Well, we still aren't home. On the 18th, it'll be 8 months since the house fire and we are ALMOST home. The house is a mess, as neither the contractor nor the Cleaning Team has finished their work and cleaned up their mess and it's pretty frustrating. Try living in a hotel room with 2 14 year old boys, 2 whippets who LOVE to run sprints, and a hyperactive Boston Terrier! We've been here a WEEK. OY!! But the boys and I went to the house today to unpack and clean a bit. They were huge helps. Poor Mark has the Crud and feels AWFUL. He's been coughing and sneezing and hacking (and SNORING!) for days and he thinks pneumonia might be on the horizon for him. I've been sick too, but I'm usually so hardy I shake things after a bit.

So we could use your prayers that we are able to secure some furniture for our master bedroom (other pieces are needed but not as urgently) and for Mark's health. The one really good thing is that the boys and I got our Russian chaperone's bedroom ready! It's the ONLY room in the house anywhere NEAR ready, but at least that's ONE room!! Ha. I couldn't stand thinking that she might be uncomfortable in her room.

As far as the adoption, we are still mourning the "loss" of our little Simon (please pray for him!!), but trying to look ahead. I think the the country of Armenia is far more appropriate for us, in that the travel req's are much easier (among other things). It is a more expensive country, but how can you put a price on a person's life? I'll put a picture of her on my blog here. There is a more updated photo of her, but it's on the other computer which is buried in a box at the house right now. I think she is just STUNNINGLY beautiful! I think she looks like a mix between Liz Taylor and Snow White. Which do you think she looks more like? Maybe I'll put a poll on the left. Let me know what you think!

In an hour or so, the boys and I'll head back to the house to keep working, after we go to Lowe's for some things. Ugh. It's exciting to think that we'll be back home soon, though!

Much love to everyone!

Missy