Beautiful new English words.

Yesterday was such a good day. The girls were happy and we had no issues at all. Today I had to work for the first time. I had to teach an all day class at the hospital. I was very nervous about it. The kids all went to my mothers and she brought them up for lunch, it was nice. After class I went over to her house and the kids rode their bikes and played and even swam a little (the pool just got opened up, but it is too cold for me!)

We were sitting around and Susha came up to me and as clear as can be said, "I love you momma" in English. I about cried. I told her in English and Russian (to make sure she knew what she was saying.) It was a great moment.

Then later we came home and the kids all had showers and Leah was the last one in and I was on the phone with my friend Valerie and she walked in with arms open wide and said "Hug" and gave me a huge bed time hug and said "Good night"

I just feel so blessed. Every day is getting better. I love our new English words!

The Licht House Choir

This morning has been very busy. The girls have been very loud and Brandon and my friend's daughter are trying to do school. It has been difficult. After things settled and Brandon needed a break from school, I thought I would take the moment to have a hot bath.

So I am sitting in the tub as it is filling and it is so quiet and relaxing. The tub fills and I turn off the water to hear a very loud chorus in the other room. Brandon is singing to his ipod very loudly, Leah and Susha are singing louder to their mp3 players in Russian and Chloe is singing a song she learn in Sunday school. They seemed to be competing for who could be the loudest.

My first thought was to be annoyed that my relaxing bath was disturbed, but then I thought how rare to be able to hear such a choir. They were happily singing their hearts out and I was able to listen. So even though they were not singing the same song, or in the same key, or even in the same language, it was the most beautiful music I could ever here. I only wish Jacob and Sarah would have been here to join in.

What a unique situation we are in and how truly blessed we are.

We are HOME!

We are home. I am so happy. We got the first flight they opened up! Then we had two standby flights that we got on. It was close all the way. We almost missed the Dallas to Tulsa flight because our Houston flight was late.

The kids were not so great on the plane or the airport. They have been much better since they got home. The kids are getting along great and we have settled in some. Leah's attitude has changed completely. I wonder if she had so much anxiety about what it would be like, but she is so much calmer and happier now. Susha is still very busy, but seems to have calmed some.

We have to get school uniforms for the girls and I think we will keep them home this next week and maybe go visit the school a few times and enroll, but start the next week. I would wait longer, but there are not many days left and I want them to get some English quickly. I worry about Rebekah at school. She is so hyper! I guess we will play that one by ear. I cannot believe the difference. My friends told me it would be easier at home, it is......

We are finally coming home!

So we got on the first open flight Singapore had. I am so happy! I thought it would be this weekend. We will be in Houston Thursday afternoon. The girls will be American citizens! We may or may not get to go to Tulsa. They flight is full, but they put us on stand by. If we don't make it on the two flights Thursday, we have a cofirmed flight Friday morning.

We have has a great time here at Marina's, though she spoils the girls lol! She is like a fun aunt! It is nice for me though. I know I will have my hands full when I do not have her anymore, but I will have my husband, my family, and my friends. I miss my babies so much! I cannot wait to see everyone!

Money and food.

We have been staying with a family that has an adorable little boy. When we go out, he talks to anyone and tell them everything. Well Susha has obviously been watching. I gave them each 10 roubles to spend in the corner store. They got some peanuts and sunflower seeds etc, Susha spent all hers. She saw this man and asked his name. He told her. She told him hers and all about her new sister Leah. Then she proceeded to ask if he had money. He showed her as she asks if she can have some. He gave her 30 roubles (about a dollar). I guess if we get stuck here so long that we run out of money, she can see us through lol! Now she has enough peanuts and sunflower seends to feed all of Russia!

The girls do not seem to like Russian food. When we were in Chuboksary we stayed with a family and the girls would not eat. Here in Moscow we have been cooking and they have eaten great. We went to My MY (pronounced Moo Moo) last night, which has amazing Russian food, and the girls did not want to eat anything. I guess that will make transition easier.

Bed time was so sweet. I tucked the girls in and prayed and gave them hugs and kisses and Leah read out loud for 10 minutes and Susha fell asleep listening. It is moments like these that make this all worth it!

Thanks again for prayers!

God is good

Thank you for all the prayers. I have such a peace today. Things have been kind of crazy, but it was a very good day. I am resting in the Lord and I will see what He wants from me.

I spoke with Singapore airlines and there is a chance we can get on the Thursday flight. We might get priority because of the adoption issues here in Russia. They were very understanding. I should find out tomorrow when we are booked.

We got the girls passports back today. We have everything we need to leave (other than a flight home lol). I am looking forward to being at Marinas. It will be nice having someone there to translate. I am just very ready to be home!

We would still love all the prayers we can get!

My brother said something I found very funny today in an email. I just love it:

"So, in your trips to Russia you’ve had a terrorist attack that made worldwide headlines, an adoptions scandal that made worldwide headlines, and a volcanic cloud that’s made worldwide headlines."

It does seem strange. There is more, but I do not have time to go into all the "weird" things that have happened.

I do have a confession and a conviction. I was having my little melt down yesterday and feeling sorry for myself and stressing over my situation when I got an email from someone saying they were praying for me. This person is in the middle of their adoption. Their papers are in court, they are waiting for a date. They are not sure with everything going on when they will get a date, or if they do that they would be able to fly here and it hit me..... I have NO RIGHT to complain. My girls are with me. They are legally mine. They can leave the country. It just may take more time. I am blessed beyond all means and it could have been much worse. Thank you for the perspective, I really needed that! It is hard, but I have so many people praying for me and the girls. I know this is covered in God's grace!

