Tis the Season

I worked very hard to get out a Christmas letter this year - and my printer has messed up. I put in new ink, re-adjusted alignment, etc - but nothing worked. So, I just decided to print my Christmas message on my blog. My Christmas card with Zoey's picture on it read "Home for the Holidays" - and the card had the following verse:

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! II Corinthians 9:15

Home for the Holidays – the card says it all. As you know – I have had a BIG year. On December 25, 2006 – Zoey and I will have been home 9 months. It seems like she has been here forever. A little bit about the last 2.5 years.

On May 22, 2004 I contacted a potential adoption facilitator in Florida for information on adopting in Ukraine. (this was after months of research and deliberation about whether to even adopt as I was single) At the time, I am not sure why I felt compelled to adopt from Ukraine, but 2 years later I know why. I looked into the US, China, and Russia. I just kept going back to Ukraine. Fast forward seven months (and loads of paperwork later) my dossier was complete: the date – December 27, 2004. (all paperwork was stamped with that date then sent to Ukraine). Fast forward (another term for endless waiting) and I was registered and received an appointment date on May 13, 2005: the appointment date – December 27, 2005.

Fast forward to December 23 – and my mother and I left for Ukraine. We arrived on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day with an Orphanage in Kiev that I work with. It was a great way to spend the day. December 26 – I got the call – the adoption center was shutting down. I went in on the 27th and met with the director and signed an affidavit that I would wait in Ukraine until the new administration took place on January 10, 2005. HA! I will save you the details…

December 27 – February 1 – lots of endless waiting (but we met some incredible people who we now call family)
February 2 – I had an appointment – and was given a referral for Zoey (she was the only child they would let me have)
February 6 – I met Zoey. To this day – I can shut my eyes and see her coming up the stairs where we waited – I knew it was her by her eyes. The most angelic creature God had ever created. I was in tears, mom was in tears, my translator was in tears. It was
truly a moment I will never forget.
March 9 – Zoey legally became my daughter.
March 25 – We landed at DFW – home at last.
May 22 - Zoey turned 2. (this is the same day I started my adoption)

I spent 93 days in Ukraine. Of those days – approx. 50% were below zero; 80% had snow on the ground; 95% there was no sun. It was a bitter-sweet process. One that I would do again in a heartbeat.

Today – Zoey is thriving. When I met her – she did not talk. She was under-nourished. She was quite and reserved. Now, she is a typical 2 year-old. Since we have been home – she has grown 5.5 inches and put on 5 pounds. She talks non-stop. She sings non-stop. She is loving, compassionate, humorous, intelligent, strong-willed and more than I ever could have hoped for. Not that all days are rosy, we are both still learning – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I look back on the last 2.5 years – I see God’s hand in this whole process. He knew where I needed to be. Everything worked out so perfectly – though at the time I could not see that. If I had my original appointment on the 27th – I never would have gotten Zoey – she did not become available until Dec.31 – then was off the registry on January 16. If the director did not force me to take Zoey’s referral – I might have chosen another child. I almost did not go to the region where Zoey was because I just knew this was not my child. But because of my mother’s encouragement, along with my new friends, I went to meet her. My life will never be same.

I’d like to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year! May your lives be as blessed as ours! I will post photos as soon as I figure out how to do it under the new blogger.

Love, Jennifer and Zoey