Days 2 and 3

Yum!

Yesterday, before our visit, we had an adventure! We went to Cinabon and the Mall. We were having so much fun eating our cinamon rolls,(the only resemblance of home) until the giagantic bees came! No lie, Russia has HUGE bees! So in true Boyd form, we ran! We then went to the "mall"... Let's just say, it's no Barton Creek! Didn't stay long because it was so HOT and we were feeling yuck (a constant on this trip, we think it's the lack of food).

The view driving into Sosnovoborsk.


Later we took our hour car ride to Sosnovoborsk. Let me explain about the driving and roads here. For those of you who have driven on City Park Road, think of that, but covered in potholes riding in a car with no shocks, driving about 70, multiply that by 100 and add dodging cars coming from all sides! It's almost comical! It is a death-defying journey and Scott should never complain about my driving or honking the horn again. They use the horn here like a blinker! Scott and I die laughing and our driver, Serge and facilitator, Yelena, don't even crack a smile because it's so normal to them! We love them though!


Our day at the orphanage yesterday was awesome, to say the least! We had the whole room to ourselves for the majority of the time. We were able to feed her her snack and watch her chug a teacup of milk. Seriously, chug! She grabbed it from me and started slurping like a cow until it was all gone! She is a good eater too! Her snack, I thought was cinamon oatmeal, was microwaved cottage cheese. It did NOT look like the cottage cheese I am used to. But, she gobbled it all up!

She was happy and playful the enitre time. And boy, she is one tough cookie! She took tumbles and falls and never made a peep. We thought it was probably because she's learned that crying doesn't get her attention. I grabbed her up though, like a typical mother and cared for her boo boos!

Last night was uneventful here, pretty much like every other night we've had. We cook our pasta and I found canned corn. That's about as adventurous as we get! We watched about the 10th movie. Thank goodness we are in the apartment though. They have an American DVD player! Yippee!!

This morning, Serge, picked us up at 9:00 and was sporting a TEXAS sweatshirt! We LOVED it! Made us feel right at home. Although, later today we notice Texas was spelled, "Taxes" on one of our forms and we had to redo it. We joked at Serge that he should have just looked down on his shirt. It got a good laugh.


View of the room in orphanage. Baby home #5

Today we shared the visiting room with a French couple and a Spanish couple. Scott and I were so elated that we finally found someone who we could understand...Spanish! His specialty!



THE BOW!!

M's caregivers decided to "doll" her up today and tied an enourmous yellow bow on the top of her head! Holy cow, it was funny! It's bigger than her head! She kept tugging at it but it NEVER came out. I think it was weaved into her scalp. Poor thing!

M acted a little tired today but she was still the light of the room! That girl is the cutest thing EVER! She is such a little flirt too! She has this nose crinkle thing that she does when she's wanting you to play with her. It's precious. She melts my heart every time I look at her! She is so happy and is such a busy body. She's intereted in everything and allows you to grab her up to cuddle too. She has the sweetest smell...like a baby! I can still smell it on my shirt. I am tempted to not wash this shirt untl I come back so I can have a little piece of her.

After we left the orphanage, we went to the notary and officially signed and notarized our petition to court and power of attorney.

Leaving her today was a little difficult, but we were also so happy because we were told we might get an October 4th court date! We had every paper ready (thanks to my obsessiveness) and it has already started the process. Yelena is petitioning court next Wednesday. She will know for sure then, but they are pretty positive we will be back in a month! Yay!

God has been so good to us on this trip and He has shined His face on this little princess! She just glows! His radiance is so evident throughout this whole process. We are faithfull that He will continue to be faithful through the rest of this process.

Please keep us in your prayers. We leave to come home tomorrow (Thursday morning). Pray for safe travels and smoothe plane rides! Please pray that our M stays well and that she knows she is loved! We know that she is in good hands. The orphanage's hands, and the hands of her Father in heaven!!!

Here's a few pics of our trip!


