Some pictures from Vlad...

Some pictures from Vladivostok...

Trying to keep busy

Since we wont see our little one until Monday, we decided to enjoy the day exploring Vladivostok. Luckily, we still had our map from last time and went exploring. We ventured into a few shopping centers. The Clever House shopping center was great. We bought a few Russian trinkets (Christmas ornament, gifts for folks, etc..), some wooden Russian toys for our little one, chocolates for folks back home (really tasty!) and then enjoyed lunch at a Korean place, which was the best meal we have had all week. Because Vlad is so close to Korea / Japan, there is a heavy Asian influence here.

Was a nice walk, and now we are relaxing before dinner. Tomorrow we will explore some more. 1 down, 9 to go in our 10 day wait!

Randy & Maggie

Court successful!

Well, after making it thru the 8 doctor medical, today we made it thru court. Our court lasted approx. an hour or so, and was successful! The judge and prosecutor were nice, but asked detailed questions ensuring that we really understood what we are getting ourselves into.

Now, we have to wait the 10 days to get her. After the 10 day wait, we will post more information. Thank you everyone for your support over this period....the love of our friends, blogging community, and family has really helped us get thru this process! Thank you everyone and more to come!

- A happy family

Here we are

Well, we made it to Russia. Got to visit her yesterday and she has grown! Walking on her own, playing with toys, and can point to things. She was scared of us, but that's expected. We are nervous about court on Friday, but will try and stay positive.

Question...when we visited her she had what looked like bug bites on her face and hands. They put blue stuff on it and told us it wasnt scabbies or chicken pox. Another little girl that we saw also had the blue stuff. Assume it was for the itching, but anyone else seen or heard of this? Thoughts? Thx

-Randy and Maggie

We are finally leaving this week!!!!!

Our suitcases are packed and we are ready to go. My sister will come over and clean the house for me and will also do groceries for us so we don't return to an empty refrigerator.My mom said she will make a us all kinds of food like chicken cutlets and potatoes. I have such an amazing family who is always going out of their way to help us out.We are excited,scared ,nervous,just all these emotions running through us. we are 99% sure things will go well but there is always that 1% that something can go wrong. We will be so happy after it's all over and maybe finally we can get some good night of sleep. So that's about that. I will try to write and keep everyone posted once we are there..............................Talk to all of you later.....Please pray for us!!!!

Got our visas!!!!!!

We are so very excited...I just cant wait to finally hold her and kiss her. It feels like we have been waiting forever for this moment to happen. I just cant wait to share photos and especially her name with everyone. We are nervous for the court and it will be a huge relief when it's finally over. We received our visas today so that makes it one step closer....we will have a baby shower when we get home. We didn't want to be disappointed if something went wrong. We will enjoy the baby shower after she is in our arms till than we are still cautious.we pretty much got everything ready the baby gates are up and we also made her a doctors appt. Our families are really excited of meeting her especially nieces and nephews. My nephew told me that he will share all the toys with her,well we shall see about that one. that's about it for now. We are taking a laptop with us so hopefully I can write when we are there. wish us luck!!!!

Hope

* If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you still have hope.

* If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower, then you still have hope.

* If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, then you still have hope.

* If the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.

* If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope.

* If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.

* If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, then you still have hope.

* If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips, then you still have hope.

* If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you still have hope.

* If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope.

* If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, then you still have hope.

* If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.

* If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, then you still have hope.

* If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.

* If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you still have hope.

* If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the turkey, then you still have hope.

* If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope.

* If you can look to the past and smile, then you still have hope.

* If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase...."yeah....BUT.." then you still have hope.

* Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

* Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.

* Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

* Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

* Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.

* NEVER LOSE HOPE!


[ by: Brenda K. Hager Copyright © 2005 -- submitted by: Brenda K. Hager ]