Really this time... .Our paperwork is done!!

(Suzy, Charlotte and Pearl at UPS)

We love Big Brown and Big Brown loves us! We received a request from Ukraine to send more documents...Uggggg! After taking a deep breath, we realized things could be worse. There are so many other obstacles we could be facing and we are so grateful how things have moved along, even if it has been slower than we anticipated. We re-gathered documents, went back to the State Capitol to have the final (I  really mean it this time) appostille stamps done and our last envelope was sent to Ukraine via UPS! YAHOOOO!

Now we wait for the Ukraine government to look through it, approve it and invite us over already!!! End of April first of May is our goal. We truly want to thank UPS for all of their love for our family. They have been outstanding supporters of our family in all of its various growing stages over the years. An outstanding company who has bent over backwards to show their employees they value families and support adoptions 110%, not just in words but actions. Show your support and call that boy in brown!

1-800-PICK-UPS

(Let me clarify.... to ship something, not just to chat)

My CPA Rules!

(Marvin Neumann, CPA being bamboozled at Applebee's)



The last form we needed completed, notarized and appostilled was our 2011 taxes and then our paperwork would be done and ready to send to Ukraine. Que: Music (Something grand and with a superhero, save the day, theme) Que: Marvelous Marvin Neumann, our awesome CPA and dear family friend.

Me: “Marv, I need you to do my taxes...today.”

Marv: “It is 11 o'clock (PM) and I am at Applebee's, I can't do your taxes today!”

Me: “Ok, I just pulled into the parking lot...I will follow you to your office”

A few hours later...2 AM-ish

Marv: “Your taxes are done and you are getting a refund.”

Marv you are the best, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!! With that done, the papers were stamped, cried on and then mailed to Ukraine. We are done! It took five months,thousands of dollars, much love and tons of ink for notary and appostille stamps, but we are done!

We now wait for the Ukraine Government to go through the papers and invite us over. We are guessing our invitation to travel will be around the last part of April. The work of gathering and regathering all the necessary documents has been hard emotionally, physically and financially. We could not have done it without Stork (our adoption agency) and the other adoptive families who I have cried with, laughed with and drank with (Diet Coke.....for now). Thank you to the Murfords, the Gardiners, the Millers, the Bahrs, the Kochies and the Jolleys. To all of our dear friends, family and strangers, thank you for praying for us, thinking of us, spreading our story and donating to the adoption of our beautiful, sweet sons.

In loving memory of Grandpa Dick Maxfield who passed away Feb.13 , we miss you and are grateful to have you as a guardian angel. So happy that you and Sergei met this summer. Now grab that glass of whiskey and watch over our papers!

COLD IN UKRAINE (-20) BUT WARM HEARTS IN UTAH

Bunco winnings donated from Aunt Micki and all of her friends!

My sweet, sweet Aunt Mick has been saving her winnings from Bunco to donate towards the adoption of Sergei and Max. She has been saving since September and has had her sweet friends near and far donate to her envelope as well ! Once she reached $299, one more donation was added to make it a cool $300!

THANK YOU for all of your generous donations and thank you Aunt Micki for cheering us on!

I received this envelope of love (and cash) during a pretty tough week. It has been extremely cold in Ukraine -20 degrees and I can't stop worrying about Max and Sergei being hungry and cold. We were facing a  pretty long delay on our paperwork here on the US side and we were still short of our adoption cost of about $5,000. We had all been under the weather and working like crazy when Aunt Micki gave me this envelope. It touched me so much to have such love and support and to have strangers give me their winnings. It really did warm my heart and give me a second wind. We are pushing through the paperwork, sending warm clothes to the orphanage and working 24/7 to meet our goals! Our five children will be playing on the beach complaining that they are too HOT at Bear Lake this summer before we know it and I just can't wait!