Tuesday, October 26, 2010

This, that and another thing...

So now we wait... yep, that's what we're doing, waiting for our official travel date, plus this, that and another thing... 

We called and spoke with Lena on Saturday the 16th, and then again on Sunday the 17th.  We had an hour with Gaylna on Saturday to translate, but it wasn't quite enough time to accomplish all that Lena, Charlie, Lena's cousin Llona, one of Lena's teachers and I had to discuss.  Yep, on Saturday we got to spend time chatting with Llona and one of Lena's teachers (wish I could remember her name, but it escapes me).  Our conversations with both Llona and Lena's teacher were incredibly sweet.  They are both very happy for Lena, and are excited to meet us.  Sunday we called again, this time to get "the list".  Charlie and I have known that we would be bringing some gifts from America to give the kids when we arrive, we hear things like glow bracelets, chalk, and American candy are a huge hit.  We had also asked Lena a few phone calls back if there were any special gifts for her classmates we could bring.  Lena was prepared, she had her list!  Lena gave us the names of 13 girls in her class, along with a suggested gift for each.  On that list there were several requests for stuff animals, a couple of requests for journals, two hair dryers (believe that's what I would have requested after having to take a cold shower during a Ukrainian winter), a book about animals, and a embroidery kit.  Oh, and Lena also asked if we might bring a gift for her 3 teachers and Sultan the horse too. :] 
Seems our gift giving will come at a perfect time. Christmas!  Which brings me to our kids, Jennifer, Lisa and Kyle.  Which at this moment I'd like to say how much we love them, and how incredibly proud we are of the people they have grown into.  From the beginning of this journey they have been nothing but supportive and excited along with us.  Several Christmases ago we began a new Christmas tradition, recognizing the many blessing in our lives, we desired to share, instead of buying gifts for each other, we have made donations to charities in each others names, this year we approached the kids with "Lena's List", without hesitation the charity of choice this year, a group of Ukrainian children and a Ukrainian horse.  Need to say it again, we love you J, Lisa and Kyle!  We will enjoy sharing with Lena that her new sisters and brother, and families wanted to be a part of our first ever Ukrainian Christmas...

We are also excited to see and hear about how God continues to show Himself to others, how He lights a fire of passion, and His people respond. 
The Goodness Family have not only been a big part of Orphans Ransom (I shared their website link in my last post), but they have put together "Project Christmas JOY".  They have collected the names and ages of all 160 children at the Internat (Lena's school, and where they adopted their daughter Kristina from in July), and have approached the members of their church to gift each of these children with a Christmas box. This will be the first time that these children have experienced anything like this. 
Also Ukrainian Orphan Charities (through our facilitator) in partnership with U.S. non-profit Horizon Christian Fellowship (organized by other adoptive families) are prepared again to bring another group of Ukrainian orphans to the U.S. this Christmas. The children will travel December 19, 2010 – January 9, 2011. They will send a group of children anywhere in U.S. where there are several interested families.  You can log in to their website using the user name and password below to see which children are still waiting to be matched with a host family:
Website: http://www.hostorphansfromukraine.blogspot.com/
Login: ukraineorphans@aol.com
Password:  nostreetlife
Even though the blog will say "by invitation only" - just enter log in and password and the blog will let you in. 
Charlie and I are amazed at the opportunities out there to help, we wonder what God might have in store for us in the future... because we believe we've only seen the tip of an ice berg. 

Now on to another thing:  As I said in a previous post, our hope was to complete our adoption by the end of this year, in doing so we would have been able to take advantage of a $13,000 tax credit.  Unfortunately we don't believe that will be possible now.  We don't anticipate the adoption will be final until mid January. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but still believing we should not put a limit on how and by whom God may want to provide the remaining funds needed for Lena's adoption, we share this with you.  The cost of Lena's adoption is right at $30,000, we are extremely grateful for support monies that have already been donated by our church, family, and friends, it has simply been amazing to watch as God has provided, which we have said from the beginning that He would have to do.  "It's a God sized endeavor" is still our chant.  So to date with the monies we have spent and the donations we have recieved we find ourselves still short by about $7600.00, which wouldn't look as big as it does if we didn't find ourselves needing to add to our solar system (we live off the grid), we think it is important to boost things to accomodate an additional body.  So with that being said, if you should feel led to donate to our adoption fund, and would like to receive a receipt for tax purposes, checks can be made out and sent to:
Prescott Christian Church
501 S. Senator Highway, Prescott AZ 86303,
noting “Adoption Fund” in the memo section. 

It's with sincere hearts Charlie and I thank you all for your encouragement and prayers, for following along with us... it won't be long now...

