Here with Zack

Hi everyone,

We are here with our soon-to-be son!  We arrived here in Cheboksary this morning and were reunited with Zack about an hour later.  As he walked in the flat where we are staying, he had a huge smile on his face and gave us hugs right away...what a relief it was for him initiate the hugging.  After that, it was instant bonding.  We looked at pictures with him and helped him remember the time he was here (he did not need reminding!)  He told Luda (the woman who's home we are at) that he remembered our family and that he wanted to live with us!

After a day of having fun, Dan and I met with the translators who will be with us at court tomorrow as well as his orphanage director.  Everyone is so very nice and it is clear that they have everyone's best interest at heart.  Hope, the orphanage director, told us that Zack has had a specific teacher since 2004 and this teacher wanted to adopt him, but he told her "No" and explained that he wanted to be in our family!  That was great for us to hear! 

We skyped with the kids today and I'm not sure who was more excited...them or Zack!  There were lots of smiles :)

Tomorrow is our court hearing at 9:00 am.  (That will be 1:00 am for all you Michiganders).  We ask that you pray for us as we are trying to prepare what needs to be said.  Please pray for clarity of mind, good rest and that the judge will go easy on us.  We know that God is in control and that His will will be done.

For some reason I can't get all our pivtures to load, so we'll try again later...
Patti

Last post

OK, so I lied before...this will be the last post.  We are here at the hostel waiting for our driver to take us to the train station for our overnight ride to the region.  We will be reunited with Zack tomorrow and we are so excited!  Please pray that all goes well.

Today we walked to Arbat Street again and continues all the way to Red Square.  I'm guessing we walked 10 miles today!  Maybe not quite 10, but it was a lot!  We were getting lost on our way back from Red Square...we ended up walking back to Red Square because we were lost!  It was quite funny!  We eventually made it back.  We took lots of pictures, but can't share any of them right now because the hostel computer is too old to do that, so we will keep posting when we get back home.

Moscow Medicals...DONE

Dan here...

Well, we have a clean bill of health (as far as 2 countries are concerned). After chest X-Rays, blood work and full physicals in the US, we now also have the stamp of approval from 8 Russian doctors (all women...interesting). It consisted of 4 hours of mostly waiting and a little of answering questions about why we are adopting (odd for a "physical")...interestingly enough, the psychologist did not ask us barely anything after we watched her grill a few other couples quite intensly (no H.I.P.P.A. laws here, we sat in the same room as 5 other couples (each with their own translator by the way) and listened to their questioning as well).

A bunch of US cash later and some "pretending" by some doctors to look over our paperwork...bingo, a clean bill of health!

We had some delicious dry toast this morning for breakfast (actually very good bread) with some cheese and yogurt (also really good), a lunch of a granola bar for Dan and nothing for Patti while we waited for doctors. But tonight we splurged on a wonderful meal at "MY-MY" (pronounced Moo-Moo), a buffet style restaurant (thing Mr. Burger) with authentic Russian food ("Like at home" we were told). Been walking everywhere (except the trip to medicals), feet are getting a workout but the nice thing about the hostel is that we are within a brisk walk to food, entertainment (street performers) and as much people watching as you can handle (if you don't mind them watching you just as much)...we are certainly not "fitting in".

Gotta Love This! We were walking out of a small food store (after watching a Babooshka looking woman actually physically throw 4 teenage boys out), we were asked by two African women (actually from Africa) where they could find somewhere to eat. We, two non-Russian speaking Americans, politely gave them, two non-Russian speaking Africans, directions to McDonalds of all places!


Tomorrow we plan on visiting Red Square where some of the famous landmarks are.  After that, we will be leaving for the orphanage to see Zack once again!  Please pray that all goes well with the train ride as well as seeing him again and then court.  At our medicals, we did meet a few couples from the States that are also adopting, one couple will even be going to the same courthouse we will be going to!  It was refreshing to speak English with another couple! 

This is most likely going to be our last post until we get back.  Our laptop ran out of battery power and our outlet coverter thing (This is Patti typing now) is broken.  We have been using the computer at the hostel for now, and depending on what there is in Cheboksary, we will have no way to communicate until we get back.  We are pretty bummed that we won't be able to Skype with the kids anymore :(

WE MADE IT!

Dan here...typing on an "authentic" Russian computer. (an "acer" actually, but part of the keypad is in Russian anyway).

PRAISE THE LORD AND GLORY BE HIS NAME!

We are thankful for an uneventful trip (nearly 24 hours from doorstep to harrowing ride to the Hostel from the airport). I would like to send a shoutout to all those "large" sized people who have had to cram themselves into a seat on a plane that has the room for an "average" sized 5 year old.

