchase the donkey and llama tonight. We have another family looking at one of the horses. As I told a friend, right now, everything we have is for sale except our children :-)
The dossier said, it wouldn't be long. Russia has all our paperwork, we should have a July court date!
While talking to the nurse here at the treatment center, we found out she has missionary friends in Moscow. They are in the states now, they usually rent their flat to someone while they are in the states. We will be contacting them to see if they've rented it. This would be a huge savings on the travel cost!!!
Thank you for your continued prayers for our adoption and my Mom!

How's your world?

Well friends, Jacky is at camp with our teen boys this week and I don't know if things in your world fall apart when your husband is gone or not! This is rather comical if you think about it: Jacky left Saturday, Sunday Garrett's car overheated, Sunday evening a loud bang happened upon my van each time I hit a bump (husband is gone, OH NO what do I do? I call my friend and her husband looks at it, then informs me it's a broken strut and I can not drive my van to take my boys to meet their Dad at camp). Monday, I end up driving my dear friend's van to camp without incident (thank you Lord!). Tuesday my Dad came and helped me transport van to mechanic. Wednesday I find out we were declined the matching grant, and another grant we were hoping for, my Mom's white blood count is down and she's beginning to lose her hair. The same mailbox that delivered the bad news of the declining grant, also had a $300 check for the adoption fund. There is always hope! Tomorrow is a new day and I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Benefit garage sale Friday and Saturday 8-1:00 Riveted Church Skiatook, OK (hwy 75 & hwy 20).

God is good

As of Wednesday afternoon, there was very little hope of receiving our papers from Homeland security this week. Diligently, we've prayed! Wednesday evening we went to Church, our Church prayed too! Miraculously, Thursday morning I received a call, the paper was finished! The call was around 9:30, I made arrangements and was on my way to OKC by 11:00. I picked the paper up, went to the capitol, had it apostilled, went to fedex and overnighted it to our Dossier. We should have our Russian court date in 5-8 weeks!
Thursday was full of miracles: My Mom was able to go to the office for a few hours. What a wonderful Thursday! Two great things happened in one day!
I received a call this a.m. from one of the ladies at our Church and they're sponsoring a garage sale for the adoption fund next Friday and Saturday the 12th and 13th. They're also discussing a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and parents night out for another date.

Big decision

We believe we've decided to go to Russia long enough for our court date (do not have that date yet), return to the U.S.A. and then go back for the boys. I know I will be the hardest person in the world to live with during that time, but we can save thousands of $ and not have to plan several more fundraisers before going. I think we'll do one more big one and trust God will provide. This means we'll go for about 1week, return to the U.S. and go back for approximately 10 days toward the end of the 28 day period. I will post as soon as we find out, because we will need even more prayer than normal!
Our friends "The Vincent family" will be traveling in June (either the 11th or the 18th) and they've made the same choice. Please be in prayer for their family too!

Run for adoption

We're off to help with the "run for adoption", to help some friends of ours with their adoption. Great news: they get to travel to Russia in June to bring their children home! I can not wait to see Tatanya and her siblings!
We did receive notice that Alexei and Losha's data base clearances came back from Russia. Our immigration papers from the U.S. have not come back. If we do not get them back this week, we were informed that we would probably not be able to travel to Russia in July. That would put our adoption off for quite awhile, because Jacky can NOT travel in August. His employer told him he could travel on Christmas break but, the Russian government shuts down from approximately mid-December to mid-January. Therfore, we could not travel in December. Please pray the papers return in record speed, our boys are waiting on us!
My Mom is amazing! We spent Thursday at the Cancer treatment center of America in Tulsa, OK receiving her first chemo treatment. She presses on and attempts to live a normal life (gets up, dresses, puts on her makeup, etc.). She hopes to go to the office on Monday. Wow! She is truly amazing!!

We serve a mighty God and I know He works miracles!!