tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90133432571509358562024-03-06T23:56:17.444-07:00Our Ordinary LifeThis is our family's story and how it intersects with THE STORY of Jesus. We love God and are learning to live out that love with one another through our very ordinary lives here in eastern Kansas. Come join us!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.comBlogger967125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-88558802327482326602018-09-04T18:39:00.002-06:002018-09-04T18:39:42.904-06:00as beloved children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm sitting here in my room, listening to the snores of my aging pup and smiling at the tiny bed, covered with baby dolls, that is pushed next to David's and my bed. Time passes and this blog has been sorely neglected over the past couple of years. But, as I sit here praying, I feel compelled to share the deep love our Father has shown us in giving us another child from China.<br />
Our sweet Ruby Xiaohong.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6I85An7Rxfe1xourBWZzwGXIexgEwM3wVU71pU054GZ9-deMR4d_TJrTiL6W6SPGi3LARMncujBaTUZKFQ0NmiELEWzD8DB-IvG-0dvFdEiYEITbIqvYQ7oXjGbd5YADur3YP9yYkyA/s1600/bandimere2018-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6I85An7Rxfe1xourBWZzwGXIexgEwM3wVU71pU054GZ9-deMR4d_TJrTiL6W6SPGi3LARMncujBaTUZKFQ0NmiELEWzD8DB-IvG-0dvFdEiYEITbIqvYQ7oXjGbd5YADur3YP9yYkyA/s400/bandimere2018-68.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Downstairs, my family is eating lunch, and as I post the picture above, I hear a precious little voice: "Thank you Ma. Thank you Baba. Thank you Alam. Thank you Kaikai. Thank you Jadon. Thank you Grace-ah. Thank you Lolly!" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Xiaohong is imitating the things that she hears every day. Later, I'm sure that I'll also hear her singing her own version of "Come Thou Fount," as it's her favorite song right now and she sings it often and loudly! I might also hear she and Kaikai laugh, while playing wheelchair basketball outside my window, and at dinnertime, she'll most definitely crawl into the kitchen (XH has spina bifida and doesn't walk), and announce that she is ready to, "Help you Mama."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Xiaohong naturally imitates the things that we do every day, because she knows that she is deeply loved by every person in our home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcAYZPGY50hf3pFY6AdsduJgH9SQd3SAiSLVm-2dkeNc80TE665wnQn_dw7o9z6S1iomN5N4y8EdecQ1ZtcMxeZdLUexRZJJqRsz7a_wOs0FD6q8nZF2o-On7WdqfNFawABeum7XGQ3U/s1600/bandimere2018-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcAYZPGY50hf3pFY6AdsduJgH9SQd3SAiSLVm-2dkeNc80TE665wnQn_dw7o9z6S1iomN5N4y8EdecQ1ZtcMxeZdLUexRZJJqRsz7a_wOs0FD6q8nZF2o-On7WdqfNFawABeum7XGQ3U/s400/bandimere2018-122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwr5P3vtWrJv1XnL7Gn6I-YTcGJJoFlmi85gcwDdlZpvD7bXi1kBPuRkZn0n5XEMdLXXmxUkUG5LEaTiEY7I-1z1VYE0ea1CWen5_9ccDbMqaAl1GKZZes7vYvwSNqf-W698e-_Pgh74/s1600/bandimere2018-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwr5P3vtWrJv1XnL7Gn6I-YTcGJJoFlmi85gcwDdlZpvD7bXi1kBPuRkZn0n5XEMdLXXmxUkUG5LEaTiEY7I-1z1VYE0ea1CWen5_9ccDbMqaAl1GKZZes7vYvwSNqf-W698e-_Pgh74/s400/bandimere2018-40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children," (Ephesians 5:1)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dear ones, did you know that, in the same way that Ruby Xiaohong looks more and more like a Bandimere every day, you also become more and more like Jesus as you experience the great love that our Father has for you? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You are His beloved child.<br />
<br />
Oh friends, Father thinks that you are absolutely precious. He delights in you! And though He knows that the best thing for you is to become more like Him, He doesn't demand that you imitate Him because He's holy and good (although He certainly is good and holy!). Instead, He wants you to know what it means to be His beloved child. He wants you to rest in His love for you. And as you begin to see His beauty, He knows that your life will be transformed. Basking in His love comes first. Becoming more and more like Him comes next.<br />
<br />
While writing today, our newest daughter has scooted her way into my room multiple times. She knows that I cannot resist the urge to to touch her soft cheeks and laugh at her silly antics. She knows that she has full access to my love.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Beloved, I pray that you understand that you have that same access to your heavenly Father. He is not looking for perfection. He simply wants to be with you. Rest in Him. Seek His face. Look upon His beauty. Let Him laugh at your antics. And dear ones, soon (so very soon) you will change. You will begin to look more and more like the One who loves you with love everlasting. Your joy will be full as you experience what it means to be His precious and beloved child.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKIBxOqe7XYmyUIEohwn-zPHj9aYI6cPvZhkca8SX5N10O4Os9hmZKG_mjdQ6vZHWfraCDwfWv7YN5QKwekN_v-D2bvps_8X4gq5o0M1mLJxBVGEv0D-lijkq-Lbjbn0P59ZzYSZt0TA/s1600/bandimere2018-132+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKIBxOqe7XYmyUIEohwn-zPHj9aYI6cPvZhkca8SX5N10O4Os9hmZKG_mjdQ6vZHWfraCDwfWv7YN5QKwekN_v-D2bvps_8X4gq5o0M1mLJxBVGEv0D-lijkq-Lbjbn0P59ZzYSZt0TA/s400/bandimere2018-132+%25281%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-82865806106599249872017-04-18T12:19:00.000-06:002017-04-18T12:19:45.775-06:00These two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These two...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqgUkO8bn6RfUaUTMkgpybwAiO-tjdcHKzcwJsT1aC3BkV_fmjasM12P3RrMDMcp1DCafE-YpLsnXr2MNYaGhBYuSAiWWVZ0OfP3BKl7SvLBL6YS_7Kba_J9kWDLmDBZb3WxXTdCMwnA/s1600/DSCN0695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqgUkO8bn6RfUaUTMkgpybwAiO-tjdcHKzcwJsT1aC3BkV_fmjasM12P3RrMDMcp1DCafE-YpLsnXr2MNYaGhBYuSAiWWVZ0OfP3BKl7SvLBL6YS_7Kba_J9kWDLmDBZb3WxXTdCMwnA/s400/DSCN0695.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ever since Grace entered our lives, I could see that she and
Adam shared the same sort of spirit. Of all of my children, Grace and Adam are
probably the most alike. They are sensitive, kind, introspective and have a
heart for people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, there is now another way that they are alike.
We have been learning over the past few weeks that Grace has developed a number
of potentially serious allergies. Quite honestly, this has been a blow to this
mama, who is also dealing with the idea of sending her son away to live in a
dorm, infested with all sorts of peanut butter eating young adults! And though
I totally support and am excited about Adam’s decision to go to Greenville,
when Grace’s doctor called in a junior epi-pen prescription for her yesterday,
my heart felt like it couldn’t take much more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These two...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIPPHSlUstw8ofzF-wCjbxe88F6NhyphenhyphenrZV9naU8r4Qvpk6HDVVlui3cU0LoX1PCWETicI5-XVXCZg6uICaHSI5JnOO5i2OQtyQhbhqBuXZ3LzFkL7nw6vNpFtTakxi0shqEP20rtGdoNU/s1600/2012%252C+May+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIPPHSlUstw8ofzF-wCjbxe88F6NhyphenhyphenrZV9naU8r4Qvpk6HDVVlui3cU0LoX1PCWETicI5-XVXCZg6uICaHSI5JnOO5i2OQtyQhbhqBuXZ3LzFkL7nw6vNpFtTakxi0shqEP20rtGdoNU/s400/2012%252C+May+039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They have my heart. And it doesn’t feel fair that their
lives must be held so tenuously. It doesn’t feel fair that the everyday act of
eating could be life-threatening for them. Yesterday, that thought had me
paralyzed and I refused to go to our Father to give Him my burden. All that I
could do was cry out, “It’s too much, Lord and I’m weary. I don't even have the strength to talk with You. But please don’t let me
go. Whatever You do, don’t ever let me go.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent another sleepless night and this morning the last
thing that I wanted to do was to pray. But, our Precious God didn’t forget my
cry from yesterday. He reached down and gave me the smallest inkling of hope.
Not hope as the world gives. Not the promise that these allergies would go away
(though I will certainly pray for that). But hope in the Everlasting One, in
The One who makes all things right in His time. I stand before Him now, still
grieving, still struggling, but able to sing, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Humbly I stand, an offering with open hands,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lord I bring</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything and nothing less</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My best, my all</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You deserve my every breath,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My life, my song.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNOAI9UDHUY">(Everything and Nothing Less, by Jesus Culture)</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These two…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8To-fPk0m-gIAtPs1DI58l4FQRDl4o6y8nyWkVf1eb5e5s3gWymJwysF-qqRmOWSBpMfYCYwFFYDA5eT_-z-crOtshwtB_CWb4FJ5mKXG1ORWTLO-NsRYg6TIgJryGabx1OXNw-6sQA/s1600/2016%252C+January+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8To-fPk0m-gIAtPs1DI58l4FQRDl4o6y8nyWkVf1eb5e5s3gWymJwysF-qqRmOWSBpMfYCYwFFYDA5eT_-z-crOtshwtB_CWb4FJ5mKXG1ORWTLO-NsRYg6TIgJryGabx1OXNw-6sQA/s400/2016%252C+January+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They are two of my very best, and I give them to our
Gracious Father, who is the only One deserving of such a treasure. Truly, He is not only worthy, He is also the only One who is able to keep them perfectly safe in His gentle care.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These two...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsPIp2BqBqukHsh68tOO89D8ya2xTIIp1bCVv74SABD_R5Ik7rUpQnrjDtbi4JFRLIlwK9gY-042KDRm9MJycwYppgUCjM4fcTXa2b2emFHcSON5OhGPu830yLGiMmPAYyhq175e8kQc/s1600/11220897_890150627706151_7419950582457037788_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsPIp2BqBqukHsh68tOO89D8ya2xTIIp1bCVv74SABD_R5Ik7rUpQnrjDtbi4JFRLIlwK9gY-042KDRm9MJycwYppgUCjM4fcTXa2b2emFHcSON5OhGPu830yLGiMmPAYyhq175e8kQc/s400/11220897_890150627706151_7419950582457037788_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, how I love them.</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-34209634907900287302016-06-13T07:34:00.000-06:002016-06-13T07:34:16.428-06:00ordinary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning I picked raspberries. The sun was out, but I was bathed in the gentle shade of the early day. The deep red of the berries stained my fingers and the thorns scratched my arms, but I was free to set a leisurely pace to my picking, so despite the scratches, I enjoyed my time outside immensely. I came inside with a nice-sized bowl of raspberries that I plan to make into a pie this afternoon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sun</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shade</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
stained fingers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
scratched arms</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about my morning picking berries. In fact, as I reached up through the thorny branches in order to grasp a particularly plump berry, I heard the Father whisper, "Yes, Sarah. You're very ordinary."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4f-wIb_2lN8tHGzbBN5CQ7hiwpcxfsvLjCiKWxQBQx4OyY2Hlsz7tUSkOcE1Zbysx2vfQGOjFxMfQ-KKgK9lYXy_EcJS-Kf63ck1DmeeEiGLF4oqfeC11wQFdVqusxNfIgy-48FAA78/s1600/DSC_0005+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4f-wIb_2lN8tHGzbBN5CQ7hiwpcxfsvLjCiKWxQBQx4OyY2Hlsz7tUSkOcE1Zbysx2vfQGOjFxMfQ-KKgK9lYXy_EcJS-Kf63ck1DmeeEiGLF4oqfeC11wQFdVqusxNfIgy-48FAA78/s320/DSC_0005+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I suppressed a bit of a giggle as I realized how non-pc our God can be. "Very ordinary." It's not the sort of thing that people flock to conferences to hear. Fortunately, He has been preparing my heart for this very word. This very ordinary word.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You see, friends,over the past few months, we had been grieving the loss of our life here in the inner city, our un(convent)ional life, as it were. We moved to Kansas City three years ago, with hope in our hearts, and a belief that God was planting us here for a long season, perhaps even for our whole lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you've been following along on facebook or here, however, you'll know that seasons change, and the thing that God calls you to one day, may disappear the next. For the most part, we've come to grips with that reality and have recognized that, as Creator of the Universe, our God may know a thing or two more about what's good for us than we do.<br />
<br />
Therefore, we're getting ready to trade in our un(convent)ional life in the inner city, for a very ordinary life in the suburbs. The suburbs, friends! I never thought that I'd be writing that, and I never thought that I'd believe it to be a good thing...a God-thing, even, for this season of our lives.<br />
<br />
The funny thing is, however, that God keeps showing me that we've been living pretty ordinary lives all along. Oh, I wanted to do something extraordinary here in our urban home. I wanted to grab onto that missionary lifestyle and show the world what could happen in the inner city. But, as it turns out, we've simply done a lot of ordinary things....we've given people food and filled up many water bottles, we've made friends with the wonderfully-kind neighbors with the scary-offensive sign across the street, we've given a few homeless men some work, and David had the joy of bringing precious R. to the Lord. Beautiful things? Yes. Extraordinary? Not really.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, God doesn't depend on me to be extraordinary. In fact, He's showing me how my very ordinary life can actually give Him more glory than the extraordinary life that I wanted to have, because it's the life that He has chosen for me right now, and that is surely the life that is better than any that I could dream up.<br />
<br />
