This adventure is over.

I'll admit, I went to check on Maxim several times before I went to bed Friday night... just because I still could not believe he was there sleeping in his crib! 

After a few hours sleep, I was up again with a heavy heart knowing that in a couple hours, I would have to say my goodbyes.

Good morning, Mr. Max!

Good morning Ralphie and Ruby Jean!

Last snuggles with Maxim... minutes before goodbyes. :(

Then I had to say goodbye. I knew it would be tough. I did held it together until I got to Chipper and Stephanie, and again with James later at the airport. I blame them for getting emotional on me. ;) Then I cried most of the first flight. At least I wasn't sitting next to anyone!

You can't spend 7 weeks pouring yourself into a family, living with them, getting to know them, laughing with them, crying with them, caring for them, loving on them... and then leave without leaving a huge piece of your heart there.

I have been gone a day and a half. And they are constantly on my mind. I miss them so much it hurts. It just plain old stinks having your heart where you can't be!

But I'm back with my family, and it feels soo good to be home. My chunky monkey, Jonathan, wasn't scared of me like he was the last two times I've come home!

He was slightly wound up and wouldn't stop smiling at me. :) Melted my heart. Rachel, my 3 yo sister said "Sarah, I soo happy you are home!!" and tonight during devotions when we were going around praying she said "Please help Sarah feel better!". Love that sweet girl!

After sleeping a solid 10-11 hours last night, I came home from church and took a 3.5 hr nap this afternoon. ;) Still dealing with sickness, mainly severe headaches, but it's much easier to rest and get better without having to worry about anything or anyone. Stephanie did say that if I needed counseling or something for PTSD, they would take care of it. LOL


It's over. I'm home. Stephanie and Maxim are home. The Nance family is all together again. There is one less orphan, and one little boy whose not all alone in an institution tonight. Mission complete.

This adventure is over. Signing off on the chapter about this journey, and going to go sleep and miss my Kansas family some more. Goodnight!

Maxim is HOME!

Maxim is home. Thank you Jesus!!!

On the way to the airport!

Is that her plane?

Soo excited!

Waiting for them... Thomas, Rose, Jordan, Leroy, and Grandma with Ruby in front.

Is that them??

There they are!!

Daddy meeting Max!

Safe in Daddy's arms.

Ruby meeting Max! She was soo excited!

Meeting Grandma!

Max and Rose

Meeting Chipper! (he stayed home with the other 3 boys)

Love this picture!

Ralph and Max!

Love this picture!! Ralph and Ruby are in love with their new brother! Theo and Zhen were like ya whatever... :)

Max and Leroy

Kisses with Grandma - he already knows how to turn and give his other cheek for a kiss. :)

Max and Zhenya! I told Zhen to smile...

Max and I :) 

The 7 long weeks (total) I've spent here caring for his siblings so his mama could bring him home... it all melted away tonight holding him in my arms. He was soo worth it.

He wasn't digging the pictures... sweet boy was soo tired and ready for bed.

As my dear friend so wisely put it, I survived, and now I get the best reward ever.

I still can't even believe he is home. Maxim is home. After 8 long years. He is sleeping in the other room, in the Nance home. Max is home. Welcome home, sweet boy.

Mission Bring Maxim Home: Complete.

A New Beginning (+our day)

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and release the prisoners from darkness. (Isaiah 61:1)

Today Maxim was set free, and released from the enemy's territory, the darkness of his institution. His heart is starting to heal as he spends time with his mama and starts to learn what a family is.

Today was gotcha day, or as his mama is calling it, "forever in my arms day".

Today was a new beginning for him. He was SET FREE! 

If this family get a penny for everytime I'm sure they'll be asked if Max and Theo are twins... they'll be rich! :) 

In a few days, he will begin life with this crazy awesome family, and though he may not at first, he soon will realize just how much he has been missing out on.

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

+++++++++++++++++

So, I realized last night that I have quite a few items in my suitcase that I brought to mix up when I got desperate. Plus I got a package from friends of ours the other day with stuff to keep the kids entertained, along with some treats for me (THANK YOU sweet M family!). 

I have pulled a few of these things out here and there, but I have a lot left, and I'm NOT taking a lot of it home with me. So today we got busy with it.

First order of business... today was Grandma's birthday. So Jordan and I made a cake. Carrot with cream cheese frosting. Yum!

(Ok, so I heard it was yummy. I was planning to have some after ice cream, but after 2 scoops, I didn't want any more, too much sugar. Seriously? waaaa!!! What's happening to me?? I couldn't drink very much soda the other day before it was too much sugar. I have a sweet tooth, or so I thought. I don't like this!)

Then I raided my craft stash to make cards.

L to R: Ruby's, Leroy's, Rose's, and Jordan's

This was Ruby's. She drew grandma.. Pretty good, I'd say!

Then we played Sorry. I knew they didn't have it so I brought it from home. Ruby got a little crazy. Not sure what she had?? lol So I started taping her.

