What more can I say?

Please read my sister's blog and take some action . . . we need to get these kids sponsored!

http://thecoreystorey.blogspot.com/

Our families have been so supportive of our decision to come to India but this is awesome. Please take the time, check out this post, share it on your blog and lets get these kids sponsored! $25 a month . . . just stay home one night a month from eating out and you have saved that much, cut down on one Starbucks a week, pack your lunch, coupon . . . there are hundreds of ways to save $25 a month!

You live where?

Well, after a long trip to Bhubaneswar we got off the plane, walked down the steep steps of the plane into the muggy humid air that greeted us. With the wind from the engines and the dirt swirling around us, I look at my hubby quote a line from our favorite Bollywood movie Bride and Prejudice . . . Geez Balraj, where the heck have you brought me? The scene that was before my eyes is exactly as it was on the movie. Laughter broke the intensity of the moment . . . wow, this is our new home. We continued into the airport and after having my photo taken (apparently a pale face is not often seen in these parts, let alone one with a beautiful brown toddler!) we step out into the stickiest air I have felt in years.
Alot has happened since that day last week - we have furnished a home, filled a kitchen with new necessities and learned to take a shower without a shower. Hmmm. The girls have been amazing recovering from jet lag far quicker than their parents. The office staff here at Good News India have been so amazing helping us translate and bargain our way through each day. We were given a bed on loan, it is a wedding present for one of the staff members. The wood carving is amazing and the wood mattress is not. Okay, it's not wood but it has certainly felt like it however today we managed to find a 5inch mattress to fit on this huge bed and we llok forward to our first good night's sleep. Above is a photo of the delivery van . . . uhhhh I mean delivery RickShaw : )
Tonight we celebrated Jaya's 3rd Gotcha Day, in style in India and at an Indian restaurant. It was such a fun evening surrounded by new friends. Just as we put the cake in front of Jaya and she blew out the candles, the power went out. It was a priceless moment and made for an interesting cake cutting experiment for me! It came back on shortly afterwards and we had attracted a quite a crowd around the table. They asked to take Jaya's photo and she kindly obliged all the while loving the attention.
Today was a full day but I will have to fill you in on more a little later - I am tired and that nice new mattress is calling my name.











.

Well on our Way . . .

We leave next Tuesday for our adventure - I can hardly believe it! This past few months had been a whirlwind of activity for our family. After selling our house in 2 days, we moved into a 2bd/1 bath apartment for our last few months in the States. Fortunately, we were travelling alot so the walls only closed in a little when we were snowed in in early January while Peter was in India.

It has been amazing to see what God has done over the past few months . . . our most recent hurdle was unexpected but a true test of faith. We could not apply for our Visas until last minute as they start the day they are approved. So we had to quit our jobs, sell our home, move everything to storage before knowing if we could actually go! Yeh, that one was a test for me . . . the woman who likes to plan EVERYTHING! Actually this whole process has shown me that there are times when you just need to relax and let God be God but that is a post all of it's own.

Back to our Visas . . . phew what a crazy couple of weeks that was! Funnily enough everyone got approved but me! Long story but after a week we were all cleared. It felt like I was back on the rollercoaster of international adoption. For all my fellow adoptive moms, an interesting note is that when you apply for a Visa for your child for the first time on their American passport you have to formally renounce their Indian citizenship. You will have to send in their Indian passport and they will stamp cancelled in it. It was a strange emotion for me as although I knew they were already American citizens not Indian citizens, doing this action felt so final and so sad.


We have so much to share but I will break it up in smaller posts as we get more information and photos to post with it. First up is our new home . . . it is a brand new 3bd/2bath home but in India you only rent the shell. As the renter, you provide ceiling fans, water heaters, air conditioners (an absolute must have), all appliances and a water purification system. It is quite an undertaking but we have been fortunate to have an amazing support system that has helped us and is having most of the above installed as I type this. The first couple of weeks are going to be spent shopping for furniture and the basic necessities. Things to note . . . no shower curtains, one of our bathrooms has both a western toilet and an Indian one. We will be covering it up so it doesn't become a play spot for Jaya : ) No cabinets in the kitchen, just open shelves but very colorful - it is cheerful and fun.

