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Our last day with our Maria

We were stretching out our gifts, but we decided to bring everything with us for the last day.  We had mini coloring books, stickers and toys for all the kids.  They were like joyful ants who just tasted sugar, milling about excitedly with smiles on their faces, clutching their gifts.
Not just Maria this time!

We had stopped at the store to buy some animal crackers to make it almost like a party.  Maria helped me pass them all out, and the kids chomped merrily as they scoped out each others gifts.  They were so kind and thankful.

Oh, our sweet Gliep.  We just love this child.

 
Angel Girl

 Today was the day Maria received her hair accessories, from Papa.  “Spaseba Papa,” she smiled at him.

It’s official, she’s a size 6x!

We gave Maria the letter from her Auntie, Uncle and Cousins.  “We love you Maria and can’t wait to meet you.”

“Can you play with us?” the other kids begged us.

“We can’t today,” we told them.

“We need to talk to her today about how you guys have to leave,” Dasha told us.  “I’ll help translate.”  We went outside to be alone with her, and I pulled out a jewelry kit I got at target.  We started making the charms together, all of us, and told her we had something to talk to her about.

“Maria, we love you very, very much.  Mama and Papa are working very hard to bring you home so that you can be with your family.  Tomorrow, Mama and Papa have to go home on an airplane, because the law here says we can’t bring you home yet.  But listen to us, we will be thinking about you every single day, and we will be asking God to take care of you, and we will be getting your room ready.  It’s going to feel like a really, really long time honey.  Our hearts will hurt without you with us, and right when it feels like it’s almost been too long, you are going to look outside, and guess who is going to be knocking on the door, ready to come get you.”

“Mama and Papa!” she said, happy.
 

She was happy!  She understood, she knew.  Her heart had been being prepared.

“Who is going to be thinking about you everyday, and will get on a plane and travel the world for our sweet girl, our precious daughter so, so soon?”

“Mama and Papa.”

“Who do Mama and Papa love so, so much?”

She looked at us.  First me, then Andrew, and looked down.

“Me,” she said softly, her smile wide.

We went upstairs and drew pictures of our family since we couldn’t print any pictures of the three of us.

She always draws herself blonde

 We put the pictures in her locker, and wrote, “We love you Maria!  We will be back soon!” in English and in Russian.  (Thank goodness we had given her that Hello Kitty glitter glue!)

God’s gift to us.  A treasure worth the search, worth any “sacrifice” and worth the wait.  Our angel.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20

Look out California!

Maria put her hands on mine and told me something in Russian. 

“I’m sorry baby, I don’t understand,” I said, sad.  “Is ok, mama!  I lurn inglish!  Fon, two free, four FIVE!” she said proudly to cheer me.

That girl :’)

She remembered the numbers we were practicing in the car.

We took her in our arms, and I burried my face in her cheek to give her a kiss.  “We will be back soon,” I whispered.  She grabbed both of our hands and we walked out, towards the car.  The other kids saw us leaving and RAN as fast as they could to meet us.  They ran to the gate and jumped and waved and blew kisses.  “DASVIDANA!!!  BYE!  DASVIDANA!!” It was a loud roar from the kids.

“BYE BYE BYE BYE!!!!!!!”

“Bye mama and papa”

Oh my heart.  Those children are incredible.

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” 
 Ephesians 3:17-19

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  • Rebecca Higgins June 20, 2012, 10:52 pm

    I know these goodbyes were difficult. I’ve been thinking of you and praying for God’s peace to surround each of you. May He speed the red tape process so that you can soon bring your Russian angels home, and may He indeed watch between all of you while you are absent from one another. You will all be in my prayers. Thank you for sharing your journey!

    • The Tiny Team June 22, 2012, 3:01 am

      Thank you so much Rebecca for your prayers, I have seen prayers move mountains this week. Yes, the darn red tape, we pray that the time is SHORTENED!!

      xo,
      Amy

  • Squiggly Rainbow June 20, 2012, 11:09 pm

    Praying for you all to have strength in his coming time Amy and that all the officialdom goes very quickley! I feel so blessed to read your journey and can only pray one day we will be blessed in Australia to adopt. xxx

  • Holly June 21, 2012, 1:19 am

    Oh my heart!! Your daughter has such a gentle grace and maturity about her. What a treasure Amy! Oh that God would choose YOU out of all the Mommies in the world for this young princess of His! 🙂 What a blessing! This has SO ministered to my heart as we just received our I800 approval yesterday and hope to leave for China for our almost 7 yr old daughter in August. I am so glad you found your daughter…and that she found you. Baby too, but this older one just really really touched my heart. so many hungry hearts for love and acceptance. Oh Lord Jesus, send us out!!! Here we are Lord, send US, use US!! Love,Holly

    • The Tiny Team June 22, 2012, 3:02 am

      You’ve got it right! Gentle grace and maturity is so her! She continues to amaze us with each passing day!

  • Kara June 21, 2012, 2:22 am

    How beautiful and heartbreaking. Thank you so much for sharing.

  • Elle Bee June 21, 2012, 3:29 am

    Those last pictures are heartbreaking–but so beautiful. The whole thing Amy. I’m just so happy for you!

    • The Tiny Team June 22, 2012, 3:03 am

      Thank you so much! I know you know first hand! You’re daughter is amazing, she always stood out to me as very special!

  • Kimberly Dumlao June 21, 2012, 3:59 am

    It must be so hard to go home without your kids, but at least it isn’t for too long.

  • my family June 21, 2012, 1:33 pm

    i just found your blog and so glad I did. I cant imagine how hard it is to leave but you all will be a family together very soon. Your children are precious and what a nice addition too:) congratulation!

  • Lisa L. June 21, 2012, 3:15 pm

    I wish that there were less trips. Such a shame that she has to spend one more day without you.

  • thiscrazyhope June 22, 2012, 10:20 am

    So sad… Praying for Maria & Eljiah hope that they don’t have to wait too long to be in your arms again!

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