One More Day

Yesterday we met for lunch with some of the experienced adopters who gave us some great last minute advice and have been so instrumental in preparing us and selflessly guiding us through this process of adoption. As soon as I sat down at the table a beautiful girl started handing me things: a hair dryer that will work in Ukraine and a cell phone that will work over there. I thought, "wow this is such a nice person." Then she handed me the letter that Alina had written us and I realized that this nice person was JEN BENSON. I was so embarrassed that I hadn't realized who she was. These wonderful people are like celebrities to us. We followed their adoptions on their blogs everyday and hung on their every word. Wendy was there and is letting me take her curling iron. Lori Lawrence was there with her sweet encouraging words. Andreas Horlacher was there and also Amy Rast. Sonya and I soaked in their knowledge and well wishing. They eased our fears, gave us sound advice and sent us off to Ukraine a little less scared and definately more prepared.

I wanted to share a family experience from this past weekend. We had our stake divided and had 2 exceptional general authorities visit to do the stake split and instruct us. Dave has been serving as the stake executive secretary for several years and was able to work closely with the men as they interviewed people, called the new stake presidency, and did all the business associated with the stake split. He was touched by everything that was taught at conference but was particularly impacted by a story told by Elder Keyes at the priesthood leadership meeting.

Elder Keyes and his wife were dressed up and on their way out to a nice dinner with another couple and as they were driving along they came upon a lamb who was outside of the fence and near the road. He didn't know the lamb or the owner but had a feeling that if he didn't help the lamb to get back inside the fence with its mother that on the way home from the dinner that he would see the lamb in the road, dead.

He stopped, got out of the car and approached the cute cuddly lamb thinking that he could quickly lift it over the fence to safety. As he got closer he realized that the lamb was not so cuddly. It was covered with a not so good smelling substance and resisted each of his attempts to pick it up. Elder Keyes reconsidered his plan and thought "What am I doing, I am on my way to a nice dinner and I am dressed in nice clothes and didn't plan on lamblifting this evening." The lamb was frightened and didn't know that he only wanted to help it to safety and security. The lamb had no idea that this stranger was trying to save his life. After several humerous attempts to get the lamb over the fence the rest of the people got out of the car to help. With the help of everyone they were able to reunite the lamb with its mother.

Dave emotionally recounted this story at Sunday dinner with the family and had everyone look for the similarities between the experience of Elder Keyes and what we are setting out to accomplish with the adoption. There were some profound observations from our children and we had a really neat discussion about lambs, our new children, cooperation and working together to make our family strong.

We also had a special guest at Sunday dinner. Nicholas, who served with Tyler as a missionary in Russia came to dinner from Layton where he lives and has a successful career and is doing very well. He was adopted when he was 12 from Russia by a family in Ohio. They adopted several children through the years. He said that everytime they went to adopt they met another child that they just had to go back and adopt later. He moved to Utah a few years ago and joined the church, served a mission and is an awesome young man. Meeting him gave us a little glimpse of the potential of our little children we are going to bring home. I love little glimpses.

So much to do today on our last day home. If I get everything done I am going to Artic Circle for one last treat. We are going to be a month without "all things familiar," I am sure we will make friends with new treats in Ukraine. I hear the yogurt is to die for.

Ukraine.... Here we come!