Last post before we are on Russian soil

I find myself unusually calm today. The morning started with our piles of things strewn about the house not in suitcases, David working, and a mountain of last minute details to complete. Yet somehow, the Lord gave me such a peace that all would come together and anything forgotten would just be that, forgotten. We now have space bagged 15 suitcases of stuff into 4 with 3 carry ons...amazing!

Even the kids are taking it all in stride. Here they are taking in one more game of Risk before we leave...Thank you Reeds they love this game!

I just set up appointments with the pediatrician for Andrew and Kathlena...that was so strange yet it seems so normal at the same time. I suppose it is just one of those "Mom" moments. It is truly sinking in that we are really bringing them home. I catch myself imagining them playing in the yard or at my side in the kitchen...soon very soon.

Thank you sweet friends and family for all of your prayers, emails, calls, and kindness towards our family as we complete the adoption journey and begin the family of 6 journey. We have so much to be thankful for. All for now...until Moscow...Das Va Danya (Russian for Good-bye).

24hrs to go

Okay we are still not packed but, our piles are neat and tidy ready for final inspection tomorrow. David is working tomorrow but will be home early to finish last minute details. Today we received our visas and everything is in order. We also received the rest of our lodging accommodations...we will be in Ark over the Memorial Day holiday as a conference in Moscow is preventing us from lodging until Mon. night. So, we will get to have snow for 9 days...we will be so spoiled when we get back to warm Houston. It will be fun though to spend the time in the city of our Russian babies birthplace.

We will be leaving our house around 6pm for the last time as the 4 of us. We received many jackets tonight for Andrew....thank you sweet GFBC families who are so generous, we are so grateful for the help. Well this is a really short post as I must get some sleep.... will try to post once more before we board our flight. Das Va Danya!

48hrs to take off

Well today I am feeling the pressure of the clock ticking. It is all coming together though. We received part of our hotel/apartment accommodations itinerary today. We will have an apartment on the first leg of the trip in Moscow, the Begovaya. We are hoping to be staying here on Fri and Sat nights then leaving for Ark on Sunday. There just are not many options in Ark so we were unable to book an apartment there but will be staying at a different hotel than our first trip, The Hotel Dvina .

I have been given good reviews from a few other adoptive families who have stayed here. All accommodations for "large" families such as ours (this is actually just the 4 of us, I think with 6 of us we are considered a "huge" family LOL) are difficult so we are going to try a little international camping. We will pack our air mattresses and extra sheets...now this is really the way Shiflet's like to do things. I am already seeing little forts being built from couch cushions...Andrew and Kathlena will quickly find out that we love adventure and rarely stick to the beaten path. We are not sure yet on our accommodations once we leave Ark nor when we will leave Ark. We are hoping to be spending Memorial weekend in Moscow in an apartment if our agency's Russian staff can find one that is available. This would put us in Moscow from May 23-29th so the bulk of our two weeks would actually be in Moscow.

I have not officially started packing yet but we do have our "piles" laid out for inspection. Once it goes in the suitcase it stays there. We discovered today some things we really needed like a jacket for Andrew(hmm...how could we have missed this when it is 85 degrees outside here???) Well, thankfully once again a sweet family from our church has come to our rescue...thank you Bratton Family. Emily, J.Michael, and I headed out to pick up photos for the photo album we show to the court, pick up our raw bars from Jubilee(thanks, these are longs flights--tired of airline food, life savers!), jeans for Andrew, p.j.'s for both kids, small fans for the hotel in Ark(it is still in the 30's there and in the buildings they keep the heat cranked up so fans help it to be less stifling-Thank you Barb for this tip) and two tiny toothbrushes. I even bought children's tylenol to take but, only to use as a last resort. We had to stock up on all the reptile/amphibian food for all of the animals too! Thank you, Stephanie for your willingness to take care of our animals...especially after all of the fun you had with them on our first trip...you are a good neighbor and friend. Okay, well we should have those visas in hand tomorrow and start filling those suitcases. It is really coming together. Praise the Lord for giving us such a peace during this time.

One week, 7 days, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes

I will lay eyes on my babies again for the first time in 3 months. I am enjoying these last days of the 4 of us together. It is sweet time. We also rejoice with each passing day of the re-uniting of Andrew and Kathlena with us. My heart is so full...joy, joy, joy!

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

1 Peter 2:9-10

My cup runneth over...

Today has been one of those days that you just go the Lord is so good and then He amazes you once more. Mother's Day is always special because my precious husband and children are so sweet and generous to me. Our news of travel this week has been made even more special on the heels of Mother's Day. I remember Mother's Day last year so vividly...It was one of the hardest. I was so ready for our adoption to move forward but we were caught in the shut downs, paperwork not arriving, passport delays, etc. I was so discouraged and sad and I could not even understand why...so much to be thankful for with two healthy beautiful children but mourning for my orphaned children I was longing to meet.

