Author Archives: Wende

Please excuse this pause in the updates –  we are experiencing growing pains, and growing pains hurt…. a lot! That’s about all I can say for today except for the fact that I am very grateful that the Lord’s Grace and … Continue reading →

It’s 11-1-11 and that means our “official” waiting time is over. Somedays we were not sure if this day would ever come, but as of today, he is OFFICIALLY our son!!! One more trip to go for new passport and … Continue reading →

We got an email yesterday that we are “good to go” to come back to Latvia for our final trip next month. We are guessing everything worked out at the Embassy with our paperwork, but she did not address that in the … Continue reading →

I only took a handful of photos on this trip. Tonight I looked at them for the first time. These two stood out. The first is of David right before we went into court. The second shortly after we left … Continue reading →

Yes, WE says it all.  WE are home.  Sorry for the lack of updates. The place we stayed says “wi-fi in every room.” Well, that was not to be the case and updating even our family at home was nearly … Continue reading →

We are about to leave for the airport for our flight “across the big pond.” I am still sick, and now running a fever, but so far, David is feeling fine. Trying to not breathe on him or anyone else. … Continue reading →

Oh my, with 48 hours left to go, I am getting sick. I was standing in the check out line yesterday at Kroger and all the sudden started feeling terrible, like the flu was coming on.  On top of that, … Continue reading →

It’s been very busy around here. Between school, scouts, 4-h and all the big kids working / volunteering to work at the food booths at the Coweta County Fair, we’ve not stopped this week. Last night we pulled out what … Continue reading →

Fall is in the air here is Georgia and so are the preparations for our next trip. Calming nerves and paperwork are the top priority now. Nerves, I am sure you can understand – paperwork – Yup! MORE and more … Continue reading →

Three months ago today we sat on a plane leaving Riga. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet only yesterday. So many memories have been made. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to … Continue reading →

One year ago this morning our son woke up for the first time in our home. I remember walking into the room he was sharing with Elijah for hosting and he was sitting on the bed, bed made and the … Continue reading →

We left Riga a week ago today. So much has happened since then, so many emotions. I was still very nervous at the airport waiting. It was hard. Very hard. So much goes through your mind as you are about … Continue reading →

It’s quiet here in our apartment this morning. David is still sleeping and we are packing our few last things to come home. It’s been an amazing 17 days since we left home. We have learned a lot, prayed a … Continue reading →

Today is officially our last day here for trip one. There is so much I want to write about Riga and it’s wonderful people, but that will have to keep for another day. Today is a day of nerves and … Continue reading →

Tuesday we went to the Embassy. It was so much easier than courts! Since it was the Embassy’s first day open things seemed to be a little slow making it through security. Note to those coming. They take your iPod, … Continue reading →

Sorry it’s been a few days since we updated, we’ve been “bonding!” Saturday I could have stepped on my son’s big toes!! I was quite upset with him. I had been asking for days for him to take me to … Continue reading →

Meet our son!

Today was court. All went well there. We actually went with another family that is here and they had court directly after us. It was a tad bit nerve wracking, and watching him sign papers saying “yes” he wanted to … Continue reading →

No camera’s Ugh!!! We decided to try to put the worry out of our mind and head out for a fun day at the water park outside of Riga. We took the train for the first time. I am continually … Continue reading →

Sunday we spent our day in Old Riga again. We got up early and went to a beautiful church for services. Granted it was ALL in Russian, but that did not matter, it was beautiful. In the church everyone stood, … Continue reading →

Saturday we spent the afternoon walking around the city. The buildings are such a contrast, some so old and tumbling down and others beautifully ornate, with carvings and sculptures.  David tried and tried to find a museum he wanted to … Continue reading →

Friday morning… court day. We set 3 alarm clocks. Yes, after sleeping to noon the previous day, we wanted to be sure we got up. After finding one on the internet we found one on my cell phone and one … Continue reading →

It’s Sunday already!! How that happened from Wednesday when we arrived I have no idea. I finally got the computer to myself so I want to record so much before I forget it all. We left home on Tuesday morning … Continue reading →

