Happy Victory Day to Russia

We were in Russia 6 years ago today, on our 10 day wait to pick up our precious Anton.  If you know my husband, you know he LOVES military history.  We were so blessed to be there on this day and watch these veterans come out, fully decorated, to be honored in the parades.  Read a copy/paste from an article below, and click on the link to see more pictures.

Victory Day 2012
Russia and former Soviet republics marked the 67 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II today. Russia's newly inaugurated President Vladimir Putin promised a strong Russia during a speech he delivered during a military parade at Red Square in Moscow. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people in the war, including 8.5 million soldiers. -- Lloyd Young (31 photos total)  Click here for the full article.  ('cept we don't think Stalin was such a great guy!  Don't like that one picture :O) 

Reading Wind in the Willows

I was supposed to read this in High School but I cheated.  The beautiful thing about Homeschooling is you can go back to school.  Of course, anyone can read the book no matter what choices for education is chosen, but homeschooling seems to afford more time.  I have really slacked off on read-alouds with Anton and thought this would be a good book to read at this time.

It is really fun to read.  Kenneth Grahame is such a great writer.

We are going to read a little and then watch a movie portion of what we just read as a review and see if we can tell what was left out.

Reading it is so much more fun because of the narration and descriptions Kenneth Grahame; he is a beautiful writer and captured the beauty of God's Creation and human nature that is given to the characters.  (boy, I missed out on so much before)

Here are some links, in case you're interested in reading it too.

Kenneth Grahame Society

Wind and the Willows (listen and read)

You Tube 1983 movie

The version I have is Collector's Library (pocket size) edition, by Barnes and Noble.  There is another version that is illustrated and abridged, that I'm thinking about getting.  

My version has a copy of the letter that Theodore Roosevelt wrote to the author, expressing his delight he and his family had with the book.  It also has an introduction by A. A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh), who wrote a play about Wind in the Willows. Here is an excerpt of what he wrote:

“One does not argue about The Wind in the Willows. The young man gives it to the girl with whom he is in love, and, if she does not like it, asks her to return his letters. The older man tries it on his nephew, and alters his will accordingly. The book is a test of character. We can't criticize it, because it is criticizing us. But I must give you one word of warning. When you sit down to it, don't be so ridiculous as to suppose that you are sitting in judgment on my taste, or on the art of Kenneth Grahame. You are merely sitting in judgment on yourself. You may be worthy: I don't know, But it is you who are on trial.” ― A.A. Milne

So, you better read it too, and like it ;o)  If you have read it, please add your comments or suggestions.

Agape Love

I saw this video on Facebook and had to post on my blog.   Must see for anyone called to love selflessly (everyone :O)

http://vimeo.com/38033654



Agape love, click here for more explanation.

Bulgaria is catching up on the parent waiting list

"Of the 50 dossiers still registered with MOJ from October 2006 until June 2009 (data published in March 2012), 14 have now received referrals."    http://martiniadoptionroad.blogspot.com/2012/05/iac-216-results.html

(We are registered in Oct. 2010 but willing to accept some Special Needs and older children, which should decrease our waiting time)

Thoughts of our Country on this National Day of Prayer

When we were in Russia at the airport, ready to take Anton to his new country, it was quite an emotional time and perhaps that was a turning point for having now a greater appreciation for our country.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  And a lot to pray about.  In summary, that God would allow us to be a blessing to others in the world, through missions, humanitarian aid, adoption, opportunity through industry (capitalism), and freedom (that costs the ultimate price), to be found pleasing to Him. 

Here's the story that I love to tell (and probably wrote about some of these things in earlier post).  The Russians in the airport wanted to comfort my little 2 1/2 year old, clinging to me tightly (bonding wonderfully), that he is going to another land, but it will be good.  He was going to be an "Americansky."  Perhaps these nationals working in the airport were more appreciative of other countries, being in a travel industry.  But, Russians are very patriotic, as a people.  They respect their own country with all its flaws.  They really respect it when they see us appreciate our country; that's our duty.  Many there love Americans.  We were allies once and in many ways still are.  Respect and love for country is something that they're taught and maybe it is something we have lost, because, as you know, speaking our minds and criticizing our country is one of freedoms and hobbies (that I indulge in) as part of the First Amendment.  They don't speak so freely, and that is part of the problem with Russia, but also convicting to see their respect, according to Romans 13.   

Getting back to the story, as we walked our way to through the lines toward the airplane, as the nationals learned that we were adopting our little Anton, they would speak to Anton in Russian.  (And I can't talk or type about this without getting teary eyed.)  They told him he was going to a wonderful country.  And they were sincere; you could see it in their eyes.  Some of them were almost envious of him (remember, that adopted children in Russia are a little persecuted.  Things are changing, but they are seen as "unwanted children" and because of that will never be "normal.")  And yet you can see in some of their eyes the joy for what awaited our little guy.  Many of them had tears in their eyes for him.  I was very emotional too, because I knew he was leaving his home country, and even though that was "good," I was experiencing a loss of some sort for him.   I never expected that.  I expected that we'd "high tail" it out of there and be happy about that.  I was happy, but it is hard to explain.  Perhaps it was just an important moment.  I hope someday to visit Russia with him.

I was so thankful that we were taking Anton to a land of opportunity, where he could get good medical care, education, eventually find out who he wanted to be when he grows up.  And of course, be loved by his family, who would share the gospel with him and he would not be alone in an institution any more.  What opportunities awaited to him!  God was bestowing His blessing on him.  Everyone could see it.  I thought I was being blessed finally getting a child (about time!).  And, and I was being blessed, but I realize how much God loves Anton, and how much we should be thankful for our country that was founded on Biblical principles.

