Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land.
Proverbs 25:25
How wonderful it was to hear "Good Morning" at 11:00 at night!! We are so thankful to hear their sweet voices and to just have a sweet, lighthearted conversation with them! They think it is so funny when we say 'ya tebe lebleu' which is 'i love you' in Ukrainian:) I guess we sound kinda funny with our American/Texas accents. They are just precious. I must admit that at times I get caught up in the process of the adoption and I don't realize that I have forgotten how very much I love these girls until I hear their voices and a get a quick glimpse into their lives. We thought it was a neat glimpse into their hearts that they when they realized that it was nighttime here, they were so concerned that we had stayed up late to call them (it is 8 hours later there). We told them that we were more than happy to stay up!!
It had been way too long since we had been able to talk to them - issues with phone service over there and busyness on the part of our translator has made it difficult over there. I have been missing them a lot this week and just praying for God's protection over their lives. We are really hoping and praying that the visas are issued QUICKLY!!! Please pray with us for them!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Few Things~
We are not happy to report that the summer plans are looking a bit bleak right now. For varying reasons that I am not really sure of, the hosting group that the girls should be coming with is having trouble getting visas - actually with getting a visa appointment with the American Embassy in Kiev. It seems very possible that the trip will either be greatly shortened or cancelled. Originally the plan was for them to arrive this coming weekend! That date was changed to June 10th and now we are being told that it should be later June. While we are sad for every day that are not able to be here this summer, we are still cautiously optimistic that we will have at least eight weeks or so with them.
To update on the adoption process, we are just about done with the dossier - we were holding off of finalizing a few things because we didn't want things to expire. We have also had to redo a few documents already. The only thing we are still waiting on is that darn 171H form!!! About a month ago we recieved a letter from CIS saying that we were missing a few things in our homestudy. It has been updated and sent off, so hopefully we will get the 171H very soon. We are hoping that the homestudy is sufficient this time - we can't imagine why it wouldn't be. Our facilitator is pretty sure that our names will be posted to submit in August based on our number and what numbers are listed for June and July submissions. So if that works out to submit in August then we could be traveling to adopt these girls by maybe mid-November. This is all a huge guess on my part with tons of things that could change, but I am such a planner I just can't help myself! Okay so that is all I've got for now!
One other thing - we should get to talk to the girls tomorrow morning (afternoon for them).
To update on the adoption process, we are just about done with the dossier - we were holding off of finalizing a few things because we didn't want things to expire. We have also had to redo a few documents already. The only thing we are still waiting on is that darn 171H form!!! About a month ago we recieved a letter from CIS saying that we were missing a few things in our homestudy. It has been updated and sent off, so hopefully we will get the 171H very soon. We are hoping that the homestudy is sufficient this time - we can't imagine why it wouldn't be. Our facilitator is pretty sure that our names will be posted to submit in August based on our number and what numbers are listed for June and July submissions. So if that works out to submit in August then we could be traveling to adopt these girls by maybe mid-November. This is all a huge guess on my part with tons of things that could change, but I am such a planner I just can't help myself! Okay so that is all I've got for now!
One other thing - we should get to talk to the girls tomorrow morning (afternoon for them).
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Happy Birthday Katya!
Katya had a birthday a few days ago and we were able to call her the morning of her birthday (well afternoon for her). We all stood in our kitchen before the kids went to school and sang her Happy Birthday. It was so much fun for us and I think she was pretty excited too :) She was very giddy on the phone. Then, one of her caretakers took her and Nastya and a few friends out to celebrate with ice cream and other goodies. I pray that she would just see a glimpse of how precious she is and how loved beyond measure she is by the Lord. I am thankful that we can bless her in this small way.
I just got pictures today of the fun they had. I am happy to share pictures of the girls with you if you ask - I know lots of people post pictures on blogs of children they are trying to adopt but I just don't feel good about their pictures being so accessible at this point. So just ask and I will email you - I would love to share their pics with people I know!
