HOME!

 Gotcha Day pic from Tuesday, 12-21-10!

The boys are HOME!  We had a tear filled and joyous time at the airport.  What a precious moment it was to finally meet our boys, kiss and hold them!!!   A dear friend joined us and she took some fabulous pictures of our first meeting....thank you, Bethann!!!  As soon as I receive the pictures, I will post a few on the blog.


We traveled the 20 minute drive home with ease.  Matthew and Michael both did very well in their car seats.  Neither had ever sat or been buckled into car seats.  When we got home, we fed all the little boys, Justin, Michael and Matthew,  and put them to bed for some much needed rest!  Both Matthew and Michael slept all night long until 9:00am this morning.  Justin slept a little longer.

Michael sleeping his first night home!

Matthew sleeping his first night home

Both boys are eating very well.  I'm making them a mixture of Alimentum, mommy's milk, electrolytes plus I am adding oatmeal to Michael's bottle since he is used to a thicker consistency.  We are feeding them 6 oz every 3 hours during the day and so far they are eating everything we have offered!  Praising God for that!  They are both extremely malnourished and dehydrated.  Please pray for their health and that they will continue to take in fluids well.

 Mommy feeding Michael

Our three little boys seem to love each other!  They are playing very well together and even sharing toys this Christmas morning.

What a wonderful Christmas we are having today!!!  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas as well!!

Off to pick up Jeff and the kids....

In 30 minutes I will leave to pickup Jeff and all the kids!!  I have not heard from Jeff since 3:15 this morning so I'm believing and praying all is well and they will arrive in Lubbock on time!


Thank you to all who have prayed with our family during this adoption.   Your prayers were certainly heard and felt!

**URGENT** Pray for Michael

It's 3:17am our time and Jeff just called me.  He and the kids are seated on the plane to Chicago getting ready to take off.  Michael is crying.  Nonstop.  Jeff does not no what is wrong.  Jeff has given him pain reliever, Benadryl and gas medicine.   Please pray for Michael, that whatever is causing him to cry will stop and that he will be comforted by Jeff.  Pray that the plane will take off despite Michael's crying so they can get to the States.

Up, up and away......ALMOST HOME!

Jeff, Holly, Jason, Matthew and Michael are in the air flying to Frankfurt Germany right now!  They will have a three hour layover and then on to Chicago, USA!!!!


They will have a 2 1/2 hour layover in Chicago and then fly to Dallas where they will make a mad dash to another airport, catch another flight and one hour later, arrive in Lubbock!!!! 


20 hours and they will be home!

Praising God, Michael ate!

Just talked to Jeff.  He said Michael ate about 5 oz of the potato slurry that he made!  Thank you, God!  

They will leave Kiev in 10 hours and head home arriving in Lubbock at 8:35 pm Thursday, Christmas Eve!!!

Both boys are coughing rattly coughs so Jeff put them both on antibiotics.  They will be fine as they are in the best of hands; Jeff's and Gods!  

Jeff discovered that Matthew has at least one rotted tooth.  It's down to the nub and bleeding.  Michael has almost no teeth and we suspect they have already rotted and fallen out.  It's been a challenge to assess his remaining teeth, but we suspect they are rotten as well.  Incredibly sad what these precious babies have suffered.  Tooth pain would explain why Michael does not want to eat.  Jeff is giving them Ibuprofen for the tooth pain. Rest assured, we will be taking them to a pediatric dentist as soon as they are home!


Prayer request:


1. For clear sky's and airport runways free of ice an snow on each leg of the trip so they can get home
2. For Michael to continue to eat/drink
3. For rest for everyone on the plane
4. For no tooth pain for the boys
5. For healing for both boys coughs, Jason and Holly as well, they are also coughing

Prayer request for Michael

As of right now, Michael refuses to eat or drink.  It has been 23 hours since he last took a bottle.  Jeff has tried different bottles, different nipples, formula, juice, water and electrolytes.  They have tried letting Holly feed him thinking he might take food from a female better....no!   Jeff is now squirting small amounts of liquids into Michael's mouth through a little medicine dropper several times an hour.  He's still refusing it and it all runs out.


Jeff is going to the store right now and will buy some oatmeal and potatoes to make a potato slurry similar to what Michael had in the orphanage.  Please pray Michael will take this!

Michael may be 4 but he has never been offered solid food.  That is why Jeff is concentrating on feeding him from a bottle.  That is all he knows.  He has also never been offered milk products.  Offering Michael milk products, not knowing if he is allergic, could be dangerous.  Our youngest birth son is allergic to milk products and it landed him in the ER once so Jeff will reserve this option as a last resort.


Matthew on the other hand is taking his bottle like a champ!  Praise God!!!

