Our Adoption Journey of Hope

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Welcome to our blog.  Our Journey began with a Journey...Journey of Hope, a program that allows families to participate in an Orphan hosting program.  The photo just above and below are at the airport, with families awaiting the arrival of 17 orphans from Ukraine. Other people arriving kept coming down the escalator, and as one passed, they said the kids coming are "so cute". 

Bekah and Nellie were the first ones to spot Anya.  The Journey of Hope staff brought Anya to us.  She gave me a hug, then Nellie.  Our translator, provided by ECAS, Olena, sat with us and Anya and we began talking with her.  She looked exhausted from the trip.  One point we tried to make to Anya from the start, is "be yourself".  We were concerned she would strain herself to try to appear perfect.  We cannot live up to that standard, so we made it clear to her we were going to be ourselves as well, right from the start.  We also told Anya  that in America, it is customary to hold a child's hand for safety.  I still remember the first words from Anya to Nellie as she was walking hand in hand with "Mom" at the airport.  She smiled and looked up at Nellie and said something in Russian.

This is a photo taken the  first day Anya was at our house.  Within the hour after Anya arrived, Hannah and Gabe arrived from Oklahoma.  We had a full house for Christmas.  Anya took to Nellie, Bekah and Hannah immediately.  She was very affectionate with the girls in the house at the start.  We had been prepared for this by our adoption counselor.  Attachment can be an issue.  Three days of getting a cold shoulder from Anya, and I was really having trouble with it.  Nellie started praying fervently, and in my experience, when Nellie prays, God gets involved pretty quick.  In 24 hours, everything changed.  She started allowing Dad inside her comfort zone, and the bonding process began, right there, by the God who can do more than we ask or think. 
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It was still not all rainbows and lollipops I assure you.  Anya, nearly every day dug in and demanded her way. After 5 biological children, Nellie and I have learned you don't give in to the child.  So we battled.  We contacted other families who had adopted before us, and we received counsel.  Other adoptive families are what got us through the tough times.  At the end of the three weeks, I was mentally spent, wondering when the next confrontation  was coming.  But Anya was very endearing also.  She fit in very well with us.  She likes to do the stuff we do, and she learned to get along well with everyone.  She became very dear to us, and now a week after she is back in Ukraine, Nellie and I miss her greatly.   But, we are pursuing adoption.
I saved this last space for Artium.  He is Anya's little brother, who has been in the Orphanage nearly his entire life, a life not yet 3 years old.  He could not come on the JOH with Anya.  We have a number of photos from other adoptive families of Anya and Artium.  Everyone describes him as a sweet boy.

There are no guarantees here, as ECAS has made known.  While we have notified the Ukraine authorities of our desire to adopt Anya, Ukraine doesn't permit blind adoptions.  It is possible they will be adopted before we get there.  But I think God put us together for a reason.  We are trusting Jesus to sort out the details. 

.Just a quick note.  Our home study began last October and was completed in November.  The sign off took a little while to get done.  The day after we got the home study signed, we sent off our I-600A petition for orphan adoption, which was January 4th.   We received confirmation 8 days later, and our USCIS appointment locally is for February 3rd.  With Ukraine still considering a moratorium on international adoptions, we are praying for a speedy approval of our orphan petition. 

There is a lot more to share.  Nellie and I hope you will follow our blog, and really enjoy it.  The game plan is for Nellie and I to travel to Ukraine in the Spring.  Matthias will be joining us.   Please pray for us during this time, and for Anya and Artium.  

Note posted by David - Nellie saved me with some edits.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    This blog is SUCH a great idea. Thank you for documenting this for all of us who are very interested in the process....even the minute details. :)

    Keep us updated, as we keep all of you in our prayers! <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    As "Sestra" to "Papa", it was truly a pleasure to be involved in the last few days of Anya's visit. She truly is delightful, and no less stubborn than any other member of the Moore clan that Papa came from! Ann

    ReplyDelete

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