A Tearful Good-Bye!

 

Our last picture taken together.

On Wednesday of this week we drove up to Atlanta, Georgia so that we could have the girls at the airport first thing on Thursday morning.  29 children were heading back to Ukraine after a fun-filled and memory-making summer.  Families from all over the US were having to say good-bye to the children that had been a part of their families for 5 weeks.  To say that it was an emotionally charged atmosphere seems to minimize the event.  

It is very hard to put words to the feelings you get when you watch a 6 year old cling tightly to his passport as he listens to instructions that he must follow as he goes through security.  

And you realize that he essentially is alone in this world.  

No mom or dad to comfort him, to give him a snack, to help him through the 18 hours of travel that lie before him.  No lap that he can lay his head on when he needs to take a nap and no one that can answer the many questions he might have about when they will finally be back at what is considered home.

Saying good-bye to the girls was difficult.  It seemed so final.  Yes we are proceeding with an adoption and yes they have said that they want to be adopted by us.  But there are so many miles and so many uncertainties between us that it is a challenge to stay positive.  

Tears were shed, many hugs were given and re-given, then finally we watched them leave and waved good-bye til we could not see them any longer.  Then we drove a very long 7 hours home.

I apologize if I sound down.  I have much to be grateful for.  Our summer was like no other and will surely be one that we will never forget.  Transitioning back to "normal" life here at the Wells' home may just take some time.

Happy Birthday Mariana!

Saturday we celebrated Mariana's 14th birthday with a family party.  (She will be back in Ukraine on her actual birthday.)  It was a great day!  Here are some pics...

The Birthday Girl!

 

Blowing out the candles, with a little help from Nic.

 

Some of the party goers...

 

 

Beautiful Girls...

 

We finished the evening with a full-blown water balloon fight in the backyard!

 

It was a great night of food and fun!

Circumstances or Sovereignty

Do you ever have days where you really struggle with the circumstances that surround you?  When all you can see is the barrenness - the wasteland of uncertainty, doubts, and fear?

 

Yesterday was that kind of day for me...  I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff looking down at all the challenges, financial hurdles, and unknowns that lie in our future.  I wanted to look away but... it seemed that I was just stuck there... unable to get a better perspective.

Have you ever noticed that when your eyes are focused on all the circumstances that seem to be shaping your life, it's natural to start to feel hopeless?

And it is easy to become fearful. 

And being overwhelmed best describes who you are.

And then you get stuck.

I was at that place yesterday...

BUT GOD!

HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE NEVER ALLOWS US TO REMAIN THERE!

His Spirit began to gently whisper to me to turn my eyes...

  

Initially it came in the voices of loved ones...

"Remember who is in charge."

"You are here for a reason."

"This is not your story it is God's."

"This is just a season in your life."

 Slowly I began to see a new picture!

Then came a timely and true statement from a friend...

"When we are full of faith in God's sovereignty, life and it's apparent challenges and uncertainties can be viewed as a great adventure -- one that is certain to be filled with the ultimate good He intends for us. Without faith it is far more scary, more stressful, and emotionally painful." 

Well I choose faith!  And NOT a blind faith.  

But one that has been shaped and formed and grown by the tender touch of a Sovereign Creator.  

 

Finally... at the end of the day.  

God whispered one more time through the voice of a vulnerable teenager...

Reminding me that... 

This story that He is writing is far greater than any circumstances I might find myself in.  

And His ability to bring all the broken pieces of my life and the broken pieces of the lives around me, to form a beautiful and perfect picture, has been proven time and again.

Instead of looking at the circumstances that surround me at this moment in time I choose to look back over my life and see the Hand of God. 

 Hands that are...

Faithful.

Strong.

Gentle.

Constant.

Reliable.

And Trustworthy!

Home Sweet Home!

 Yes!  We are back at home in Florida.  We had a wonderful time with family up in New Hampshire, creating new memories and connecting once again with our loved ones... even some that we had not seen in many, many years.  Although it is always hard to say good-bye, it does feel good to get back into a normal and familiar routine.

 Ty with my grandmother, Cecile, who will be 88 this summer.

We arrived home after midnight on Saturday and had to begin re-packing Makenzie's and Hunter's things to head off to church camp bright and early (6am!) Sunday morning.  So after flying home from NH they loaded a bus headed to South Carolina.  We will miss them greatly this week, but camp is always a major highlight of the year for them.

 Hunter at camp 2 years ago!

 I pray that the Holy Spirit will do His work on the 90 plus kids and 20 plus leaders who will be focused on living on mission for Christ at camp this year!

