Finally…Tomorrow is August 4th

Its hard to believe that August 4th is nearly here and we leave for Latvia tomorrow. The time has flown by and its hard to believe that Aleks has been here for nearly six weeks already. He has become such a part of our family that it would be hard to remember what it was like before he arrived. There is plenty of excitement as well as anxiety about leaving tomorrow. Twenty days is a long time. It wouldn’t be so long if Rachel and Kristen were coming with us. Financially it just wasn’t possible this trip…but we have gotten a webcam for the girls and installed Skype on their computers so we can keep in touch every day.

God has continued to show Himself is so many ways over the past few weeks. Ways of the heart in our home as Aleks has opened and shared his heart and we have opened our heart to him. Our hearts have melded together so strongly as a family and not just a group of individuals in a home together. We have shared joy and laugher, tears and pain…but each one has brought us closer together. Have there been challenges…sure, but again each challenge has brought us closer on the other side. Here are a couple of things where God left His fingerprints even yesterday:

Over the last two months our plans have been to fly to Riga at the same time as the NHFC Hosting kids, but we would not be on the same flight as the children. Our flight lands about an hour and a half after the kids. Because of this, we were not going to be able to have Aleks stay with is in Riga our first night in Latvia. They were going to send him back to the orphanage with the other kids for the first night and we would then see him the next day at the orphan court. This has been a tough thing to accept and has been a point of apprehension for everyone. Well…yesterday morning I received an e-mail from Daina, our Latvian attorney, and she said she had received permission to keep Aleks with her at the airport until we arrived and he could stay with us in our hotel the that first night!!!

Just over a week ago we were still way short of what funds we needed to travel. God spoke through the message that Sunday to say…just trust me. He reminded me that He is Jehovah Jirah, and I declared it. That evening we were handed a card which contained a check which covered 75% of our shortfall! WOW! God has continued to provide over the past week and we have what we need for this trip.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support! Thank you for following our story and walking this journey with us.

As You Pray

As you pray today would you please take these too before the Father?

• Pray for God’s continued provision. We still need an additional $4,000 before the end of business on Monday August 3rd.
• Pray that Aleks would understand that we are flying on another plane but at the same time as Aleks. We were not able to get on the same plane and will be landing about an hour behind him. Most likely he will be gone from the airport by the time we make it through Customs in Riga.
• Pray that Aleks would understand and trust that we will see him the very next day after we land. Thursday August 6th is our first court date and we will be reunited with him then. It is also Cindy’s birthday that day.
• Pray for Kristen and Rachel while we are gone…safety and comfort. This will be the longest we have ever been apart. I hope to get a webcam for them and have Skype installed on their computer so we can talk while we are gone.
• Safety and health during our travels.
• Pray that we would find favor in the eyes of the officials and court personnel who will be reviewing and hearing our petition for adoption. A quick and smooth process!

This entire process from February till now has gone incredibly smooth, why should we expect HIM to change that direction now? Thank you to each one of you who is standing with us or walking this journey with us. Your prayers, support and words of encouragement are appreciated more than you will ever know.

We will be gone August 4th through August 24th…your daily prayers during this time would be appreciated.

Random Thoughts from Aleks

Our time together with the kids before bed is a time I look forward to each night. After we all gather together and talk –n- laugh about the day we pray together. After that we spend a few minutes with each of the kids…but Aleks likes to talk at this time. It has become somewhat of an expectation that both Cindy and I will spend time laying in bed with Aleks just talking about random things that he wants to talk about. It’s a time of openness and honesty that has sprouted and grown over the last three weeks.

A couple of nights ago Aleks wanted to make sure that Kristen and Rachel were making the trip to Latvia with us. When I told him that they were not traveling with us he immediately wanted to know why. He understood that it is very expensive for us all to travel to Latvia but he said “whole family go together to Liepaja together”. Wow…he is seeing us as a family. After he found out the girls are not traveling with us Aleks decided that he wanted to stay here in America too. He said that Cindy and I can go to Latvia and he will wait here. The next night I had to explain that we need him to go with us to take care of us and show us around Liepaja. I also explained that the court will want to talk to him and ask him questions about why he wants to come to America. Aleks was quick to respond that “I like America, I like my room, I like my home, I like my family (YEA!), I like my sisters, I like both my little sister and my big sister. He also said that Cindy and I are “good people” and he wants to stay here.

