Gina? I've got to stop saving my passwords on my laptop!

I just finished reading Gina's blog! Boy, she really does do her research! She has found much of the information I found over the past 5 years as I was praying over this endeavor. It is an awakening experience to acknowledge the dispair with which these children deal. It is easy to filter things through our American way of life and form our opinion based primarily upon our own experiences growing up in and being churched in this great country. I would suggest that this way of thinking is very limiting. And, one must remember, that even the Bible cannot be solely interpreted according to American norms. Jesus never lived here. He never wore Nikes. He never graced the door of a Starbucks. When we read the Bible, we travel in our mind to Israel, Jericho, Ninevah, Tarsus, Egypt... When you read about or think about Russian orphans, you must travel in your mind to Russia.

There is a great big world out there that is foreign to us; a world that is not run by our democratic process; a world that is not centered on God's Holy Word; a world that does not share our wealth. It is out in that world that children know pain that we could NEVER imagine. This is why I want to challenge each of you to read more about the issue before making a judgement of any sort. Once you have read both the Scripture and also the facts on the situation in Russia, ask God what you might do to help.

You see there is no need to read on my behalf. I have done so and no negative feedback from fellow Christians could convince me that God is leading me astray. He has providentially asked me to step in and help. First, I will bring 1 or 2 orphans into my home where they will be loved, nurtured, and taught about the depth of the love of Christ. Second, I will seek ways to support the orphans left behind. And, third, and perhaps most important, I will pray for all of the children, the ones I bring home and those that are left behind. I will pray that more than 1% of them will be adopted. I will pray that someone will save them from a dsimal future. What I won't do is pray that orphans be kept in orphanges unless a perfect family unit seeks to adopt them. That, my friend, is ludicrous. God is not limited by our humanity! It is in our weakness that He shows His strength!

I should give one disclaimer. I have heard of only 1 fellow Christian who has boldly stated that a single woman adopting an orphan is unethical. This feedback did not upset me in any way. It just made me realize a little more how Noah felt when he was building the ark. He just kept building, and I will do the same.

Howdy from Gina

Okay, I know this is "Deana's Blog", so please click on the link to read some of my thoughts regarding Deana's pending adoption.

Check out http://ginamarie-justrambling.blogspot.com/

Forward on...

I received the draft of the homestudy and boy was it strange to read a 6 page biography about me, my character, my finances, my home, my family, my potential as a parent, etc... Annette did a wonderful job putting this document together! I wish Annette could be with me each step of the way, but this is where I tell her "see you later" until after the child(ren) are here. She will visit my home at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after the child(ren) arrive. These are called post placement studies. This due to about 12 Russian orphans being murdered by their American parents within the last 15 or so years. I welcome the post placement studies!!! I look forward to seeing Annette again.

What happens now? I wait for the notarized hard copy of the homestudy and then I send it along with a bunch of other paperwork to Sacramento to be apostillized. There is a 3 day turn around for this process. Boy, I wish I could process loans that fast!

Please pray that Faithful Adoptions earns their reaccreditation in September as planned. The Russian laws regarding foreign adoptions have gotten a bit more strict this year as can be imagined. While there are in excess of 300,000 children in Russian orphanages, the Russian government is undertandably concerned about their well being in other countries especially America. I cannot get approval to travel until they earn this reaccreditation.

Please pray for me that I will be still and quiet as I listen to the Lord's call. Pray for the babies - not just the ones God will entrust to me for a time. Pray for their caretakers that they will have an extra dose of energy to cuddle and nurture so many at one time.

Pray for all of the orphans of the world and pray that more Christians will step forward and do more to help. While this parenting thing will be daunting at times and definitely not an easy rode, I have confidence that He will guide me. He has a plan! It only took 12 empowered by Him to change the world! God does not call us to anything for which He does not equip us!

Forward on...

Final Homestudy Visit

Well, last night, July 3rd, was my final visit with Annette. She came to the house at 6:30 and met Gina's boys Kenny 11 and Josh 5. She asked them each what they think about the whole adoption idea and having a baby in the house. They were so cute. When asked what do you think about this whole thing, both said they think it is very cool and exciting that they get a new baby cousin in the house. When Annette asked Kenny what he would do with the baby he responded, "Teach him about God." That was WAY touching! I hope he is a pastor one day!

After she spoke with the boys, my sister Steph and someday brother in-law Jeremy took the boys along with my nieces Adrianna and Selena to Gameworks for the night! Then Annette proceeded to ask Gina the same very basic questions and also to make sure with her that she thinks her boys will respond well.

After Gina went upstairs mom came downstairs to meet Annette. Mom as most of you know is VERY talkative! They hit it off very well. Annette was most impressed that mom kept saying when "we" get the baby. When "we" love the baby. She thought it was amazing to have so many people so into helping a little one.

Once Annette and I got down to business she just basically went over the paperwork I filled out on my family. It was pretty easy stuff! We were finished by 9:00PM. Amazingly enough, when we were finished Annette went to Best Buy to talk with Andrew because he could not take a break from work to come home. She went there and talked with Andrew and also my mom who trailed along.

Now I am just waiting to hear from her when she completes the homestudy. She send it to the INS and also to the agency after it is notarized. The copy that comes to me will then be sent with a great deal of other paperwork to be apostilled. Apostill refers to basically having the paperwork made ready for the foreign government.

So, now we wait!!!! :) After the homsetudy is apostilled, it will be sent to Faithful Adoption Agency where they will compile my Dossier. The Dossier is what will be sent to Russia where they will match me with a child (or 2). Yes, I told them I am willing to bring home a sibling group 1 of the children being a boy 12 months or under. The other child can be under 3 and sex does not matter.

So pray with me! :)