Thanksgiving Day

I just love Thanksgiving. As long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday. Even as a child, I loved this day. I have many fond memories.
Our day usually starts with a cup of special coffee. Sometimes a flavored coffee and sometimes regular coffee with flavored cream. Regardless, it is special coffee to me.
Next, we turn on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and I start cooking. Soon the aroma of Thanksgiving dinner fills the air. Mmm Mmm, I just love it. I use my grandmothers stuffing recipe and I know that is what makes it so aromatic!

Our families do not live close so Thanksgiving Day is usually quiet. This year, we invited friends over and it was nice to share.

We are thankful for so many things but most of all being registered in Russia and waiting on a referral for our precious angel. We are expecting a call any day now.
After so long, we are definitely ready to grow our family.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Elizabeth
Just hanging out in the waiting room!

Please Donate Your Latte to Help Our Adoption!

Okay, the other day I was walking by Starbucks and the smell was wonderful! I was really tempted to go in and order my favorite, a Venti Latte. But I must say, indulging in Venti Lattes is something I have given up to save money for our adoption. In fact, I haven't had one in over 3 months!

As the wonderful aroma wafted out to tickle my nose, I started to wonder about several things. How much money have I saved? How much money does the average person spend on Starbucks coffee a day or a week? I work with people who seem to have a Starbucks beverage of some sort in their hand at all times.

Hmm, just think, the average Venti Latte costs about $3.57 so what if 10 people donated the cost of one Venti Latte to our adoption. That would total $35.70 which would maybe buy a pair of shoes, underwear, one outfit, and coat for our little girl to wear on the trip home. That would be a big help to us.

But then, my mind started racing!
What if:

• 100 people donated the cost of one Venti Latte that would be $357.00 which would pay for:
  *our little girl's passport
  *her medical exam in Moscow
  *the notary fee for the adoption papers in Russia

What if:

• 500 people donated the cost of one Venti Latte that would be $1,785.00 which would pay for:
  *Don and my visas
  *document authentication fees

What if:

• 1000 people donated the cost of one Venti Latte that would be $3,570.00 which would pay for:
  *our little girl's visa/Embassy fee in Moscow
  *Consular registration fee
  *Post adoption fee
  *Airfare for our little girl

WOW! The possibilities are endless. Is it reasonable to think that people might be so generous to donate the cost of one Venti Latte to support our adoption? I don't know but it sure can't hurt to try!

See that button over there?
The one that says "Donation"? You can click on that button and donate the cost of one Venti Latte through PayPal. It is very easy. So please help us bring home our little girl by donating today.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Still waiting for a referral,
Elizabeth

Patience is a Virtue

Webster defines patience as "being patient, calm endurance" and patient as "calmly tolerating delay, confusion, etc ... diligent; persevering."

I believe we have had major lessons in patience and perseverance over the past few years. So, enough already! I am getting antsy. So much to think about with the end of the semester, the holidays coming up, and the possibility of traveling before the end of the year. Could we be traveling in December?
Okay, this is what goes through my mind daily:

1. Today is November 19, if we received a referral today we would pray then send the medicals to an IA doctor for review
2. Pray
3. Then we would have phone meeting with IA doctor prior to making our decision to accept the referral
4. Pray
5. We would have approximately a week to give our agency our decision (after more prayer) to accept the referral
6. Pray
7. Once we accept the referral, we begin planning to travel
8. Pray
9. Apply for visas
10. Pray
11. Work with travel agency for flight arrangements
12. Pray
13. Pack
14. Pray
15. Miscellaneous preparations
16. Pray
17. Travel around December 10

So, each moring I wake up and add a day to the travel date. I have been doing this since we received news of our registration November 12. Actually, we are now heading into a very good time for us to travel in December, that is, of course if I don't drive myself insane before :-0

All in God's perfect timing,

Still waiting and trying to remain patient,

Elizabeth

After 2 1/2 Years We Are Finally Registered!

I woke up this morning thinking, "we are going to hear something today." I mentioned it to Don and he responded, "Yeah, sure." We set about our usual routine of making coffee and our daily devotion. Then I went off to work.
It was a very busy day but late afternoon before shutting down my computer, I had this feeling that I should check my personal email. Woo Hoo, there it was, an email from our family coordinator telling us, "You are officially registered in ______ region." I was jumping up and down at my desk! Ran out in the hallway to tell anyone who would listem but everyone had already left for the day! Who cares, I still jumped up and down doing the happy dance and praising God! Then I suddenly realized, I needed to call Don! My phone call made his day! He said, "You're kidding right? Just this morning you said you had a feeling we were going to hear something - how do you do that?" I just smiled - sometimes I think God whispers in my ear.

Our first dossier went to Russia May 15, 2006! just before the accreditation standstill. Our second dossier update never made it to Russia do to many challenges (see With Heavy Heart). Our third dossier update went to Russia early September 2008. Since then we have updated several region specific documents.

This is so wonderful to finally get to this point. I am excited and can't stop thinking about meeting our little girl.

We are praising God for this wonderful news and praying we receive a referral soon and that we travel to meet our little angel before the end of the year.

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1

Joyfully,
Donald and Elizabeth

Planting Trees

I have been a bit lazy with our blog lately. Mostly because there is not much to report. We have been updating paperwork for our registration in a region and referral.

I have decided that we need to plant a tree or several trees once the adoption is complete. I am feeling a little guilty about all the paper we have used over the past 2 1/2 years! And, to think, it's not over yet. Definitely, several trees need to be planted in our little girl's name. mmh, what type of tree should we plant? A palm tree, always appropriate in Florida. Or, perhaps a stately oak tree? Or maybe, a pine tree? What would be best for the environment? I guess I will have to do some research on which type of tree would be best. We would want to plant it small so we can watch it grow along with watching our little girl grow.

I believe that we must be concerned about the sustainability of our planet. I am a conservative environmental type. I recycle (anything I can), I use green bags when shopping, and I am trying to replace all cleaning supplies in my house with green products. Over the summer, when I had exchange students here, I bought an extra wastebasket for the kitchen for recyclables, I labeled one waste basket trash and the other plastic, cans, and glass. This seemed to work quite well and we have continued this to this day. I am sure there is more that I can do but at least it's a starting point.

Friday, I was shopping in Target and realized I forgot my green bags. For a brief moment, I struggled with going through the checkout and having my purchases bagged in plastic or parking my shopping cart and going out to my car to get my green bags. What do you think I decided to do? Yep, I parked my cart and went out to the car to get my bags. My ethical standard just wouldn't let me do anything else. I have a tendency to go a little overboard, but I decided that some of us must go overboard to create a balance with those who do not care.

I am in the process of exploring green makeup - this is quite new to me but I am sure important. My hair salon just purchased green shampoo and conditioner. Did you know that most conditioner contains paraben which can be a health hazzard. I need to research this a little but it will probably be my next project.

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with our adoption but it has everything to do with trying to make the earth a better place for our little girl's future.

Praying to hear word about being registered in a region soon followed by a referral.

You will pray to him, and he will hear you... Job 22:27

Until later,

Elizabeth