The Scoop

It's interesting to me how GC and RT can be such authorities on our adoption journey when they have not spoken to ME. I know whats being said in regards to our families inability to move forward and bring our girl home.But the last I knew her homeland required BLIND REFERRALS so even if after you read through the following emails, you are not convinced there NEVER was a submitted dossier...Referrals are given after we travel to the MOE, NOT at dossier submission.

I have seen it written and received the calls, some telling me what others are saying, others asking, if we are now NOT ELIGIBLE to adopt L. And why would that be?? Our family has done nothing but work our fannies off for the past 2 years to get her home while an agency had us jumping through hoop after hoop like a circus dog.

 I also have heard some of the ridiculous rumors of how our family is being given kickbacks for referrals and have raised more money than it should ever take to bring a child home. Well,  I wish the kickbacks were true, but they are not.

 As far as the mountain of money we have gone through to continue to fight for L, in that I agree. Our total to date is $71, 726.51. That total is mind-boggling. We have paid, and paid, and paid...We are emptied every  bank account, retirement account, every college fund set up for our other children, our savings, and we have sold most of what we own...and we have a few amazing friends who have help us financially to continue this fight.  Every penny of that has been paid out to agency fees. We do not expect to see one penny of the FSP that is held for L. At this point we remain $8k short to make our first trip, but we are confident once our current paperwork is submitted and reviewed we will be invited to travel and  given the opportunity to accept her referral. When that happen, the funds will be there. We know God's got this.  

Truth be told, most every one of you reading this would have given up on L long ago. Many of you have PM'd me and told me so. But this isn't about our family doing a good and heroic thing in "saving" her. It isn't about being easy or convenient. It's about following Jesus in complete obedience. Those of you who read my blog should know by now... We see this through very narrow vision. We do not have the option of quitting. Following Jesus is inconvenient. It's expensive. It calls us to give up things the world, and our American society hold sacred...when what we should all be focusing on is COMPLETE SURRENDER to Him.

So, our family will continue to fight forward to bring her home. We have people working hard right now to make that happen.

Many of you have also shared your "knowledge" of our adoption of 3 older girls on the verge of aging out. That is so. We are in a 6 week count down to travel for them. We need $27,000 for that to happen. Fundraisers are running. We are confident when travel dates come, we will be funded. That's all there is to that. Nothing "fraudulent".  Nothing underhanded. Just a Christian family determined to not allow 3 girls, one of whom spent Christmas with us, to become statistics of the human trafficking tragady that is rappent in our world.

Here's the emails... judge for yourself.... and count your lucky stars that, even with most of the dramatics that adoptive moms in process post, your journey NEVER compared to OURS.

Sent: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 9:35 AM
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?

Hello Diane,

My understanding from our telephone conversations was that your dossier had not been registered in the Adoption Center and is still in the hands of the Small World staff. If this is the case, our staff would be unable to locate it. I thought the next step was going to be that you would e-mail me a summary of what had happened – but what I primarily need is a copy of your homestudy and the information on the child you want to adopt (name, location, etc.). Did you already send this to me?

From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 7:31 AM
To:
Subject: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?

Kind and helpful unnamed person,

Just wondering if your team in St.Pete was able to locate our dossier? Where they able to get any information as to if the registry had knowledge of our family? I was hopeful that your team would find it and we would be able to put things in order to be submitted by the 24th when the registry reopens to new submissions. I have gotten no response from Small World Adoption Agency.

Thank you so very much for your wisdom, support and guidance. Hope to hear from you soon.

In Christ,

Diane Higbie

Sent: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 9:35 AM
Subject: RE: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?

Hello Diane,

My understanding from our telephone conversations was that your dossier had not been registered in the Adoption Center and is still in the hands of the Small World staff.    I thought the next step was going to be that you would e-mail me a summary of what had happened – but what I primarily need is a copy of your homestudy and the information on the child you want to adopt (name, location, etc.). Did you already send this to me?

From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 3:04 PM
To: kind and helpful person that will remain unnamed
Subject: Re: Any News on locating our dossier / adoption status?

Said Person,

This is the STRANGEST ordeal I have ever been witness too...

I got an email from SWAF last Friday saying they will be submitting our dossier on either one of 2 dates, Monday Nov 14 or Monday Nov 28. Please redo 3 documents as they expire the end of Nov.

Then I got a call from them today and they tell me they have received information there is a second agency we have contracted with that who's coordinator has contacted their coordinator and informed them that they also are ready to submit a dossier for not only L but A as well. They told me they were assuming it was Hand in Hand but we have had no contact with HIH as Susan never returned my calls even though I left multiple VM.

