Finally Going Home!!!!

We have our tickets booked and are leaving Kiev airport at 0620 arriving at Treviso airport at 0800 tomorrow morning!
Here is what we know:

1.  There is a completely different procedure for Americans that are stationed abroad to naturalize their foreign born adopted children.  No one thought to inform us during the entire 16 month prep process.
2. We paid for a Visa that we didn't need.  More paperwork is more fees, but we are on the right track now.
3.  The Italian Embassy in Kiev has given Vitaliy a 6 month tourist visa in his Ukrainian passport! Special Note: We asked for 90 days and were given 180! Super Sweet!

4.  We have more forms to fill out once we arrive in Italy but Vitaliy will be able to become a US Citizen without having to first touch US Soil.  (The base is not considered US Soil)

5.  We may have to make a trip to Rome but that is a lot cheaper than all going to the USA.  

6.  SMSgt Pearson, our First Sergeant Rocks!
7.  Amber H. at the State Dept deserves a Congressional Medal for her work in investigating, coordinating, and bringing together multiple government agencies to assist us!
8.  Brian and Christen Humphreys deserve a vacation after playing the parental role for our girls.  THANK YOU!
9.  Bella Vista Baptist Church in Edgewater, Florida deserves a VERY heartfelt thank you and praise for all their prayers lifted up on our behalf.
10.  Serenissima Bible Church deserve a plaque on the wall for having to deal with, praying consistently for, and financially helping our very needy family.  Thank you, our church family!  We are so grateful for your love.
11. Special Thanks to our coordinator David Avilla for his encouragement, expertise, and over site on our life changing journey.  Never doubt the integrity of this man.
12.  More special thanks to our facilitator, Sasha Nemchenko for being our very knowledgeable and persistent Ukrainian adoption expert.  He has definitely gone above and beyond what was expected in helping us get all that we need to get our son home.
13.  Thanks to our many drivers we have had during our time in Ukraine.  We now value our lives so much more after having the experience riding with you!  LOL
14. And MOST importantly, Thanks be to our Heavenly Father for hearing our pleas, giving us abundant Grace and Mercy, and moving mightily on His children's behalf.

We pray that our experience will shed light on American's Stationed Overseas that are adopting.  That this will pave a smoother path for those that follow.  These kids need families, no matter what the price is to be paid, it is a price that has eternal value.   
Oh and yes we would do it all over again.  :)  We Love our Son!

We will continue to post on this blog for a year to let you know and see the good things our Lord has in store for our family! 

Psalm 107:29-32 - He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet; So He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving kindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

Psalm 95:1-6 - O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.