Outside of the orphanage.


Our apartment. We are on the 9th floor!


The stairs leading up to the elevator at our apartment.


Playground outside of our apartment.


Downtown Krasnoyarsk

We Meet At Last!

Be still, my beating heart! Oh my goodness, we met an angel today!

After our MOE appointment, which went really well, we ventured to the orphanage which is an hour away. The drive was beautiful. Once we were outside of Krasnoyarsk, we drove through beautiful countryside with rolling green hills. We passed through a few small towns and eventually came to Sosnovoborsk. The buildings were all run down and I have to admit I was a bit terrified to get out of the car! The driveway to this orphanage was down an alley. But once we stepped inside we were pleasantly surprised! It was really clean and it looked like it had been redone a little bit.



The view on the way to the orphanage.


Once we walked inside, they made us put booties on our shoes. Of course with my heals, I tore a hole in mine within the first few steps. Not sure why they do that because once you get into the "meeting room" you can go barefoot!

We were then led to the orphanage director's office. We were told by our translator that last year the director, Galina, won an award for running one of the nicest orphanages in Russia! Impressive! She was a very nice woman who asked what everyone else had been asking us, "why do we want to adopt if we already have 3 boys?" It's hard to answer those questions because were aren't supposed to talk about God. So we wing it and it gets a big smile and a "da, da." I guess she's happy with our answer!

We were then led to the "meeting room". We aren't allowed any where else in the orphanage yet. The room was a very large (HOT) room with really great toys! It almost looked like Gymboree! I was so surprised!

We were caught off guard and not ready with all the cameras when this little, I mean little, sweet peanut was carried into the room. We didn't know she was coming yet! The caregiver dropped her off in the middle of the room and took off. We didn't know if M was about to cry but she turned around and walked out the door! It was adorable. I chased after he and picked her up, fully expecting her to scream and arch her back like a normal baby would but she just looked up at me and stayed so still and calm while we fussed over her. Ah, words can't express how I felt! I think I had a few tears, but mainly I was so overjoyed that during the entire 2 hours, we never heard her cry or even act like we were strangers. She is PRECIOUS!!!! Hair and skin as white as snow with rosy red lips! Oh, and she has the most adorable teeth!!! Really, adorable!

She followed Scott all around the room. When he went out the door to wash his hands she looked all over for him. At one point, she ran up and hugged his leg! Her favorite thing to do was mimic us and slide! She would get you to try to copy what she did and when you stopped, she would put her hand on yours and get you to do it again. I think she went down the slide 100 times...and out came the laugh! Her giggle is infectious! Did I mention the dimple she has in her left cheek! Oh my goodnes, we are in trouble!



Look at her little feet!!

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day and ALL of our expectations were met...and then some! I just have one thing to say. THANK YOU, GOD!!!!

We can't show her picture because she isn't legally ours, but today the official court process began (so they said)!

Thank you for all your prayers. We were definitley feeling them!

In front of the orphanage.

Day 1 (well, techinically day 2)

We arrived in Krasnoyarsk yesterday morning about 7:00 am local time. Our flight was, to say the least, HORRIBLE! I've never been so cramped into on space in my life! The aroma of B.O. was enough to make me want to jump our the window! People say I have a very sensitive sense of smell...and I do, which at times like this doesn't benefit me AT ALL!


Scott and me on the plane ride!


Aside from the plane ride, we are trying to get comfortable here in the apartment! From the outside, it looks like a typical run down old communist-era apartment! On the inside it is VERY nice. Scott's pretty impressed with the tile work! Of course, only man I know to notice the tile everywhere we go!




We ventured out yesterday after our 6 hour nap, to Subway! Yay, I thought, something of home! NNNNOOOO!! Scott and I took one bite of our sandwich and began to gag...literally! That was NOT mustard, and I don't think that was ham either! So we ventured over to the "grocery store" and got lost. Luckily, and I think God had a BIG part in this, we received a call from our driver asking us where we were. They just happened to be around the corner (whew!). They led us to the grocery store and helped us pick out a few things. Honestly, I am not sure how people here aren't sick all the time! Everything was either expired, or about to be! We bought some cereal, chips, pasta and bread. Even the pasta tastes different here! It's crazy!

