Only God Does That

Of all the names for Jesus, Redeemer is my favorite. Why? Because of the very personal way God redeemed our family two years ago. Christmas is a reminder of God's redemption for all mankind in the form of a tiny baby who was sent to save the world. So it should come as no surprise that when we lost our Christmas baby, Abigail, in 2006, the holidays became a difficult time of year for us -- instead of a time of joy, Christmas became an annual reminder of what we had lost and who was missing. A time of sorrow.

The Bible is full of reminders of God's redemption and promises that He will take that which is lost or destroyed and bring forth something beautiful. But it has never been so personal for us as the Christmas when we got to bring home our Hope -- Galina Hope. When we boarded that airplane for Russia in August, 2011, we had no idea who this little person was. We did not know what she looked like, how old she was, or when she was born.

But God did ...

We had been waiting almost 3 years for this little person to join our family when we finally got the call. We were impatient and weary, but God's plan was in full motion, doing what He does best: putting all the pieces into place. We pulled up to the tiny orphanage and walked with anticipation to finally meet our little girl. Then it all unfolded ... all this waiting ... and what God was doing ... revealed in these final moments! She was two. Blonde hair. Hazel eyes. Exact heart defect as Abby, only hers was healed. Born on December 15th, Abby's due date. And we would have her home in time for Christmas! Our Christmas baby and God's redemption. Christmas would no longer be a time of sorrow for our family, but the celebration of Hope! Christmas, redeemed!!! Only God does that.

Galina's adoption was final on 11/1/11 and we brought her home on 11/9/11, just in time for Thanksgiving, her 3rd birthday, and Christmas. God's perfect timing after all that waiting. Every detail in perfect place. God's redemption.

This Christmas, we celebrate Hope: hope in the form of a tiny baby who was sent to save the world and the Hope that God gave our family two short years ago in the form of a precious little girl. Happy birthday, Galina Hope! You are very, very, very loved!

Please help bring Return to Zero to theaters!

Dear Friends & Family, 

As you may already know, I have volunteered to be a "local leader" to promote the new film, Return to Zero. This film, starring Minnie Driver, is the first ever created with stillbirth as its central theme. The writers/producers have created a beautiful and touching film that will change how people view stillbirth and the effect it has on parents, relationships, families, and communities. The story is very similar to ours. A happy couple loses their child right before he's supposed to be born and they must overcome their grief to save their relationship and build a family together.

As a local leader, I am spreading the word to help bring this film to theaters. While the film will be shown at many popular film festivals, the writers/producers have to "prove" that there is an audience large enough to justify bringing it to theaters. This is where YOU can help! Below is a link to make a "pledge" to see this film when it is released. You are not being asked to pledge money, just to pledge to see the film opening weekend (which has yet to be determined). The goal is to have 150,000 signatures by June 20th. Your signature will help bring the film to theaters and provide an avenue of healing for many.

Here are some thoughts from the writer/producer's wife:

"I think this film is turning out to be an opportunity for healing. I never connected with any support groups after losing our son, but now I am seeing the similarities in experiences with others who have lost babies, and I don't feel so alone. I am now committed to bringing awareness and education to the community so that change can happen. I hope you too will find connection with others that will help you heal."
~ Kiley Hannish

Please watch this three minute video to learn more about Return to Zero and then click the link below to make your pledge!

Watch the three minute video about RTZ here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gq7OL-0fs4&feature=youtu.be

Make your pledge to see RTZ in theaters here:*
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HqU43R7iij8WJt1bavZkmjhmPdci56qakUUKt2VfvWg/viewform?pli=1
*Please list me, Emily Werner, as your local leader (even if you don't live near me, it helps RTZ track how you heard about the film!)

By pledging to see Return to Zero in theaters on opening weekend when it shows in your community, you will prove to Hollywood that that there is an audience for a film about this difficult, but important, subject matter.

In their memory!

