Emma Charity

Update on our Adoption Journey...

2011-09-18T21:31:00.003-05:00

We haven't written an update in a while, so I wanted to share with you where we are currently at in the adoption process. Our sweet baby girl, Bella Joy, was born in July. Our adoption agency requires that we have 9 months bonding time with her before we bring the adopted child into the home. So, all of our paperwork is on hold. We have been assigned a region-Kaliningrad, Russia, and our paperwork will be registered in that region in December 2011 or January 2012. Once we are registered, the process for adoption speeds up and we could be in Russia meeting Emma within as little as 3 months after we are registered. We are thinking that it will be Spring 2012 when we bring our precious Emma Charity home.

All of the paperwork that we previously completed expires by the end of the year and will need to be updated, re-notarized, and re-apostilled. We will work on that as efficiently as possible. We just had an update to our home study done a few weeks ago as that had expired as well.

Please pray protection and love over Emma until we can bring her home. Pray that God would guide us and give us wisdom in preparing our hearts and home for her arrival.

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

"Eucharisteo" Oil Painting Auction-Auction ends on May 8, 2011

2011-04-24T18:29:00.011-05:00

WINNER is: Shelly Dippel!!!
Congratulations to Shelly and thank you for your support of our Adoption! We Pray that the Painting brings a smile to your face and Gratitude (Eucharisteo) to your heart!

We were recently blessed when a dear friend of ours painted a GORGEOUS 24x36 inch oil painting for us to use to raise money for Emma's Adoption. We have named this painting "Eucharisteo" which in the Greek means to "Give Thanks". The painting is of a Beautiful vase filled with bright, vibrant-colored flowers. Giving Flowers is often a way of giving thanks to someone, and this painting reminds our family how very much "eucharisteo" (gratitude) that we have for so many people who have blessed us on this adoption journey with their financial support, gifts, and, most importantly, prayers.

This painting is even more GORGEOUS in person and would bring such beauty to your home. It was painted on a wood canvas and is very heavy and durable. We will be hosting an auction for it here on this blog for two weeks. The auction will close on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at Midnight, Central Standard Time.

To place a bid, just leave a comment on this post with your email address and bid amount. If you do not live locally and you end up winning the painting, we will ask that you contribute an additional $20 for shipping fees. The item will be delivered to you once payment has been made. ALL PROCEEDS go toward our Adoption Costs and will help tremendously in bringing our precious Emma home! Thank you so very much for your consideration and time! May God Bless Each of You!

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

AUCTION for Adorable TUTU & Leggings

2011-02-11T21:24:00.003-06:00

My wonderful friend, Elizabeth from Elizabeth Engelhardt Creations, is hosting an auction for an adorable girl's tutu and leggings with the proceeds going towards our adoption costs. Check out this link and place a bid :). We are so thankful for Elizabeth and her cousin's generous donations. http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com/2011/02/auction.html

We have been so blessed to have Elizabeth Englehardt helping us raise money for our adoption costs. http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com

Elizabeth has become a dear friend of our over the past two years. We were first put in contact with her when we were pregnant with Savannah and she made Savannah's birth announcements. You can see just how beautiful and special they were by clicking here: http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com/p/announcements.html

Not only is Elizabeth hosting an auction for us, but she has so kindly offered to give all proceeds of orders that you place directly to us for our adoption. She does amazing work-thank you cards, baby books, birthday invitations, baby announcements, scrapbook pages, bookmarks, postcards, etc... Every order is custom made and she will make them exactly the way you would like them. So, hop over to her website and take a look. If you decide to place an order then please put "Emma Burrell" in your order notes. And, while you are there, take a moment to pray for her sweet family that God's love will be poured out in abundance on them as they seek to serve and help others. Elizabeth's button is on the corner of this blog...so just click it and you will be taken directly to her website. If you have any questions then just email me at joyouschris@yahoo.com .

We are so thankful for Elizabeth and her cousin's generous donations. I continue to be amazed at the generosity of people who have never met us yet are so willing to help us bring our Emma home. God's love is shining through people like Elizabeth and her cousin!

