Welcome Home Livea Kara-Ann!

I still feel as if I am in a dream, holding Livea each day and actually seeing her smiling face and sweet eyes look up at me. Our first four days at home together have been wonderful and it seems like our new little one just fits right into our home and our lives, like she is just supposed to be here.

Dean arrived in Atlanta with Livea late Friday evening and as soon as they crossed the arrivals lobby I scooped our little one up in my arms! She remembered me! Even though she was tired she played with us in the vehicle on the way home from the airport - sporting sunglasses, clapping, and crossing her arms in a cute little hip hop pose! (The orphanage caregivers in Kaz teach the children music and dance).

We kept her on the same schedule she was used to at the orphanage and she seems to be doing really, really well with that! We are definitely going to need to keep her on a structured schedule as this seems to make her feel secure. Yesterday I put her on the potty before I fed her and that brought tears and cries. What was I thinking!? Potty time is after supper! I wondered if the sweet angel thought she wasn't going to get to eat that night?! I quickly fixed my mistake and all was well again!

We took her to church Sunday morning and Livea got to attend her very first Children's Church with Mrs. Anna, and Big Red and the rest of the puppets. It was a very special moment and I had a hard time keeping the tears in check. We then went into "big church" where Aunt Sherry insisted on putting Livea to sleep in her arms. I can't believe I left my camera at home!

Each day I think I spoil her a little more. She now wants to be held more and more and when I put her down for a nap or to bed she lifts her arms up, says Ma, cuddles up in my arms and expects me to cuddle and rock her for a few minutes before I lay her down! It is as if she is just soaking in our love and attention!

She is such a sweet little angel and we are so thankful and so blessed that God allowed us the privilege of this journey.

Here's a video of Livea playing in the floor.

And another of Livea and Lilliana playing.



Livea sneaking bread out of the bread bag while Dean was checking messages :) I guess she was hungry!

Before we end this post we both want to thank those who helped us out along the way. Last December many people bought poinsettias from us because they wanted to be a part of this adoption. We raised several hundred dollars and used that money while in Kazakhstan to help purchase vitamins, bottles for babies with special feeding needs, scales to weigh the babies, and a push-reel mower for the orphanage. I would also like to thank our families for their prayers, encouragement, and for helping us out with Lilliana while we traveled! That was hard. But I know it has made a meaningful impact on Lilliana, Lindsay, and my other nieces and nephews that went through that time with her.
Thank you Pastor Kelvin for being willing to listen to God's leading and then share it with us on Sunday mornings. So many times I would come to Church with doubts and questions and your sermon that morning would be perfectly orchestrated.

I've always wondered exactly how the scripture "I will reveal Myself to you through My Word" actually worked. As we worked through this Journey to Livea, God revealed his faithfulness to us one day at a time, based on what His Word said and as we stepped each day in trust. He showed us that the journeys we take with him will be fruitful. We also learned that He doesn't just send money magically LOL. We always had sacrifices to make as we continued with the steps in the adoption process. We have grown. We have learned. And we are Amazed and in Awe of today's reality.

When we started this journey on June 10th, 2008, our child was not even born yet. Yet on faith (due to God's consistent prodding!) we stepped out, not knowing where the path would lead. Over the course of time, God provided for our every need, and ultimately led us to the Shapagat Baby House in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where we met a sad little girl with the most beautiful eyes. And on August 27, 2010, we brought Livea Kara-Ann Holland home.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thes. 5:24)

Embassy Day

Wednesday, August 25th - Almaty, Kazakhstan
I can't believe it's almost over. Today, our group of four had appointments at the US Embassy in Almaty to sign the final paperwork and get our children's visas for entering the United States. I did have a moment of panic, though, when after handing my paperwork to the authorities, they told me Janie had to be there because she had signed our I600 as the petitioner. Rush of crud to the heart! I could just see me being stuck in Almaty another 4 or 5 days waiting on new paperwork and appointments!

Fortunately, my wife was smart enough to sign a blank I600 as the petitioner's spouse in the event we got it wrong the first time. And that's why I married her - brains and beauty! I'm going to quit telling blond jokes for a few days...

Come to find out, Sue and Al had it wrong the first time as well, but Sue was also smart enough to redo the forms (before traveling). That's it. No more talking about how smart our wives are. On second thought, look who they married! How 'bout it Al?

Tomorrow night late, Sue, Lisa, and I will travel to the airport to finally return home with our new children. Sharon will return the US the next night. Hallelujah!