Random Pictures of Ukraine

While I am waiting for new pictures of the boys to come in, I thought it would be fun to put up some random pictures that Jeff and the kids have taken in Kiev, Ukraine.  You can click on each picture to enlarge it.

There is such poverty here, the orphanages struggle to get food, supplies and medicines, yet the public buildings, at least in Kiev, are very lavish. 

 

Down in the region our boys are from, the public buildings were not nearly as lavish and private homes are virtually non-existent.  Everyone seems to live in huge apartment complexes.  These pictures are from in region:

~ GOTCHA ~

Gotcha Day!

Today at 7:30pm Ukraine time, Matthew and Michael left the orphanage for the very LAST TIME!    

Orphans no more!

Michael Scott Hannon and Matthew Scott Hannon are FREE!

Jeff, Holly and Jason spent the entire day running around with our facilitator, Luda, doing paperwork, filling out documents, gathering official papers and driving through fog so thick it was blinding.  In the end, they went to the orphanage to pick up the boys at 7:00pm where the nanny's lovingly dressed our boys for the last time and then they were out the door in less than 30 minutes.  No time for pictures.  No time for anything.  It was a scoop and run Gotcha Day!

They had tickets for the 8:00pm train and the driver got them to the train station in the nick of time!  The boys were already tired, rubbing their little eyes and ready for a good nights sleep.  Jeff said they both have colds with a cough.  Thank goodness Jeff is the king of medicine.  He literally took medicine for just about any symptom...they are in good hands!  I can't wait to hear more about their Gotcha Day adventure! 

Once they arrive in Kiev tomorrow morning, the whole crew will go directly to the US Embassy to start the Visa appointments to come home.  Jeff will call me as soon as they get settled into their apartment after the Visa appointment.

Prayer requests:

1. That all can rest on the train

2. That the Visa Appt. goes smoothly, without hitch

3. That Matthew and Michael will accept food from Jeff, Holly and Jason to stay fed and hydrated

4. That Michael and Matthew's illnesses go away quickly

5. That Matthew and Michael are not scared and feel the love of their daddy and are comforted

6. That the weather on all legs of the return trip home clears and they get home safely

TWO HOURS...until Jeff gets our boys!

I just talked to Jeff and they were on the last of the paper chase....passports!  He, Holly and Jason will then be driven the two hours back to the orphanage and.....PICK UP OUR BOYS!  This is Gotcha Day!!!


Praise our Father!  Glory to God!  

This is James 14:18 in the flesh!
"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you".  

I pray you, too, will submit and be the hands and feet of Jesus in the ways asked of you.  Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone has a calling.  Listen.  Go.  Be obedient.  Grow and stretch in Christ. Be the hands and feet of our Savior in the ways that He calls you.


Two hours....

Counting down the days until we get our boys.....ONE DAY!

In ONE day, we will have our boys!  24 hours!  One more sunset! One more sunrise!  ONE more day!


Jeff and the kids were able to take most of today to rest and tour some of Kiev.  They then boarded the overnight train for a 12 hour trip to the city our boys are in at about 6:20 local time and they were off.  It has been snowing and is bitterly cold so the scenery literally looks like a winter wonder land, beautiful!!  When I last talked with them, the train had just pulled out of the train station and they were traveling through Kiev going over a very large and beautiful river. It was already dark there but the lights from the city were reflecting off of the snow and they could clearly see the river and surrounding landscape.  It sounded so pretty!


They are traveling second class on the train so everyone can be in the same car all together.  Each train car in second class has 4 beds, two on each wall with a little walk-way down the middle.  First class cars only have two beds so must be a bit more roomy.  When they get to The City, they will begin a whirlwind of paper chasing going from place to place, from one birth city to another and then over to the orphanage to pick up the boys right before heading back to the train station to catch the return train back up to Kiev.


They will spend two days in Kiev, Dec. 22 and 23rd, doing US Embassy stuff ( medicals/visas/paperwork) and then fly HOME on Dec. 24!!!  If all goes as planned, and we are believing and praying it will, they will arrive in Lubbock at 8:35pm on Christmas Eve!!!!!  

I am fixing to meet my boys for the very first time on Friday!!  They will meet their mommy for the very first time as well!!  This feels exactly the same as when I was anticipating the birth of our birth children.  The excitement, the wonder, the anticipation of holding my children in my arms for the very first time after having waited 9 long months for this day.....yes, 9 months!  I will be able to look into my boys eyes, kiss their sweet little cheeks, drink in their sweetness and hold them in my arms on Friday.....yes, it really has been 9 months since we first joined Reece's Rainbow!


ONE MORE DAY!