I did tell them that after not getting replies from the several emails or phone calls I placed I did speak with another agency to seek advice on what to do. I was told if at all possible to stick with SWAF as we don't want any red flags attached to our adoption process. I also told them that agency was going to "very gently" try to check on L's welfare and if anyone had heard of our family or adoption petition. I also them the "other dossier" does not exist.

Please know that I am so grateful for your wisdom and excellent guidance in what is continuing to be a difficult process for us. You wisdom and insight are invaluable and has helped me harness my passion for the fatherless, and my human tendency to get ahead of God, into being more comfortable in the waiting.

At this point we are continuing in this adoption process with SWAF, Praying they will indeed submit our petition in the month of Nov. as stated, and we will be one step closer to bringing our daughter home.

May God continue to richly bless you, your staff and family, and your organization as you continue His work by putting the fatherless into loving families.

In His service,
Diane Higbie

Which was followed by this a week later......

Hi Diane,

I was in Uganda last week and when I got home I had a message from our coordinator in St. Petersburg. Here is the information she gave me – please do not share it with anyone.

“Small World’s representative, Yelena, is a good and responsible lady. She was expecting to file them on Oct 24. By November 11 some of the family documents will be expired. The child is available, everything is going OK, the only thing that slows us down is the Adoption Center Registration Schedule. Yelena is working on this family.”

  

  At least SWAF is paying attention now. We will continue to pray that all goes well. Thank you for your kind words.

Followed by this on Oct 26,2011... I questioned how they could have blamed no submission dates available in Oct on the delay when not everything was translated and legalized.

Hi Diane,

I would like to update you on your status in St. Pete. The Adoption Center had no submission date on Monday, October 24, for a new dossiers. Next submission dates in November will be: Monday, the 14^th and Monday, the 28^th. Thus, please let me know when approximately I will be receiving your updated documents in here (apostilled)? We need to send them on to St. Pete for translation and legalization as soon as possible to get ready for submission. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you Diane and have a good afternoon!

Sincerely,

Katia Johnson MSW

Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison

Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.

636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com

[26.10.2011 12:56:41] Вячеслав: Хигби - официальная сдача документов в ноябре - 14-е и 28-е. Так что все документы, которые кончаются в ноябре, надо обновлять: 24-го дела в комитете не принимали

From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: 19 октября 2011 г. 11:26
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: Re: St. Pete paperwork

Katia,

I am wondering about a timeline. I know they reopen on 10/24 and am wondering if we will be ready to submit our dossier or if you will wait on the updates even thought the current forms don't expire until November. Could you please get back to me as soon as you know the answer to this. Thank you so much.

Diane Higbie

From: Katia Johnson
To: 'Diane Higbie' <savinglera@yahoo.com>
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz' ; 'Susan Griffith'<susan@swaf.com>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 4:10 PM
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork

Hi Diane,

I wanted to let you know that I have received the doctor’s letter for your husband last week. It will be going out with SWAF local family traveling to St. Pete this Wednesday.

Did you receive my email below regarding a status of your paperwork in St. Pete?

Sincerely,

Katia Johnson MSW

Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison

Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.

636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com

From: Katia Johnson [mailto:katia@swaf.com]
Sent: 12 октября 2011 г. 14:23
To: 'Diane Higbie'
Cc: 'maryellen@swaf.com'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: St. Pete paperwork

Hi Diane,

Per our phone call, I’m sending you a list of foreign country paperwork in term of expiration dates. Please find attached a check-list and application/forms that you will need to update. Each document for St. Pete must be notarized and apostilled individually please. If you have any question regarding foreign country paperwork please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you Diane and have a good day!

P.S: please let me know when I will be getting an apostilled original of Dr. letter (for your husband)?

Sincerely,

Katia Johnson MSW

Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison

Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.

636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com

From: Diane Higbie [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: 15 августа 2011 г. 13:05
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: HIGBIE

BTW...I forgot to mention our HS expires on Sept. 23. We are in process of update now. Please double check to let us know if there are other documents expiring as well that will need to be redone before that happens so we do not experience further unnecessary delays.

Thank you,

Diane Higbie

From: Katia Johnson [mailto:katia@swaf.com]
Sent: 16 июня 2011 г. 8:49
To: 'Diane Higbie'; 'hbischoff@hopeadoptionservices.org'
Cc: 'Mary Ellen Scheetz'; 'Susan Griffith'
Subject: RE: paperwork status update

Good morning Diane,

Any documents including a letter of Good Standing is good for 12 months in Russia (except of Police and Medical – good for 3 months). This letter dated June 1, 2010, so it expired on June 1, 2011 (see: attached). Must be notarized and apostilled please.