This is very hard

I am wondering what happened to the honeymoon phase? I think we skipped it. I am not sure I can do this alone. I need my husband. I cannot believe I am stuck her for who knows how long. Lord, I pray for strength. I cannot do this alone. I need you.

The US Embassy and the Russian Consolate.

So yesterday we had out appointment at the US Embassy. It was interesting. While we were there, a man came up to Leah, said something to her and handed her a CD. We were all confused. Her eyes were huge, but we had no idea the significance of what happened. It was clearly him on the CD, but we did not know who he was. So she comes to the apartment and puts it in the player and immedicately starts singing along to the CD.

So we assume this is someone, but who? So I google Nicolai Baskov. Well, it turns out, he is a very famous Russian singer. He sings opera and pop music. He won entertainer of the year in 2009 in Russia and the Ukrain. I think I saw on his website that he is touring in America, which would explain why he was inside the US embassy. So what are the chances. No wonder Leah's eyes were so wide.

Back to the adoption..... So we take the girls' visas to be registered at the Russian Consulate. I was very nervous with everything going on, but the man we spoke with was very pleasant. He wrote a bunch of stuff down and then had us sign something (a log or something) and we were done in about 10 minutes.

We are planning to go to the Kremlin tonight and St Basal's, maybe the zoo tomorrow and the flea market Sunday. I am trying to talk Leah into the Ballet, but not sure how that will happen. There are also many ballets closed right now, so it is hard to find something.

On another note. We are praying that the Iceland volcano stops spewing ash. It is right in our flight path and our airlines has cancelled yesterday and today's flights already, hopefully it will clear by Tuesday. I also assume we will have a full flight!

Russia, Day two

So the girls came in this morning and we settled in a few minutes and then headed off to the medical center for the girls' appointments. They did great. Rebekah was a little hesitant, until the doctor told her there were no needles envolved, then she was fine.

After the medicals we headed over to the US Embassy to get their visas. After that we had to go register mine. Apparently if you rent through gotorussia.com, they do not do it for free and you have to go to their office. Oh well, it is done.

Then we came back and had lunch. Another family is here adopting a little boy and because we have all the same appointments and the apartment is so big, we offered to let them stay with us and they did. It is nice having more adults around and their little boys is a doll! So after lunch, the mom and I went to do some grocery shopping and then we played at the park some. After dinner, we played a few games and then off to bed.

Leah is so grown up, she enjoyed reading and doing math workbooks. Rebekah has two speeds, lightning fast, and dead asleep. She was at top speed all day long. I was exhausted watching her. After 5 seconds still on the pillow, she was OUT!

So instead of getting much needed sleep, I am here on the computer. Sign, I may learn someday!

Russia, Day one

Well, we arrived to the apartment in Moscow yesterday evening. We went to a corner store and got a few supplies to last us through the night: water, bread, cheese and meat etc. We stayed up as late as possible and then crashed for the night.

Today Brandon and I went out to the grocery store, but since we were so close to Arbat street, we made a little detour. We got a few things and then headed to the store. We found everything we needed and stocked up for a couple of days, but not too much, enough that we could 1 mile.

We came back and had lunch and are going to go back out for a bit.

We were told to keep a low profile, but with the girls not here yet, things seem to be the same as my last trip. People are actually more pleasant. Maybe because I am not so clueless now (like trying to take things from one part of the store to the next lol).

The girls will be here in the morning! I cannot wait. I miss them. We will go straight to the medical center and then the embassy. Sometime I need to go register my Visa, not sure how to do that. Valerie is on it for me. I just love Valerie!

Thanks for all the prayers!

We know our travel dates!

Brandon and I will be leaving this Sunday morning to travel back to Russia. Lloyd is sad that he cannot go, but he does not have enough days off and one of us needs to be here with the little ones. They are very sad to be away from us. I think this will be a good experience for Brandon though.

We arrive Monday afternoon and will go to the apartment we rented. Travelling a day early made it possible to fly Singapore and it is still cheaper even with the extra night. I loved flying Singapore, and now I know the flights and gates, so the trip home with the girls will be much easier!

We have to be in Moscow on Tuesday so they can go to get the girls. They should be brought to us on Wednesday. That actually gives Brandon and I some time to recover from the flight, get groceries and settle in before the girls arrive.

When the girls arrive, we do their medical exams and the US embassy stuff. We stay until the next Tuesday and you cannot do anything on the weekends so we should have plenty of sight seeing time.

We should arrive in Tulsa on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:55pm. American Airlines from Dallas. Anyone is welcome to come greet the girls. I am glad our flight is not coming in too super late. I know many families that travelled, came in around 10.

I am excited. The apartment has free Internet, so I am hoping to be able to keep this updated, but with two girls in tow, I am not sure how much I will get done! I will try and post pictures as well.

Thank you to all that have followed this journey and helped in so many ways. We could not have done this without you!

Back!!!

We are back! We are officially the parent of two great girls! We have to go back in 10 days to get them. We just got into the house and we are pretty wiped, we went from court almost directly to the train and then from the train to the plane. It is amazing to think we were in Russia yesterday......