~ Emily

To sign up to be a local leader in YOUR community, click here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jQsys3eU7ZndUgbdMvcDiqrgQPmREFRmb_1kvl0YhWw/viewform?pli=1

Visit RTZ on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/returntozerofilm

Visit the RTZ website here:
http://www.returntozerothemovie.com/

Eighteen Months Home

Eighteen months!  We have been home eighteen months today and Galina is absolutely thriving!  She is such a miracle!  We are so proud of her and how well she has transitioned, first, to her new family and, then, to her new city.  We have had some bumps, but overall she is doing great and we couldn't be happier!

We have settled into life in Wyoming and Galina has two new very special friends here, also adopted from Russia, who have been such a blessing in her life.  We are in awe at how God set up their friendship.  These two little girls are like big sisters and dote on her every chance they get.  Here they are at church together on a Sunday morning (Galina has a mint in her mouth, lol):

Incidentally, this weekend is Mother's Day, which, if I'm honest, is actually my real motivation for writing today.  Ben, Abby, Zach and Galina "Hope" all made me a mom and changed my life forever.  I am truly amazed when I think about it.  God has done such a miracle in our lives through each of our children and I am so, so thankful for all of them.  I hope someday to share my whole story, but it seems almost impossible to put into words everything God has done.  I know He will give me the words when the time is right.  Instead, I'd like to share some thoughts about Mother's Day ...

Mother's Day is a very difficult time for many women.  This is something close to my heart.  For years I ached to be able to stand up in church when all the mothers were recognized and I struggled through the lonliness of infertility and then, again, the heartache of my first few Mother's Days after Abby died.  Here is a little something I wrote and shared in church one Mother's Day in the early years of in my grief.  Please read and pray about what you can do for the women in your life who need a special touch this year:

Mother's Day is a celebration of motherhood, but for some it is a painful reminder of what they don't have. Whether due to miscarriage, stillbirth, death of a child at any age, giving up a child for adoption, or even abortion, many women hurt deeply on Mother's Day over the loss of a child. Some mothers hurt today because their children have chosen a life of drugs or abuse or have simply rejected them. And then there are the motherless children, young and old, who hurt because they are missing their mothers today. Some hurt because their mothers have died and others hurt because their mothers are merely absent from their lives. Either way, it is painful.

There is another category of those who hurt on Mother's Day that is often overlooked: those who long to be mothers, but are struggling with infertility, or even those who are single and long to be married so they can start a family, but are forced to wait because they haven't found "the one". Needless to say, for many, Mother's Day is a painful time. A lot of these women choose to avoid going to church on Mother's Day for this reason. And the brave who do come often feel isolated and invisible in their pain. It is important that we remember those who are missing their children or mothers today, for whatever reason, and those who long to be mothers but feel like that day will never come. We remember and honor you today.

When my daughter died, the Lord gave me many verses to comfort me. One of them was Psalm 56:8, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." I also remembered that Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with the bitterest grief. He knew my pain and longed to comfort me. But Isaiah 53:3-5 says, "We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrow that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed."

God lost His own Son. At times that didn't comfort me. I thought, "He is God! He can handle it. I'm human. It's different." (And He got his Son back pretty quickly). But a close friend, who also lost a child at birth, made a very good point that proved that God does know the deep pain of losing a child -- every person who rejects Him is lost to Him forever -- a precious child who will be separated from Him for eternity. I will see my daughter again and there will be no more tears and no more pain on that day. Those who reject Him, He loses forever.

No matter what your situation, God sees your tears. He knows your heart. He hears your pain. And He longs to comfort you. Lamentations 3:31-33 says, "For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow." He loves you and wants to care for you. I pray today that you will give your pain and sorrow over to Him and allow Him to be your strength.

