This guy has been asking to do this for awhile…
- Photo by Lulu Photography (LuluPhotog.com)
This girl told us a few months ago that she was praying very specifically…
This guy gets to play a new role and he is thrilled…
This girl is stepping onto a path toward her dream come true…
Photo by Avodah Images.com
And this guy is the one who has listened closely to the Lord’s calling and taken a giant leap of faith, leading our family down a very new path…
Big changes are headed our way. The path will be bumpy and rough and beautiful and scary and each step is taken with a gigantic measure of faith. It’s a path full of unknowns and we’re excited to see what the bend in the road will produce.
Have you guessed it yet?
Through God’s grace and His Provision alone, our little family of five will become a family of six.
We are in the process of adopting a little girl from Russia.
Pray with us, please?
This journey will not be easy and a child in our arms at the end of the road is not guaranteed. The adoption situation in Russia is tenuous at best and there is every possibility that the door could close so we take each step with great faith and prayer for protection for us and our children.
We are elbow deep in paper work and some days I feel so excited and filled with anticipation. Other days I feel discouraged and worried and afraid. I’m told this is normal.
Your prayers are most appreicated and coveted. We have a lot of work to do, a lot of money to raise, a lot of faith to develop and cling to.
I’m so glad to have you all by our side.
Happy Thursday, friends.
You are such an inspiration to many about actively living your faith. Sloan shared the news a couple of days ago – very cool to see how excited he was about this. You’re in our prayers! Not sure if there’s anything we can do to help but we’re here (and certainly not far).
Thank you so much, Michelle. We are so grateful to know we have amazing neighbors who will support us in this. Such a blessing. 🙂
Oh, Kelly! This is just wonderful. So happy for you, and praying that God’s hand will be on all of you every step of the way!
Thank you, Laura.
A decision on a calling that you have had as long as you have thought of having your own family. A decision on a desire that you and Lee expressed from your earliest days together. A decision as a family that, through the process of consideration has already made you stronger and closer. A decision that takes you down a path of hard work, frustration, joy and perhaps even disappointment along the way. A decision that was known before time in support of a child who was known before time for a purpose that will be revealed in Glory. I look forward to taking the ride with you all! Love you!
Dad
Dad, we couldn’t do this without knowing that you and Mom and Herb and Barbara had our backs. I’m so grateful for supportive families. Makes it all a little less scary. I love you!
So excited for you! My brother and sister in law adopted 2 sisters from Russia. It was difficult but a wonderful experience. Your family is in our prayers. By the way, a family of six is no big deal! We have four children and it actually makes it easier than 3. Just think, everywhere you go, you can go in pairs (amusement parks, etc.)
Congratulations!!
Ha! I never thought about it being easier to travel in pairs. My kids are constantly fighting over “fair teams” when they play any game or sport. this should even things out a bit. 🙂
Exciting! I don’t know much about international adoption, but both my kids are adopted domestically. Going through the adoptions were some of the most faith-building seasons for me. Us being adopted into God’s family took on fresh, new meaning and God showed me he has many different ways to create families. Sounds like you are trusting God with your family.
Have you heard “I’m Adopted” by Randall Goodgame? It’s fabulous. You can listen here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/447823827/slugs-and-bugs-for-the-kids-but-also-for-you/posts/121885
Thanks, Kristin! I will check that out. We are starting to track down as many resources as possible.
What a sweet blessing! Praying for you!
Thank you, Stacey.
So. Totally. Cool. And scary, and awesome, and inspiring, and heavenly…..good luck my friend. God speed & prayers for you guys & your new family!
Yes. It’s all those things. Thanks Heather!
Wonderful news. Praying for you!
Thanks, Shayne!
Oh my goodness!! I am so excited for you! I will be praying for you as you take this journey. I know so many who have been blessed through adoption.
Thank you, Traci! We’re excited too.
I’m so, so, so, so happy for you and your family Kelli! What an exciting adventure! Can’t wait to follow along 🙂 Hugs friend!!
Thanks Melly. Hugs back atcha! 🙂
Yea! I’m excited for you and can’t wait to hear more as you journey. This is something we have desired for a long time too.
Thanks. 🙂
awesome news! praying for you guys.
Thank you so much! It’s been so fun to follow along with your adoption journey the last few months. 🙂
I almost asked you the other day if you would adopt from Russia! Congratulations all around. So exciting.
Thanks Jess.
Happy dance!
Jiggety jig.
NOT joggety jog. Joggeting is so very dangerous…
WOW Kelli, that is great! Our thoughts are with you. you must be so excited just to have come to the decision but the real excitement comes when everything falls into place. So, we are with you and I I can only imagine how excited Byshka and Boss are, we look forward to seeing another one running around the pool and being on the boats..fishing off the docks.. etc etc etc.. Good luck on the journey!
