Friends, family and supporters....
Randy and I have a few updates to share with you... exciting things are happening, even if they are at a slow pace. We have started our dossier paperwork with the adoption agency and have begun our Home Study (which is really the next step to getting closer to the adoption.) The home study (HS) is very intensive. We will be meeting with the counselor at least twice for a few hours each time. We will have to complete physicals, fingerprints, background checks, blood work, order orginals of every document that says who we are and more.
We are in touch with many families that are currently in the process of adopting from the orphange that Valya is at. However we still have not made any additional contact with Roxy. We continue to pray for them both and espcially for Roxy. That she is safe and doing well.
It is an uncertain time in Ukraine and we are hoping to get these girls home to us sooner than later. Please help us by sharing our story with your friends, family and coworkers and asking them to consider donating to our girls future life her in America.
I had an idea that would be great for anyone to run at their school or place of business....It would be called 'Change their lives'...and we would just collect the change that people have in their pockets or lying around their house. Though our fundraising goal is big, every dime and penny make a difference. If you would like to run this event, just let me know and I will get you whatever you need!
We are also in the stages of planning a fund raising silent auction event. It would include desserts, dancing and a date night! Stay tuned for more info on the evening event.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!!
I have a shout out to MARIA HEISER for her continued support by baking and selling her incredibly professional cupcakes. She makes a new flavor each month and only has a limited supply and then donates the money to bringing our girls home. Really a caring friend! Flavor of the month for March was Grasshopper and she is alrealy sold out. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing them next month!
If you are interested in fundraising or have any ideas, please let me know.
Please share our fundraising site:
https://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/roxy-and-valya-are-coming-home-/116607
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Face to Face with Valya
So excited. On Friday we were able to Skype face to face with Valya. She was able to give us a phone number for Roxy so we will be able to call her with an interpreter soon. It was great to talk to her and see her face again. One of the teachers at the orphanage can speak English fairly well and was able to help us communicate with her. She seemed a little shy but what can we expect.
She said she missed us and that's good enough for us!
Thank you for your love and prayers! We are so blessed!
She said she missed us and that's good enough for us!
Thank you for your love and prayers! We are so blessed!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Our fundraising site is up...
Yeah, our fundraising site is up and running....please spread the word with friends, co-workers, neighbors, facebook, twitter, your email friends...
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/roxy-and-valya-are-coming-home-/116607
We appreciate your support everyday and we're praying for each one of you with thankful hearts!!
Check back soon...
http://www.youcaring.com/adoption-fundraiser/roxy-and-valya-are-coming-home-/116607
We appreciate your support everyday and we're praying for each one of you with thankful hearts!!
Check back soon...
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
And 2 more... makes 7!!!
With joyful hearts this Christmas Season we are thrilled to announced that we are beginning the process to adopt our two sweet girls from Ukraine!!
12 months ago...almost to the day, an email from a close friend changed our lives forever. This email asked for a family to commit to hosting two young girls from Ukraine, when the original host family could no longer do it...24 hours later, we were set up to host these girls. Though we did not know what had just signed up for, we just felt it was the right thing to do. God provided the opportunity and means to do it! That was even more prevalent as the support we received was amazing! We provided a loving home Roxy and Valya for 5 weeks over Christmas. The day they left to return to Ukraine will forever be burned in my heart. There were so many tears shed... We talked about and even considered adopting after that first visit but just felt that the timing wasn't right for our family. Yet, a few months later, the opportunity to bring them back for the summer was upon us. It was really a no-brainer...the girls were coming back!! We could at least provide that for them!
So we hosted again for the 5 weeks in summer and when that ended and we sent them home...we knew that we would not be able to continue hosting them. At $6000 a visit, there was just no way to continue. However, we knew in our hearts that would not be the last time we saw them.
The opportunity to adopt all changed when Randy received a promotion that would allow us to move near family. Though we love it here in Wausau, having family near was exactly what God planned in this whole journey.
So....After many discussions, lots of tears and plenty of conversations with God....we have decided to pursue our two girls from Ukraine for adoption.
It's a reassuring blessing to know that God has the plan, even before you know it. The plan started 5 years ago with the journey to Wausau...an incredibly tough decision that blessed us more than we could have ever dreamed. He gave us irreplaceable friends that have significantly impacted our lives, our faith and our children. A school and a neighborhood that we love. And the right people to plant the seeds in our hearts, to step up and seize the chance to love on someone else's kids just when they needed it!
Wow, God is good! Follow us on our blog!!! We will post the updates often. We know the adoption process is not easy so we ask for many prayers as we complete this journey to bring our girls home!
Look for our fundraising site info soon! If you usually donate to a charity during the Holidays, please consider donating to bring our girls home! You will be able to follow us on the blog and you will feel blessed knowing exactly what you contributed to!
Thank you for your all your prayers and kindness and support!
Love, Randy, Deanna and family
12 months ago...almost to the day, an email from a close friend changed our lives forever. This email asked for a family to commit to hosting two young girls from Ukraine, when the original host family could no longer do it...24 hours later, we were set up to host these girls. Though we did not know what had just signed up for, we just felt it was the right thing to do. God provided the opportunity and means to do it! That was even more prevalent as the support we received was amazing! We provided a loving home Roxy and Valya for 5 weeks over Christmas. The day they left to return to Ukraine will forever be burned in my heart. There were so many tears shed... We talked about and even considered adopting after that first visit but just felt that the timing wasn't right for our family. Yet, a few months later, the opportunity to bring them back for the summer was upon us. It was really a no-brainer...the girls were coming back!! We could at least provide that for them!