Below are some "before we make it home" photos (we are only renting the bottom floor) . . .

As most of you know we are in the process of moving to India. We currently are in NC on our journey to India, awaiting the approval of our visas. We have been spending some time with our family and while in NC we apparently brought snow with us to the beach....

Pieces of Me

We just had a wonderful weekend with my entire family. One sister's visit was planned before our India move was decided then once that cat was out of the bag, my other two sister's and Dad and stepmom decided to come as well! The weather was horrible, rainy and cold but that didn't stop us from having fun. Thursday, we rented a van and went to the Carnegie Science Museum. The kids had a blast but I think the adults had more fun playing with all the gadgets. Friday night brought a 25 Anniversary celebration and a fun game of Girls Vs Boys Pictionary that clearly showed - the sister's think alike! It was so funny to watch, we just knew what the other was thinking. The boys got a whippin! Saturday brought the first round of goodbyes - tough to take since I may not see them again before we leave for India. Each sister got to take some goodies that we would either give away or sell in a yard sale. One got some decorations, one got baby items for their adoption adventure and the other got our cat! Sydney (our deaf white kitty) had only been with us a few years but was a presence around our home that is already missed. It was so nice to know that these things were going to my sisters but also weird to watch pieces of our life start leaving . . .

So all that to say, this move to India is hitting home big time right now. Our house sold in 2.5 days and we found a short term rental within two hours of signing the contract on the house. We have sold a 4 wheeler, a riding lawnmower and we have a huge yard sale this weekend. Our beloved, Bayley (11 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever) will be going to live with our in-laws for the rest of his life in a few short weeks. My thought pattern has changed to - is this really something we will need in two years when we return or is it important enough to ship to India? So as pieces of us get scattered around the county and country, I am learning to trust God and know that His plan is the best. It is after all, just stuff. Stuff is not what makes memories special - it's family and friends.

I got a lovely email from my Auntie Stella in England this past week and she told us how proud our mum would be of us. Funny how even at this age, words like that can hit you in your heart and make you smile through your tears. And in this month, October Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is only fitting for me to say . . . not a day goes by that I don't think of my mum, I miss her. However, I do think in the midst of this past weekend, her strength, beauty and humor were clearly evident in all 4 of her daughter's. Obviously pieces of her in us.

Enjoy our photos!!

This is how our house looks . . .

Yes, we are putting a new counter in our bathroom, repainting everything and sorting out our closets that junk seems to mysteriously breed in. WHY? Well, we are getting ready to put our house on the market next week.
Yes, we are moving.
Where?
We are moving to India . . . and No, we are not kidding and No, we haven't lost the few marbles we had left!

Let's back up a little . .. as many of you know, we have been blessed to grow our family by way of adoption from India. On our trip to meet Jaya (now 3 yrs old) and embrace her as a new part of our family, we arrived in Calcutta to a political strike. These strikes usually only last a day but everything shuts down from taxis to stores to schools. It was also a very volatile atmosphere for Westerners to be travelling along the streets alone. Well by divine appointment, we met a wonderful man who was kind enough to arrange a military escort to our hotel. He happened to be a close friend to the founder of Good News India (GNI). Through an amazing chain of events, my husband was was able to attend church in Calcutta and meet Dr. Faiz, the founder of Good News India.

Good News India (GNI) runs 25 Orphanages (called Dream Centers) with over 2500 residential children. Many of these kids would have been sold into bonded slavery in India if GNI had not intervened. One of these homes is a home for HIGH RISK GIRLS being trafficked into the sexual slavery markets of India. They have 55 girls who were on their way to a brothel, but were rescued by GNI. Although other ministries rescue these girls from the brothels, GNI gets to them before they ever get to a brothel, thus saving them from ever experiencing the horrors of a brothel. We had wanted to hook up with a ministry in India and now we had just found one. This connection proved to be a huge part of our life.

Last September, Peter went on a short term missions trip with GNI. He came home full of passion for these kids and what GNI was doing. Only his passion didn't subside like the usual "post mission trip glow" - it grew into vision which eventually became reality. He has accepted a support-based position with GNI. We have made a two year commitment and we will be leaving the US for Bhubaneswar, Orissa early March 2010.