So, if this non-techy gal can figure it out, I may just change my blog header to read "Our Ordinary Life," and embrace this next season that He has given. And I'll be praising God that He's got that extraordinary thing pretty-well covered on His own. </div>
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-78467821451727757572016-06-11T11:04:00.001-06:002016-06-11T11:04:22.281-06:00Sapling Canvas Designs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey friends! My Lily-girl has opened a new shop on Etsy called Sapling Canvas Designs. All of her pieces are fully-customizable. You pick the phrase/verse/letters, colors, size, etc.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SaplingCanvasDesigns?ref=search_shop_redirect">here</a> to see more of her beautiful work. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoV8fOuaIR-z4TNJXQCCbrWY2gXRmPkZgIA8wucbeILeqHWZvyWXR7oa9p_BOG4e4yUcaW84Q2AMMCNyf7x2rwSJyKZfwfXBTyNB6Lh7-IuIuEoVZ9Mb4u6SOTeOSjRB2FXSAc7GYVxA/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoV8fOuaIR-z4TNJXQCCbrWY2gXRmPkZgIA8wucbeILeqHWZvyWXR7oa9p_BOG4e4yUcaW84Q2AMMCNyf7x2rwSJyKZfwfXBTyNB6Lh7-IuIuEoVZ9Mb4u6SOTeOSjRB2FXSAc7GYVxA/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSNw6IFWgpH8uxq4c_RlJrkYtgdZcykaN_IFgH-LNp8iKwHyynu41pU2oxaWU6iCH3Ehzck8_RF9bLNkN7pGWNdnyV1jaaBDRUN7UGaJuJlcmXriTkoyFGbi_DS-cVyHMc7m8QmHHVkc/s1600/DSC_0014+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCSNw6IFWgpH8uxq4c_RlJrkYtgdZcykaN_IFgH-LNp8iKwHyynu41pU2oxaWU6iCH3Ehzck8_RF9bLNkN7pGWNdnyV1jaaBDRUN7UGaJuJlcmXriTkoyFGbi_DS-cVyHMc7m8QmHHVkc/s400/DSC_0014+%25282%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6ufOhgK15IfDo5LszlOsSXmjGASKVOsksEA9CzZSRjT1gw71Y4IXNFlEfCl_6fTvhirfHyDH8Y_bbdHmgM8mo32fcaYZFivdu9oVTTQrxooxtsGYcDP8t-jDt2huMO8XF7E0j5KvGnA/s1600/DSC_0017+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6ufOhgK15IfDo5LszlOsSXmjGASKVOsksEA9CzZSRjT1gw71Y4IXNFlEfCl_6fTvhirfHyDH8Y_bbdHmgM8mo32fcaYZFivdu9oVTTQrxooxtsGYcDP8t-jDt2huMO8XF7E0j5KvGnA/s400/DSC_0017+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-92041909214320005932016-04-13T14:57:00.000-06:002016-04-13T15:12:09.451-06:00the tender-hearted One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh friends, we have such a kind and loving Savior. He's tender-hearted toward us. He is gentle and full of grace.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our sweet Jesus has been speaking to my heart. Tender mercies, my friends. He's been revealing places where my wants and desires are not set on Him. He's been gently wooing me with His love. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's like that, dear ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He loves us in the midst of correction.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He draws us with His kindness.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is utterly and completely patient with us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJIhlf5tiJNega5qaiZrU4UBhPNhKSmBrpaLTQulwnxd94dDy2QpXI-9HSeMJk8DeFHzL9TVXy5tkyS0KLzTIqjfPYtHiKlrEtzvt_tJysjcUlzdflJfGtbjAD2LkrM5nFcB1Fwt4_zg/s1600/images+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJIhlf5tiJNega5qaiZrU4UBhPNhKSmBrpaLTQulwnxd94dDy2QpXI-9HSeMJk8DeFHzL9TVXy5tkyS0KLzTIqjfPYtHiKlrEtzvt_tJysjcUlzdflJfGtbjAD2LkrM5nFcB1Fwt4_zg/s1600/images+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When I look into my own heart, I see that I do love Him. I see that I desire more of Him. I see that I <i>want</i> my heart to be completely His.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But lately He has been asking me hard questions.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Am I first, my child?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Can you trust yourself <i>completely</i> to Me?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Can you trust Me even when you feel confusion and pain, dear one?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Am I the <i>One Thing</i> that your heart longs for?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He doesn't ask out of selfishness. He asks out of love. He asks, knowing that He, alone, can satisfy; that the things of this world will never fill my heart and that when I look to those things for life I will only find sorrow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tender mercies, from the One who has set eternity in my heart, and who knows that I will never be satisfied with anything less.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh, how I love Him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh, how He loves me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My tender-hearted King.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh5q5Dpr9Z-4cG-5IzzWGyOkRTzFT7YsZoyxg42XnKLVSLLe5eGw-DhAeWq5JQASeDDKl4JwFAiFuu0_5HahKIdDwjWqiYTiYErOox4sJsKRdYw2umJVoKoj75alUybUJ1DREAtm-mXw/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh5q5Dpr9Z-4cG-5IzzWGyOkRTzFT7YsZoyxg42XnKLVSLLe5eGw-DhAeWq5JQASeDDKl4JwFAiFuu0_5HahKIdDwjWqiYTiYErOox4sJsKRdYw2umJVoKoj75alUybUJ1DREAtm-mXw/s1600/images+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-89213227058127438092016-01-21T13:15:00.000-07:002016-01-21T13:43:05.175-07:00home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
My heart has been tender over the past few months. When our pastor, and friends, left Kansas City, our family was still deep in the process of adjusting to life with our new son, Andrew. The changes that had occurred in those brief months after he came home, had left us in upheaval, and this additional life-change seemed, at times, too much to bear.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We, of course, considered moving back to Colorado at that time, ourselves. But, we knew that God had called us to complete what we had begun, and our hearts were with the people who had been a part of our church family. We were sure that we couldn't leave just yet. This city was still our home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So when, shortly after our pastor left, God led me to this spot, overlooking Kansas City, and whispered Hebrews 13:14 to my heart, I felt both confused and strangely comforted.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwww18xqr03hyphenhyphen3XLLTwCu3E_xv49gtaq4_la7zrFrHmHSiayi7M1pxgWGvKxHfQhrgz4CrWdkXNJ2PxGYyt-2ZnuGEy0w6hdHpKGBa8hGF9X2ZSg9zEDAryIe5S6ojA2sDbMkybFVxfNE/s1600/20150619_130108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwww18xqr03hyphenhyphen3XLLTwCu3E_xv49gtaq4_la7zrFrHmHSiayi7M1pxgWGvKxHfQhrgz4CrWdkXNJ2PxGYyt-2ZnuGEy0w6hdHpKGBa8hGF9X2ZSg9zEDAryIe5S6ojA2sDbMkybFVxfNE/s400/20150619_130108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." Hebrews 13:14</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tears sprung to my eyes, as they have many times since. In that moment, I knew that He wasn't just talking about Kansas City. Instead, He was sharing a deep secret of His heart. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is a refrain that has become embedded in my heart during this season.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>this is not our home...this is not our home...this is not our home</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was embedded in my heart as we prayed for and met with our dear brothers and sisters, who eventually found new church homes in our neighborhood, and ceased needing our support.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was embedded even further, as we gave ourselves to a precious new church family, but then began to feel the pull back to Colorado, away from this new family and others whom we love in Kansas City.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was embedded yet further as our oldest daughter began wrestling with the idea of staying in Kansas City, and finishing school here at Calvary Bible College.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was embedded again further as Adam started researching places to give his life away as a Bible translator. The call on his life was beginning to feel real to me as I contemplated his life overseas.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And today, it continues to be embedded deeply as, while writing this, a dear friend waits to undergo brain surgery for a cancerous tumor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This is not our home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning, the word <i>home</i> sprung into my mind as I was walking and talking with the Lord. I had my mp3 player on, and the next song that came up was Will Reagan's "Pilgrim Days".</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brothers, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sisters,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
join this song,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as we journey</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>home.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The word hung in the air, as I thanked my sweet Jesus for His presence. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is our home, friends. All of our other homes are temporary, but our place in His heart will endure forever. He is our home, dear friends. He is our lasting city.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"For we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IGaV-W3dvnA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IGaV-W3dvnA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-1994144360646817032016-01-08T18:40:00.000-07:002016-01-08T18:40:20.278-07:00that love thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Funny thing, how there truly is nothing new under the sun. People are the same. They grow, and learn, and mature...and they get tired. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I heard that a time or two when I was in my 20's, then again in my 30's. And you know what? I didn't believe it. I didn't believe that I'd be all that much more mature than I already was (ha!), and I certainly didn't believe that I'd get tired. I definitely wouldn't have thought that in some ways the tiredness would be a gift, because when you're tired, you only have time for the things that truly matter. Who's right and who's wrong don't matter so much anymore. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QcSVrPokqZEu0cMcTRmp_2H6rrqgpwgsCnJPeZZgkrT295pV4EFXwa4IvMWT8Vhd80_026722Mj4Iygeocq9mhlcHtrSJRS6udNnI8yNGg5FmJw23AtIifwdjF6IwbJmYLPk6ObGEk4/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QcSVrPokqZEu0cMcTRmp_2H6rrqgpwgsCnJPeZZgkrT295pV4EFXwa4IvMWT8Vhd80_026722Mj4Iygeocq9mhlcHtrSJRS6udNnI8yNGg5FmJw23AtIifwdjF6IwbJmYLPk6ObGEk4/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That still matters. In fact, it actually matters more to you, because you see how precious it really is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But, that being right about all the little details stuff....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
notsomuch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We moved our family to Kansas City almost 2 1/2 years ago. We moved because of a vision. We moved because we wanted to build His church, to serve, to help, and yes, because we wanted to love. We believed (and still believe) that God was leading us. We wanted to do His will! So, we moved.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And God moved, too...He moved in peoples' hearts. He moved in the church. He moved throughout our neighborhood in people like Riley and Lunchbox, who are homeless and precious and made in the image of God. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then two years into it, for very good reasons, He moved our pastor and his family out of Kansas City and back to Colorado.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we were saddened and shocked and a little bit lost.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've spent the past seven months seeking the Lord, helping people get settled in other local churches, and asking Him for more of His heart.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd like to say that it's been easy, and we have another clear assignment from the Lord...here, there, or anywhere! But, that wouldn't be true.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The fact is, we're feeling on the weary side, and He's only revealed a couple of things to us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1) That we're to spend this next season, focusing on our teenage kids.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2) And then, that love thing...to love Him, love our family, love the people around us.<br />
<br />
It doesn't seem like much, but, in some ways, isn't it everything???<br />
<br />
To love in the midst of sadness, tiredness and disappointment. To seek Him in the midst of our confusion. It's truly what we're made for...glorifying God in the good and in the hard. Glorifying Him in all the zealousness of youth, and continuing to glorify Him in the greater wisdom and tiredness of our 40's. I'm so grateful that our God is faithful through it all. In every single moment, He has continued to pour out His love on us, and I hope that I can say, that, as I've grown older, I have continued to love Him back.<br />
<br />
It may not look like we expected, but in other ways, it looks exactly like we expected.<br />
<br />
Loving Him and being loved by Him.<br />
<br />
