Friday, March 29, 2013

Home!

We are home!!

Dealing with jetlag
loving big brothers and sisters
snuggles with Grandma
unpacking

and trying to find our new normal...

We love being home!

Will try to take and post some photos 
in the next couple of days...

 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Visa!

We have the visa!


We will be picked up at 3am
to make our flight out.

We should be home tomorrow afternoon!

We are so excited to get this little guy 
home where he belongs!

Thank you so much for your prayers
for our family during this
season in our lives.

We could not have done this without your support!

Stay tuned for photos of Hannes
in his new home!

 

Monday, March 25, 2013

A whole new life!




Leaving the orphanage for good!!

We had our first US Embassy appointment today
and got the medical exam done as well.

We have one more appointment at the Embassy tomorrow
and then we should be on our way 
home!!


Sunday, March 24, 2013

We made it to Kiev

Kiev had a snowstorm in which 
more snow fell in one day 
than usually falls in this month!

But 

we made it to Kiev
on the train...
and our driver was there to pick us up.

We got to the apartment
to find we had to climb 4 flights of stairs
while carrying our luggage and 
a baby.

Yikes!!

But we did it 
and are here.

We will try to do our medical appointment
and our first Embassy appointment
tomorrow.

But we may not find out until we get there 
that they are closed 
because of the snow.

Please pray that we can accomplish all that we need to
and don't have to alter our flights home.

Thank you.  

As always, we cannot do this
without your prayers.



 

Friday, March 22, 2013

Blessing Upon Blessing...

We got the passport!!  

We will bring Hannes out of the orphanage tomorrow!
Then take the overnight (16 hour) train ride 
to the capital city...

We have booked our flights home 
for Wednesday!

We are so happy!

And thank you for praying for Max,
the little boy who had the crib across from Hannes.
He has come out of surgery 
and is doing well.
They got the best news they could hope for...
a complete repair was possible.

All Glory to God for Max and Hannes's good news today!!


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

US Embassy Appointment

We have an appointment 
at the US Embassy
for 
Monday, March 25!

Please pray that the passport 
arrives on Friday
so that 
we can make this appointment.

If we can do this, we could fly back next Wednesday!

One week and we could be home!

Yay!!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Progress today!

Usually families pick up their court decree 
and get their birth certificates on one day

and

apply for the passport on the next day.

Today we did all three!!

Yahoo!

We are so excited that we accomplished so much today!

Thank you for all of your prayers.
We are so thankful!



Monday, March 18, 2013

I got back!

I got back to Hannes's Country today!

Tomorrow we begin the flurry
of paperwork that allows
us to bring Hannes 
home!

Yay!

Please pray for Max,
he had the crib across the room from Hannes
and was adopted last fall.
He is going into his third 
open heart surgery
this week.

His first two were done in his 
birth country.
There was likely noone he knew who stayed with him.

This time he has a mommy to stay by his side.
To whisper love into his ear.

Pray for Stephanie, his mom, 
as she waits through the surgery,
and sits by his bed 
watching his recovery.

Pray for the doctors to have wisdom
and that this surgery would be successful
and would heal his heart.



Saturday, March 16, 2013

The wait is nearly over...

The ten day wait is nearly over...

I will be flying back
to finish the adoption
tomorrow

We will collect
Hannes's new birth certificate
passport
and a visa to come to the US

and then we fly home...

We are hoping to be finished and home by Easter.

And

tomorrow is Hannes's Second birthday!!

I won't be with him,
but Dan will be bringing a cake for the Nanny's
and a gift
for each child
in the infirmary!

To honor Hannes!

Happy Birthday
Happy St. Patrick's Day

I love you, little one!

Mommy will be back soon!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Traveling Home...

After the court decision
there is a 10 day 
waiting period.

However, holidays (March 8) and Sundays 
don't count.

So we can continue with paperwork 
on March 19.

In light of the wait, 
Julie will be traveling back to California

while Dan remains in Urkaine
with Hannes.
He can continue seeing him every day.

Please pray that all traveling for Julie goes smoothly
and the Dan is not too lonely by himself.

Thank you!!



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Introducing...

Hannes Ruslan van Heerden


He became our son today,

March 6, 2013

We are in love!!








Dan will stay here for the waiting period while I will fly back
to spend a week or so with my other kids.

We can resume paperwork on March 19!!

Praises to God for His generous blessings to us!

 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Court Date!

We have another court date!

Tomorrow
March 6
at 1:45

Please pray that our paperwork 
arrives on the train 
tomorrow

and the court
appointment 
would occur!

Thank you!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Adoption Update

Good news:  He signed the paper.  

Bad news:  The computer system is down 
so it could not be registered.

  :-(  

That leaves us still without a court date.  
Please pray that the computer is up and running tomorrow. 


Sunday, March 3, 2013

New mercy...

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end; 
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 



It has been a long weekend.

But today we hope to hear
when our court date 
will be.

Pray that we continue to look to the Lord
for our strength
whether we hear today
or not. 


Friday, March 1, 2013

Another delay of our court date...

No court on Monday.  

We got word today that there is a paper that 
only one man in this country can sign.  

He didn't sign it.  

Once we have confirmation that he has signed, 
then our translator will talk to the judge 
about getting a court appointment.  
We have no idea when that will be.  

Please pray.
  
We are discouraged with yet another delay.