Into the Woods

Please Pray! Adoption of Ella in Jeopardy

2009-11-05T19:19:00.003-06:00

I will fully explain at a later date but for now, please pray that God will bring Ella home to us. Our adoption of Ella is in serious jeopardy. The situation appears hopeless to us but our God can do anything. Only God can intervene now. Thank you.
+david

Jake's Update

2009-10-31T08:55:00.004-05:00

Jake is finally scheduled for his surgery. On November 20th, he will have his surgery at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas. We have been waiting on this for some time, since June. There were a lot of hoops to jump through to get him into the program. In the end, we are sure this is where he needs to be. The Scottish Rite Hospital will cover all of his surgical needs as well as other medical issues until he is 18 years old. As Jake has several medical needs this will enable the best care possible for him.

Adoption Update:
As many of you know, We are adopting Jake and Ella. They are both special needs children from Russia. We feel God directing every step of this process. We are very grateful to have this opportunity to add two very precious children to our family. Both Jake and Ella have been collected into ONE adoption. That means less costs and only one trip over to Russia to finalize the adoption. However, since Jake is here on a medical visa, he must have his surgery and recuperation BEFORE we can go finalize the adoption. This has meant that Ella has had to wait and wait for us to come get her. She has know about us since the middle of June. My prayer is that she not loose hope.

Things are finally rolling along so it looks like we may be able to go over and finalize the adoption in early 2010. My hope was to have Ella home by Christmas. That will only be possible now as a gift from God. We cannot wait to have them both home with us.

Abbie @ Camp

2009-08-25T09:09:00.004-05:00

Abbie wanted to go to camp (like her big sister). So we arranged for her to go to "Grandparent Camp." She stayed part of the week with Pappy and Granny Edde (pictured here) and the remainder of the week spent with her Grandma and Grandpa Owens. She had a lot of fun going to the zoo and playing with her cousins. She cried when the week was over. She wanted to stay a little longer at Grandparent Camp.

Ashleigh @ Camp

2009-08-25T08:59:00.005-05:00

Ashleigh went to camp this July. She loved it. Here she is at the entrance. She went to Brookhill Camp outside of Hot Springs. She got very sick during the camp. However, she kept most of her discomfort to herself and stayed the whole week, most of which she had a very high temperature. It took her about a month the get over it all. She got the flu at camp and later got a slight case of pnemonia. But she is fine now and has great memories of her time at camp.

Ashleigh on her bunk.

Ashleigh and her counselors. These ladies were very good. They did a great job with all the girls.

Ashleigh and a friend at camp.

Preparing for Surgery

2009-08-04T06:48:00.004-05:00

We are making plans to have Jake's foot surgery. It is going to be performed by two groups of doctors. One group from the LEAP Foundation and another group from the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. They each have certain specialties that may be necessary to successfully treat Jake's feet. The LEAP Foundation is a missionary doctor group treating mostly facial deformities. They are the primary doctors operating on his foot. Jake came over early on a medical visa for this very purpose. We are a little anxious. This will be our first child to have major surgery. He is a tough little guy but when he cries, he cries great big crocodile tears. It makes you want to grab him up in your arms and hug him and protect him. Please pray that the operation is successful and he has very little pain. Also, pray that he recovers quickly. We still have a little girl we are ready to meet in Russia. After Jake has recovered we will be heading to Russia to finalize the adoption of our two newest children.

You Better Have Some Beans

2009-07-14T10:30:00.002-05:00

Jake Boone
"Hey you fellas, how about some beans? Ya want some beans? Goin' through some mighty rough country tomorrow - you better have some beans!" quote from Treasure of the Sierra Madras

1...2...3...SPLASH!

2009-07-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

Swimming Fun

2009-07-14T10:23:00.002-05:00

Play-Doh Fun

2009-07-14T10:18:00.003-05:00

Playground

2009-07-14T10:14:00.001-05:00

Best Buds

2009-07-14T10:07:00.003-05:00

Joe Cool

2009-07-14T10:02:00.002-05:00

First Backhoe

2009-07-14T09:56:00.002-05:00

Jake got a gift from some friends of ours, the Wempes. It is a wired backhoe. He loved it. He was still a bit nervous, too many people around and not sure if he was home. He got over that pretty quick, faster than most the adoption people told us. The backhoe made sounds and played music. He danced to the music (video forthcoming - but don't hold your breath - it may take some time).

First Breakfast

2009-07-14T09:47:00.003-05:00

The video thing is proving more difficult than I thought. They will be coming in the future. But for now, I will post some more photos. This is Jake's first breakfast. He really did not know what to make of the bagel. He scraped off and ate the cream cheese but did not eat the bagel. Abbie is also trying to understand what a boy is, how he behaves, and what good is he. The are best buds now.

