Something new has come into the picture for us (compare photo with the previous post).... JOY (also interchangeable at the moment with Sasha Joy and Sasha)!!!! The 10-day waiting period is now over. At about 9:30 a.m. this morning, we received the final "court decree" from the judge (10 copies of it), saying that Sasha Joy Le Shana is our daughter and officially in our custody. We then left for the orphanage where we found Sasha Joy waiting with her bags packed and ready to go (it was only one small backpack with not much in it)! So, we got to spend a chunk of the afternoon doing something new to us... shopping for young girls clothes!
Is it OK to say that we are over-joyed?! We are thrilled! At times, it feels hard to believe... it feels like it has been such a long time! We know it has not been easy for us, but she has been incredibly patient through this whole process. We are very proud of her! As we picked up the court decree, the judge invited us into his chambers. He served us coffee and through the interpreter, apologized "over and over" for altering his decision about the waiting period. He also shared with us that his staff all agreed that Sasha belonged with us -- that it was evident to them because she just looked like she fit!
We are so thankful it is difficult to explain. As we drove back to our hotel, all I could think of was the old chorus, "Thank you, Jesus, Thank you, Jesus..."
There are still some other documents (passport, etc.) still to come, but now we are doing it WITH our new daughter. We will be here at the hotel for a few more days, then back in an apartment until the middle of the month.
Thank you again for all of your prayers. Please join us in thanking the Lord!
Congratulations! Finally after all this time. I was re-reading LAST year's Christmas letters yesterday and yours said you hoped Sasha would part of your family by Fall 2009. Guessing the extra wait was worth it. Hope the rest of the paperwork goes smoothly.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you all! Wishing you peace over the next few weeks in the Ukraine and look forward to welcoming you all home. This gives Happy New Year new meaning!! Blessings, John & Bonnie
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Tonight we are celebrating New Year's Eve with several of our church families here at our home. We are all so happy for you! What a fitting ending to 2009. Enjoy your waiting time together and we'll see you soon! Love, the Reinharts
ReplyDeletePhil and I want are rejoicing with you today and praising the LORD for His faithfulness and mercy. Happy New Year, LaShana family. Surely this is not the end, but just the beginning of a very special story.
ReplyDeleteHAPPIEST NEW YEAR! and AMEN!!
ReplyDeleteTony & Vicki
Happy New Year to you!! We can't wait to see Sasha again with you :) Praise God! Give some hugs to our new COUSIN Sasha from Jon, Angela, Jacob and Joshua
ReplyDeleteIndeed, thank you Jesus! What a year 2009 has been for you! What a year 2010 will be!
ReplyDeleteLove to all of you with extra-special love and hugs to our new niece!
Happy New Year! Congratulations to you all!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! and Happy New Year to you! We are rejoicing with you as you have your new daughter with you for good. What a long journey, but so worth the wait. We continue to pray for the three of you in Ukraine and your family at home in America. Blessings, P&S
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!! 2010 seems to be your year-a little girl in the LeShana household!! We are so happy for you all, we can't wait for all of you to actually be here. Enjoy the rest of your white Christmas', we will continue to pray that all the final proceedures go smothly & quickly! God bless, in His love, J&L
ReplyDeleteBlessings all around! What a blessing it is for Sasha Joy to have such wonderful parents. We look forward to seeing you soon.
ReplyDeleteLove, Greg and Bobbi
Merry Christmas, Chernivtsi style!!! We are all loving you, missing you and wishing you the very merriest of Ukrainian Christmas'.Enjoy, be uplifted and know that you are bathed in prayer. May our Lord shine His face upon you and carry you through these final stages of your Ukrainian Joy-fest. GOD BLESS, J&L
ReplyDeleteJim, Jeanine and Sasha! It is truly "Joy to the World!" We look forward to the homecoming of your completed family. Thanks for sharing this wonderful event with us. Mark and Lynn Holiday
ReplyDeleteHallelujah! Glory to G-D in the highest. He reigns. May He continue to use you to minister to the brokenhearted, the poor and the orphan while you are in Ukraine. May He bless your beautiful feet as you serve Him by serving the hungry and befriending the widows. May the last days of your journey be full of peace as you continue the race with endurance. May you not grow weary in doing good, but in all things through prayer make your requests known to Him who is able to see you through. May your precious daughter find her strength in you and in the Lord as she learns what it is to be in a family, to trust and to be secure in hope. May salvation visit your hotel/home. Be filed with wisdom, discernment and good judgement as you continue your document completion. Safe travel with perfect timing and health. May provision be abundant for you there and at home. Bills paid, food for sustaining, nothing late, everything right on time. For the glory of Jesus, amen.
ReplyDelete