It's good stuff, friends.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-71156479791275355872015-08-06T13:47:00.000-06:002015-08-06T14:52:06.082-06:00when love looks different than you expected it to look<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's been awhile...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So much has been happening in our hearts and lives over the past number of months. It's been a hard season, but through everything, we have been blessed by the constant faithfulness of our beautiful Jesus. He is good. Absolutely, totally, completely good. And for that, I am eternally grateful.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One big change has to do with our precious church family. I'm planning on writing about that change soon, but it will have to wait for now. Right now, I want to share a little bit about our wonderful son, Andrew.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq6jorLdRVEn-nB-BGMFNGQkLzBACUhWz8iqPp-0ZB4p9yTlN2z4LFjbDJ0BsGWnZ4kt9FEgsIUwq0DQiPechVP7dthReJUd-U7p6O70vO7kCqVpdKkxgalTBHiczCcD1yE9riRXkWoM/s1600/2015%252C+April+%2528Easter%2529+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifq6jorLdRVEn-nB-BGMFNGQkLzBACUhWz8iqPp-0ZB4p9yTlN2z4LFjbDJ0BsGWnZ4kt9FEgsIUwq0DQiPechVP7dthReJUd-U7p6O70vO7kCqVpdKkxgalTBHiczCcD1yE9riRXkWoM/s400/2015%252C+April+%2528Easter%2529+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andrew officially joined our family in a Ukrainian courtroom 9 months ago. We spent a month in Ukraine, before arriving home with him on Thanksgiving Day. Andrew is affectionate, whole-hearted, bright, extroverted, loud, friendly, and passionate.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's a whirlwind, folks. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we were in the process of adopting Andrew, we assumed that he would finish high school at home. We figured that it would probably take 3-4 years for him to complete his high school education. That was fine with us. We wanted him to live with us into his 20's since we had missed so many years with him. We had an expectation that he would want that, as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But, our expectation was wrong. And that's okay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our beloved son, as I mentioned above, is a whirlwind! Schooling is not exactly his thing and the prospect of 3-4 more years was not enticing to Andrew!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we were in a bit of a dilemma and we needed a solution. We strongly believed that Andrew needed a high school education, but homeschooling was out and for many reasons, public school also didn't seem like a good option.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In stepped the Job Corps.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Job Corp is a federal program for young adults, ages 16-25, who need to complete their high school education and who would also like to be trained in a trade. It's a bit like the military in it's structure, and students are taught basic life skills as well as reading, math and job-related skills. Students can complete their education and gain job skills in 12-18 months! It seemed like a perfect fit for our mechanically-inclined, desperately-needing-of-structure son. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The only problem was that the best option (of the three in MO) for Andrew was in southern Missouri, five hours away from us. Eek! This young man had been in our lives for less than a year, and now he was going to be five hours away?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the things that I've learned through adopting multiple children, and especially in our most recent adoption of our teen son is this: every relationship is different and it is important not to have expectations of what <b>I </b>would like the relationship the look like, but rather, be grateful for the relationship that <b>IS</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our son wants to work. He doesn't want to go to a traditional school, and he doesn't have the motivation needed for homeschooling. He is a hard worker and we want to encourage that strength in him. Someone mentioned to me recently that adopting a teen is more like coming alongside that young person, rather than traditionally parenting him/her. In our case, that has proved to be true. We are now coming alongside Andrew to help him reach the goals that he has. They may not be our primary goals for him, but as a 17 year old, we have to respect the worthwhile goals that he has for himself, and do our best, as his parents, to help him reach those goals.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes love looks different than we expect it to look, and that's okay. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andrew will be coming home on holidays and some weekends. At this point, he'd like to live with us again after he's completed his training. We may not be a typical-looking family for our beloved son, but we <b>ARE</b> his family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVggZJf0xnnO2A4wRksh4sEFBbwA0ubAHN-kxD-GvR4tDTCGRmt9on3vwprzXaQ3ZIoWsth8HJW2wjYp_ngpDHDZ4mox522difqMEM07KsiOwKqaJhM_H3oBeyMfse_GqrZ2udppTq1I/s1600/2015%252C+June+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVggZJf0xnnO2A4wRksh4sEFBbwA0ubAHN-kxD-GvR4tDTCGRmt9on3vwprzXaQ3ZIoWsth8HJW2wjYp_ngpDHDZ4mox522difqMEM07KsiOwKqaJhM_H3oBeyMfse_GqrZ2udppTq1I/s400/2015%252C+June+023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that, my friends, is just what love looks like.</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-20875335687614208982015-02-05T11:34:00.003-07:002015-02-05T11:34:54.871-07:00eleven<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbHy07RzwtzU1tGLAFMr54jnXVM2Wypl8irCrPAjMmLMWUagnfUpMjDIOGqLkpzXd9N8dsyQ0NxJG4CXkuaacUTnQ69wrr2bit8gPHzQu0nVjVl_vym8vGMbtqgzzduZYcFOCH9KT1YU/s1600/2014,+December+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbHy07RzwtzU1tGLAFMr54jnXVM2Wypl8irCrPAjMmLMWUagnfUpMjDIOGqLkpzXd9N8dsyQ0NxJG4CXkuaacUTnQ69wrr2bit8gPHzQu0nVjVl_vym8vGMbtqgzzduZYcFOCH9KT1YU/s1600/2014,+December+021.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and pretty excited about it too!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We're so happy to celebrate with you, our precious boy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy 11th to you!!!</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-63677006198568924622015-02-05T11:32:00.000-07:002015-02-05T11:32:28.303-07:00home for christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My two 16 year old boys were home for Christmas this year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are no words to express how grateful I am for that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Two months earlier, this one was living in an orphanage in Ukraine.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOCtCKBGFA4cKGErYB0E6kEqfOIUbOB0BwEPKqTouIgIEDqdZTlJWxOBGdG_N4poLSKx1yArMl25ASZ8FxXLJ_S81TjbVLIhTsp74qagDBBasaxq_Hc95w47miCRqxehjtbtWuWiHeVM/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOCtCKBGFA4cKGErYB0E6kEqfOIUbOB0BwEPKqTouIgIEDqdZTlJWxOBGdG_N4poLSKx1yArMl25ASZ8FxXLJ_S81TjbVLIhTsp74qagDBBasaxq_Hc95w47miCRqxehjtbtWuWiHeVM/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B003.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And two days earlier, this one was barely breathing after a peanut reaction, then spent two nights in the hospital.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RoNv2FFNC3m8XczrOIAAALxx0x0Rfbx2uWjScMvKtyFj_vNsowFI0lszG5QTtRIv2U0WwaSjr54AkcxlCvwaxUN0eGa3lIS7-xDYB4WYFdu3kiLZKWo2FtMhyphenhyphenzB8rGenMXdfZgWcdRM/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RoNv2FFNC3m8XczrOIAAALxx0x0Rfbx2uWjScMvKtyFj_vNsowFI0lszG5QTtRIv2U0WwaSjr54AkcxlCvwaxUN0eGa3lIS7-xDYB4WYFdu3kiLZKWo2FtMhyphenhyphenzB8rGenMXdfZgWcdRM/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B042.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But, God was so very merciful and kind, and allowed us to spend our Christmas with both of these precious young men.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjuuRHo4SmL8CHWcmCdAOjlT-oj_NJdFeAg8Y_YeYa3iO-txyl34_VTXvr5gJEx0hDicf2aS_Jjps0BvM11F2iuJzTaXQfeL7fgr76Jf9QZI9Zoar4TfYzet_IcrLexh4_FT0o6LpwO8/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjuuRHo4SmL8CHWcmCdAOjlT-oj_NJdFeAg8Y_YeYa3iO-txyl34_VTXvr5gJEx0hDicf2aS_Jjps0BvM11F2iuJzTaXQfeL7fgr76Jf9QZI9Zoar4TfYzet_IcrLexh4_FT0o6LpwO8/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B006.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Grace and Andrew)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUm8QdOI5QnpEGFgLS4EeLOgC6Nax6SZ7kUPBmo5h7nivQI4EE2PgsBIjP5NzSclc9U_kg46BkD3GvUc-3Dh1UcpxVC_3odvtaMgDNT_HS7iFvXcWP5pu1VRzQxuSGNroGudjMICCTins/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUm8QdOI5QnpEGFgLS4EeLOgC6Nax6SZ7kUPBmo5h7nivQI4EE2PgsBIjP5NzSclc9U_kg46BkD3GvUc-3Dh1UcpxVC_3odvtaMgDNT_HS7iFvXcWP5pu1VRzQxuSGNroGudjMICCTins/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B032.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Adam and Jadon)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DD6h0tlkD0qNAhgrIS9d6o1yfRJZsX3SBflyuxywop5NESfqXooXLVr5_15EbjQlPevqyBIqMF4qQaiQBRpTBgEilEef7RzbI_Oz7RyoVEF0yRqsFRWxvOXXuGgA2O_e3U8NcQ33who/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DD6h0tlkD0qNAhgrIS9d6o1yfRJZsX3SBflyuxywop5NESfqXooXLVr5_15EbjQlPevqyBIqMF4qQaiQBRpTBgEilEef7RzbI_Oz7RyoVEF0yRqsFRWxvOXXuGgA2O_e3U8NcQ33who/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B034.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(My two lovie guys)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5MbUdOn8TGPE5ziOCcSzHQnrYo0P5g0TYYMt0fml5IE0jQ9j0iAgtS4oyNLplmKDAW5lKQzqLsWVKsVnzQhUYzW0MJOGFWhFh7sG1lHYnHvgywPPSqc5Fhpj6L6yuYI46U7zfIOL54w/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5MbUdOn8TGPE5ziOCcSzHQnrYo0P5g0TYYMt0fml5IE0jQ9j0iAgtS4oyNLplmKDAW5lKQzqLsWVKsVnzQhUYzW0MJOGFWhFh7sG1lHYnHvgywPPSqc5Fhpj6L6yuYI46U7zfIOL54w/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B054.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Adam and Lily--they have so much fun together)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvoFExSPnP0wbaOazoItuH2fj4pGXKLwF5WmvMQeq5DZo9UBsDXJ-s0Q9Z93roHmcow0yu7rsDiRq_NtyicyP_w4yq6jmF4adbGjCCxZBsXOTlEKWQori-y56i7sIiAhgEXKsWFZDY3I/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvoFExSPnP0wbaOazoItuH2fj4pGXKLwF5WmvMQeq5DZo9UBsDXJ-s0Q9Z93roHmcow0yu7rsDiRq_NtyicyP_w4yq6jmF4adbGjCCxZBsXOTlEKWQori-y56i7sIiAhgEXKsWFZDY3I/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B055.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWj7OlZjYQTVyK20jo95mRNi5eumy2TJfcPnLMhSb2zLQxdhaPDA9k1C0HNi-5CmU9seLGv5NiddomWE3JGadkOkeB5Lc55EXPBTy-58gE29TUlZL8VHYMM4PMmhZJj6IveWxQ33vkg/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrWj7OlZjYQTVyK20jo95mRNi5eumy2TJfcPnLMhSb2zLQxdhaPDA9k1C0HNi-5CmU9seLGv5NiddomWE3JGadkOkeB5Lc55EXPBTy-58gE29TUlZL8VHYMM4PMmhZJj6IveWxQ33vkg/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B041.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Lily, Alyssa and Yana)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOFlJooLThgEdr0OqsSpJvEgRlPEHAudxdi1_RQ514BSJfeMvFwbMJs4GXR7_C59fWilAMPZXOw-bg2X21QgAfpqIk1962Zjg_FJyU9SVDvpJrb47VlBpCLZwD7wp5lHdK0JnpdSFa4k/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOFlJooLThgEdr0OqsSpJvEgRlPEHAudxdi1_RQ514BSJfeMvFwbMJs4GXR7_C59fWilAMPZXOw-bg2X21QgAfpqIk1962Zjg_FJyU9SVDvpJrb47VlBpCLZwD7wp5lHdK0JnpdSFa4k/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B059.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Grace and Kaikai--best friends)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUK436Gqti5S_Agahd_vRh2qStCmx2DZc0zIG51T75eCqTXDGIaz0g9IfDUod7cwxehQo1WE2MsIzQ0hcggTad2JzpdX9ANfGAWf21x0FduFXLtpLqfNTHvUPJW2aGosJtkl4_EazKk4/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUK436Gqti5S_Agahd_vRh2qStCmx2DZc0zIG51T75eCqTXDGIaz0g9IfDUod7cwxehQo1WE2MsIzQ0hcggTad2JzpdX9ANfGAWf21x0FduFXLtpLqfNTHvUPJW2aGosJtkl4_EazKk4/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B014.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh how grateful I am for my family. And oh how very grateful we all are for the birth of the precious One, Emmanuel, God with us. Merry Christmas (2014) from the Bandimeres.</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-71425095423240529652015-02-01T18:18:00.002-07:002015-02-01T18:18:21.657-07:00The end of the journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After the excitement of meeting Yana's family, we were ready to get home. But, we still had the U.S. side of Andrew's adoption to complete, so we made our way back to Kiev.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu5JUzQ8gPqGk-zhSVRS1aYzHF6FjzRpe8PGQ0_zSUL8yvUXk5YpapQ_4iOA1rZwV0B8UulyGfU9EmUfOLv57gSBbq25E5KqDMg0ippmQst7hRe2ZnNux3P3z9psYVxbwDYJjb6iaOig/s1600/2014,+November+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVu5JUzQ8gPqGk-zhSVRS1aYzHF6FjzRpe8PGQ0_zSUL8yvUXk5YpapQ_4iOA1rZwV0B8UulyGfU9EmUfOLv57gSBbq25E5KqDMg0ippmQst7hRe2ZnNux3P3z9psYVxbwDYJjb6iaOig/s1600/2014,+November+005.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were blessed on this leg of our journey with the company of other adopted families.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZY8cbLAgdLcW9iN_1BFwwXDumKISVJsbYHt6bYVZUOlbeWXNXOhhzSawvRsBVfA6f3AaVP-s8tu05qYyTlaSEW6y-aRKyL4AsQckt3Dd4PxtI8Q7isnAlmB4TK2QP55T-COapxdr6p4/s1600/2014,+November+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZY8cbLAgdLcW9iN_1BFwwXDumKISVJsbYHt6bYVZUOlbeWXNXOhhzSawvRsBVfA6f3AaVP-s8tu05qYyTlaSEW6y-aRKyL4AsQckt3Dd4PxtI8Q7isnAlmB4TK2QP55T-COapxdr6p4/s1600/2014,+November+017.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were even able to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with some of these wonderful people. They certainly made the end of our trip much more enjoyable. What a blessing!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXJvcN7Y1rtj6imZrvjfPl6Cj3IbfpM41Pjih8OJj7pxLCmDJ1Aoi8vf2ybpk-gVXhp7PceGd5_n4CHPw7P7XkKiYdk2K8xLL7h4Sv6qphsywiPqjQGf3kKLbJ-p4NTyT72DA2mEoqw/s1600/2014,+November+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGXJvcN7Y1rtj6imZrvjfPl6Cj3IbfpM41Pjih8OJj7pxLCmDJ1Aoi8vf2ybpk-gVXhp7PceGd5_n4CHPw7P7XkKiYdk2K8xLL7h4Sv6qphsywiPqjQGf3kKLbJ-p4NTyT72DA2mEoqw/s1600/2014,+November+022.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nonetheless, after a number of days of paperwork, we were beyond overjoyed to discover that the U.S. side of the adoption was finished and we would be able to return to the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were greeted, after our long flights, by one of Lily's fabulous signs. :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLeY-kSGrTjOJ6vBs1FlTROqNoNzB9VV0ikDseDnIzY7qD1yu44czyf2gX0J5Sudfo8NbVjWLDn1rTzqeZm-eCZPxy1qGQjHe_3AtHH3cx-UTRoqeHFVTo0t3jhjbHmvVq-OzfEuUebo/s1600/2014,+November+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLeY-kSGrTjOJ6vBs1FlTROqNoNzB9VV0ikDseDnIzY7qD1yu44czyf2gX0J5Sudfo8NbVjWLDn1rTzqeZm-eCZPxy1qGQjHe_3AtHH3cx-UTRoqeHFVTo0t3jhjbHmvVq-OzfEuUebo/s1600/2014,+November+028.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt31VzXkjCFy4yqmNBnP01Ds_s8OoVZTuQDo07d-rTx0RsoSFQTJegoFZ5TO8hchlkkwkUyU20rN9jbPx8IWBeyvmjLVC0nUoI3wf2RvWFs8WCknbmSODJlSkMTQtDkRFayWNyXY8BVwM/s1600/2014,+November+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt31VzXkjCFy4yqmNBnP01Ds_s8OoVZTuQDo07d-rTx0RsoSFQTJegoFZ5TO8hchlkkwkUyU20rN9jbPx8IWBeyvmjLVC0nUoI3wf2RvWFs8WCknbmSODJlSkMTQtDkRFayWNyXY8BVwM/s1600/2014,+November+041.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And now, our journey was finally complete. Our precious seven kiddos were all together at last!</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-9478117084545737262015-02-01T18:02:00.004-07:002015-02-01T18:02:53.644-07:00a miracle, an absolute miracle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: center;">
