31 for 21 - 2 years later.

I posted the following post two years ago this month.... when I originally posted it, all the kids were waiting. When I reposted it last year, I updated on who had a family and who didn't. This year I am going to re-update it!

The pictures from the original post are put with the Down Syndrome Creed, a poem that is so very beauitufl and inspiring.

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My face may be different

Jimmy - Still waiting, has a family working to commit to him.

But my feelings the same

Tabitha - Had a family working to get her before Russia shut down.

I laugh and I cry

Mark - still waiting.

And I take pride in my gains

Brigita - HOME!

I was sent here among you

Rebekah - Stuck in Russia

To teach you to love

Lilly - Had a family ready to commit to her before Russia shutdown.

As God in the heavens

Lizzy - Had a mama working to get her before Russia shutdown. 

Looks down from above

Ilya - Stuck in Russia.

To Him I'm no different

Maxim - HOME!

His love knows no bounds

Lyla - HOME!!!

It's those here among you

Dennis - Has a family working to bring him home!

In cities and towns

Timofey - Stuck in Russia.

That judge me by standards

Robert - HOME!

That man has imparted

Chandler - HOME!

But this family I've chosen

Tory - Stuck in Russia.

Will help me get started

Orion - HOME!

For I'm one of the children

Jonathan - Stuck in Russia.

So special and few

Meredith - her family is working to get her!

That came here to learn

Lucy - HOME!

The same lessons as you

Artem K - Had a family working to get him before Russia closed.

That love is acceptance

Vika - Status unknown. She's most likely stuck in Russia.

It must come from the heart

Tanya - Stuck in Russia.

We all have the same purpose

Nadine - HOME with her family - adopted domestically.

Though not the same start

Alice - HOME! (Look at her new picture here!)

The Lord gave me life

Margurete - HOME!

To live and embrace

Cyril K - Stuck in Russia.

And I'll do it as you do

Bobby - Still waiting.

But at my own pace

Robyn - Stuck in Russia.

(Down Syndrome Creed)

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So there we are. 

Out of the 28 children in that post...

-10 are HOME!

-3 have families working to get them!

-2 children are still available and waiting for a family - Mark and Bobby.

Mark

Bobby

-And 13 children are still stuck in Russia. Keep praying for them!

Tabitha, Rebekah, Lilly, Lizzy, Ilya, Timofey, Tori, Jonathan, Artem, Vika, Tanya, Cyril K, and Robyn.

3 Things: A Special Day!

Today... was awesome.

Reason 1, which isn't really a reason, is it's the 15th. And you probably know if you've been reading awhile that the 15th of the month is a special day to me. :)


Now for the other 3 things.

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Today started way too early, when half of us and Rachel left to go to a church over 2 hours away.

We went to see one of our favorite Ukrainians preach - MAX!

He wasn't able to get it in his schedule to come to our church this trip to the States, so we went to see him.

The church he was speaking at is the church our friend Alice pastors. Alice has known us for probably 8 years now, and she led the mission trip my dad and I went on to Ukraine to work with Max. She has been over to Ukraine 14 times to work with Max, and is a great friend of ours, even though we don't see her often enough!

After the service we got the special treatment and got to go out to lunch with Max and Alice! It was a great time to catch up with them, and just spend some time with them we never get to have.

So grateful we got to see them and grateful they took time to visit with us!

If you don't know who Max is, go read here about the last time he came. You are missing out if you don't know who he is and about his AH-mazing ministry! Visit his website HERE!
(Side note: While going back and reading that blog post to link it here, I realized I was wearing the same shirt I am today. Whoops.)

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The second thing.

One year ago today, on September 15th, Lyla Spitz came home!

It was actually after midnight on the 14th, but I count it as the 15th, because ya know, I like that day.

After the three hard but awesome weeks as I took care of Lyla's siblings, Dave and I headed to the airport in the middle of the night to for him to pick up his wife and bring his daughter home, and for me to finally meet the baby girl I had prayed for and blogged about hundreds of times.

It was emotional for sure. I couldn't believe she was actually HOME with her family and I got to witness it! I blogged about it here.

I've seen Lyla twice since then, and my oh my is she doing well!

Welcome home Beanbean! One year! You rocked it, now rock the next one!

*Visit her mama's blog to see how she's doing!

+++++++

Third.

Today, someone has a BIRTHDAY!

Maxim is 9 today!!

Max, not the one we went to visit today, but our other favorite Max, has been special to our family for a long time. But he waited and waited and waited for a family.

But then he found one, the Nance family, and I ended up taking care of Max's siblings too while his mama was gone. 3 weeks last December, and another 4 in January and February.

It was by far the hardest 7 weeks of my life. But so incredibly worth it.

Sick day, for me and the kids, and definitely was not the only one!

Because Max got to come home. When I held him for the first time and looked into his eyes... all the pain and hardship, all the sickness and struggle of the previous weeks faded away. Because he was worth it.

I would do it all over again to get him home.

Because today, for the first time in his LIFE, he got to spend his birthday with a FAMILY. Who loves him soo very much. He is learning and growing, and changing the world, because a family said yes, I will love you.

Happy Birthday Max-a-million!

*Visit his mama's blog to see how he's doing!

+++++++

What a day! Happy 15th to you all!!

blessed.

Today, there was a knock on my door.

I said come in, and expected it to be my mom, checking on my schoolwork progress.

Instead, in come my three sisters, bearing pictures they made.

from Anna (10)

from Rebekah (6)

back of Rebekah's

from Rachel (3)

back of Rachel's

Sign from when I came home last week

Completely on their own, without it being suggested by someone else (or so I think.), they made me get well pictures.

Love them. It was totally unexpected, but much appreciated. Best part of my day.

I am blessed. So blessed.

"Encourage one another and build one another up." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

(Now I wish I could actually get well. On about 4 different meds, but not getting better. Though it is easier to be sick without the responsibility of 7 kids, and managing a household of 11 people! It's been a week since I've been home, but feels like longer because I miss that crazy awesome family too much! Max is doing great at home, minus his tummy issues.. follow the Nance family and Max's progess here!!)

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!