Eve of THE BIG DAY!

I honestly don't know how tomorrow snuck up on me so fast!  It seemed like I was cool and calm and then all of a sudden....its here! 

I will try my hardest to keep updating the blog and I'll upload as many pictures as I possibly can do at one time.

We leave from Austin tomorrow evening at 5:00 pm, head to Dulles International (Washington DC) and then on to Frankfurt, Germany.  We will be staying there until Saturday with some precious friends of ours that are missionaries.  Craig met them in Siberia and then went to serve with them in South Africa the spring of 2004.  We can't wait to see them and it will give us some down time and rest before heading to Kiev on Saturday.  We will have  day of rest of Sunday and then our appointment with the SDA (State Department of Adoption) is on Monday at 9AM.  We will receive the official referral of our girls and then travel to their region on Tuesday evening.

Both of our girls (Molly and Madeline) are coming with us as well as my mom.  She has graciously offered to join us and help with us during our SDA appointment as well as our court date.  We plan to travel to Molly's birthplace after our court and spend time with lots of friends we met during our adoption of her in 2004.  We also plan to meet Molly's birthmom for coffee (without Molly) and I am really looking forward to that!  Please pray for us as we meet her for the first time. 

Well, I need to get some things done before our big trip tomorrow.  Keep reading and I'll update as much as possible.

Thanks for the prayers!!!!

7 days and counting....

This morning was filled with checking email and the Ukraine Parliament website.  A bill was being presented to possibly halt adoptions in Ukraine.  The unfortunate thing about this bill is that it would be immediate and all those currently in the adoption process would not be allowed to adopt.  So, if it passed, this little family would stay "little" and we would not be able to adopt our girls.  I sent the email to Craig this morning stating that it was "up for vote" and he wrote back, "I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future."  He was certainly right and there was nothing I could do about the situation.  So, I went on to bible study and of course, its on suffering and the Israelites in Egypt.  I was reminded today that its through our suffering, that we can really see the character of God.  He never leaves us, nor forsakes us and He always remembers His covenants and His promises to His children.  So, as I sat there in bible study, I received an email (yes, I was checking) and it stated that Parliament had decided to postpone the vote after receiving a letter from the SDA requesting the bill to be rewritten with different language!  So, with all that being said - we are still headed to Ukraine in 7 DAYS!!!!

The girls and I have been preparing our travel items this week.  We've made a couple of trips to various stores gearing up for our upcoming trip.  If any product comes in travel size, we have purchased it.  Molly has had a blast getting ready and she is chomping at the bit to back her suitcase.  She keeps going over and over (she must hear me doing the same thing) of what she is going to wear while in Ukraine.  Its so cute and she is so excited!  Madeline could really care less.  When I asked if she was ready to go get her sisters in Ukraine, she replied that she "wanted to go to the store and get a donut."  Priorities of a two year old.  Needless to say, we are all very excited and counting down the days until our departure!

Other exciting news was that our dear friends that have been in Ukraine for awhile were named parents of two precious little girls.  It has been quite the fight but God was victorious!  Olivia and Tamara are now part of a forever family!  Their blog is amazing (http://www.morelovetogive.com/) if you get a chance to read it.

There are other families that are currently in Ukraine and waiting on travel to return home.  Please keep them in your prayers.  There are families here in the US waiting on travel dates to go to Ukraine!  Keep them in your prayers as well.  Its hard to wait!

Well, I need to get in bed.  Molly made her annual Pound Cake for the Comal County Fair.  She will enter it tomorrow morning, bright and early and pick up her ribbon on Thursday.  She is pretty certain (based on the taste of the batter) that she will get a Blue Ribbon.  Personally, she put just a tad too much vanilla :)  But, she had fun baking it and always has a great time at the Fair.

Oh, one more thing about Molly.  Today, out of the blue, she says "Mom, what's it like on your way to heaven?"  (like I know).  But, I said "Well, when you take your last breath on earth, your next breath will be in heaven.  There won't be anything to be worried about and there is nothing to be afraid of when you die.  You go from here to there in an instant."  She is terrified of any kind of amusement or waterpark ride.  So, she replies, "Going to heaven is going to be one ride I'm not afraid of."  I thought it was priceless!  I love being a Mom!

Blessings to you all!
The Hills

The things that make you say hmmmmm.....

Okay, we woke up late around the Hill household today.  Craig had an allergy attack at 2:30 am and I slept with a mule (aka Madeline).  So, we didn't sleep much during normal sleeping hours so we caught up this morning.  It was nice to get up and drink coffee and chockey nilk (Madeline's words) with my family and watch a little television before we started our day.

I checked my email on my phone and was in complete shock when I received an email from PayPal.  A donation in the amount of $500 was given and to top it off, I didn't know the donor!  I immediately called my mom and she didn't know the name either.  I sent an email to the gentleman and thanked him for his amazing contribution.  In the meantime, Craig googled his email address and it took him to a blog (onelifetogive.blogspot.com)  and he's a WAR HERO! HE FIGHTS FOR MY FREEDOM!  I should be giving him $500!  He is currently serving our country and just happened to be on leave for a week to spend time with his family.  I won't disclose his name, out of respect for him, but I am amazed at what he has done for our freedom!  He immediately responded to my email that he wanted to send an additional $500 via a check!  I started crying and couldn't stop!  How in the world did I know this guy?  How did he know us?  Where had he read our story and why was he giving us $1000?  Then, he sent another reply "Oh, I am a friend of JD Steward's."  JD is a dear, precious friend to us.  He was a missionary to Guatemala and opened a women's shelter to provide a safe haven for many women in domestic violence situations.  He is an amazing man of God and we are blessed to call him our friend.  He and his precious girlfriend spent the entire weekend in May serving BBQ plates for our adoption fundraiser.  He has gone over and beyond his duty as our friend.  He tells our story and shares our website with everyone he knows and we are grateful!
Back to WAR HERO - please pray for him and his family.  He is currently serving our country.  He is constantly put in harm's way for our freedom.  Pray that he will return home safely for good and pray for his precious family that must be without him during his tour.