Answered Prayers via stand-by tickets during mass confusion

Once again, our precious Father has shown his mighty power and opened up 3 seats on a plane to Kiev!  Thank you, thank you!


Jeff, Holly and Jason's original flight to Kiev was canceled due to a powerful snow storm that virtually shut down the Frankfurt airport. After waiting 14 hours, making countless phone calls, running from one terminal to another doing everything humanly possible to get out....it was God who so simply paved the way for them to go stand-by and catch the last flight out of Frankfurt, Germany!  WOW!!  I am in awe of how effortless God moves mountains.  

Due to hundreds of cancellations and delays, masses of people were trying to get on planes, riots were taking place, police were trying to take back the airport and mass confusion was everywhere.  Jeff took the kids to a quite gate and waited out the hysteria in safety.  This gate happened to be the exact gate the last flight out of Frankfurt was to leave from.  Not and accident!  

Jeff waited in line for an hour and a half for boarding passes and he received them and now they are on their way to Kiev.  They should arrive there about 2:00am Kiev time and be able to go to the apartment and get some much needed rest before going to catch a 12 hour train ride to the city our boys are in.  They will make their Tuesday 8:00am appointment at the courthouse after all.


Two more days!  In two days our boys will be forever free.

Temporarily stuck in Germany due to winter storm....2 days until we go get our boys!

Jeff and the kids are temporarily stuck in Germany due to a winter storm that dumped over 8 inches of snow at the Frankfurt airport overnight.  Lufthansa only has stand-by flights available and there are literally about one hundred passengers ahead of Jeff standing by for flights to Kiev tonight.

We would very much appreciate your prayers and standing in agreement with us concerning this.   Jeff needs to get out today so he can get our boys out of the orphanage at the end of our 10-day wait Tuesday.  This is in God's hands now and we will trust in His timing!

Calling all Prayer Warriors...Count Down 3 days

We need you, Prayer Warriors!  It is 3 days until Jeff picks up our boys from the orphanage and the Devil is not liking this one bit. I have two urgent prayer requests:

1. Our family is under attack health wise and the devil is working over time to stop Jeff and the kids in their tracks.  Please join us in praying right now and standing in agreement that the devil is not welcomed in our family, in our bodies, in this adoption at all and that in the name of Jesus and by His stripes we are healed!

2.  There has been a huge snow storm in Germany and Ukraine that is delaying flights and closing airports.  Jeff and the kids will fly into Frankfurt, Germany tonight and then on to Ukraine a few hours later.  Both airports have seen hundreds of delays and cancellations.  Please pray for clear weather so they can land/take off safely and make their appointments to get our boys out.

And they're off....Count Down...4 days

In 4 days Jeff will rescue our boys from the orphanage!


Jeff, Holly and Jason are off to begin trip # 2.  Today is actually a very big day for Jason because he took his first plane ride.  All went well, no nerves and lots of excitement!  Today is also the day after Holly's 17th birthday....Happy Birthday, Holly!

The one thing our US and UA teams have stressed is to "Pack light."  We tried, we really, really did!  Yet, somehow, we still ended up with 3 carry-ons, 3 personal bags (backpacks) and one medium sized checked bag plus the umbrella stroller.  I don't know how people pack lighter, seriously!  We only packed the bare basics for 5 people and still ended up with all that luggage. 

I will finish preparing our home for Matthew and Michael this week while Jeff and the kids are gone.  We still need to get the new carpet installed and I'll try to schedule the installers to come do that this next week.  Can't have three littles crawling on cold cement floors!  Getting things done this week has been a bit challenging because some kind of 'bug' has been going from person to person in our house for the past week or so despite our being very vigilant about washing hands/sanitizing, etc.  Justin is having a fever for the very first time in his life.  Since his open-heart-surgery, since birth actually, we have focused on trying to keep him healthy.   This little first is somewhat challenging to not let fear take over.  He'll be fine, he'll be fine, he'll be fine.....  I'm praying this bug will be flushed out of our home well before the boys get here!

Count Down .....6 days

In 6 days, we will walk our boys out of the orphanage for the last time!


God certainly DID have a surprise for us this morning.  He opened up flights left and right for Jeff, Holly and Jason to be able to travel from Lubbock to Kiev..and they leave a day EARLIER then we had hoped for!  Of course, the God who built the universe can open up 3 rides to Eastern Europe and 5 rides back, and He did!


Jeff and the kids will board a plane and travel to Dallas on Friday, Dec. 17 where they will have about a 12 hour lay-over over night.  We have family in Dallas, so they will spend the night with my Aunt Kathy (who is actually more like a sister since we are so close in age :-)


They will then board another plane in Dallas and arrive in Kiev 18 hours later.  They will have a few hours in Kiev to grab a bite to eat, relax, and tour the city before hopping on the over-night train to The City for a 12 hour ride.  It will be an amazing adventure that is for sure. 

