"For I know the plans I have for you..."

In Jeremiah 29:11-14 we read, 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 hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. Over the past several days we have spent some quality time (thanks to Ira's help) talking about our attitude toward adoption and in particular what that means to Inna and Rada joining our family. We made it clear that by adoption into our family it is as if they were born to us flesh of our flesh. They will be fully our kids no less or more than brothers Garrett and Jake. We emphasized that being in a family is not always easy and problems will arise. But as we spoke it struck me that God's plans for these girls is unfolding because He is in the business of healing broken hearts and hearing the crys of the fatherless, and creating beauty from ashes.

Tonight we went to the orphanage and were able to meet privately with Nadia the assistant director of the Yuglegorsck orphanage and she gave us her take on our girls and was very helpful. She gave us some precious photos of both Inna and Rada when they were very young. one excellent photo has Inna, Vika, and Katia together. Inna was so moved that we were able to get these photos. The previous night we went through our photo album introducing them to our large extended families. The girls are so ready to get out and move on with their lives. Ira has been so outstanding. She is not a translator, she is family. Aunt Ira is more in order. She loves these girls and has been used by God at a critical time for both Inna and Rada.

On Sunday Ira translated at church for Cari, David, and Ingrid (I stayed back in bed sick with the flu). I am getting better. Tomorrow night Ira must return to Sevestopol and we will miss her immensely.

Viktor informed us today that we are able to adopt both girls with one court date, he thinks he will know our court date on Wednesday. Please pray for favor with the court authorities
for these girls.

Ray