Happy Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and yes I get to join the ranks of those celebrating it! This Mother’s Day is my 1st of many more Mother’s Days to come. Although I’ve only been a mother for 10 months it seems as though it has been a lot longer. Those 10 months to be honest have not been the easiest for me but they have been a breeze for miss London Laura Sofiya. I will be the first to admit there have been many days that I have questioned God whether I heard His call right or not. When I question Him, He quickly reminds by placing this child, who no one wanted, who has changed more lives then she will ever realize, who has blossomed into this wonderfully, intelligent, beautiful 2 yr. old and that is when He smacks me in the head. These past 10 months have been a learning process of always keeping my eyes on Him. Seriously, I had my life all planned out the way it was supposed to go and a child was not included into that. The key word in the last phrase if you didn’t pick it up was I had planned. I’m so happy that “I” didn’t follow my plan. Trusting God has never been my strongest asset which is why I’m sure that He led me to London. Since London my friendships have been tested, my finances have been tested and my faith has been tested. Some of those tests I have failed because I was more focused on the “it” then on Him to get me through. With my friendships there have been many tests on different levels. I can’t just pick up and run off to the movies or Barnes and Noble like I used to and with that I don’t get to see those friends as often. Sure I still talk with them at least once a week but I don’t get to see them and I do miss it. My finances took a huge hit because of the cost of International Adoption and also because I have only one income. If I had had all the money, like Madonna, would I still look to God and have to trust Him every month? I would hope so but I’m human and I think I would fail Him in that area. Every month He asks me to trust Him and every month I do. Maybe I can’t go out and just buy anything like I used to but our basic needs He supplies. Maybe I’ll be in debt for another 10 years and maybe someday He will surprise me and I won’t have to live like this. I only hope that when that day comes, I will honor whatever request He places in my life and on my heart. Knowing what I know now, I still would go in debt for this child no questions asked. My daughter had no problem fitting into my life. When she stepped foot into my house the first time, it was as if she knew that she was home. It was me who had the problem. I had lived on my own for all these years and now there was this little person who was sharing my life and my home. However, God knew what He was doing when He put us together. She is perfect for me. She challenges me to grow as the chosen mom for her. I have been very blessed to have been given her and to have been given the friends and parents that I have. When I need to have some "me" time, they step in and help out and for that help I will be forever grateful. For the last 4 days, I haven’t been able to hug and kiss my daughter. Why? I have the flu. Maybe it is the H1N1 virus. The doctor didn’t say it was but they did give me a mask to wear in public and the Tamiflu pill. Oh yeah, plus I have all of the friggin symptoms! So, to keep her safe she has been at my parents. Keeping her safe, loving her, being her mom and teaching her that she is a child of God that is what I’m called to do.
For all of us mothers and those soon to be mothers, let me leave you with this we ARE the perfect mother that God has chosen for our children. He chose us just for them. He did not make a mistake. Some people might say that I saved London but the truth is she saved me! Happy Mother’s Day!

Free At Last!

Mimi and Me at the Kremlin, Moscow

Eating at Pizza Hut, St. Petersburg Russia

Let's Go Home Mommy

On July 3 2008, we busted the Little Princess out of her orphanage and nothing has been the same for her or the mommy! The first night was like she had been with us all her life. We had to stay in St. Pete until Saturday so we got to know her a little bit more. She was very quit in the orphanage but as soon as she was out she showed us what she could do! We landed on American soil July 9th at day earlier then expected. Once we got settled into home London went to sleep in her crib that has been waiting for her for over a year now. The next days were like a whirlwind with people wanting to see and meet the Russian Princess. Now we are settled into a routine and she is a mommy's girl for sure!

Court Date

On June 19th I was declared the mother of London Laura Sofiya Clark. The only problem was I would have to wait 10 days to get her. That meant I would be coming back home again without her but I knew that I wouldn't have to wait 3 months before I saw her again. On this trip London was at "Summer Camp" by the Baltic Sea. When we arrived it was very cold hence the snowsuit. We discovered that the little Russian Princess was starting to walk but only if you held her hands. She still just wanted to sit on our laps and be cuddled. The hour went by very fast and once again we would leave her. The best part was that she still remembered me!