We went to Melitopol (Yana's hometown), with hopes that we would be able to find some information about at least one member of Yana's family. We had an old address where Yana lived, and we drove to that little house. It didn't look familiar to Yana, but we got out <span class="text_exposed_show">and looked around. The woman who lived next door to the house stepped outside and we asked her for help. She was very sweet and walked around, asking some of the neighbors for information about Yana's family. Unfortunately, she couldn't find anything.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text_exposed_show"></span> </div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
As we were getting ready to leave, a car drove up. We decided to hold off leaving and ask these people some questions, as well. There is no way that anyone could convince me that this meeting wasn't absolutely ordained by God. Later, I learned that Oksana and Andrew (their names) were Christians, and when they drove up to their home Oksana said to Andrew, "I wonder who those people are. Maybe they're Americans, looking for relatives."</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjW0ja5mgzGu1Z9VPX9ac1zvVbr9FfhcWJK5zOpim6-60C04lYXCQwEoCiiE1XZNgEm7xbqABgBXOCp0o8qhZGqEHWoZ432TKTlIWCJ653dg761owWIAM_6Ou5b7KWx4ct-7fjaNCeLU/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjW0ja5mgzGu1Z9VPX9ac1zvVbr9FfhcWJK5zOpim6-60C04lYXCQwEoCiiE1XZNgEm7xbqABgBXOCp0o8qhZGqEHWoZ432TKTlIWCJ653dg761owWIAM_6Ou5b7KWx4ct-7fjaNCeLU/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
They were so eager to help us, but knew nothing. They said that they would call some more people and we left (I honestly thought that we would never hear from them again).</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
We went to a restaurant and our driver tried to look up Yana's relatives on VK (Ukrainian facebook), but couldn't find them. We felt a little defeated, but had still had a good morning at the orphanage and were happy about that. We went back to the hotel for what we thought was the remainder of the evening. </div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
About an hour later, our driver came to our room. He said that Oksana and Andrew had some information for us and were coming to the hotel. When they arrived they showed us the most amazing video. Through a number of contacts, they had found Yana's brother and sister and had gone to their house to make sure the meeting would be positive. In the video, Yana's brother, Maxim, told us how they had been looking for Yana for years and how they absolutely wanted to meet her now!</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
Yana and I broke down in tears and, of course, agreed to meet them at a nearby restaurant. Y'all, I've never experienced anything like it. What a sweet reunion with this precious family. They were so kind and grateful to see their little sister once again. Yana's sister, Zhenya, couldn't keep her eyes off of Yana, and teared up continually throughout the evening.</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLr_ysU_qZIZDoZUCqfceBA1JUakHb4PS-TSmB0xoB5KhEr_WTpnMZmwe5tSlzxBLE8eTn2XgpIDSZzieCs93NZPsW7dZdSe50-qhDXBS2bn02RHJDaRHJ-uf-sU-x6yZ8dFYwyMFkj0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLr_ysU_qZIZDoZUCqfceBA1JUakHb4PS-TSmB0xoB5KhEr_WTpnMZmwe5tSlzxBLE8eTn2XgpIDSZzieCs93NZPsW7dZdSe50-qhDXBS2bn02RHJDaRHJ-uf-sU-x6yZ8dFYwyMFkj0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B005.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Right after Yana's sister and brother arrived at the restaurant.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1fNE8X5NF38BY5auG5JSLen4RUW9eu37cFTuppXNZiVDdLszvkNT5W5tIkp8phJtm34OgIzcpVRSr5KhzmM82ZJx7W3wlILWpN1xVKmdv560o7eoOjp8lL-8oZBl6FvJQlkyRghPbYc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1fNE8X5NF38BY5auG5JSLen4RUW9eu37cFTuppXNZiVDdLszvkNT5W5tIkp8phJtm34OgIzcpVRSr5KhzmM82ZJx7W3wlILWpN1xVKmdv560o7eoOjp8lL-8oZBl6FvJQlkyRghPbYc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B006.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Yana and her brother, Maxim.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTcIL9dS4SUoYYDcRectbykXLurppEVd1DAi0F9Xf3bSeY55FbrQvFQcASyFqTBdPCSoXEFX_TgueZBl_ungZ7ok53ADdmeLhz_YZvzhvGwmZsJLrK1hdsqTbDjdz4kY7WgkKc7l7Yk4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTcIL9dS4SUoYYDcRectbykXLurppEVd1DAi0F9Xf3bSeY55FbrQvFQcASyFqTBdPCSoXEFX_TgueZBl_ungZ7ok53ADdmeLhz_YZvzhvGwmZsJLrK1hdsqTbDjdz4kY7WgkKc7l7Yk4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B008.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Yana and her sister, Zhenya.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EFO6pcrRt_-QI4oZtH5zGoRngMUo5ePuwZoBJQZI6L49imL-k28KEPWH7EO_rZHqRBDRUZB3IyBEybQGajOhTy2FLwtR9p1qiYcZ5WBPc1YpMgDYU0MC0InjYTwXE3o6hoydgRZVNhc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EFO6pcrRt_-QI4oZtH5zGoRngMUo5ePuwZoBJQZI6L49imL-k28KEPWH7EO_rZHqRBDRUZB3IyBEybQGajOhTy2FLwtR9p1qiYcZ5WBPc1YpMgDYU0MC0InjYTwXE3o6hoydgRZVNhc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B011.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Niece, Nataliya)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-h8lpzKW-IRzt_Iehvhzx8R6lBDBhZHM7NwR_d87hLZPwR1pD61NqXS-WQy2IEIT0btAAeucVUQpB869ORD4kDOcam7B-CXq-UEHq6CJX4ARoeveouPF10CV0HhAEWgGKVjLPkRdm7k/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-h8lpzKW-IRzt_Iehvhzx8R6lBDBhZHM7NwR_d87hLZPwR1pD61NqXS-WQy2IEIT0btAAeucVUQpB869ORD4kDOcam7B-CXq-UEHq6CJX4ARoeveouPF10CV0HhAEWgGKVjLPkRdm7k/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B012.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Niece, Varya)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk-QWofYrfvw3zMmiqkrjKnQ6Q6tFOXK0-QkG__qDT4XJrYMnZfNwB6MxrxUWy1VnM86FD8nyJdfYfdTQpsQtqBNBzpc8637kTZxjgOm4FpJQ3Ynw2BEl2pvs6KrtRu6781hNjLck9lQ/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk-QWofYrfvw3zMmiqkrjKnQ6Q6tFOXK0-QkG__qDT4XJrYMnZfNwB6MxrxUWy1VnM86FD8nyJdfYfdTQpsQtqBNBzpc8637kTZxjgOm4FpJQ3Ynw2BEl2pvs6KrtRu6781hNjLck9lQ/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B013.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib47gvCA2cDaAROgSVWGX688NZ16h3b2mywiqPTaUw5U6QaLCv1VMK9Y9bX5u6tphM97wgmSAWCtMQ2YgjulUviYccPXH-v_YGq_zlf3DtShfOpSK_VmZlr6ZBBxPsRgtbj1tCljenBvY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib47gvCA2cDaAROgSVWGX688NZ16h3b2mywiqPTaUw5U6QaLCv1VMK9Y9bX5u6tphM97wgmSAWCtMQ2YgjulUviYccPXH-v_YGq_zlf3DtShfOpSK_VmZlr6ZBBxPsRgtbj1tCljenBvY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B016.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBy0gK3yXRcQhyylbmeypJmkhaz8TxeAnL7giaDC-lldWG8_47y5SafVyhUa7aIkun8vxz6od3OPndJVRggFJQIF7HQkEuE5O3ldnzzaQFQJ28Y0G7jA3gpf-oOP6DkM07RQhZUTGMak/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBy0gK3yXRcQhyylbmeypJmkhaz8TxeAnL7giaDC-lldWG8_47y5SafVyhUa7aIkun8vxz6od3OPndJVRggFJQIF7HQkEuE5O3ldnzzaQFQJ28Y0G7jA3gpf-oOP6DkM07RQhZUTGMak/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfamily!)%2B017.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
We met again for breakfast the next morning. We promised to keep in close contact and help Yana visit again some day.</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiu_s6p41Me5B199CUcVI144qnRbyFYQa4h_w6-QZ34r8sBTLTcoNMCNWFKZwf9z0bkN9VVJuc2JgqBDTe8UVrIZ10PBoivwXwy2iFimHKwLaCnvX3-A9yUaIKMRlzAiobN25cR9o2W4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfam)%2B009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiu_s6p41Me5B199CUcVI144qnRbyFYQa4h_w6-QZ34r8sBTLTcoNMCNWFKZwf9z0bkN9VVJuc2JgqBDTe8UVrIZ10PBoivwXwy2iFimHKwLaCnvX3-A9yUaIKMRlzAiobN25cR9o2W4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfam)%2B009.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqsfx364hSjF5FMKKN8km-BsUfB9iDDhR_ypiG6-v6ixz0ZbuRBuEjEp6f6Dk6H3E-dkPwJW27r7IGXAYLehDKK6isWexRBMGqHBuiNBUOP_eh2D2XOD5urp6uqIe863gDmESD3fuZr0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfam)%2B019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqsfx364hSjF5FMKKN8km-BsUfB9iDDhR_ypiG6-v6ixz0ZbuRBuEjEp6f6Dk6H3E-dkPwJW27r7IGXAYLehDKK6isWexRBMGqHBuiNBUOP_eh2D2XOD5urp6uqIe863gDmESD3fuZr0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232%2C%2BYana's%2Bfam)%2B019.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just as we were getting ready to go, Yana's sister-in-law stated so sweetly, "Now we are all one family, together." Yes, we are. We most definitely are. Praise to our amazing God for the beautiful miracle of family!</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-6570282821079370142015-02-01T17:42:00.000-07:002015-02-01T17:42:36.389-07:00passport and Yana's orphanage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After our 10 day wait, we were back on the road to Ochakiv. To be honest, this leg of the journey was looooong. It's a good thing that some of those rough memories fade into the background with time. So now, I'm just remembering that it ended well, with Andrew's passport in hand, and the Ukrainian side of his adoption completed (thanks to Yana, our amazing translator and paperwork queen).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaPxh2bWa2jV5VpCbBELd2bFtXwzbdoDK4b55uM9khThDEzWbJeuSr-2kar7qMvXCQVZ9rZiGY-p0kDAG3GQAOMnTCuS5aecrppOwAm1rCZnnceLwLfBlWK3XdxEcFcsHGfPBQqwAFro/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaPxh2bWa2jV5VpCbBELd2bFtXwzbdoDK4b55uM9khThDEzWbJeuSr-2kar7qMvXCQVZ9rZiGY-p0kDAG3GQAOMnTCuS5aecrppOwAm1rCZnnceLwLfBlWK3XdxEcFcsHGfPBQqwAFro/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B002.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At that point, God did something miraculous. He opened the way for us to visit Yana's hometown (Melitopl) and orphanage (Berdyansk). As you may know, Ukraine is at war with Russia. The area where Yana is from is just 70 kilometers from the fighting. Though we were eager to visit these places, we were pretty sure that we wouldn't be able to do that on this trip. But, God made a way! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We encountered a number of military vehicles along the way, but felt perfectly safe. Thank you, Jesus!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoetsPTllVEqYRoUBaakxCBTqwU5wmjrohR24Wcj6DrHQGrbZBI_3Lr-n54eRaTtFJJjxTrrhjqD-Nb4xxxJJaDONEYCFe4YbLRpyD-M0Ar9Zjjw8Uj16Sz-1P1QGLOyp0Wl6VNA0OOE/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoetsPTllVEqYRoUBaakxCBTqwU5wmjrohR24Wcj6DrHQGrbZBI_3Lr-n54eRaTtFJJjxTrrhjqD-Nb4xxxJJaDONEYCFe4YbLRpyD-M0Ar9Zjjw8Uj16Sz-1P1QGLOyp0Wl6VNA0OOE/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B063.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The visit to Yana's orphanage was incredible. To think, she played on this playground!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5oxGsaQVxysgnsJ9cJ903uQczp_xc06YvF_xuQP4BHCZADqBTtj7tTCOLAr2l47Pk0vjHU6GhEUK32mapMeKq3GTapDQe1lruYe3njojugbPgKr2tGj46X_j64Ur0Tuz1ydcJRMfHR4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5oxGsaQVxysgnsJ9cJ903uQczp_xc06YvF_xuQP4BHCZADqBTtj7tTCOLAr2l47Pk0vjHU6GhEUK32mapMeKq3GTapDQe1lruYe3njojugbPgKr2tGj46X_j64Ur0Tuz1ydcJRMfHR4/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B025.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And sat in this very classroom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ5_0otKicv6XkVcl64opLnGATcQnHsu0QZn-0cdtCMux-aYPSaJ2EMtty3aG7k9aPX2I-7fQFk-bxdlbz_sABZhtW5O3m-Ayfk_N4aGZqjK1sgLftnG13At5JLm_hSBO3CQds27czzU/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ5_0otKicv6XkVcl64opLnGATcQnHsu0QZn-0cdtCMux-aYPSaJ2EMtty3aG7k9aPX2I-7fQFk-bxdlbz_sABZhtW5O3m-Ayfk_N4aGZqjK1sgLftnG13At5JLm_hSBO3CQds27czzU/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B034.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She ate lunch in this lunchroom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQD2Nr-UWbchjLGhqpIT_eMitrL28Gcpbe0BzE55c5Qm7QyFAcI75iVu9HNS2pByzjZof7zEIfH_RT9ZuamSK7tfdklDHpJ__SOR9_0taZ5vsDLRPP5haJgUK0q9e32GdlR2xIO-EPLE/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQD2Nr-UWbchjLGhqpIT_eMitrL28Gcpbe0BzE55c5Qm7QyFAcI75iVu9HNS2pByzjZof7zEIfH_RT9ZuamSK7tfdklDHpJ__SOR9_0taZ5vsDLRPP5haJgUK0q9e32GdlR2xIO-EPLE/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B040.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And it is now obvious where she got her artistic start.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWIA1yy3VZuJyIXExBepxECFQDhVDhBAhQwmw5jh5NVlsfRInjVp2LkRspiT4SNgB064LtlYtlzMR6pa1GhkuKXpJZj_oM6PeN3F41brjlrXJXSlhE2JkY439qM7hjGmyIgh2CzUzu-U/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWIA1yy3VZuJyIXExBepxECFQDhVDhBAhQwmw5jh5NVlsfRInjVp2LkRspiT4SNgB064LtlYtlzMR6pa1GhkuKXpJZj_oM6PeN3F41brjlrXJXSlhE2JkY439qM7hjGmyIgh2CzUzu-U/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B027.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This amazing woman remembered Yana and was with her when she originally went to court. What a precious lady! She was so excited to see Yana again and was incredibly sweet to us.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEFt7UHNgPgbH7gJFHQw2NnZyqHzkvoEZcfmDNg297ym_VJktq8u2rlaFr4hZAYmagTTg-GFhR9Evn06YBmSi_T9EjCMryv0K4mgHB2d3gdh4W5loNdmepSzlWMBq03nEUQy9WjoUgL8/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEFt7UHNgPgbH7gJFHQw2NnZyqHzkvoEZcfmDNg297ym_VJktq8u2rlaFr4hZAYmagTTg-GFhR9Evn06YBmSi_T9EjCMryv0K4mgHB2d3gdh4W5loNdmepSzlWMBq03nEUQy9WjoUgL8/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B041.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa6rWreugJYBTCm_zH1d_-ELosK2Cy_-c2w_VshGva2WNByluXQAZ-0p2NH0MGg-4Er5EetW4FIjBwTIQaymItSsUMCPJikkp_NmZQr1wFkslv2K9OxnZl_owt2Fe-DNq4Ok8deCymk8/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa6rWreugJYBTCm_zH1d_-ELosK2Cy_-c2w_VshGva2WNByluXQAZ-0p2NH0MGg-4Er5EetW4FIjBwTIQaymItSsUMCPJikkp_NmZQr1wFkslv2K9OxnZl_owt2Fe-DNq4Ok8deCymk8/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B048.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The city of Berdyansk.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6JsLb7YjzOQWHRzuWnUGJLrtZBAksl7oZAGYdlJeSU68l2w5SqamI3CUk7cy3rsiiNIrSxUChCJVCGFeQCw3L-oc00heyZSiwcrPjArLbDQyMEDkHKDPK-ekybcFEDEyJS0xeYtJMUY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6JsLb7YjzOQWHRzuWnUGJLrtZBAksl7oZAGYdlJeSU68l2w5SqamI3CUk7cy3rsiiNIrSxUChCJVCGFeQCw3L-oc00heyZSiwcrPjArLbDQyMEDkHKDPK-ekybcFEDEyJS0xeYtJMUY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B051.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We thought that this day could hardly have gone better, but God had something even more amazing in store for us. I'll share the details in my next post. It was truly a miracle!</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-17112934941656819882015-02-01T16:02:00.000-07:002015-02-01T17:20:49.885-07:00Incredible!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The center of Kiev has more cathedrals than you can possibly imagine . Every time you turn a corner, there is a testament to the glory of God! I was in awe of the beauty of these spectacular buildings.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
