Trying to Do the Next Right Thing: Diving In

Week one down, as of today.

We have been having a GREAT time!

Lena is a blessing to our family, really a gift, and I don't use words like that lightly. There is SO much I want to say about our time with her so far, things I've noticed about our family that I hadn't noticed before because I am seeing things through her eyes; ways our family does things that I didn't realize were there until we started incorporating another person into the fold (good and not so good); info that we've learned about where she's from and some about what her life is like.. I want everyone who is supporting us and encouraging us to know all of these things!

HOWEVER. I'm going to stick to little bits at a time because it's really a lot and I don't even have complete thoughts for most of it. I do hope that over the course of the month she's here you all will get to be with us -virtually and in person- while we are doing our best to look for where God is leading us. Right now the bottom line for me is that the bigger perspective - God is doing something here- is more helpful in orienting me how to even think about Lena having being plucked out of an orphanage in Eastern Europe where she has been since she was three and placed into our family for a month. She has never been in a family. She has never been to America and seen such abundance. She hasn't experienced true family relationships where we love each other in the midst of arguments and laughter, eat together and want to know each other (most of the time anyway, for both of those). But now she is HERE. In our house. A part of all of it! I don't believe it is an accident, I do believe it's pretty amazing.

Lena is very funny, playful, easy going, sweet, excited about most things (not so much about getting up early to go to a dive meet, or getting up before 8 really) and just really present. Right now she is in the basement with Freddie watching The Hunger Games in Russian (FINALLY we have found a movie in Russian! Nothing even has Russian subtitles), yelling out in Russian at the television, laughing, gasping, it is just the best. Freddie and I feel like we are watching a baby we just brought home experience all of these firsts, it is a really joyful time right now.

I am also not kidding myself that it is going to be this easy all month. We are all definitely still settling in. SO in light of all of the settling in that is happening and will continue to happen, if you are a friend who prays, one of my prayer requests would be that we would stay aware and tuned in to how Alexa is doing, as she seems to be having the biggest adjustment with less one on one time and attention in general. Also, prayer that over the course of the month Freddie and I would come to both have real clarity on if we are to pursue a conversation about adoption with her. This is not something we are taking lightly, obviously, and I really want to be in a place where I know I am willing to make the sacrifices that would come with that invitation. On the flip side would be that Lena would hear God's whispers in her heart so she can be prepared for whatever the end of the month conversation looks like as well.

WHEW. That was more than I intended in one sitting. Thanks for asking me how things are going and for your encouragement and wisdom. We are feeling the love.

XOXO
Andrea

PS. A few of you have asked for what we need at this point. We would love for Lena to get a chance to hang out with another teenage girl (Lena's a very young 15). We are trying to find some books for her to read in Russian but have not had much luck, unless we want to pay $65 for the hunger games on Amazon. Finally, we could use some small crafts or a project, maybe a scrapbook or something, for her to work on when she has down time if anyone has extra supplies laying around that you'd be willing to give her.
THANK YOU!!

Here are some recent pics!