The planets have aligned.....

That's what some would say, we would say it is all the hand of God. Where has time gone?! It is already December!

Deer season was good for Jason. He promised Marisa that it was a "If its brown it's down" season because of all that we had going on. Jason harvested a little buck which was great in Marisa's eyes since the meat is better for the freezer (besides nothing is going to pre-empt Fred's place in our home).

Jason got out Goose hunting several times as well. Came home with not one, but two banded geese, the trophies of goose hunting.

Marisa's team at work won the Pumpkin carving contest. A little disturbed is how many people discribed it...... A pumkin sitting on a little wooden chair. Pipe arms and legs with his pants around his ankles. Under the chair, a partially filled pie crust with... pumpkin pie filling. In his arms was a book,"baking for dummies". The pumpkin had a very anguished look carved into it as well.

We got Brutus out for a quick pheasant hunt on some public ground. Didn't see a single pheasant, but Jason, Marisa and Brutus all had a wonderfull time enjoying the beatiful fall weather.


The last two weeks have been a full of progress for our adoption. We have a court date of Dec 20. What does this mean for us? We'll go to Moscow and have our medical exams done first. Then we'll head to Sakalin and hopefully get to see the boys for a few days. Then it is off to court. Our current travel plans have us back on Christmas Eve....we hope that all goes well with all of our connections and that God blesses us (and Rob and Ami coming home Christmas day!) with good weather so we can all keep our flights.

Unfortunately the boys will not be returning with us on this trip. Due to US and Russian holidays, Marisa and her mom will be returning in January to bring the boys home.


We thought we would have some huge hurdles to overcome in getting the last of our documents together for court. In a little over three days, everything was under control and we were well on our way to getting everything done. We're so humbled by all of those who helped us out, and know that it was nothing that we did, but everything that He put in place for us.


Thank you for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!