Sincerely,

Katia Johnson MSW

Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison

Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.

636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com

Hide Details

FROM:

• Andrea Roberts

TO:

• savinglera@yahoo.com

Message flagged

Thursday, November 24, 2011 6:57 PM

Katia from SWAF? I thought you changed agencies?

From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:29 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...

Katia told me it would be submitted on the 14th but then contacted me about 3days ago and said that St. Pete contacted her and had a couple issues with the HS. She sent a letter and our HS update will reflect those clarifications and she said they have a submission date of the 28th. I asked if we would travel yet this Dec and she wasn't sure she would check with St Pete and let. Me know Monday.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 24, 2011, at 6:18 PM, "Andrea Roberts" <bamaroberts@comcast.net> wrote:

Was your dossier truly submitted? What date? Would love to update your FSP.

Andrea Roberts, Executive Director

Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry

www.reecesrainbow.org

E-mail: andrea@reecesrainbow.org

Yahoo Messenger: luvbama93

Skype: reecesrainbow

Facebook: Andrea Faris Roberts

Twitter: @momtoreece and @reecesrainbow

“Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down syndrome…”

From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:14 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...

Waiting on travel dates.

Happy Thanksgiving

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 24, 2011, at 12:12 PM, "Andrea Roberts" <bamaroberts@comcast.net> wrote:

Checking on your progress J

Andrea Roberts, Executive Director

Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Ministry

www.reecesrainbow.org

E-mail: andrea@reecesrainbow.org

Yahoo Messenger: luvbama93

Skype: reecesrainbow

Facebook: Andrea Faris Roberts

Twitter: @momtoreece and @reecesrainbow

“Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down syndrome…”

From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 7:01 PM
To: Andrea Roberts
Subject: Re: HIGBIE adoption...

We are hoping for submission of our ppwk on Mon 11/14....11/28 at latest. We were hoping to travel before Christmas but are trusting God and His timing. Thank you for all you do for those without a voice. Without you our sweet Lera would die inside the walls of an institution never knowing her intrinsic value. As her mama, there are no words of thanks that convey my gratitude for bringing to my attention that my daughter was missing. It is our plan to return once Lera is home to bring home Anastasia from Russia 23 if she remains without a committed family. I have not shared this with anyone online since you requested me to not. My husband remains head over heels for her. Wishing and praying there was a way but unwilling to jeopardize Lera.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 11, 2011, at 4:57 PM, "Andrea Roberts" <bamaroberts@comcast.net> wrote:

Hi Diane, it’s been a while, checking on the status of your agency change and progress on your adoption of Lera?

Hi Diane,
I wanted to let you know that I have received a request from St. Pete today
regarding your paperwork expiring in January - February, 2012 (as we have
discussed back in November).

Please update the documents as follows:

1) Picture dossier (cover letter attached) - please don't notarize or
apostille this document, just sign! You can send me a color pictures via
email, but I need the original of your signed cover letter please!

2) Promise of the Foreign Organization signed by HOPE Adoption & Family
(attached) - must be notarized and apostilled in your State please

Please let me know if you will be able to complete the paperwork listed
above as soon as possible? I would like to get everything at the office by
next Thursday, December 15, 2011. So I will be sending it with SWAF family
traveling to St. Pete the weekend of December 17-18.

If you have any questions regarding foreign country paperwork please do not
hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your cooperation Diane and have a good
afternoon!

Sincerely,

Katia Johnson MSW
Case Manager and Foreign Country Liaison
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
636-207-9229 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 636-207-9229 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (ext. 15); e-mail: katia@swaf.com


-----Original Message-----
From: savinglera@yahoo.com [mailto:savinglera@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 8:16 AM
To: Katia Johnson
Subject: Timeline for Adoption travel

Katia,
I am wondering if you have had a chance to talk with St Pete and if you have
what is the possibility of travel before the new year?

I know we spoke of travel on Jan/Feb and just want to know if that is the
plan for our family. Of there is any possibility that we will travel before
Jan I need to set up a back up family for Nadiya, the teenager who is
spending the Christmas holiday in our home. I just want to plan to the best
of my ability so as to prevent chaos later.
Thank you for everything.
Hope to hear from you soon.

Diane Higbie


For the record.... Our prior agency is currently under an open investigation by the FBI for stringing families along and not completing adoption, and financial mishandling through the St. Louis office.