Oh, I didn't mention, Charlie and I found out this week that our dossier has already been submitted to the SDA, it was submitted prior to the last vote on Oct. 8th.  Konstantin felt it was important to go ahead and submit it prior to the vote, which we agree with and appreciate.  It may be just another week or two before we hear when our appointment date is, if we find out it is prior to Lena coming off the registry we'll have to request a new date, but better to be in process, then to take a chance that a vote on a adoption moratorium could take place.

Boy, that was a lot of this and that... Blessings!!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Skype no Hype!

Seems I continue to be a bit of a "bump on a blog", but not intentionally.  Charlie and I have been enjoying a visit with my sister Leslie and brother-in-law Rick the past few days.  Actually they arrived this past Friday evening and left yesterday morning to spend a day in Phoenix, before heading back to Montana.  So between visiting and work (both Charlie and I continued to work through their visit as we plan to take a large chunk of time off in the near future :]), I was unprepared to take the time needed to do an update.

But I'm back and we do have news to report! 
October 8th came and went quietly (except for the arrival of Leslie and Rick), "the vote" was once again postponed.  Praise God, seems to be a theme developing here... keep praying!
Saturday morning Charlie and I awoke early, ok, maybe not any earlier than normal, but we got moving faster than usual.  I had to get a shower and get my hair washed and dried prior to our much anticipated SKYPE call with Lena.  Was not about to let Lena see me with bad hair, at least not yet...
Time out: Feel as if I need to take a minute to set the scene... Over the last several months I have developed a friendship with a couple in Arkansas who are in the process of adopting two young girls from the same school that Lena is in.  As with others we have met along the "adoption way", Loren and Cammie have fast become part of our extended family.  An incredible extended family to be sure... Loren and Cammie made a quick trip over to Ukraine this past weekend, they had a few issues arise with their adoption and felt it important to be there in person to promote a positive outcome, which I'm extremely happy to report seems to be the case, Praise God again!!  An important part of their trip was to provide the girls an opportunity to visit with several families that have already adopted from the Ukraine via a Skype session.  They had made arrangements for several computers to be available at the local Internet cafe, as well as translators to be on hand, no small task!  Loren and Cammie extended an invitation to Charlie and I to join them, so that we might have the opportunity to see Lena in action.   I must admit I had a few nervous knots, but for the most part just over the top excitement for the chance to visit with Lena face to face. 
At 6:30 am our Skype phone rang, and with a click of the mouse, there she was!!  It's hard to understand, to comprehend how the heart works, but since we began to communicate with Lena, whether by email, by phone, and now Skype, there has never been a hesitation, nor reservation, it seems as natural as breathing, she is our daughter... and Charlie and I, along with Rick and Leslie delighted in her for close to an hour.  With lap top in hand we were able to give her a tour of her room and introduce her to the dogs.  It was then that she asked to see the horses.  Of course she would ask, and of course we would deliver, but how?  Charlie and Rick headed for the barn, as Leslie and I continued to talk, Lena introduced us to her cousin Llona, and her friend Alyona, it was incredibly sweet (It would be later in the day that my heart and mind would begin to reflect back on those introductions). 
When Charlie and Rick arrived back at the house they had Rowdy in tow.  Charlie led Rowdy onto the patio, and through the window, Lena was able to get a glimpse of the horse she has already claimed as her own.  It was a few minutes later that we all agreed Lena needed a better view, so out to the yard the lap top went, it worked!  Lena was able to see Rowdy in action!  Too fun!!  By the way Lena also really liked Charlie's cowboy hat.  No doubt a cowgirl hat is in Lena's future. :]
It was an amazing morning, thank you Loren and Cammie for making it happen!  For all those who played a part in it.  Also, so incredibly thankful that Uncle Rick and Aunt Leslie were here to meet Lena, to experience the morning with us.  Charlie and I are also excited to have crossed over another technological line with Skype, we believe it's going to be a wonderful way for Lena to be in touch with new and old family and friends.  Simple download, inexpensive camera, and the rest is free! 

As I mentioned, it was later in the day, after I had spent a good bit of time reflecting on the joyfulness of the morning, that the words of Lena's friend Alyona started to play in my head, Alyona had shared how happy she was for Lena, she was happy that Lena would soon have a family to love her, the joy and sincerity of her statement was authentic ... both Lena's cousin and her friend had seemed so curious and so happy to be a part of our conversation, it is then that the question presented itself, what about them??  What about the rest??  It is a hard question to think about.  One, that on some level I wish I could ignore, but it now exists in my heart...  I believe it needs to be answered.

"Once your eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.
God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know,
and holds us responsible to act.
Proverbs 24:12

Which for now brings me to share this website:  http://www.orphansransom.org/

Charlie and I look forward to talking with Lena again this Saturday morning, and we anticipate hearing sometime the end of this month that our Dossier has been submitted to the SDA!