We said, "Good bye"

(I tried to post pictures from last night's Sweet Frog and the airport, but it wouldnt let me. Just as well, they were pictures of other host kids sobbing and clinging)

From Perry last night.
"After much begging and pleading just to get her to talk, we got the
answer we expected. She will not become a Perry. Although she was
crying, she said she was not sad and she was not afraid. When we
actually got a response on those topics, we decided to just ask if she
wanted to be in our family. No response. I even went so far as to
say that she needed our family but it is her decision. I didn't try
to convince her. Our last question was, "Do you want us to come get
you in Ukraine?". She said no. No idea how much of a factor I played
in her decision- but she is clearly very fond of Becca."

I (Rebecca) went to the airport with our other hosting friends. On the verge of tears the entire way. Zoya, the translator who helped us express our desires came. I mouthed to her, "she said NO". Surprised, Zoya went to help them check their luggage. She returned and asked me, "Who told you she said No? I just asked her and she said, "I don't know". I told her about us asking her if she wanted us to come to Ukraine to get her. It was time to leave. Zoya asked the attendant if she could just have a minute with Alyona. No, we had little time. I hug her. I am sobbing she is not. She crosses the ticketed passenger line. She is 10 feet away waiting as the other children cling to their host families. I say to Zoya, "This is your chance, if you want to talk to her." She crosses the line, they call for all the kids to go. Host siblings are sobbing. The kids leave. Zoya walks back to me. "She said, no".
That was a gift. We heard it from her mouth.

My heart aches for Alyona. It reminds me of how we are content to live life on our own all the while God is pursuing us, offering us a better life. We prefer to live as orphans than joint heirs with Jesus. We are content to play in a sandbox when He is offering the beach. "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full" John 10:10. WOW! Have we experienced a rich several months by following Him.
We have been praying this entire time that His will be done. We offered her a wonderful family that she was very comfortable in. When I say 'wonderful' I am speaking more to the extended family/community we offered. Neighbors who are giving and loving, extended family willing to accept an outsider as their own, a church body supportive and caring, friends her age who are loving in how they bear with her differences, a cozy bed, and siblings who adore her. I can honestly say, everyone she came in contact with loved her. They accepted her. If she can say "no" after experiencing all of that, then that is God's will. We faithfully took each step. We sought Him, were blessed, and He answered. I feel like I just finished running a marathon. All of you were out there cheering us on, handing us things to keep us going, shouting words of encouragement, and I have crossed the finish line. My prayer for Alyona is that the Lord will meet her and provide for her in Ukraine. That she will not live with a lifetime of regret. I pray for our family, that our children would appreciate the blessings they have and that we would cherish the moments we have with them. And that this experience will forever shape our compassion and faith. My heartfelt thanks to ALL of you who handed us cold drinks along our race. We have felt your prayers and have been overwhelmed by your generosity. Thank you! "To Him who is able to do immeasurable more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" Ephesians 3:20-21

Still no news..

If you are following our story and are wondering if Alyona has decided to be in our family....we still do not know. She is currently at some Russian friend's house for lunch. I asked them to remind her that we need to know her decision by tonight. I drive her back to the airport in the morning. If we had to spectulate, we think she will say, "I don't know". To us, anything but a "yes" is a "no". We are so sorry that she has to make sure a tough decision by herself. We have tried to "talk" to her, but she says nothing.  If you are reading this and it is not yet Wednesday night, please pray, that the God of the universe would direct her path. That she would trust Him and His plan and that we would all know more clearly what that is.
Thanks.

A few more days

Sunday we went to my parents house and opened presents with the Shermans. My parents hid $12 for each grandchild and they went hunting for their money. We spent the entire day their playing games and eating. My mom gave her a little photo album with all of our family in it. She labeled the pictures with the people's names. What a special gift.

I have been living so moment by moment the end is sneaking up on me. We are really going to miss her! I am praying for her lunch date tomorrow with some Russian speaking friends. Hoping she will have decided after spending time with them if she wants to be in our family. We are praying that the 6 of us will bond as we hang out today. We let the kids (who could endure) watch the ball drop last night. Alyona loves staying up late. A treat not to have to follow strict bedtimes at school. No more time to write. Kids are buzzing about.