John Paul's First Professional Pictures!

Visit John Paul's blog to see his first pictures!

Dasha is Doing Fine :)

I received an email from our facilitator today and she has received our updated criminal background checks. She has already translated them and notarized them, so once again our dossier is ready to go! We can't wait until Dasha is too!

She also said that she called the orphanage and told them that we would not be able to come for Dasha until the end of the year. I had asked her to call them because we had originally told them in July that we should be back for her in October. I was afraid if we didn't show up in October then they may think we changed our minds and put her back in her old room. Maybe they wouldn't have, but I just wanted to make sure they knew we are still coming for her as soon as we are allowed to. She said that they told her Dasha is doing fine. :) She also asked them not to cut her hair for me. They promised her that they would not cut Dasha's hair. :)
That makes me really happy!

Oh, I can't wait to see her again!

John Paul started doing some new things today. I am trying my hardest to get them on video so I can post them to his blog. He stops when he sees the camera and starts pointing at it and then starts trying to grab it from me. lol! Maybe when Rick gets home I can distract him and get Rick to video it.

New Pics on John Paul's Blog & Dasha's Room

It took me a few days, but I finally have the new pics on John Paul's blog from his grandparent's visit.

On the adoption side of things we are just waiting until the end of the year so we can go get Dasha. We're praying that everything works out and we will be able to go get her ASAP. Still missing the little bug. Below are some pics of Dasha's room I thought some of you might want to see. It is all ready and waiting for Miss Dash. I still have to put her name over her bed and add pictures, but right now we are more concerned with getting her home than buying artwork.

I haven't quite got John Paul's room like I want it yet. It was originally decorated for Nadia and it was pink and green. Dasha's was decorated for Zhenya (who ended up being a boy, and now we learned recently that he is not available for adoption for a while), so hers has been done for quite a while. The walls are still green in John Paul's room and I have made it look like a boys room, but I will probably end up painting the walls because I think tan will look better with what is in there for him. He's happy with it though. :)

Dasha's Room

John Paul's New Blog

I have created a new blog just for John Paul. I am going to devote this blog to our adoption journey of Dasha. I hope that you will follow along on both blogs!

His blog is: johnpaulsnewstart.blogspot.com

Please say a prayer for Dasha and for all of the orphans. Thanks!

The Quilt Raffle Winner is...

Jane Erickson! I hope you enjoy your princess quilt! :)

Thank you so much to everyone that participated in the raffle! We really appreciate your kindness so much!! Thank you!!

Dasha News

We found out today from our facilitator that Dasha will not be available in Oct. like we were told in July. We found out that it will be the end of the year. :( We were hoping to have her home by Christmas, but it's not going to be possible. The only way is if they pass the law waiving the international waiting period for children with DS. Still praying that will happen. We are really saddened by this because we want our little girl home with us so badly. But we do have peace in knowing that she was moved in with the babies. I actually had a feeling come over me when I found out that she had been moved. First, I was so thankful to God! Then I felt like God moved her to a better room because she will have to wait longer. Turns out that feeling was right. I am really thankful that God is looking out for our little Dash. Please pray that we will be able to travel for her as soon as her wait is up. I have been longing for this little girl since I met her in April. Spending time with her in July was an answered prayer, but bonding with her for three weeks is making this wait a lot tougher on me, in particular, because I spent so much time with her. Part of our family is still over there...it's just hard. And honestly, it doesn't make it any easier with Chloe already missing from our family. There will always be an empty spot in our family, no matter how many children we have, until we all get to Heaven and have that BIG reunion. I just wish we didn't have two empty spots. Hopefully that won't be for much longer.

I know God is in control of it all and if it is His will, we will bring her home as soon as we are allowed. On the up side, God has blessed us with a perfect little boy and I am so thankful that we have him home and did not have to wait for him too. He is such a joy and a blessing to have in our home. We love him more and more every day, every minute really. He is starting to kiss and hug now. He's so sweet. The wait will give him more time to continue to adjust and I will be able to get an extra trip or two in to NC before we are able to go for Dasha. John Paul will be staying with my mom in NC while we are gone. So he will have more grammy bonding time before we leave. There is a reason for this wait, God doesn't make mistakes. I know He'll keep my Dash safe. I just hope some how she knows how loved she is.

Another mom, Lisa, that just saw Dasha while she was adopting told me that she was making a kissing noise. I taught her how to do that in July. :) I was so touched to hear that she is still doing it. Maybe she remembers me?