We have a lot to pray for.  Most of all, prayer of thanks.  And prayer that God would revive us, as in the days of the Great Awakening.  Pray that "theology" would be important, because it is all about our relationship with our Creator.  The churches today are so poor in spirit, but busy, and extravagant...not truly "rich."  Doctrine was something people thought about more 200 years ago and prior.  That is why the Pilgrims came here because they wanted to worship our God freely. 

I hope that our country means something to you.  If you have forgotten, just look at my son.  What would his life be without the opportunities that have come to him by way of our country.  By way of our God. 

He loves America.  I think the workers in the orphanage trained him during the month before we picked him up (almost 6 years ago today, that would be May 15, 2006).   In the car, here in Texas, he would say excitedly (only days after we got him!),  "America flag!  America flag!"  I didn't teach him this.  I was convicted.  Yea, OK.  It's a flag.  You see them everywhere.  We're in America.  ...conviction, because I wasn't ready to teach him these things, but somebody already had (those orphanages aren't all bad).  That flag means a lot to Anton.  And now it means more to me too. 

I pray "thank you Lord for our great country that has afforded us freedom, safety, opportunity...to thrive, to worship, to learn, to grow, to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul, mind and strength." 

I have a heart for the world.  I would love to work in missions in Russia someday or other part of the world if the Lord wills.  But I'll always be thankful for this little experiment called America.  People say that her days are limited.  And we know in Scripture that all nations will oppose God one day, as they all will oppose Israel who will get a new heart from her God at that time.  We know this country won't be forever, and indeed, we see her slipping away before our very eyes.  We need a Savior, more than we need a good President. 

So, I pray for our country and the hearts of the people here. 

How Do You Measure Success as a Parent?

How Do You Measure Success as a Parent? « Empowered To Connect

My only exception to what is said here is that WE DO LIVE SUPREMELY HAPPY EVER AFTER.  I believe that with all my heart.  Isn't that great news?  If the God of the Bible is our God and we have embraced Him through faith. 

This is a great resource for parents wanting to adopt.  If you're adopting or working with children in Foster Care, you must get The Well Connected Child, by Karyn Purvis.   But it is also a great book for parenting in general.  It has helped move from a more "authoritative" style, to being able to be more of a instrument of Christlike love.  Yet, this book, unlike many other adoption books based on Modern Psychology (and not the Bible), it does discuss discipline and our God-given roles to guide our children.   In a sea of a lot books on adoption, this one stands out on top.

Great Call!

As per my previous post, we spoke to our international pediatrician this AM, with hubby, on a phone conference.  It was a great "call" to do this, as recommended by our social worker.  (We were wondering if that was a wise use of our money.)  And, it was a great phone call.  It was supposed to be 1 1/2 hours but we spoke for 2 hours!  It was exhausting toward the end and we really appreciate her attentiveness and thoroughness, and ability to ask any questions we had. 

I really thought the conversation would cause us to go more conservative with more "no"s on our new Special Needs form.  But it actually encouraged us more to put more "yes"es and "maybe"s.  And with the "maybe"s we will put an explanation so they understand what would induce us to say "yes" or "no" difinitively (since some of these conditions are not descriptive enough about severity, or cause...I'm sure there is a more "medical" way to put that, "pathology" might be the right word :O)   So, this is a better way to communicate our apprehensions so they'll know who we are. 

We were told originally to try to avoid "maybe" answers.  I can see why that is, because it is so vague.  But I think it better to say that "yes" answers will open us up to more possibilities and a "maybe" answer allows us opportunity to explain.  So, we're not staying away from "maybe"s as originally told. 

There are some deformities that are actually not indicative of a more serious syndrome, or progressive condition.  These conditions can be treated a lot of the times and the child can live incredibly productive lives (and isn't it amazing now sometimes a handicap can help one succeed more in other areas of life, although they may not make an Olympic team).   It was so helpful to get an idea of these.  And other conditions that I thought are pretty innocuous are actually indicative of something more serious. 

At first my thoughts were, "Why discuss, and pay for consultation on a multiple of hypotheticals we could adopt, can't we just say that we want a child who can live independently as adult eventually and trust that we'll be represented."  Why can't we just put that in a summary sentence?  But for the non-medically trained folks there, this list helps guide them. 

Ultimately, I feel really good about it because, pre-referral, we're opening up our possibilities to a child who was taken to the orphanage because they had some deformity, when actually the condition is minor.  It was probably ignorance, fear and/or inability to help the imperfect child that brought them to the orphanage.  What an opportunity!

I already felt comfortable that the doctor would help us after the referral, because we will still request overview of the child(ren) when we get our next referral. 

So, what dawned on me today, is, not how could I prevent ourselves from being emotionally drained from another referral that we have to decline, although that is true, but opening up our window a little broader.  And that is a great feeling to be able to find those children who might passed over by other adoptive parents because they had the same fear their biological parents had, and didn't understand that some of these things can be corrected with a simple surgery or prosthetic.  This has been the highlight and joy of my day today.  And that Chris and I are like-minded. 

Understanding can alleviate fears.  And there were so many conditions that scared us before, but we're not now. 

We asked if the country or agency frowns upon the adoptive parents if they have to decline, or make several declines.  She said that she feels if there is a good medical reason for the decline, that is absolutely fine.

So, now I need to come up with our final list that Chris and I will finalize tonight.  Busy day.  Hope to clean out the garage too.