TRAVEL DATES!

We received travel dates this past Tuesday.  We are to be in country on the 30th for our appointment which means we leave Saturday morning.  It's not much time to prepare, but thankfully this isn't our first adoption and we know how to prepare.

Once we have our appointment, we will board a train for Katarina's region.  We will meet her, accept her referral, visit with her and then head back to the capital.  At that point we will receive Dalton's referral and then travel to his region, meet him, accept his referral, visit with him, head back to the capital and then fly home.

After the "meet and greet", there is a committee which must review our children's file to insure that our home study and our children's files agree i.e. the ages, gender and special needs for which we are approved.  This process can take about 30 days.  Once we receive their approval a court date will be scheduled and I will return to go to court and spend some time with the kids.  Usually there is a 30 day waiting period after court; HOWEVER, that 30 days can be waived for medical reasons.  We are hoping that will be the case.  If so, I will stay until I can bring them home.  If not waived, I will come home again and wait for the 30 day period then return to bring them home.

We've not talked much about our children's special needs because we are a family which emphasizes our capabilities rather than disabilities.  But it's true that they both have significant needs and we're praying that we can get them home ASAP.  We've already spoken with our specialists and they are aware and ready to begin treatments in whatever manner that presents.

Pray for us while we are away.  Pray for those who have come along side us and are supporting us with their time and efforts.  It's been wonderful to once again see the Hand of God work miracles on our behalf.  And please pray for the financial support we need.  Adoption is very expensive.  You'd be gobsmacked if you know how much we had spent on adoption in the past 9 years.  Really though, it's not our money any more than they are our kids!  It's His money and these are His precious babies.  He entrusts us with both to do His good pleasure.  We just get to come along for the ride!

COLOR STREET Nails!

We have a fun Color Street Nails adoption fundraising going on right now! 

 

 Friends and family, if you love getting your nails done, and love to have fun with color, or just your basics, this is an amazing, fun way to do it!

 

You can find the link to shop HERE

 

 

Christmas in August UPDATED!

By now you know that we have completed our paperwork, are waiting on submission in Ukraine and an invitation to travel.  In the meantime we are doing our best to amass the funds needed to complete our first trip which should be within the next few weeks.

Inasmuch we are holding some sales which will also allow you, our wonderful journey mates, to start your Christmas shopping.  We have two sales going on right now.  They are Norwex and Loving Cup Tea and now COFFEE!!

I'm a coffee lover so I'm so excited to add that we have a fund raiser for coffee with 100%, yes that 100% of the purchase price going toward our matching grant!  You can find the sale HERE

Norwex is committed to providing educational resources and supporting charitable projects that address growing concerns about harmful chemicals, plastic pollution and environmental issues. Their environmentally friendly products are microfiber cleaning, household, personal care, pet and auto products. You can find a link to the sale HERE, and 35% of each sale goes toward our adoption.  We all use these products in some form on a daily basis.  Stocking up on them through our party allows you to replenish that which you need and support our adoption.  Now if you are a tea lover, like me, you'll enjoy stocking up on this next sale.  

Loving Cup Tea sells loose leaf tea that is created from the highest quality leaves, ingredients and natural flavorings. As a mother I know what it's like to be pulled in all directions and everything seems to need your immediate attention.  I know what it's like to need just a few minutes of time to regroup one's thoughts and refresh one's soul.  Tea does that for me.  If you don't find tea soothing as I do, perhaps your loved one does.  This would make a lovely gift during the holidays for yourself or someone else.  You can find a link to this sale HERE and 30% of each sale will go toward our adoption. 

Thank you once again for supporting us during this journey to bring home our little ones.  Your prayers and financial support are invaluable.  We could not do this without you.

With love,
Kelley

And just like that . . .

. . . we are Done!  With the paper work that is. 

All of our remaining documents are winging their way over the Atlantic via UPS to arrive in Eastern Europe this coming Wed. 

Next step is to be submitted to their equivalent of social services.  Once submitted, we will be invited over to meet the children.  We're really looking forward to that day!

APPROVED!

We received our last piece of paperwork today - our I171h - which is our approval from USCIS/immigrations. 

It has been notarized and is on it's way to Atlanta to be apostilled.  Once apostilled, it will be sent to the next family traveling to our children's country and then handed over to the team.

THIS IS OUR LAST DOSSIER DOCUMENT!

 

 

Being Still Isn't Always Easy

It's not always easy to "Be still and know . . . ", but at times that's what God asks us to do. It's a matter trust.  So when my Facebook account got hacked and then "temporarily locked" (it's still locked) right after my last post about our matching grant, I reminded myself that God's got this.  So far I'm doing okay.  I guess because this is not our first international adoption, and we've been through this before, we've learned to trust God and His timing.  It's not always how we would do it, but He's never late.  So here we sit, not able to advocate for ourselves through social media. 

I find it most difficult to sit still because I don't want anyone to think that I'm not doing my part to raise the funds we need to adopt our children.  It's a hard one because it contradicts everything that this world tell us to do.  However, that not how God works, is it.

He says He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.  Things like, give and it will be given unto you, and bless those who curse you.  That goes against the worlds thinking doesn't it.  I know from experience that His ways are higher than mine and if He says it, He will make it happen.  

So here I sit, trusting that He is faithful and is able to do exceedingly more than I can think or ask. 

Thank you, Lord! 

Matching Grant!

We received some exciting new this past Friday.

Lifesong for Orphans in conjunction with our home church, Warren Baptist, has given us a grant in the amount of $3,500!

This is a matching grant. Which means we need you to make this possible!

For every dollar our friends and family donate, Lifesong/Warren Baptist will contribute a dollar up to $3,500 which will give us grand total of $7,000!

We are so thankful for this opportunity!

Our story page is below.

https://mystory.lifesongfororphans.org/stories/robinson-party-eleven/

We CANNOT do this without YOU!