School Break

Thank God for the U.S. Postal Service!  I say this because we have a big box of clothes, sneakers, backpack and other fun stuff to send to Kostja in Latvia.  However, I just found out how expensive it is to send a 20 pound box to Latvia via FedEx--a couple hundred dollars (yikes!), but the USPS is much more reasonable at $85.00...whew, this will save us alot of room in our suitcases when we travel to Latvia at the end of May. 

School is out for the week, and I have taken a few days off from work as well to have some fun with Katie.  I'm keeping my eyes on flights to Latvia, but I must set my dates soon, as the orphanage needs to start the process to obtain a Visitor's Visa for Kostja to come stay with us for the summer, and return him towards the end of August.  


I am praying for a GREAT summer for Kostja, as I will have many decisions to make about him.  I know God will lead me to the best decision possible...I didn't say the easiest decision, but the best one, since He knows everything!  Please pray for Kostja and all of us as well.   

Second Chances

Well, I haven't posted anything to my blog in some time!   All  is going very well with my family, needless to say.  Busy with highschool, after school clubs, homework, braces, girlscouts, church, boyfriend (a first, and very nice!) and many good friends! 

I've been praying to God for many months now over Kostja, Katie's twin brother still in the orphanage in Latvia. And I've been pondering these facts about older orphans I posted on my blog while going through the process of adopting Katie:

"Without intervention, after they leave the orphanages, 70% of boys will end up on the streets or in jail and 15% of orphans will commit suicide within the first two years out on their own. Only 2% enter university, compared with 45% of children raised in families. One person has the ability to completely revolutionize the life of an abandoned child. The people of God can step in and love the fatherless and help them not end up as statistics. We can show them they have a chance to make it in life. We can be a turning point for them by making an effort to express the Father's love in simple ways that make eternal differences."

I finally felt a calmness come over me, and made a decision...I am going to bring Kostja to our home for the summer to enable him to be part of our little family...and I am praying it will be forever, because there is no other hope for him! 

This is a photo of much happier days when Katie and Kostja were little, living with their grandmother.  With the help of God, I want to put those smiles back on both their faces, bring them together again, and give them both very happy futures. 

Katie and I will be leaving for Latvia for a week at the end of May to not only eat delicious Latvian food, bring home some delicious food supplies and visit old friends, we will be picking up Kostja to come home with us!  He's excited and we're excited...will keep you posted as the time comes. 

Keep us all in your prayers!