The Gift of Adoption

We are home now and I am just left breathless. Our time in Russia was beyond words. God is amazing and is giving us the most amazing gift. 

Natalia is wonderful! Our time with her was precious! I cannot explain the feelings that have followed. 

Natalia will be 8 months on the 26th. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. She is strong, alert and has a beautiful smile!! She is trying to crawl and probably will soon Im sure, but I hope she waits until our next visit. We spent time with her outside in a cozy and decorated out door area. It was incredibly peaceful, with trees, flowers and grass surrounding us. We sat on the floor playing, talking and admiring her. She is a joy! Jason got her to laugh, I snuggled her as much as possible and we were both humbled and amazed by this precious gift.  

Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers. Please continue to pray for Natalia. Pray that she would be cared for and protected. That she would begin to bond with us. We now have 3 more trips to Russia. 2 more than we originally planned for. This will mean saying good by to her 2 more times. My heart aches over this, but please pray that this time would be used for good. That she would come to know our smell, our touch, our words and that by the time we bring her home, she will know us as more than strangers. 

This is bold, but I want to pray that there would be some way to eliminate one of the trips. The only way that I see this being possible is if the black out period is waved. Apparently this never happens, but God can make anything happen, so I pray he would brake though this barrier to bring her home. 

Pray that God will continue to provide for our adoption. Adding two more trips has been a great increase in the over all cost of our adoption. 

Pray that Jason and I would find ways to prepare Caleb and Sammy for Natalia's home coming. That their hearts would be ready to welcome and love her. 

I am so grateful for the gift of adoption and humbled that God picked us to be Natalia's family.

In Moscow

So day two is coming to its end. We had our MOE appointment today. After meeting with Sergei, we sprinted (not really, just felt that way) about 2 miles to an office were he informed us that our paperwork would be scrutinized and questioned about "why we want to adopt, why are we fit for a child" would be asked. We sat anxiously with Sergei and a woman looking at our adoption documents and I was so thankful when the woman closed the folder, said something in Russian to Sergei and he said "okay, that's it". Yay, praise God!! We were accepted to move forward without any scrutiny.


We will be picked up from our hotel tomorrow at 10am to go to the orphanage and visit Natalia. I can hardly wait. I cant wait to kiss her cheeks and touch her fingers. I imagine how she will smell and how big she will be. I pray that she will not be frightened by us. Our return home will not be until Thursday, so we have asked if we might be able to visit with her on Wednesday also. Pray that they will accept this request.


So just a quick note about Moscow, it is a funny place. Sergei said today that "In Russia, we are creative with our rules". He was referring to walking during a "do not walk" sign. But Jason and I laughed because as we spend more time here observing the traffic we are realizing its true not just with walking. If anyone reading this suffers from road rage, Moscow is not the place for you.  It seems to be more of a free for all which inevitably ends up in completely blocked intersections with non stop honking and cars driving in circles to get around it. Everyone on the road seems to be in a hurry and feels that they need to go first. Very different for those of you reading this in Okinawa.


Well thats it for now, I hope to send an update after our first visit with Natalia!!!
So thankful to God that we are in Russia andwe can trust Him with the rest!!!
Shannon and Jason

Visas Came!!!

Yay!!! Visas came yesterday and we are headed to the air port!!!

Thank You Lord

So we got news today that we will be going to Russia on Saturday as planned. Praise God. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did sign the treaty today. So there are hurdles that we will have to jump, but the good news is that, Lord willing, we will be able to secure this little girl for our family. 

Pray that our visas get here on Friday (nothing like last minute). 

Pray for Natalia, she will have to stay in her baby home for 2 or 3 more months. I can't wait to meet her! But to think of leaving her (now twice) breaks my heart. I will go by myself back for what is now our second trip and then we will both go for the third and final trip for our court date and to bring her home. 

Bilateral Agreement

So the Washington Times said yesterday- 

This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are expected to sign the bilateral adoption agreement. Adoption groups and other stakeholders said they will be given details on the new pact in a conference call on Thursday.

"After the document is signed, we'll breathe a sigh of relief," said Chuck Johnson, president of the National Council for Adoption (NCFA).

In case anyone is wondering why this is happening now, when Americans have been adopting from Russia for years, here is the reason for this agreement- 

Following the international uproar last year over an unwanted 7-year-old Russian boy being sent home — unaccompanied — by his would-be adoptive American mother, U.S. and Russian officials are poised this week to sign a pact allowing intercountry adoption to resume fully, but with significant new restrictions in place.

Adoptions from Russia slowed and faced the threat of suspension after news broke in April 2010 that the Tennessee mother had sent the boy alone on a plane back to Russia with a note giving him back to authorities.

Torry Hansen's actions, described as "monstrous" by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, created a furor and led to suspended licenses, delayed adoptions and lengthy negotiations over new adoption rules.

So, because of this stupid women last year, our adoption may now be delayed! 

Prayer Request

First of all, thank you for all the love and support that you have given us through this long and exciting process. We are so thrilled to be on this journey and grateful that you are all in this with us with your prayer, support and encouragement! 

We received news today that our trip may be delayed. 

I don't know exactly who (minister of social affairs, maybe),  but there is a guy from Russia who is supposed to be signing a treaty for a bilateral agreement while he is in DC. This is scheduled for Thursday next week (2 days before we are supposed to be leaving). If he signs this, our trip will be delayed for at least a month. 

From what I heard, this guy has been scheduled to sign it before and for whatever reason never did. So maybe he will delay it again. I have to say that I am praying he does!! I am desperate to get to Russia, meet Natalia and say that we want her to be our baby girl!! 

Please pray for the timing of our adoption. I want it to be now so badly, I don't want to wait another month. Please pray for my heart. Pray for Natalia while she waits in an orphanage. Pray that God would move mountains! Pray that I would trust the one who created adoption. Pray, pray, pray!!

One more thing, we sent away for our visas yesterday and will need them back by the time we leave (if we go). Pray that whoever is doing them will be efficient and we will receive them in time. 

Once again God is humbling me through this adoption. He is showing me how much I need him. 

Leaving for Russia next week!!

We just want to pass along the news that we received today regarding our upcoming trip to Russia.  A few days ago we were told by our case worker that we had to wait for a Russian family to sign a letter of intent stating that they either accepted or declined our little Natalia.  Since she is still only available to Russian citizens, we know it is a very real possible outcome that a Russian family will adopt her.  However, this morning we got the call that we were waiting for.  We were told the Russian family declined Natalia and we have the green light to press on to Russia, departing next week!  So, we have to jump back into the paperwork process, make travel plans, and handle our normal day-to-day activities as we prepare for our first trip.  We will be going from 16-24 July and will appreciate your prayers and support during the next few weeks.  We will send more updates as they become available to us, but for right now, we ask for prayers for patience and calm in an otherwise crazy whirlwind of events.

-Jason and Family