A Whole New Year

As most of you know, Putin signed the legislation that bans US adoptions in Russia late December, and this ban went into effect on January1st of this year.  Happy New Year 2013, I suppose.

Yes, this is terrible news for Tanya, and this is terrible news for me and my family.  But let me make a few things clear.

In this family, we do not give up on each other, and we have not and will not give up on bringing Tanya home.  So for those of you offering condolences, I appreciate it, but she is not gone.  This is a significant setback, to say the least, but we will bring Tanya home.  We don't know how or when, but it will happen.  My mother is convinced it will happen this year - she's downright optimistic!

Things are bleak, yes.  But there are glimmers of hope that may break open in the coming year.  We all recognize that this is political, and politics are constantly changing.  There may be an amendment that allows for the adoption of special needs children.  There may be accommodations for adoptions in progress.  The ban may be overturned by the Russian courts (the bilateral agreement that went into effect in November 2012 called for 12 months notice before stopping adoptions).  God may work in some other mysterious way.  Or it may not happen this year.  I do not know.  All I know is that it is my job, as Tanya's mom, to fight for her until there is no more fight left.  And we are not there.  Not even close.

Psalm 62

5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7My salvation and my honor depend on God^a;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge.       Selah