Prayer requests for this trip:


1. Safe, uneventful travels with good weather with no delays

2. To get ALL necessary documents and paperwork COMPLETED in The City on Dec. 21, go get the boys out of the orphanage, GOTCHA DAY!, and be able to travel back to Kiev the evening of Dec. 21.


3. To finish all documents/Visa's/medical check-up's at the US Embassy Dec. 22 &23

4. To be able to make their scheduled flight out of Kiev back to USA Dec. 24 and arrive HOME later Dec. 24.

Counting Down.....7 days

7 days until the actual day we free Matthew and Michael from the orphanage!  ONE WEEK!


4 days until we need to leave to began our trip.  We were supposed to finalize our travel arrangements for the second trip today but it has proven to be quite a challenge getting us to Kiev from Lubbock on such short notice and so close to the Christmas holidays.  We still have no tickets.  Please pray something opens up and we can get there in time to get the boys out on Dec. 21!  God knows we need to get there so we are asking Him to open up the way and make this happen. 

We are excited to see what God has for us in the morning and are continuing on with our packing and planning!

Counting down....8 days

8 days until we bust the boys out of the orphanage!


Jeff and the girls arrived home safely this morning.  They had a 24 hour layover in Houston but that actually worked out great because they got to go spend the night with my sister and her family and visit.  Everyone was extremely tired and a bit jet lagged but holding up very well.   Excitement and joy filled our house as Jeff, Kayla and Rachel unpacked and we all began to talk about their Ukrainian adventure.  What neat stories that have to tell!!


Now we start to gather things for the second trip.  And, cannot forget that the we are putting in new carpet Thursday!  We'll be pretty busy for the next 5 days while we wait out the rest of the 10-day wait, which is a good thing because the time will seem to pass faster.  It seems a little unreal that we will have our boys in 8 days!  Dec. 21 cannot get here fast enough!

We went to church this evening and they threw us the most precious diaper shower for Matthew and Michael.  I am floored at the generosity of the body of Christ!  The love they showed us through packs of diapers and money tree just overwhelmed us.  We received 13 bags of size 2 diapers and 21 packs of size 3 diapers, 6 boxes of baby wipes and several other sweet gifts in addition to the money tree.  We had the best punch and cupcakes I believe I have ever eaten!!  Thank you all so much for loving on us with this shower!  Everything was just perfect!!!

Counting down the days...9 days until we "Getcha"

In 9 days we will go pick up our boys and walk out of the orphanage for the very last time.  In the world of international adoption this is called "Gotcha Day"!  It's the day we get the boys, Gotcha!  Our Gotcha Day will happen Dec. 21.  I hope to be able to ask the orphanage workers about the boys' care, schedules and watch them being fed.  Ideally, it would be great to feed them ourselves before we leave the orphanage so they know it is okay to accept food from us.I would like to see their beds and how they were put down for naps and bedtime.  I would like to see how they were bathed and changed.  Not that I am going to do any of the things the way the orphanage workers did, but it would just be nice to know because it might explain some things that may come up once home. 




I wish we could somehow help our boys ahead of time understand just what leaving the orphanage with us means.  They have seen kids being taken away through the very doors we will walk through.  They have heard their cries and sensed the fear.  A few have been adopted by families but most have been transferred, taken away against their will, going to a place full of strangers with no hope.  I wish we could help our boys understand that this is not their fate, that they are safe in our arms and there is nothing to be afraid of when we go get them on Gotcha Day.  Your prayers for this day, that our boys will  feel comfort, have peace and no fear, are greatly appreciated.


We will fly back to Kiev around Dec. 19 and arrive the afternoon of the 20th and take the overnight train that night to The City arriving at 7:00am Dec. 21.  From what our facilitator is telling us, we will only be in The City for one day.  We will have a lot of running around to do this day with getting the court decree, birth certificates, tax ID's, closing bank accounts, getting passports for the boys and then the most important, Gotcha Day!


We'll then run catch the overnight train back up to Kiev for the US Embassy appointments Dec. 22 and 23 which entails medical exams for the boys and Visa processing.  We should fly out of Kiev and head back home early Dec. 24 and arrive in the US later in the afternoon of the 24th due to the time change.  What a wonderful Christmas present to have our boys home for Christmas!!!!!!

You are FREE!

Well, hello, our brand new sons!  Today is very special because it is the day you 'officially' became our sons!  You have actually been our sons in our hearts ever since we laid eyes on you but today it became official!  Today, you are part of a family....our family!


What does it mean to be part of our family:


It means you are FREE!


