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