We made it safe and sound and after a BIG night of sleep and are feeling well rested after crashing for 14 hours straight in our "IKEA" furnished room. We are staying in the Moscow Home Hostel (http://www.moshostel.com/) and have the "Luxury" room...good thing it is SUPER cheap because it is SUPER small. We have the only room with a private bathroom and by bathroom we mean a closet that has a tiny shower and toilet crammed inside. You actually have to crawl over the tank of the toilet to get in the shower...good thing I am so small and practially a gymnast. I can touch wall to wall and with our 3 checked bags plus two carry-ons...let's just say there is barely any room left. This is TRULY an ADVENTURE.

We took a walk last night toward downtown Moscow and ate at McDonalds for supper after some "lovely" food from the airlines. Patti had a Coke Light and I had a regular Coke...oddly enough they tasted the same. I have a new appreciation for the picture menus that McDonalds has!

This afternoon we walked down Arbat Street and turned back after getting to the "Inner Circle" (a street which runs around the inside of Moscow and has TONS of traffic. It was fun to walk in a different country with a completely different culture...needless to say, we stuck out like the tourists we are :)

Our plug adapter is not working, but thankfully we are able to use one of the two computers at the hostel. The people here are very friendly (odd for a place called a "hostel"...ha, ha, ha).

WE CONTINUE TO FEEL YOUR PRAYERS AND APPRECIATE THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM YOU ALL.

"Be anxious for nothing..."

Well, the time is quickly approaching for our departure.  Like any other person, I have so many concerns (or let's face it...worries).  We know that so many are praying for us and will continue to pray for us as we travel.  We are so thankful for the guidance God has provided for us and for the support that has surrounded us.  The Bible is full of promises from God...one of those promises keeps coming to me:

⁴ "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:4-7

There are so many things that I am anxious about (even though I should not be anxious for anything!)....Please join us in praying for some specific requests:

1.  Our safety.  I (Patti) am unsure about flying and traveling in a foreign country.
2.  Our kids that will be left here...that we may all have a peace even though we will be apart.
3.  Zack...we pray that the Lord will prepare him for the changes that will be coming and that bonds will be re-ignited quickly.
4.  The judge that we must 'deal' with.  We have been told that he is the most difficult judge, please pray that he will be 'easy' on us.
5.  All those involved in this adoption...social workers, translators, adoption officials.

Now that we have shared our petitions, we cannot forget God's faithfulness and thank Him for that:

1.  We are thankful that the funding has been provided.
2.  God's provision for not only finances, but the peace He has given us through this process.
3.  Support from family and friends.

Most importantly...we pray that His name will be glorified in all we do.

Thank you all for all your words of support and encouragement, and most of all...lifting us up before our Father in prayer.

Dan and Patti

Tonight's The Night

Tonight is a big night.  We have our pizza party fundraiser as a final fundraiser before we leave for Russia.  We are in need of about $9000 still.  We know that is a lot, but we also know that God is in control.  It has really been amazing to see God’s people work together for this purpose.  When we started this journey, we were told that the cost would be right around $50,000.  We choked.  We felt the Lord leading us down this road, but knew we didn’t have the money, even after selling everything we could.  We started with fundraisers and the money started coming in.  Each time we had to send in a ‘chunk’ of money, we had just enough.  It has been just awesome to be a part of…(I say ‘awesome’ because we are in awe of God’s provision and evident hand). 

When I think of the amount we must raise, I find myself in a panic.  The verse that always comes to my mind is Ephesians 3:20-21:

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I have been finding so much comfort and encouragement from the Bible lately.  It feels as though the words were written just for me.  I just love when a passage will bring me to tears, because they are tears of surrender and relief and joy (that deep down overwhelming joy).  God has been showing Himself to me/us in so many ways through this adoption that we know without a doubt that this is His will and that He will provide.

Our fundraiser is from 5-8pm, March 25.  It is being held at:

Bethel URC

2025 Baldwin Street

Jenison, MI 49428

Anyone is welcome

Preparing and Packing

We are starting to get our things ready.  I have a box in our spare room (for now) that I toss things into as I think of them.  I'm so nervous that I'm going to forget something!  We have to bring so many things that are required.  We have to take a suitcase full of things for the orphanage to leave.  Things we need to bring include:  School supplies (paper, pens/pencils, crayons, markers, coloring books, etc), and hygeine items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, medicine, band-aids and such.  We were wondering if anybody has anything that can be spared.  Do you have extra things in your cupboards that you could donate?  We would really appreciate if you could also help us out in this way since it is costly to fill a suitcase with those things, versus everyone sparing a tube or two of toothpaste.  If you are able to help us out, I can meet up with you at some point, or you could bring it to our fundraiser on Friday night.  Thank you so much for all your help, donations and prayers!
Dan & Patti

Court Date!!!