Some tips for helping hurting moms and others who are grieving on Mother's Day (or for yourself, if you are grieving a loss):

*Create an online memorial or scrapbook (or offer to help create one)
*Buy a special gift in memory of the lost loved one (gifts with the lost loved one's name are especially meaningful)
*Keep the lost loved one's memory alive through pictures, stories, memorials, etc. and keep talking about him/her 
*Plant a tree or flowers in memory of the lost loved one
*Pray for the person who is grieving, even if it is yourself
*Reach out and volunteer in your church or community or do random acts of kindness in the lost loved one's memory
*Send an email to Heaven (name@heaven.com) and print it to give to the lost loved one's family to show that you remembered
*Celebrate the lost loved one's life and do things to keep their memory alive such as remembering special dates (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
*Wear something special to remember the lost loved one
*Send an email or card to those you know will have a difficult Mother's Day
*Mention the lost loved one's name and don't be afraid to bring up the loss
*Encourage the grieving to talk and be willing to listen and care

For more tips on how to help grieving moms (and dads), please visit:

http://www.firstcandle.org/grieving-families/friends-relatives/

In Memory of Abigail Graceland Werner 

♥ November 29, 2006 ♥

www.abigail-werner.memory-of.com

And our tiny baby, Zach,
miscarried on June 24, 2008
Never forgotten!
♥♥♥

I just feel like if I don't write this, my heart will explode.  I am so full of love and thankfulness and joy tonight.  The road to Hope was so long and there were times I felt my heart would break into a million pieces, but somehow we made it and just listening to a house full of giggles and laughter makes my heart so full that I can hardly contain the joy!  I can't believe she ... both of them ... are here.  It was 16 years ago this month that we were told I would never be able to have a child.  And here we are, the parents of not one, but four children.  My precious daughter, Abigail, and my sweet tiny baby, Zach, will always be in my heart, but the joy of the two that are in my arms is uncontainable. I am just so, so thankful today and wanted to share the joy in my heart!

Lord, for all you have done for me, I just wanted to thank you ...

STUCK

I am so grateful that Galina made it home and that she is not "stuck."  Please pray for the children that are still waiting for their forever families and the families that are still waiting for them ...

STUCK TRAILER from Both Ends Burning Campaign on Vimeo.

Russian Adoption Ban Frustrates American Couples

An adoption ban was threatened several times during our wait to bring Galina home, but now it has become a reality and there are many children caught in the middle of the adoption process who will not be able to come home.  Here is an update.  So sad!

Russian Adoption Ban Frustrates American Couples

(click link above to read story)

Happy New Year 2013

(click on picture to view larger image) 

Happy New Year!  This was going to be a Christmas letter, but our entire family (except Chad) came down with the flu and has been sick since Christmas Eve.  Thankfully, we were feeling pretty good on Christmas Day and were able to enjoy a morning of opening presents and celebrating before we started really feeling bad.  We are all finally starting to feel better and are looking forward to an exciting New Year in Cheyenne!

So much has happened in 2012, I don’t know where to start!  Galina enjoyed a wonderful first year home from Russia and time getting to know her extended family.  We put our house on the market over the summer and began to pursue plans to help bring Teen Challenge to Wyoming, as we have felt called to do for several years.  The doors first opened in 2009, but it just wasn’t God’s timing.  We knew we needed to complete Galina’s adoption and allow her time to bond with her family first.  However, we felt the Lord leading us to try again this year and our house sold quickly after we put it on the market.  We received a series of confirmations and moved on November 3rd, exactly one year from our “gotcha” day in Russia (the day we received custody of Galina).  We are so happy she was able to have that first year in Ohio to get to know all of her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.  They have made a lasting impression on her and she now clearly identifies them as her “family.”  Thank you for understanding our need to keep her world small during the first year.  We felt it was important that she spent that time getting to know her family first, especially with the possibility of moving ahead of us.  We are now settling into life in Wyoming, exploring and making new friends!