On another note... our hosting experience with Katya and Mariana has been amazing and wonderful!  Despite the challenges that the language barrier presents, we are learning and improving in communication everyday.  I am very humbled that God has chosen us to be a part of this story and although we still do not know how it will end we are certain that He has us right here for a purpose.  

 Today is 10 days away from having to say good-bye to them as we will have to put them back on a plane headed for Ukraine.  I fight the tears right now just thinking about it.  My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will also do His work in the hearts and minds of these precious girls so that the decision they make in regards to adoption will be exactly in line with God's will for their lives.  

Please intercede in prayer with us for this to happen!

 PRAISE REPORT ... We received a favorable 1600A form back this weekend with permission from Homeland Security to adopt 2 teenage girls!  We will now begin our dossier prep trusting in God for timing and the outcome.

Here are some more pics from our trip... Enjoy!

  With some of the cousins...

 

Silly girls!

 

More silly girls!

 

Are we noticing a pattern here?

 

How about now?

 

Quote of the day...

"There is no comfort in the growth zone and there is no growth in the comfort zone."

Fun with the New Hampshire Fam!

We have been having a great time up in NH visiting with extended family...

Shortly after arriving at Grandma's the photo albums were brought out to reminisce and show Katya and Mariana who is who.

Here's all the cousins posing at a park...

We went to a beach in Rye, New Hampshire... water quite a bit colder than the Floridians are use to...

Hunter having a mid-day snack...

Oh yeah... and Kenzie got married!

OK not really... I hope I didn't give anyone a heart attack.  This is Kenzie trying on her grandmother's dress that was worn 50 years ago!!!  Fits perfectly and looked stunning! 

We definitely are not ready for this to happen for at least another 10 years!

Praise Report!

It looks like Ukraine is going to continue to process adoptions and not put any holds on them despite reorganizing of SDA.  We are continuing to move forward with dossier prep.

Quote for the day:

"God is not calling you to do something that you're not sure you can do, He is calling you to do something He knows you can't do without Him."



Objections to Adoption

I came across this video and felt that it spoke about the truth that so many people struggle through when considering adoption.  It's just three minutes long but will get you thinking... take a look!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5fQyYlE_KE

Headed to the northeast with our clan to celebrate 50 years of marriage for David and Carolyn Wells. 

 

This pic is several years old but thought that it was a great one!

I am so proud to have such great marriages to pass on to my kids!

Thanks Mom and Dad... Congrats on 50 amazing years!

Catching Up!

It's been a busy week here in the Wells' household.  On Monday July 4th we headed to the beach for a fun family day.  The weather was perfect and the waves were big. 

 

Here is a pic BEFORE some of the strong Florida sun caused some sunburn.

Here are the kids all ready to boogie board!

On Wednesday we used one of the privileges of being Disney employees and got the whole family into Hollywood Studios.  We went late in the day to avoid some of that Florida sun and heat.  

 

Here is my clan at the start of the day!

The Ellison family joined us for our fun night.  Adina loves the girls!

 

Getting ready to go "under the sea" with Ariel!

Yesterday Ty and I also got our official fingerprints done for the I600A form.  These results will travel in our dossier.  It felt very strange to be going through this again.  We both remembered how 6 years ago we went through the same steps for our adoption of Nicholas.  It seems like a lifetime ago.  Now we wait for our I600 A approval which could take place as early as in the next week.   Then we will wait to see how long Ukraine remains closed due to a change in offices involved in international adoption.  

We trust completely in God's perfect timing!!!

Couldn't Resist!

While the kids are all busy doing something I am secretly putting this on the blog because I thought it was so cute.  They probably won't be happy with me so if I mysteriously stop blogging, send out the troops to find me :)

In one week's time!

 

  

Today is one week since the girls arrived in Florida.  I am happy to report that we have had a very good week together.  Each day the language barrier gets a tiny bit smaller... 

Inch by inch anything is a cinch!  

Here is what has been going on:

• We have gone on a couple of shopping trips, minus the boys.  Although tastes are different I believe we have had some success. (Thank you to the generous and thoughtful friends who donated money and gift cards for these shopping trips)
• We have attended church together with a trip afterwards to our favorite ice cream parlor, SCOOPS.  
• The girls went to Kenzie's youth group and to the kids' karate class.  
• We also attempted to go to the beach when Ty had a day off but unfortunately it started to rain and storm after an hour drive there.
• The girls both received an eye exam and Mariana got some new glasses.  
• We have gone on a couple of runs together!

The girls are sweet and very easy to get along with.  They seem to be enjoying themselves.
Tonight we will be having a family gathering and birthday celebration.  Olga, a translator that came over with the hosting program will be joining us... we are looking forward to some good conversation!

God Bless!