Meeting Sasha and Stella

We are proud to announce we are ADOPTING two beautiful children from Kazakstan. They are a brother, Sasha (Alex) who is 11, and his sister Stella, who is 8.

Kazakhstan is part of what used to be Russia on the Southern tip next to China for those of you that wondered where it is. There is a program here in the U.S. called Kid Save that has a Summer Miracles program that is basically summer camp for the kids. They come over here for 5 weeks and stay with host families to have fun and see the U.S. and what it is like here. However, it is a covert operation to find families for these precious kids. Many of the kids figure it out along the way.

In Kazakhstan there is a high amount of orphans and many orphanages. These kids are only allowed to stay in the orphanage until they are 16 then they are put out on the streets to fend for themselves. These kids are hand picked to be brought here in hopes of finding a family.

We did not get to meet them until three days before they left and we prayed God would make it clear to us if they were for us and vice versa. Kelley had a feeling about them before we met them from seeing their picture and also seeing them at a get together picnic 5 days before they left. Our first official meeting was more than either of us could have imagined. We met Stella first and she was very fun loving. She loves dogs and played the piano for us. Sasha, who had been very stoic and reserved shocked their host mom, Robin, by how talkative, outgoing and relaxed he seemed. He even bragged to us that he attended the Gymnasium in Kazakhstan which is an elite school for advanced students and that he made straight A's. Apparently, they had met several families while they were here and he did everything he could to sabatage each meeting being non-communicative.

After we "talked" to them through a Russian translator they left to go swimming. Robin came over with tears in her eyes and said we were the ones she had been praying for because she had never seen such a transformation. Sasha and Stella's host parents, Robin and Alex and their three kids, have been incredible for us and welcomed us into their home until the wee hours. We have become fast friends and it is like we have been a part of their life for a long time. The next few days were a blur of having them over to the house and late nights at the Robin and Alex's house until finally seeing them, tearfully off to Kazakhstan at the airport. It was beyond anything we have ever experienced. The kids realized we were wanting to adopt them and they let us know in no uncertain terms they were ok with it too. Sasha told Anny, their russian-american friend, "We are getting the best family and they are young and fun." Then before he left at the airport he told another russian-american girl, "Don't cry. We have a family and they are doing paperwork and I am coming back." Stella just stood there with big crocodile tears that would melt any heart. In her backpack she had stuffed everything she could into it including pictures of us and her fun times here. Her backpack weighed about 50 lbs and nearly toppled her small frame.

So now we are knee deep in paperwork. We have all but finished our homestudy in record time and are believing for God's far and beyond favor to get them back here quickly. Historically it takes 6-9 months. Garrett is pulling for Christmas! We would love any comments or feedback you might have. Please keep us in your prayers. We are praying and preparing for this next big adventure in our lives. We value your love and support. We are very excited and praise God for these incredible gifts.

Love you all,
Garrett and Kelley