Chad is currently working as Senior Case Manager at Comea House & Resource Center (www.comeashelter.org) in Cheyenne.  Comea House is an emergency shelter for men, women and families experiencing homelessness.  Residents at the shelter receive a hot, nutritious meal at night and breakfast in the morning; showers; access to the free clothing pantry; and free medical attention at Cheyenne Crossroads Clinic next door. Currently, the shelter can accommodate 50 men, 12 women and two families at a time.  Chad has also been working in the community to start a local Lifeline Connection (www.lifelineconnection.org).  Lifeline Connection is ministry of Teen Challenge offering a faith-based alternative to court-ordered secular groups and is the first step in introducing Teen Challenge in a new area.  It has been amazing to see how God has already put the desire for a faith based program in the hearts of the believers here.  Two local churches in Cheyenne have already agreed to host a Lifeline and our church is hosting a training seminar in March for community leaders in Cheyenne and other parts of the state.  The need, support and desire for Teen Challenge in Wyoming are strong and everyone we meet is excited about the possibility of a residential program here.  We are excited to see how God puts all the pieces together in His time.  We will be starting a newsletter for anyone who might be interested in hearing the progress or supporting the ministry in some way.  Please let us know if you’d like to be on the mailing list.

Benjamin and Galina continue to excel in their studies and we have enjoyed the freedom of home schooling amidst all of our travels.  We spent some time during our first few weeks on field trips learning about and getting to know our new community and state.  We were able to visit the State Capitol and learn many interesting facts about Wyoming’s history.  We also went on a field trip to the Wyoming Welcome Center with the local homeschool group and have attended some fun events such as roller skating and the homeschool Christmas party at the Laramie County Library, which has given us a chance to make some new friends.  We also have enjoyed hiking and had the amazing experience of cutting down our Christmas tree the way the pioneers did it.  We traveled to the Snowy Range in the Medicine Bow National Forest and cut down a tree in the mountains.  During our hike through the forest, we saw evidence of lots of different wildlife.  Little did we know that the “droppings” we saw belonged to the local black bears!  Good thing there were a lot of other people there that day.  I’m sure they were far from our tree cutting site.

We were sad to see that Russia placed a ban on international adoptions beginning on January 1, 2013.  The faces of the orphans we saw on our two trips there in 2011 will be imprinted on our hearts forever.  Please join us in prayer for President Putin and the leaders of the Russian Duma as well as the many families and children who were in process that will not be allowed to complete their adoptions.  We are so grateful that Galina made it home before this happened and our hearts ache to think of those children who will not be able to have a forever family due to this new law.

We have enjoyed many new experiences in our new home and are looking forward to many more.  We are thankful for the many ways God has blessed us, including new friends and a wonderful church family.  We wish we would have had more time to say our goodbyes to everyone in Cincinnati, but hope to be back for a visit in the spring.  We have an extra bedroom and would love to be your host and tour guide if you ever have the desire for a western vacation!

May God bless you and keep you healthy in the New Year!
 
Blessings,
Chad, Emily, Benjamin & Galina “Hope”

Happy 4th Birthday Galina Hope!

Happy 4th birthday to my sweet Galina "Hope." She is truly a blessing to our family and I am so thankful for her life today, especially after yesterday's tragedy. I also honor and pray for her birth mother who gave her life on this day 4 years ago. As a mother who has lost a child, I know she is hurting deeply and missing her baby today. Lord, please comfort her and let her know her little girl is growing up happy, healthy and deeply loved. ♥

One Year!

With all of the excitement of moving, I failed to celebrate the one year anniversary of the homecoming of our little rainbow girl, Galina "Hope." Can't believe she's been home over a year already. We love her so much and are so blessed to have her as part of our family! It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks she will turn four. This picture was taken last year right after we got back from our first trip to meet her when she was still two (a missionary friend living in her town sent it to us via email). Upon the missionary's arrival at the orphanage that day, Galina promptly told her, "I have a mama!" You can see it in her eyes. Love this girl so much! ♥

"I Like Take-N-Take"

Thankful

One year ago today we got a call that changed our life. After almost 3 years of waiting, we were invited to fly to Russia and finally meet our little girl. Time has literally flown since. So glad she is here!

Merry Christmas 2011

(click on picture to view larger image)
Merry Christmas! It is surreal to write this Christmas letter while listening to my children squealing with delight as they play together in the background. After almost 2 1/2 years, Galina "Hope" is finally home and we are enjoying our first Christmas together as a family! We have been home 6 1/2 weeks and everyone is doing great!

