| There was a place in my life where I was in deep | | | | had not expected! |
| thought about what I was doing to change the world. | | | | It took us over twenty-five hours to arrive. We |
| My husband was amazing and I had three beautiful | | | | were put into a van and drove down an icy road to |
| boys, a great home based business I enjoyed and I | | | | a secluded Siberian building. It took over five hours to |
| still did not feel I was changing the world. I felt a | | | | reach it. This was to be the orphanage that our Alex |
| strong necessity for parents to come forward for | | | | stayed in with about sixty other children. The room |
| kids did not have any. I made the decision to take in | | | | we were escorted to was a bright green room with |
| a child myself because after all, I was not a bad | | | | large chairs. As we were trying to be patient, the |
| parent. | | | | women that were there took off down the hall in a |
| We started on our quest for an international child. | | | | hurry. |
| Our choice was a Russian boy to add to our growing | | | | All the excitement and travel had really started to |
| family of boys. The orphanages are packed with | | | | creep upon us. It was eighteen hours later than it |
| males and sprinkled with a few girls. We received | | | | was at home. We still were amazed that we were in |
| pictures of boys around the ages of four to ten and | | | | this place. |
| we set out finding the one we wanted. We grew | | | | Finally, the door swung open and a big Russian |
| close to a young boy around the age of five. His | | | | woman entered with a tiny little boy holding her hand. |
| name was Alex. He came from the farthest corner | | | | He was not five as Alex was supposed to be but |
| of Russia and was said to be a healthy little boy. We | | | | only about three years old. He was dressed in a shirt |
| sent the money for the fee out directly. | | | | and shorts that did not fit him and was not clean at |
| Mounds of papers were sent for us to fill to | | | | all. This building was very hot and we were dressed |
| perfection and have notarized. Some had to carry a | | | | in winter apparel. This tiny boy stole our hearts |
| seal that shows that the notary we used was legal. | | | | immediately. He said help in Russian. My husband |
| The papers were mailed back and more would come | | | | hugged him so tightly, they placed him on his lap, and |
| in. The cycle would start all over again. Blood tests | | | | in no time at all, Alex was laughing aloud. |
| were due every three months. Our fingerprints were | | | | For three days, we stayed in a very small hotel room |
| taken and we had a background check done. A | | | | with almost nothing in it except for a bed and a chair. |
| homestudy was also necessary. It was requires that | | | | In addition, a bathtub did not have clean water. The |
| we show proof of marriage, the money we made, | | | | Russians that were taking care of us asked if we |
| and we sent in all the forms they asked for. | | | | could find someone to take their older sister at an |
| We got many different emotions from those around | | | | orphanage here. We got as much information as we |
| us. One individual would be happy about it while | | | | could about her with the desire to help her. It was |
| another individual would think we were not doing the | | | | soon time to leave our Alex and come home with |
| right thing. The photo that was sent the first time | | | | only a few pictures of him. When we returned, the |
| was the only one we were allowed to have. It was | | | | papers were piling up for us to sign and return. More |
| explained that the Russians thought we were crazy | | | | blood tests were needed. We were waiting until the |
| and should appreciate what we were getting. This | | | | time we could go back for the official court. For |
| photo was now two years old. More time went by | | | | more info see on adoption photo. |
| and we did not move for a vacation or even think | | | | Of course, it was longer than the three months. In |
| about new jobs because we never knew when we | | | | that time, we made the choice to adopt his older |
| were leaving for Russia. | | | | sister also. This time, we visited in the scorching |
| Finally, the telephone rang and the agency we were | | | | summertime. Nothing seemed to go right for us. Not |
| using notified us of the need for us to go to Russia | | | | only did it take prayers from all around by only God |
| within a week's time. This was the same week as | | | | could help us return with these children. It was |
| Christmas. Our travels would take us away from our | | | | something we were supposed to do. It was not a |
| family and children to meet our new son for the first | | | | simple thing to complete this Russian adoption. God |
| time. We were skeptical about it because of not | | | | does not give us the option to have things made |
| knowing if this was right or not. What had we done? | | | | easy if they are gifted to us. |
| This child might bring something to our family that we | | | | |