New Post

A friend told me that I needed to update my blog. So here goes. :)

This is the kind of new post that I was hoping that I wouldn't have to write. The adoption process is on hold. Looks like Brad and I have decided to try for a biological child first. Mainly, this is due to the difficulties that are arising due to timing. This process is taking a lot longer than expected, much of which is due to the lack of choices that we have in countries that are open to us and the risk involved for the countries that are. So, while I am still young (and not knowing how difficult or long it may take us to conceive), we're going to try for a bio child first and then hopefully adopt for our second child.

So, we are still saving. We still have our roomate that rents the second floor (who we are so thankful for). We'll keep that money in our "adoption fund" and hope that it is still there when it is time to try for the adoption again.

So, now...instead of researching about adoption...I've started researching about pregnancy. Brad and I are excited about this possibility. But for whatever reason, it is just kind of hard for me to put the adoption on hold. So, for now...this blog is probably not going to have any posts. Maybe if I get pregnant...I'll start a new blog but I'll need some ideas for a catchy blog name.

Thanks for visiting.

Dang it!

Okay, so I feel like a big flip flopper. A frustrated flip flopper at that.

Ukraine seems like not a good match for us. We've heard lots of stories and rumors about how Ukraine is not referring healthy children at a young age to potential parents, but still they were rumors. Finally, we have the information from the source...Ukrainian government. Unfortunately, it's not good:

Age / Total Adopted / # healthy/correctable / # serious medical
>3 yrs / 551 (2,6 %) / 0 / 551
3 – 5 / 1324 (6,1 %) / 109 / 1215
6 – 11 / 5408 (24,9 %) / 3011 / 2397
12 – 17 / 14418 (66,4 %) / 11337 / 3081
Total / 21701 (100,0 %) / 14457 / 7244

Our preferred age is 2-5. According to this data, 109 out of 21,701 were 3-5 and healthy. That's less than 1%. Blame it on the fact that we would be absolutely new parents, but we're hesitant to take on a much older child or a child with serious medical issues.

Oh, brother!! Why is it so hard! At any rate, we may be abandoning Ukraine...for now. We are looking into domestic adoption. Please pray for us. We need wisdom and discernment.

Moving Onward

While a few doors have closed, a couple more have opened. We are continuing onward! Some big goals have been accomplished, and we can now check them off the list.

-Replace Brad's crappy truck with no car payments- check!
-Replace Rachel's crappy car with no car payments - check!
-Increase emergency fund to $11,500 - check!

Now, with these big expenses behind us, we are now saving just for the adoption (I estimate $35,000 to be safe).

Another direction?

Without sacrificing some of our privacy, let me just say that it seems that doors are closing around us concerning international adoption. Why is this happening when we are so willing? I have no idea. However, God has a plan, and it's HIS plan. I want to be a part of it, whatever it is. I just hope that we are quiet and obedient enough to follow His leading. Maybe our child isn't in another country. Maybe our child is here in the US. Maybe our first child will be our biological child. Maybe our adopted child won't exist for another 10 years. Who knows.

I'm praying for this attitude for Brad and me (extra points if you know who wrote the song):

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used

To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You

Thanks for the Reminder

A friend from college, who adopted from Ethiopia, reminded me of this:

"And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Phil 1:6

Funds update

Woo hoo...we've hit the $20,000 mark. :)

You had me at hello

So, you may be wondering...what does the title of our blog mean? Well, it is a play on the phrase, "You had me at hello." "Privyet" can be loosely translated as our equivalent of the more informal "hi." We didn't use the actual work for "hello," because it is "Zdravstvujtye." Be glad you don't have to type that in.