Galina has adjusted incredibly well! As I've talked with other families who have adopted from Russia and the professionals at Children's Hospital, I am realizing that she is an exceptional child considering her start to life. She has been learning English at an incredible rate and already understands almost everything we say. I am astonished each time she speaks and I hear new words come out of her mouth! I have learned a lot of Russian to help with the transition and we are communicating very well, mostly because of her ability and desire to learn. Benjamin has learned a bunch of Russian, too, which has helped so much ... both kids are just amazing! Chad, on the other hand, has had a little harder time with the Russian language, lol, but he has been doing great, too. Galina understands him nonetheless and adores her Daddy and his silly antics! :) Many people have asked if we are calling her "Galina" or "Hope." Since she was 2 1/2 when we met and almost 3 when we brought her home, we felt it was important to keep her name, so we are calling her Galina for the most part. "Hope" may be incorporated as a nickname later, but if you see her, please call her Galina. She will have no idea what you are talking about if you call her Hope! :)

Benjamin has been enjoying having a sister very much. Just ask him and he will tell you, it's nice to have a sister! It is obvious just by watching them together that he truly loves and enjoys her. He had a little difficulty adjusting at first, which is to be expected, but we did our best to provide a "best case scenario" for him. Thanks to wonderful social workers and our agency, his mom and dad were equipped to help and one of the most important things he got to do was to travel with us to Russia for 3 weeks and to meet his new sister there. He was able to visit her on her turf twice a day for 2 weeks, going "home" (back to the hotel) alone with us each day while we were in our 10 day waiting period, which helped with his transtion a lot. Then we had another week together in "neutral" territory (our hotel in Moscow) before going back to his real home (in the U.S.) and having to share a home, parents, cats, toys and, well, everything in life, with this new little person. He is such an amazing boy and we could not have asked for a better transition for BOTH of our children. They are doing remarkably well and it just gets better and better every day!

As for us, well we are just delighted to have another little person to love and share life with. Galina is a delight to be around. She is funny, smart, talented, affectionate, obedient, kind, gentle and just a sweet, sweet girl (and she can hold her own with a big brother who likes to sword fight, lol). We could not be happier with her or with Benjamin. They are both wonderful children and we are so happy and proud to be their parents. We are so thankful to have them both!

Christmas is a time of year to be thankful and reflect on the goodness of God and the gift of LIFE he gave us in his Son, Jesus Christ. This year we are celebrating the arrival of "Hope!" There are many people, however, who are hurting because of the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, health problems, financial problems and many, many other difficulties. It's easy to focus so much on our own joy and happiness that we forget those who are hurting around us this time of year. Our hearts are especially close to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one as five years ago we faced the most difficult Christmas ever: the loss of our precious daughter, Abigail. If you know someone who is missing a loved one this Christmas, please call, send a card or visit and remember to mention their loved one's name and genuinely ask how they are doing. You are not reminding them of their loss. Trust me, they remember. Instead, you are touching a place in their heart that needs to be touched at Christmas and all year round. Please reach out to those who are hurting around you and let them know their loved one is not forgotten:

How To Console A Grieving Friend During The Holidays

We pray for blessings and give thanks for each of you this Christmas, especially those who helped make the dream to bring Galina "Hope" home a reality. It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, but for us, it takes a village to HAVE one! We are forever grateful for everyone who has walked with us on this long journey to Hope and pray that you have the Merriest of Christmases and a New Year that is full of God's richest blessings for your life!

Much Love,
Chad, Emily, Benjamin & Galina "Hope"
And remembering ^Abby^ always ...

God's Grace Adoption Ministry Matching Grant

Dear Friends & Family,

We are excited to inform you that God's Grace Adoption Ministry has approved us for a $2,500 dollar-for-dollar matching grant. That means GGAM will match any contribution made on our behalf up to $2,500 total dollars (which means we could receive up to $5,000 towards our adoption). As our community of friends, family and others interested in helping respond, the funds are matched and earmarked for our family. Although our adoption has been finalized and Galina "Hope" is now home, we are still paying thousands of dollars for expenses incurred on our second trip to Russia and adoption fees.

