Update: What we need...learning Russian...and what we're reading

We're kind of in a lull in adoption land. Most of the paperwork is off, although those fun-loving bureaucrats like to keep us on our toes by demanding entirely new documents every week or so.

A lot of people have asked what we need right now. Aside from prayers, we are looking for a dining room table that will accommodate eight people. I know, strange request! But we will need the extra room, and those things are expensive. Obviously this is not a pressing need, but it may take some time to find one used locally. So we're asking for helpers...if anyone local sees a decent used dining room table that could accommodate eight, let us know! We will pay for it, we just need extra eyes. We are getting help from a friend who is going to help me modify the boy's room to accommodate Alex -- just some light carpentry work. We're going to need to move things around quite a bit and add a bed underneath our 11-year-old's loft.

Another big need: If you live locally and can be on our "backup helpers" list, we're starting to compile that now. Susan's mom will be coming to stay with the kids for a few weeks while we're in country, and we'd like to have plenty of backup help. This would primarily involve watching the kids once in a while and possibly being available in an emergency (e.g., if Susan's mom gets the flu and needs extra help).

As Susan mentioned, I have been studying Russian as best I can with my busy schedule. You will be glad to know I can now say that I do not speak Russian at least a dozen different ways! All kidding aside, I do think it will be helpful. I can read the Russian alphabet, which is a big help, and I figure I know maybe fifty to seventy-five words, phrases, and sentences. I have a friend of a friend who is a native Russian helping me; plus I have been listening to a Pimsleur audio program, and a "Russian child phrases" CD, and a new CD called "Learn Russian in Your Car" (!) that has a very practical bent. Also, I have been doing LiveMocha as I am able, given my lack of time. Google Translate and the Russian Keyboard have also been helpful. My focus is primarily on basic "getting around" phrases, plus really a lot of phrases that might be helpful for communicating with Alex.

One of the ways we keep our spirits up is to read the adoption blogs being kept by other families who have gone through the adoption process or are going through it now. It is also great preparation, in terms of learning what we might expect. If anyone else wants to follow these to get a bit of a window into our "vicarious" adoption journey, here's what we're reading. I will post these in the sidebar, too.

Bringing Winston Home
This blog is interesting mainly because the couple adopted this past summer from the same city that we're adopting from. In fact, we spent more than an hour talking on the phone with the mom a little while ago, just to figure out what to expect. The blog is no longer updated, but go back to July and you can get a bit of a sense of what it will be like when we go over there. Except that when we go, it won't be July. It will be cold!

Bringing AJ Home
This is the blog of the Putz family, who are adopting AJ -- better known to those who have followed our own adoption journey as "Anthony." They already have an Anthony at home, so they needed to give him a new name! We fund-raised and prayed and prayed for Anthony for many months, so it is heartwarming to read about them finally meeting him, and getting to know him. He has warmed up to his new parents very quickly! Lots of video of them playing with him in the orphanage visiting room. He is an amazing kid who far outshines his severe CP. This is a private blog, but if you want an invitation, e-mail us and we will see whether Leann would be willing to add you. (It is private mostly to avoid spammers.)

Asking with Faith
This is the blog of a remarkable 17-year-old young woman who is VERY passionate about helping kids in need all over the world. She was one of two tireless advocates for Alex, raising money and pleading an praying for an adoptive family. Her own family just adopted a nine-year-old from Bulgaria; scroll back in her blog to November or so to see her story. Joanna is currently preparing to travel to Uganda to work with orphans there -- but she is in need of funding. You can help out by purchasing some of the cool stuff she is selling to raise money (see this post).

Three More Jacobsons
Here's a family that is attempting to adopt three kids! Their process is even more complicated than ours, and there have been lots of ups and downs, but they bring an inspiring faith to the process. Right now they have a great video of the boys practicing for a play -- singing a song, complete with actions, in Russian. Very cute!

The Blessing of Verity
This is the blog by the family that adopted the nine-year-old girl that they've named Katie -- the one who looks like an infant. Two months out from the adoption, they continue to update about her remarkable progress...still fun to pop in on every once in a while.

We're also following more adoption stories on a private Facebook group for families adopting from Alex's home country -- which is just to say that whatever we go through on this journey, others have forged the path already, and are accompanying us, too. (Some of them maybe literally!)