We will be out of town and away from the internet until Monday, so I wanted to post this since it is only relevant today.
In two weeks from today, we will be sitting in the famous SDA building, going through the same thing many who have gone before us have gone through. We will be talking to (or through) an English Translator who works for the SDA. Possibly, sitting on that couch that is lower than the chairs the SDA people sit on. (Can you tell I love details?:) I love reading about these meetings on other blogs, so that hopefully we will be prepared for it. But nothing probably prepares you except actually experiencing it for yourself.
In eleven days, we will be sitting on a plane headed for New York. I've never been to New York. I've never even flown on a plane. I know all you 'jetsetters' out there can hardly believe it, but I have lived my whole life without flying on a plane. My husband has flown a short distance, probably a couple of hours. It's just enough for him to know how sick he might get. He once went out on a deep sea fishing boat, though he didn't do much fishing, so he already knows what to expect or at least thinks he does. The doctor has given him those patches you put behind your ear, but they last for 72 hours and I don't want to be groggy the day of our appointment. So maybe it's good I don't know how sick I might get. Just one more thing to think about!
We always drive on our vacations. That has been part of the fun for us. Seeing the scenery out the window. Stopping at roadside parks and any museum or whatever we run across. We've been to several states surrounding TX, just not very far north. New York will be an experience, though we won't see anything but the airport.
After our relatively short flight (3 hours 41 minutes) to New York, we will then board Aerosvit to Kiev. This is a non-stop, overnight flight. It's hard for me to figure exactly how long this flight is because of all the time changes. New York is one hour ahead of us and Kiev is eight hours. I think I've figured it is around 12 hours.
Anyway, that's an update for the next few days. Now, back to the packing! :0
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
An Amazing Number of Ukraine Adoptions
I've just spent a couple of hours visiting the adoption blogs I frequent and have found several blogs with links of other blogs. I finally had some time to investigate some of these other links, because I just can't get enough reading on this subject. Maybe it's because we are leaving in TWO WEEKS!!
Ukraine has been somewhat shut-down for a good part of 2006 and I think in 2005 also. We participated in a hosting program last January, 2007 and didn't realize, at the time, that adoptions had just started again a few months prior. We learned of this weeks later after I started researching Ukraine adoptions. Apparently, we met the girls we are going to adopt at just the right time.(God's time?:) Though it did seem to us then, like we had waited a very long time.
I know I've been very vague in my blog about who we are and who our intended adopted girls are, but I've heard that some people don't think it's a good idea to tell who you are before an adoption is official. In fact, I've been told NOT to reveal our true identity.
I would love to post pictures of my family, but I'm going to wait. I assure you that we are really a waiting adoptive family with an SDA appointment of December 12, which is in a little over two weeks. We requested a referral for two girls over ten that we met while they were on a trip to experience American Culture. We were able to be with one little girl constantly, since she stayed in our home and with the other little girl almost as much.
I did make my blog restricted for a short while, because I wanted to post pictures and not remain anonymous, but then I realized that I enjoyed the blogs I frequent so much that it would be better just to remain anonymous for now. Especially since several of the authors of the blogs I frequent also read mine. The truth is, I soak up any and everything I read about concerning what the adoption process is like and really, really appreciate what others post. So, I decided to try and do the same. We will try our best to upload the general pictures of the area and our apartment once we are in country, if we are able. We aren't taking a computer, so we may have to wait until we get home. I've heard that the computers in internet cafes can be slow plus the keyboard is in Cyrillic letters! We've learned some Russian and can sound out Russian words somewhat, but it's another thing to think in English and try to type on a Cyrillic keyboard. I'm not that proficient.
Ukraine has been somewhat shut-down for a good part of 2006 and I think in 2005 also. We participated in a hosting program last January, 2007 and didn't realize, at the time, that adoptions had just started again a few months prior. We learned of this weeks later after I started researching Ukraine adoptions. Apparently, we met the girls we are going to adopt at just the right time.(God's time?:) Though it did seem to us then, like we had waited a very long time.
