Thankful in St. Petersburg

So Thanksgiving 2011 was not our typical family gathering and meal but is one we'll definitely always remember. We spent time at the orphanage, ate a late lunch/early dinner at a fabulous Indian restraurant, took a nap and then got to talk to the most beautiful girls in the world via Skype. It was different but good...we missed family and the wonderful food but I asked Dustin if he even remembered what we did last year for Thanksgiving. He smiled and said "Usually it's just a blur because we are running from one house to another." Many times we need a change from 'the norm' to really appreciate just how great what we have is! I think this was a nice change this year, especially because we did get to visit with our special little guy...and we officially gave him his name!

In honor of our Thanksgiving in St. Petersburg I've decided to do a list of what I'm thankful for THIS WEEK...I'm always thankful for my Savior, my family, health, and the many other blessings surrounding me. This is a list of things I'm thankful for but it took me being half a world away to realize it :)

1) A name...FINALLY! We have been going back and forth over this sweet boy's name for months but on Thanksgiving day it was time to put it on paper for his new birth certificate and at the very last minute we agreed on his full name, LEVI JAMES POLK. James is a family name passed down to Dustin from his grandfather and Levi means "joined in harmony." And that's exactly what is happening...he acts like we have always been his parents. We are so ready for the honor!

2) Fellow believers around the world. Being in a strange country where everyone is talking in a language you can not understand there is a great comfort when you enter an elevator with a solemn looking man who begins to stare at the Bible you are holding and after a minute reaches for the chain around his neck, revealing a cross and then smiles and says "Christo!"....and a bunch of other stuff I totally didn't understand but know He was excited about Christ:) Such a sweet encounter!

3) Fur. I never saw fur beyond a fashion statement until coming to St. Petersburg but wow, the cold wind and dreary, icy rain will cut to the bone quick if you aren't dressed just right. I'm so thankful for my fur lined boots, hat, and gloves...and thankful this trend is popular in Birmingham so I could find the right attire for the trip. Who knew it was cute AND practical in some parts of the world :)

4) Cinnamon. It wasn't until this trip that I realized how much I like cinnamon in my coffee. All of my favorite Starbuck's drinks and creamer flavors have cinnamon in them. I ordered a cappuccino from our hotel cafe and it was surprisingly good. I didn't expect it to be because they used just milk and espresso but then topped it with cinnamon, I added some sugar and it was just like my "Christmas in a cup" from Starbucks :) When it comes to coffee in my world, cinnamon = perfection! 

5) Window's that open. It may be frigid outside but inside it's about 80 degrees...not an exaggeration! And that is in every building we enter, including our hotel room. So crazy enough it is below freezing temps and we have our window open! But it occurred to me yesterday, I don't open my windows up enough at home. I think that is going to change :) Even though it's cold, the fresh air is nice!

6) Russia is on Polk time. :) We've heard some people say one frustrating part of being "in country" is no one is on time or in a hurry to do anything. Well, it's funny because it seems here we are always right on time and the pace is very comfortable to us. But then again, in the States we are ALWAYS late and running behind. It's been nice not to feel rushed or be late to any of our appointments. So maybe Russia just runs on "Polk" time...or vice versa :)

7) A heated floor...I've heard of these but I've never experienced one! WOW, it makes getting up early in the mornings, exhausted from jet lag so much better. Just the bathroom tile is heated so when we come in from the cold I'll go sit in the bathroom on the warm tile. Another quirky memory I'll probably never forget from St. Petersburg :) 

8) An agency we can trust. We have been very pleased with our agency up to this point but we had no idea just how wonderful they actually are until we got here. The staff in Russia may be even sweeter and more organized than the ladies in the US...something I didn't think was possible! Again, I'm very limited by what I can share in this area so I'll just say it's no coincidence God led us to them and I hope to continue our relationship for a long time to help them find families for the many children in need.

9) Special people caring for my children...this is two parts: family and total strangers. First having my mom watch our girls while we are 10 time zones away has given me a peace that I'm so grateful for. Dustin's parents have also helped. Having that comfort of knowing they are being better cared for (or should I say more spoiled:)) with Motty and Maw maw than they are with me makes this experience so much more enjoyable. I always thank God for our family, but this week I think I've prayed more and thanked God more for them than I have in a long time...I have a renewed appreciation. The other people in this category are total strangers. We do not speak the same language and will never have a relationship but I will be forever grateful for the wonderful caregivers, doctor and social worker at orphanage #??.  When I think Russian orphanage I think sad, scary, and cold. This facility and these ladies are anything but that. They are like precious grandmother's loving and caring for their babies. This is not just their job, it is their heart. They have cared so well for our son and have brought him through his first year of life as a healthy, happy, beautiful baby boy when ALL odds were against him at birth. These precious ladies will always be in my heart and in my prayers.

And lastly...

10) Conviction and passion...in our case, for orphans. I was recently asked again what made us want to adopt. Sometimes in the craziness of this process I forget how it all started...with a passion God laid on hearts many years ago to care for the orphan and a conviction the beginning of this year to do something about it!

Our adoption coordinator shared yesterday that the most wonderful part of her job is getting to interact with the children in the orphanage. She sees them frequently and they get to know her pretty well. But the hardest part of her job is they also know when she is there it's because she is finding a home for ONE of them. She said she cries every time one of the children looks up at her and asks "Have you found me a mommy and daddy?" And most of the time she must respond, "no, not yet..." 

If you've ever considered adopting or just had the thought cross your mind that maybe you would want to open your heart and home to an orphaned child, please cover it in prayer and seriously consider that may have been the Holy Spirit moving in you and not just a fleeting thought. We are told to care for the fatherless, not asked. It isn't something we are called to do, it is something we are commanded to do. Whether it be your own adoption, supporting someone else adopting or giving to and volunteering in orphan care ministry both domestically and internationally.  Please don't let anything stand in the way of caring for these precious children. We never thought we could afford it and we weren't looking forward to the crazy process we'd have to go through...and to be honest none of that has changed. But somehow, here we are! We've never heard of a couple that said they had the money to adopt, but we've also never heard of anyone that wasn't able to bring a child home because of a lack of funds. God will bless adoption...He will provide the way. Just step out in faith and obedience. 

James 1:27

Pure & genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans & widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

So thankful from the bottom of my heart....