Dear family and friends,

It is with great joy and excitement that we write this letter…we have been assigned a court date in Russia!  Our date is April 7, 2011!!!! 

Many of you are wondering (as we were when we heard) what this means. This means that we need to appear in the Russian court and make the case/request for Zack to be our son.  Lord willing, we will leave for Russia on Friday, April 1.  This will give us a few days to do the things we will need to do in Moscow, and then leave on a twelve hour overnight train ride for the region of Chuvashia on Tuesday night.  We will arrive in Cheboksary (the capital of the Chuvash Region) on Wednesday morning, and go to the orphanage (roughly an hour drive) to go get Zack.  We will stay in Cheboksary Wednesday night and prepare for our court session on Thursday.  Court has been known to possibly be two days long.  We particularly ask for your prayers that the Lord would soften the heart of the judge as he has been intensely difficult to deal with these last few months. We do know that we will be leaving again for Moscow either Thursday or Friday night to make our flight on Saturday, the 9^th.  Approximately 2 weeks later, Dan will return to Russia to get Zack and take him home.  Russia has a waiting period after the court date, while the child’s visa is applied for.  Dates on this trip are not yet set, so we’ll keep you all posted.

In our haste to make arrangements for travel and adoption, we spoke with our adoption official, and she informed us that costs have gone up, and the value of the American dollar has gone down, making the exchange rate unfavorable.  Therefore, we are in desperate need of more funds than we originally thought.  We are in need of $10,000.  We will be having a last-minute fundraiser at Bethel URC in Jenison.  We will be having a pizza party open house from 5-8 on Friday, March 25. 

We thank you all for your support...it has meant so much to us.  We know that MANY people have given money, time, help and most importantly…prayers.  We know that this is our Father’s will and He will provide, as we have seen His hand time and time again.

GLORY BE TO GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WHO HAS LOVINGLY ADOPTED US AS HIS CHILDREN AND HEIRS TO HIS KINGDOM!

Blessed Fully

As I enter into this new world of blogs, I think about what that first post should be.  Should it be something clever and cute-sy?  Should it be serious?  Should it be funny?  I'm really not sure, so I decide to just write what's on my heart.

In thinking for a name for this blog, I wanted to somehow say just how blessed I am, which is how I came up with the name Blessed Fully.  God has been so good to me by providing me with a strong godly husband, Dan.  He is a perfect fit for me.  I tend to get a little emotional at times and he always brings me back to where I need to be.  God has also blessed us with three precious children.  Jenna is our oldest.  She is 5 years old and loves to be with me, watching me and helping me.  She is so excited to be learning how to write her letters and numbers, and can't wait for school next year.  She likes to play with her toys and siblings, as well as tell them what to do.  Next is Jackson.  He goes by Jack, because any time 'Jackson' is used, things aren't good for him (if you know what I mean). :)  Jack is 4 and loves to be like his daddy in every way.  He loves to be with his daddy at work or riding in the truck with him.  He also loves to play with his trucks and cars.  He lines them up and then hooks them up.  He'll drive them around that way on the floor.  Lately, he has a fascination with keys and locks.  He adores his sisters as well and will make a very good catch some day!  He holds doors for us ladies, "Because I'm a Vannette and that's what Vannette boys do,"  He'll say.  Our baby is Kate.  She is 2 years old and a little tiny thing.  What she lacks in size, she makes up for in spunk!  She is so much fun and loves to be silly.  Her favorite thing is to sit at the counter and watch me in the kitchen.  She is learning how to talk slowly, but she expresses herself in other ways!  Jenna and Jack pretty much do all the talking for her!

In the summer of 2008, when I was pregnant with Kate, we were introduced to a boy named Evgeny.  He was a 10 year old orphan.  He was here on a trip to find a family.  Dan and I prayed before he came that if we were the ones God wanted to parent this boy, that He would make it clear.  He made it perfectly clear.  Since that summer, we have been working towards making Evgeny a part of our family.  God has blessed us with wisdom and support from family and friends.  He has also blessed us with the finances for this adoption.  We have fundraised most of the money, and could never have done it without the faithfulness of our Father.

In addition to have the blessing of family, we are also blessed with steady work for Dan.  That is something we do not take for granted.  We also have a warm house, vehicles, a loving church family, great friends, abundance of food and clothes, freedom.  I could go on and on and on, but I think you get the idea...we are blessed fully.

To God be the glory!