Thank you!

I want to thank each person, publicly, who has given money to help us bring Anastasija here. I won't name each person by name because I don't have permission from everyone. I don't believe these friends know how important they are in what God can do with Anastasija's future because they sacrificed, so that she could come here with our hope of finding a family for her.
We are so grateful for each of you!

We are also grateful to those of you who have sent her gift cards, and clothes, and money for clothes. She is going to be so blessed!

We trust that God will bless those who have blessed us...and ultimately a little girl who none of us knows, but who deserves to be part of a loving family.

From the bottom of my heart...thank you!

God made a way!

We were really torn about how we were going to pick up Anastasija in Atlanta. It is cheaper to drive, but that also means we have to find someone to spend the night with our children Friday night, and then someone to take care of them all day on Saturday. Overall, it is easier for me to fly and pick her up and come back home with her. At the point that Roger decided that flying was a good idea the flights went up to around $400, and some were more than that! Yikes! I kept checking and finally got a really good deal. The time I arrive in Atlanta isn't ideal, and I have a long layover before I get there, and then we will only get a few hours of sleep before we have to be back at the airport to fly home, and then have another layover (but we'll have the chance to get some lunch!), but I will have spent less time away from my children by flying to get her. I can't wait to see her face for the first time!!!

An invaluable resource

I found a book online that would be an excellent teaching resource for Anastasija. One of the things we will be doing each day is teaching her English. This will be very helpful for whether she becomes part of an American family, or even if she stays in her own country. The book I found has 750 words that are translated in Russian and English, so we can teach her.

I have had many people ask what they can do or buy for Anastasija and this would be an excellent purchase. You can find it here: http://www.languagelizard.com/ The name of the book is My Talking Dictionary. It comes with a book and cd rom.

Other books that would be fun for her to read while she is here are Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna, or Because of Winn Dixie written in Russian. You can find them here: http://www.adoptedfromrussia.com/
We will be purchasing a book with Russian phrases that will help us with daily routine...and will teach us how to say, "Goodnight, I love you." Very important!!!

If anyone wants to purchase any of these books please leave a comment, so others know what books she will be receiving and she won't receive duplicates. Thank you!!!

1075!!!!

That's how many times Anastasija's blog has been visited!!!! That means that she has been thought of at least 1075 times!!! Let's turn those thoughts into prayers that God would provide a family for her!!! PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!! Do it for a sweet little blonde-headed, green-eyed girl who needs a family!

Letting go of expectations

For the most part...expectations are not good! It sets us up for failure. When things don't go the way we "expect," it can be hard to change course...especially with a good attitude.

I had complete expectations of what it would be like meeting Anastasija at the airport. I had expectations of taking her back to the airport. None of that is going to happen.

It's really okay, though. Like I said in my last post it is a "bump in the road." Anastasija will get here...one way or another...and we will advocate with everything we have to find a family who will work toward making her a part of their family.

So, the plan at the moment is to drive to Atlanta, meet her at the airport around midnight on June 25th, stay with a friend, or family member, or in a hotel, and drive home Saturday. I will be going with Roger, along with a few of our kids, and then we will find a family (or grandparents) to stay with the rest of our crew until we get home. See? It will work out. She will come. Somehow. And I am doing my best to let go of expectations. And just so you know...I don't have a bad attitude. I learned a long time ago that plans are often written in sand, not in stone. It is what it is.

A bump in the Road

I'm not surprised that we have hit a bump in the road, but rather a little frustrated and inconvenienced. I had great expectations/dreams of driving to Orlando to pick up Anastasija with pink and white roses, a big welcome sign, and a very excited family. It's not going to happen the way I imagined.
Anastasija is the only Latvian coming to Florida. The other kids are from Ukraine. The other kids are arriving early enough on Friday to catch a connecting flight to Orlando. Anastasija is not. Her flight will get in around midnight...in Atlanta. Ugghhh.... So, now we have to find a way to pick her up in Atlanta.
Options:
1) Fly to Atlanta and pick her up and fly back with her on Saturday. (too expensive)
2) Roger could drive to Atlanta, pick her up at midnight and drive straight back (too dangerous)
3) Roger could drive to Atlanta, pick her up, and stay in a hotel overnight (too scary for a little girl who is not accustomed to being around men, in a strange country, where no one can understand her)
4) Someone else could pick up her up from the Atlanta area and keep her overnight, possibly drive a few hours the following day and Roger (and Lauren) would meet them. (maybe???)

It's just a bump! We will find a way to make this work!

Our homestudy is tonight!

In order to bring Anastasija here we have to have a mini-homestudy. The social worker will talk to Roger and I, and all of the kids, and check out our house. She has to make sure we have a bed and dresser space for Anastasija. She will also make sure our home is a safe place.
I'm not worried about passing the homestudy, but I am a little nervous. It brings us one step closer to bringing Anastasija here...in 22 days!!!