A morning with our little Malia

Here's a sneak peak! We had a great visit with Malia today. She has gotten a little bigger, I can tell when I pick her up! She seems taller but those cheeks are still there! We played outside again so it was back in the same yellow snowsuit. Today's favorite activity was us pushing her around the paths on a tricycle that was too big for her to reach the peddles. When we would stop for a rest, she would lurch to get us to push more. She would laugh when I would go faster and faster or hit a bump. She is definately going to be our rollercoaster daughter. She also loved when we held her facing us on our lap and dropped her backward and brought her back up again.

We had alot more eye contact than last time. She would look at me when I sang and she was very interested in my nose blowing! She interacted with Scott more than last time and said a few words, in Russian of course.

We have court at 9:30 Monday morning, which is 12:30 am Monday Paducah time. Anya is picking us up at 8:00 am sharp as it takes awhile to get to court. We won't get to go back to the orphanage tomorrow, but on Tuesday, because we will now be considered family, Anya said we can see where she sleeps and eats.

We'll post again tomorrow, when we will officially be a family of 3! Good night from Moscow.

~wendy

Back in Moscow

We have arrived once again in Moscow!  It looks very different.  When we were here in April, the trees were dead and the streets were dirty from the recently melted snow.  Now the grass is green and the trees are showing the first glimpes of autumn.  It's so discouraging that we have missed an entire season. It makes me feel we have missed an entire season of Malia's life.  But very soon, we will have many many seasons with her!


We flew into Moscow and made it through passport control, baggage claim, and customs very quickly.  I searched all the faces for the sweet face of Anya and she waved with a huge smile on her face when she saw us. I practicaly ran to her and hugged her.  She said something about it's been so long and I started crying and asked her why it's been so long.  She teared up herself and said "because of all the vacations.  It's so hard in summer. I'm so sorry."  She was very sweet about the way she said it, almost like she felt my pain too.  She hugged Scott and immeditaly told him he needed a coat.  We laughed.  It's not cold here by our standards but everyone had their winter coats and scarves and here's Scott with a short sleeve shirt on.  Scott assured her he brought one and it was in his bag.  Anya told him he needed to put his coat on when we got to the car.  It cracked me up. She was practically shaking her finger at him.
  
Our driver Vitale wisked us away and into the crazy Moscow traffic.  We caught up with Anya on the drive to the hotel.   Anya told us she went with another family during the summer to Malia's orphange and said "She is big! (With an emphasis on big).  She held her hands to her cheeks and said "she is big, but she has slimmed down some."  I guess that means she has gotten taller.  I sure hope some of those cheeks are still there!!  She couldn't remember if her hair had gotten longer.  Anya is picking us up at 9:15 in the morning to go to the orphanage.  I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HER!!!!!!!  It's so frustrating to be so close to her, but not able to go and visit tonight. We will post more tomorrow about our time with Malia and then the next day after court, we will be able to post pictures of her!
   
~wendy

We have a court date!!!!

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25

Our good news today is our court date has finally been scheduled!!!  Four and a half months will have gone by since meeting our precious daughter, but on September 19th we will be in Moscow for our court hearing.  We will find out at the hearing from the judge when the decision comes into force and will be able to return to pick up Malia from her orphanage.  We will post more info later, but wanted to let everyone know.  We could not be more excited this waiting is coming to an end.  Praise God for our many blessings!!

~wendy

Malia's new room

We need some bright, happy pictures on this blog.  Maybe this will help.  Here are finally some pictures of Malia's room.  We've had this finished for over a month now, but it's so hard for me to see all this.  I walk into her room some nights and feel like I'm in another reality.  It's like her room is not even connected to our house because just walking in causes this huge mix of emotions to well over and spill out and, well you get the idea. 

Last night, we were sitting on the couch and Scott looks toward her room.  He said, "I left Malia's light on."  I understood what he meant, not that he had forgotten to turn it off, but that he was leaving it on for her. 

We are still waiting for a court date to return to Russia.  Sweet Sofie Rogers (age 8) asked me again this morning after church, "Miss Wendy, when are you going to get your baby?"  This wait is even hard for her.  I ask for your continued prayers because I need this court date soon.

~wendy

Nana's Prayer

Malia's grandmother, Cheryl, wrote this prayer to us this week. I was in tears as I read it to Scott this morning.  I wanted to document it on our blog as we continue to wait for a court date to be scheduled.  

~wendy

Wendy and Scott have claimed Hannah's words in 1 Samuel 1:27, "I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him."  Lord, we believe that all things work together for him who loves the Lord and are called according to your purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  Lord, we know Wendy and Scott love the Lord.  They have demonstrated that in the love they have shown their family, friends and the many children whom they love and who love them.  Your Son demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us so that we might be adopted into the family of God.  It is Wendy and Scott's desire to adopt a child so that he or she might experience the love you have for us as our heavenly Daddy.  

