We've Decided to Adopt an Orphan From Russia!

WE HAVE DECIDED TO ADOPT AN ORPHAN FROM RUSSIA!

Anyone who knows us is probably thinking two things right now.  First, "WHAT?  That is so crazy!  That is so cool!".  Second, "Those Marinos.  They always have something shocking going on!".  Well, we don't exactly plan our lives around the levels of shock we can bring about, but I do have to admit, our lives and the path we have been on has been anything but boring.

I know this seems like it is coming completely out of left field, but in all actuality, Keiffer and I have been talking about adoption since our very first date.  The conversations about adopting began with both of us being certain that we eventually wanted to adopt.  Keiffer had always dreamed of adopting a little girl from China, as I always dreamed of adopting a blonde haired blue eyed newborn from a Eastern European country.  Although we couldn't decide when or where we would adopt, it was nice that we both shared this common desire.  Another reason why we are a match made in heaven.

We decided to have our first two children, and then see if we wanted to adopt our third.  After having Calista and Bridget I felt a strong desire to continue having another biological child.  We gave adoption some thought, but it just didn't seem like the right time.  Keiffer and I are serious planners, so nearly everything in our foreseable future is planned out.  As soon as I had Tennyson, I was already thinking about my plans to have a fourth and when.  Keiffer deployed while I was pregnant with Tennyson and during that deployment I revisited my desire to adopt after watching the National Geographic documentary China's Lost Girls.  I was distinctly disturbed by the reality of some countries social, economic and political issues, and the causes of massive amounts of children being orphaned.  The impression I kept receiving was that I just have to save at least one of these orphans. I didn't feel the desire to adopt a newborn from America, because I know that they go like hot cakes, and the life they would live if not adopted would far outweigh that of a child in a developing country in an orphanage who was not adopted. Once Tennyson was born, Keiffer and I talked about adoption a lot.  We hashed it out from so many different angles, and after much consideration and speaking to different families, we just decided to stick with making our own babies since we are healthy and it is so easy for me to get pregnant.  The most important reason we came to this agreement was because of many people telling us to think about the wellfare of our biological children first before thinking about the welfare of a child we would adopt.  This led us to think about the traumatizing effects that bringing in an orphan could have on our three biological children, and it scared us.  It just didn't seem worth all the risk.  We pushed aside the strong promptins given to us, and let our fears of the unknown diswade up from adopting.

Keiffer has been deployed now for 7.5 months and won't be home for another two.  We have been actively conjuring up a plan to get pregnant again as soon as Keiffer gets back.  We had it perfectly arranged where I would get pregnant in September or October, so I could have my first trimester here, and won't be so uncomfortable driving across country to Maryland. Well all of that was fine and dandy until my friend posted this blog on Facebook at www.tinygreenelephants.com.  It is a blog about a family in the process of adopting two children from Russia.  I read the most recent blog posts and the strangest thing happened.  I started balling my eyes out uncontrollably.  My heart swelled with pain but also love and I just knew that this was the Holy Ghost telling me that my plan for adoption needed to be revisited.  Instantly I decided that I want to adopt our next baby.  That I don't want to get pregnant just yet and that I need to rescue an orphan from another country who is living in an institution. 

I emailed Keiffer and told him what I had just experienced and what I thought we should do.  He is so amazing and replied with a "Let's do it.  Call up an agency and lets get the paperwork going".  The last few days have had my mind going crazy!  I have a million questions blazing through my head about how we are going to pull this off.  I have been reading as much as I can about how the process works, about all the different countries we could adopt from and their policies, and reading a whole bunch of adoption blogs.  I looked into our family history and found out that my grandparents on my dad's side come from the Ukraine and Prussia.  On my mom's side they come from Norway.  While scanning for a country, Russia seems the most fitting, and if we adopt from there, we will have part of the same background.  Plus, we could get a child with blonde hair and blue eyes. 

There are many reasons why we would like to get a child that looks like us, but the main reason is so that child will feel more included and a part of our family.  This is strictly our opinion and what we feel is right for our family. We just want to lesson the chances of adoption always being the first people see in our child and when looking at our family.  Considering all 5 of us have blonde hair and blue eyes, it would seem fitting to get a blonde haired blue eyed orphan.

So now that we have made the official decision, here comes the hard part.  Finding an agency, researching the adoption process more, talking to families who have adopted from Russia, fundraising...  The list goes on!  We are embarking on a huge adventure which we have no clue as to where it will take us or to whom.  There are so many questions.  So many fears.  So much excitement.  The one thing though that I know for certain is that I cannot deny this prompting any longer!  Heavenly Father knows  that adoption is right for our family.  He has been telling us this from day 1 and has set our lives up prefectly and blessed us so richly to make this a reality in our lives.  I trust in Him and in the witness of the Holy Ghost.  I have learned in my life that when I receive a prompting that not only do I need to listen to it, but you I to act on it, and this is what we are doing.

Today I am calling adoption agencies and requesting information packages.  I will be contacting couples who have adopted from Russia and will be asking a ton of questions as well.  My main conscern is how we will be able to get settled in with an agency that is in Maryland while living here in San Diego for another 7 months.  7 Months is a long time to wait to start the process, but we don't know if once the process is started if we need to remain in the same area and same home.  I guess all of this I will find out through calling around.

We are so thrilled in our decision, and excited to share this journey with all of you!  We know that God has big plans for some little orphan out there.  We just can't wait for him/her to learn of this!