Well, it seems that D is sick too. We called him and he is in bed asleep at 830pm. Very unusual for him. He apparently has been sick for several days and that’s why he has not been on the … Continue reading →

72 hours until flying! And guess where I spent this a.m.? At the doctors. I have a very painful ear infection. With 3 flights ahead of me Tuesday, I have been debating since last Wednesday about going to the doctors, but last … Continue reading →

There is something my son has been asking for since last summer when we first hosted him. We have told him that we would really love to give him this gift, but for now, it’s just not possible. We told … Continue reading →

Yesterday morning I read this : On this day, God wants you to know … that how bad things may look right now means nothing, – it’s how good they can be with God’s help that counts. In life you … Continue reading →

We just got an email that the long awaited paper is “on the move”. How it’s moving I have no idea. I wish I was there to hand carry it.It should arrive today or Monday and then we wait some … Continue reading →

Well, we are still waiting… I could cry and complain like I did to the Lord, but He has heard it all through my tears today. There is nothing to do but continue to surrender it to Him. We have … Continue reading →

We are still waiting……. In the meantime I have lists & lists that we are making and getting stuff for, so we are ready when He is ready to send us. My mom is finally home from the hospital and recovering … Continue reading →

It has been so very crazy here that I realized that I never posted BIG THANK YOU to all those who were involved in the spaghetti dinner. From the band who generously offered to play, to the church for allowing us to … Continue reading →

We have tentative travel dates and they are SOON. But we can not book plane tickets until we have one piece of paper and we may not get that piece of paper until next Wednesday or Thursday and that would put … Continue reading →

I walked in the door today hearing our coordinators voice on the answering machine leaving a message. I ran for the phone anticipating good news. Any day we are expecting our referral. It was NOT the news we have been … Continue reading →

We have had some questions on Promise 686. We have not received all the paperwork yet, but I will share what I do know. Promise 686 is a group that provides matching grants. We have been approved for a matching … Continue reading →

It is official. We have been very blessed to be approved by Promise 686 for a Matching Grant.  All the money we can raise or that is donated will be matched dollar for dollar by this organization up to a certain … Continue reading →

Today, when I was feeling blue and wondering “What in the world have we got our family into?” the Lord sent someone to me. He told them to remind me that this is His journey, we are only His hands and feet and … Continue reading →

We are just hanging out waiting…. Our Dossier has been in country for 13 days. First translation then onto courts for approval. A two month process we’re told….. We have not gotten to talk to D much in the last week, no … Continue reading →

Reading through old emails from last July today I found this that NHFC had posted.  Another hosting season is coming. Will you consider being Jesus’ hands & feet for 5 weeks? To look at hosting picts you simply need to … Continue reading →

There is nothing more I can say than in the title. He is FREE! The Lord has worked it all out in His time. Peace came, we gave him to Him and He gave him back to us. This time the … Continue reading →

Today a strange sense of calm and peace has come over us and the children.  We spent much time this weekend talking about “what if” and what will we do “if”…. We talked about many other families who have walked … Continue reading →

We had an awesome day today with 22 middle schoolers rock climbing. As I reflect on today, several things come to mind. Many of them were afraid as they got higher, but with us below cheering them, they continued to … Continue reading →

It’s been 3 weeks since we were told some one would come talk to our son and see what he wants. We sent a request for an update today to our coordinator and the lawyer basically said there is nothing … Continue reading →

It’s been 7 months and 18 days since we have been walking this path. It’s rocky, it’s uphill and it has taken so many twists and turns we never expected. There has always been a door down the path. We … Continue reading →

My heart is hurting. Things are not easy and we just got more “discouraging news.” Things may never work out the way we hoped and believed they would. I found this on a blog I follow and it totally sums … Continue reading →

Day 5 without our son here. We are waiting for our lawyer to return from vacation. She has been on vacation since December. We have “heard” but we can not confirm for truth that we maybe one giant step closer … Continue reading →

