Morning: Well, yesterday I went and turned in the application for the home study to start the process to bring the girls home. YIPPEE!!!!!
I am so excited!. I wish it was time to go get them already. I just want to start showering love on them. Not spoiling them, but loving them. (OK, who am I kidding? A little spoiling is definitely in order. They have had it rough for the last few years.) They have gone through more than most American young adults have experienced; and Alyona & Kristina are only 8 and 11.
Our friends, the Tygarts, arrived home, from Ukraine, last night about 11:30 pm with their new son, Joshua Alex Tygart, and I get to go and meet him this morning. I am taking them breakfast. I hope he likes breakfast casserole, but from the sounds of it, he will eat just about anything. You see, the children really don't get any choices in the orphanage, so making even basic decisions becomes very hard for them. If you ask them whether they want a Coke or a Dr. Pepper they are not always sure how to answer. They try to figure out what they think you want them to say, not what they truly want. This makes it hard teaching them some of the life lessons that we take for granted.
Evening: Well, it has been a busy day. I made the breakfast casserole and went to meet Josh. He is a fine looking young man. Very well mannered. The only thing I can see they may have a problem with is they'll have to raise the fans, or the ceilings, if he gets any taller! It was so good to meet him and hug him. It makes me long for the day I can go and hug my girls.
My parents seem to be handling the adoption real well. This does somewhat surprise me as I thought they might think we were too old, or had lost or mind, but my dad said the other day that he could see in both of our eyes how happy we were when we talk about the girls. He knows it must be from God. Those were some big words for him to say. It means everything in the world for them to give us their support on this, as these girls will be their granddaughters. Not like Moisés, who was just here for a year, but he made a life change in them also. As a matter of fact, they are also looking forward to meeting Josh on Sunday at church.
Catholic Charities called me this afternoon to let me know they would call Monday to set up an appointment for us to come in next week for our first meeting. We would also pick up some more paperwork to complete and turn back in. The woman said she did not see any reason why we could not have this part done within four to five weeks, as long as we kept moving on our end; and she would help get us started on the other processes, so we could keep moving. I am looking forward to sitting down with the Tygarts and the Fumias and "picking their brains". I seem to have more questions in my mind than memory up there.
Well, I will close for now and let y'all know when I know something else. Please keep praying for Kristina and Alyona, as they don't know anyone wants to be their forever family. I want them to start feeling some movement of GOD in their hearts and spirit so they can give Him all the glory. Also that God will provide all the funds we need, when we need them, in his perfect timing. Have a good night!
Lynn
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Girls, I am sitting here wondering what you are doing this afternoon? If the weather is hot and sticky there, like it is here in Mississippi? If you will like it here when you get to come home? I am calling this home, as I believe God is already putting in your heart that there is someone somewhere out there who loves you and wants you to come and live with them forever. To be their "forever child". I can't believe how I have never heard your sweet little voices, yet I have fallen so in love with both of you. I guess this time of waiting is like a time of going through pregnancy, only you are growing on the outside, in Ukraine!
It is funny when I think of the time when Moisés came to live with us. I wondered why that all happened. When we first started to plan for it I could not wait. Then as he got closer to coming I grew weary. Then right after he came I put up this wall against him. It was like he walked through the door and I knew I could fall in love with him as any parent does with a child, but he was not my child to fall in love with. He was only here for a season; and when that season was over he would leave, and we might never hear from him again. So, if I didn't let myself get close to him, then I didn't have to get hurt. Well, after a year of the wall I was so ready for him to leave... until, that is, it was time for him to graduate, and three short weeks until he would get on that plane, and we would be back to our family of four. Then, the youth minister at church had a senior dinner and the parents had to pray a blessing over their child. Well, Moisés was not my child, so Tim could do it. Then, I would be off the hook, right? NO. God had something else planned. That night, while getting ready, I told Tim that I did need a couple minutes to say something to Moisés. God had reminded me, earlier that day, that I had always said I would be a good step mother because mine was not, but as it turned out for Moisés I was not at all. I told him how sorry I was, and asked him to forgive me. I then told him I had put up an emotional wall as I didn't want to get hurt when he flew out of our lives, after we had invested a year into him. Unlike all the other parents who got to look forward to college graduations, and weddings, and grandbabies from their children, we might never hear from Moisés again. We didn't have all those future events to look forward to; and that broke my heart, but as Moisés sat there crying, he looked up at me and said that he, too, had built an emotional wall toward me, because he didn't want to be hurt when he left.
Well, he has now been gone three years; and we still do hear from him and see him. We have built a good relationship, built on solid ground, not on sand that can wash away. I feel like he knows he can come to us whenever he has a problem and we will be there to help him. It is never easy to see one you love leave the nest; and the day Moises graduated from high school I cryed the same way I did the days my two sons graduated. I feel like God put Moisés into our lives to prepare us for the next adventure in our lives. Not only do we have the two biological children God blessed us with, we have Moisés, Kristina, and Alyona. God is so good! I can't believe he trusts me to take care of his precious children.