Other topics recently have been Aleks mother, father, grandmother, school in Latvia. He has also talked about his “stupid” friends in Latvia who do not want to come to America. “They don’t know how good home is”….wow…how much truth is in that for all of us! Too many times we stay and hide in our corner of comfort because we have no clue how good home can be outside of where we are stuck.

Please pray with us that God would continue to open our hearts to one another. As Aleks learns to trust us he learns our heart is filled with unconditional love for him….hmmm…sounds like another Father I know.

Overdue Update

The last two weeks have been incredible. What was “two steps forward and one step back” has become more like three or four or five steps forward and one step back. Watching our family bond together has been wonderful. Aleks is now calling the girls his sisters and says he likes his “little sister” and his “big sister”. He now refers to us as a “family”. There have been so many nights that I want to write about the progress and events of the day…but I have been exhausted. As I fall asleep I think about all of the things I want to share with you.

It has been three full weeks that Aleks has been here…and three weeks from today we will be standing before the court in Latvia presenting our petition for adoption. Over the past three weeks we have seen an excited, high energy yet a bit apprehensive and scared little boy transition and take on a role as part of our family. Brother…he is quite good at this and enjoys it. He is an accomplished teaser and picker. He has learned the girls buttons to push and the order to push them. He loves to have fun with them. Aleks is also quick to protect the girls. His thoughtfulness and tender heart is balanced with the heart of a warrior who is quick to protect when there is a perceived threat yet tender hearted when someone has been hurt. This same heart has extended to Cindy as well. She has become “mom” much of the time. He loves to spend time with her at the end of the day. He is tender and respectful around her…(most of the time). Alex looks for our acceptance and approval. Acceptance is unconditional no matter what…approval is lavishly given when earned and appropriate. His attitude is changing daily as he sees that we love him no matter what…unconditional love has also confused him at times as well. In the end…love has won every time. We love being together. I love to see what Aleks brings out in each one of us.

Yes, we have had challenges. Battles of the will. Testing of the limits and boundaries. Once again consistency of position and rules balanced with unconditional love…this has been the winning combination.

To those of you who are reading this…thank you for caring and following this journey with us.

Today is July 4th…

It’s been over a week since my last post and so much has happened. I miss sitting here in my quiet spot with a cup of coffee and just time to think and pray. It’s nobody’s fault but mine that this seat has been empty. Our home is different, now changed forever. In a way that that only God can do, the love in our house has been multiplied.

Aleks has become so much a part of our family in just a few short days. Its hard to believe that we just met each other face to face for the first time only 10 days ago. Yet these past 10 days have gone by so fast. The way that each family member interacts has changed, and I would say for the better. Aleks looks to both Kristen and Rachel not just for fun and laughter, but for acceptance which he finds each time he looks. The girls love him in a way that has surprised them and a way that they don’t really understand. All three I find are looking out for each other and they love to be together. When one is missing it shows in the other two. Each also has their boundaries which the others respect. Our family routine has quickly morphed to include one more. Our family time together each night before bed is an expectation and Aleks looks forward to that as well.

Yesterday we had to fill out a “progress report” for the hosting program. The gist of one of the questions was how would you describe Aleks’ personality. That  one is pretty easy: he is strong willed with a tender heart. How could you ask for anything better. The opportunity to mold and guide him through life is incredible. He has the strength to stand strong in his beliefs yet has such a tender heart and compassion for others. He is much like the son of some great friends. (Blake meet Aleks…your soul brother) Aleks wants to do what is right, but on his terms. He wants to be the one leading out in what is right, not necessarily being told what is the wise choice. He is quick to share whatever he has with others. His generous heart abounds. Friends, God has placed the makings of a great leader within this young boy. A boy with a warrior heart that seeks adventure and justice but is tempered with compassion and grace. Please continue to pray for him as he comes to know the God who has made his heart and that he has the courage to pursue the passions that God has placed within him.