Seeking Truth

As I read through old blog posts from the past 2 years and searched journal entries that verify the truth, I am struck by the continued evidence of  God meeting us in our faith.  Faith that God is in control. Faith that He has called us to this. Faith that He is willing, able, and absolutely going to complete His work in us, through us. It's because of this faith we will not quit until we have tangible evidence that she is home. Whether that evidence has her here in my arms, in the arms of another, or in eternity in the arms of Jesus. We do not walk in the evidence of what is seen or tangible. We walk completely in the knowledge of His promises to us. That is all we need. We are fully aware it will be difficult. We are fully equipped in Jesus, to overcome whatever we face. There is nothing that will come, that He will be surprised by, or defeated with...NOTHING. 


So we press on. Knowing a precious little girl waits to know what it is to be loved. Knowing that it will continue to divide those who watch, wonder, and whisper. Those who, like Judas, profess their love and support to our faces, but betray us in the dark corners of their chat rooms and secret places. Those who profess their only concern is for the one who waits, but have turned from us, the ones who fight for her. 


This journey has been long, over two years. We have spent those years learning all we can of her homeland. The music, culture, food, history and even the government. In my seeking, I have amassed  many friends who were born, raised, and now live not only in the city she currently resides in, but also the capital city. We recently hosted a delegate of  diplomats and businessmen, and one business woman, from her home country and neighboring Eastern block countries on our farm. As we continue in this process we are grateful for their friendship and willingness to share insight that could only come from one raise in that culture. We are also grateful they know WHO we are. We have sowed into those relationships never knowing how priceless they would truly be until now. Again our Heavenly Father has "WOWed" us. 


While Bob and I sat at our breakfast table yesterday morning, we spoke of what lies ahead,  our expectations, and how we still have an open door to go forward. As he shared his heart with me I was stuck with the depth of his resolve to continue regardless of how our situation appears in the natural. After he got up from the table I wrote down part of what he had said to be able to remember it forever...


"The truth is the truth. Nothing great ever gets accomplished by just bowing down. If you look back in history all those who accomplished great things, faced great obstacles...they just didn't quit."  He talked of William Wilberforce and the tragedy of persecution in camp 22 in North Korea. He then took a seat out on the porch and put his boots on to return to the farm. Before walking out the door he said to me, "If I was her, I would want someone to choose me; to come for me."  


So it is that we will continue in our efforts to raise the funds we need to travel to do what is required to make her our daughter. We are grateful for all those, both individuals and ministries, that have partnered with us to help make it happen. We remain $8000. short of what we need for our first trip. With airfare hanging in the $3000/rt/per adult, and hotel at just over $100/night and Visas through CaringHands at $860 for Bob and I. We are hopeful that once this initial trip is completed and behind us the reality of our situation will become clearer to many. But whether it does or not will not effect our course of action. This journey is not about us. It not about any of you either for that matter. It's about following Jesus. Neither Bob nor I took a straw poll to see if our choice to choose Christ was the right thing to do. Likewise, we refuse to consider anything but His word now as we share in His suffering. We know in the end, this is about HIS glory not ours. Not yours. HIS. All Glory is yours Lord.  
                                                       
Blog post from 9/30/10
I will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
I am so grateful that I know His truth. That I know His eye is on the sparrow and it does not have to worry about worldly things. The things that we can get so wound up in. That His love is so much greater for her, for me, for you, than it is for the sparrow, that He has it all covered. There are no surprises for God. Almighty God, who created the universe with it's intricate exactness. The same God whose love for us is so great, that he left His throne in heaven, to come to earth, in human form, to face ridicule, rejection, and ultimately crucifixion, all in the name of love...for us. The God who descended into hell, to fight Satan for the keys to the kingdom, and rose in victory, all in the name of love..for us. The God, who ascended into heaven, and who sits at the right hand of the Father, to be our righteousness, in the name of love...for us. This is the God I serve. This is the God I love. This is the God who whispered in my ear a call to Go. This is the God who placed in my heart a deep love for a little girl I have never met. Knowing this God is all I need.I do not need to know today where His provision is coming from. I just need to continue on, moving forward, with my eyes on Him.I just need to do my very best at what He gives me today, and have faith he has tomorrow covered. When the time comes, He is ALWAYS enough. He is ALWAYS faithful.

Declaring Goodness

Lillian is home and healing up but please continue prayers that she puts back on the weight that she lost.   7 pounds were shed while she was hospitalized.  Bob and Diane continue to see the goodness of God in the midst of this battle for freedom of the captive.

