Big Boy Bed

In August when Sasha came to stay with us for 3 weeks, we moved Brennan's crib into Xan's bedroom so Sasha could have his own room. After Sasha went back to Ukraine, we never moved Brennan back, we just allowed them to continue sharing a room. Xan has been sleeping on the bottom bunk of his bunk bed for over a year and we decided on Saturday that Xan was ready for the top bunk and Brennan for the bottom bunk. We really didn't know what to expect with Brennan, but he has been awesome. He has not once even tried to get out of his bed. We put him in bed on Saturday night and told him we would come and get him in the morning. He was sound asleep when we put Xan to bed about an hour later, still asleep when we went to bed, and this is what I found when I went to get him Sunday morning...



This is how he sleeps, with his head completely covered by a blanket. It has been almost a week and he has not tried to escape.

Still no birth certificate...

but I am better emotionally today. Thank you if you read my post last night and prayed for me. I know God is working and moving even when I can't see it. God is good all the time!

Two Weeks...

and still no birth certificate. I think the Louisiana Vital Records office has my number blocked because I called AGAIN today and it went straight to voice mail. I normally get to speak to a person. The voice mail message said to leave a message and they would call me back soon. They didn't call today. Makes you wonder what "soon" means to the government.

My sweet husband went and got us pizza because I am too sad and depressed to cook. He also mentioned that God must be trying to teach us something with this wait. And to be honest my response was to scream (inwardly I might add), "I HATE LESSONS! I DON'T WANT ANY MORE LESSONS! JUST GIVE ME THE DANG BIRTH CERTIFICATE! DANG IT!" Honestly that is how I feel right now, I don't want to learn anything, I want this to be easy. I just want to go get my son. I am finding myself running from God and telling Him, "No, I don't want You. You are hurting me and I hate it." I am running from what I know I need the most...the peace and rest of my Savior's arms.

Christmas Picture Bloopers & Update

This picture is Xan's personality...talk,talk,talk,talk,talk...all the time!


Brennan is saying "ball".



Those are my boys and I love them so much!

Adoption Update:
We STILL don't have Brennan's birth certificate. I initially applied for his certificate in the Spring (around May). Apparently their was an error on a form and they denied our application, but never notified us that it had been denied. I called Vital Registry in Louisiana in August (when we decided to adopt Sasha) to check on the birth certificate because our social worker has to see an original birth certificate for all of us before our home study can be sent to the Dept. of Homeland Security (USCIS). That is when I was told our application had been denied. So, we completed another application and mailed it in. I called again in October only to be told that the check our adoption agency had issued to cover the cost of the new birth certificate had expired and they had denied our file AGAIN. So, I completed another application and our adoption agency mailed a new check. I then called again two weeks ago to confirm that all documentation had been received and were correct. I was told I would have the new certificate in two weeks. I waited the two weeks and still no certificate. So, I called back this past Monday and was told that our application would be worked on that day and I would receive the certificate, hopefully, next week. ANOTHER WEEK OF WAITING!!! Another week that Sasha has to stay at the orphanage.

I know that God has a specific time and date for us to go the Ukraine and we had hoped that would be this winter. But now, because of this whole birth certificate issue, it will be spring at the earliest. It could be much later if we experience any more delays. UGH, nothing in adoption is simple.

They were quiet...

I should have known something was up. I was cleaning up the kitchen last night and it dawned on me that I had not heard the boys for a while. So, I went up to the bonus room and found them decorating each other with stickers. Xan had already pulled all his stickers off by the time I got the camera.




Brennan just enjoys being with Xan, he didn't care what Xan was doing to him.

We made the decision last year that we would not go home for Thanksgiving since we do so much traveling on Christmas Day. I am so glad we made that decision because the last two Thanksgiving Days have been so relaxed. Although I would love to spend this day with our family, I am so glad I don't have to spend 5 hours in the car. We will be enjoying Thanksgiving lunch with some good friends.

Things I am thankful for:
1. My God - It is so comforting to know He is in control. Even when things don't go the way I wanted them to, His plan and purpose for me is so much better. Because of Him, I can continue this list.

2. My Salvation - God sent His only Son to pay a penalty He did not owe. I will never understand that kind of sacrifice. Jesus was sinless, yet He took my sinfulness. He was obedient to death - even death on a cross. I will never understand that kind of obedience.

3. My husband - Bucky is a wonderful man. He is a hard worker, self sacrificing, patient, loving, and trust worthy. I love him!

4. Sasha - I wish I could hug him and tell him how much I love him.

5. Xan - He is so quirky, imaginative, and funny.

6. Brennan - He is WILD, LOUD, and CRAZY. But he is also very snuggly and cute.

7. Toilets and Toilet paper - see The Snook's blog.

8. The miracle of adoption - My socks have blessed off by my children.

9. Family - I love my family (Bucky's side included). Bucky and I have NEVER had any in-law problems. My family loves him and his family loves me.

10. Airplanes - I know, you are probably thinking "what?". You see, an airplane will be what unites us with Sasha. I am dreading the 20 to 24 hours in airports and airplanes, but that is so much better than going across the Atlantic Ocean in a boat! :-)

Happy Thanksgiving from the Rogers

November...Adoption Awareness Month

James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."

Please allow me to share some of the alarming orphan statistics:
-There are over 140 million orphans worldwide.
-Every 18 seconds another child becomes an orphan.
-43.4 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, 87.6 million orphans live in Asia, and 12.4 million orphans live in Latin America and the Caribbean.
-1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe alone.
-At any given point there are over 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system.
-Orphaned children are at a higher risk of being forced into gang activity and the sex trade industry.

I have heard so many excuses for why Christians don't adopt. However, the one I hear most often is, "It just costs so much." Psalm 50:9-11 says, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains,and the creatures of the field are mine." God doesn't need anything we have, it ALL belongs to Him anyway. It's All His! If He has called you to adopt, He will provide the funds. Many times people ask me why adoption costs so much. I believe adoption is the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel. God has shown His lavish love for us by adopting us as His own children. And He showed that lavish love by sending His sinless and perfect son Jesus to die for our sins. My adoption cost God EVERYTHING. Now that is expensive!

There are so many ways you can help:
-Be an orphan sponsor
-Take a mission trip
-Mentor a foster care child
-Be a sender (Bucky and I have blessed by so many "senders", people who have given financially to our adoptions.)
-Adopt

God's word is clear, He commands us to care for orphans in their distress. So, what's stopping you?