In short, our journey continues to be great! Aleks, Kristen and Rachel have been incredible. There is still fear of the unknown ahead. The fear of leaving the familiar and trading it all for a new life. Just one month from today we (Aleks, Cindy and I) will be leaving to head back to Latvia for our first court hearing. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We still need about 5k before we leave for Latvia. We have our tickets and a portion of our funds. We still have lodging, food, transportation, translation fees and visas to cover.

Once again, thank you! May God bless you as He has blessed us.

Life is Good…and God is Incredible!

The last few weeks have been emotional overload. Overload to the point it has been difficult to sort through my thoughts without just on purpose taking time to get away…which I have not done. Each member of our family and so many friends have worked hard to prepare for today. Last night at 11:30pm, Terminal T at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, Aleks arrived! Wow, the gamut of emotions, questions and excitement as we waited for Aleks to appear walking down that hall from the terminal. The day is here…he is here! The day we have long awaited for. As we hugged and greeted Aleks it was almost surreal yet such peace…he’s really here. Just a few hours earlier we were able to welcome Matt & Christy Brogden home with their new daughter, Charis, from China. What an incredible joy, yet only to continue with the welcoming of Aleks.

As we made out way out of the airport, Aleks was ready to go! He walks as fast as I do which made it difficult for Cindy and Nana to keep up.The car ride home was a bit more quiet since everyone was exhausted but it was also a time of checking each other out and trying to figure out what the other was thinking. Awkward but funny within a moment. Once we got home we showed Aleks around the house and his room to familiarize him with everything. We went through our normal routine of praying together as a family before the girls headed off to bed. Cindy, Aleks and I spent another hour sitting in his room chatting and beginning to communicate. He wanted to check everything out and play with as much as he could. When it was time for laying down in bed, Chip our Dachshund became Aleks best friend. This gave Chip the access to sleep with Aleks and the two quickly fell asleep together.

Today was incredible. We played together. Went to Chick-fil-a together (his favorite place to eat), went shopping together (for clothes and shoes that fit), rode bikes, played soccer, played basketball, had a huge water fight, met new friends and family. Today was great as we just laughed, talked, sang and played together. Yes, Aleks has an abundance of energy! But it needs to also be noted that Aleks has very good English skills. He understands most everything…and can say nearly as much (if he chooses to). As we tucked each of the kids in tonight it was evident that each was happy and truly excited about our new family structure. Aleks was the last one we tucked into bed and once again we spent more time just talking about the day. We were both honest that we were a little scared of the unknown since we didn’t really know each other until last night. What would the other think…would he/they like me? This all got washed away when I told Aleks that I love him…a huge smile broke across his face and he answered…”yes”.

Good-night…

17 Days and Counting…

It’s only 17 days until Aleks arrives in America. The past week has been filled with exciting news and information. Our summer plans and adoption plans are beginning to solidify. Here is the latest:

• We have our official invitation to travel to Latvia to meet Aleks and present our petition of adoption to the court. (More details to follow)
• Aleks will arrive on the 24th of this month with the New Horizons for Children hosting program. They will be here in America for nearly six weeks and staying with us, leaving August 4th.
• We will be leaving for Latvia with Aleks on the 4th…arriving in Latvia on the 5th. (Pray for our travel arraignments – we are trying to book flights to leave with the NHFC kids)
• We have our first court appearance on Thursday August 6th! We will be staying with Aleks in Liepaja, during which time we will be visited several times by a Latvian social worker to monitor our bonding process. (Should be fun since we have already had a six week head start)
• We will have a second court appearance on Thursday August 20th…then we go to the US Embassy for an appointment to get Aleks visa.
• On Friday August 21st we will return to the US Embassy to pick up Aleks’ visa paperwork….and then we are free to return to America with Aleks!

So for now I am just getting the list of ALL that Cindy wants me to finish before Aleks arrives in just a few short days. Yes, we have a lot to accomplish, but we also have a LOT of fun ahead of us.

For those who have contributed to our adoption fund and helped to stock Aleks’ closet and dresser….THANK YOU! We appreciate each and every one of you.