So after that we came back and watched some movies and cooked our "dinner" and tried to sleep! I think Scott slept well. I had a hard time sleeping! I kept thinking about our kids at home and the one we are about to meet!

We leave here at 10:15 this morning to go to the Ministry of Education and formally ask to see M. You can be praying for us then too since we have to answer some questions. Hope we don't offend anyone with any humor we might throw in! (The Russians are very serious people). After that we will drive an hour to the orphanage and meet her! Finally, the moment we have been waiting for for so long is almost here!

Don't get me wrong, I am so happy this day has finally come and that we are about to meet our daughter. We've prayed for this day for a long time. This is what we WANT to do and what we are CALLED to do. To , "care for the orphans...in their distress. " James 1:27. I believe that God has His hand in all of this and when we first got here, I will admit, I had doubts. I doubted God that this is what we were supposed to do! It was such a horrible feeling! I know WHO was putting this in my head! Satan does NOT want us here and does NOT want to see another child go into a loving Christian home! I had my tears and my melt down (and I'm not saying there won't be more) and I think that at times like that it draws you closer to God. I'm asking him to hold us in His arms extra tight today and the rest of our journey. I'm asking him to hold our boys extra tight as well. After skyping them last night and seeing Brady cry when we got off the phone just killed me! I had his sweet face in my head all night. I have never ached more for my boys than I do now! I can take that two ways. 1. That this is the wrong thing to do and that being away from my boys is horrible. Or 2. That God has given us the best family and that we should be honored to have Him loan us such wonderful boys that we DO miss them like crazy and this family is only going to get bigger!

I choose #2!

Please keep us in your prayers. I might blog again later today since there is NOTHING to do here in the rain!


View of Kras on our way in!


Love to all of you!

One More Day!

Attention: PRAYERS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED!!!

The packing is almost done, the kids are almost squared away for next week, the groceries have been bought, the "to-do" list for the grandparents has been typed, the toys have been bought, photo album made, hose have been bought (yes, I have to wear hose...haven't done that in like 10 years), cameras have been charged, fans are fully stocked with batteries (yes, we NEED fans to sleep), every imaginable "travel" trinket is stored in it's rightful spot in our carry on...and here come the tears!

If you don't know my husband and I very well, then you don't know how TERRIFIED airplane travelers we are! To the point of having to fully stock up on Xanax and Dramamine! The nerves have finally settled in the pit of my stomach and tonight I received a sweet email at the most perfect time!

Scott left for work this morning at 3 am because he said his mind was going 90 miles a minute. Then when he arrived at 7 this evening, he felt sick and had to go to bed! So naturally, after I put this kids to bed, I began to cry because I DO NOT function well without Bud! I went to my computer to finish downloading 4 years of photos off our computer (I know, why did I choose now to do this?) An email popped up and it read, "Praying for and loving you and Scott. Just remember, Jesus is walking with you every step of the way. I love the OT references where it talks about God going before us, as well as coming in behind us, and hemming us in! What a picture of His tender care of us. All will be well….live in the moment – remember it all to tell your sweet daughter one day! We are eagerly waiting on this end for you to come home and tell us all about it! "

How did she know I needed that! Instead of freaking out about what shoes to wear when it is raining EVERYDAY we are there and every other worry that is going through my brain! I needed to, "be still, and know that He is God." I have posted this verse before, but lately I have been going nonstop and have forgotten to be still and just listen to what God is telling me!

I'm listening, God!!!!

