Meeting the Boys

      I am so glad we were finally able to make this trip!  We've been waiting for too long to get our hands on our boys and kiss them and hug them!  It was a quick trip, but a good one.  Everything went really well and we had a great time.
     We got to meet the boys on Monday.  We first had to meet with the orphanage director, the doctor, psychologist, and a few other orphanage workers.  They asked us questions about ourselves and gave us information on the boys.  We had a liaison from the adoption agency with us that helped us through the process there in Wroclaw and translated for us.  Some of the Polish people speak some English, but not much.  After the meeting, we were able to meet with the boys in their room and play with them.  We brought a small toy for each one.  They were shy at first, but soon became the active boys that we had heard about.  We spent a few hours playing with them before it was time for them to go to lunch.  We were able to spend time with them again Tuesday and Wednesday morning.  On Wednesday we took them out to the playground. It was great to run around and have fun with them.  They are very busy little boys! 
       The oldest boy is very smart.  We taught him 3 English words before we left.  He enjoys going to school, singing, and laughs easily.  The middle one loves having books read to him, pretend cooking, and digging in the dirt.  The youngest loves dumping all of the toys on the ground and imitating his brothers.  He doesn't talk much, so speaking English will be his first language.  The other two speak only Polish. 
      I was able to get their height and weight and clothing and shoe sizes.  I can now go through and sort the clothes that have been donated to us. They wear the sizes we expected so we should be able to use most of the clothes we have.  I just need to figure out if we have enough shirts and pants in each size.   I also traced their feet so we can get the correct shoes for them.  The oldest two boys asked for shoes that light up!  The little one's shoes kept falling off.  I can't wait to get him some shoes that fit.  They are also in need of hats and gloves.  For those of you that have asked, I will be registering at Target in the next few weeks.  If you would like to help out, we would really appreciate it!
      I really wish I could show you all the pictures that I took of the boys because they are so cute!  Since I can't post those, here are so pictures of us around the town in Wroclaw, Poland.  It is a beautiful town!

Eating Polish Perogies

Kevin and a Wroclaw Gnome

Me and some Gnomes

Fountain in the Market Square

 

Town Hall in the Market Square

 

 

     It was really hard to leave the boys, knowing that we wouldn't be seeing them again for a few months.  As hard as that was, it was even harder seeing the little boys and girls that didn't have mommies and daddies coming back for them. The orphanage has soft beds, warm food, and nice caregivers but that doesn't replace a loving home with parents that love them.  I'm so glad that three little boys will no longer be orphans soon.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for their lives.

 

 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” – Jeremiah 29:11

 



 

 

4,590 Miles

   
      We're going to Poland!  In two weeks we'll be traveling to Poland to meet our little boys!  We will be able to be with them for a few days.  This is just a short first trip.  We will then come back and wait a few months before we go back and bring them home for good.   Please pray for us as we continue this journey!

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.        Psalm 121:8     

 

 

Getting Closer

  We received our approval to travel from Homeland Security!  I thought we were going to have to have our fingerprints taken again, but they hadn't expired, so we were able to skip that part.  Our agency has been working with Poland to finalize our requirements.  We need just one more quick form (it's always one more thing...) and then we should receive our travel dates.  At this point it looks like we will be taking our first trip at the beginning of September.  I will update you when we have final arrangements.   Please be praying for this initial meeting to go smoothly and for our funding.  Thanks so much!





“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west… Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 43:5-6

Not Yet

I want to thank everyone for the prayers, clothes, toys, and well wishes. We are overwhelmed by your generosity!  Kevin and I are working on getting things together for kids when we bring them home.  Unfortunately it will be a while longer before we are able to go meet them.  We found out at the end of last week that we will be delayed for a bit.  Since we had our home study updated, we have to get our biometric fingerprints taken again.  This is a lengthy process that includes sending our revised home study off to the federal government, then waiting for a response with an appointment and then waiting for a letter of approval.  This can take up to two months. We are praying that it won't take that long this time since it is an update to the original approval.  We will let everyone know when this process is done and we finally have approval to go to Poland.  Thanks again for praying with us!

God Sized Opportunity

Since we received the call, we have been busy as bees!  I just want to start out by saying thanks so much to everyone for the well wishes, support, clothing, and offers of boy's stuff!  We have such great friends and family!  We couldn't do this without you.