I was able talk with the girls a few days before that and we had probably the best phone conversation we've had yet. (Sometimes the phone talks are a little difficult with the translations and background noise - we are so glad we can talk but sometimes it just feels a little awkward). Anyways, last week I was driving to NASA for a field trip for Allee and was actually in the car alone because Allee was riding with her friend for awhile. I called the translator and talked to the girls - we talked so easily about summer and swimming and they wanted to know all about what the our kids were up to. I asked them if they knew how to swim - they said yes and Katya asked if we could swim ALL day one day this summer :) We talked about Katya's birthday and about their schoolwork. They asked about riding horses and we talked about that too. They told me all about being in the hospital with chicken pox and how glad they are that is over now. I told them at least they won't ever get it again. Katya said she knew one boy who got it twice but I told her that was pretty rare and not to worry about it :) Anyways I am glad for a good talk.
Please be in prayer about the visas for the summer trip - we have reason to be at least a little concerned that they either may not get the visas or that the trip will become very short. It has definitely been shortened by about 10 days - that is not too bad but we are just worried that with the difficulties in Ukraine that it could take a long time to get the visas and delay it even furthur. But at this point we can't dwell on it and are just planning for them to be here.
I just got pictures today of the fun they had. I am happy to share pictures of the girls with you if you ask - I know lots of people post pictures on blogs of children they are trying to adopt but I just don't feel good about their pictures being so accessible at this point. So just ask and I will email you - I would love to share their pics with people I know!
I was able talk with the girls a few days before that and we had probably the best phone conversation we've had yet. (Sometimes the phone talks are a little difficult with the translations and background noise - we are so glad we can talk but sometimes it just feels a little awkward). Anyways, last week I was driving to NASA for a field trip for Allee and was actually in the car alone because Allee was riding with her friend for awhile. I called the translator and talked to the girls - we talked so easily about summer and swimming and they wanted to know all about what the our kids were up to. I asked them if they knew how to swim - they said yes and Katya asked if we could swim ALL day one day this summer :) We talked about Katya's birthday and about their schoolwork. They asked about riding horses and we talked about that too. They told me all about being in the hospital with chicken pox and how glad they are that is over now. I told them at least they won't ever get it again. Katya said she knew one boy who got it twice but I told her that was pretty rare and not to worry about it :) Anyways I am glad for a good talk.
Please be in prayer about the visas for the summer trip - we have reason to be at least a little concerned that they either may not get the visas or that the trip will become very short. It has definitely been shortened by about 10 days - that is not too bad but we are just worried that with the difficulties in Ukraine that it could take a long time to get the visas and delay it even furthur. But at this point we can't dwell on it and are just planning for them to be here.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Summer
Well, first to update...Katya FINALLY made it back to the orphanage from the hospital on Sunday - which was Easter in Ukraine. It is a huge holiday and I think most things are closed this whole week. I heard that she was extremely happy to be out of the hospital - of course!!! We are supposed to be able to talk with the girls tomorrow.
For those who do not know, we are officially planning to host the girls for the summer! The cost turned out to be much less than what we thought and we get to have them for the ENTIRE summer (pending visa approval)!!! Ukraine has been incredible slow with adoptions right now and things are unstable in general, but our facilitator thinks/hopes that we can submit our dossier by late summer - which would mean traveling several months after that. So it will likely be after Christmas at the very earliest. Of course, that is just the best guess I can have right now and could change at any time :) So much for my nature to be a planner.... I am learning to not look to far into the future and how very little I am in control of.
We are not even 100% sure that they will be able to get the visas to come this summer - I am a little worried about this as Ukraine seems to be tightening up on hosting trips and apparently larger groups do fine but small groups like ours are a little iffy. So we are praying for those visas and are so excited about them coming. We will get to finally meet Katya in person - we kind of feel like we know her from all the phone talks, letters, and pictures. God has given us a love and compassion for these two girls, and I know that He has caused our lives to intersect at this time... It is amazing to see the plan unfold, there are still lots of unanswered questions and some things are quite frightening, but we trust not in ourselves, our ability to figure things out, but in the God who created us and who created these girls. Okay, in all honesty, at least this is what we aspire to do - sometimes I freak out :) We are praying for God to work in their lives, to pour out His mercy on them, for His glory to be shown in this journey. For His perfect will for them, which He knows far better than we do.
