Moore Family Adoption

We are learning all over again what it is like to have a three year old in the house.  Our small camera has gone missing, this one last seen in Samuel's hands in the living room.  Our house needs about two garage sales right now just to get stuff sorted down.  After that, we'll likely find the camera.  We got some cute photos today on our 3rd, and truly lousy camera.  The photo quality would be better if I had Zach do a caricature sketch of the photos.  We will enjoy some quality time with the Haak's tomorrow (and Dillner's, and Ewings).  We are looking forward to seeing our mentors.  We've had a difficult couple of days with both kids, but Nellie and are are completely unified in our parenting approach.  The new kids are realizing mom is every bit as tough as dad, and vice versa.  This was not the case with Matthias.  With our first three kids, Hannah, Rebekah and Josiah, I parented after the style of my Dad and Mom.  Godly ...

I got a great email from another one of the adoptive families today.  He challenged me in so many words to consider the trials faced during the adoption as the Scripture does, to count it all joy.  I have to say it really encouraged me, and it was a good course correction as well.  The verse says it well: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials", James 1:2. The adoption was that.  I sure hope I haven't discouraged any of you with my commentary.  That fact still is true that God is in control, and where he leads us, we must follow.  So if he leads you to adopt in Ukraine, and through the agency we used or another, don't fear, and move forward where God leads. Our adoption had some bumps, but in the end, we got two great kids, so we are very thankful. 

I keep posting and removing info about my time in Ukraine.  I guess I didn't want to sound too negative.  I don't want to negatively impact our agency, especially because I need more of their assistance.  But lets face the facts...the blog following will wane from here, to some degree.  You who are viewing this need to know the truth.  So, here goes.  I really didn't like being in Ukraine after week four.  Anya and Samuel were the highlight, and being with the Ritzmans and Dillners and others was really nice too.  But I realized how much I love our country and Minnesota, and I truly felt great heartache for our homeland.  The timelines discussed with us never approached 8 weeks, let alone 9, so the cost was really enormous.  Had we come back for the 10 day waiting period, we only would have saved one week, as it turns out.  The worst case scenario I had learned of was about 6 weeks.  The extra three weeks was painful, and I saw...

The adjustment period has begun, and we have been surprised a little at how jarring it really is.  For instance, the tots are jet lagged, so we're contending with Samuel up for the day at 4:30 am, 5:30 am, 6:15 am, etc.  Yikes!!  The kids are also getting used to a new concept called, family rules.  Everyone in the family has been affected.  We originally planned to room Anya and Samuel,  but the two of them together just doesn't work.  So we put Samuel with Matthias, but that has led to issues, particularly because Samuel is such an early riser.  So we are going to room Matthias in the basement until the situation improves.  This means Samuel, Anya,  Zach and Matthais all have their own rooms.  Josiah is moving out in August to go to college, which will free up his room for either Zach or Matthias.  Another jarring feature is the realization that we have a  three year old, one that needs constant supervision. ...