Free from being an orphan,
Free from your cribs, 
Free from the orphanage walls, 
Free from boredom, 
Free from hunger, 
Free from filth, 
Free from loneliness, 
Free from being too cold and not warmed, 
Free from being too hot and not cooled, 
Free from being wet and not dried,
Free from wearing the same clothes for months,
Free from eating the same food for years,
Free from cries and moans in the distance,
Free from fear of being transferred.
Free from death in the next crib,


It means you are FREE to:


Cry and be comforted,
Cry and be fed,
Cry and be changed,
Explore your world,
Play with toys,
Listen to music,
Try new foods,
Take a bath,
Walk barefoot outside,
Ride on horses,
Pet dogs and cats,
Learn to read,
Learn to write,
Learn about God,
Love and be loved.




Today, you have a family....forever! We love you Michael and Matthew! 


All our love,
Daddy, Mommy, Wesley, Kayla, Holly, Jason, Rachel and Justin

TWO LESS ORPHANS.....

Introducing: Michael Scott Hannon and Matthew Scott Hannon!

At 3:30pm Ukraine time two little orphans became two little Hannons. They also became sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, nephews, cousins, neighbors, friends....

Thank you all for your prayers! God is so wonderfully mighty! He flung open doors for this adoption to happen. And here we are with TWO LESS ORPHANS in this world!  Did you notice I said UKRAINE!   Yes, Matthew and Michael are orphans no more in Ukraine!   Now that we are legally their parents I can say where they are. 

Court was at 2:00pm Ukraine time and lasted about 45 minutes.  There were 9 people in the room: Jeff, Luda our facilitator, the judge, a prosecutor, a bailiff,a couple of jurors, the orphanage representative, and a reporter.  The judge and prosecutor asked many questions like: How big is your house?, How much money do you make?, Can you care for two more special needs orphans and why do you think you can?,  What does your wife do?.  

After the questions, Jeff was asked to wait in the hallway.  Luda stayed in the courtroom to wrap things up.  After a few minutes, she came out to the hallway and asked Jeff for the photo album we had put together of our family and place we live.  She took it back into the courtroom and showed all the people.  About 30 minutes later, Luda came out of the courtroom and congratulated Jeff and said they were done and that the boys were now ours!


Now begins the 10-day wait.  The court decree will be ready Dec. 21.  We will go back to The City our boys are in, to pick up the boys, get their new birth certificates, tax ID's,  passports and then travel back to Kiev to get their exit medicals and Visas.  We should be able to fly home Dec. 24 and be home for Christmas!!!


Thank you all for your continued prayers.   They have been felt and appreciated more than you could ever know!  To be a part of this process is such an honor and is very humbling to say the least.  I'll leave you with this verse,  John 4:18  "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you".   I pray you will let God use your hands and feet as His own.

We have a court date.....TOMORROW!

Our facilitator just called and said we will have court in 18 hours, Friday December 10, at 2:00pm the boys time or 6:00am our time!  

WOW!  Another answered prayer!  Thank you God!  Thank you prayer warriors for covering this in prayer.  Prayers that the judge will show favor and allow us to adopt Matthew and Michael are very much appreciated!

Traveling to the boys' City ~ day 5

Today was a VERY busy day for Jeff and the girls.  They woke up early, packed up their bags, cleaned the apartment, grabbed a bite to eat and then went and picked up a few things at the store since they are about to leave the Capital City.  They ran over to the SDA building to pick up the referral papers at 4:00pm their time.  At 7:00pm their time, they boarded an overnight train for a 12 hour trip to The City our boys are in.  Our facilitator, Luda, joined them on the trip and will help them once in The City.  I have had very little contact with them today since they are on the train but as soon as they get to The City, I will be able to Skype with them and tell you more about their adventures on the train.

~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just text Jeff and he said they are just now pulling into The City!  Woo, hoo!  They are there safely!!  The day will be full of paperwork.  They will go meet the boys in about two hours....TWO HOURS!  In two hours my husband and daughters will be holding our sons for the very first time!  In two hours, our sons will be holding their daddy and sisters for the very first time!  

All I have to say is, "Thank you Father for this day!"  What a miraculous day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Keep them in your prayers that they can rest on the train.  They will have a FULL day ahead of them when they get to The City.


They should get to meet the boys tomorrow sometime!!!!  Please be in prayer that the orphanage director agrees to allow the adoption to continue and that the boys are not too overwhelmed by all the new people.


Thank you all who are praying for our family!  Your prayers mean so much to us and are felt across the ocean...