Speaking of freeing the captive, their friends have come together in some different ways to help raise the funds to get to Lera and bring her home.  Will you help by either participating yourselves or by spreading the word?

A Pampered Chef fundraiser by Carmen Druckenmiller will be running from now until June 30th.  For details on the event and how to order please go to: http:///www.facebook.com/events/374132972636914/


Amanda Smith Alexander is donating 50% of the profit from this Thirty-One party but it is only running from now until MAY 30th!!   Click here to place your order: http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E1781164&from=DIRECTLINK


Today I was meditating on Proverbs 20:27 which says; The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.  It really is such a beautiful sight to look upon the walk of one who lives a spirit-filled life.  While even though the walk be difficult, it only makes the magnificence of Christ shine more brightly.  It prompts us to join them, to go where they go because we want to see the work of God displayed and to worship him in the deeper places of our heart.  This is the call to praise in the storm.  Praise God we do not believe our outcomes based on the forces of darkness, but on the Highest Light of Truth, Christ Jesus who was, and is, and is to come!  That we should call him our Abba Daddy is already our victory.

 Thank you for your ongoing support, through love and prayers! They are truly being felt!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

Update on Lillian & Diane:  
This may be the final update from a friend because Diane & Lillian are heading HOME!! Lillian has been doing amazingly well! Yesterday, there was one small dip mid-day when she was getting tired and needing a nap. After the nap, she started cruising with Sats in the 90's and got OFF O2!  She then went all night without oxygen and her Sats stayed in the 90's! Diane has been improving as well. She asked Lillian if they should go home to daddy. She squealed so loud, and then gave her a loud "OH YEAH!" She has been signing, "farm," "daddy," and "tractor!" 
Please pray for complete healing for Diane & Lillian if there are any issues still unresolved, for safe travel, and also join us in praising and thanking God for His abundant provision and goodness! Diane is very grateful for your love, support, and prayers!


Fundraising Update:
There is a new fundraiser for the Higbies! Amanda Alexander is donating 50% of the profits from a Thirty-One party to the Higbie's Russian adoption fund to help support their travel costs now that their payment to their agency has been made! This party will run through May 30th.  Please visit here for the Thirty-One Party. Please participate if you can and pass the word along! 
Please look for more fundraisers coming up and some awesome giveaways as well! If you would like to host a fundraiser for the Higbie's, just let them know, and they can post the information! Thanks so much!

Continued Prayer & Praises to God!

Update on Lillian:
Yesterday, Lillian improved through the day and was transferred to a step down unit next to the PICU. She is now in Francis 3C-155. As for last night, it was wild to say the least. They started epi nebulizer treatments to open her airway at 8 pm, and this went on every other hour until 2 am. Needless to say, she was wired. :-(  Diane was finally able to get her to sleep about 4 am only to have her awaken for vitals at 7 am, then rounds.  Thankfully, she was able to go back to sleep for a while. Her numbers look good. They are still thinking weekend discharge if all goes according to textbook, and there are no setbacks. They need her sats and heart rate to not dip so low at night before she can be discharged. They are planning to try Wednesday night without the tent to see how she does.


Diane still needs your prayers for healing and strength. We are very thankful for those who have provided care packages or food to help meet her needs! She wants everyone to know how much she appreciates your help and said: "I am feeling overwhelmed with your LOVE!! Thank you all so very much for all you have done for me. Thank you all for storming heaven for my little girls... The one I rock and the one who waits. ♥ We are truly grateful for all your love and support. All glory is yours Lord."


Diane still needs help this week at the hospital, so if anyone is able to help with food or other needs, please contact Rebecca Johnson via email at Rebecca.L.Johnson@hotmail.com


Financial Update:
Praise the LORD that the amount needed for the Higbie's first payment has been met!  Thank you to all who helped and participated in the emergency fundraising! When a figure can be nailed down for the travel costs--airfare, lodging, etc., we will announce the next step in fundraising. Thank you so much for being the body of Christ and reaching out to a friend and even an unknown sister and family in need! It has been a blessing to see the love of Jesus being shown through His people!

PRAYER ABOVE ALL ELSE

Diane has asked for PRAYER above all else.  She said, "I just want my daughter better, not to hurt, not to struggle to breathe.  I can go without food, I have water next to me but I need my daughter better."  She asked specifically for prayer covering in the night.  Around 4am she was at her worst and her heart rate was at 39/40.  Right now Lillian heart rate is at 59/60.  SAT's are now in the 80's.  Lillian is in great pain and it is so hard for Diane not to be able to comfort her and take this pain away.