Thank You, Lord, for this part of the ride.
Lynn
It is funny when I think of the time when Moisés came to live with us. I wondered why that all happened. When we first started to plan for it I could not wait. Then as he got closer to coming I grew weary. Then right after he came I put up this wall against him. It was like he walked through the door and I knew I could fall in love with him as any parent does with a child, but he was not my child to fall in love with. He was only here for a season; and when that season was over he would leave, and we might never hear from him again. So, if I didn't let myself get close to him, then I didn't have to get hurt. Well, after a year of the wall I was so ready for him to leave... until, that is, it was time for him to graduate, and three short weeks until he would get on that plane, and we would be back to our family of four. Then, the youth minister at church had a senior dinner and the parents had to pray a blessing over their child. Well, Moisés was not my child, so Tim could do it. Then, I would be off the hook, right? NO. God had something else planned. That night, while getting ready, I told Tim that I did need a couple minutes to say something to Moisés. God had reminded me, earlier that day, that I had always said I would be a good step mother because mine was not, but as it turned out for Moisés I was not at all. I told him how sorry I was, and asked him to forgive me. I then told him I had put up an emotional wall as I didn't want to get hurt when he flew out of our lives, after we had invested a year into him. Unlike all the other parents who got to look forward to college graduations, and weddings, and grandbabies from their children, we might never hear from Moisés again. We didn't have all those future events to look forward to; and that broke my heart, but as Moisés sat there crying, he looked up at me and said that he, too, had built an emotional wall toward me, because he didn't want to be hurt when he left.
Well, he has now been gone three years; and we still do hear from him and see him. We have built a good relationship, built on solid ground, not on sand that can wash away. I feel like he knows he can come to us whenever he has a problem and we will be there to help him. It is never easy to see one you love leave the nest; and the day Moises graduated from high school I cryed the same way I did the days my two sons graduated. I feel like God put Moisés into our lives to prepare us for the next adventure in our lives. Not only do we have the two biological children God blessed us with, we have Moisés, Kristina, and Alyona. God is so good! I can't believe he trusts me to take care of his precious children.
Thank You, Lord, for this part of the ride.
Lynn
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I Can't Tell You Why
Let me start by saying that we never went looking for kids to adopt. It probably was the farthest thing from our minds. With Christopher moving out, back in May, and Justin leaving in August, we were going to finally be alone. Every parent dream, an empty nest! It took a long time to come. At times I have had a hard time with it, but not to the point of adopting. I mean, grandkids should be coming in our future. Someday, right? I hope?!?! Boys, if you read this, I would like some! It was nice to be able to come and go when we wanted to. To eat when and what we wanted. No, 'I don't like that', or 'Could you please make me this', or 'You know I don't eat that'. Then, all the dishes! I think they think I am a housekeeper! [ :-) ] Well, I may be a housekeeper, but to those who pay me for my services, which the boys do not.
Anyway, when Tim left that Sunday morning for church little did I know what a life changing experience it would become. He came home with a prayer card which had two photos on it. We have prayed in the past for two children like these. One of them had been adopted and now lives in Cuba, AL. The second had "aged out" of the orphanage there in Odessa, Ukraine, and was later found living on the streets. I also know we have lots of sad stories right here on the streets of America. As a matter of fact, my very best friend in all of the world is over in Ukraine, right now; and she and her husband just received their court decree last Friday. When she first came and told me what she wanted to do, I thought the same thing some of you are thinking right now, "She was nuts!!!"
I don't know why God has chosen now, or why He has chosen us, but He HAS. He has called all of us "to go". For some it may be across the street. Others, down the street, into the worst areas. And others, to Ukraine. The point is when He calls you, you need to be willing to do what He asks of you. Let's face it, He gave a lot for us. I could never do what He did. Never in a million years would I allow my child to die for anyone, yet He allowed His ONLY Son to die for all of us. It is up to each of us to do with that as we choose. I know what I must personally do.
Back in 2001, when God showed us the house we now live in, we looked at it on a Sunday afternoon, after several people at church all asked the same morning if we had ever looked at it. You see, it had been on the market for EIGHTEEN months after our former youth pastor was called to another church. So, we drove by that afternoon. I called the owner the next morning to ask if he would be willing to do a "lease to own" as we needed time time fix up and sell our house in Forest. He said he would, so we came back on Wednesday evening to look again. We moved in the following Saturday; and just one weekend later we hosted our first youth event here. I guess you could say we christened the house.
As a side note, I believe this house was meant to have kids in it. Until now we have had two. The people before us had four, two older boys and two younger girls. The people before them, the same thing. Oh, also the couple before them. I just found that out today! They were the first owners. So when our girls get here, every family that has lived here will have had two older boys and two younger girls. Do you think God wanted us to have these girls, or what?