The Lord in his perfect timing gave us a precious gift this year 4 days before Mother's Day...it is time for Andrew and Kathlena to be orphans no more and come home to their family 6,000 miles from their birthplace and all they have ever known.

Here is the poem Emily wrote for me:

A Mother’s Love

A Mother’s Love,
What virtuous beauty!
Can such a love exist?
Heedlessness and true nobility,
United in wondrous ingenuity!

A Mother’s eye,
What a wonderful mystery!
Her eye of wisdom misses nothing,
Yet her loving eye is purblind,
For the objects of her love are so often unrefined.

A Mother’s Heart,
Who comprehends?
She whose love knows no bounds,
Time is irrelevant and
Space is non-existent.

Her love stretches beyond the seas,
Her voice is heard in all the nations.
Through ice and snow her love does roam,
Until, at last it finds a home.

Half a world away,
Across the Dvina river,
In the land of the Arctic sun,
Lay two little children waiting,
For their Mama and Papa to come.

They are not of her flesh; they are not of her blood,
But she loves them nonetheless.
And unto them she does proclaim:
“Though you did not grow in my tummy,
You grew in my heart just the same.”

A Mother’s love is a wonderful thing,
A gift sent straight from above.
Oft times I wonder, what was on the mind of God,
When He created a Mother’s love.

-By Emily J. Shiflet

Thank you my dear, sweet, multi-talented, Mommy's right hand, tender-hearted, precious gift of God to me, daughter-Emily.

I was also given a certificate to have Monica Scott make a scripture scroll for our home that I have been wanting. Yeah!!! Thank you, David, Emily, J.Michael, Andrew, and Kathlena. All of this was just before we left for church today.

Then, we arrive at GFBC for the last time as the 4 of us, only to return in 3 weeks as the 6 of us. David has been part of GFBC's leadership training and today David was preaching for the first time...the Lord is stretching us, challenging us, His amazing faithfulness; knowing all of these things would come to pass at the same time, He has carried us this week. My cup was running over with joy and then once again I was washed away by His goodness--At the end of the service our family was called forward, we were prayed over by our Deacon(Terry Cole) and Pastor Paul Renfro and then presented a check for $5000. Dear church, I do not have words to express how your support, encouragement, love, tears, and now this huge financial gift towards our adoption journey has touched the very depths of my soul. The Lord has drawn us in to a greater understanding of His adoption of us through this process and the kind of love you have shown us has been so humbling...absolutely amazing love. You all love these children you have never met; you wait eagerly to meet them and rejoice with us every step of the way. Thank you for your generosity and love towards all of us--you are part of this story that will be told to the generations. To God be the Glory.

Flights booked!! Whew!!!

Okay, it is official we are flying on Singapore airlines straight to Moscow. We leave at midnight on Thurs. May 15th(or 16th since it is midnight!!) We are still working out hotel plans with our agency's staff in Russia but should have that firmed up Tues. of next week. So, we can rest a little easy over the weekend as nothing else can be done til Monday. 6 days to go!

Holding Pattern

Today as I was driving home I noticed planes circling the airport...a holding pattern. We had some pretty significant storms today with lots of rain flooding the streets. I could not help but, be reminded that just like those planes we are in a holding pattern just waiting for the call to land. Well, or in our case take off! Andrew and Kathlena are always on my mind...wondering what they are doing today? did they think of us today or wonder "are they really coming back?" I can't even imagine what is going on in their little minds as they too wait for us to return. I can only hope they some how know we are returning and pray that they are being given the photo album we left behind for them to remember us by.

If you have checked the Arkhangelsk web cam lately you might have noticed that the snow had started to thaw but now it appears a late arctic storm has passed through and again snow on the ground...a winter wonderland. I guess we had better keep those warm coats down we may still need them after all. I wonder though if the Dvina has started to thaw?

Yes! I did a search and found these pictures taken April 20th in Arkhangelsk.

The river is very close to Andrew's Orphanage. I wonder if he has seen it starting to thaw on his walks to school.

We miss you my sweet Archangels! Mommy and Daddy are coming soon.

Kathlena's Bed

David and J.Michael have been working on building Kathlena's bed for a few weekends now. We are nearing completion. We hope to pick up a twin mattress soon and finish the drawers and it will be ready for our Russian Princess who will now be living in the jungle hut.

Here are some pics. of the progress.

Status Quo

David and I had a phone conference with our AAI caseworker this morning to go over our status. All necessary paperwork has been completed at this time and we are awaiting our court date. At this time we are only guessing that we will be traveling some time in May. It is our hope to receive 2 weeks notice as this is the most we would receive but we are better prepared this time since we know what to do with visa's, booking flights, hotels, etc.