I took the above picture tonight in my hotel room. What a good looking couple. Hey Brian Meckler - notice that the bottles in the background are WATER! I've been Coca-Cola free since we returned from Karaganda!

It's a long story, but the four of us ended up in two different hotels. Lisa and Sharon are staying at the Astra, and Sue and I are at the Holiday Inn. Yes, they do have a Holiday Inn in Kazakhstan. Yeah, I was shocked too! Turns out to be a right nice place.

So last night, Sue and I decided to order room service instead of trying to take the children out to a restaurant when we had absolutely no idea where to go. Besides, it's much easier to let the children play in the floor while you eat. You can imagine the room service lady's confusion when I ordered two meals, one for room 808, and another for room 809. But deliver them to 808. The girl that delivered the meals had a weird grin when she brought in our food.

Well tonight, the four of us gathered at the Holiday Inn after our embassy appointments. And yes, we ordered our dinner via room service, this time for all to be delivered to my room. Now there's four babies playing in the floor. The girl that delivered the meals this time had a confused look when she saw our particular arrangement. Shoulda told her I was Mormon!

So before we broke for the night, I took this "family" photo. Pictured are Sue and Astana, Lisa and Tia, Me and Livea, and Sharon and Alec. Oh yeah, I am a lucky guy.

Yesterday, Sue and I took our kids for a stroll around town. Actually, I strolled and Sue used a... whatever you call those things that let you carry a baby on either the front or the back. Almaty is way different than Karaganda. It's actually a fairly modern city, and many people speak English. However, the people here drive like they think they are Dale Earnhardt Sr. And I'm not sure why they go to the trouble of painting lines on the roads...

I took the above picture of the Holiday Inn on an afternoon stroll with Livea. You don't see a lot of architecture like this in the US. Fortunately, you don't see the underlying structural quality in the states either! We tried to take the children out in strollers this morning, but got rained out. Seriously, I think it only rains a few days a year here, and we've been here for 3 of them!

Here's Sue and Astana in front of some statue commemorating Kazakhstan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1986.


We have a whole day to kill tomorrow, and Sue's husband Al Strong Man Blond is "encouraging" us to visit a place that you have to climb 1200 steps to get to the destination - a view overlooking the city and the new Olympic soccer(?) stadium. Let's see here, we carry two kids, one 20lbs. and the other 22lbs, up over 60 stories-worth of stairs! And then you have to come back down again! OK Al, here's the deal. If I can pull it off without lagging embarrassingly behind your wife, I expect a box of fresh New York apples on my front porch sometime in October!

Skype has been a lifesaver for us. Here is Lilliana and Livea "skyping".


Since I had time tonight, I've included some video for your viewing pleasure.

Sunset over Almaty from my hotel window.

Livea playing in a chair.

Livea making faces. The female voice in the background is Janie connected in via video Skype.

I can't close out tonight without thanking the God of Creation for calling us to this mission, and then supplying our every need to make it happen. And as a bonus, he threw in 5 new friends for life. Sue, Al, Sharon, Lisa, Brian - we love you guys!

To God be the glory.

Dean

She's Ours!

Almaty, Kazakhstan - August 23, 2010 Monday
Oh glorious day! After all this time, we finally have our Livea! And in four long days, I'll have her home in Tennessee to be united with her mother and new sisters. Oh that the time would pass quickly!

My flight arrived in Almaty at midnight, Sunday night. By 1:30am, I was checked into my hotel. By 6:20am, I had taken custody of our new girl! Here's a couple pictures from day one. More later!

Dean

Returning to get Livea

Well, Dean should arrive in Frankfurt in less than three hours. He will head to Almaty about seven hours later to await Livea's arrival.
I would love to be with him but our sweet Lilliana really needed one of her parents to stay with her this time and my job wasn't as accommodating as Dean's.
We are very blessed that Dean works for a company that fully supports adoption and actually exists for profit to be able to care for the needs of orphans.
I can only imagine how Livea will react to seeing her "Da Da" again and I look forward to seeing her on skype when he gets her back to the hotel!
Safe travels my dear ones!

New Picture of Livea! A classy little chic!

We were so thrilled to receive this picture of Livea yesterday. One of the mothers that arrived in Kazakhstan as we were finishing up took this and e-mailed it to me. She said Livea looks shy in the picture but that she really had a good time with her little photo session. I imagine Livea's caregivers didn't make her to happy, however, when they took that pretty dress back off! My classy little chic loves dresses!
Just two more weeks and she will be home!

Watch your step when in Florida!

Yes, this is a real rattle snake! And I have no idea how my dad killed it, just glad he did!