The doctors are watching closely and talking about the vent if her numbers begin to go down again.

PLEASE PRAY PERFECT HEALING over Lilllian's little body.  God you are so mighty to save!

For those who are nearby and want to help she is in the Mary Brigh Building on the St. Mary's campus at Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota.  They are in PICU Room #3548 if you would like to have something sent to her and Lillian.  She is overwhelmed in gratefulness for the prayers of support by all of you who have given even in your own needy place. 

She is not receiving food from the cafeteria and has been eating snacks from other parents in the hospital. In addition, when she was in ER she asked for some type of medicine for herself but they would not treat her without payment.  She is coughing up "green" stuff and appears to be fighting her own sickness.  We are working on putting together food, hygiene, and OTC medicine and seeing about having someone local in Rochester deliver to her right away. If you would like to mail something to Diane directly, address any packages and mail them USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc. to:

Attn: Lillian Higbie
Room # MBG 3548
St. Mary's Hosptial
1216 Second St., SW
Rochester, MN 55905

The most critical thing right now is prayer covering.  BLESSING is greater than the curse!  Light overcomes darkness! 

PLEASE pray that the enemy be silenced in the NAME OF JESUS! Holy is YOUR NAME Jesus, above all others! 

Thank you!! Bless you!!

Desperately needing prayer & support!

Update on Lillian & Diane:
Lillian is having issues recovering from yesterday's procedure.  Her sats, heart rate, and blood pressure won't stay up. Her heart rate has been in the low to mid 40's, and the A.M. O2 Sat was at 89. When she cries, her sats drop lower.  She keeps signing pain, so it seems that her throat is hurting her.  They have a new doctor today, and they are talking about putting Lillian on the ventilator, which is concerning because weaning off can be difficult. Diane is asking if there is a way to keep her off the vent and still treat her. 


As sick as she is, Lillian wants to be held all day, and Diane is grateful to be able to do that with God's grace and mercy, because she herself is very sick! Unfortunately, her husband, Bob, has had to go back to work at the farm, and so Diane is alone at her daughter's bed side with not even the ability to visit a snack machine. Lillian's condition was so urgent that Diane didn't even have time to grab her purse before rushing Lillian to the hospital. She is depending on the snacks brought to the parents. She is not able to be treated for her own sickness without leaving the facility and Lillian's side. If anyone can go by the hospital and provide anything that would be helpful such as meals, snacks, juice, or even over-the-counter meds, that would be very helpful! Diane has a sore throat, she's coughing, and it's in her lungs. It seems like a long shot, but if there is a family practitioner that could run by and see her, that would be a blessing as she likely needs a prescription but cannot get one without leaving her daughter. If you can go by personally, they are at the St. Mary's Hospital inpatient ward for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.. (It's the wing dedicated to Mayo Clinic patients only.) Lillian is in the PICU. Rebecca Johnson is coordinating help for Diane, so please email her if you can help in any way! Rebecca.L.Johnson@hotmail.com


Financial Update:
Thank you very much to all who donated to help Diane and her family during the emergency fundraising! Out of the $6,569.44 total needed, $5,236.56 has come in, so they are short $1,332.88 of what they need. Due to the extenuating circumstances, they have been given a short extension to provide the remaining funds, but we do not know how long that extension will be at this point. It may be just for today. If there is anything you can do to help, even $10, it would be a huge blessing to Diane and the family! 


Donations can be made through Project Hopeful via:  http://www.projecthopeful.org/donate  or through Grace Haven via: http://www.gracehavenhome.com  There is a Donate button on the upper right hand side of this blog for Project Hopeful donations.  If there are any issues with the Donate button, please go to the Project Hopeful web site linked to above, and when you make your donation, please reference "Lera" in the comments. For Grace Haven donations, please  click on the Donate button and also reference "Lera" when donating.

UPDATE! Please help if you can before 4 am CST!

Edited to Add: Since the last update, there has been a NEW matching grant offer in addition to the one below for donations up to $500, which will double the amount to $1,000!  This matching grant challenge is through Project HOPEFUL. Please see details below on how to donate. Thank you so much to all who participate!

Update on Lillian's condition: Praise God Lillian came through surgery this morning and is recovering. The surgeons are pleased that they were able to remove a lot of gunk out of her lungs and are hopeful that she will make a full recovery. Please pray that she will respond to the meds that she is on and that her O2 Sats remain high and that she will be able to be moved out of the PICU to a regular room and eventually discharged. Please continue to pray for healing for Lillian, rest for Diane and the family, and wisdom for the doctors treating Lillian.