SDA Appointment ~ Day 4

Bright and early this morning Jeff and the girls were met at the apartment by our facilitator, Serge.  He drove them over to the SDA building where they would get the formal invitation to adopt Matthew and Michael.  The whole meeting literally took less than 5 minutes.  They showed them the boys official files and talked a little about each child.  They showed them a picture of each child.  Sometimes they will exchange the picture they have for one that we bring but this would not be the case for us but that is okay.  We are very grateful for the pictures we do have. 

They met in the SDA building below:

And, this is a beautiful cathedral next door to the SDA building:

Jeff said the temperature there was -10 * C this morning and that translates to 14* F.  Very cold!  Jeff and the girls will pick up the SDA paperwork tomorrow at 4:00pm their time and go hop on an overnight train and go to the region our boys are in.  They will get to go to the orphanage and meet the boys Friday!!!  Oh what a day that will be!!!  To be able to love on and hold our children for the very first time.....priceless, miraculous!  

In Country ~ Day 3

Today Jeff and the girls slept in most of the morning to catch up on much needed rest and to overcome jet lag.  Here are a couple of pictures of their apartment.  It is very modern and WARM!

They then ventured out to explore the city a little in the afternoon.  It was a terrible cold day but they bundled up and went anyway.  Things are starting to become a little more familiar and not look quite so foreign.  The country our boys are from is quite different than the States to say the least!  What an amazing opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ and to witness by example to those they come across.


During the evening, they met up with quite a few RR families for dinner at an Italian restaurant near their apartment.  They even got to meet baby Kullen, ORPHAN NO MORE, who was the picture of baby perfection!!  Jeff and Rachel had pizza and Kayla had a pasta dish with meat sauce.  It all sounded so good.  I'm just thrilled they have American support in this country and the opportunity to meet up with other families who are all adopting as well.  Amazing!

 Tomorrow will be a busy day of meetings and busy work.  God has designed this adventure so we believe all will go well and according to His plan.  We should be able to Skype and get all the details of the SDA meeting.  Have I mentioned how much I love Skype!

In Country ~ Day 2

Jeff and the girls slept in today and got some much needed rest.  They ventured out during the afternoon and went to the underground mall and back to the grocery store.  The underground mall is VERY fancy with lots of stores that sale big-time name brand things.  It has been raining so they will look for an umbrella there next time they go, which is funny because Jeff and I had talked about packing one just the day before they left....but we didn't actually pack it.  Go figure!


For supper, they met up with some other RR families and had a GREAT visit at a local buffet.  It still amazes me that people working with the same organization can meet up half way around the world and share supper!  Only GOD can bring people together like that!

We Skyped again today two different times which has been so fun.  Our youngest son really likes talking to his daddy and the girls and getting to see them 'face to face'.  We all enjoy this so much.


Tuesday will be another day to venture out, rest and prepare to head to the SDA appointment on Wednesday.  The SDA is the adoption authorities who will officially extend the invitation for us to adopt Matthew and Michael.  Please pray that this appointment goes as planned with no surprises.


The weather in the country our boys are from is starting to turn very cold.  It was snowing early on today and that turned to freezing rain and then just rain.  The high today was 26*F with a low of  10*F.   And it is still FALL!  We packed lots of warm clothes and heavy coats for everyone so all is well.

They arrived in the country our boys are from ~ Day 1

Jeff and the girls arrived safely in the country our boys are from Sunday afternoon.  All of their luggage arrived as well.  They were met at the airport by their driver, Niko, and he took them to exchange money and to go buy some groceries at the store. Jeff and the girls were able to buy milk, bread, ham, mayo, water, butter, cheese, ice cream and something else.  I just cannot remember what.  Mind you, I packed them two duffle bags FULL of food so they will not starve!   The grocery store is just down the street within walking distance which is great because they will not have to hire Niko to drive them every time they want to go shopping.  These are the groceries they bought at the local store...notice some American brands?

Niko drove them over to their apartment and they got settled in for the evening.  We even got to Skype for a little while before they headed off to bed.  What a neat time we live in to be able to talk live with each other from halfway around the world!

It took a little over 25 hours from the time they left Lubbock to the time they arrived in the country our boys are from......nope, still cannot publicaly say exactly which country they are from until we officially adopt them., so you are going to hear that phrase a lot, sorry!  It was just getting dark when they landed and cold but no snow on the ground.  The high temp was 37* with a low of 28*.  Not too bad if it is not windy. The picture below is from their apartment balcony.

Kayla said their was an underground shopping mall right around the corner!  Very neat.  I'll report on this after they get a chance to venture out and explore that mall and hopefully have some pictures to add as soon as they send them to me.

Rachel was busy washing dishes and getting ready to eat and go to bed.  She said the flight was L-O-N-G but okay.   She was also enjoying her favorite snack....icecream!  Very neat that she was able to buy this there!!