I sit here in awe and I am speechless!  Another donation came in from one of JD's friends.  A family that he met while in Guatemala.  They met two sisters while serving in an orphanage in Guatemalaand felt like they were "their daughters."  Guatemala has closed their adoptions.  They have had to leave their precious daughters behind and they long for the day when God will bring them home forever. Please lift up the Wagners up as well!  I can't imagine knowing that I have two daughters in another country and I can't do anything to bring them home.  Please pray that God would open the doors of adoption in that country and that children can be rescued and brought into homes - forever.

So, we have $2110 in our account - WOW - I can't believe the money that has been raised since Friday.  I am speechless!  We don't have far to go and we leave two weeks from tomorrow.  I can't even begin to express my gratitude!  I am humbled and amazed at each of you!

Blessings to you!
Becca, Craig, Molly, Madeline, Tanya and Leeza

So, they have fallen off their rocker.....

I have been completely amazed at the outpouring of love and support from each of you!  The encouraging emails, texts, voicemails, and comments are overwhelming! 

This has been a hard year for us.  There have been times I've thought, "What in the world are we doing adopting two girls?  God has really brought us to this point, we could never have gotten here on our own.  Financially, its been a hard year - who isn't experiencing some hard times in this economy?  I feel like Craig works so hard and is so gifted in his ability as a financial planner, and sometimes the rewards just aren't coming in as fast as I'd like :)  But, I know God is faithful and He will reward those that work hard but most importantly,those that work for the Lord.  Craig gives God all the glory for every good thing that comes our way.  He is such a great spiritual leader for our family and I am so blessed!

I know with the praise, comes the opposition. I know there are many people that are asking the same question that I've often asked myself, "What in the world are they doing adopting when they don't have the money?"  I'm sure there are some people that are, quite honestly, tired of the fundraising emails, the letters, the home-based business parties, and so on.  But, I made a promise to two little girls that don't have a Mommy that I would do WHATEVER it took to bring them home - forever!  If that means being a nuisance to others and practically begging for money (so I feel like at times) - I said I would do whatever.  So, I've had to swallow my pride (if you know me, I don't like to ask for help), bite the bullet, and ask for assistance.  Its been a hard pill to swallow but "pride comes before a fall" - right?  So, for those of you that think we have completely fallen off our rocker - I'm sorry. I don't apologize because I feel we are in the wrong but I do apologize because I'm a people pleaser :).  But, I'd rather apologize to you because I know you guys can take it rather than apologizing to two little orphans that spend their days in an orphanage without a family.  We are totally following God's lead and He has been the one that has opened the doors of this adoption.

When I set out on my journey called "life," I would have never in a million years planned to adopt older children.  But, God, in His providence, has led us down a different path.  Its Him who calls, its Him who equips, and its Him who provides.  He has been the one to soften the hearts of His people to financially and prayerfully support us.  So, I give Him all the glory!

We are $1800 away from our goal to bring our girls home.  I am forever grateful to those that have given and so appreciative of those that can't give money but can give of their time to pray for us!  That means so much and I feel your prayers!  We have been given a HUGE gift - a sweet, precious friend has agreed to buy our flights.  She wasn't prepared to purchase flights for Madeline so I am trying to fundraise for her ticket.  And, I am trusting that God will provide for that as well.

We have been diligently trying to save and fundraise for this adoption and its been exhausting at times.  But, I know that it will all be worth it when we bring those girls home - FOREVER!

So, thanks to ALL OF YOU!  We love you and can't imagine going through this without you!

Blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly, Madeline, Tanya and Leeza

Leaving on a jet plane.....

I can't believe it - we received our appointment date today!  The funny thing is that last night, I continued to check my email over and over.  I was waiting on an email from our facilitator in Ukraine.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zelch.  But, I had a dream that she got our invitation and it was for October 4th.  Well, my dream came true - its actually OCTOBER 4th!  I am still amazed at the goodness and faithfulness of God as He has taken us down this journey.

We began down this path scared, nervous, excited, and not knowing what to expect.  As I sit here and think of those precious girls in Ukraine - I am ecstatic!  I can't wait to bring them home!  I can't wait to hold them in my arms and fulfill a promise I made to do whatever I could to adopt them.  I've always told them we would do what we could but that it was God who would bring them here - not us.  And, there is still a possibility that they could not be adopted due to a bill that is being voted on just a week before we leave for Ukraine.  A bill is being presented to Ukraine Parliament that would halt adoptions.  We are asking for prayer that this will not pass and that we will be able to proceed with this adoption.

We ask for your prayers, that is the most important thing in this journey!  We are also $3000 away from our financial goal.  We've raised and saved close to $12,000 in the last few months.  I have been completely overwhelmed at the support of those around us.  Everyone has really rallied around us and have given us more than we ever expected!  We are asking 100 people to donate $30 this week to help us meet that goal.  I have already received $240 is less than two hours!  If you are inclined to donate, you may do so online (PayPal) with the beccarhill@msn.com address or send a check to us.  Email me for the address (beccahill00@gmail.com)

Thank you again for all your love and support!  We could not go down this road without each and every one of you!!!

Blessings,
The Hills