Well, we have joined the world of blogging.  Maybe it's because we now feel we have something of interest to others to blog about!!!???  Our lives have been a whirlwind of emotion the past 9 days.  On February 24, 2012, we stumbled onto something that will most likely change our lives forever.  It was a friend's FB post telling of a teenage boy living in Eastern Europe who needs a family.  My husband and I saw the post independently of one another, and the Lord placed on each of our hearts an almost burning desire that we had to do something about finding this young man a home.  We probably both knew in the back of our minds that it was to be us, but I don't think either really wanted to admit it, though we joked about it.  Two days later, we got serious and talked to our kids about it.  Today we began filling out paperwork to DO something about it.  This blog is a journal of our journey to Yuri (not his real name).

The logistics of this journey seem impossible.  The time-frame is too short.  The details are too complicated.  The paperwork is too intense.  For man.  But we have been given a scripture to cling to that keeps showing up in our lives...Matthew 19:26 says “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  We firmly believe that if Yuri is supposed to be a part of our family, that God will show up and do the impossible.  We are trusting Him with the entire situation and will give Him the glory -- any way He decides to move.

If you are reading this, for some reason you have an interest in our story.  We would ask you to pray with us that the Lord will protect Yuri and will keep him safe until his family arrives to take him safely home.

The Story
Yuri is a young man who has been in an orphanage since birth.  He was left at the hospital by his birth mother who was unmarried at the time of his birth, and he was subsequently put in a special needs orphanage because his hands are "different".  Cognitively, he's a sharp young man.  Physically, he is a handsome young man...with a difference.  In his country, because of this difference, he's unwanted and unusable.  He will never be given a chance to succeed or thrive if he stays there, which is why we are pursuing him to join our family.  This boy needs a chance to show what he can do.  I haven't met him yet -- but I know those things are going to be BIG!!  I can see it in his eyes.  The quote below is from the blog we initially read:

"He talked of wanting to go to America to come visit us, to see the world, to experience life. He has no worries about leaving EE- he recognizes the lack of opportunity he will have. He wants to go to college. He wants to play futbol. He shared of his feelings of isolation, of not being where he feels he should be. He shares that he has developed good coping skills- that he doesn't do bad activities, but when he feels stressed, he goes and practices futbol/soccer to help him deal with his stress. He relies on his faith. He would love to be a part of a family that would support him in his faith, help him grow, and help him grow in his soccer skills. He was humble in his wishes- he just wants to be loved and to have a chance to be something. He is willing to work hard, but just needs a chance."

So, we're working on his chance.  Frantically.  This boy canNOT fall through the cracks, but if his 16th birthday happens and a family has not done enough to come and get him, his chance will fail.  One chance. One boy.  One family.  Relying on One God.  That's where we are today in a nutshell.