Due for an update

I don't have a lot to update with, but I do have some stuff I can let you all in on!

We had been praying to find someone who speaks Russian to call S with us so we could translate. Finally found the sweetest family to do so! So thankful! We've tried calling a couple times and haven't talked to him yet. On the bright side, we've talked to his aunt who signed over her rights and she was very nice. Thanked us a few times for all we've done for S and how much she appreciates that he has someone who cares about him. It kills me that it took 16 years to find someone. But he has been found now, that's all I can focus on! On the down side, we learned his situation is much worse than we ever could have thought. Without saying too much on here, S doesn't really have any authority figure and isn't held accountable to do anything or be anywhere. He will leave for days at a time, doesn't go to school every day, and may be selling his belongs for money just to get by. I took this news pretty hard. Who is watching over my tender hearted boy? Is he being influenced in a negative way? Where does he go when he leaves? Where is he tonight? Is he hungry? Is he warm? There's no one to love on him, to show him right from wrong, to encourage him. While these thoughts and many more creep into my mind, they make me absolutely crazy. I HAVE to trust in God and rely on my faith. That God will sustain him. I know this way of life for him is nothing new. I know this is his "normal". It is gut wrenching for a mother though. To mother from across the pond.

S had a birthday and we had a cake delivered. That sucker cost $70, but I can't be there with him to make his birthday special. So, I am pretty sure I can't put a price tag on trying to make him feel special, wanted, and remembered on "his day". He wrote me how thankful he was that we remembered him with the cake. Oh hunny, we will never ever forget you. You will never be forgotten ever again, my love.

Please continue to pray hard for a waiver on his waiting time. Again, we won't know until April but we almost HAVE to have this happen for adoption to be possible. We were told getting S on the registry would be nearly impossible. God did it. We are told getting a waiver on the 1 year wait is almost impossible. But we know God is bigger than that. We know anything is possible through Him. We will continue to pray for a miracle because S deserves no less. He is SO close to becoming your typical aged-out orphan teenage in Ukraine. That just can't happen to him. So please join is in prayer!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28