Praying her home,

Darin, Christina and Jaythan

Emma's First Doll :)

2011-02-08T21:12:00.006-06:00

I recently participated in a Community Market sponsored by a local MOPS group. I had a booth where I sold my baked goods, scarves, aprons, prayer journals, and various other projects to raise money for Emma's Adoption. While at the Craft Fair, I was blessed to meet an amazing woman with a very generous and kind heart. Her name is Libby and she is the owner of HoneyPied Designs. She has the cutest etsy shop where she sells gorgeous handsewn headbands, necklaces, pet beds, and dolls. I purchased a beautiful headband and necklace from her. Just check out the gorgeous quality of her work in my pictures.

Before we left for the day, Libby graciously told me to pick out a doll for Emma. She wanted me to be able to leave this doll with Emma when we go on our first trip to Russia-a little something for Emma to hold on to until we are able to return for the second trip and our court date when we get to bring her home. I was so blessed by Libby's kindness, and I picked out the most beautiful doll for our baby girl.

Please check out Libby's work and buy some of her amazing products: honeypied.etsy.com

She plans to update her etsy store soon with some more of her awesome creations. She is a Mommy, a Talented Creator, a Woman after God's own Heart, and now, a Friend. I am so thankful that God allowed our paths to cross, and I cannot wait to give Emma her beautiful doll from Libby :).

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

REGION ASSIGNMENT-Kaliningrad

2011-02-07T17:22:00.005-06:00

As you know if you follow this blog, we submitted our Dossier (Russian Adoption Paperwork) to Russia in October 2010. We received wonderful news about a month ago that we were assigned a region in Russia called Kaliningrad. This is a huge step in our Adoption Journey as we now know exactly where Emma will be coming from so we can pray for her, her orphanage, and her caretakers.

The Kaliningrad region is located very close to Europe; it is actually closer to Berlin, Germany or Oslo, Norway then Moscow It used to be a German town called Koenigsberg before the World War II, but the Potsdam Conference of the Allies in 1945 determined new borders of this territory. Later on in 1990 due to the collapse of the Soviet Union the Kaliningrad Region became geographically separated from the rest of Russia. The region has a 200-km long border in the north and the east with the Republic of Lithuania and with the Republic of Poland in the south. The west coast of the Kaliningrad Region is washed by the Baltic Sea.

After researching Kaliningrad online, we discovered that it has the largest percentage of HIV and largest evidence of prostitution in all of Russia. There are over 85 orphanages in this tiny country and they are packed with very young children who are almost always either abandoned at birth or brought to the orphanage because of abuse or neglect of the parents. We truly believe that it is not by chance that we were assinged this region. God's hands were orchastrating this regional match, and we believe that there is a little girl who needs desperately to have the love of a mother, father and siblings. My heart is so burdened for all of the orphans in this region, and I am asking God to just cover our baby with His loving arms until we can bring her home. Join me in praying for Kaliningrad, please-specifically the orphans in this impoverished country.

The next step in the adoption process is to submit our regional paperwork and then wait a few months before we will will be given a referral.

If you follow my Personal Blog, then you know that God overwhelmed us with a Special Miracle, a Blessing, a Baby in my Womb. You can read our Miracle Story here: http://butterflykissesntastydishes.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-said-yes-even-when-i-didnt-have.html

I am currently 4 1/2 months pregnant with a little girl-Bella Joy. SO...Emma Charity will have a baby sister probably around the same age as she will be when we bring her home.

After talking with our Adoption Consultant last week, we decided that it would be best to delay our paperwork submittal until July 2011. The Adoption Agency that we are using, Children's Hope International, likes for there to be 9 months bonding time between the parents and the youngest child in the home before another child is introduced into the family. By delaying the submission of our regional paperwork for a few months, we will ensure that I will have at least 6-9 months of bonding time with Bella before we bring Emma home from Russia. As a result, Emma will probably join our family in early 2012. Because she will be 12-18 months old when she joins her family, this means that she is either a newborn now or her mother is carrying her in her womb. Please join us in praying for God's protection over her and her mother.

We are so thankful for God's perfect timing and we know that the delay in bringing Emma home caused by our suprise miracle blessing is all in His perfect plan for our family. What a great God we serve!

The delay also allows us more time to raise the funds necessary to bring our Russian Princess home. I have listed two fundraising opportunities below, and we will have more in the future months. I am making scarves, aprons, children's appliqued tshirts, baked goods, and prayer journals, with all proceeds going to the adoption. I hope to have an etsy store up and running soon so others far away can purchase these things and help us bring our baby home.

