Archives for December 2008

I think adopting Katya would be fun because I would have another sister around my age who likes to do the things that I like to do like play dolls, play blocks, play paper dolls, and stuff like that. 

When Katya was here it was really fun figuring out what she was saying.  It was nice to know that we had a neighbor up the street who knows Russian so that we could easily find out what she was saying.  I liked her saying “Smaht-ree-a!”  and “Id-ee-so-dah.” 

I feel like God is leading us to adopt her.  He just keeps working everything out.  When we talked about Katya coming to stay with us this summer, it just seemed impossible.  But God worked it out.  It will have to be God leading us because it will take a lot of money.  We’ll have to find someone to stay with our dogs, Tanner and Topsy.  That will be hard.  But if God is leading us, He’ll work it all out.  He’s the King and He can do anything. 

I really liked being at the pool with Katya.  We played in the spray pool and splashed around.  We had matching bathing suits.  Katya really liked her goggles. 

I hope we get to adopt Katya because it would be great to build a relationship with her. 

When I think about Katya at the orphanage, I feel sad. I think it would be so hard – everybody pushing her around.  She has to be protective of her stuff.  I don’t want her to stay at the orphanage.  I want her to come into our family and really be a part of our family, just another one of the Finley kids.

When Katya was here this summer, it was difficult because there were a lot of things she didn’t know about – like not throwing sticks or spraying Pine-Sol at people.  But, it was also really fun because it was a challenge to build trust with her and develop a relationship with her.  I like a challenge.  Katya is so funny.  After we watched “Pink Panther,” she snuck all around the house singing, “Da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, dad-dum …”  Mostly, it was fun to be with her.  She’s fun and funny.

I’m excited that we might have seven children in our family.  Some people might think it’s a lot, but it’s really fun.  Katya even kind of looks like us.  There are three of us who have blue eyes and blondish hair and three of us who have brown eyes and brown hair.  Katya has brown eyes and blondish hair. 

I’m hoping that we get to go to Ukraine to get her.  I think it’s important that we all go to get her because we need to see what her life is like there.  I think God probably wants to do something in us kids’ hearts in Ukraine, but I don’t know what yet.  It will be really expensive to go, but I’m hoping that God works it out.

I think that adopting Katya will be great.  It will be fun to see her learn new things like English and see if she still keeps her original language, Russian.  I think it would be fun to learn Russian as well.  I think it will be hard too because she’s in an orphanage right now where she has to be very protective of anything that’s hers, even fight for it.  And that’s not the way it is here.  But, sometimes we fight and I don’t want her to learn that.  So, I think it will be good for us too as we try to live in a way that will be honoring to God.

One of my favorite times with Katya was the 4th of July.  We were with another family who has adopted several kids from Russia and so they could help us.  She also seemed to really love the fireworks.  Another of my favorite memories was when we were climbing the maple tree together.  Only Katya, Mom, and I were here and we had so much fun.  She’s a great climber and I liked having some time with her all by myself.

If Katya stayed in Ukraine, she most likely would end up living on the streets.  Older children don’t get adopted as often as younger children so she would probably be there until she turns 15.  She might be able to get a job, but possibly she would be on the street.  Her grandmother is getting older and can’t care for her and sadly, probably won’t live until Katya leaves the orphanage.

Besides, I think it will be fun to have another little sister and I’ve always wanted to adopt. And, she is so cute – with her blond hair and brown eyes.  She fits right into our family and would be a great addition.

I think adopting Katya will be really fun.  I’m looking forward to seeing her and Piper get to be friends.  Piper’s always wanted a little sister. Although we saw when Katya was here that she didn’t really want to be “little sistered,” it will be fun to see their relationship develop. It will be more like they’re twins.

For me, I’ll be CLEARLY one of the oldest kids in my family.  I’ve always been right at the middle point. 

When Katya was here, it was really fun to figure out what she was saying, especially “E- DEE-su-DAH!”  which means, “Come here.”  And “SMAH-tah-REE-ya,” which means “Look!”  

One of my fears is that she won’t really feel part of our family.  I really don’t want this to happen.  I think that if we just love her, even when she doesn’t show love to us, she’ll develop trust and we’ll get close to each other.   

I feel like God’s called us to adopt Katya.  He’s “put her” in our lives.  Us kids have always wanted to adopt, but Mom and Dad have always said that they were open to it, but unless God put someone on our doorstep, they didn’t feel called to adopt.  God kind of “put” Katya “on our doorstep.” 

I think some people may scorn us for our decision to adopt.  When we were having a yard sale, someone asked, “Why adopt a child from another country when there are so many here?”  There’s nothing wrong with adopting from another country, if it’s really what God has called you to.  At this point, God hasn’t brought an American kid into our lives to adopt.  He may at some point, but for now, He’s brought Katya. 

