We were invited by Save A Child to host again this year. We agreed to take this handsome 10-year old into our home. His name is Sasha. He is a kind, loving little guy who is shy as can be. While here, he has learned to ride a bike, cook meals with Carrie, and beat Lego Star Wars on the PS2. We found out that he has 2 sisters (Anya and Julia) in a different orphanage.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
It's been 1 year since we met her
It's hard to believe that it has been one year since we met Yuliya. Whoever said 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' must have been going though an adoption. Carrie and I were remembering the sleeping situation after Yuliya arrived: The first 2 nights, Yuliya and Eliza would fall asleep in separate beds placed next to each other. Every morning, Eliza would wake up with Yuliya next to her in her bed. by the 3rd night, they just started sleeping in the same bed. On the 5th night, Yuliya and Eliza talked me into lugging Yuliya's mattress into our bedroom next to our bed on Carrie's side. (The picture below is one I snapped while both girls were laying on the mattress. Yuliya is wide awake waiting for us to come to bed while Eliza is sound asleep.) By night 7, Caleb decided he wanted to be part of the slumber party, so he collected a bunch of blankets and made a bed next to my side. By night 12, Brandon decided his bedroom is too quiet without Caleb, so he made a bed at the foot of our bed.
And this is how we slept each night until Yuliya went back to Ukraine.
And this is how we slept each night until Yuliya went back to Ukraine.
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.
So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little. "
-Billy Dean, "Let Them Be Little"
Monday, October 13, 2008
Good news!!! (and bad news...)
We received news that the necessary paperwork is now in place for Yuliya! The estimated date for us to go get her is a lot closer. Woohoo!! We are finally one step closer to getting an appointment. We now have to begin our home study by filling out these countless documents. This stack of paperwork should do wonders for my biceps.
The bad news is that we won't be getting Nadya. Her mother is currently away and has stated that she will be come for her daughter. Her plea for a mom and dad will forever echo in our hearts. However, as we know all too well, we will not give up on her just yet, just in case!
The bad news is that we won't be getting Nadya. Her mother is currently away and has stated that she will be come for her daughter. Her plea for a mom and dad will forever echo in our hearts. However, as we know all too well, we will not give up on her just yet, just in case!
Friday, October 10, 2008
A date?
Today we got some conflicting news about the status of Yuliya. It's possible that she will not be available for another year. Although the information has not been confirmed, Carrie has been heart-broken and crying for 2 days. She called Elliana in tears and pleaded with her to get the information verified. We are waiting for word back...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Reynolds and Millers are home! Hooray!
Last night, we headed up to meet the Millers and their 3 girls. (Andreas' work schedules finally allowed us to be there). We are so glad we went. It was a surprise to find that Lee-Ann Luke and the Reynolds also got in from Ukraine, all within an hour of each other! We spoke to Lee-Ann for a while about Romny. Then we watched as a very happy (and equally exhausted) Cindy Miller walked in with Jessica, Arianna and Svieta. Cindy looked so happy. Her new daughters are all so beautiful. Seeing these girls and his wife made Loren beam from ear to ear. Having followed their blog made it feel like we knew these girls before they even got here. Even though they didn't speak english, it was clear the girls were a little overwhelmed and very tired. The Morgan's daughter 'Inna' helped translate for them. It will be fun to see how these girls are adjusting after a few days. Loren and Cindy - congratulations on finally getting these 3 sweet girls.
We also were fortunate to see Pasha and Kathy come home. They looked very exhausted but so very happy and walked into a sea of hugs and kisses. Pasha looked a little overwhelmed. When he looked like he was going to cry, Kathy's oldest boy (I don't remember his name) scooped him up into his big, football player arms and gave him one of most tender hugs we have ever seen. Pasha wrapped his arms around him too and buried his shy little face into his neck as his fear instantly melted away into a huge smile as each boy hugged his brand-new brother. For the rest of the evening, you couldn't have separated these 2 brothers for anything! Even as they were leaving the airport, those 2 boys were still right next to each other, smiling and laughing, neither understanding much of what the other was saying, but knowing that they finally had each other. Kathy, although very tired, and her husband Brad looked so very happy as they watched. Clearly they are happy in so many ways to have Pasha.
Thank you to each of the families for letting us share this special experience with you. It gave us renewed hope, which we needed this week. Thank you to Alan Morgan for being in tune with the spirit and helping us out. And thank you to the new mothers that have offered so many kind words to Carrie. Our next step now is to find out when it is our turn. This week leaves us with some unanswered questions, but hope to get everything straightened out soon.
We also were fortunate to see Pasha and Kathy come home. They looked very exhausted but so very happy and walked into a sea of hugs and kisses. Pasha looked a little overwhelmed. When he looked like he was going to cry, Kathy's oldest boy (I don't remember his name) scooped him up into his big, football player arms and gave him one of most tender hugs we have ever seen. Pasha wrapped his arms around him too and buried his shy little face into his neck as his fear instantly melted away into a huge smile as each boy hugged his brand-new brother. For the rest of the evening, you couldn't have separated these 2 brothers for anything! Even as they were leaving the airport, those 2 boys were still right next to each other, smiling and laughing, neither understanding much of what the other was saying, but knowing that they finally had each other. Kathy, although very tired, and her husband Brad looked so very happy as they watched. Clearly they are happy in so many ways to have Pasha.
Thank you to each of the families for letting us share this special experience with you. It gave us renewed hope, which we needed this week. Thank you to Alan Morgan for being in tune with the spirit and helping us out. And thank you to the new mothers that have offered so many kind words to Carrie. Our next step now is to find out when it is our turn. This week leaves us with some unanswered questions, but hope to get everything straightened out soon.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Luke's court date
In a few hours (it is 9 hours ahead in Ukraine), the Luke's will go before courts. Their journey to get Dima will be quite a story to tell once they get home, and we all anxiously await the update on their blog to see if it ends with '...and they lived happily ever after.'
Dave and Lee-Ann, we're all praying for you... (http://bringdmytrohome.blogspot.com/)
Dave and Lee-Ann, we're all praying for you... (http://bringdmytrohome.blogspot.com/)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Kathy returns to Ukraine bearing gifts
We brought a small envelope up to Kathy Reynolds home as she got ready to return to Ukraine. It contained some 'girly gifts' for Yuliya and Nadia: hair accessories, nail polish, lip gloss, and some inexpensive jewelry. Kathy's plane should be landing in Ukraine soon, and we pray that she'll return shortly to America with her Pasha.
After getting such a heart-warming letter from Yuliya and Nadia, the question in our minds is if Nadia, the endearing angel that Yuliya has taken under her wing, is adoptable.
After getting such a heart-warming letter from Yuliya and Nadia, the question in our minds is if Nadia, the endearing angel that Yuliya has taken under her wing, is adoptable.
Friday, October 3, 2008
A heart-warming picture
Happy day! We found 2 letters in one envelope in our mailbox today. One was from Yuliya, the other from Nadia. Nadia included this drawing with her letter (Nadia is spelled 'Hagi'). We're not yet sure what the letters say, but this unique drawing in bright colors clearly indicates Nadia's hopes and desires.


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