St. Sophia's was very close to our apartment during our 10-day wait for court validation. We spent an afternoon, walking around this church and it's grounds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yjmbICdVczAL6JJi3jv_x1u_MYrE7C2yAlWhQttNiaxpP11GXVMxql-S6knoQ_a1-ZjsXQ-4sYPAgKzrHLCSt0mrHJk3n0hyphenhyphenVFdJfTKyH_cRgTuBC3VqQHZRGvHL1lq6z1kmUyew6GI/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yjmbICdVczAL6JJi3jv_x1u_MYrE7C2yAlWhQttNiaxpP11GXVMxql-S6knoQ_a1-ZjsXQ-4sYPAgKzrHLCSt0mrHJk3n0hyphenhyphenVFdJfTKyH_cRgTuBC3VqQHZRGvHL1lq6z1kmUyew6GI/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B046.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOezw8LeMJkzchhuc3OmVs1-ybHHTjEbHkzX7IA3S1RA7urFL-FbG8VqVLuFzLRruXOtA9QTvIarXlZgjnbMUYX7KL1YdMY1gEGONpUs4l27VpatowlFGopCHZT9H70H4HoWCWdw0S-Q/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOezw8LeMJkzchhuc3OmVs1-ybHHTjEbHkzX7IA3S1RA7urFL-FbG8VqVLuFzLRruXOtA9QTvIarXlZgjnbMUYX7KL1YdMY1gEGONpUs4l27VpatowlFGopCHZT9H70H4HoWCWdw0S-Q/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B052.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Truly remarkable!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCtnhUlslpTkV-Jr8QiwQGHc7FcCWZQ6pVDeg8PXFs5r5sv2UqJ3AkLZWlBDY8vyJ2TyA4A8RCHGZ7QcQlXwQfEu6F-5_v4q5web-VO3m_8CHVvEAE3c_5dF9pZpI5x55rjPllB0lhkI/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCtnhUlslpTkV-Jr8QiwQGHc7FcCWZQ6pVDeg8PXFs5r5sv2UqJ3AkLZWlBDY8vyJ2TyA4A8RCHGZ7QcQlXwQfEu6F-5_v4q5web-VO3m_8CHVvEAE3c_5dF9pZpI5x55rjPllB0lhkI/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B055.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc4x7UX83UuL2hWHlb5gg-Z_z-CZmsneswPQLyjnlwXWaPaLiQQETTu9GwotVmtSJlSeNFYJw2a-GG4kCGOfkktPow8qRKwByxtQefRKT02WiW_8AgqYzBlGvmBJ6YQdegOb_D2cKu6w/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc4x7UX83UuL2hWHlb5gg-Z_z-CZmsneswPQLyjnlwXWaPaLiQQETTu9GwotVmtSJlSeNFYJw2a-GG4kCGOfkktPow8qRKwByxtQefRKT02WiW_8AgqYzBlGvmBJ6YQdegOb_D2cKu6w/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B060.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We, of course, had to visit St. Andrew's. We even joined in their morning service one Sunday.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfND5Q8d40Rd-7batXyni98wC6f3DocEw9keYhKTAp2T79QoAe2eOpwVJF6pedxozY_ITrc9wROMEhQuX3w9Yhh609meeCuUL_24nVmNgptjJ7P-5ugwkER4v72_BoZkwVE4UQqk9cN-o/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfND5Q8d40Rd-7batXyni98wC6f3DocEw9keYhKTAp2T79QoAe2eOpwVJF6pedxozY_ITrc9wROMEhQuX3w9Yhh609meeCuUL_24nVmNgptjJ7P-5ugwkER4v72_BoZkwVE4UQqk9cN-o/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B066.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM4eekW2KaBkZZccpzEbZ56AgDQk0rC2FCuSAQpdgFzBnWXOceqi2pULwRnU7Z6LemdD1dXfLo8P46APxOM-goBG5DizEI8RX_vFKgHHmDDxQ6U5NuDaQmdDhAl-gryY3k_a3_ORrVPg/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqM4eekW2KaBkZZccpzEbZ56AgDQk0rC2FCuSAQpdgFzBnWXOceqi2pULwRnU7Z6LemdD1dXfLo8P46APxOM-goBG5DizEI8RX_vFKgHHmDDxQ6U5NuDaQmdDhAl-gryY3k_a3_ORrVPg/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B071.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
An icon of St. Andrew for our very own Andrew.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56MqRLrXqJjKHF3CLzQUOrUA3YsKobim7CL4QkqCSt4bWW0lUWSEWJJM4wtpCgk81xrEpd0hlQ-v_3oC90yH3CoDQpu8j0JoiSwgqkZmChManhKW4mVdnW6ssMsHw5J4MTN3F8G-eqjM/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56MqRLrXqJjKHF3CLzQUOrUA3YsKobim7CL4QkqCSt4bWW0lUWSEWJJM4wtpCgk81xrEpd0hlQ-v_3oC90yH3CoDQpu8j0JoiSwgqkZmChManhKW4mVdnW6ssMsHw5J4MTN3F8G-eqjM/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B082.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNccd9grqWD6bopjXYIT5S1sZzt7AQS-NzpzWQgrOWSBqaVf7fwStT2y8PD9eXPJEnC0QlIogAN3R3mjU6GnAMBdcKuhVRoNZCFhkVpZw2GKgL6dkvhoPHaTrS2B0Bmg0xZYr7StSMQFI/s1600/10425348_733303793390836_4874991233161822295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNccd9grqWD6bopjXYIT5S1sZzt7AQS-NzpzWQgrOWSBqaVf7fwStT2y8PD9eXPJEnC0QlIogAN3R3mjU6GnAMBdcKuhVRoNZCFhkVpZw2GKgL6dkvhoPHaTrS2B0Bmg0xZYr7StSMQFI/s1600/10425348_733303793390836_4874991233161822295_n.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a><span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was absolutely remarkable in it's intricacy and beauty. We took the metro to visit this church and could have spent many more days, taking in all that it had for us to see.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBQtycwdaY8943rDbRArOfi_6YoD0V7VpInN4OvNIRmjLoEXcLYY6GzKRUsHqCeCvXypb3lBaySzb8oSLE6mJ0cf4yPlpzXd3ePm2rNEvlBsmoW0qLzjEOwDVcI9Muu5DlAldqOt8zko/s1600/10606510_733303660057516_3158731916843964009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBQtycwdaY8943rDbRArOfi_6YoD0V7VpInN4OvNIRmjLoEXcLYY6GzKRUsHqCeCvXypb3lBaySzb8oSLE6mJ0cf4yPlpzXd3ePm2rNEvlBsmoW0qLzjEOwDVcI9Muu5DlAldqOt8zko/s1600/10606510_733303660057516_3158731916843964009_n.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeLB8TLX_2igg1mXKVlYJG19nNKv_iFYzQtWJSu9Q6OOjecVTMmnomu3QCp5OkyGfghzysQ5nv3DDWzdNaD3dfrxXTVa8lVwUWM6yVCJpsft37VaGe5ad43YyKa_uWfpeNF-N_Wylfv0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeLB8TLX_2igg1mXKVlYJG19nNKv_iFYzQtWJSu9Q6OOjecVTMmnomu3QCp5OkyGfghzysQ5nv3DDWzdNaD3dfrxXTVa8lVwUWM6yVCJpsft37VaGe5ad43YyKa_uWfpeNF-N_Wylfv0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B107.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I think, however, that St. Michaels was probably still my favorite. David and I spent a lot of time walking around and praying at St. Michael's during our first trip to Ukraine. I love the golden domes. During the day they reflect the sun's rays and at sunset, they are a beautiful reminder of the glory of our God!</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-68652694203297815582015-02-01T14:30:00.002-07:002015-02-01T16:07:55.669-07:00Court and Kiev!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now that I have a few moments to catch my breath, I want to spend a little time recording our second trip to Ukraine, in which we officially adopted our new son!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
***************</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Early in November, David, Yana, Adam and I boarded a plane that would eventually get us to Kiev. We arrived in that city on the evening plane, via Amsterdam. We ate, slept (a little) and got up bright and early the next day. We jumped (okay, maybe staggered) into our driver's car and got ready for the seven hour drive to Ochakiv.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After a long, bumpy drive and quick stop at the hotel in Ochakiv, we drove to the orphanage for a visit with Andrew. He was outside when we arrived and ran at full-speed towards us, yelling to a friend, "It's my family!" There were hugs all around, and a little shock on Andrew's part, in regards to Adam's height. lol!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF8X7NDaYM6HGQ1wQZT3Mv3aKb6GqpDyXu2st4MTYwinT-b7KTg_WkCdbcZPZ8pFhpWdI4SOuRATPKI097QzbYEDkjf6uzXw7e2bQbQQPcTZ_h4oIvxO9yMv3-txOohjE6NpHI1kLNcw/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF8X7NDaYM6HGQ1wQZT3Mv3aKb6GqpDyXu2st4MTYwinT-b7KTg_WkCdbcZPZ8pFhpWdI4SOuRATPKI097QzbYEDkjf6uzXw7e2bQbQQPcTZ_h4oIvxO9yMv3-txOohjE6NpHI1kLNcw/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B014.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had to leave Andrew at the orphanage that night, but got up early again the next day for our court visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The director was at the hearing, of course, and we were able to thank her again for the love that she has showered upon Andrew. What a precious lady!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oypDZ_A3MZv8OEtZ-1Aq4Nt5_ZZ0REGX31Ri9DpRsmFDrM7YWwIb3rTIlZmbp0zQU5J3eE-2DsPtwEURwpiKCGC-Nk_3uk98UMYptS1GFyYxLOa7xJ0Op7vkzElkb5hdnu3WdLOFQsc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oypDZ_A3MZv8OEtZ-1Aq4Nt5_ZZ0REGX31Ri9DpRsmFDrM7YWwIb3rTIlZmbp0zQU5J3eE-2DsPtwEURwpiKCGC-Nk_3uk98UMYptS1GFyYxLOa7xJ0Op7vkzElkb5hdnu3WdLOFQsc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andrew's impromptu speech during court was amazing. Our translator, Yana, told us everything that he said about embracing his new life with his family, and we were all a little teary-eyed. Oh, how I wish that it could have been recorded! But, in the end, the most important part of court that day was that we were granted custody of Andrew (woot! woot!). We then took all of the orphanage staff (who were at court with us) out to lunch. Yana, Adam and Andrew spent some time getting to know each other (and being incredibly silly!).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjjtZ2us2aePSWK6zwXa8dMbOiDZ3DSE9lcr1ue1NG6HppWpF1TTuMT_P2vkC3vFNOX39wOBVLBA9M4VjrJ3P9zy8rKyV0n13NXc2lafqA8tcbeMJyMBbDw-PHk-YOhGobfkYV4g8-oY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjjtZ2us2aePSWK6zwXa8dMbOiDZ3DSE9lcr1ue1NG6HppWpF1TTuMT_P2vkC3vFNOX39wOBVLBA9M4VjrJ3P9zy8rKyV0n13NXc2lafqA8tcbeMJyMBbDw-PHk-YOhGobfkYV4g8-oY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
David had to fly back to the U.S. the next day, and we thought that we would be staying in Ochakiv for the 10 day wait after court. But, surprise! They told us that we could spend the 10 days in Kiev! So, it was back into the car for us, and we were on our way again!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On our way to Kiev, we encountered a lot of stray dogs at gas stations and stops along the way. Adam and Yana had to pet all of them. They wanted to take this one home. Sweet little thing was hungry and cold.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3pbJezbgz4V3uQGNrDlpyXoC8eEqc2aZyg_sqC62Ulj5qFirMug9pe5TmBsGhSmTBOJJUopRtj1EcW-tiBXMJkkCcNPHLVyCGYCSpE5iaJ8XajvpbR55dTN8xvtpEyBiyfNuoZF-X34/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3pbJezbgz4V3uQGNrDlpyXoC8eEqc2aZyg_sqC62Ulj5qFirMug9pe5TmBsGhSmTBOJJUopRtj1EcW-tiBXMJkkCcNPHLVyCGYCSpE5iaJ8XajvpbR55dTN8xvtpEyBiyfNuoZF-X34/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B005.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We got to Kiev and settled into our unique apartment (why yes, it did have a fake stuffed tiger on the wall) for our 10 day stay. David flew back to the U.S. and Yana, Adam and I started a bit of a routine. Andrew enjoyed cooking for us sometimes.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6diliLptGN0j5bblwi8at4h_cbK1cy0G_znNoD5Dw7-1BOxRtdSSLtPP78en2gPjORCMRYcb8RUd2eACpM66BXBoFEYT6wZtXrX2iXK_iUZsyoUp7_Tt6WCU_9YGRsXJBSFSVa1x8Q0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6diliLptGN0j5bblwi8at4h_cbK1cy0G_znNoD5Dw7-1BOxRtdSSLtPP78en2gPjORCMRYcb8RUd2eACpM66BXBoFEYT6wZtXrX2iXK_iUZsyoUp7_Tt6WCU_9YGRsXJBSFSVa1x8Q0/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B012.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And we went for lots of little walks and outings.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-zoIyJzdZ1GHtathIfrfKj5daysSgULCo3NkVyySRsG59JT8qiZPGKLdZjutLtZYCxfQzhABrcxxUiok92lb1F7ydykkBRwg1Ejf0LIB9SAVeLkFASKimb9kgPuGur71NShARFwY_cc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-zoIyJzdZ1GHtathIfrfKj5daysSgULCo3NkVyySRsG59JT8qiZPGKLdZjutLtZYCxfQzhABrcxxUiok92lb1F7ydykkBRwg1Ejf0LIB9SAVeLkFASKimb9kgPuGur71NShARFwY_cc/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B044.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andrew taught Yana to knit</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(and then Yana tried to get Andrew to knit with her every day afterwards!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFa9i5xZ0yPs5xKRTyt9p8nkW3xLR6hmQ8p0rjRudJuTNJj0IrDPdGZvjqDWpT8MO6CtbCRy2myogixhJY5p4gAsQE3AkKX5Ujm6rknKWyxcpsvp9SV-H5tvOmhsJebbmbsp7fRNd3fA/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFa9i5xZ0yPs5xKRTyt9p8nkW3xLR6hmQ8p0rjRudJuTNJj0IrDPdGZvjqDWpT8MO6CtbCRy2myogixhJY5p4gAsQE3AkKX5Ujm6rknKWyxcpsvp9SV-H5tvOmhsJebbmbsp7fRNd3fA/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B003.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Adam, Yana and I played a lot of games</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(and tried to get Andrew interested in some of them!).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TTjTv4tHIntRfiV3Os15VaG7qJDNYbuIbxOLpkjW1zkKGRi1ALYX0YIgsRroiO4dceY0_x3RscWaH-dp7KTb0m4m0vO7j3d6aESWlatFv1Aulq_lRP3y3gBrOm3E77M9m9LxU0WPn50/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TTjTv4tHIntRfiV3Os15VaG7qJDNYbuIbxOLpkjW1zkKGRi1ALYX0YIgsRroiO4dceY0_x3RscWaH-dp7KTb0m4m0vO7j3d6aESWlatFv1Aulq_lRP3y3gBrOm3E77M9m9LxU0WPn50/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B010.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And the three teens did schoolwork. It was a blessing to have some work for all of them to do. It really helped everyone's attitudes to have something useful to accomplish.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIEq7tFjX4Z2nyObUFa-Wr42ipKH2hnFQbmN3AalaraBZUdCldLKu8hyUbId8fHwLoU3zdarF9d20xrC6jEyXs_tg3U_xV2HY9BVjDd82Oc9DRKNomPLV-zmDW6_DWO29yIQmJ8bk5XY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIEq7tFjX4Z2nyObUFa-Wr42ipKH2hnFQbmN3AalaraBZUdCldLKu8hyUbId8fHwLoU3zdarF9d20xrC6jEyXs_tg3U_xV2HY9BVjDd82Oc9DRKNomPLV-zmDW6_DWO29yIQmJ8bk5XY/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B003.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More doggies...but this one is not a stray!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjeIuRqgK0zrKbmZN3sARUQkTYB6pN_qVoMPd7cilln_WEESFk8-hqxxq8Md2Q9JPxDuqzNyywZV18Ib5RobiriG27fqD-4-a_HX_MacsGE1siNUZowSYazg7_AM1FL_7wGYa37A6c0A/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjeIuRqgK0zrKbmZN3sARUQkTYB6pN_qVoMPd7cilln_WEESFk8-hqxxq8Md2Q9JPxDuqzNyywZV18Ib5RobiriG27fqD-4-a_HX_MacsGE1siNUZowSYazg7_AM1FL_7wGYa37A6c0A/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B094.