New Day

2009-06-30T08:07:00.004-05:00

Jake and Abbie playing. They both like to line up their toys. Jake is about to discover the play kitchen (just out of the photo). The girls are so excited seeing Jake experience things for the first time. BTW, he loves the toys that make noise.
I took a video of his arrival. I will try to post it tomorrow on Youtube and link it here.

Father and Son

2009-06-30T08:01:00.003-05:00

Jake loves seeing pictures of himself on the computer. I only wish I could understand Russian; so I could know what he is saying when he gets so excited. The first night. Papa Bunny and Jake Bunny.

He is Here!!!

2009-06-29T23:20:00.003-05:00

I do believe God knows what He is doing. When it was time for bed, Jake gently took the book and went right to the couch. He loved the story, Guess How Much I Love You. His eyes lit up and he laughed and laughed every time Karin told him that the Big Nutbrown Hare was "Papa Bunny." He pointed at me and said, "Papa Bunny," and laughed. He now knows exactly what book we are talking about when we say Papa Bunny Book. Thanks God. He is a perfect fit.

Updated Family Photo

2009-06-29T23:16:00.002-05:00

Family

Family Album

2009-06-25T09:51:00.002-05:00

We made little family photo albums for Jake and Ella. Alexandra Goode took them to the children with a stuffed dog for each. That way Jake and Ella would know who it is that loves them: Mommy, Daddy, and sisters. This is one of the picture in the albums.

Ella's Room

2009-06-25T09:48:00.002-05:00

Ella's room before. It is upstairs with her sisters. Her bed is located to the right of the little window, next to the closet space.

Ella's room after.

Jake's Room

2009-06-25T09:44:00.003-05:00

Jake's Bedroom Before (tucked in there behind the stairs)

After

Pictures!

2009-06-22T10:49:00.004-05:00

When we sent out the first newsletter, I did not feel that it was the time to include their pictures, but now I feel comfortable including them and sharing their sweet faces with you so you can really see who they are that you are praying for and helping bring home to their forever family, and possibly making it more real for you in your prayer journey.
Enjoy!
In Christ’s love,
David, Karin, Ashleigh, and Abbie Owens

Elvira "Ella" Owens

(Ella is sitting in a wheelchair, but she is not handicapped. She can walk, run, and play. She is in a special needs orphanage and is the only child there who is not in a wheelchair. She is just sitting in it as a chair.)Jacob "Jake"Owens

Adoption Newsletter #2 May-09

2009-06-22T10:29:00.002-05:00

Hello all! First of all, let me humbly apologize for how very tardy we have been in getting the new newsletters out to you. I sat down and began it many times, but I had so much to tell and had such a hard time getting down on paper what was in my heart, that I never completed it. This one may be a little long consequently so please bear with me.

We moved March 3 to our home on our land. All went well and smoothly. That was a huge answer to prayer. We are so thankful for all your prayers on our behalf. We are mostly unpacked and getting settled in. In the last newsletter I was hoping to get the initial office visit for the home study scheduled. It occurred at the end of February. It went well. We also had our home visit portion at the end of April. The agency doing our home study and post-placement visits is Grace Adoptions. Ed Appler and his wife Sharon are fantastic! Their website is www.graceadoptions.com if you would like to check them out. Currently we are waiting for the final report of our home study. We will then be able to finish up the last few documents in our dossier. We are getting close to the end of the beginning of the adoption process. Thanks for your continued prayers for that!

There was some very big news that we were asking for prayer for about Jake. There was a Russian woman interested in foster parenting Jake. This had the potential of being a very bad thing for Jake. If he were put into foster care he would no longer be adoptable (according to Russian laws). Additionally, he would not receive the medical care he will require. Alexandra Goode, the director of International Guardian Angels Adoption Agency who is handling the international part of the adoption, immediately did all the necessary paperwork to request Jake be allowed to come to America on a medical visa. If the medical visa was allowed, Jake could come to America, have medical treatment, and live with us until we took him back to finalize the adoption. If it was denied he might end up in foster care in Russia forever. It was an anxious time. God sustained us through this time by your prayers and our many great friends. We are sorry we did not get out a newsletter with that information so you could be praying along with us. We will do better in the future.