We will be traveling this time to Moscow instead of St. Petersberg since we must exit the country through the U.S. Embassy which is in Moscow. Much of our discussion with our caseworker was preparing us for court and explaining the procedure. I have mixed feelings as the court part is intense but at the same time rather short and should be uneventful...none the less it is what finally gives us custody of our two precious Russian gifts. Again I am reminded..."The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1

And so we wait to hear the longed for words...It is time!

Charlie and the snake

As I awoke to the sound of barking today, not unlike other days really because the dogs are usually barking at something but today would be unlike any other. If you are Hank the Cowdog fans this story is going to sound all to familiar to you.

As I was saying Sally Mae...er umm I awoke to the sound of barking. J.Michael aroused quicker than I, ran out to investigate the situation. He quickly gave a report that the dogs had found a snake and not just any snake but a copperhead. I must admit I really did not think that it was a copperhead as we have had false sightings before. J.Michael was quite adimant though and said that Charlie was slinging it in his mouth. I am thinking that this is not good...I then ask J.Michael if the snake was dead and he replied "I think so it has lots of teeth marks in it" but apparently it wasn't because by the time we reached Charlie the snake was gone. Again, I am thinking maybe this was not a copperhead but the infamous "faking death long enough to get away" hognose snake that we have encountered many times in our backyard.

It wasn't long before we had pretty much confirmed it was a poisonous snake of some kind as we found Charlie with his head swelled up like he had eaten a watermelon whole (see pictures above) and it was still in his mouth. He was a little stumbly which gave me great concern so, I ran into the house and put watered down kefir in a suringe(the kind you use to marinate turkeys with) and squirted some in his mouth followed by two children's benedryls (chewable) which I keep on hand only for the dogs. This works for dogs with bee stings as well-another story for another time. Anyway, I didn't have but 2 left and for his size Charlie really needed 4 but I proceeded to grab up some herbal remedies too.

I rubbed clove oil on the puncture wounds...3 total along with thieves spray. I then put some olive leaf tincture in water, using the suringe and gave him several more suringes full of water. By this time he is swelling up nicely...Emily took pictures of course, see above. One of the important things is to give them lots of water to flush out toxins. I also made a poultice of bentonite clay, charcoal, and plantain in mineral oil and held on the wounds. Then I also gave Charlie a suringe of bentonite clay, charcoal and water to draw the poison out from inside and flush it out his system. As I was giving him this I noticed he seemed warm so I reached for my Yarrow and made a tea for him and again gave him this in the suringe. The kids and I prayed over Charlie and waited.

We watched him closely over the next hour and he did not show any signs of worsening so I continued to give him the yarrow tea, bentonite clay water, olive leaf, garlic, and kefir. Amazingly over the next few hours not only was he not getting worse but he was acting like himself and the swelling had gone done considerably. PTL!!!

Some may be thinking...why didn't she just take him to the vet? This did cross my mind especially at the thought of it being a copperhead most likely that bit him. Charlie is almost 10yrs old and has survived some serious illnesses through medical intervention that most dogs do not. I have been working on him for the past 6months to treat him naturally so, I just believed he was strong and that the Lord could heal him through the herbs so that is what I did.

I was called out to the yard again around 3pm when Charlie decided to make sure proper credit was given for his work. He brought us the dead copperhead. Pictured above...he is proud of his work. Mystery solved...it really was a copperhead after all.

I am happy to report that by 8pm , twelve hours later, Charlie is his old self again. He is out on patrol with almost no swelling left at all. He is a good dog and I am so thankful that he rooted out the copperhead and protected us. All in a good days work for the head of the Shiflet Home Security.

.

Charlie back to his old self today(24hrs later) with no signs of the previous days incident. Amazing recovery. PTL!!

Okay, I know this post is not about adoption but one day Andrew and Kathlena will love Charlie too and I thought they would appreciate hearing this story. :)

News from Abroad!!!!

I am so excited to tell that today we received an email from Kathlena's orphanage. Praise the Lord!! They said that "she is waiting for us so much!" and that she has been sick with a respiratory attack but is doing better now. Please pray that she stays healthy.

I have sent another letter and more pictures to her hoping we will get another response. No word from Andrew's orphanage but, we continue to send letters in hopes that he is receiving them; they are just not able to respond to us.

David is in Guadalajara, Mexico but I was able to reach him with the news. We are so grateful to the Lord for this encouragement on the day we left her almost 2 months ago.

The kids and I were doing some research on Archangels history and while searching Google earth we believe we have located Andrew's orphanage via satellite...it is so cool! Take a look Andrew's Orphanage His orphanage is the "H" shaped building closest to the main road. We found the hotel we stayed at and J.Michael and I followed the river recognizing the iron bridge, logging buildings until we came to the turn off for the orphanage. It is truly amazing how much we were able to remember...much of what you saw posted in our video is what we were following to find it. Here is the hotel where we stayed Pur Novolok of course when we were there in Feb. the river is frozen. I am not sure how often the Google earth is updated but the pictures appear to be in the summer time. The hotel we stayed in was easy to spot as it is shaped like a ship and near the Dvina river.