We thank You Lord for 34 days with our son. We place him in Your hands. We know you have a plan for him. We pray we are a part of it and You bring him back to us very … Continue reading →

Thank you everyone for your prayers for the children. Yesterday at 10:45pm Finland time the strike ended on Finnair. We are told that it will take 3 days for the airline to get back to normal, just in time for … Continue reading →

We have just been told that the 70+ orphan Children from Latvia coming to America to be hosted for Christmas may not be coming because of an airline strike. All the children are booked on Finnair which is on strike … Continue reading →

They said no, he can not stay longer.  We have 34 days to love him and have him here. These days are a gift we will enjoy to the fullest. Then we have to put him on a plane and … Continue reading →

We were told today that on December first our lawyer is meeting with the courts to discuss some things and she will inquire on that day for an answer to if he can stay longer after hosting as we requested. We … Continue reading →

Well, it’s 25 days until 235 children arrive in America for Christmas. That’s 235 young minds learning the love of a family and Christ! What a wonderfully blessed thing to happen! Can you imagine if these 235 children are blessed … Continue reading →

Post by WHO  http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide_rates/en/ Suicide rates per 100,000 by country, year and sex 2007 male 34.7 % per 100,000 and female 7.7% per 100,000 That’s 34,700 men and boys who choose suicide rather than hope. How many more are unreported?  … Continue reading →

In December he will turn 14 years old, 5000 miles away. Last summer when he stayed with us for 5 weeks and the Lord led us to adopt him, we prayed that he would be here with us for his birthday … Continue reading →

We just got word that he WILL be allowed to come for the Christmas hosting program.  No word yet on the year hosting, BUT today 34 days sounds wonderful to us after not knowing if he’d be able to come at … Continue reading →

We know the judge has approved the request that was made to move our son to a new foster home. We pray that this decision was made with the Lord guiding the judge. We have already seen some concerning things … Continue reading →

Praying for our boy today and his foster brother as the courts hear their cases on moving foster homes. Praying the Lord’s will to be done.  We miss him so much and hope that he will be able to come … Continue reading →

Well after a week of playing phone tag we finally had a wonderful 1 1/2+ hours conversation with our son. Now, computers, puppies, Advent, Russian Bibles and no school for a week dominated our conversation, but it was great to have a … Continue reading →

We called our son today at 4pm his time. He was asleep still!! No, not sick, he had stayed up to 3am playing video games on the computer he is now being allowed to use….. unsupervised……in his bedroom……and of course … Continue reading →

If anyone is thinking about year end taxes already and looking for some place to make a donation to help reduce their tax liability, our adoption agency is a 501c agency.  If you donate To An Open Door Adoption, and send … Continue reading →

We found out today that our USCIS I800a was approved. This is the last of the U.S. paperwork that we need to be done.  When we get the letter actually in our hands in the next few days, then we … Continue reading →

WOW! What a week it has been. Last Saturday we had a HUGE yard sale in our church fellowship hall. Then friends & family armed with trucks, jeeps, and minivans moved 10 loads of stuff left to a fellow adopters garage and I did it … Continue reading →

We completed our biometrics for Homeland security today. The last step we had to get approval for in the US before we can send our documents to overseas. Unfortunately, yesterday we were given some very discouraging news about time frames … Continue reading →

We got our USCIS biometrics appointment on Friday. Can’t figure it out. Oscar’s appointment is Friday and mine is Monday. Strange. Please pray that they will also do mine on Friday, we will all go together. I REALLY do not want … Continue reading →

Well, I cheated. No one ever said I was a good waiter! Nothing in mail today from USCIS so someone suggest I simply call & ask when our appointment was. Took me all of about 2 mintues to decide! We’re waiting … Continue reading →

We are waiting…… for a call to say “hello” from 5000 miles away…. for word from the courts that we can proceed, that he is now legally free…. for a piece of paper from USCIS that says we can get … Continue reading →

We got our first letter from USCIS today. Saying they accepted our money. We already knew that… they cashed our check last week. BUT it’s a start…. hoping to get a letter for fingerprinting appointment in Atlanta soon!