There and Back Again

As we sit at JFK, back in the United States we are reflecting on the whirlwind week we have had and trying to sort through all the emotions we feel right now. We are ecstatic to get to see our little buddy boy soon; we have missed him so much! At the same time we are sad because being with our son means that we cannot see our daughter. She is on the other side of the world wondering why today, after many days of visits two times each day, getting to go outside, getting hugs and kisses and undivided attention, today we did not come. Today she stayed in her crib and did not get to practice walking. She did not get cuddled or read to. I think she must wonder why today she must stay in her crib. Its difficult not to be sad.

So much happened this past week, but many of the details we cannot share right now. After our second trip, when we have our court date, we can tell more about the sights of a Russian orphanage and the children that call that place home. We can share the pictures of the beautiful city we spent our time in and the more importantly, pictures of our little angel. For now we will do our best to follow Russia's requests for confidentiality to ensure our baby girl can come home as soon as possible.

Our time there could not have been better. We knew people were praying and are so blessed to have so many supporters. We were surrounded by prayer and there was no question that it carried us through. Braden was so brave without us and had a great time with his Nonna and Boppa (Kayla's parents). Kayla's parents are amazing! They gave him the week of his life and gave us such a peace that he was in good hands. God worked out all the details of our time there. We had incredible visits with our Lapushka. The first day she was fearful, easily overwhelmed and not yet walking without help. After just three days she was squealing with joy when she saw us and crying when we had to leave. She is now walking on her own and hugging us. She stopped rocking back and forth, which we were pretty sure was a coping mechanism for her. She looks into our eyes, just for a moment, but can you believe what a miracle that is! She was just waiting to be discovered, waiting for someone to love her and believe in her. She was ready to receive it and she blossomed overnight. We know that God has something amazing planned for her life. While we don't know all the details of her life before she came to the orphanage, we do know that its nothing short of a miracle that she survived. She should not have joy like she does and she should not have found her way into our hearts and family, but God willed it and so it is. Thank you God for our baby girl. You created her with a purpose and place in our home. She is in every sense of the word, our daughter.

Now that we are home we get to learn a new lesson in trusting God. We have no ability to help her, hold her, comfort her. We will not know anything that is going on in her life until we return for court. She is fully and completely in God's hands. Until we can hold her again we will do our part, which consists mostly of paperwork, psychological evaluations, apostilles, etc. Oh, the list seems endless, but this time I will fill out my paperwork with a very special face in mind. I will remember those hugs and that little laugh. I will think of her standing on her head and trying to smell a flower for the first time.

We know your prayers are being heard and answered.
Please continue to pray for our daughter and for the other children still waiting for their moms and dads to find them. There are so many with no hope of a future.
Please pray for our paperwork to come together quickly. The judge is leaving on vacation and if we can't get it in before she leaves, we will have to wait another month.
We continued to be amazed at how God brings just enough money right when its needed. We have some financial hurdles coming up in the next month.
Thank you for praying for Kayla's health. We can't believe that she stayed healthy. Really, this is a miracle!