Financial Update: The Higbie's are still short approximately $2,500 of what they need for their next agency payment that is due on Tuesday. For it to arrive on time, all donations must be made no later than 4am Monday morning CST, so they can be processed and in the mail in time to arrive on Tuesday. If you can help with this by sharing of the need with others or making a donation of any amount, it would be greatly appreciated!

There is a giveaway ongoing for the Higbie Family. ALL donors will be put into drawings for:  1.Girl's Hawaiian dresses (from Hawaii) 2. Project HOPEFUL necklaces 3. Project HOPEFUL jerseys. Donations can be made through Project Hopeful via:  http://www.projecthopeful.org/donate  or through Grace Haven via: http://www.gracehavenhome.com  There is a Donate button on the upper right hand side of this blog for Project Hopeful donations. This was just tested a few minutes prior to this post, and it worked, but some users may have experienced difficulties. If there are any issues, please go to the Project Hopeful web site linked to above, and when you make your donation, please reference "Lera" in the comments. For Grace Haven donations, please click on the Donate button and also reference "Lera" when donating. The first $500 matching donation challenge via Grace Haven has been met! However, another donor has offered to match up to $500 also!

Donations made after Monday morning will be held for the Higbie's travel fund or for their next payment due to the agency in August. More fundraisers will be hosted between now and then, so please stay tuned for more announcements.

In honor of Mother's Day, please prayerfully consider donating to the Higbie Family to help them move forward on their journey to bringing beautiful Lera home.

URGENT Prayer & Support Needed!

This post is being made by friends of Diane and her family. We are heartbroken to announce that Diane and her husband are currently at their daughter's bedside in St. Mary's Hospital in the inpatient ward for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Their daughter, Lillian, who has Down Syndrome is deathly ill and is fighting for her life. Diane herself is also sick. Lillian is in critical, but stable condition in the PICU. Doctors are not sure what has caused the infection in her lungs. Please pray for healing for both Lillian and Diane, that Lillian's heart will not be affected, and that doctors will have wisdom to find out what has caused this infection. We would appreciate if all comments made while this is ongoing would be of a positive and supportive nature. If anyone is in the Rochester, MN area who could be supportive of the Higbie family in any way, please post in the comment section below and share your email address, and a friend of the family will contact you.

During this crisis, the Higbie family desperately needs your prayers, but they also need your support. Diane and her family have an urgent need to raise a minimum of $6,000 by the end of this weekend to cover the agency fee that is due at time of travel. They will also need additional funds to cover their travel costs. Any donations towards their adoption fund would be greatly appreciated. Project Hopeful, Grace Haven Ministries, and Ten for Orphans are coming together in support of this family.

For those of us who understand the situation, privately Diane and her family have been told that even with a referral for Lera, they will not receive the money that was previously raised through the other non-profit organization they were working with.  Diane and her family were accused of forging their home study, and then this organization began harassing their home study provider. Their home study provider is a highly respected professional who is known for his volunteer work and support of military families in assisting them to adopt. As Diane was previously in the military, he was able to provide their home study. The Higbies have provided all of the required documentation needed, but to no avail. Even if this were not the case, the organization will not provide funds for their first trip regardless of paperwork because a submitted dossier and travel date are required, but in this particular situation, their dossier must be submitted in person to be accepted. For now, the family needs to move forward because they have no expectation of receiving the funds that were previously donated for Lera.

As mentioned, they have an urgent deadline to raise at least $6,000 by the end of this weekend, but as they are currently facing a crisis with their daughter, they are unable to focus on anything else. If you can do anything to help alleviate this additional stress and burden by contributing towards their financial need, it would be a tremendous blessing.

All future funds raised will be dispersed from non-profit organizations to the appropriate agencies with no funds given directly to the family. Currently, there are two funds set up to receive donations for the Higbies. You can donate through Project Hopeful by clicking on the Donate button located on the upper right hand side of this blog. You can also donate towards a matching grant through Grace Haven Ministries. A family has offered a $500 matching grant (to double to $1,000) for the Higbie's adoption of Lera. Go to http://www.gracehavenhome.com and click on Donate. Please specify "Lera" when you make your donation.

Thank you for ministering to this family in their time of need! Messages of support and encouragement that are posted on this blog will be printed off and shared with the family. Above all, please keep this family in your prayers!

FOREVER OUR DAUGHTER...