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuL3d-lbHsi5xNlm9pekyj3mNLRt7lPdidciD6MwB5AsJy4-VYdSCDSJeiAdWVw9N6l4JTxj4hIxO5OzZnary05HyA2WMRWa4oNEAXNB5f4Hi_5TnuQOmDgXWNHjLfcKzornzja3hnFM/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuL3d-lbHsi5xNlm9pekyj3mNLRt7lPdidciD6MwB5AsJy4-VYdSCDSJeiAdWVw9N6l4JTxj4hIxO5OzZnary05HyA2WMRWa4oNEAXNB5f4Hi_5TnuQOmDgXWNHjLfcKzornzja3hnFM/s1600/2014,+November+(Ukraine%2C%2Btrip%2B%232)%2B106.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was so grateful for this time in Kiev with my three oldest kiddos. What a beautiful city! We all enjoyed it immensely.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In my next post, I'll share photos of the amazing cathedrals that we visited in Kiev, so stay tuned for that!</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-61033725420505214462015-01-29T14:37:00.000-07:002015-01-29T14:37:02.606-07:00for such a time as this<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes! It really is me writing a blog post. I'm coming out of the fog of post-adoption, and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated by the Lord. So, what better thing to do than try to finish up some blogging about our time in Ukraine and the adoption of our wonderful new son?!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm349Ewvutz45aJ_Fievnr4Oe0OA-LPVo3V8guksaRnvA0cyx-FMUEVVUNTr7XGIz1J-rb8FZCOb3-tJQRGUMOHCX5Mt6GgtIumPi1GEwa44SgXsuaEqu-VwLj7CpANglED0jOhZ7MS8/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm349Ewvutz45aJ_Fievnr4Oe0OA-LPVo3V8guksaRnvA0cyx-FMUEVVUNTr7XGIz1J-rb8FZCOb3-tJQRGUMOHCX5Mt6GgtIumPi1GEwa44SgXsuaEqu-VwLj7CpANglED0jOhZ7MS8/s1600/2014,+December+(Christmas)%2B003.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Andrew is doing great, and I can't wait to tell you more about this special boy, but first, I'd like to share some things that God has been showing me over the past few days.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40">************</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40">It was Sunday morning and I was praying for our church body. As I prayed, the Lord kept bringing to mind the story of Esther. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40">Esther was a simple Jewish woman, who miraculously became queen. While she was queen, i</span></span></span>t came to her attention that a plot was being formed against the Jewish people, which would mean certain death for all of them. She therefore had a choice to make. She could keep her identity secret, or she could risk her own life for the sake of her people. Her cousin, Mordecai, explained, "For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>For such a time as this.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The same could be said of each one of us: we were born for such a time as this. God formed you and He formed me at the very hour that our presence was needed most in this world. He chose us for this world, and the timing of that choice was not irrelevant. We may never need to make a decision that could mean the obliteration or salvation of a whole race of people, but we still have decisions to make. Ultimately (for both Esther and for us) the decision is whether or not we will choose to bring glory to the name of our precious God, no matter the cost.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On that particular morning, I knew that the decision, though not so obviously life-altering as Queen Esther's, was just as important. I was getting ready for worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Would I choose to worship him with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength? Would I truly give myself, in a sacrifice of praise? That was choice that was set before me. It was simple, really. I was on this earth at this time and in this place for a reason, and that reason was to glorify my Creator God. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When I arrived at church a brother shared this scripture:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen:<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-38" id="en-NET-25761"><sup class="versenum"> '</sup><b><i>Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!</i></b> Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' </span><span class="text Luke-19-39" id="en-NET-25762">But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples.' </span><span class="text Luke-19-40" id="en-NET-25763"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>He answered, 'I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!'" Luke 19:37-40</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40">Friends, my heart was pierced...<em>the very stones would cry out</em>!!!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not only did my precious Father share with me intimately about the purpose of my life that morning, but He let me know that if I did not choose that purpose, He would have to ask the stones to take my place. Oh God in Heaven, may it never be so! Don't let the stones take my place!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I want to be a worshiper.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I want to give God glory.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I want to fulfill my purpose in this time and in this place.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was born for such a time as this.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And dear ones, you were born for such a time, as well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Luke-19-40"></span></span></span> </div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-56599720096166736542014-10-21T21:05:00.001-06:002014-10-21T21:05:13.919-06:00he likes Bruce Lee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few months ago, David and I were talking about options for middle names for our new son. I had been reading a number of books by Andrew Murray and was encouraged by his love for the Lord and his ability to share the heart of God with others. Also, Andrew (or Andre) was a name that fit in with our son's cultural background, so it seemed a good choice. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Without any prior knowledge of what we had been thinking, Yana mused out loud a few weeks later, "I think that Sergey's middle name should be Andrew, after Brother Andrew."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wow. That felt like a confirmation that we should choose the name Andrew.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the other hand, we also wanted to honor my dad, by using George as a middle name. Yet it ,wasn't only my earthly father who was named George; my spiritual father's name was George, as well. George Muller is one of my all-time heroes of the faith, and I loved the idea of naming my son after him. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We therefore had a bit of a dilemma that was not solved before our first trip to Ukraine. So when our regional facilitator, Yana, asked about Sergey's new legal name, we weren't sure how to respond. She asked Sergey what he thought, and he told her adamantly that he wanted a completely new name.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A new first name? That wasn't even on our radar. We questioned Yana about it and she inquired of Sergey again. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I like Bruce Lee," he declared.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hmmmm....although I have nothing against Bruce Lee and even think that my youngest daughter looks a little bit like him, I wasn't about to give our new son a name that may cause him all sorts of grief in the future.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, we asked him, "What about Andrew? Andrew George?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Yes! Andrew! I like Andrew George!" he replied.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, in the space of about three minutes, our son had a new name.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIApqBFX_H40Jc6Xg736l9QnQ59kl7Bn_hKKQlrkiAT5CNiWUlL8zuKe4CTZD_LqONrQuFZF3GfbGi__NUPnij8_taSOhr1ECu1Iz3ZwT_x_zuthTxFiDS2YsKBrBlWjazjWcF8JvYds/s1600/Pictures-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIApqBFX_H40Jc6Xg736l9QnQ59kl7Bn_hKKQlrkiAT5CNiWUlL8zuKe4CTZD_LqONrQuFZF3GfbGi__NUPnij8_taSOhr1ECu1Iz3ZwT_x_zuthTxFiDS2YsKBrBlWjazjWcF8JvYds/s1600/Pictures-001.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andrew George, our precious son, you have a rich heritage in your name. We pray that some day you will will grow to love each of these men and will follow closely in their footsteps. We believe that God arranged it so that you could share in all of their names. What a blessing it will be to see how God uses their legacies to influence your life!</div>
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-12783289713366220152014-10-20T18:47:00.001-06:002014-10-20T18:47:22.844-06:00beyond expectations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After all of my fear during the week prior to meeting Sergey (see my post below), I couldn't have been more blown away by the beauty of our first meeting. Sergey was incredible. Honestly, my friends, we were immediately blessed by this boy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j4qVr6IUntjfobkJZ3m2LPuOPtLXNmbvicR6_wxT6J-1jmPF3KYUOQjeBuLtuuX0RQuO_jDSXIqQbGbpqZahDjibgavikaaXW1yZTy-YjdX7DlwqQ0j3OISg_0XEN9f7faL1Ik46rcw/s1600/20141010_152030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9j4qVr6IUntjfobkJZ3m2LPuOPtLXNmbvicR6_wxT6J-1jmPF3KYUOQjeBuLtuuX0RQuO_jDSXIqQbGbpqZahDjibgavikaaXW1yZTy-YjdX7DlwqQ0j3OISg_0XEN9f7faL1Ik46rcw/s1600/20141010_152030.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sergey walked into the director's office at the orphanage and immediately gave both David and me a hug. Then, he sat down between us with a shy, but joyful smile on his face. He told the director that he was quite sure that he wanted to be adopted by our family, and by evening he had even told David and I that he loved us. We had been sending Sergey letters and pictures and he was well-prepared and excited for our first visit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo152Ntdspy1FYtaAfbr62iKL2_uJ17MXdsTGFgajL6JWMx5060ZUcyuJhRY-qMfy3aJ4f13oNQIEOCG2tUsihpOR0WYd6fOruo6Q_Eg0zsId42j62dP0LurjB_KqkXK58O3IdgEsoFs/s1600/2014,+October+(Ukraine)%2B032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo152Ntdspy1FYtaAfbr62iKL2_uJ17MXdsTGFgajL6JWMx5060ZUcyuJhRY-qMfy3aJ4f13oNQIEOCG2tUsihpOR0WYd6fOruo6Q_Eg0zsId42j62dP0LurjB_KqkXK58O3IdgEsoFs/s1600/2014,+October+(Ukraine)%2B032.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sergey's orphanage is right by the Black Sea, and each of the mornings that he was with us, he would go for a run along the beach.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwiq9lKBdd5Wcvd2vrMXo5G4_Xo5LB7ePc0zUdMJWJU2ExfKlsirZVfVM_iCHbxnaAZRrA1XVN8MTpIN3I879w15mDIAOxunHZUMpJ9ih5lZepbsISwVwDPXm3MUv2hwp_FYROK9Io3Q/s1600/20141013_175336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwiq9lKBdd5Wcvd2vrMXo5G4_Xo5LB7ePc0zUdMJWJU2ExfKlsirZVfVM_iCHbxnaAZRrA1XVN8MTpIN3I879w15mDIAOxunHZUMpJ9ih5lZepbsISwVwDPXm3MUv2hwp_FYROK9Io3Q/s1600/20141013_175336.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One afternoon, while David, Sergey and I were playing Frisbee on the sand, Sergey called out, "Mama, look!" During his morning run, he had stopped and written "I love David and Sarah" in the sand. Oh, my heart!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE87FLH2vVj-1rSEzfL1Rv4hahVxeBaxP6Hj27MvVrsLlKLgWxSgxSo5fjUw8dDnSyZxiNKLP9EVHzRwT_tZ-o_tYiZgMFfait6j4ZXt9i3-ElOh2in7GcniAaQxyQL6FoIO8PDyY3p4/s1600/20141013_175347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE87FLH2vVj-1rSEzfL1Rv4hahVxeBaxP6Hj27MvVrsLlKLgWxSgxSo5fjUw8dDnSyZxiNKLP9EVHzRwT_tZ-o_tYiZgMFfait6j4ZXt9i3-ElOh2in7GcniAaQxyQL6FoIO8PDyY3p4/s1600/20141013_175347.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the day that we had to leave Ukraine, Sergey was quiet. We had our translator, Roman, ask him whether or not he was still sure that he wanted to be adopted. He told Roman that he was 100% sure that he wanted to be a part of our family. Then, he asked if he could talk with David and Roman alone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oI_kVurOCqEeHatsoCQ164DwB9zv15qs06oggwY2XOyxVTZP7VJhiT9yihKFQ3A9s7p1YhrqyLGLLiHvm03xzVdmCs78vPAGpmAQIdyFA32xEQ6m98Vq5zi26J9OgDy7_Qvjl0Og1so/s1600/20141014_134131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oI_kVurOCqEeHatsoCQ164DwB9zv15qs06oggwY2XOyxVTZP7VJhiT9yihKFQ3A9s7p1YhrqyLGLLiHvm03xzVdmCs78vPAGpmAQIdyFA32xEQ6m98Vq5zi26J9OgDy7_Qvjl0Og1so/s1600/20141014_134131.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It turns out that he wanted to make a plan with them to buy me this rose. Seriously folks, this boy is so sweet.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShE6HlNvOblJj4wxsAIb37Ga-qUOyzSlrUVStYJgxi8Mnjtzr_-0gBobQ9nBQzUlj4Jpg54K8cPxOkrLoKpM_Ox1lRWgLzqintGMekkC3AdAI1yiof7mTBhYHdSbSYhnMEbc_VLeXkI8/s1600/2014,+October+(Ukraine)%2B112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShE6HlNvOblJj4wxsAIb37Ga-qUOyzSlrUVStYJgxi8Mnjtzr_-0gBobQ9nBQzUlj4Jpg54K8cPxOkrLoKpM_Ox1lRWgLzqintGMekkC3AdAI1yiof7mTBhYHdSbSYhnMEbc_VLeXkI8/s1600/2014,+October+(Ukraine)%2B112.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Meeting Sergey was an experience that went beyond all of our expectations. Now, we cannot wait to get back to Ukraine and have this boy in our family full-time!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thank you, Jesus, for this precious young man. He is a delight! We are astounded with the intricate way that you lead us to Sergey. Thank you for the pleasure of meeting him and being given the opportunity to make him our son. You are good, Jesus!</div>
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-52882847468892439782014-10-20T08:21:00.001-06:002014-10-20T08:21:50.414-06:00for this one<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was weary.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all of the months of planning and organizing we were
finally on our way to Ukraine. But instead of being overwhelmed with joy, in my
fatigue, I allowed fear and doubt to come in. It would take three trips to
complete Sergey’s adoption. Who, in their right mind, flies three times to a
country that is in the middle of a war, when they have six children at home?