After two months of praying and wondering just exactly how God was going to work it out, it is over. The Russian woman was very persistent. She was demanding they give Jake to her. Those in charge at the orphanage did not feel this was in Jake’s best interest so they kept denying her. Meanwhile, the medical visa approval was taking much longer than usual. Someone Alexandra called the “prosecutor,” who is in charge of adoptions there in some way, was upset that they kept sending Russian children to America for surgeries when he felt they should be able to care for them right there in Russia. He delayed Jake’s medical visa until it could be ascertained if the surgery could be done in Russia. It seemed as if this would never be resolved.

Today, however, is different. Just last night we received word that Jake has been approved for the medical visa. Praise the Lord!! Hallelujah! He is so good! They do not have a date yet, but Jake is coming very soon. It will not be very long now until we meet our son for the first time.
He will have surgery at Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville, SC and then will stay with us here in Arkansas until we go to Russia to finalize and complete the adoption and get Ella. God protected us from persistent attacks on our hopes and dreams. God delivered us. He is so good. Yeah!!

We also found out last night that we can make small photo albums for each of the children and send a small little doll or stuffed animal as well. Alexandra Goode will hand deliver them to Jake and Ella when she goes to pick up Jake. She will be able to tell the children about us, show them our pictures, and tell them we are their mommy and daddy and sissies. We will also put in pictures of our house, their bedrooms, and our dog, Bella.

We are just so excited today we can hardly contain our joy. God is good and He is faithful. During these several months of waiting to know what would happen with Jake and the medical visa and the Russian woman, we always knew absolutely that God was in control, that He was bigger than all of this, and that none of it was a surprise to Him. We also were not worried and had peace about it most of the time. We knew He had told us that Jake is our son and that we needn’t worry about it at all. Thank You, Lord.

Also, since our first newsletter, we have discovered that those wishing to donate to our adoption fund and desiring it to be a tax deduction, can make your contributions directly to International Guardian Angels Adoption with a note that it is for the David & Karin Owens adoption. You can still contribute directly to us or through IGAA. (See both addresses below)

We have many blessings and praises that we are thankful for and would like to share with you:

Several financial contributions. Thank you so much for your generosity. We are so grateful, humbled, and very blessed by your giving to our family. Thank you!
Completion and move to our new home. We are all moved and are trying to settle in. It is wonderful to have our own place again and so much fun to prepare a place for Jake and Ella in it.
Jake and Ella’s rooms ready. We have both of their beds and rooms all made up and ready to go. They look adorable and are ready for sweet, adorable little children to fill them.
A successful home study. We have now completed both parts of our home study and are just waiting on all the final paperwork to be completed.
A successful beginning to the Immigration process. We have gone to Fort Smith to the Immigration office there and begun the process of being approved by the U.S. Government for adoption. We have done our part. Now we must wait for them to finish theirs.

We have several prayer requests that we would like to share and ask you to pray about with us. God does hear our prayers and will answer them. Thank you for your faithful prayers on behalf of our family and our dear little ones.

That everything goes smoothly to complete all Jake’s paperwork for the medical visa and safe travel for George, Alexandra, Jake, and Elena (another child they are bringing to America on medical visa).
For Jake’s surgery and recovery.
For our safe travel to and from Greenville, as well as our time staying there.
For the possibility of a place to stay near the hospital while in Greenville, at a Ronald McDonald House or some other similar facility
For our bonding and attaching with Jake and he with all of us.
For our adoption expenses. Thank you in advance for your help and generosity on behalf of Ella and Jake. Thanks again so much to those who have already given. We appreciate it so much.
For some boy clothes and toys for Jake.
For the communication/language barrier. They only speak Russian, and so far, we only speak English. We hope to learn some words and phrases to be able to communicate at least a few things. Pray they learn the language quickly as children are generally apt to do, as well as they not to get frustrated over it. Pray we are creative in thinking of ways to communicate with each other.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. It means so much to our family.

I will try very hard to get newsletters out much more frequently.  I would like to keep you all updated on how things are going, how God is answering our prayers and working in this journey, as well as any continued or new prayer concerns. Please feel free to send this along to anyone you feel would pray on this adoption journey with us; we encourage you to do that. This is not just a faith-building adventure for us, but also for all of you who are traveling it along with us.

The addresses to send donations to or to contact us directly are as follows:

International Guardian Angels Adoption
1400 Limestone Creek
Keller, TX 76248
Please be sure to put in a note about it being for the David & Karin Owens adoption.

OR

David & Karin Owens
99 Middleton Rd.
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Send any email correspondence to karinowens@bluebottle.com

Enjoy!
In Christ’s love,
David, Karin, Ashleigh, and Abbie Owens

Recital

2009-06-22T10:26:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the blurry pictures. It was a combination of proximity and low lights levels.

Swimming Lessons

2009-06-22T10:24:00.001-05:00