May 26, 2008 Another day I won't forget!

Waiting and waiting and waiting can really get to you. Especially when well meaning people ask you if you have heard anything. I decided to make a game of it and count how many times in a day I was asked that question. 20 times in a period of 4 hours was the record! Even though I tried to make a game of it I felt like I was being beat down and I would never get up again. I knew that God had not left me so I just kept asking Him for the strength to get through it and that is exactly what He would do. He would give me enough strength to get through the day and the next day if I would ask Him for it. On Monday, May 26th my little girl turned 14 months. I tried not to dwell on the fact that another month had gone by and I was not with her. I tried to look at it as yet another day closer to bringing her home. As I was looking at the sky I just started talking to God and told Him I don't know how much longer I can go on like this but you do so I will go through it. I decided enough was enough and I had to get busy getting things done around my house. At 2:03 my phone rang and it was Arna. She asked if I was sitting down and I said that I would be. "We have a court date for you, June 19th!" I was in shock and repeatedly thanked her over and over. As soon as I was off the phone I repeatedly thanked God over and over! While this process is not over, I know He has seen it through to completion. Trusting Him has been a lesson for me that I'm still learning. Looking back on it all had it not gone the way He wanted it to go, I would have never gotten this particular little girl and she is the one He wanted me to have. Waiting and waiting and waiting has been the best thing in my life!

March 27, 2008 a day I will never forget!

We were picked up at 9 that morning to go to the Ministry of Education to get my referral. While I was waiting to go in, Viktor arrived with the medical information on London. We found out that she was/is perfect! What a load off my shoulders. Once I got the referral I was then immediately taken to meet my daughter, who was known as Sofiya. Jayne and Kristin were both allowed to see her too which we just praised God for that answered prayer.

I don't remember them putting her in my arms. I remember her laying her head against my cheeck as I sang to her. When I stopped singing she looked up at me. She didn't cry at all when they put her in my arms. She had just turned 1 the day before so we sang happy birthday to her. All along I have said that God knew in my heart what I wanted. It is like being married to the perfect husband that knows your heart so well and gives you this gift that is far beyond what you'd ever expect or imagine. That is what God does. This is why I had to wait so long because He knew. He Knew!

8 MD

We were picked up at 8 the next morning. Oksana our translator was with Viktor. I just wanted to hug her because she could speak English. She was/is great. We then went to the building where I would have the 8 MD done. I was more concerned about having my blood drawn because I'm a hard stick. However, that was the first thing that they did and she got the blood on the first stick!!!! Then I had tea and cookies! The rest of the exams were very easy. Nothing bad at all. Then the head doctor said that I looked Russian and that I would make a good Mamma!
We had bible study every night which for me put the day into perspective. We did Beth Moore's bible study A Woman's Heart God's Tabernacle. It was really neat to have Kristin's 17 year old opinion but more then that it was just wonderful to share with each other. That night we prayed that Jayne and Kristin would get in to see London because they had told us there might be a chance that they wouldn't. I also had break down number 2 then. We just believed that God would come through for us.

St. Petersburg Russia

We arrived in St. Petersburg on the 25th March. Ok I was nervous because I was going to meet my daughter. Deep in my heart I knew that she was going to be perfect but still you have those doubts that creep in. I also had to have my 8 MD done which was another thing that I was nervous about. Oh, not to mention that I was traveling to a foreign country where most/all of them don't speak nor understand English. The closer we got to St. Petersburg the sicker I was getting. Yep, I had to use the bag on the airplane!! That was the first time I have ever had to do that! Once we landed I was still sick but not as bad. Now we had to go through customs. We made it through just fine and then the task was to find Viktor our driver. I went to the information booth no Viktor so I had the lady call the number. Well, Viktor was there we passed him several times. We loaded into Viktor's car and off we went. Did anyone say that Russians drive crazy! We loved it. It was snowing in St. Petersburg and was dark and gloomy. I'm sure that also didn't help the way that I was feeling. We got to our hotel and we managed to stay up unitl 9 so that we could get on their time schedule. The next morning would be the 8 MD!