Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, have not had a lot of time for blogging lately - been spreading time quite thin.  The boys have been here so we have been spending time with them.  And most importantly they had a GREAT time!  Work has been quite crazy for the both of us with both of us getting ready to leave.  So, now, it's Saturday and this is our last week-end alone to wrap up on the packing side.

Last night we went on a search to find our little princess a jewlery box and we had already looked at several and knew what we were after and we found one!!! I'll post pictures after I write.

Ivanna's biological mother and I have passed several e-mails this week.  They are thankful that we are coming but I can not say enough how this will be bitter sweet so when we are there I am sure it will be emotional for us both because this has truly been the journey of a lifetime and I just tell you without my husband who rallied for this adoption I'm not sure we would have done it.  Not because I didn't want it more than anything I just didn't think it was possible but he kept reminding me that if we let God have control then it is possible and He will allow it to happen and He did.

She is going to the orphanage to see Ivanna today I think so hopefully I will be getting more pictures and videos of our sweet little girl. 

Ok so already told you we went shopping on a mission to find a jewelry box because those of you who have been here knows this child doesn't need anything in this house - she has it all, just like the boys - makes Christmas and birthdays extremely hard.  Well, guess what she ended up with MORE dresses.  Need to run both of us are getting our hair cut this morning so just remember to say prayers for us and our family and for Ivanna and her biological family.  This is going to be tough for so many reasons.

We also got her the baby doll that goes with the outfit that matches her dress. 

To help her understand as she gets older how she got here - we took this globe and added a few decorations.  We have little pink "diamonds" going from the Ukraine to Mississippi and an airplane that shows how she got here.  Then we added some ribbon so it would match her room decor.

Here are some of her babies on her bed waiting on her to come home.  The big one in the middle is her dollie that will have some outfits that match hers.  Then of course we have three of the baby Princesses...have two more that we want to find - Baby Ariele and Baby Belle.

Here is her Dollie and Me up close and she even resembles Ivanna but not quite the beauty factor.  :D

Ok closing here we have mommy and daddy bonding over a cup of coffee time.  Catch you later!  Thanks again!

Two Weeks

Well, today marks two weeks when we walk out the door to leave for the airport.  I feel as though if I were to get the call now to walk out the door we would be ready.  The only thing not in our suitcases are our clothes other than that we are sitting on GO!  Hubby is getting ready for his time off from work not sure how he will adjust to that.  Me, well, I am planning on working from the Ukraine since I will have an enormous amount of time on my hands and feel as though it will help take up some empty spots until we are able to get Ivanna.   The time difference there will help make that happen so I'm glad I have the ability to be able to work remotely.

Had yet another fun filled day with the boys yesterday.  Church, great lunch, nap and shopping.  Ended the day with Pizza yummy!  The boys are getting more excited - everytime someone comes over they have been quick to take on the "tour guide" of her room.

Thanks for continuing your prayers for us and our family please also include her biological parents as well because I know this will be hard on them but they are also a part of our lives.

Six Months and One Week

Well, today marks six months and one week since we started this process and wow what a process it has been.  Now that things are winding down a tad both of us are again back to a comfortable feeling as opposed to an anxious feeling.  Well, me much more anxious than my husband because he just kept reminding me that we had to give it to God and for some reason I kept trying to take it back.  :D  Imagine that - there goes that control.  Well, fact of that matter is - unfortunately no one has control of their life except for God and once we come to that realization then all of our needs will be met and we will be directed according to His plan and not according to ours. 

With that being said - we had a wonderful time with the boys yesterday.  I think it's finally becoming a reality to them that Ivanna will be home soon.  I think for about three months we kept saying we will know something next week and poor things they eventually thought "next week" was never coming.  I'm so glad they were here when we got our last approval in the mail!