They will have all day Monday and Tuesday to rest before jumping in with both feet and starting the adoption process from that side of the world.  Please keep them in your prayers as they move through this adventure during the next three weeks.

Jason was originally going to travel this first trip, but he started getting sick Thanksgiving Day and had a 102 fever.  We felt it best if he stayed home and he agreed.  He was very disappointed but thankful that Rachel got to travel in his place!  He is starting to feel a little better but is still under the weather.  Prayers for his health to be restored are welcomed!

And they're off...

Jeff and the girls are off to the country our boys are from.  They left this morning at 7:40am and will arrive in 'the country' 25 hours later at 8:20am our time or 4:20pm their time on Sunday, Nov 28th.  Watching them drive off from the house was a little harder than I expected.  We'll all be just fine, just have to keep the objective in mind....we are following a calling directed by God to bring two precious little boys into our lives!


We were in such a rush to get them out the door, that I did not take any pictures of them leaving.  Rachel took a picture of some of the stuff they were packing so I'll post that one since it is the ONLY picture we have of packing day.  Thank you, Rachel, for taking this!

This is a true journey of faith.  NO doubt God led us to this place in our lives.  We are forever grateful for that calling and for the strength and courage to follow.  This journey is not without risk but as we walk in faith, we will have no fear.  NO FEAR!  No fear of the distance between us, no fear of the unknown and no fear of 'The Vote'.


Speaking of 'The Vote'.  Please continue to ask for God's favor concerning this matter.  The country our boys are from has decided to possibly change the process they currently use for international adoptions.  This would actually be a GOOD thing for the kids and the adoptive families.  It would streamline the process and do away with many of the 'unknowns'.  The problem is the wording of the bill does not allow for ANY adoptions to continue while the bilateral agreement is being worked out.  This means ALL ADOPTIONS WILL CEASE if the wording is not changed and the bill is passed.  'The Vote' is scheduled sometime during the week of Dec. 14-17 and that happens to be the very week we attend court to formally adopt the boys.  We are moving forward with this adoption even with all the unknowns.  

Here are some of the verses we stand firm on during this time:

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

John 14:18
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.


Matthew 18:5
And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me (God)

Isiah 43:5-6
5) Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I will bring your children from the east

and gather you from the west.

6) I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers.  They are very, very much felt!!!

n anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming Me(God).Matthew 18:5

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving.  We actually celebrated on Monday because that was the day when all of us could get together.  We had a wonderful meal and lots of fun talking around the dinner table.  I am so thankful for Gods Grace, our family and the life God has blessed us with.  I'm thankful that this time next year we will have two more little blessings joining us at the dinner table!  We had a wonderful day, indeed!!!

Time for an update...so I've been told ;-)

My sweet sister informed me that I had not updated my blog in awhile.  How could that be??  I JUST wrote a post.   My sister was right.  I have not updated since the 16th.  Where has the week gone???  Thanks, Joann, for the gentle nudge to update!!


We have been going through all our paperwork making sure every 'I' was dotted and every 'T' was crossed.  We took about 20 documents to be notarized yesterday...thank you Douglas!  We *should* be finished with all the paperwork now!  It is amazing how much paperwork is involved with an international adoption. simply amazing.  But, oh, so worth it!   Yes, we would do it all over again....in a heart beat.


We have also been buying all the things needed to travel...clothes, luggage, toiletries, gifts, etc.  We have been making sure everything here on the home front is situated and taken care of.  Looks like we are almost ready to load up the carry-on's and sit everything by the door.


We received word today that "The Vote" is on the docket for the week of Dec. 14.  We did not get an exact date.  Please be in prayer that the wording in the bill will continue to allow the children to be adopted while the new bi-lateral agreement is being drafted.  

We received an update on Michael.....HE IS STARTING TO WALK!!  Enjoy the pic!  Way to go, Michael!  Mommy and daddy are so proud of you!!

So there you have it.  My weekly update. 

Flights are booked

Our flights are booked!  In 11 days, Jeff and two of our older children will board an airplane and go to the country our boys are from and in less than 24 hours from take-off, they will arrive.  (We are still not able to publicly say which country our boys are from, but we will be able to announce it to the world once we officially adopt them.)  In 17 days, Jeff will be holding our boys...17 days!  WOW!!!


We have much to do.  Thankfully, Jeff's last day at work is today and he will be taking all of his saved up vacation time for this adoption.  We are so blessed that he works for a company that will allow him to do this!!!  Thank you, God for this blessing!!

I'm off to plan, pack, make lists and lists of lists.....

Happy 2nd Birthday, Matthew

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Matthew,
Happy Birthday to you.


