OH, IRENE!

Well, travel plans have changed.  Irene has had her way and our flights were all cancelled.  We stayed up all night trying to find alternate routes.  The result:  We will arrive in Russia just an hour or two before our court appearance (too close for my comfort!).  The worst part is that the airline will not let us change our return flight so we will get into St. Petersburg at 11:30am and leave the following day at 12:45pm.  Yes, that equals just over 24 hours.  Worst of all, it only allows us to see the girls two times!

As I have said, my heart is torn between my girls and my boys.  I was very sad that I would miss their football games today.  So I have decided that instead of dwelling on this being a trial, I am going to accept this as a gift from God.  I was able to see the boys play football today and still make our court date.  Thank you, God.

Our next step will be to see if we can actually make it home!  Depending on what Irene deals New York City, our flights may be canceled again.  Either way we have a plan so we feel good about it but prayers are always welcomed.  And, I wouldn't mind everyone asking for a miracle by praying for the ten day waiting period to be waved.  That would just be an awesome display of God's power and presence to a people who are still rather unfamiliar with Him.

Here is a video that my friends made for a shower they gave me.  Thanks Kelly & Amy!  You girls are the best! (sorry for the quality.  I was having problems uploading a better version.)

Full of Emotions

Wow, I never knew I could feel so many emotions at one time.  Most of them on opposite ends of the spectrum from each other.  Anxiousness, excitement, joy, thanksgiving....Fear, apprehensiveness, sadness, guilt.  Yes, that is my emotional status for the last month.  Would you like to live with me?  Have pity on my husband!  He deserves it.

My boys have never been too far from me.  When they have been, they have always been in the care of trusted family members who care for them as much as we do.  My heart is torn right now though.  Half of my heart is in Russia and the other half is sitting here with me watching cartoons.  If I go where my other half lives, then I am still not whole.  This is torture!  What is worse, is knowing that this next trip will still require me to leave half my heart in a foreign country, with strangers.  I have to daily had it over to God.  Trust that he is taking care of my precious girls until I can bring them home in about a month.  I have to keep reminding myself that God is the one who gave me these four amazing gifts in the first place and remember his promises.  He will care for them better than I ever could.  And he loves them more than I ever could.  He created them and they were a part of His family before they were made a part of mine.

Lot's of travels in the next month.  Please pray for travel safety, smooth adoption processing and smooth transition from party of 4 to party of 6!