So now it is ONE MONTH FROM TODAY when they are scheduled to come! We are trying to prepare and plan for what our daily plans will be, chore lists (yes we will put them to work), fun things we want to do (swim, ride horses, roller skating, swim, ride bikes, swim, paint nails, art camp, swim, fish...) Okay so we are really excited about swimming. My parent's have this amazing natural pool that we pretty much live in every chance we get. It is sparkling clean but with practically no chlorine. Although I want them to learn English, get some dental work done, and other important things - I do want them to just be children - lighthearted, carefree, laughing children. I want to tube the river, play games (how I have missed those uno games), watch movies, and I want them to just be able to let down a bit and feel taken care of and loved. I pray that even though we may not have the words to explain, that we can reflect the love of Christ to them. That they can sense His presence and His love and that they can drawn to Him. I pray that they would get even a glimpse of God's special love for them...that this time would plant seeds in their hearts.
I will post as soon as I get word on the visas - maybe in about a week...
For those who do not know, we are officially planning to host the girls for the summer! The cost turned out to be much less than what we thought and we get to have them for the ENTIRE summer (pending visa approval)!!! Ukraine has been incredible slow with adoptions right now and things are unstable in general, but our facilitator thinks/hopes that we can submit our dossier by late summer - which would mean traveling several months after that. So it will likely be after Christmas at the very earliest. Of course, that is just the best guess I can have right now and could change at any time :) So much for my nature to be a planner.... I am learning to not look to far into the future and how very little I am in control of.
We are not even 100% sure that they will be able to get the visas to come this summer - I am a little worried about this as Ukraine seems to be tightening up on hosting trips and apparently larger groups do fine but small groups like ours are a little iffy. So we are praying for those visas and are so excited about them coming. We will get to finally meet Katya in person - we kind of feel like we know her from all the phone talks, letters, and pictures. God has given us a love and compassion for these two girls, and I know that He has caused our lives to intersect at this time... It is amazing to see the plan unfold, there are still lots of unanswered questions and some things are quite frightening, but we trust not in ourselves, our ability to figure things out, but in the God who created us and who created these girls. Okay, in all honesty, at least this is what we aspire to do - sometimes I freak out :) We are praying for God to work in their lives, to pour out His mercy on them, for His glory to be shown in this journey. For His perfect will for them, which He knows far better than we do.
So now it is ONE MONTH FROM TODAY when they are scheduled to come! We are trying to prepare and plan for what our daily plans will be, chore lists (yes we will put them to work), fun things we want to do (swim, ride horses, roller skating, swim, ride bikes, swim, paint nails, art camp, swim, fish...) Okay so we are really excited about swimming. My parent's have this amazing natural pool that we pretty much live in every chance we get. It is sparkling clean but with practically no chlorine. Although I want them to learn English, get some dental work done, and other important things - I do want them to just be children - lighthearted, carefree, laughing children. I want to tube the river, play games (how I have missed those uno games), watch movies, and I want them to just be able to let down a bit and feel taken care of and loved. I pray that even though we may not have the words to explain, that we can reflect the love of Christ to them. That they can sense His presence and His love and that they can drawn to Him. I pray that they would get even a glimpse of God's special love for them...that this time would plant seeds in their hearts.
I will post as soon as I get word on the visas - maybe in about a week...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Update
Here is what I just found in my inbox today! I hope to talk to her tomorrow. Hopefully Katya will join her soon!!! Thank you to those who have been praying for them.
Hello Stephanee,
Today Nastya has come back from the hospital to the orphanage.And she seems to be very happy about that. Unfortunately Katya is still there. Hopefully she'll be back pretty soon.Nastya immediately asked about you. I told her you'd call to talk to her this week. She was excited :) as always.
Hello Stephanee,
Today Nastya has come back from the hospital to the orphanage.And she seems to be very happy about that. Unfortunately Katya is still there. Hopefully she'll be back pretty soon.Nastya immediately asked about you. I told her you'd call to talk to her this week. She was excited :) as always.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Still In The Hospital...
I talked to the caretaker who translates for us today. I called because I had not heard if the girls were out of the hospital from the chicken pox yet. I was sure that by now they would be out - it has been about two weeks at least. But no - and I was told that they would most likely stay in the hospital for maybe two more weeks. WHAT?!? That is like a month in the hospital! I guess they feel that until the spots have completely healed - I guess no scabs or anything - that they need to keep them quarantined? I hope to get some more details on how they are and maybe ask the missionary we know from their region can go visit them. I just feel so sad for them and I can't even imagine the boredom. Please pray that God will comfort them and heal them very quickly. Katya has a birthday coming up very soon and I hope that she will not spend it in the hospital. I will update as soon as I know anything.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Guess What We Got!!