It’s was crazy, positively crazy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the plane to Amsterdam, I couldn’t sleep. A commercial
airplane, on its way to Ukraine, had been shot down just a couple of months
prior to this time. What would our children do if they lost both of us? I tried
to distract myself with a movie. Dead Poets Society wasn’t exactly a wise
choice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we arrived in Kiev, my spirit relaxed a bit. I had a
couple of days of reprieve from my emotions, as David and I walked around the
center, drinking in the beauty of the cathedrals and the parks. But on the
night before our SDA appointment, sleep escaped me once again, and worry was
set into my heart. A 16-year-old boy? What in the world could we possibly be
thinking? In the desperation of the moment, I asked God if there was any chance
of a way out. I’m sad to say that there was actually a part of me hoped for a
way out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our appointment went smoothly, however, and despite my
fears, we were truly grateful. After we received the official paperwork, we
were surprised to find out that we would be leaving for Sergey’s orphanage at
midnight. It was in the middle of this pothole-laden seven hour drive that the questions
resurfaced. Could we really do this? How in the world would we be able to make
this trip two more times? I was already exhausted and our children were missing
us. Why did we come all the way to Ukraine anyway? There were plenty of
children in the US who needed homes and it wouldn’t cost us thousands of dollars
to adopt one of them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The questions swirled around in my mind, causing panic to
rise up in my heart. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But in that moment of fear, God intervened. He whispered to
my heart…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Dear one, didn’t you say that you wanted to be like me? This
is what I do. I go to the ends of the earth to rescue the ones that I love. I
will travel any road, climb any mountain, cross any sea to reach my beloved
ones. I give everything that I have, all the love that is in me, to gather up
my needy ones and carry them in my arms. It is good that this journey is long,
because it gives you just a glimpse into how far I will go for my children. Will
you join me in this willingly? Will you joyfully rescue this child, this
precious one, this son whom I have chosen? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daughter, I did it for you. Will you do this for Me?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a moment, I experienced complete peace and joy. Yes. I
would do this willingly. Yes. I would go to the ends of the earth for this
precious boy. Our dear Father had just shown me His beautiful heart and I found
it irresistible. He had done it for me, and my friends, He did it for each one
of you, as well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-76194157642754340262014-10-19T20:25:00.000-06:002014-10-19T20:25:35.400-06:00The date<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've already been to Ukraine and back, and I haven't even updated our blog! There have been so many God-moments on this journey to Sergey (who asked to have his name changed to Andrew), that I want to be sure to have them recorded. I'll start with the long-awaited date...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was nearing the end of September and though we hadn't yet received our SDA appointment date yet (in which we would officially get Sergey's referral), our facilitator assured us that it would be coming soon. Typically, families were getting two to four weeks notice in order to plan travel, but as I prayed, I had a strong impression that our SDA appointment would be on October 8th (which at that time was just over two weeks away). When I mentioned this to David, he was open, but thought that it was much more likely that we'd get an appointment on the 13th or later. I agreed that was a more reasonable possibility, but couldn't shake the thought that we would be meeting with the SDA on October 8th.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, it wasn't too much of a surprise to me that on September 24th, we got this email from our facilitator: "I have in my hands your invitation for SDA appointment: October 8 at 9:00 AM. Congratulations!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In and of itself, that would be a good story. God loves to give us little confirmations that He is in the midst of things. But beyond that, October 8th is significant date for us. On October 8th, 2000 David and I endured a painful miscarriage at 18 weeks. Following this miscarriage was a time of deep sadness and difficulty in my life. Every October 8th since that time, has been one of painful remembrance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And though the sadness of that day will never be fully resolved until heaven, our God is a redeeming God! Our Father was giving us new memories, life-giving memories, memories that reflected His kindness, His care and His presence. He is so good!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
October 8th, 2014 was a great day and there were many other beautiful days on our journey to Ukraine. I will share more soon about all that God did, but for now I'll close with a picture of His redemption.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bSvcO-Ybh3SsqRE6aY-RNHArxJ_GbGKSgInGwbrZvIOfQDq25qKLL5_HOrCBEwBNSJT222o6iVQNc2u9Rrd9o8pjieh0KRA232N_w1O34Mpnq_xQdWPQSqWnl9iC_kBbNuAH4fk1JSI/s1600/2014,+October+(Sergey!)%2B028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bSvcO-Ybh3SsqRE6aY-RNHArxJ_GbGKSgInGwbrZvIOfQDq25qKLL5_HOrCBEwBNSJT222o6iVQNc2u9Rrd9o8pjieh0KRA232N_w1O34Mpnq_xQdWPQSqWnl9iC_kBbNuAH4fk1JSI/s1600/2014,+October+(Sergey!)%2B028.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-544362544218985882014-10-05T12:48:00.002-06:002014-10-05T12:48:38.468-06:00number 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We've been having the best time watching Jadon play football.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPxNE1Ofr43kwvxS0ZRsIE2cJdbkp-We_Sj4l30RED5g5Bwsa54DhYAutbO9RtUAT9UwrR0LE2Y0Xse_ROGqnJLfIo7SXWSUN8VfBauB1bylAKtRmxT-FafVNghR49EcKlSUbUUI_DJg/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B006-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPxNE1Ofr43kwvxS0ZRsIE2cJdbkp-We_Sj4l30RED5g5Bwsa54DhYAutbO9RtUAT9UwrR0LE2Y0Xse_ROGqnJLfIo7SXWSUN8VfBauB1bylAKtRmxT-FafVNghR49EcKlSUbUUI_DJg/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B006-001.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He is the kicker for his junior high team and has clearly found his nitch.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULLOr6ccS5gDdCgTQ4Y_NLePkhKq1cs4o1pzcAfqEQGUWz6sKs0RsEM6-Pa47nibTSrssOvNYhI-LVZyfrivW2B7KKaLTDKmTny5bwsmvENQOVqNdbYtJYcBePIyjwCCnuJjBBPedow4/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B011-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULLOr6ccS5gDdCgTQ4Y_NLePkhKq1cs4o1pzcAfqEQGUWz6sKs0RsEM6-Pa47nibTSrssOvNYhI-LVZyfrivW2B7KKaLTDKmTny5bwsmvENQOVqNdbYtJYcBePIyjwCCnuJjBBPedow4/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B011-001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGmdmpPFelLrEpkuegZgPSrEC71IZqwiWSnVS19lJquuuLPhn8Rxmjz2039IUlb502ih2jPLLK5gdw9HWnP0lRH2soy8xnl6_nA5fNNyZH0Iu28Xpp6Di2fe6my9Fc7gseYELa8gdiSw/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B015-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGmdmpPFelLrEpkuegZgPSrEC71IZqwiWSnVS19lJquuuLPhn8Rxmjz2039IUlb502ih2jPLLK5gdw9HWnP0lRH2soy8xnl6_nA5fNNyZH0Iu28Xpp6Di2fe6my9Fc7gseYELa8gdiSw/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B015-001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jadon is a tough little football player, and we're so proud of him!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZpQ_glap9Oh-lSk5yvidp02WFT13KyKcDswLFOdS_NDdDhDCkNwtx8kpDcoAFibiyh6VtnN2DxW3Iuh2ys96upGKqlKlsALC8LBKK4RnEWdKSJnpwyB13owjvn_FDGu227RrVr9dBf4/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZpQ_glap9Oh-lSk5yvidp02WFT13KyKcDswLFOdS_NDdDhDCkNwtx8kpDcoAFibiyh6VtnN2DxW3Iuh2ys96upGKqlKlsALC8LBKK4RnEWdKSJnpwyB13owjvn_FDGu227RrVr9dBf4/s1600/2014,+September+(Jadon's%2Bfirst%2Bgame%2Bof%2Bseason)%2B028.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You're awesome, number four!!!</div>
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-54434921565499830642014-10-05T12:42:00.002-06:002014-10-05T12:42:45.672-06:00These two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
God definitely has a sense of humor. When we were in the process of adopting Lily, I would say, "Well, I hope her birthday is not in September!" because we already had Adam's birthday on the 18th and David's birthday on the 26th. But, guess when Lily's birthday is? Yep. Sandwiched right between the two on the 20th.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHav-NJ3bNnsPW8yhEZcx3JHLi8OIOwALcGRU7uBu35bgBlkvQRUK-Gnh05ZDhsxgUht3ro9btgib2KCouEL-aHt2JRoX2XNlgh3DFsKV4owK0HKryX8U39W7ovztyJxpXs_6iYzy7dc/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHav-NJ3bNnsPW8yhEZcx3JHLi8OIOwALcGRU7uBu35bgBlkvQRUK-Gnh05ZDhsxgUht3ro9btgib2KCouEL-aHt2JRoX2XNlgh3DFsKV4owK0HKryX8U39W7ovztyJxpXs_6iYzy7dc/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B004.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the weekend of the 20th-21st of September, Lily and Adam both had birthday celebrations this year.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAwIP15bDGc50645Ss8AAr1m4_CeUviNY17GstSc0MknZ2H4molR4QyQvKQaGYVV8ncaaOeB3w9Evqp4F-BmvowzI2oSzXRrxRr2g_NwrF-aEf5VkOjqSr5pV36AE9059eULqRKVbOr0/s1600/2014,+September+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAwIP15bDGc50645Ss8AAr1m4_CeUviNY17GstSc0MknZ2H4molR4QyQvKQaGYVV8ncaaOeB3w9Evqp4F-BmvowzI2oSzXRrxRr2g_NwrF-aEf5VkOjqSr5pV36AE9059eULqRKVbOr0/s1600/2014,+September+004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lily had a sleepover with some girls from church. They had a great time!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cAD3FOMxPWLNk6F_ytE9lEtFO-_xB_S2up0p9_bG4qQpoYvFwGNmeYHtxR8VuqNgojlbvAe9xo4xdcdjTS8ikgG9yRHqz1sxNaM1bk6xrvHjZL1kX51pD8C9RysEgkfuZxcAyxnpzuw/s1600/2014,+September+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cAD3FOMxPWLNk6F_ytE9lEtFO-_xB_S2up0p9_bG4qQpoYvFwGNmeYHtxR8VuqNgojlbvAe9xo4xdcdjTS8ikgG9yRHqz1sxNaM1bk6xrvHjZL1kX51pD8C9RysEgkfuZxcAyxnpzuw/s1600/2014,+September+020.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfFKl1RyT8vfUXGOt6HxGBC4d9gts-skVdkjjDuPK_JacoznDk3KrTWC0OGzQYIuEWrwTqTBQ0dXeZVFN7ECH8SEQaDZ1mQqKqFsvQG1ZYEzqShoaDkDZuOE5LIsjKn3_TwtmqDSsFk/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfFKl1RyT8vfUXGOt6HxGBC4d9gts-skVdkjjDuPK_JacoznDk3KrTWC0OGzQYIuEWrwTqTBQ0dXeZVFN7ECH8SEQaDZ1mQqKqFsvQG1ZYEzqShoaDkDZuOE5LIsjKn3_TwtmqDSsFk/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B048.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Adam had a football party...watching and playing!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6Miwc6iLMB28COgYmfIvt7NPb6YV-j_Po4hV5jEn0Rw25ELMSsLUInF63E55IT2DldVgHTuekpgTyTqstPNPv6-GVAkWt6HfReuFSI85Bx4m3RbnpoJAMR97uRR_cfdPzdHJAJk9IEs/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6Miwc6iLMB28COgYmfIvt7NPb6YV-j_Po4hV5jEn0Rw25ELMSsLUInF63E55IT2DldVgHTuekpgTyTqstPNPv6-GVAkWt6HfReuFSI85Bx4m3RbnpoJAMR97uRR_cfdPzdHJAJk9IEs/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B054.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrU3W_8xvf13mn-7t2IHwWeEiiSej3N0ojgZk12cnp9u156fD7Qc89ovwF1XUfbPssLljok9NS3bpyDAVHdXnwWJwclc_SZ35qAszblWx9eUtl4th2oGLqPDtW-YuPXTkU00jvdIIaRQ/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrU3W_8xvf13mn-7t2IHwWeEiiSej3N0ojgZk12cnp9u156fD7Qc89ovwF1XUfbPssLljok9NS3bpyDAVHdXnwWJwclc_SZ35qAszblWx9eUtl4th2oGLqPDtW-YuPXTkU00jvdIIaRQ/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B069.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8bt0iqUms0ORW-dghyM8AckMcgCMqOEy-3OTPqzFWW9OMsdB55ocPp_XTax-51GhryWXSWlD02T6I_2Dwtwr1nbGmzKMBC8eTt6gKjcg9XWHldWbPD-FDxDYhINOj8t3pmInI2F73o/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8bt0iqUms0ORW-dghyM8AckMcgCMqOEy-3OTPqzFWW9OMsdB55ocPp_XTax-51GhryWXSWlD02T6I_2Dwtwr1nbGmzKMBC8eTt6gKjcg9XWHldWbPD-FDxDYhINOj8t3pmInI2F73o/s1600/2014,+September+(Adam's%2Bbirthday)%2B003.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These two...I adore them, more than words can say!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-30666255096389432152014-09-02T17:22:00.000-06:002014-09-02T17:29:51.631-06:00Football, school, grandparents, birthdays and an adoption day! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Whew! How's that for a blog post title?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskQ9DN0BORfCNVTcLz197t6b3oN6ttT30D5q5BFBSbQm7gYrq3EnOsgQ43t13EpPngUrxzXuMoD18xiV3LHOKWwpH3AFixqwOpFj2YKghf3AHNREdlZcQ4QcJL09dhLsyVolfvCchqks/s1600/2013,+August+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskQ9DN0BORfCNVTcLz197t6b3oN6ttT30D5q5BFBSbQm7gYrq3EnOsgQ43t13EpPngUrxzXuMoD18xiV3LHOKWwpH3AFixqwOpFj2YKghf3AHNREdlZcQ4QcJL09dhLsyVolfvCchqks/s1600/2013,+August+016.JPG" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
