Good News!

After a very long, very dry spell of nothing happening, we finally have good news! Our final homestudy arrived in the mail on Saturday! Also in the mail on Saturday was the Bureau of Immigration appointment letter to have our fingerprints taken on January 31. We're moving again, praise God! We have several other letters and forms we now need to have notarized and approved by the adoption agency in Florida, then when that's all done we have to take everything to the Secretary of State's office in Santa Fe for the apostil, or special notary designation. Then we send it all off to Ukraine to be translated. After that, 3 documents are submitted to the Ukrainian National Adoption Board requesting permission to submit our documents. We are given an appointment to submit our documents. Once the documents are submitted and if/when they are approved, then we are given a date when we can go to Ukraine to get the girls! If all goes well, we are praying it will be in early summer.

As I shared in the last post, our girls were in Canada for the holidays. Because of that, our friend, Valya, was not able to go take our Christmas presents to the girls, as well as other items the church and my students sent to all the orphans. In addition, the church had collected money for Valya to use for the children. This past weekend Valya and another friend of ours in Ukraine, Vicki, went to Mariupol to see the girls and deliver all the gifts. Let me just let you read about the experience in Valya's own words from an email she sent when she returned home:

Dear Dawn and Mark, Hello !!!!
I have just come back from Mariupol. Everything is O.K. Vicki came on Saturday and
helped me to carry bags because there were many things.
We gave girls many hugs, rested a little and then went shopping. We asked them what they need and made a list, asked the teachers what kids need and spent three hours shopping. We bought underwear, warm socks, gloves, hats, tights, shampoo, bars of soap, washing powder, things for girls, toilet paper, high boots for Ella,Zhanna, Yanna, sneakers for Katia and of course candies and cookies. Both boys and girls were happy to get things which your colleague has sent toys, bracelets, socks and other things.
Ella and Zhanna were excited to get gifts from you; they were happy and thanked you for hats, dolls, pencils and especially digital cameras, at once they began to make pictures. They showed me a photo album from Toronto (Pete and Diane) gave them, very nice pictures, girls enjoyed staying there. I will send you pictures, I took a camera and this week I will develop all pictures and send you. Ella and Zhanna have also signed you cards.
They thanked all people who collected money. I stayed in the bedromm with Ella and Masha, Zhanna and Katia are living next room. Girls always share clothes and things and seem kind and polite. They have a dog which sometimes sleeps with them and domestic rats. They all love pets.
Teachers were friendly and thanked for help, everytime they have good attitude to us. I am glad that Vicki helped me to go shopping and choose clothes. On Saturday it was raining heavily and we were wet. It was snowy and watery on the ground, but we did it. On Sunday it was snowy and slippery. In the morning Zhanna, Ella and Katia went with me to the market and again we did shopping. We also bought clothes and fruit, candies for smaller kids ( you remember Slavik and his brother who always climb) and they were happy to get toy-cars and pencils. Of course, we cannot help each kid but we try to make them happier. Please, tell everyone who gave money thanks. Little kids were very happy and joyful for toys.
I think that in April or May Vicki and I will go to visit them again, but this time if you do not mind we'll organise a little party with a cake and will drink tea together and will have games and socialising.
Dawn and Mark, you are wonderful people I have ever met in my life, I think everything will be O.K. Girls love you and want to live with you, when I was reading your Christmas cards they were listening attentively. Mark is a great father.
Love, you
Valya,
And thanks for praying for our trip.

That just about says it all, doesn't it? We are thankful that God is in control. We look forward to bringing our girls home. Thank you for your prayers, and please keep praying! God is so good.
Dawn