No not our 171H form that we are looking for in our mailbox every day....
BUT...
A LETTER from the girls!!!
I tried to post a picture of the letter but for some reason uploads are not working...
They mailed it about two months ago but it just got here last week. Then we couldn't read it because it was written in Ukrainian of course! But if you have been following this story from the beginning - on our other blog - then you will remember that I was in a Bible study last Fall with a lady who is a nurse for a Ukrainian doctor! What are the odds of that?! It was definitely a God-ordained situation so that I could be put in touch with this whole group of Ukrainian people in our area. I mean what are the odds that I would be randomly put into a group of about five women and one of them is connected to this Ukrainian group, and all this happened just weeks before we hosted Nastya? So, all of the families who hosted this Christmas were able to attend the Ukrainian Christmas party at the doctor's house. While we were there, we met a sweet woman who now lives here but who grew up in Ukraine. Liliya gave me her phone number and offered to help in any way that she could. So, I contacted her, we met today, and she translated the letter for me. I wrote it down while she read, so here's the translation - as best I could write it while she read it. Katya writes in a mixture of Ukrainian and Russian and then throws in a little English here and there :), so Liliya had a hard time following some of it at first...
Good afternoon Mommy. How are you? How are things with you? Happy Valentines to you. Natya and I say hello to Allee and Jadon and Ben. Nastya and I miss you very much and want you to come visit. I have a birthday in May and I want you to come and visit us. Please say hello to everybody. If you were to have badminton and if you can, please send badminton. Would you please tell me when your birthday is.
Hello papa. How are you doing? How's your work?
What are we doing? We are studying and trying really hard to study and draw. We have a new friend Olya. Olya and her brother were going to come to America last summer but they didn't come. Now this summer they are getting ready to come.
Papa, please send shampoo and soap for face and hands. I love bananas, it is no secret. Please send some. Grandmother, Granfather, Aunt, and Uncle and everybody Nastya and I say hello. I will draw more pictures for you. When I grow up I will sing. That is my dream.
I love you very much! Write back very soon.
Katya
Ashley - do notice that they said hello to you :)
BUT...
A LETTER from the girls!!!
I tried to post a picture of the letter but for some reason uploads are not working...
They mailed it about two months ago but it just got here last week. Then we couldn't read it because it was written in Ukrainian of course! But if you have been following this story from the beginning - on our other blog - then you will remember that I was in a Bible study last Fall with a lady who is a nurse for a Ukrainian doctor! What are the odds of that?! It was definitely a God-ordained situation so that I could be put in touch with this whole group of Ukrainian people in our area. I mean what are the odds that I would be randomly put into a group of about five women and one of them is connected to this Ukrainian group, and all this happened just weeks before we hosted Nastya? So, all of the families who hosted this Christmas were able to attend the Ukrainian Christmas party at the doctor's house. While we were there, we met a sweet woman who now lives here but who grew up in Ukraine. Liliya gave me her phone number and offered to help in any way that she could. So, I contacted her, we met today, and she translated the letter for me. I wrote it down while she read, so here's the translation - as best I could write it while she read it. Katya writes in a mixture of Ukrainian and Russian and then throws in a little English here and there :), so Liliya had a hard time following some of it at first...
Good afternoon Mommy. How are you? How are things with you? Happy Valentines to you. Natya and I say hello to Allee and Jadon and Ben. Nastya and I miss you very much and want you to come visit. I have a birthday in May and I want you to come and visit us. Please say hello to everybody. If you were to have badminton and if you can, please send badminton. Would you please tell me when your birthday is.
Hello papa. How are you doing? How's your work?
What are we doing? We are studying and trying really hard to study and draw. We have a new friend Olya. Olya and her brother were going to come to America last summer but they didn't come. Now this summer they are getting ready to come.
Papa, please send shampoo and soap for face and hands. I love bananas, it is no secret. Please send some. Grandmother, Granfather, Aunt, and Uncle and everybody Nastya and I say hello. I will draw more pictures for you. When I grow up I will sing. That is my dream.
I love you very much! Write back very soon.
Katya
Ashley - do notice that they said hello to you :)
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