Our adoption story begins as most do with many hours of talking, attending workshops, and researching adoption on the internet. We decided that international adoption was the path to completing our family and Russia was to be the birth country of our child, a son. We then set out to find "The Agency" to assist us. Again many hours were spent researching and comparing the vast array of agencies and services available. During our time on line Clif began to consider the possibility of a girl also. After more consideration we decided that if we eventually wanted two children and we were going to spend the time and make the two required trips to Russia we might as well get both at the same time. We really liked the idea of adopting siblings and the prospect of keeping them together. Little did we know what God had in store for us!

We contacted EAC and began the process in the beginning of 2005. We were assigned a wonderful case manager named Karen who guided us every step of the way and was always willing to answer our questions and calm our fears as obstacles arose. We never felt that we were just a client but more that she had a personal stake in helping us achieve our goal. We could not have made it through the process without her.

On December 12, 2005 (Debbie's birthday) we received our referral and got our first glimpse at our children, beautiful nineteen month old twin boys. We accepted the referral (on Clif's birthday) and waited anxiously for the call to go and meet them. It came within a month and we packed our bags and nervously set off on our adventure. After our plane landed in Moscow and we made it through Customs all our fears were alleviated as we saw the EAC sign waiting for us. From then on the Russian EAC staff led us through the various stages and even arranged a wonderful tour. Even the driver took it upon himself to escort us through the airport and get us checked in so that we did not miss our flight to Ulan-Ude. Once in Ulan-Ude our guide, Galina, took over and again lead us effortlessly through the many meetings and tasks. On February 28th we were escorted into the orphanage music/play room. After a couple of minutes the door opened and in walked two sets of beautiful, frightened brown eyes. The boys were very hesitant at first but were willing to let us hold and play with them. They were then taken back for a nap. We returned that afternoon and the boys were much more alert and were playing ball and music with us by the end of the hour. That was all the time it took. They had wrapped their little hands around our heart and we knew they would be ours forever. After two more visits the next day we hesitantly left the boys with many hugs and kisses and flew back to Moscow to anxiously await our trip back to the States and the call for court date.

Fortunate for us the call came within two weeks and we would be traveling back to Russia on April 1st. We were blessed to have Debbie's parents meeting us in Russia to help with Embassy visits and the trip back. EAC was wonderful in helping coordinate all of their travel and documents as well as ours. What a blessing!

We attended court on April 6, 2005 and spent the next day completing the paperwork necessary to make the boys officially Coleton Michael and Wyatt John Tipton. On the morning of April 8th we returned to the orphanage one last time to pick up our boys. It was heart warming to see that the caretakers were saddened by the boys leaving. It was obvious that the boys had received the best care possible under the circumstances. The four of us then boarded a plane for Moscow and began our new life. We have been very blessed that the boys have never once acted like they did not belong with us. It has been obvious from the first day that they were meant to be ours and God had set this plan in motion long before we began the journey. I think Clif said it best when he said, "Our paths had been leading to the boys since the day we were born."

We returned home on April 11th, two days before the boys second birthday, and settled into the comfortable, yet chaotic life of two year old twins. We now stare in wonder at the lively, loving, hysterical little boys who fill our house with love, laughter and fun. It is still often unbelievable that they are the same quiet timid boys we first met.

We can not say enough about EAC and the help they provided along the way. They have given us such a gift by bringing these two wonderful boys home to our family. We will be eternally grateful for their kindness, efficiency and knowledge.

Clif, Debbie, Cole and Wyatt

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