My Adoption Page

Tanya
Text Box: We’d like to take this opportunity to introduce to the world, the wonderful teenager we are hoping to adopt. Our story is not unique and is filled with daily ups and downs. Sometimes the rollercoaster is difficult to hang on to…but we believe it will all be worth it in the end. We are currently working on our third (and hopefully final) attempt to adopt Tanya. Due to changes in the Ukrainian government, we are able to work more closely with their adoption organization than in the past. It is our understanding that Tanya’s paperwork is in order now and that we will be able to adopt her at the end of March 2008. Perhaps our short story will give others hope and encouragement. We never set out to adopt. It was not our priority. Nevertheless, we went to Ukraine on a missions trip and fell in love – with the country, the people and this little girl. Text Box: This is Tanya. We first met her in the summer of 2004…she was 12. She is a bright, intelligent, loving, teenager who initially thought she’d teach us Russian and we in turn thought we’d teach her English. It was a great deal of fun to have her try and teach us how to make sounds we’d never tried to make before. We messed up pretty bad at times and sometimes got her giggling pretty hard. One way we’ve communicated during the two trips we’ve made to Ukraine is through “acting” what we are trying to say, or by drawing pictures. Pictures seem to be the easiest form for myself. My drawing isn’t all that great, but she guesses very well! In the summer of 2005, the director of her orphanage allowed her to spend almost three weeks with us at various other orphanages…working right along side us. She was wonderful and a great help! Between the first two summers, we wrote letters. This past year, our family has been able to call her at prearranged times – that’s been great! We are still sending weekly letters to her also. Our oldest daughter and son, Steph and Ben, spent 2 weeks with her in July 2007 (with permission from the orphanage director.) She got to go with them on more orphanage outreaches and even continued on for 2 more weeks in Kiev after they came home! The missions organization that we have worked with, The Least of These, and her orphanage director, Alexander, have allowed us opportunities to be a part of her life that we have only dreamt of. We have been waiting for her (and she for us) for three years now. Hopefully she’ll be home soon!

Linda & Tanya, Summer 2004

 

Steph & Tanya, Summer 2007

 

Being adopted by

The Deemings
Text Box: KISSES IN THE WIND I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams. You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems. I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long. But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong. Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin... Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you. I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do. Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend. But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind. May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight. And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night. --- Unknown

Tanya, Summer 2005