August was a busy month for us. Jadon and Adam started football and we've been having such a good time seeing them grow in their skills and abilities.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eb9G7jPVIl1oxwSymWwmmQMsdzoxmRjdJrwv1VOqGoKd2KJ604ji0uepSt8QPOM7YTD-g275y8ULQxjO4OoumlXlqObUe8iEq3pqies_uyGwURUETcc7rb3eoHFGdqGzMRo8wYtQZr8/s1600/2013,+August+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eb9G7jPVIl1oxwSymWwmmQMsdzoxmRjdJrwv1VOqGoKd2KJ604ji0uepSt8QPOM7YTD-g275y8ULQxjO4OoumlXlqObUe8iEq3pqies_uyGwURUETcc7rb3eoHFGdqGzMRo8wYtQZr8/s1600/2013,+August+020.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Adam (#83) played in his first game a couple of weeks ago (they won!). Adam got both an interception and a touchdown. So fun!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAVpXvUdE1bCqVsTd4xwpgxOVsdHIzwePUYnHTaOSQrfU1bkfQVJcGDxl1eyUmIU8uqXHaUOvmCod0ZxWm-PudwJkneUwXH8XXNQB-bQJPZko7dTkOk-na2kK2ize4qdOuoAyp-inbpQ/s1600/2013,+August+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAVpXvUdE1bCqVsTd4xwpgxOVsdHIzwePUYnHTaOSQrfU1bkfQVJcGDxl1eyUmIU8uqXHaUOvmCod0ZxWm-PudwJkneUwXH8XXNQB-bQJPZko7dTkOk-na2kK2ize4qdOuoAyp-inbpQ/s1600/2013,+August+008.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Adam's adoring fans...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGbMrY27wMkCWGY-HYW2xKGYU1mHSfWKZpIS7rE6hunum97tqszy2Ir5Hhb71IRGNKc7pfRmXaDlV-xCZtAm6Z1Oct-433N2UXEloJT-Q2ex84AvFBBgsU1jtvgw8cJFoN2IESkwedVE/s1600/20140830_182124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGbMrY27wMkCWGY-HYW2xKGYU1mHSfWKZpIS7rE6hunum97tqszy2Ir5Hhb71IRGNKc7pfRmXaDlV-xCZtAm6Z1Oct-433N2UXEloJT-Q2ex84AvFBBgsU1jtvgw8cJFoN2IESkwedVE/s1600/20140830_182124.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jadon's first game is next week. We're looking forward to it!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUSpxnV3YHxwI57v-CTlvo0jpYhJOGrQzG9vmfkmgiFN3n-TrkfVYy9sZDizVnu9EMxeYuskV0H246RK1BB_kgeQY51X0QtpYWirwSRpk1WbhCTHstBmWdNENkpq5DyWGmiSQURFxYic/s1600/2014,+August+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUSpxnV3YHxwI57v-CTlvo0jpYhJOGrQzG9vmfkmgiFN3n-TrkfVYy9sZDizVnu9EMxeYuskV0H246RK1BB_kgeQY51X0QtpYWirwSRpk1WbhCTHstBmWdNENkpq5DyWGmiSQURFxYic/s1600/2014,+August+010.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We started school last week. The photo up above is from our first day of homeschooling.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know. I know. I work them too hard.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The photo down below is from the first day at their new homeschool co-op. They are enjoying it and working hard.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMrcRmms-KsKYfDXVtqq92-AbDPQdkbtWQuAzOoGp2xzBf7hZOCbDy0kRggyAtBkIFkI8qL_23vJYGDCL-SFcnhyneIDvVGOld8GRtkQoxdz88u1ID2HRTyun1LMgqlSFtZLqrwv2NyE/s1600/2014,+August+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMrcRmms-KsKYfDXVtqq92-AbDPQdkbtWQuAzOoGp2xzBf7hZOCbDy0kRggyAtBkIFkI8qL_23vJYGDCL-SFcnhyneIDvVGOld8GRtkQoxdz88u1ID2HRTyun1LMgqlSFtZLqrwv2NyE/s1600/2014,+August+004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJnZ2gXi5dssyH046TEEin41Z0P_GWCiBGTlrq2d-GSp1x9khSHA6Qenz0F_1T0VW0a4Z5DZNTY1sOJjYyC1hRTB9PEHiWYPn8hETBYnFgwj6QoA5gCtFiKSLnlq96QVRWAeGt7Y3vPo/s1600/2014,+August+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJnZ2gXi5dssyH046TEEin41Z0P_GWCiBGTlrq2d-GSp1x9khSHA6Qenz0F_1T0VW0a4Z5DZNTY1sOJjYyC1hRTB9PEHiWYPn8hETBYnFgwj6QoA5gCtFiKSLnlq96QVRWAeGt7Y3vPo/s1600/2014,+August+001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We were so happy to have Oma and Opa visit this past weekend.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They helped us to celebrate Yana and my birthdays.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLkXY5xDpswDUqEMKlwrgTwAGwc2y5qs3YxGZGMop65g-OxkVBtv9jui7B1NEvWHUWh2T_9J0Y0VVtBSCO7xxpnFv69_ZAGZprVMfOJdDis1ZQymIaryxNS_TF8-DneH390CQamjfaUE/s1600/2014,+August+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLkXY5xDpswDUqEMKlwrgTwAGwc2y5qs3YxGZGMop65g-OxkVBtv9jui7B1NEvWHUWh2T_9J0Y0VVtBSCO7xxpnFv69_ZAGZprVMfOJdDis1ZQymIaryxNS_TF8-DneH390CQamjfaUE/s1600/2014,+August+016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And Lily's adoption day.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kZzd7ubzp3THwBWDcKyxrTCH638nna-n6c5hLH3OOZkp_LBC7jpzdsix2n30p0dkiv8-yxdUiHwL-nwOnllDNNEL5QKae3h4ImllAQWxoAJBEpqfwxV-RxIr_2KjM_JWFBXhbzHq2sA/s1600/2014,+August+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kZzd7ubzp3THwBWDcKyxrTCH638nna-n6c5hLH3OOZkp_LBC7jpzdsix2n30p0dkiv8-yxdUiHwL-nwOnllDNNEL5QKae3h4ImllAQWxoAJBEpqfwxV-RxIr_2KjM_JWFBXhbzHq2sA/s1600/2014,+August+007.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzpmAuFXIs5hRopAu5oMJMyF9AmNjWjlxH7aQSbTNiz9gqiBu6p800GvUaw3Nq3-0g3pKzKGixe8Gn18F99-GesFMfwNWGBpTpmc6tjIzMuL7ToSrgzN6XVY9wc3Vs0H-l-TaZ5vKv1s/s1600/20140830_142130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzpmAuFXIs5hRopAu5oMJMyF9AmNjWjlxH7aQSbTNiz9gqiBu6p800GvUaw3Nq3-0g3pKzKGixe8Gn18F99-GesFMfwNWGBpTpmc6tjIzMuL7ToSrgzN6XVY9wc3Vs0H-l-TaZ5vKv1s/s1600/20140830_142130.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We spent the day at the zoo, watched a movie and then ate Kansas City barbeque.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm so grateful for my beautiful girls and the special day that we share. They are certainly the best birthday gifts that I could ever have received!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday, Yana!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Adoption Day, Lily!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love you both so very much!!!</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-52234836554221520512014-08-21T14:00:00.000-06:002014-08-21T14:04:15.443-06:00never too old...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Man.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's easy to get into a rut.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's beyond simple to make excuses for lazy behavior.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the funny thing is; I never even knew that I was doing it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought that I worked pretty hard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But, the reality is, I've been in a 28 year rut.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I had no idea!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I became a Christian when I was 15 years old. I pretty quickly figured out that memorizing Bible passages didn't come naturally for me. But, instead of pressing in and trusting the Lord to give me the ability and desire, I just accepted my "fate" and determined that I just wasn't any good at memorizing scripture. And that became my excuse.<br />
<br />
Until last week.<br />
<br />
I had checked out this little book about praying the scriptures over our children...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRjLYBthOtr05pU1RGy9EJdNQpE0m4QeNxZu5-jnYO2fVPDEg8KBMmDR0GzYX2c6OHDjSZM1gtnseKQBWMUMNwwGkhzajCJNRvgh01GaOU0lB6LrjP-6IwBUpKZQXZ25LMx08TrccXxw/s1600/68505.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRjLYBthOtr05pU1RGy9EJdNQpE0m4QeNxZu5-jnYO2fVPDEg8KBMmDR0GzYX2c6OHDjSZM1gtnseKQBWMUMNwwGkhzajCJNRvgh01GaOU0lB6LrjP-6IwBUpKZQXZ25LMx08TrccXxw/s1600/68505.gif" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had an inkling that it would be a significant book in my life, but as I began reading, a familiar voice inside my mind started playing the same old tune:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Oh, I'll never be able to remember this. I'm not good at memorizing scripture."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sighed in discontent and almost set the book aside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But then a different voice began to speak.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sweet child, how long will you let that be your excuse?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You are only 43 years old. You have half of your life in front of you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can still <em>become</em> good at memorizing My Word.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You can change your perspective, dear one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love you deeply.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will help you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that was it: a lifetime of excuses gone in an instant.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Because when God speaks, what else is there left to do, but believe and respond?)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm giving up laziness. I've stopped listening to lies. I'm getting out of this rut and believing God for all that He has promised. I cannot wait to look back, ten years from now, to see what He has done. With God's grace I <em>will</em> become good at memorizing His Word. Thank God we're never too old to learn something new!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9013343257150935856.post-40548933969106528752014-07-22T10:54:00.000-06:002014-07-22T10:54:09.615-06:00The Battle Belongs to the Lord<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
A couple of nights ago, I had a dream about Sergey. It was our first meeting, and in my dream, the time with him was tender and sweet. So, it was surprising when I woke up with this 80's worship song running through my mind:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em>"The Battle Belongs To The Lord"</em></strong></div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
<!-- start of lyrics --><em>In heavenly armour we'll enter the land <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord <br /> No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord <br /><br /> We sing glory and honor <br /> Power and strength to the Lord <br />[repeat]<br /><br /> The power of darkness comes in like a flood <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord <br /> He's raised up a standard, the power of His blood <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord <br /><br /> When your enemy presses in hard do not fear <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord <br /> Take courage my friend, your redemption is near <br /> The battle belongs to the Lord </em></div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
It was a surprising song, in light of my dream, but on the other hand, not so surprising, considering all of the circumstances surrounding Sergey's adoption.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
This one has been hard, my friends.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
Along with the initial problem of Sergey not being allowed to come to the US for hosting, we have also encountered crazy delays, having to re-do our paperwork multiple times, and opposition almost every step of the way. At moments, it has caused us to question whether or not we were on the right path. But, as we have prayed, we have become more and more convinced that the enemy of our souls would love for us to give up on Sergey. Our Glorious Savior, on the other hand, never will (and because we love Him and long to be like Him, neither will we!).</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaxlPICJazRtVEabCpn5DlZ6ervwBNywQCILSdTQH-zTffVWXEvct88QbqUtDOn02qpbyjnKyPgV7FxRQaTP1x2956Zlxn-jZe2Cmykpwz6aLENOKiuKXORSRAhNQzYuz9j2eh6jyelo/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaxlPICJazRtVEabCpn5DlZ6ervwBNywQCILSdTQH-zTffVWXEvct88QbqUtDOn02qpbyjnKyPgV7FxRQaTP1x2956Zlxn-jZe2Cmykpwz6aLENOKiuKXORSRAhNQzYuz9j2eh6jyelo/s1600/photo-1.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
So that's why, when I went to my first DHL service center to mail our dossier, and they told me that they no longer mail things DHL, I could actually begin to see the humor of the situation. And when at the second service center (in a very scary part of town), I had to literally yell above the volume of the music playing inside the building ("No. That's okay. If you're not sure that it will make it there, I think that I should probably go somewhere else."), I could laugh out loud while exiting the building.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
I could laugh because I know who will win this battle.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
I know who already has the victory, my friends.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
But, I also know that we need you. We need each one of you, our precious friends, to pray along with us. We need you to pray for Sergey, that his heart would be kept in peace and joy while he waits for us. We need you to pray for our family, that we would continue to trust in the Lord and not get discouraged by all of these crazy delays. We need you to pray against the powers of darkness, that would do everything conceivable to keep Sergey right where he is at. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
We need you, dear friends.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
Your prayers matter.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
Thank you, for fighting this battle along with our family, and ultimately, with our Lord.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; text-align: center;">
He will be victorious!</div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04455698547207302964noreply@blogger.com2