Pictures!

I finally have pictures up from our first trip at the top of my blog! I plan to leave the slide show up at the top until we have pictures from the next trip.

Update on the paperwork process: We are working on a medical form that Russia sent over. It requires us to see 8 different doctors who screen us in 8 different areas. These areas are: General, Dermatology, Pulmonary, Psychiatry, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Neurology, & Substance Abuse. As you can imagine, we are having a lot of difficulty getting appointments to see all of these doctors. Not only are their schedules full, but many of them do not want to see someone who does not have a condition (oncologists are not wanting to see us if we don't think we have cancer). Please pray that we will find enough doctors willing to help us. We need to have this process completed by the time our USCIS approval comes in from Homeland Security (and I'm checking the mailbox everyday for it to be in). We also had to go repeat all of our blood work (HIV testing, hepatitis, etc.) so it would be less than 90 days old at the time of our court appearance in Russia. We are hoping that our insurance company will pay for these tests since we had them done a couple of months ago. Other than this medical work, we are in a waiting process for other paperwork to come in. We are really hoping to know by early July when our court date will be.

In the meantime, we are trying to work on some fundraisers to help with the cost of our next trip. I am going to start selling cheesecakes and we are working on a large yard sale & barbecue fundraiser in July. If you or anyone you know would like to have a space at the yard sale or would like to donate items for us to sell, just let me know. Also, if you have any other great fundraising ideas, we are open to them. We need to raise about $5,000 in order to have the money for our next trip. After making our final payment to the adoption agency (another $8,000 - due before we travel), our $25,000 adoption loan will be maxed out. I was discouraged today with the costs of going to see all of the specialists, but God is so good! Out of the blue, I received a note from a college friend who lives in another state. It said she & her husband wanted to help us with our adoption and enclosed was a check that will cover most of the doctor visits - she didn't even know we were having to do all of this. Praise God! It really boosted my faith and was such an encouragement to me at just the right time. God really is faithful and as His word says, "He is not slow in keeping His promises."

Please keep praying for our approval from Homeland Security, for the letter from the Russian Databank, and for the judge to waive the 10 day waiting period after our court hearing. We are really praying about what to do if it is not waived. I may stay in Russia with another adoptive mother during the waiting period. If our court date is at the same as the other family who is adopting from Anya's orphanage, our husbands would be able to return home and we would stay together in St. Petersburg until the children were released to come home. This is not the optimal situation, but would most likely be the least expensive.

May the Lord bless & keep you!