Thank you

I just wanted to stop by and say "thank you" to each of you who have been so supportive, sent us sweet notes and continue to pray for our family and Ruslana.

After a long 47 HOUR travel from Ukraine to our front door, we arrived home at 4am Wednesday morning. I don't think I've ever been so tired but to finally be home and greeted by my mom and kids....I don't have words for what I felt. Peace. Peace is what I felt. Is that wrong? I don't believe so because within hours of being home, we found out that R had a committed family.

There are many theories as to why we have been through what we have over the past year.

1. Would we have angel boy if it hadn't been for Ruslana? Ruslana captured our hearts and was the "one" who God used to get us involved in not only adoption but Down Syndrome adoption. Did God use R to ultimately lead us to angel boy? Would we be blessed to be able to call him our son without her?

2. Where would Ruslana be today had we not committed to her in May? Some say that God used us to help keep her in the baby house until her forever family could commit and travel to get her. She should have been transferred this past spring but because she had a committed family, the director allowed her to stay. The same director is also allowing her to stay until her forever family can travel in the spring.

3. We have seen first hand what God can do through a child with Downs. We have met several families who have committed or already brought their adopted children home because of Ruslana and her sweet face.

So you see, regardless of our hurt, God did and continues to use us. For now, I am tired and kinda hope that He'll give me a rest. Physically and emotionally I'm exhausted. We have been overwhelmed by support but there are always those few who feel as if they just must throw in their 2 cents.....their not so supportive 2 cents. And although I know that we have hundreds of prayers being said for our family daily, it's those 3 or 4 negative people who somehow seem to stick in my mind. Why is that?! Hubby said something very wise the other day. He said that to judge is human, but as soon as you choose to cast the stone (of judgement) the Devil has won. At that moment you have chosen to glorify Satan instead of the Lord. And some of those stones have been hitting us in the face. Not by anyone near and dear to us but by total strangers and some who have just heard about us. Six months ago I would have never guessed that I'd be sitting here typing these words, but God knew. And so, we will continue to press on and face the stones.

My prayer is that our story will even affect those who are judging us at this moment. Going to Ukraine was not something we did just because we thought it would be fun. We took that trip on total faith leaving all we loved behind. We were faced with many obstacles and still came home with empty arms.

In Him,
E

**And just for the record (because I know many people are talking), the man we met on the street was not drunk. He had had a drink or 2 but he was in NO way drunk- no staggering, no slurred words and he knew exactly what he was doing and saying. I realize crazy people are everywhere, but the hate we saw in his eyes I pray I'll never experience again.