One way that you can help support bringing Emma home to our family, is by purchasing coffee from our store at: http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheBurrells For every bag of coffee that you purchase, we will receive $5. Thank you so much for helping in this way. Please forward the link to everyone you know who likes coffee. The coffee is absolutely DELICIOUS! My Hubby is especially fond of the Rwandan.
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheBurrells

You can also purchase beautiful handmade cards from our amazing friend, Elizabeth at Elizabeth Engelhardt Creations, http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com/. See this post for details on how to order: http://emmacharity.blogspot.com/2010/10/elizabeth-englehardt-creations.html

Thank you so much for praying for our family and supporting us on this incredible journey. We cherish you!

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

Quilt Raffle

2010-10-31T20:57:00.003-05:00

Queen Size Quilt Raffle

All Proceeds go toward Emma's Adoption.
*Drawing to be held December 19, 2010*

Tickets: $5.00 each

If you would like a chance to win this Beautiful Quilt, then send me an email at joyouschris@yahoo.com and I can mail you the tickets. The quilt can be shipped anywhere if you win.

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

I'm Adopted; You're Adopted!

2010-10-14T21:50:00.001-05:00

*I heard a story about a woman who had a dream: She was in a vast stadium filled with thousands and thousands of people. The crowd was focused on the field.
There were people bringing children out, one at a time, and they were looking for homes for them…just giving the kids away. The kids were beautiful and as each one was on display, people in the crowd vied for the child.

It happened over and over.

Then another child was brought out. But this time the child was ugly. Hideous. It was hard to look upon her face without turning away. No one stepped forward for this child. The crowd was silent. There was no tug-of-war for this child like the others.
But then, a man stepped forward. He lovingly took the child in his arms. He scooped her up like she already belonged to him.

It was Jesus.

When the dreaming woman looked closer she recognized the child and her gestures.
She stared intently and recognized her own face.

She was the unattractive child.

I used to think the word adopted was reserved for orphans from third-world countries or the lucky kids rescued out of the foster care system.

Until Jesus came and chose me in my ugly sin. He took my orphaned spirit and became my father.

Jesus adopted me and grafted me into His family.

Adoption isn’t just a word splashed on fundraiser t-shirts or reserved for those who are following God by bringing an orphan into their home.

Adoption is a part of my story, too.
Is it a part of yours?

*as told by JD Greear at the Together for Adoption Conference

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

October 15th-Paperwork Complete and Sent to Russia!!!!

2010-10-14T18:31:00.002-05:00

"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous things."

Psalm 72:18

Today, We are super excited and full of joy and praise for our Awesome God! We received an email late this afternoon from our Adoption Consultant telling us that all of our paperwork looks great, has been translated, and is being sent to Russia tomorrow-October 15th! YAY!!!

My heart grows fuller each day with love for my precious baby girl. Each night, our sweet Jaythan prays for his sister, Emma, to come home soon :-). Please join us in praying for Emma-that God's angels surround her keeping her safe and that she is shown love by her caretakers. Thank you for walking this journey with us our dear friends.

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

Elizabeth Englehardt Creations Fundraiser for Emma's Adoption

2010-10-08T18:13:00.004-05:00

We are super excited and super blessed to have Elizabeth Englehardt helping us raise money for our adoption costs. http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com

Elizabeth has become a dear friend of our over the past two years. We were first put in contact with her when we were pregnant with Savannah and she made Savannah's birth announcements. You can see just how beautiful and special they were by clicking here:
http://www.elizabethengelhardtcreations.com/p/announcements.html

Elizabeth has so kindly offered to give all proceeds of orders that you place directly to us for our adoption. She does amazing work-thank you cards, baby books, birthday invitations, baby announcements, scrapbook pages, bookmarks, postcards, etc... Every order is custom made and she will make them exactly the way you would like them. So, hop over to her website and take a look. If you decide to place an order then please put "Emma Burrell" in your order notes. And, while you are there, take a moment to pray for her sweet family that God's love will be poured out in abundance on them as they seek to serve and help others.

Elizabeth's button is on the corner of this blog...so just click it and you will be taken directly to her website. If you have any questions then just email me at joyouschris@yahoo.com . Much Love and Blessings!

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

US CIS Approval Day :)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-17T23:30:00.002-05:00

We received super exicting news today when we checked our mailbox. Two weeks ago we completed our fingerprinting for the adoption, and today we received our approval letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services! YAY!!!!!!!
This was the Vital Piece of our "Dossier" (the package of paperwork that will be sent to Russia). Now that we have received this approval letter we can get all of our forms notarized this weekend and then sent off to be apostilled (a second notary requiring a stamp of approval on all forms by the TX Secretary of State). The turn around time for an apostille is on average 7 days, so we hope to have all of our forms completed and sent to Russia by mid October!