In the past few weeks we have updated our fingerprints, homestudy, and child abuse clearances.  It seems like we had just finished doing all of that, but it had been a year and some things needed to be resubmitted. 

We are still finishing some of these things, so we do not have our first travel dates yet.  We are hoping to go as soon as possible, but it is all in God's timing.   We can't wait to meet our sons!

As we are preparing for the trip, I am working on applying for grants.  I was just going over the costs we have paid so far, the upcoming costs, and our current savings amount.   We are very, very short of what we will need to bring three boys home.  This is where God comes in.  If I were only relying on what Kevin and I could do, I would be having a small panic attack right now.  But we know that we cannot do this on our own.  These are God's children and if He wants us to care for them, then He will supply all our needs.  This is by far the biggest God opportunity that I have ever experienced.

Here is where you can help us.  Will you pray with us that God meets our needs?   I know that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, so this is nothing to Him!  Please pray that the funds I apply for are granted.  Please pray that God uses this opportunity to show that He still moves in ways we could never imagine.  Please pray that these little boys will be able to come home soon.

I can't wait to see what God is going to do! Thank you!


Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20-21

3 Less Orphans

Chip takes his new job very seriously

Yesterday Kevin and I accepted a referral for 3 children!  We are very excited!  When the agency called and asked if we would consider 3 little ones, our answer was a very enthusiastic yes!  I cannot reveal much information about them or release any pictures of them until they are officially ours, but I can tell you that they are absolutely adorable. 

We are currently updating paperwork.  It seems like we just finished the paperwork, but now our home study, medical forms, and fingerprints have to be updated.  When that is complete, we will receive our travel dates.  In a few weeks, we will be going to Poland for a few days to meet the little ones.  We get to visit with them and get to know them a little bit.  We will then come home for a few months, and go back when we have our court date.   I'm sure the time will go fast and slow all at once!

Some of you may have questions about their history and how they came to be orphans.  We appreciate the interest and concern, but we will keep the children's information private.  It is their story to tell and if they want to tell it someday, they will.   Until then, please keep them in your prayers as they deal with their changing circumstances.

Our heads are swimming as we now get to prepare our house for 3 more!  We are working on getting rid of some furniture and moving in some twin beds.  We also thinking about clothing and toys and everything that goes with 3 growing kids! All of this just got very real.  They are no longer a hope and a dream, but live little human beings.  Pray for us as we make this transition and start to prepare!

Tonight we are thanking God that there are 3 less orphans in the world.

"And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." 

                                                                    Matthew 18:5

Wesołych Świąt

Christmas in Warsaw

Wesołych Świąt is how you say "Merry Christmas" in Polish.   Well, that's how you spell it anyway... don't ask me to pronounce it for you....

I'll keep this post short and sweet since everyone is busy and there isn't much to tell.  We are just waiting for the phone call. We won't know anything until we receive a call that says we have been matched with our children.  So we are spending this Christmas season praying for them and asking God to let them know they are loved and we are coming for them soon. 

 

 

Until then, here are some Polish Christmas decorations and traditions.

 

 

 

This is a Polish Christmas star. Isn't it pretty?  They are made in all sorts of colors and hung on the tree or in windows.  I've seen instructions on how to make them, but have not been brave enough to try it yet.

 

 

Another Polish Tradition is the Star Supper on Christmas Eve:

After sunset, the youngest child is sent to watch for the first star. This is why the wigilia dinner is also known as the Star Supper. Only then are the candles on the table lit and the dinner begun. But not a morsel is eaten before the "breaking of the oplatki."

The eldest family member takes the oplatek wafer, breaks it and shares it with the next eldest with wishes for good health and prosperity, and a kiss on each cheek. Each person then exchanges oplatek with everyone else at the table. It can be a very emotional time as grudges are forgotten and deceased family members are remembered.

Some Poles share a pink-colored oplatki with the household (and barnyard) animals because they were the first to greet the Baby Jesus at midnight. The animals also receive a taste of every course of the meal mixed in with their feed.

Instead of sending Christmas cards to friends and family not present, Poles send oplatki, first tearing off a small corner to show that the donor has broken it with them as a token of affection.

The full story can be found here http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/christmaseve/a/Polishxmas.htm

 

 

 

Wesołych Świąt from the Beach Family!

 

 

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”