We are very excited for many reasons and a little apprehensive. Let's be real here, the thought of going to a market and looking a little chicken in the eye and saying, "That one, I want that one" as they proceed to kill it in front of you is enough to make to make anyone a little apprehensive! There are so many unknowns but what an amazing opportunity! The girls will get to experience life in India and learn more about their culture and so will we. Wow - only God could orchestrate something like this.

We will be detailing our move and our time in India on this blog so hopefully, I will become a more entertaining writer so that it is fun for you to follow our journey. So to close, I will share a scripture that we have on our fridge at this very moment . . .

"Don't worry about anything; instead , pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Weekend at Seneca Lake . . .

As summer winds down (not sure we ever really had one here in PA) we were able to have a long weekend with family at the lake. Peter's grandparents have this amazing piece of lakefront property that just forces you to relax. Here are some photos of us enjoying some R&R with the girls.


We are really noticing how quickly time is passing lately - there are just things that are way more important than your house being spotless and your laundry done. I prefer to leave the dishes until the kids are in bed (shock horror!) and spend time playing farm, tea party or dentist. Dentist is at the front of everyone minds because we have teeth cleanings on Tuesday : )




Came across this amazing blog yesterday about a young couple who have 9 children (3 biological and 6 adopted from Ethiopia). Very inspiring. Here's the link, check it out and watch the video for their documentary "We have Room" http://blessingsfromethiopia.blogspot.com/

Cooper's Go Camping!

Ok, it was only for ONE night but we still had a blast! The weather was absolutely perfect, just chilly enough to need a fire and just warm enough to sleep in a tent. The kids had a great time although came home today very tired. All that fresh mountain air had taken it's toll. Must admit, I don't think I am a long term camper but for one or two nights I can do it.

Here are some photos . .

If I Were a Butterfly . . .

THE BUTTERFLY SONG
(If I Were a Butterfly)
Words and Music by Brian M. Howard
If I were a butterfly
I'd thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I'd thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

CHORUS
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were an elephant
I'd thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo
You know I'd hop right up to you
If I were an octopus
I'd thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

If I were a wiggly worm
I'd thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear
I'd thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile
I'd thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for
making me, me

Copyright © 1974, 2002 Mission Hills Music

Finally . . . Finalization

It's true at 10:00 am December 20th, 2007 - our sweet baby (well toddler I guess - shes 20 months old now!) became "officially" Jaya Ranae Debsila Cooper. Of course, she had been that to us since the first day we laid eyes on that tiny referral photo. We had a wonderful judge who has family friends from India and one of their names was Jaya as well. She made it very easy on us and said this was the bright spark of her month. This time we actually had to take the stand and answer some questions. I guess it was all a bit too much for me because I started crying as soon as the lawyer said, "You do realize that as of today, Debsila will be the same as a biological child - she will inherit from you and you will inherit from her." YES, of course I realize that, this is the moment we have been waiting for for 3 years!! The tears started flowing as I realized how much this had been weighing on me. Our very dear friends came with us which may the day even more special. They said they held it together until I lost it then their tears were flowing as well. God is good, we got it done before the end of the year and now we can enjoy the holidays even more.

Jaya was her true self, noisy and active the whole time. The judge even stopped at one point and said, Wow we have a vocal one here don't we? That's our girl. Alysha was a doll answering a couple of questions that the lawyer asked her with a smile. We are so blessed to have such amazing children.

I will post photos soon, just wanted to share . . .

More Vacation Pics!

Vacation brings fun and good news

Well we arrived here in FL yesterday and our first phone call was from our lawyer informing us that our court date is Dec 20th!!! We were so excited and this certainly is a huge answer to prayer. Talk about cutting it close : )

Our 2 days here have been perfect, the weather is gorgeous (we left behind 9 inches of snow!!) and the girls are having a blast! Alysha was made into a princess today by a Fairy godmother in training at the Bippity boppity boutique - she enjoyed every minute of it. Her smiles tell it all. Jaya has been doing great on the rides and has learned a new word, it's Poohbear. So cute.

Well here are the photos - enjoy!