As most of you know I have been away for a season. Our family has continued in our quest to bring our daughter from the darkness of a mental institution where she lingers, into the light and love of Jesus through our love as her forever family. This journey has be arduous to say the least. But what ever struggles we have faced as her adoptive family, they pale in comparison to what our sweet girl knows as daily life. I do not know if I personally could survive 21 months in a EE mental institution. I do not think I am that strong and would give up and succumb to my death. But not our girl. She is a fighter. She clings to life determined to make it out into whatever it is that awaits her, even though I am quite certain, she cannot know what that life will be like. I can only give all the glory to our Heavenly Father for sustaining her until she is completely ours. Completely home. Completely free.

When I contemplate the fact of her continuing existence, it always brings me back to the same place...why wouldn't He. She belongs completely to Him. He created her exactly as she is. He placed a mighty purpose within her, and He has never turned from her. When she was discarded, abandon, alone, and waiting, He placed an open door before us and He invited our family to "MOVE".

He offered an invitation wrapped in the most breathtakingly beautiful, awe-inspiring, miraculous little girl. He then placed that little girl within my womb to grow as a part of me. He brought that invitation to fruition through our sweet baby daughter, Lillian Grace. He then filled us with a love so overwhelming and consuming that it removed ALL fear. Our intense love for her took us on a journey that changed us forever and prepared us to willingly, joyfully, and without hesitation accept His invitation to "MOVE"...and step through the open door that to this day stands before us.

But we do not go alone, unprepared or unequipped for this journey. He has taken every step with us. He is in every conversation, meeting, appointment and written word we share. We have at times needed Him to carry us when we, because of our humanness, felt unable to keep walking. He has breathed life into us when we felt crushed and to weary to continue. He has filled us with the knowledge through revelation,and His written word, of who we are in Him. What we have in Him. Who and what we are called to in Him. And we are grateful. The love and joy we experience daily in our family home is all from Him. All for Him. Regardless of circumstance in the natural, we dance, we sing, we praise, and most importantly, we know the day is coming very soon, when we will sing and dance with our sweet girl. This victory is already won in Christ Jesus. She is our daughter. She is Katrina, Abby, April, and Lillian's sister. Together as her family we rejoice in the journey knowing that every step glorifies our Father in Heaven and He delights in our obedience and dances over us...and still there is an open door before us.

Along our journey there have been issues we have faced that has brought us to our current decision to cancel the contract we had with our agency and revoke their power of attorney to act on our behalf.
 Our personal opinion is our sweet girl should have come home over a year ago. That is what we were told when we started this journey. Two years later she is still waiting. This is completely unacceptable to us. Therefore, we have followed God and stepped out where we are completely trusting Him and His promise that she is ours and His ways are not our ways. It is completely impossible for us as humans to grasp the wisdom or workings in the mind of God. It is beyond our understanding. It is exactly where He  now calls us to walk.

We have contracted with an  organization that has the ability to help us move forward right now. We have completed a new home study with a new, highly qualified provider, world renowned in his field, who is very familiar with what is required to petition for adoption in the country we have decided to adopt from. We have approval from USCIS. We have an opportunity to travel for an appointment with the MOE to complete the required interview and accept her referral.

Although we have been blessed by so many of you through our fundraising effort, we now find ourselves in a bit of a quandary. Because we have made the choice to cancel our prior agency and move our adoption process to our current representation, those funds are not available to us at this point. All funding required for our first trip will have to come from another source.

We are not deterred or shaken. God is not surprised we have this in front of us. But I do believe he is saddened by it.  We cling to His promise to us in Isaiah 45. We declare it daily, sometimes several times a day. He has promised she is forever OUR DAUGHTER and we will not stop until she is home. Not until she is completely FREE...and still, this open door before us.

Thank you for lifting our family, our adoption process and all involved, and our sweet girl who waits in prayer. They are precious and what sustains us.

We are hopeful are 2 final trips will be a different story. We have partnered with Project Hopeful to make this happen and we are extremely grateful for their Christ like love, their example, and their integrity. I encourage you all, if you are unaware of their organization, to check them out. You too will see they are what God desires orphan care and adoption to look like. They are the real deal. I also encourage you to take 30 seconds out of your online time and cast your vote for Project Hopeful daily until the end of June to help them achieve success acquiring a $50k grant to expand their program. Funding that can make a difference for so many children who wait for a chance, for love, for a family that will take the road less traveled. A road that leads to a life so overflowing with abundant love, those who walk here cannot imagine why anyone would NOT want this.

 We have a Project Hopeful  button available for your tax deductible donation. We welcome you to share this post on social media and to share our need for support both financially and in prayer with others.

We still have an open door here...and we fully intend to walk through it.

God bless you all,
The Higbie's