we were determined to make christmas feel somewhat like christmas. despite the fact that we are miles from home and in a country that doesn't celebrate anything on december 25th and away from hazel & anders, we wanted a way to outwardly express what was going on in our hearts...the rejoicing of Emmanuel...God. with. us. so we decided to bring some christmas cheer to the caretakers & kids in lena's room.
we did a little shopping, which sounds easy enough but we had no idea what the caretakers would like or what the kids were allowed to have & we can't read anything in the store...but it was christmas, so we just went for it anyway
after the store, we walked to the orphanage. there are lights up on some of the buildings like this one for new years, it's the main holiday celebrated here
we walk by many buildings like this on the way to the orphanage...& i edited this picture to see it. the second walk of the day to visit lena is around 3:30 & it's getting dark & usually it's totally dark by time we get there at 4pm.
this little guy got a green dinosaur, we later saw it strapped to the stroller he sits in sometimes, so maybe he liked it:)
this beautiful gal got a small doll that says "little bug" on it...we don't think she can see but she felt it & her favorite part was definitely singing christmas carols! she always gets still & does what looks like a little dance when we sing.
tea, chocolates & cookies for the workers who were in the room on that day. we looked up "merry christmas" in russian & wrote it on a little piece of paper so maybe they would understand why we brought stuff on this particular day.
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lena is doing so good. as we wait on papers to get processed & pray fervently for a court hearing to happen this week, we continue to love our few hours a day with little lena louise. and of course, we take pictures:)
playing in her stander
this is the room where they sleep, but also where we spend most of our time ...the caretakers set up toys & a little mat for us to play with lena
she LOVES being walked around the room. she seems to just love the independence & being able to control somewhat where she goes. it's more of a march because i think she really likes the sound of her loud steps. we hold her ribcage & she steps from surface to surface & feels it & listens as she bangs it with her hand. it's so fun seeing her take in the world around her.
she seems fragile, but loves being thrown in the air or anything kinda roughhouse-like...just like her brother & sister:)
she is busy, busy & loves playing so this is rare, but happens more & more each day...
2 seconds after that last pic:)
i'm not gonna lie...i get weary. weary of waiting, so weary of being away from hazel & anders, weary of life so different than home. matt & i have been reading together in the mornings & today He lead us to this:
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
wait for the Lord; be strong & let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord" Psalm 27:13
so, yeah, i get weary. then, we walk out of this old hotel, down cracked sidewalks, past ukrainians in their fur hats & fancy boots, past the old man selling fish & the sewer smells & the bakeries & eventually into her room. when she hears our voices, she looks up & grins.
in that grin i see the "goodness of the Lord"& my heart takes courage...i walk to her, hold her hand, kiss her face, take her in & wait with her.
Yes - the waiting is hard. Keep on praying your way through it - before you know it, sweet Lena Louise will be HOME...right where she belongs!! Praying with you for a court date SOON!
ReplyDeleteSweet Ginny, thanks for the updates. I am praying like mad for y'all. And you know, thank God that he is using you guys to help fulfill that verse for Lena, too. What a blessing. And am I crazy, or do I sometimes think she looks like you guys?
ReplyDeleteso glad to hear from you again. Carey stole my comment...I think Lena is beginning to look like ya'll too. I'm not kidding! Also, Aunt Renee and I were wondering if you knew that her middle name is shared with her Mamarite who was Marguerite Marie Louise? Just wondering. Hang in there. Every day brings you closer to home and the reward of obedience to the one who loves her the most. i love you!
ReplyDeleteJust following along from Arkansas...we have also adopted a little girl off of Reece's Rainbow. Was excited to see another Arkansas family. Have been on many of your websites and read the story of your little one. Our little girl has been home for 3 months....she has Ds and we already had our biological daughter with Ds....we also have 2 other children (they do not have any special needs)....so that makes 4!!!!! It is weary traveling...I can relate...it is just plain H.A.R.D. But...it is so worth it....you will have your Lena Louise home and she will blossom....I am amazed at how well our little one has adjusted. I am so thankful to God for allowing us to bring her into our family.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, we are in southwest Arkansas. De Queen to be exact...but we both went to the U of A....I have also been to the therapy center that you all are involved with...W.O.W. I would LOVE to have my girls go there...we struggle finding good therapy where we live....done rambling.
Stephanie Lynch
www.openedeyesadoption.blogspot.com
hey ginny, i'm sarah's sister {h family in indiana}...just wanted to let you know we've been praying for your family, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Ginny! Thank you for sharing the pictures and your feelings. As we are heading down the same path as you two are (just several steps behind!) we are watching and praying for your family.
ReplyDeleteReading Psalm 27:13 in your post brought tears to my eyes. I remember that feeling that you are going through, like it was yesterday. My mom and I were on our third trip to Russia to pick up my daughter when we found ourselves "stranded" in Russia with no date in sight of leaving there with her. We had applied for her passport and after two weeks we were still being told that they could not give us a date when her pp would arrive. I panicked and then I began praying harder as I longed to be home with my other 3 children. It was a tough place to be but that verse also helped me to realize that this was all temporary and well worth the wait. While I felt that I needed to be home to mother my other children, God reminded me that I had another daughter (in Russia) that needed me more than ever! Keep looking to God's word for comfort in this trying time and before you know it, this will all be just a distant memory :) God bless you!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you were in the same room as Anastaisa on RR. She touches my heart and I pray for her everyday for a family to come for her. I was wondering if you had anymore information on her or an updated picture. I would love any update you could possibly get. Thank you. Beth beth(dot)morrison@live.com
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post. We're also adopting from RR "Marissa" and I have to say little Lena was in my heart from the get go. Her little face just says so much. I love seeing her "march" around the room. Our little lady has spina bifida and can't yet walk but they say she too loves to be "walked" around the room. I just can't wait to see how these little girls blossom. I love what you said about waiting with her. It is so true. That is all they do there and I'd give anything to wait with my little gal. She's beautiful, love the pictures. All the best.
ReplyDeleteGretchen