I know I've been very vague in my blog about who we are and who our intended adopted girls are, but I've heard that some people don't think it's a good idea to tell who you are before an adoption is official. In fact, I've been told NOT to reveal our true identity.
I would love to post pictures of my family, but I'm going to wait. I assure you that we are really a waiting adoptive family with an SDA appointment of December 12, which is in a little over two weeks. We requested a referral for two girls over ten that we met while they were on a trip to experience American Culture. We were able to be with one little girl constantly, since she stayed in our home and with the other little girl almost as much.
I did make my blog restricted for a short while, because I wanted to post pictures and not remain anonymous, but then I realized that I enjoyed the blogs I frequent so much that it would be better just to remain anonymous for now. Especially since several of the authors of the blogs I frequent also read mine. The truth is, I soak up any and everything I read about concerning what the adoption process is like and really, really appreciate what others post. So, I decided to try and do the same. We will try our best to upload the general pictures of the area and our apartment once we are in country, if we are able. We aren't taking a computer, so we may have to wait until we get home. I've heard that the computers in internet cafes can be slow plus the keyboard is in Cyrillic letters! We've learned some Russian and can sound out Russian words somewhat, but it's another thing to think in English and try to type on a Cyrillic keyboard. I'm not that proficient.
A Little over Two Weeks to Go
Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. We drove to Frisco to see our oldest, our daughter and her 'moosh'(husband in Russian) They are staying at his grandparents house until close to the end of next week. He is in the Army and had a few days off. He will be leaving for Afghanistan on January 3. I think he just wanted to sit around doing nothing for these days he was off. He has only been back from Iraq for a little over a year. We wanted to see him since we will be in Ukraine when he leaves and they don't live close to us. They live several states away, so we don't see them often, though our daughter calls several times a week.
I have never wanted to rush Christmas so soon after Thanksgiving like many in our neighborhood do. I always wanted Thanksgiving to be it's own holiday, but this year is different and I have already started getting out the Christmas decorations. I do have more of those than Thanksgiving decorations. We will put at least some lights out today.
One reason we are decorating so early is partly to get the house all nice, clean and clutter-free. We've been very occupied with Robotics, which takes up so much time plus I've had too many projects going. We also need to make room for two more little girls in our house, and another reason is that we leave for Ukraine in TWO WEEKS!! One big reason is that we need to take pictures of our home with us which will include the girls' room. (There's always good reasons for de-cluttering. Just not always enough time.) We have lots of stuff for girls since we saved everything from our oldest. I just have to set the room up and take the pictures.
I have always wanted to have the house really, really clean whenever we leave for out of town, even if we are only gone for just a few days. I love coming home to a neat house:) Maybe it is the fact that there is no one there to mess it up. I guess I always assume when I clean something up, it is to stay clean and no one is to put something in that cleared off spot, but alas, it never happens that way. (One person in our family thinks I clear surfaces off for him to put his things on. He can't stand to see cleared off places even though he will deny it)
I have a few more things purchased to pack into our suitcases. So much for not re-arranging the bags again. I say suitcases, but we have two 24" rolling suitcases, three duffels and two personal bags so far. We will end up with four duffels by the time hubby packs his clothes. We will lighten our load considerably since all of one duffel is donations, one duffel is coats, and a good bit of the rest is gifts and clothes for the girls. Our plan is to buy some bungie-type cords to fasten the duffels on top of the rolling suitcases. This way we can carry the light duffels and personal bags and the rolling cases can bear the brunt of the heavy duffels. We chose 24" suitcases because we have been told the trunks of the cars can't handle any bigger than that.
I have been very busy washing winter clothes. We just now have had some really cool weather (downright cold for the Gulf Coast) the past few days. Most of our 'winter clothes' end up being packed away and it's been so long now since our last cold snap, they need to be washed.
We rarely see snow here. We have ice at times, which will melt by noon. We occasionally see a few flakes floating in the air, but I can count on one hand the times I've seen snow on the ground. We're told because of the warm Gulf air, the ground never gets cold enough and snow melts when it touches the ground, unless the temperatures have been below a certain point for several day. Conditions are rarely right for the snow to stay very long, much less happen in the first place.