So we hosted again for the 5 weeks in summer and when that ended and we sent them home...we knew that we would not be able to continue hosting them. At $6000 a visit, there was just no way to continue. However, we knew in our hearts that would not be the last time we saw them. The opportunity to adopt all changed when Randy received a promotion that would allow us to move near family. Though we love it here in Wausau, having family near was exactly what God planned in this whole journey.
So....After many discussions, lots of tears and plenty of conversations with God....we have decided to pursue our two girls from Ukraine for adoption.
It's a reassuring blessing to know that God has the plan, even before you know it. The plan started 5 years ago with the journey to Wausau...an incredibly tough decision that blessed us more than we could have ever dreamed. He gave us irreplaceable friends that have significantly impacted our lives, our faith and our children. A school and a neighborhood that we love. And the right people to plant the seeds in our hearts, to step up and seize the chance to love on someone else's kids just when they needed it!
Wow, God is good! Follow us on our blog!!! We will post the updates often. We know the adoption process is not easy so we ask for many prayers as we complete this journey to bring our girls home!Look for our fundraising site info soon! If you usually donate to a charity during the Holidays, please consider donating to bring our girls home! You will be able to follow us on the blog and you will feel blessed knowing exactly what you contributed to!
Thank you for your all your prayers and kindness and support!
Love, Randy, Deanna and family
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Up North at the Lake
When we left Grafton, we decided since it was the holiday week, we would head to my parents lake house for the rest of week. There's swimming, s'mores, trampoline, campfires, zipline, kayaking, the farm, fishing, frog hunting and the Yerf Dog, plus more time to spend with Gramma and Papa.
The lake house was a really fun week. It was a relaxing time for all of us and since we all sleep in very close quarters, it was a bonding week for us too. :) The girls got to really experience what it's like to be with a family again.
The kids played, we gave Valya some confidence by assisting her in jumping off the diving board, and I think Roxy got her first experience with driving too.
The Yerf Dog...wheeee!
There is an awesome farmer down the street from my parents lake house and he invites us to come by any time were up north. My mom took the girls and Valya got to see the cows, the kitty's, the chickens and the farm dog. She really had a good time. I assume they are used to seeing farm since they are located in a fairly remote area but who knows.
When we finally headed back home on Saturday, the girls were so happy to go home. I think they loved every minute of the last week but were ready to get back to their own beds and our house.
They have been here 10 days and we have only been at our house for 3 1/2 of those.
The girls seem to have settled back into our family like they never left. It's a heart warming feeling to have them here with us again.
The zipline was fun but "scary!!" They went over and over!
The lake house was a really fun week. It was a relaxing time for all of us and since we all sleep in very close quarters, it was a bonding week for us too. :) The girls got to really experience what it's like to be with a family again.
The kids played, we gave Valya some confidence by assisting her in jumping off the diving board, and I think Roxy got her first experience with driving too.
The Yerf Dog...wheeee!
There is an awesome farmer down the street from my parents lake house and he invites us to come by any time were up north. My mom took the girls and Valya got to see the cows, the kitty's, the chickens and the farm dog. She really had a good time. I assume they are used to seeing farm since they are located in a fairly remote area but who knows.
Swimming with Papa....
When we finally headed back home on Saturday, the girls were so happy to go home. I think they loved every minute of the last week but were ready to get back to their own beds and our house.
They have been here 10 days and we have only been at our house for 3 1/2 of those.
The girls seem to have settled back into our family like they never left. It's a heart warming feeling to have them here with us again.
Monday July 1 - Parties, Fireworks, Roller Coasters and Family
After arriving on Wed, the girls had a day and a half to recover before we headed 2 hours up north to pick up Jacob. The girls were so excited and Jacob did not know when they would arrive, so he was surprised. He was so excited to see them again and now we were all officially together again. 
The girls arrived just in time to head down to see my extended family on Saturday (about a 3 hour drive). They formed quite the relationship with my sister and brother's family and Gramma and Papa. So we headed down for a 4th of July party, fireworks and another family party on Sunday.
They were reunited with many family members and there were plenty of activities to keep them busy. They stayed up late to watch lots of big fireworks both from the city and my brother in law and his friends. They really thought it was cool! It gave them plenty of reasons to snuggle with Gramma, Niki, and some Aunties.
On Monday we headed down to IL to take them to Six Flags Great America. We had taken them on a small coaster at the Mall of America before them flew back to Ukraine last time and they just loved it. It was a thrilling day with lots of roller coasters and fun. They really enjoyed it but by Tuesday we had worn them out.
The girls arrived just in time to head down to see my extended family on Saturday (about a 3 hour drive). They formed quite the relationship with my sister and brother's family and Gramma and Papa. So we headed down for a 4th of July party, fireworks and another family party on Sunday. 
They were reunited with many family members and there were plenty of activities to keep them busy. They stayed up late to watch lots of big fireworks both from the city and my brother in law and his friends. They really thought it was cool! It gave them plenty of reasons to snuggle with Gramma, Niki, and some Aunties. 
On Monday we headed down to IL to take them to Six Flags Great America. We had taken them on a small coaster at the Mall of America before them flew back to Ukraine last time and they just loved it. It was a thrilling day with lots of roller coasters and fun. They really enjoyed it but by Tuesday we had worn them out.
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