Just to show-off how awesome God is, the typical wait time for CIS approval is 2-3 months. We received our letter only 2 weeks after our fingerprinting. God is faithful and He continues to remind us daily that this is His Will for our family and that our precious baby girl will be home soon. We are learning daily that God will provide in every way. We cherish your continued prayers as we journey down this road of faith, trust, hope, and love. Blessings and Love!

Praying her home,
Darin, Christina and Jaythan

2010-08-17T22:55:00.000-05:00

"A Person who lives in faith must proceed on incomplete evidence, trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse."
Phillip Yancy

When we first began our Adoption Journey, we were counseled that adoption is not for the impatient person as the journey is long and often filled with many ups and downs. We are currently in the exhausting "paperwork" phase of our journey, and I must admit that there are moments when I am overwhelmed wondering and waiting for the government agencies to return our forms and applications so that we can get them sent off to Russia. Thankfully, we have completed the Home Study and received our Original Copies. We have applied to U.S. CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) and are waiting on our Approval Letter to bring an adopted child from another country into our family. This is a Vital Piece of our "Dossier" (the package of paperwork that will be sent to Russia). We received our letters yesterday from US CIS with our scheduled appointment for our Biometric Testing (Fingerprinting) so we are super excited that the process seems to be speeding up. We truly hope that we get all of our forms completed, notarized, apostilled (a second notary requiring a stamp of approval on all forms by the TX Secretary of State), and sent to Russia by the end of October.

When I get discouraged as the days and weeks pass, yearning to meet our daughter, I try to remember that God is taking care of Emma and that He is conducting the speed of paperwork in the perfect way and perfect timing to provide the perfect match to bring our Baby Girl home to our Family. God has written a deep love for Emma into our hearts and we are rejoicing in His Will for expanding our family in this way.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west." Isaiah 43:5

How we long for the day when God brings us our Princess from the East!

He Who Calls You is Faithful!

2010-07-25T22:08:00.000-05:00

I don't think I could fully express how deeply I love this little girl whom I have never met. God has written His love in my heart for her already. How I long for the day when I can hold Emma in my arms, watch my hubby dance with our daughter, and laugh together as Jaythan plays with her.Today, our new Pastor spoke on I Thessalonians 5. I particularly felt God speaking to me through verses 24-25:
"God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us."
This verse will be my encouragment when I worry about how we are going to afford the adoption fees, my hope when I long to hold her and grow tired of waiting, and my comfort-reminding me that our dear friends and family are praying for us.

Just Love Coffee Store

2010-07-25T20:04:00.002-05:00

http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheBurrells

Welcome to Emma's Blog as she begins her journey to our home.

2010-07-25T19:39:00.000-05:00

Hello to our Family and Friends, We wanted to share some exciting news with each of you. God has placed it on our hearts to adopt a baby girl from Russia. We have both always wanted to adopt and it is something that we have talked about even before we were married. We just never knew the timing. Through many confirmations recently, we have felt God saying the time is now. We continue to hope and pray for as many children as God would like to give us (both biologically and through adoption).

We are working with Childrens Hope International, a Christian International Adoption Agency. We have been approved for adoption and are beginning the process of filling out many documents that must be sent to Russia. It will likely be a year from now when we bring our Baby Girl home. She will probably be around a year old at the time. We have named her Emma Charity which means "complete love". We already love her deeply and cannot wait to meet her and make her a part of our family.

We would like to ask for your prayer support during this time. Please pray for protection over Emma-that she may be loved and cared for in the orphanage. Pray for us as we work through the often difficult paperwork process and pray for patience as we wait for the referral (the match for our daughter). Also, please pray for God's Provision for the finances.The cost of international adoption is very, very high and it seems so overwhelming to us, but we know in Faith that God will provide since He is leading us to do this. We will have many fundraisers in the next few months to help raise the money to cover the costs. One way that you can help support bringing Emma home to our family, is by purchasing coffee from our store at: http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheBurrells For every bag of coffee that you purchase, we will receive $5. Thank you so much for helping in this way. Please forward the link to everyone you know who likes coffee. We love you and appreciate your prayers! Darin, Christina, and Jaythan Burrell