Legacy of an Adopted Child

"Once there were two women, who barely knew each other. One is in your heart forever, the other you'll call mother. Two different lives, shaped to make yours one. One became your guiding star, the other became your sun. The first gave you life, and the second taught you how to live it. The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it. One gave you nationality, the other gave you a name. One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim. One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears. One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears. One gave you a family, it was what God intended for her to do. The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you. And now you ask me, through your tears, the age old question through the years. Heredity or environment....which are you a product of? Neither my darling...neither, just two different kinds of love". - Unknown

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Lots to do.....

After the exciting news of our court date sank in yesterday, our minds started racing with everything we have to do before we leave. First, we found out our travel dates. We will be leaving for court in Russia on September 11, arriving in Moscow September 12, completing our 8 doctor medical review, court in Kaluga on September 15 and assuming that the 10 day wait will not be waived, we will return home on September 16. We figured it would be better for us to come home during the 10 days so we could both work and save our leave. During our first trip from the 11th - 16th, we will be able to see "lil man" a couple of times, but will not be coming home with him yet. Then we will leave to go back and get OUR SON on September 27 and return October 9. When we return for this trip, we will pick up "lil man" and he will be with us the rest of our stay in Russia. I'm sure there will be more details as we get closer, but that's what we are expecting in a nutshell. Our goal this weekend is to book our flights and send off for our visas (we are going to make sure that we receive them earlier than the DAY we leave - that was too stressful last time).

Nicole starts back to school on August 27. Then we have Ryan & Michelle's wedding. Then school starts - Nicole will be there for the first 3 days, then we will leave for the first trip. We will both return back to work from September 18-25. Then be off for the 2nd trip. Nicole is going to take off the entire month of October and start back to work in November and Dennis is going to take off 2 weeks in October. At least that is our plan for now :)

Thanks to Gina and Lila for their donations! I have also received questions about sending us a check instead of PayPal and that is fine too. Just email me if you would like to do that and need our address. The new deadline is September 4 and ever little bit will help!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers, we still have a lot to go through and finalize our adoption of "lil man", but know that everything will work out. We just realized last night that we started this journey exactly 2 years ago. In a way, I can't believe it has been this long, but it is also a blur with everything we have been doing and have gone through over these past 2 years. It's hard to explain, but it's a great feeling to know that the end is getting closer and we will soon be a family - GOD IS GOOD!!!!

3 comments:

Wendi and Terry said...

It will be here before you know it! So happy for you guys. We're hopeful we'll get our referral soon and maybe we'll be in Kaluga at the same time!

Amy said...

WOOO HOOO that's great news!!

Lexi said...

what the entire month mrs merz lol? i know you will be having fun with your new baby son while us students suffer from the bestest ever teacher not there... lol congrats mrs merz... everything will be A-OK and GOD IS GREAT! =D Lexi