more pictures

I received some (a lot!) of pictures from one of the mothers who was there and who adopted from the same baby house. Here are few of those: Jonathan with Mark, who was in the crib next to J at the baby house, and Hannah, who was from another orphanage. The frozen tundra is of the inlet off the Sea of Japan. Cold!!!! These pictures were taken at the Vlad Inn and near the Inn.

Just a few pics

I want to begin posting some pictures from Vladivostok.

The orphanage (baby house)









The food of choice for Jonathan before I arrived











The courthouse in Vladivostok















The social worker, my facilitator and me after the court hearing.

We're Home

We arrived safely back to Pittsburgh on Tues, Mar 10 @ 5:30 am. I was deeply humbled that some friends from church were there to greet us! Jonathan did well on the flights as he slept off and on from Seoul to LA and in LA. He didn't sleep on the flight to Pittsburgh....

I arrived in Vladivostok on Wed., Feb 18 and was told that court had been moved to Thursday, Feb 19 because a snow storm was expected. As a result, I had to head to the orphanage after arriving as per court order. The workers woke Jonathan, who wasn't a happy camper. I struggled to sleep that night--jet lag and pre-court jitters. Court went well! I was the last of three families and my court appearance lasted a whole 20 minutes.

After court, we all headed to a bakery and picked up cakes and chocolate for the workers at the orphanage. We got to the baby house and were given our children. So, from almost day 1, I had Jonathan. I'll detail more later. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us!

Leaving on a jet plane

OK--A very overused phrase. I'm finishing a few last minute tasks at work and then I will be heading home to finish packing. I leave in the late afternoon. My mom arrive on Saturday night and will be watching Will while I am gone. I am SO VERY THANKFUL that she is willing, able, and happy to help in this way. I will arrive in Russia on Wed afternoon. I will be able to visit with Jonathan on Thursday and then court is on Friday, Feb 20. Please remember us in prayer.

Even as I ready to leave, I'm beginning to miss Will.

getting ready.....

My departure date is set--Feb 16. I will arrive on Wed, Feb 18. The plan, as I understand it at the moment, is that I will visit Jonathan on Thursday and go to court on Fri, the 20th. I'm sure that I will have other things to do in addition, but.... I also anticipate actually being given custody of Jonathan on Friday after court. We will have to follow much protocol after court, which I am yet to know about, and will be leaving on Mar 9.

I have finished all the paper work that I need before leaving although I expect to receive my visa on Wed or Thursday.

I have a lot to do at work to prepare for my departure as well as the normal work that is due for this week. It does seem that extra work has come my way this week in the "normal" course of this week that I didn't expect. I'm not worried that it will get done--the week is just extra hectic.

Will is very excited about Jonathan's arrival--Since he requested prayer last Sunday evening--He asked that God would bring his brother home quickly.-- So, of course, he has consistently said that we know when Jonathan is coming home because he asked God--He then quickly says that he has to thank God--and he does. I'm so touched with that attitude.

The snow is melting as we've had a couple of days in the 40s. We've had to be creative with inside activities--see the picture of Chef William--as well as the frozen tundra choice.

Court Date

Yeah!! We have a court date--Feb 20. I received a call from my agency this afternoon as I was getting ready to leave. I'm excited! I am tentatively scheduled to leave Feb 15 in order to arrive on Feb 17. Our return date is tentatively Mar 11 although I'm waiting to hear for sure. The Lord has been gracious as my mom was originally scheduled to arrive here on Jan 30 (I had been told to expect to return @ the first of Feb.) My niece, Megan, was able to talk to the right person and change my mom's flight to arrive here on Feb 14 without a charge for changing. We're thankful and now to receive the news that I leave on the 15th--how amazing is God's timing?
I've much to do to prepare my classes and other scheduling issues, but I'm so thrilled to have a fixed date. Will is excited but I think he hasn't fully grasped that I will be leaving and returning with Jonathan. He did thank God for giving us a date since we have been praying about this. In fact, on Sunday evening during prayer request time, Will raises his hand and asks that God would bring his brother home quickly. I continue to learn about faith through the eyes of a four year old. How blessed I am.

tribute

Last Saturday (Jan 24), my friend Norman Goehring entered into the waiting arms of Jesus, his Lord, Savior, and Comforter. Norman had spent a little over two years battling the ravages of ALS on his body. Today is the service that will celebrate his life. Norman was gregarious--full of joy and energy. He was kind and encouraging. He was a man who lived out the power and peace of his faith. His laugh was one that anyone who met Norman cannot forget. I think God gives that kind of laughter to few people--Norman was one of those people. The last time I saw Norman was at his home in Clovis during the Christmas holidays of 2007. He could speak through a device in his trach, which I found difficult to understand. But, his eyes communicated so much. He was at peace then and was always gracious. I found encouragement in Norman's walk with the Lord. He never wavered outwardly (and I believe never inwardly as well)in his faith and confidence in Christ as his redeemer. Christ paid the price of all our sins so that we can be remade in His perfect image. Norman was confident in this redemption of his soul and so even as disease ravaged his body and perhaps Satan tempted Norman's mind, he always confessed Jesus as his Lord, Savior and mighty redeemer. Norman bore testimony to this truth in the almost 20 years that I knew him. While I left Fresno nearly six years ago, Norman remained my friend and I am convinced that neither death or life has separated Norman from the wonderful and holy love of Jesus Christ. My friend would say even now as he walks in the presence of God, "To Him be all the praise and glory. Amen."