Where is the Odessa "Michael's?"
How I WISH I had gone by Michael's and stocked up on craft supplies before we left C-ville. Bill has a soccer ball that is great for engaging the boys, but I don't have much for the girls. I wish we had beads and other things for simple crafts. I wish Bill had his guitar so that we could sing a bit. I wish I had some way to share the gospel with them. And yet, I know that God's love can permeate our weak efforts at connecting relationally. Pray that God will give us wisdom for how to connect, that He'll give us insight on supplies to purchase, that we'll know whether/not to try and purchase children's Bibles for the kids, that the children will see that we're not only nice people who are adopting Katya, but also that there is something different about us.
Meanwhile, we are excited to report that everything is moving along nicely. There are a FEW more documents to be picked up and delivered tomorrow and then sent to Kiev. Once the documents are in Kiev, they will be presented to the SDA by Dima, and then we'll get a court date here in Odessa. We're prayerfully hoping for next Tuesday.
This week Katya goes for a blood test to assure the U.S. that she is free of HIV and syphilis. She has never tested positively for either of these or ANYTHING else, so we're not concerned. But do pray for her as she has to have a blood draw and no child likes that. Mostly pray for all the documents to get signed, sent to Kiev, favorably reviewed, and that we would get a court date of October 20th and be THAT MUCH CLOSER to bringing home #7.
And, while many of you women have been through MUCH harder journeys than this, in my experience this is the LONGEST, HARDEST pregnancy EVER. My commendation goes out to ALL of you amazing women who labored for years with infertility and THEN entered the marathon pregnancy of adoption. We are in the "transition" phase, it feels, but it's much longer/harder than any of the other I experienced. But, as is true with every labor up to this point, this process, this labor, for us, cannot be abandoned. There is no way out for us. We're in it until the end. Women who have gone before me, you truly are my heroes! Hearing and considering your stories builds up courage in my heart to stay the course, keep my feet to the path, fix my eyes on Jesus remembering that HE authored my faith and it is for HIS Name's sake that my faith is being perfected in this "labor crucible" of adoption.
Please do not get weary in praying for us and our kids! We NEED your prayers. And, if anyone knows where the Odessa "Michael's" is, please let me know!