You have given them a precious baby girl.  We believe you matched  Scott and Wendy with Malia Nagima.  There is a love and bond there that is transcending the miles that separate them.  We know you created each of us; you knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139: 13).  It was your divine providence that led Scott and Wendy to Malia Nagima whom you have known since she was knitted in her mother's womb.  It is their desire to bring Malia Nagima up in the love and admonition of the Lord. 

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray and confess Your Word over Malia and surround her with the faith of her parents, grandparents, family and friends; faith in Your Word that You watch over it to perform it.  Great is the peace and undisturbed composure of Malia, because You, God, contend with that which contends with her and you give her safety and ease her.  (Psalm 91:8)

Father, You will perfect that which concerns me.  I commit and cast the care of Malia once and for all over on you, Father.  She is in Your hands and I am positively persuaded that You are able to guard and keep that which I have committed to You.  You are more than enough!

I believe and confess that You give Your angels charge over Malia to accompany and defend and preserve her in all her ways.  You, Lord, are her refuge and fortress.  You are her glory and the lifter of her head.  (Psalm 91:11; Psalm 91:2: Psalm 3:3)

James, by the Spirit, admonishes that we do not have, because we do not ask.  We ask and receive not, because we ask amiss.  (James 4:2,3)  Your word also says that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  (Eph. 3:20)  I lift Malia's adoption up to you.  You have taught us to acknowledge you in all our ways and lean not on our own understanding.  You have promised to direct our paths.  (Proverbs 3:5,6) I ask that you work in your divine way to bring about the legal adoption of Malia as a step toward bringing her home.  Your word says in Romans 8:31 that "if God is for us, who can be against us?"  God is on our side.  So we believe You are working for us to effect Malia's homecoming.

I ask this as a believer and not a doubter.  I hold fast to my confession of faith.  I decide to walk by faith and practice faith.  My faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Jesus is the author and the developer of my faith.  (Heb. 4:14; Heb. 11:6, Rom. 10:17, Heb. 12:2)  It is through faith, believing that I ask this.

Fearlessly and confidently and boldly I draw near to the throne of grace that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in good time for every need -- appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when I (and others) need it.  (Hebrews 4:16)  This is the confidence that I have in You, that, if I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me: and I know that You hear me, whatsoever I ask, I know that I have the petitions that I desired of You. 

I do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving continue to make my wants (and the wants of others) known to God.  Whatever I ask for in prayer, I believe that it is granted to me, and I will receive it.  (Mark  11: 22-25.)

Father, I thank You that Your presence goes with me, and that you give me rest.  I am still and rest in You, Lord; I wait for You and patiently stay myself upon You.  I will not fret myself, not shall I let my heart be troubled, neither shall I let it be afraid.  I hope in You, God, and wait expectantly for You; for I shall yet praise You, for You are the help of my countenance and my God.  I claim these verses for Wendy and Scott and the rest of the family.  (Psalm 55:22; John 14:27; 1 Peter 5: 6,7 Philippians 4;6)

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available -- dynamic in its working.  Father, I live in You -- abide vitally united to You -- and Your words remain in me and continue to live in my heart;  therefore I ask whatever I will and it shall be done for me.  When I bear (produce) much fruit (through prayer), You, Father are honored and glorified.  Hallelujah! 

I praise you, God, for your work toward bringing Malia Nagima home to us. 

We love you Lord and we lift our voice

to worship you, O my soul rejoice.

Take joy my King in what you hear,

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

This is so hard.

I have not looked at this blog since Malia's birthday, May 9, over a month ago.  It's just too hard. This waiting is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  I don't understand it, but I know we are getting closer.  I hope so anyway. Scott has done a fantastic job on Malia's room.  When her furniture arrives, I will post some pictures.  I'm looking forward to our adoption shower next Saturday.  My sister is coming!!  So excited to see her.  She is taking a weekend away from her fabulous summer excursion on Martha's Vineyard to come celebrate Malia with us.  She and Malia's uncle DJ are working on Martha's Vineyard until September.  They have the coolest jobs!

No news yet.

~wendy

Waiting.....Again...

Once again we are in a phase of gut-wrenching waiting. We are hoping everything is progressing normally and we will hear something about our court date later this month and will hopefully travel early July.  We haven't heard anything though, which we hope means we are on track.  I've been pretty productive since we returned home and have gotten Malia's room painted and new baseboards, wainscoting and chair rail installed.  It definitely looks like a little girl's room now.  We have some furniture on the way and it's all going to take shape very soon.  I planned on having things to work on and prepare for to distract us during this time and we need the distraction more than we had anticipated.  This just plain stinks to have her there and us here.  We continue to pray for quick progress and the need to buy plane tickets very soon.

-Scott