We have lots of ice, though and lots of foolish drivers who refuse to slow down on icy roads. When our middle son was born, our daughter was five. He was born at the end of March, so it was unusual for the weather to be so icy this close to Spring, but the roads were very ice when he was born. A few weeks before he was born, we all drove downtown to take me for the doctor check-up. Our daughter was very, very nervous about the icy roads because she had seen many news stories about people sliding their cars into the rails of bridges. We tried to reason with her, but those pictures left a lasting impression.
I guess I'm obsessed with ice, snow and cold weather because that's what it is like in Ukraine right now. We are going to FREEZE! I don't like when our summers are extremely hot and humid, but then again I don't like to freeze either. I am planning on wearing lots and lots of layers. I will probably wear many of my clothes that I might have needed to pack!
I have never wanted to rush Christmas so soon after Thanksgiving like many in our neighborhood do. I always wanted Thanksgiving to be it's own holiday, but this year is different and I have already started getting out the Christmas decorations. I do have more of those than Thanksgiving decorations. We will put at least some lights out today.
One reason we are decorating so early is partly to get the house all nice, clean and clutter-free. We've been very occupied with Robotics, which takes up so much time plus I've had too many projects going. We also need to make room for two more little girls in our house, and another reason is that we leave for Ukraine in TWO WEEKS!! One big reason is that we need to take pictures of our home with us which will include the girls' room. (There's always good reasons for de-cluttering. Just not always enough time.) We have lots of stuff for girls since we saved everything from our oldest. I just have to set the room up and take the pictures.
I have always wanted to have the house really, really clean whenever we leave for out of town, even if we are only gone for just a few days. I love coming home to a neat house:) Maybe it is the fact that there is no one there to mess it up. I guess I always assume when I clean something up, it is to stay clean and no one is to put something in that cleared off spot, but alas, it never happens that way. (One person in our family thinks I clear surfaces off for him to put his things on. He can't stand to see cleared off places even though he will deny it)
I have a few more things purchased to pack into our suitcases. So much for not re-arranging the bags again. I say suitcases, but we have two 24" rolling suitcases, three duffels and two personal bags so far. We will end up with four duffels by the time hubby packs his clothes. We will lighten our load considerably since all of one duffel is donations, one duffel is coats, and a good bit of the rest is gifts and clothes for the girls. Our plan is to buy some bungie-type cords to fasten the duffels on top of the rolling suitcases. This way we can carry the light duffels and personal bags and the rolling cases can bear the brunt of the heavy duffels. We chose 24" suitcases because we have been told the trunks of the cars can't handle any bigger than that.
I have been very busy washing winter clothes. We just now have had some really cool weather (downright cold for the Gulf Coast) the past few days. Most of our 'winter clothes' end up being packed away and it's been so long now since our last cold snap, they need to be washed.
We rarely see snow here. We have ice at times, which will melt by noon. We occasionally see a few flakes floating in the air, but I can count on one hand the times I've seen snow on the ground. We're told because of the warm Gulf air, the ground never gets cold enough and snow melts when it touches the ground, unless the temperatures have been below a certain point for several day. Conditions are rarely right for the snow to stay very long, much less happen in the first place.
We have lots of ice, though and lots of foolish drivers who refuse to slow down on icy roads. When our middle son was born, our daughter was five. He was born at the end of March, so it was unusual for the weather to be so icy this close to Spring, but the roads were very ice when he was born. A few weeks before he was born, we all drove downtown to take me for the doctor check-up. Our daughter was very, very nervous about the icy roads because she had seen many news stories about people sliding their cars into the rails of bridges. We tried to reason with her, but those pictures left a lasting impression.