I’m really excited to go to Ukraine (hopefully) this summer to bring Katya home.  I’m excited to go to our sister church in Rivne and to go to Odessa where Katya is.  I expect that it will be very hard to see all the kids in the orphanage and that I’ll want to bring them all home, but I trust that God will give me strength to go through it.  I think it’s cool that God has called our family to this because one of my dreams is to run an orphanage in another country.  I had dreamed about this when I was 7, but really had forgotten about it until now.  It will be cool to see how God uses this adventure to plant His purposes in my heart.  Another thing that is really cool is that while we were at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City, a man prophesied over my mom that she would have a connection with an orphanage in Eastern Europe.  At that point they had not even thought about going to Ukraine.  I love how God works out His plans.

When Katya was here, she not only learned from us, but I learned from her.  I learned how to be more patient and not to just love to be loved, but to love more like Jesus.  I learned to love without looking for reward, but reward did come as Katya was able to show me more and more that she cared, even just a little.  One time, we went on a walk and she got frustrated with me because I wouldn’t pick her up.  She kept getting more and more frustrated, but eventually she picked a flower and brought it to me and held my hand.  I saw that she could love me, even when I didn’t do everything she wanted me to do.

I think we should adopt Katya because God’s told us to.  As we’ve prayed together as a family, read in the Bible, and watched God work out circumstances, I can see God moving us to working to bring Katya into our family.

For me, God is teaching me about real love.  Adopting Katya isn’t about me feeling good about myself or even having her love me, but about us, as a family, loving her.  I’m really excited about the hope of her coming into our family.

I think adopting Katya will be hard, but fun.  The hard part will be getting along with her as she adjusts to being part of the Finley Family.  Teaching her English will be fun and it will be fun to learn some Russian too.  Hanging out with Katya and seeing how she interacts with everyone will be a lot of fun too.  

I believe we need to adopt Katya because God wants us to.  I can see God working things out like Mom and Dad’s trip to Ukraine last spring, letting us know about her just a couple of weeks after they got back, and raising the money for her to come for the summer.  Also, she won’t have much of a life if she’s not adopted.  

I’ve always thought our family should adopt.  This summer when Katya was here, I realized that it would be harder than I thought, but I still think we should do it.  I think it is so neat that God worked it out that we could actually get to know and love Katya BEFORE we adopt her.

Dima – our Ukrainian facilitator.  This is the person who translates our dossier from English to Ukrainian and Russian and basically walks us through the Ukrainian side of things.  Over the next week, he will find out when Katya truly is available for adoption. We believe papers were signed and she was registered with the SDA (the government agency) in March 2008.  This would give us clearance to adopt her some time in May of 2009 or afterward.  But, documents can get lost, left of desks, etc. So, it’s critical that we make sure that she truly is registered. 

Liliya – our Ukrainian tutor +.  Liliya is a 21 year-old law student who is passionate for children and justice issues.  She lives in Odessa but goes to classes in Kiev periodically.  She dreams of coming to the U.S. to study law and then return to her country to fight for the rights of children.  She will meet with Katya weekly for an English lesson.  She’ll translate our letters back and forth, and we can even talk to Katya on her cell phone.  Liliya will let us know if Katya get sick or has any needs.  If we want to purchase something for Katya, Liliya will get it for us.  I have already fallen in love with this young woman as we have exchanged emails and look forard to meeting her face to face.

Tamara – Katya’s Grandmother. Katya was abandoned by her mother in the hospital as a 2 lb preemie.  Her grandmother took her home, nurtured her, cared for her physical needs, and loved her.  As she began to age and Katya got older, her grandmother knew that the most loving thing she could do was to place her in the orphanage with the hope of giving her a family. 

Vinny  – The Director of Frontier Horizon.  It was through Vinny and his organization that we connected with Katya through their hosting program.  If you are interested in hosting a child THIS CHRISTMAS, there are still Ukrainian orphans who need host families.  The dates of December 20-January 7. 

Maggie  – A social worker who is connected with Frontier Horizon.  She is a WEALTH of knowledge and has adopted from Ukraine.  She will help us prepare our dossier to send to Ukraine.  

Forever Families – Our adoption agency.  They are compassionate, sharp, and we’ll get to know them well as they conduct our home study.  Due to the unusual nature of Ukranian adoption, we won’t need the full services that an agency provides to families who adopt from other countries.  They have been very understanding of our needs and excited to work with us. 

And of course … KATYA!

Afterall, we have six kids, an active ministry, a full life.  Where will we find the time, energy, money, space to bring another child into our family?  What will be the impact upon “our” kids?  What if it doesn’t “work out?”  What if she doesn’t really become a part of your family?  What will this mean for your ministry?  Valid questions that I have wrestled with over the past few months as we have prayed and fasted about our future, Katya’s future, and if these are linked. 

“How could we consider adopting Katya?”  How could we not?  God has stirred our hearts and moved us in unity.  He has spoken to our hearts through preaching, teaching, and in our intimate time with Him in the Word.  He orchestrated our trip to Ukraine and Katya’s trip here.  He has given us love for a little blond-haired brown-eyed girl who needs a family.  He has shown us a glimpse of her likely future if she stays in the orphanage, and that tears us to pieces. 

Today, we send in our application for adoption services along with a deposit.  This is the first tangible step toward adopting Katya.  Over the next weeks and months, I’ll continue to post our progress.  In the meantime, I’d love your prayers for us and for Katya. 

 

How could we consider adopting Katya?  How could we not?