Today is your 2nd birthday.  It is your last birthday as an orphan.  You may not know it just yet, but you have a BIG family in Texas, USA, who loves you and cherishes you.  You are important.  You are loved.  You are wanted.   You are our son, brother, nephew, grandson, great-grandson, neighbor, friend, and child of the King!  


Ohhhh, when we get you home, how we will celebrate your 2nd birthday!  You are going to have cake and ice cream, presents, horse back rides, hugs and kisses galore!  This is your day, the day you were born, born to be ours before we even knew the miracle that is you.   We love you, Matthew!  Happy 2nd Birthday sweet boy!!!

WE HAVE OUR TRAVEL DATE!!!!!!!

I woke up this morning and checked my email first thing just like I have for the past three weeks.  This is what I found:


SDA Appointment: Dec. 1




Short and sweet.  Our SDA appointment is set for Dec. 1 at 9:00 am.  Jeff and two of our older children will leave this great nation Nov. 29 and travel for one full day and arrive in our boys country.  They will have the second day to acclimate and recover from traveling before attend the SDA (adoption authorities) appointment on Dec. 1 and receive the official referral to adopt Matthew and Michael.


Jeff should be HOLDING our boys Dec. 3rd.  That is 23 days from today.....23 days!!!  They will NEVER be alone again.  They will never not know the loving arms of their family.  They will never again have to wonder if they have been picked.  They will know.

23 days from now Matthew and Michael will meet their daddy, and their brother and sister.  They will learn that their fate will not be an institution, but instead a loving home filled with laughter, love, hugs and kisses.  They will learn what it is to be WANTED!  They will learn what it is to be LOVED!  They will learn what it is to be IMPORTANT!,  They will learn about JESUS!


There is lots of praising GOD in this house today!  He is so good!

ANOTHER vote.....PRAYER WARRIORS, we need you, AGAIN!

The country our boys are in has decided to, once again, take a vote concerning adoptions from their country. The date for the reading of the new adoption legislation and subsequent vote has been scheduled for November 24...from what I can gather *unofficially*.  If this vote passes and is signed by their President, all adoptions will cease during this transition.  There are 70 families from Reece's Rainbow in various stages of the adoption process who are adopting over 100 children who would be immediately affected.  ALL of these children have some kind of special need and many have urgent medical needs.  Our family is one of these families and we are so close to getting our boys out.

A moratorium would place these children in grave danger.  Please, join us in prayer that the vote will not pass!  If the vote passes and a moratorium is put in place, we pray that at least the adoptions that are in progress will be allowed to complete the adoption process and the children will receive the life-saving care they so desperately need.  Below is a statement released from the founder of Reece's Rainbow:

"IF they do indeed put a moratorium in place, we are advocating HARD with Congressional Leaders, the US State Dept, the US Embassy in (our boys country) and our facilitation teams on the ground there in  (our boys country) to make sure the voice of these children is heard, and that the parliament there understands the life-altering gravity of their decision to impose a closure, even for a short period of time. Even under the guise of improving the process or moving towards Hague compliance, this would be nothing short of a human rights violation, to prevent the adoption of those children with special needs."

Still waiting....

No SDA appointment date....yet!  It's coming.  Our paperwork has been at the SDA for 15 days and they are reviewing it.  Now, we wait for them to invite us to come to our boys country and meet with the SDA authorities and accept their official referral to adopt Michael and Matthew.  Waiting can be tough but we know God's timing is perfect!  So, here are some things we are doing while we wait for our travel date:

1. PRAY...A LOT!


2. Check email....A LOT!


3. Finish up paperwork that Jeff will hand carry to our boys country


4. Make lists of things we need to do


5. Make lists of the lists so we don't forget anything


6. PRAY some more


7. Check email...AGAIN!


8. Think about packing....have yet to actually pack...but I'm thinking about it


9. Read other people's blogs who have gone down this path ahead of us


10. PRAY

There you have it. That's what we do to pass the time...well some of the things.  Yes, we still do school, laundry, grocery shop, cook, clean, take care of the kids and animals, etc, but in the quiet moments at home when daily things settle down, these are the top 10 things we do to stay busy.

25 years and counting...

25 years ago today, I became Mrs. Debbie H.! I feel so blessed to have such a Christian, Godly husband and father to our children. 25 years! They have FLOWN by. God has blessed us with 6 beautiful children, soon to be 8, and I am sooooooooooo excited to see what He has in store for us these next 25 years, and the next, and the next and the next....


We had a nice lunch together, sharing a card and presents and then attended church in the evening.  Today was EXACTLY like it was 25 years ago; warm, breezy with clear blue skies. Today was a great day, indeed!

Happy Anniversary, Jeff!!!