Mr. Bob and Carol
Thanks Carol! I’m sure we’ll be terrorizing the complex for years to come. 🙂
Kelli! I so proud of You! I’ve remembered that you told me about it))). So your dream will come true)). You are a supergirl…a supergirl don’t cry)). I’ll be pray to)).Kiss you. Love you))
Thanks Sasha! We are adopting from St. Petersburg, but the final leg of our trip will require us to go through Moscow. I would love to meet up with you guys if we can! How fun woudl that be?!?! 🙂
Shurely!!! I’ll be waiting all of your family!!!
Yay! That will be so much fun. 🙂
Sweet, sweet Stuart friends! WE will be praying for you. (I will tell my girls of this news and we will pray each night.) Also, Kelli I am putting a link to website here and on your FB page because I heard just a bit of this man’s heart yesterday on For Faith and Family and I think it may be God’s timely message for YOU and yours. tonymerida.net XOXOXO
that’s http://www.tonymerida.net
Thanks Von!!
We are rejoicing with you and so excited for who God has chosen for you! YAY!!
Thank you, Suz.
Proud and praying.
And why the heck are my allergies suddenly acting up? Weird. ; )
Prolly you just got a little dirt in your eye. 😉
Thanks, Shaun.
I am so excited. Another little granddaughter to love on. You have talked about your desire to adopt a little girl from Russia since your first trip to Kiev your sophomore year! I need to start learning a little russian now!! Dad and I are hear to support you and Lee as you take this journey.
Thanks Mom. We’re gonna need it. 🙂 And thanks for not thinking we’re crazy for doing this. Seriously…thanks. Love you!
Layout need to read “Adopted for Life.”
And also we will be praying!
Thank you, Staci. 🙂
Kelli!! That is so so exciting!! I will be praying for you all in this process. Praise God for this opportunity and for you all listening carefully to His leading. How totally awesome! 🙂 this too is a dream I hope can be fulfilled in my life someday!
Thank you, Jess. Hold on to the dream and pray, pray, pray! Love you! 🙂
I am so very, very happy for you and your family Kelli. Oh wow! How thrilling. Praying with you, for you, and for your family as well as the luckiest little girl in the world who’d get to join you all!
Thanks for putting a big ole smile on my face. SO HAPPY FOR YOU!
Thank you so much, Lisa. Miss you!
Oh girl – SO thrilled for you! I think the world of you, and your children — future one included! — are SO blessed to have you. HUGS!!!!
Oh and you know Ciaran Blumenfeld right? They adopted their oldest daughter from Russia 15years ago.
Thanks Janice. I really appreicate it. I don’t know Ciaran. She sounds like someone I should meet. 🙂
Fantastic news! Congratulations Stuart family!
Thanks Nicole!
Hello! I’m a friend of Kristen and saw your blog linked from her FB page. Adoption is wonderful, hard, beautiful, painful, amazing. We adopted a baby girl from Africa a year ago and are in process of adopting another baby domestically. Praying for you tonight!
Oh thank you so much. Prayers are what we need more tha anything right now. 🙂
Becke’ told me your news today! That is AMAZING Kelli!
What a beautiful picture of Christ’s love for us!
So happy to see what the Lord does in your family! God Bless Ya’ll for being brave to take this leap of faith!
(some of our friends are in Russia right now meeting their baby girl!!!! it’s the first visit and then they come home and then go back to get her for good. she is precious.)
Oh fun. I was just praying this morning for the baby and started referring to her as our little girl. It’s kind of goose bumpy to say it that way. 🙂 Thanks, friend!
So thrilled to hear your family’s awesome good news!! We’ll be praying for you thru’ this process. Do you know about how long it will take? What age will your new daughter probably be when she comes home with you? How exciting to think of having another neice (or nephew) to love! Hugs & love to you all!!!
Thanks, Aunt Brenda. The hope is it will be about 12-14 months. It all depends on finances and on how much training will be required by Russia before we can bring her home. We have requested a little girl between the ages of 1 and 3, so likely a toddler. We are very excited. Can’t WAIT for you to meet her, too! 🙂 Love you!
There is some VERY lucky little russian girl out there, waiting and praying for a family – She is going to be SO very glad to get you guys!!! HOW EXCITING!!! Please keep us posted!!
Thanks so much, Jen! 🙂
This is very exciting, Kelli!!! I haven’t had a chance to catch up on things until today, and this is wonderful news! I will be praying for your family and the road that God has you on. He has gone before you and will go with you!