We have a lot to do today good thing we started packing early because we have pulled stuff out and put stuff in on several different occassions.  Thank goodness Andy thought of making a list of everything we put in the suitcase.  GREAT idea.  Thinking we had better pack Ivanna a few more outfits just in case she is with us longer in the apartment.  Think we are down to only taking two suitcases now - we want to make this easily manageable. 

Worked on additional "thank you" cards this morning.  We could just write and write and write and are so thankful for what has been done in our lives that there just are not enough words to express the thankfulness.

We picked up Ivanna's biological parents a few more "happies" yesterday as a token for them to remember us by.  So glad they have access to our blog so they can follow in Ivanna's happiness.

Thanks again to all of you who are continuing to say prayers for our new direction in life and we look forward to a successful homecoming soon.

Tabernacle Church Family

On July 18th we all gathered to say farewell to not only the preachers wife and their children but to a great friend to many of us. Kristi has smiled when she could barely smile herself, she has laughed with many of us, she has cried with many of us. We are so thankful to have had her and their beautiful children as part of our lives now for quite some time.

We want to let her know that wherever she is she will always have friends for as long as us and some others are living and breathing.

Kristi is and has been a true walk of faith and beyond whatever direction she takes we know beyond a shadow of a doubt it will be the direction that God has chosen for them. I know that I have certainly been awe stricken in her attitude and her overwhelming love for the Lord and the way they have raised their children is UNBELIEVABLE.

When a ten year old can say to another ten year old "that's not very nice" or "you shouldn't say that" - then it's the prime example that each one of us should be in our daily lives. Who do our children learn from? They learn from their parents, caregivers and sometimes although it may be unfortunate at times, they learn from their peers.

We will love you and miss you Kristi, Austin and Alyssa but our door is always open and nothing will change here except you are eight hours away!

Many thanks for all you and your entire family has done for us and our family. We are very grateful and wish you nothing but success in your new endeavor as we continue to pray for each others families!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flights Booked

Today we finalized and booked our flight plans.  YAY!!!  We will leave the New Orleans airport at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, August 9 and arrive in Kiev on Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. their time.  Our time it will be 5:15 a.m.

Please continue to pray for us and Ivanna's biological family as we go through this transition.  We have had more support and prayers than we could have ever imagined.  Thank you very much to all of you, Andy and I have many conversations about this on a daily basis.

WE GOT A DATE!!!!

Another wonderful day in the adoption journey.  Woke up around 5 this morning to discover that our facilitator had e-mailed us our SDA appointment date!!!!  He wants us to arrive on August 10th for our SDA appointment on August 11th.  We are certain the only reason it is so far away is because the judge is on vacation from August 1-9.  But you know what - it is what it is and we are VERY excited. 

We have booked our apartment - it looks bright and cheery see pictures below.  We weren't able to get where we wanted so we hope this one will be just as well.

Lots of emotions during this process but right now they are of joy in knowing that we are going after our princess!  We can't wait to tell the boys!

We leave you with pictures of our TEMPORARY HOME starting August 10th!

Princess Ivanna's Room

Today we reached another chapter in our lives. We drove two hours to pick up her furniture, came home and Andy quickly started unpacking and putting it together. Then we went shopping again to finish off the last few pieces of her room. This montage is a result of todays events. We just love it. Can't wait until the boys see it they are going to love it too!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Room Fit For a Princess

Well, my sweet, adorable husband has finished painting the room fit for a Princess!  Pink, pink and more pink.  Hope she like pink and I hope she likes Princess stuff - cause she has some.  In an effort not to overwhelm her more than she already will be - she won't have access to everything immediately we are going to share it with her a little at time.  Very little will be in her room to start off with.  But oh boy are we going to be excited when we can start sharing it.  We are waiting on the furniture to come in on July 21st before we put anything else on the walls so we can make sure we have it all arranged correctly first.  But it is going to be PRETTY!!!

Last night a friend of mine and I went shopping and we got her more "stuff".  Baby dolls, a barbie doll, a spinning top.  We found her the cutest baby doll stroller except when we went to check out my friend found that one of the handles was already damaged ----- no wonder why they only the one left.  :(  I was so sad it was so pretty.

