The Bearer of Good News

Finish Packing
Wash and Gas Car
Re-fit Dennis' eye
Go over childcare plans

Almost everything is done.
I am pretty calm. All is good great!

I have the privilege of taking photos of four different children adopted from the same orphanage to show how well they are all doing! I am also taking some things over for the physical therapists that visited the orphanage back in March. I also offered to take documents over for another family which will hopefully speed things along for them. What a blessing to be able to help other families----- the same way so many of you have been just as gracious and loving. Thanks again!

P.S. Since so many of you have asked, yes, the plan is to blog as much of our trip as we can so that we will forever have the memories. Maybe we will get to see another little boy peeing in an airport trashcan.

We would love to get together with any families while we are over there.

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.

Now Why Did I Worry?

Wow! I actually have time to sit down and give a quick update--- everything is going that smooth. Thank you God and thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes-----they are all cherished.

Yesterday and today I was looking at plane tickets and working with three different travel agencies. I had pretty much narrowed it down to two because the third one was taking what seemed like forever to get back to me. After talking to John we choose the most perfect flight for us and I booked it. Sure, the tickets were nearly $800 more in all than I anticipated but they were cheaper than almost every other flight I looked at and they have only one stop with a short layover. Wooo-hoo!

Right after I payed for the tickets, I checked my email and what do you know---- the third agency had gotten back to me with two reservations. I thought it was best to just delete the emails before looking at them just in case they were better-- -last thing I need is buyer's remorse--- but I opened up the email anyway and checked them out.

And guess what? They were nearly $250 more for each ticket and there were two stops--one being a long layover. Thank you Lord for confirming that I booked the right flight!

Then our new neighbor, Cousin Jen came over to stay with all the kids while I ran to the bank. Oh, joy. I had been to the bank yesterday and they were not very excited to help me. They said I would have to come in and withdraw the amount of money I needed, sort through it, then redeposit the unacceptable bills and come back in a few days when they got a new delivery of money and I could do it all over again until I had the amount of money I needed. So that is what I did today, and was not very successful in accomplishing my goal. See, Russia and Ukraine want only the newest and cleanest looking bills--- they think older looking ones are less valuable. Regardless of my frustration, I stayed positive and got to talking to the assistant manager who said that there was a chance that when she requested brand spanking new bills later today she could actually get them. If not, she was willing to help me sort through bills so I didn't have to keep coming in. It was nice to have them willing to go the extra mile.

Less than an hour passed after I got home when the assistant manager from the bank called and said that she would have all new bills for me early next week! Brand new! I don't think I have ever seen brand new money! I was so excited, I could hardly keep from jumping up and down!

God is good.

Not only were the plane tickets and money issue worked out, but God also solved another huge dilemma-- Dennis' eye keeps falling out because his socket has changed in shape (which is a good thing according to the ocularist.) But when I called them, I was told by the receptionist that they would be out of town for the next week and she didn't think they could see Dennis before we left on our trip. Argh! But----- the ocularist called me personally to tell me that he would see Dennis before we left and he would take care of the issue! Praise God!

Book flights
Order money
Line up childcare
Clean off desk (I refused to clean off my computer desk until we had a travel date)

Still lots more to do! We are leaving early, early Saturday morning July 11th! That is only 10 days away!

Praise God!