You don't have to watch all or any of it. But if you want a laugh, watch some of it. 

The last minute, esp the last 15 seconds is the best part IMHO. 

And yes, I am aware, after watching this video that she needed to move one more space. My bad.

Later after everyone got home from school, I sent the older kids outside with some rocket balloons. After some begging on their part, I allowed my camera to be taken outside, with repeated warnings to keep the wrist strap on. It survived, and I have footage they don't know I'm blogging. hehe

After the littles were in bed, we played more Sorry with grandma. Everyone had a little too much sugar, and we laughed and laughed. Great medicine.

See the dude on the left... that's Jordan. He plays a mean game of Sorry. He played for the first time today, and beat me BAD 2 outta 3 times.

And. I'm nesting. Cleaning like crazy. Weird, but true.

I got this way a couple days before Summer and Lyla came home when I was in NY. Last time I was here, I didn't very because Maxim wasn't coming home, and probably because we had kids in the hospital. :P

Today I started going crazy and made an uber long list of things to clean/organize/do in the next few days. I already got a good start on it. If you think of it, say a prayer for the kids. Nah, actually don't. It'll be good for them. hehe

Hanging onto Him.

Sorry if this is a mish mash of info that doesn't run together and may not make sense. I can't think very well right now, but wanted to update.

Today, I'm hanging onto His promises.

2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

Because of that, and all the prayers form you lovely people offered on our behalf here, is the only thing that got me through today.

Everyone except Thomas had fevers this morning. So everyone was home all day. Chipper, Leroy, Ralph, Zhen, Theo. And even though Jordan, Rose, and Ruby would have stayed home anyways, they were sick too.

Kids with a fever, and who are tired, tend to be cranky. Long day.

Me? Doing much better than yesterday, of course not good still. Wanna know what irks me? Severe headache was one of my symptoms that I told them when I was at the doctor yesterday. So what do they do? Put me on an antibiotic that has headache as a side affect! Other side affects are dizziness, upset stomach and nausea. I def have all the side affects, and I'm thrilled about it, cause that's just what I need.

Sweet Rachel was sick today so she couldn't come. I think we got her sick. :(

Fever is the first stage of influenza B. Then it develops into congestion and cough. Zhen, who has had a fever the longest, is now getting a cough and runny nose.

PLEASE pray everyone doesn't have it. I know in my gut they do, but we need some miracle that they don't.

Today... we snuggled.

And watched movies.

And took lots of pictures.

And Ralph took pictures. This one cracks me up.

Not on my life will you be able to convince me that spiritual attack isn't real. I know it is, and I know that's what is going on. I feel like we are under constant attack here, with one thing after another on today of all days. Stephanie, their mama, is feeling attacks too.

The evil one doesn't want Maxim to leave the confines and death sentence of his institution. He doesn't want him to be set free from that dark place. So he is doing everything he can to stop that from happening, by attacking everyone helping to make that happen.

Friends, can I humbly beg to you please, please pray? Prayer is what will bring Maxim home. Prayer is what will help me get through until everyone is better.

There's nothing else we can hold onto anymore, besides Jesus. So hang on to Him we will.

Friday Fun!

I'm bad at coming up with post names or making these posts interesting. It seems like I am just typing the same post over and over with different pictures and captions. Nothing seems new, but that's what it's like around here too. Same old same old, with new little things happening every day to keep me hopping. :)

Love this gorgeous girl - she looks like her mama in this pic!

Ruby and Ralph were well entertained for a half hour yesterday playing with these bottles. Why do we even buy toys for kids?? They like this kinda stuff much better!

Never stop moving... my camera's kids and pets mode works well, can't you tell??
Hey wait... where's Ralph's head?? I think we may have lost it. Shh, don't tell his mama.

She picked out her own clothes today. She wasn't going anywhere, so I didn't argue. ;)

Making blueberry muffins! They were SOO good.... the name definitely doesn't lie - To Die for Blueberry Muffins.

Baby Ralphie...

Ralph was so cuddly and wanted to be held today... sweet boy is missing his mama!

Love my Ruby Jean!

Stubborn and opinionated these two are, but they never fail to make me laugh.

Theo climbed up into the desk tonight, and was so proud of himself...

Then he got annoyed with the pictures. He cracks me up.

Football with Ralph.

Tonight, Ralph was playing football with the rest of us (me, Jordan, Rose, Leroy and Grandma). I took some video... it's not always this calm! ;) The other three littles were in bed and Dad and the oldest two boys were gone. 

So... health update. Dad and I are still sick, but not as bad. Now Theo and Zhen are getting sick. Poor babies... Please pray for them, I'm the next few days aren't going to be fun for any of us with them being sick. :(

Oh and just for your amusement... some pictures I found goofing around on facebook today when I was supposed to be doing dishes. ;)

Exactly, but change mommy to Sarah! Weekends are the hardest days of the week because everyone is home! ;)

More for my mama than me... I enjoy laundry so usually manage to stay caught up!