Leaving Karakastek

Our 30-month adoption journey hit a high-point today as our family's new life begins with Nina Deanna finally in our arms.  Here is a picture of us leaving Karakastek where Deanna spent the first 12 months of her life.  (and no, we did not vandalize the sign on our way out of town). 

At the baby house, we had a good time saying goodbye to the doctor, nurses, and other children whom we have come to love.  The doctor was so pleased with Monte's gift, a purse from North St. Louis, that she beamed with joy and thanked Monte at least 3 times.  The nurses liked their scarves as well.  Women love to accessorize even in Karakastek.  I hope to post some videos a little later but here are a few pictures.  Let's start with Anastasia Sholpan Polak, our second daughter of Karakastek, who should be heading home to Austria soon.  She is looking so healthy and beautiful, and always melts us with that smile.

And here is our new friend Maverick, Greg and Becki Stone's boy of Ohio.  He is a few months younger than the girls, but is getting so strong.  He nearly tore my nose off.

Please continue to pray for these two wonderful children and their parents who are struggling with the delays and challenges that we faced.  Pray that they are both home by May (Sholpan) and June (Maverick).

It was a wonderful site to see Nina take in the sights and sounds while running around with us today.  She took in everything she saw and heard including daddy's camera (enough with the flash already).

She joined us for her first meal, a soggy french fry, at Mad Murphy's Irish Pub.

After running around all afternoon, we finally settled into our hotel where Nina met Nick and Natalie (and cousin Chloe too!) over a Skype video call.  What a precious moment to see them interacting with one another.  Nina really came to life hearing their voices.  We cannot wait to get them all together (plus Tara, Brock, and Lexi, too) in our home.

This has been a blessed day for us.  It is as if God placed a treasure on the other side of the world, and asked us to follow Him to find it.  And when the road got way longer and harder than we ever imagined, we were given just enough strength to hang on.  And when we finally found the treasure, she was more precious and poured out more blessings than anything we could have imagined.  Thank God for this little girl, and for putting her on my wife's heart 3 years ago.