Andy and I are going shopping again tonight to see if we can find her one.  This is another one of those things he said SHE NEEDS!!!  He's so funny.  The other day when we were shopping he sends me a message and asks me if I had gotten her anything yet ----- well of course I had - he wanted me to call him so I can tell him what all I got.  We are both just like little kids so tonight he wants to join in the fun.  I may even drag him to the Disney Store  :).  My friend and I went to the outlet Disney Store and there is a full Disney store over in Mobile I think we will go to tonight.  He is amazingly excited - for him, if you were to walk up to him you probably wouldn't know it but all you have to do is mention the name Ivanna and his whole outlook changes and he begins to talk and talk and talk.  Well for him it's a lot of talking :D. 

Tonight we are also going to wear our Bringing Home Ivanna shirts.  Well, most of this information the majority of the locals already know but her biological parents follow this blog also and we want them to be part of her "coming home" and continue to share Ivanna's life with them.

This week-end we are going to work on getting the house back in order and organized from having to rearrange the boys a little to make room for the Princess.  The boys are really excited about a new little sister and Ryan can't wait to read to her and start teaching her English - hmmmmmm we may need to rethink that a little :D.   We want to be super careful and ensure they are included and don't feel like Ivanna will replace them or come before them.  She will be our child just as they are, no difference.  Just will take some transitioning.  It doesn't matter if you are a step parent, an adoptive parent or a biological parent - when you take part in raising a child they ARE your children regardless of thoughts of others.

Our Dossier Was Submitted

Since I am a day late in posting.  On Wednesday, July 30th, our facilitator confirmed that our dossier was submitted to the courts for an SDA (State Department of Adoptions) date. 

What does this mean?
It means we WAIT - however this type of wait is MUCH easier than the wait of the unknown.  The average time it takes to get a date is two weeks and then travel is set for two to three weeks after that so before you know it we will be off to get the most precious gift in the world.

Please continue to keep not only our family in your prayers but Ivanna's biological family in your prayers as well.  Even though they are very happy that she is coming to America they will also have an empty place in their hearts for quite some time but we plan on helping them with that adjustment as they continue to follow her new journey for years to come.  They will always hold a special place in our hearts and Ivanna's. 

Not sure if we have announced what her new name will be but her name will be Ivanna Patrica-Nan Stratton.  Patricia Nan Stratton was my husbands mothers name who died from cancer in October of 2004.  We are so proud that she will be taking on her Granny's name. 

Yesterday was another awesome day in which a couple of my bestest ever friends surprised me with the best stuff.  It started off with a late birthday present delivered by FedEx from my BFF, Tristina in Missouri.  This crazy girl had gone to a screen printer and had the MOST beautiful shirts printed.  Here is what they looked like:

We are going to use something really similiar to this for Buddy Walk the largest difference is at Buddy Walk time (which is the same day as her Birthday) Ivanna WILL BE home!

Tristina, publicly, we would like to say thank you as the shirts were just beautiful and awesome just like you.  Princess Ivanna will love all of her new stuff too. 

Here are some other items received for the Princess:

Then after I came back down to Earth from all of this excitement then here comes another best friend, Kristi with more surprises for the Princess.  WOW Kristi I'm not sure I needed to know there was a Disney Store so close :D.  Thank you so much and you know she will love them!  Here are some pictures:

Now if we can just get her bedroom furniture in, put together and set up in her room we will be good to go!  And oh by the way PAST ready to go.

Well, Team Stratton, is signing off for now just wanted to share a little update and some precious pictures with you.  Remember to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as well as her biological family.  I now make this sound like a "fairy tale" but we all know there will be some reality to this story coming soon.  We love you all and can not thank you enough for all of your support and well wishes and most of all your prayers.

I leave you with a picture of us in our new shirts.  We are only missing Kevin at the moment to make this picture complete and then not long we will become a family of six.