Sorry for digressing. Anyway, back to the empty nest issue. We were getting the yard the way WE wanted it, the house remodeled the WE wanted it, decorated the way WE wanted. We intended to travel when and where WE wanted. Do you see the theme here? It had become all about what WE wanted. We were not even really seeking what HE wanted. It is so funny to me how one little letter can change so much. You see, in 2001 when we moved we told God, we would use our home to bring Glory to His kingdom. Then, at some point we start to turn that glory to us; and He has had to remind us HE can take it away from us as fast as HE gave it to us, or even faster if He desires.
There are times in life when we are in the valleys and we don't know why. It may take some serious evaluation of the places, things, people we are with. Are they dragging us down, or are they lifting us up? I want to soar on eagles' wings. When I get to heaven, I want Jesus to look at me and say, "Thank you for taking the time to love the orphans and the widows." Why Ukraine? I still have no idea! Maybe it is to raise these girls up to know GOD'S love and to send them back to tell of GOD'S love to a lost and dying country. I don't know. I do know they will learn that they were chosen by God for us to love them and teach them. They will grow up participating in short term mission projects and learn to love on people. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. Will there be bad days? Absolutely, yes. Will we have a hard time at first? Again, yes. Will we laugh about it later? Assuredly, yes!! But it will be the time of our lives to see our girls' faces when we tell them we have come to take them home to be a "forever family".
To conclude, the only thing I can say is, "GOD SAID SO, SO WE NEED TO DO IT, AND THAT'S FINAL." All that is left is for us to sit back and wait for God to make the miracles happen. I hope you enjoy this ride along with us on the God roller coaster of life!!
Lynn
Anyway, when Tim left that Sunday morning for church little did I know what a life changing experience it would become. He came home with a prayer card which had two photos on it. We have prayed in the past for two children like these. One of them had been adopted and now lives in Cuba, AL. The second had "aged out" of the orphanage there in Odessa, Ukraine, and was later found living on the streets. I also know we have lots of sad stories right here on the streets of America. As a matter of fact, my very best friend in all of the world is over in Ukraine, right now; and she and her husband just received their court decree last Friday. When she first came and told me what she wanted to do, I thought the same thing some of you are thinking right now, "She was nuts!!!"
I don't know why God has chosen now, or why He has chosen us, but He HAS. He has called all of us "to go". For some it may be across the street. Others, down the street, into the worst areas. And others, to Ukraine. The point is when He calls you, you need to be willing to do what He asks of you. Let's face it, He gave a lot for us. I could never do what He did. Never in a million years would I allow my child to die for anyone, yet He allowed His ONLY Son to die for all of us. It is up to each of us to do with that as we choose. I know what I must personally do.
Back in 2001, when God showed us the house we now live in, we looked at it on a Sunday afternoon, after several people at church all asked the same morning if we had ever looked at it. You see, it had been on the market for EIGHTEEN months after our former youth pastor was called to another church. So, we drove by that afternoon. I called the owner the next morning to ask if he would be willing to do a "lease to own" as we needed time time fix up and sell our house in Forest. He said he would, so we came back on Wednesday evening to look again. We moved in the following Saturday; and just one weekend later we hosted our first youth event here. I guess you could say we christened the house.
As a side note, I believe this house was meant to have kids in it. Until now we have had two. The people before us had four, two older boys and two younger girls. The people before them, the same thing. Oh, also the couple before them. I just found that out today! They were the first owners. So when our girls get here, every family that has lived here will have had two older boys and two younger girls. Do you think God wanted us to have these girls, or what?
Sorry for digressing. Anyway, back to the empty nest issue. We were getting the yard the way WE wanted it, the house remodeled the WE wanted it, decorated the way WE wanted. We intended to travel when and where WE wanted. Do you see the theme here? It had become all about what WE wanted. We were not even really seeking what HE wanted. It is so funny to me how one little letter can change so much. You see, in 2001 when we moved we told God, we would use our home to bring Glory to His kingdom. Then, at some point we start to turn that glory to us; and He has had to remind us HE can take it away from us as fast as HE gave it to us, or even faster if He desires.
There are times in life when we are in the valleys and we don't know why. It may take some serious evaluation of the places, things, people we are with. Are they dragging us down, or are they lifting us up? I want to soar on eagles' wings. When I get to heaven, I want Jesus to look at me and say, "Thank you for taking the time to love the orphans and the widows." Why Ukraine? I still have no idea! Maybe it is to raise these girls up to know GOD'S love and to send them back to tell of GOD'S love to a lost and dying country. I don't know. I do know they will learn that they were chosen by God for us to love them and teach them. They will grow up participating in short term mission projects and learn to love on people. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. Will there be bad days? Absolutely, yes. Will we have a hard time at first? Again, yes. Will we laugh about it later? Assuredly, yes!! But it will be the time of our lives to see our girls' faces when we tell them we have come to take them home to be a "forever family".
To conclude, the only thing I can say is, "GOD SAID SO, SO WE NEED TO DO IT, AND THAT'S FINAL." All that is left is for us to sit back and wait for God to make the miracles happen. I hope you enjoy this ride along with us on the God roller coaster of life!!
Lynn
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