Because it is funded through GGAM, your contribution is tax-deductible and makes a perfect choice for year-end giving. Even if you are unable to give personally (many of you have already given so much), please forward the letter from GGAM (above) to anyone you know who may be interested in supporting us and/or international adoption. Every little bit helps!

For more information, please visit www.ggam.org.

Blessings,
Chad & Emily

Galina "Hope" Renee Werner, finally at home with Kaya the "coshka" :)

One Month

We have been home for just about a month now and Galina "Hope" is doing great. She has had all of her testing at Children's Hospital and we are awaiting results. In the meantime, she has learned many words that she can say in English and many more that she understands. Her comprehension is amazing! We have also continued to learn many words in Russian as a family to help us communicate with her better and, as a result, everyone is adjusting quite well. Benjamin knows more Russian than Chad at this point and it is quickly becoming his second language. We are so proud of him ... he has been such a great big brother!

On the advice of the international adoption specialist at Children's Hospital, we have been keeping Galina's world "small" to help her to anticipate and understand her new world better. Keeping visitors at a minimum, making sure the calendar is not full of activity and providing as much consistency in our schedule as possible will help her to develop trust and create an environment where she feels secure as she learns what to expect from daily life and attach to her new family.

After spending a few weeks alone with "just" us, she has met all of her grandparents and has begun meeting aunts, uncles and cousins in small groups in preparation for our family gatherings over the holidays (we wanted her to see each person at least once before seeing them all together at Christmas). Our doctor felt it would be best to focus on family relationships first and wait awhile longer to introduce friends outside of family. This will give her a chance to bond with them first, which is something that normally happens over time for children who are born into families. Here is a great article about helping an "older child" adjust (any child over two years old at adoption is considered "older"). It may help explain some of the things we are doing to help Galina in these first few weeks and months.

10 Tips After Your Older Child Is Home

We would like to thank everyone for understanding the boundaries we've established for Galina as I know there are many of you (and your children) who are super excited to meet her and disappointed to have to wait some more! We are super excited for you to meet her, too, and it is just as hard for us to say no when all we want to do is share her with everyone who has prayed for us and waited along side us for her to finally come home! It will be worth the wait to give her the best possible start to her life with her new family.

"I Met My Granddaughter Today"

Written by Galina's Nana Sherry ...

There she was getting out of the van with her Mother, Father, and her brother Ben. They were a Family! She was real! Here was the granddaughter we prayed for and wanted for  so long...she was standing right in front of us. I saw the joy come over my husband's face as if to say...This is the day that the Lord has made! We had prayed for this day to come and now here she was sitting with her Mother, across the table from us in a restaurant in Cincinnati Ohio; across the ocean from her birthplace in Russia. Praise be to God!! The wait was over, the promise fulfilled!!  Emily and Chad's long awaited little girl was here, in the safety of their care and loving arms. Their precious Ben's little sister!!!

I never knew one fair haired  little girl could touch my heart like my own daughter had at the same age, until I met Gallia Hope. They are so much alike, in so many ways. The shy little smile and frown all in one. The sweet little golden ponytails bouncing as she moves. Gentle, obedient, and very particular to keep her things neat and close to her. Unusual for such a little girl, wanting to do things all by herself! Traits I've seen in another...at that age. So dear!! Watching her clutch her mother's hand and wanting only her...ah, I remember !!

I prayed for my daughter to have these moments with her own little girl... fixing her hair, playing dress ups and dolls...revisiting all things girl...ruffles, sparkles, and lace...all things peaches and cream! All I could think of was how God's promises are true...and beyond our imagination...and how wonderful she is...my Emily's little girl...Galina Hope!

Loving Thoughts From...Nana Sherry

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands".
--- Kristi Larson

A Mama for Galina: Celebrating Adoptions

This was posted today on our friend, Eileen's blog ...

A little blond left her place in line, skipped over to me and announced, I have a mama. With that, she rejoined the other children.

I had just arrived at the orphanage, home to 100-some abandoned little ones and was chatting with a caretaker of the oldest group. The children were lined up, waiting to go outside when the little cutie, probably not even 3, broke out of line to tell me her happy news. This was Galina, I soon learned, the little girl who was being adopted by a lovely family from southwestern Ohio.