Football Vs Soccer

There are times in my life that my English heritage causes some confusion and now is one of those times. Alysha is playing a sport twice a week – Football to my English side and Soccer to my American : ) Either way, it’s fun to watch her. The girl smiles ALL the time – its awesome. She did manage to make 2 goals last night which of course made us very proud. Whether by accident or default, she was still excited and threw her hands up in the air with a “Goal!” They have no idea on rules, it’s just about kicking the ball and getting it in the goal. Simplicity – no “Bending it like Beckham” or any other fancy footwork.

Jaya enjoys soccer as well, being the first to give her sister high five after the game and of course, spending her time charming the other parents. One of her new words is “Up-Bup” which means “please pick me up!” It is so cute to hear.

The weather is beautiful for soccer – about 65 -70 degrees. Fall is definitely well on its way in Pennsylvania and it is gorgeous. We hope to have some pumpkin patch photos next week so check back soon! Enjoy the photos!

First Day of School

Here she is so excited to be going to school - we are so proud of her!




There goes my baby!


We were sent this in an email and thought it was appropriate as this is how we felt as we waved goodbye to our sweetie this morning.

Dear world,
I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crisp dress , two twinkling eyes and a happy laugh that ripples all day long and a flash of shiny hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I trust you’ll treat her well. She’s slipping out of the back yard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day of school and never again will she be completely mine. Frail and proud she’ll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say “Good Bye” and walk with little lady steps to the school house. Now she’ll learn to stand in lines and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She’ll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school bells and deadlines and she’ll learn to giggle and gossip and look to the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the isle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she’ll learn to be jealous and now she’ll learn how it feels to be hurt inside now she’ll learn ow not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the side walk. Nor will she have time to pop out of the bed with the dawn and kiss the lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she’ll worry about those important things. Things like grades, and which dress to wear and whose best friend is whose. The books and learning will replace the blocks and dolls. Now she’ll find new heroes. For 4 full years now, I’ve been her sage and Santa clause and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she’ll learn to share her worship with her teachers which is only right but no longer will I be the smartest greatest man in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time she’ll learn what it means to be a member of a group with all of its privileges and disadvantages too. She’ll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud or kiss dogs or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer. Today she’ll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends and I’ll stand at the front porch and watch her start out on that long lonely journey to becoming a woman. So world I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crisp dress with two twinkling eyes and a flash of hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you’ll treat her well.

Here is our Little Peanut, showing us her Sunday Best!

Alysha Playing in the kitchen - everything was soaked when she was done but she enjoyed it!

The girls and the best Daddy in the whole world.

Finally, a real update . . .

Well I managed to post some photos but the creativity for the journaling has escaped me. I will however, give it a try. I have 2 friends in India as I write this picking up their children. Hearing their stories only make me relive ours. How amazing is this journey? I mean, half way across the world there were two little girls that were destined to not only be part of our family but to define our family. I am constantly in awe of God’s hand on our life. Our girls bring us so much joy that I can’t imagine life without them. Alysha is developing this amazing sense of humor and is so sweet. She is mama’s big helper and loves having a baby sister to play with. To hear them playing and laughing together brightens the day. Jaya has amazed us, she may be little but she has a big personality! She is such a happy girl, noisy but happy : ) Sometimes at night, I will walk into check on her and she is just laying in her crib hugging her Jasmine doll. She sees me out of the corner of her eye and just grins with a cute little “ha ha”. It cracks me up every time – it’s like she is saying, “I knew you would come and check on me!” She had her Ped visit yesterday, she is 28 inches tall, 15 lbs and 4 oz – the Dr. was very pleased saying that she has grown in height and her head measurement has increased. Her weight is slow to catch up but we are increasing the Pediasure to help – as my sister said, that stuff is like baby steroids!!! LOL!!!

We had a very busy July with 2 out of state family weddings and a vacation, as well as having houseguests for many of the other weekends. Still, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our next family vacation is in December to Disney, Alysha is so excited and is already picking her princess dress to wear to breakfast in Cinderella’s Castle. I love the fact that she is such a girly girl.

I cannot believe that on August 17th, Jaya would have been home for 5 months and on August 29th, Alysha would have been home 4 years. Really, our journey has only just begun and I cannot wait to watch the years unfold.

Our Crazy Busy July!