I was reading another friends post who is also adopting and waiting to bring her children home. I was so blessed and convicted by her post on "having joy in this time apart". I must admit I have not felt much joy of late as time seems to move so slowly and the frustration of paperwork has taken hold. I see how my attitude has been very "down cast". Proverbs 12:25 "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5. It was very good to have news from Arkhangelsk and to know something about my Kathlena Hope.

Kathlena's Fish

Emily, J.Michael and I were in Michael's recently shopping for various craft items for projects when we stumbled across a sweet reminder of Kathlena.--

The last day we visited with her at the orphanage we were able to observe her with her group and caretaker. We watched them eat lunch, clean up, and then play a game. The game was a magnetic fishing game. All of the kids were allowed to take turns trying to catch the fish. Kathlena was very excited about this game and loved to try and catch the fish.

While at Michael's J.Michael spotted the very same game. I couldn't believe that over 6,000 miles away we had stumbled on something familiar for Kathlena. Of course we had to buy one thinking it would be a great game for the plane trip home and something to break the ice as she leaves everything she has ever known. We praise the Lord for sweet reminders like this of our precious Russian children...you are always on our minds and close to our hearts. Missing you is so much harder than we ever imagined--we love you and hope to be coming quickly.

Road Trip to Bryan Texas

I wanted to post a special memory of gathering paperwork. This trip was to a special place from David's and my past--Bryan, TX--Gig'em Aggies. We needed to obtain two more certified copies of our marriage license from the county it was filed in. We lived here for the first three years we were married. I asked one of my dear friends, Mitzi Hood and her girls to go with us which made the trip all the more fun. After stopping to pick up the certified copies of my marriage license I took Mitzi and the kids to see the neighborhood that David and I lived in when Emily was little and to the nearby park where I had driven Emily countless miles in her stroller--sweet trip down memory lane from 12yrs ago. We had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the park.

Thank you, Mitzi, Mia, and Abby you helped Emily, J.Michael and I make a sweet memory as we finish our paperwork and wait to bring Andrew and Kathlena home. Here is our trip in pictures.

Hitting the Garage Sales

Today turned out to be a beautiful day...perfect for hitting garage sales. We got a late start but still managed to find some good deals. We found a Little Tikes outdoor playhouse in good shape for a great price and it was even delivered to us! Oh, what fun they will have playing in the yard.

We also found a very nice Eddie Bauer car seat that has way more bells and whistles than when E and J were little. I am amazed at how much has changed...but then it has been almost 10yrs! Well it was a good day to find deals in our neighborhood and all four of us had fun dreaming about having Andrew and Kathlena home soon.

Psalm 40

My prayer for Andrew, Kathlena and all of us during this time of separation:

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me beyond number, my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs on my head; my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt!
Let those be apalled because of their shame who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the LORD takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Psalm 40
(ESV translation, boldface type my emphasis)

Still without Internet

I am back at Panera Bread today to check email and try to get caught up. We are suppose to have another tech out today working on our Internet situation. Please pray that it is fixed today. David has had to spend so much time on this and he has much to catch up on at work. It has been so frustrating for us as time seems to be in short supply right now to get all that we need to get done.

I was able to get my fingerprinting done today and David is trying to get over here today as soon as he can...pray this all works out.

It is hard to believe it has been almost two weeks since we laid eyes on our precious children. We have so much to do so, time seems short but then it seems to be passing so slowly as we look forward to leaving again in 2-3months. We are praying for the Lord's grace and protection over our children...that somehow they know we are coming back for them. It was so hard to explain it to them and just like for us each new day we are not there it is hard to be apart. We do have email addresses for the orphanage that we can send emails to them and hope that they are passed onto them.(again a reason we need our Internet fixed!:))

I made some of my first purchases since being home for Andrew and Kathlena today. Not the usual toys or clothes but a trip to the health food store. I am already thinking of the things they will need to help boost their little immune systems. It was so fun to see all of the options available in powder form that will travel well so we can get started right away. I know I am quite strange but I so look forward to giving them natural, healthy foods and I can't wait to see what the Lord will do to repair and strengthen their little bodies!

We are working on a slide show to post of our pics from the orphanage and video editing is going slow as Daddy is our main video editor but E is learning. It is hard but good to go through all of our pics and video footage. I am so thankful for every moment we were able to record...I am sure we will wear out the tape...(thankfully, we have dvds now, heehee)

Okay, I suppose we are wearing out our welcome here at Panera Bread so, I better go for now and hopefully my next post will be from home. If not there are much worse places to be than Panera Bread....great Caesar salad!