It's every orphan's wish, you know, to have her own mama. And now Galina was going to have a mother and lots more ~ a daddy and an older brother too. Galina's adoptive mother, Emily, had tracked me down weeks earlier, connecting before she and her husband would come to meet Galina. As per Russian adoption procedures, foreign adoptive parents make two visits. On the first visit, they meet the child; on the second, they complete legal and medical requirements and then take the child home. So then in early September when Emily and husband Chad made their first visit to Russia, we were able to connect in person.

Come mid-October, I was in the US and en route from Akron to Nashville, would be passing near the area where Chad and Emily live, so they invited me over for lunch. The family would be leaving days later for their second trip to Russia. And big brother Benjamin, above, would be traveling with them!

Lucky me, by the time I returned to Russia in early November, Chad and Emily were still in town, wrapping up their three weeks in country. Here we are near their hotel heading out for pizza. In the photo, from left is Linda, Galina's bubbly new grandmother, my Russian friend, Roma, Galina with her parents, Emily and Chad, and her older brother Benjamin, plus Yours Truly.

How fun to celebrate together that Galina was part of this family. Benjamin had waited five years for a sister! Chad and Emily told me about Abigail, a beautiful little girl they lost at birth in 2006. So now every one is happy. And so grateful. And, at long last, Galina has a mama of her very own.

Adoptive parents are heroic! Over the years, dozens have come through town and they're so impressive with their resourcefulness and high energy. They also can use financial help. Last I checked, parents who adopt from Russia spend something like $35,000+ to get their child. And then they've got to feed and cloth the little character. If you long to be a part of an adoption, why not consider adopting an adoptive family? Just ask them how you could be of help ~ and consider writing out a check.

Pure and undefiled religion is this:

To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

(James 1:27)

Welcome Home "Hope"

Thank you to everyone who made this day possible! We are so blessed!

Love,
Chad & Emily

Coming Home at Last!

We went to the U.S. Embassy this morning and "Hope" had her Visa approved, so we are all clear to make the long journey home. We leave tomorrow! Can't believe this time in Russia is coming to an end. So many wonderful moments, people and memories! Can't wait to share them all. Next post will be written in the good 'ole U.S. of A. Pics to follow! :)

Hello Moscow, long time no see!

We made it back to Moscow and now we are sitting in our hotel resting as our new little girl takes her nap. It has been a long day and Nana Linda's day has just barely started as she makes the long journey over the Atlantic Ocean ahead of us!

As for us, we still have work to do! Tomorrow, "Hope" has a doctor's appointment early in the morning and a rep from our agency is coming to help us complete the paperwork for her Visa application and prepare us for our interview with the U.S. Embassy. Once her Visa is issued, we can finally come home!

It has been a long, wonderful (almost) 3 weeks here in Russia! I can't wait to share all of the amazing ways God blessed us on this trip. For now, we are happy to have landed in this comfortable place where we can rest and feel a little more at home. I promise to post pictures soon!

Until then, Dosvadanya!

It's Official!

So very sorry for the lack of updates on our blog since we traveled back to Russia to bring Hope home. We have literally been kept so busy that the only thing we do in our "free" time is eat, sleep, return messages and work on documents. We are so thankful for Nana Linda who traveled with us and has been acting Nanny to Benjamin on this trip. We could not have done this without her!

Now, to our news! As of today, it is official: we are legally "Hope's" parents!! The paperwork was finalized earlier today and Thursday will be our "gotcha" day when she finally gets to leave the orphanage with us. Everything is dated 11/1/11 ♥ New beginnings ... praise the Lord!!!

There is still much for us to accomplish before and after we pick her up. We have to finish documents for our appointment at the U.S. Embassy, pick up her passport, complete her exit paperwork from the orphanage, etc. We will do our best to post a more detailed update here before we travel home if we can. We just wanted to take a quick moment to share the wonderful news with all of you that "Hope" is ours at last!! :)