Sunday, July 5, 2009

More Preparations

Make Photo Album
last minute shopping

Two more things I can cross off of my list!

Only five more days till we leave!

Lord, be with Alexsey Alosha this week! Help me to get used to calling him that so that he will feel comfortable when we first meet him. I pray for peace, strength, unity, and Your ever-presence in our family as we prepare to welcome a new little one into our family. May each and every one of my children welcome Alexsey into our family with as much love and acceptance as they welcomed Dennis.

P.S. The picture on Dennis' passport is before his eye surgery--- I wonder if that could potentially cause a problem? So--- I printed out pictures of Dennis with us before his surgery, during his surgery and right after his surgery. You can never be too safe.

13 comments:

Carmencita said...

Cristina,we are in Ukraine, please, we would like to know of you here in Kiev, we have our Ukrainian baby with us, we are in Ukraine from June 21. Ukrainian our phone is 80660782442, please call us. Kisses Carmen

Violet said...

Dear Lord,
we thank you so many of our prayers are being answered, and the day for Alosha to come to his forever (on earth) home is ever so near.
WE praise you because you are always faithful. We praise you because you have gone ahead of the Reeds, and prepared the way for them to make this trip to Ukraine. You know what is in store.
We ask you to put peace over each of them, Christine, John, Julia, Dennis and Alosha as they travel, meet, and go throug this process.
Lord help Christine and John to be at ease as they pack, travel, fill out paper work, go before the courts, recieve Alosha, and as they make each step closer to making Alosha their's.
Lord, prepare Julia's heart, mind, and eyes for what she is about to experience. May she be compassionate and empathetic towards the life style she is about to get a glimpse of. May she have the maturity and ability to have understanding towards her sisters, and may this expereince strengthen her bond with them. May you give her a love and passion for this country and for Orphans that goes beyond her years. Help her to manuever this trip with peace, faith, and give her strength to face any obstacles from jet lag to culture shock. May this experience draw her nearer to you.

Lord, may you give Dennis the ability to remember his home land but, only the good things. May he warm to Alosha immediately, and the encounters they had before be brought back and be the beginning of a special brotherly bond. May he not fear what "returning" means. Let him know he is there to receive his brother and bring him home to be yet another part of the family. May dennis be able to communicate with Alosha.

Father, please begin to prepare Alosha's heart to receive his family. Let the bond begin now, in this moment. Lord, whisper into ALosha's ears the names of his Mama and Papa. Give him visions and dreams of being in a family. BEgin helping little Alosha recreate his identity to be who he is, who you created him to be... everything he is now, AND a son, brother, part of a family. Begin to whisper to him his name so that he recognizes it when Christine and John first begin to use it.

Lord, impress compassion on the hearts of all officials the Reeds encounter on this trip. May the traveling, courts and all authorities make this trip quick and easy, with no glitches or snags.

Lord, bring families to each of the children who must, for this time, be left behind. As John and CHristine see other children, use them as tools to connect these chidlren with parents so they too may come home.

For the rest of us, left here behind, following the story of Alosha becoming a Reed, open our heart, minds, and ears to propts to pray, callings to advocate or even commmit to a child, and direct us in prayers on their behalf.

Lord, we praise you for who you are. We thank you for what you have done and what you will do. We ask that your will be done.

Amen

Violet said...

Dear Lord,
we thank you so many of our prayers are being answered, and the day for Alosha to come to his forever (on earth) home is ever so near.
WE praise you because you are always faithful. We praise you because you have gone ahead of the Reeds, and prepared the way for them to make this trip to Ukraine. You know what is in store.
We ask you to put peace over each of them, Christine, John, Julia, Dennis and Alosha as they travel, meet, and go throug this process.
Lord help Christine and John to be at ease as they pack, travel, fill out paper work, go before the courts, recieve Alosha, and as they make each step closer to making Alosha their's.
Lord, prepare Julia's heart, mind, and eyes for what she is about to experience. May she be compassionate and empathetic towards the life style she is about to get a glimpse of. May she have the maturity and ability to have understanding towards her sisters, and may this expereince strengthen her bond with them. May you give her a love and passion for this country and for Orphans that goes beyond her years. Help her to manuever this trip with peace, faith, and give her strength to face any obstacles from jet lag to culture shock. May this experience draw her nearer to you.

Lord, may you give Dennis the ability to remember his home land but, only the good things. May he warm to Alosha immediately, and the encounters they had before be brought back and be the beginning of a special brotherly bond. May he not fear what "returning" means. Let him know he is there to receive his brother and bring him home to be yet another part of the family. May dennis be able to communicate with Alosha.

Father, please begin to prepare Alosha's heart to receive his family. Let the bond begin now, in this moment. Lord, whisper into ALosha's ears the names of his Mama and Papa. Give him visions and dreams of being in a family. BEgin helping little Alosha recreate his identity to be who he is, who you created him to be... everything he is now, AND a son, brother, part of a family. Begin to whisper to him his name so that he recognizes it when Christine and John first begin to use it.

Lord, impress compassion on the hearts of all officials the Reeds encounter on this trip. May the traveling, courts and all authorities make this trip quick and easy, with no glitches or snags.

Lord, bring families to each of the children who must, for this time, be left behind. As John and CHristine see other children, use them as tools to connect these chidlren with parents so they too may come home.

For the rest of us, left here behind, following the story of Alosha becoming a Reed, open our heart, minds, and ears to propts to pray, callings to advocate or even commmit to a child, and direct us in prayers on their behalf.

Lord, we praise you for who you are. We thank you for what you have done and what you will do. We ask that your will be done.

Amen

sylsumida said...

All our best, out thoughts and prayers as you prepare for this wonderful journey to pick up your son. Please know what an encouragement your family is.

Stephanie said...

Crossing things off the list feels WONDERFUL, don't it!! So glad you're making progress! I am praying for you and will continue praying throughout your trip! And praying for sweet Alexsey's heart to be prepared for your arrival and immediately bond to his new family!

Connie said...

Good luck with all of your travel and the work you have to do over there. Give Alexsey big hugs from us too - until we can give them personally. Let us know (offline) what your travel itin is. If you're traveling through (and stopping-over at for a long enough time) an airport near us and we can get there to see you, we will. :D

Anne said...

Good luck and praying for you.... Could you contact me when you can about an adoption disruption???
annefoxes@hotmail.com

kelly said...

Very exciting times!! Good luck with your travels!

Carey and Norman said...

Getting excited!! I laughed at bringing pictures of Dennis before, during, and after his surgery as I'd do the same!!

Lydia said...

4 more days- YAY!!!! I am so thrilled- we have been praying for Alosha for 7 months now- what a journey it's been!!!

Taylor said...

I can't believe that you guys are about to leave to go to Ukraine. It seems like the time has gone by so quickly since you decided to adopt him yet at the same time it seems like eons. I know it feels like eons for you. I'll be praying for safe travel for you all! God bless and have a great time in Ukraine.

Anonymous said...

This is just soooo exciting, Christine. We're praying that all the details work out and you have a safe and successful trip.

Joni said...

I just can't wait until you have the dear, sweet little boy in your arms! He's so lucky to be joining your family. It's been an honor to be able to peek into your journey as your adopted Dennis, and how he has grown into your family and is just so completely accepted and loved. You are very special. I wonder if we will ever be able to take one of these children into our home to love and take into our hearts as your family has done several times already ....

Thanks so much for letting us tune in. One day you will write a best selling book on your 'smiles and trials'!!