So, with all that said, we would COVET your prayers right now! We need to be showered with God's crazy peace that only He can give. Please pray for Scott! He is so worried about work and how things will operate while he is away! I know it's in good hands, but when you have a husband that is a bit of a work horse, it leaves doubts in his head. Pray for that little head:)

Also, please pray for our kids and our parents who are caring for them while we are gone. I know everything will be fine, but pray they all stay healthy and there will be no tears from our kids for Mommy and Daddy during the week! That goes for our parents too!

Our plane leaves at 6:45 am Friday morning. We will fly to Atlanta and have a 5 hour layover before we get on a 10 1/2 hour plane ride to Moscow. Once in Moscow, we have a 10 hour layover so we have taken the advice of many other Russian adoptive parents and gotten a hotel room to rest and shower up before our "over night" flight to Krasnoyarsk. Our plane that night (Saturday night, Moscow time) at 9:45 departs for a 4 1/2 hour flight. Since it is a 4 hour time difference, we arrive in Krasnoyarsk Sunday morning at 7:00 am. Yeah, can you say NO sleep!!

Once in Kras, we will have all day Sunday to get our bearings together before we go to the Ministry of Education Monday and hopefully off to see our little princess!

I'm sure I'll blog more once we land in Moscow. I'm hoping to blog all good things!

Oh, and be in prayer for Hurricane Irene to sssllloooowwww down! I'd hate to get delayed in Atlanta!!

Travel Itinerary

The day after we recieved our referral we were able to talk with the international pediatric specialist, Dr. David Douglas (who ROCKS!!!!), and discuss little M's case. No surprises there, and we officially sent in our acceptance letter THE MINUTE we were done!

A few minutes after Scott emailed our FC she sent him back an email with our travel itinerary! WHAT??? Yes, you are reading that correctly! Usually they need to have received our forms in the mail before they go about making travel plans. Evidently our FC received the travel itinerary WITH the referral! I don't know if they just felt that good about little M and our willingness to take whatever God gives us or what? But you can definitely see God quick at work in the life of this little bundle of sweetness. I just want to eat her up! I haven't even seen her in person yet! Oh, boy, I'm in trouble!

So, I just thought I was swimming in paperwork and forms before now, but I think Scott and I did about a total 3 hours of reading it all to get us up to speed with what happens next. I haven't really cried (expect when the Dr. prayed with us over the phone), but I think I cried about 3 times times that day. Talk about overwhelming! Whew! So we hit the ground running and are starting to prepare for Trip 1!

Trip 1 is just a trip (like a hop, skip and a jump -ha!), to go to the Ministry of Education in Kras and answer their questions on why we are adopting and so on. Then we get to go see M, love on her a few days, and head back and wait for a court date. Since we have most of our forms done, our FC thinks that we might get a court date faster than usual. However, faster doesn't mean we'll have her with within the month. Usually it takes about 2. We are praying it takes less! I'm praying that all the papers I have ready for them when we get there will push us along faster...well, at least that's my plan:)

So, this is what I received:
Itinerary:
8/26 - Leave U.S. for Moscow
8/27 - Arrive in Moscow and take overnight flight to Krasnoyarsk
8/28 - Arrive in Krasnoyarsk
8/29 - MOE Appointment
8/29-8/31 - Visit orphanage
9/1 - Leave Krasnoyarsk for Moscow
9/1 OR 2 - Leave Moscow for U.S.

You might wonder why I would even bother telling you this but I have 2 reasons.
1. So you can pray for us every step of this trip!
2. To keep those of you who DO care about details up to date...uh, hum, family...that would be you! Love u!!!

I finished ALL (well almost all-we have to wait to have our physicals done in between trips) of our paper work, again, and had them notarized and apostilled and sent to our agency on Thursday. It was such a great feeling having that lifted off my shoulders. I think I became a little bit of a crazy person the last 2 weeks! Sorry!

I'll update more I'm sure between here and then, but just keep us in your prayers and that we can get done what needs to be done before we leave. The good thing about these date are at least I WON'T miss the boys first day of school. I love those days!!!

Love you all!!!