I guess I'm obsessed with ice, snow and cold weather because that's what it is like in Ukraine right now. We are going to FREEZE! I don't like when our summers are extremely hot and humid, but then again I don't like to freeze either. I am planning on wearing lots and lots of layers. I will probably wear many of my clothes that I might have needed to pack!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Orphans of Ukraine
Some may wonder why we would travel halfway across the world to adopt two little girls. One answer is that God has placed these two little girls in our path and we love them both. Scripture tells us, as Christians, that we are to care for the orphans and the widows. There are many other reasons besides the ones listes.
Click on the Orphans of Ukraine video above to see many more reasons. There are several videos on YouTube about Ukraine orphans and children who live on the streets of Ukraine.
Click on the Orphans of Ukraine video above to see many more reasons. There are several videos on YouTube about Ukraine orphans and children who live on the streets of Ukraine.
Three Weeks to Go!
The time that we have been anticipating is rapidly approaching. When we started this process almost a year ago it seemed like the time to fly to Ukraine would never get here and now it seems like we may not have enough time to do everything we need to do!
The bags are almost packed. The only bad thing about packing so early is that I keep thinking about how to pack them more efficiently. I have packed and re-packed them several times now.
We have most of our cash ready, but have had a very difficult time getting unmarked, unfolded bills. I guess the banks have this request so much that they just give people whatever they have on hand. I've never really noticed the condition of bills until we HAD to have ones in really good condition.
We have done some home improvement around the house. Maybe this is part of bringing new children into our home, but I have also been very busy weeding out and getting rid of as much clutter as possible. This is not an easy task!
Another project that I would like to do before we go is list the essential things that we are taking to put here on the blog for those who go after us. These are things that I've read that other people take and what friends that have been over there suggest. We'll see how essential they are after we're over there. I have really enjoyed reading other's blogs who are there adopting their children.
One reason that time will pass quickly is that we will be out of town for four days for the TX BEST competition. Our youngest son will have an opportunity to drive the Team robot in the TX Tech stadium. He doesn't have that many more years in High school, so these opportunities are limited since the competition is only once a year. Our oldest son is studying CAD in College because he learned it by being on the BEST team and found that is something he absolutely loves to do. And is very good at it, I might add:)
Our daughter, even though she lives in another state, is very excited about having little sisters. She told me about her plans to take them shopping. She always wanted a sister, but ended up with two younger brothers. (They are not smaller than she is:)
Oh, she loves her brothers very much and they love her, but I think almost every girl wants a sister, too.
I am very sad that we will miss Lily's birthday, but we will just have to have a belated birthday party when we arrive. I wonder if they celebrate the children's birthdays in the orphanages?
The bags are almost packed. The only bad thing about packing so early is that I keep thinking about how to pack them more efficiently. I have packed and re-packed them several times now.
We have most of our cash ready, but have had a very difficult time getting unmarked, unfolded bills. I guess the banks have this request so much that they just give people whatever they have on hand. I've never really noticed the condition of bills until we HAD to have ones in really good condition.
We have done some home improvement around the house. Maybe this is part of bringing new children into our home, but I have also been very busy weeding out and getting rid of as much clutter as possible. This is not an easy task!
Another project that I would like to do before we go is list the essential things that we are taking to put here on the blog for those who go after us. These are things that I've read that other people take and what friends that have been over there suggest. We'll see how essential they are after we're over there. I have really enjoyed reading other's blogs who are there adopting their children.
One reason that time will pass quickly is that we will be out of town for four days for the TX BEST competition. Our youngest son will have an opportunity to drive the Team robot in the TX Tech stadium. He doesn't have that many more years in High school, so these opportunities are limited since the competition is only once a year. Our oldest son is studying CAD in College because he learned it by being on the BEST team and found that is something he absolutely loves to do. And is very good at it, I might add:)
Our daughter, even though she lives in another state, is very excited about having little sisters. She told me about her plans to take them shopping. She always wanted a sister, but ended up with two younger brothers. (They are not smaller than she is:)
Oh, she loves her brothers very much and they love her, but I think almost every girl wants a sister, too.
I am very sad that we will miss Lily's birthday, but we will just have to have a belated birthday party when we arrive. I wonder if they celebrate the children's birthdays in the orphanages?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
