Our application to Buckner’s Russian Adoption Program has been accepted! We thought the first forms we filled out were thorough, but the packet of forms and requirements for the second step is massive. We’ll tackle it a little bit at a time, doing some every day.

It’s beginning to feel real, this adoption thing… in a surreal sort of way. If you consider that the process will probably take about a year and that we have loosely specified that we want a boy between 12 and 24 months old, this means that he is either already born or is nearly born. If I think about it too long, I end up getting weepy… is someone holding my baby? Is he being cared for properly? Is he getting enough to eat? In the end, we just have to trust that he is in God’s hands and push forward until we can hold him, feed him and care for him ourselves.

In the meantime, the whole adoption process will cost around $35,000, so it’s time for fund raising efforts to begin in earnest! We don’t have even remotely that kind of money, but we have total peace about God providing it. We can’t wait to see what He does.

How can you help?

1. Pray that our son would be warm, fed, held and shown affection.

2. Pray that God would provide the necessary funds to cover the adoption costs, and that He would be glorified in the process.

3. Like our Facebook page – Bring Home One. We’ll be posting updates there and let you know when there’s a new blog post.

4. If you are able to donate, I have set up a page with information on how to do that- click here. Even the smallest donations will make a difference and we will be grateful for every dollar that helps bring us closer to our boy.

Next steps: complete the massive packet of paperwork, gather forms, letters, etc. that are required. And, complete the home study. We will need about $10,000 for the up-front fees over the coming months.

The whole Clay family is grateful for your support!