It's finally here, it's finally official!!
Kiev, Ukraine her we come!!!
Depart Phoenix Saturday, December 18,
Arrive Kiev Sunday, December 19,
Meet with the SDA Wednesday morning December 22,
Receive our referral papers Thursday, December 23,
then travel to the orphanage to see our girl on Friday the 24th for what should be a GREAT Christmas Eve.
Please keep prayin cause...as a famous baseball player once said, "it ain't over till it's over".
God is good ALL the time!!!
Words spoken by me:
I would like to take this opportunity to apologize in advance, because over the next several weeks I have decided to be annoyingly happy!!!! YEE HAW!!!!!!!!! :]
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
So in the meantime... Happy Thanksgiving!
We continue to wait for our new appointment date. We think that sometime this coming week would be the perfect time to find out just what that date is, but alas it is out of our control...
So in the meantime we find ourselves preparing, I mean lots of preparing!
Buy long underwear
Pack long underwear
Borrow clothes
Buy clothes
My clothes
Charlies clothes
Lena's clothes
Haircuts
Jake to groomer
Horses need new shoes
Copy documents
Pack documents
Order prescriptions
Buy gifts (160 +)
Need 4 + weeks of food for dogs, horses, cats, chickens
Call Bank
Transfer Funds
Note important phone numbers, websites (bill pay), email addresses
Photo album to show judge
Questions to ask orphanage director and teachers
Need to bring: extension cords, ac adaptor,Tylenol,TheraFlu, alcohol wipes, antibacterial gel, don't forget toilet paper...
Pack snacks, which must include peanut butter we're told
Airline tickets!
and then some, and some, and some.
And in between, life as usual...
But wait,
What we must not forget to do throughout these days is to be "Thankful", for there is no doubt that our list of things to be thankful for far outweighs our list of things to do.
We would imagine yours is too.
"In everything give thanks..." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
We'll let you know as soon as we get our date!
So in the meantime we find ourselves preparing, I mean lots of preparing!
Buy long underwear
Pack long underwear
Borrow clothes
Buy clothes
My clothes
Charlies clothes
Lena's clothes
Haircuts
Jake to groomer
Horses need new shoes
Copy documents
Pack documents
Order prescriptions
Buy gifts (160 +)
Need 4 + weeks of food for dogs, horses, cats, chickens
Call Bank
Transfer Funds
Note important phone numbers, websites (bill pay), email addresses
Photo album to show judge
Questions to ask orphanage director and teachers
Need to bring: extension cords, ac adaptor,Tylenol,TheraFlu, alcohol wipes, antibacterial gel, don't forget toilet paper...
Pack snacks, which must include peanut butter we're told
Airline tickets!
and then some, and some, and some.
And in between, life as usual...
But wait,
What we must not forget to do throughout these days is to be "Thankful", for there is no doubt that our list of things to be thankful for far outweighs our list of things to do.
We would imagine yours is too.
"In everything give thanks..." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
We'll let you know as soon as we get our date!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Keeping our focus...
I apologize for our/my absence, a lot can happen over the course of two weeks in an international adoption, things that sometimes I'm finding, just need a bit of time to settle before you're prepared to share... in any case I hope I'm able to keep it to a minimum, my hope is not to ramble (been accused of that by a couple males in the family, but I consider the source :]). Also let me qualify this posting by saying, this is more my post than Charlie's. He and Jesus are my rock.
Let me share something I know about myself. I don't do drama well. Not that I don't believe that some circumstances in life naturally create drama, and it even becomes necessary at times, it's just that typically it's something I try to avoid. I have a pretty clear understanding that in most cases I really have little or no control, except when it comes to my own response. So I tend to view it as being unproductive, a waste of time. I also find I am not a person who needs to forecast to the future. And I much prefer to view a silver lining than to view a dark cloud. Don't know if that's just the way I'm wired, possibly my environmental circumstances, past and present, or maybe in the last 51 years I may have actually learned something. Go ahead you pick...
The first 10 months of our adoption process has gone relatively smooth, it's what we've been experiencing the last couple months that have put me at times in a "dramatic" frame of mind, which brings about a sense of concern, questioning, and a search for possible ways to control the circumstances, along with a ache in the pit of the stomach that doesn't want to subside. NOT my thing at all!
October 27th we awoke to an email from Konstantin, GREAT NEWS!! I have been successfully registered as an official candidate to adopt in Ukraine by the SDA!! I say I, because children in Ukraine can only be adopted by a married couple and the age difference between the child and at least one of the adoptive parents can be no more than 45 years, Charlie comes in at 46, he's too old (I enjoy reminding him or that from time to time), so I will be adopting Lena in Ukraine, Charlie will make it official when we return home. But along with that news, we received an appointment date for November 3rd... NOT good news, although we thought that could be a possibility if you remember. Words written directly after the November 3rd date in the email, "do not freak out!" (which made me laugh, poor Konstantin, I wonder how many people have freaked out over that information, apparently a lot). Of course there was no way we could be ready to travel within a weeks time, what with work schedules, preparation and packing, not to mention Lena will not be available for adoption until sometime mid to end of December.
We are now in the process of requesting a new appointment date. Our hope, and prayer, it will coincide with Lena coming off the registry. Travel could happen as early as the 2nd week in December. We have learned once in Ukraine we can request another appointment date if needed, but would likely add a few days to the process. OK Judy? Yep, OK.
Feel the need to explain something else, in a traditional Ukrainian adoption the adoptive parents are unable to pre-select a child to adopt. The selection of the child is usually done the day of your appointment, most are given profiles of children available for adoption based on their requested criteria, ie: girl age 9 - 14. They are then given permission to visit the children that are deemed a good fit for them and select. Also note, the children do have a voice in whether they are comfortable with a particular adopting couple. They can refuse an adoption. We find ourselves in a non-traditional Ukrainian adoption, having hosted, met or learned of a child through a hosting program, many families decide they want to adopt the child they have fallen in love with. Timing then can play a factor, especially if the child is still waiting to come off the national registry, as is our situation with Lena. These non-traditional adoptions are highly successful, but as they say, "timing is everything". Still doing OK Judy? Yep.
November 2nd late afternoon, we receive word through another adoptive family that the vote on the adoption moratorium had just passed. That parliament will be voting again in another 10 days, that by the end of the year it seems likely all votes needed to stop Ukrainian adoptions will take place. You've got to be kidding!!!???? Speculation runs rampant... make it stop!!!! The following morning we hear this news: Yesterday Ukrainian parliament (Rada) supported the movement from independent adoptions to either Hague system or bilateral agreements system of international adoptions. However, instead of making it a law the parliamentarians supported the draft law "as a baseline", which means "in essence". It is a show of political will, a political move and carries NO EXECUTIVE meaning at least in the near future. The date for further hearings is not set up - all talk on the web about another vote in 10 days is nothing more than a rumor at this point. When deputies really want to adopt a law - they move through 2 hearings in the same day: adopt a law as a baseline and announce final vote in 3 minutes. This did not happen. It is believed most deputies do believe that international adoptions must continue, however, yesterday's political will vote shows that Ukrainian authorities want to have more control over the information/future of adopted children after they leave Ukraine. Speaker of parliament said this vote will push the government to finally make specific moves to signing bilateral agreements with countries citizens of which adopt frequently in Ukraine.
Feeling much better, but oh how we and a good number of other families wish the chatter of this vote would vanish for good... Still hanging in there Jude? Barely...
November 5th, thankful for a scheduled phone appointment with my dear friend Mary. Have once again arrived at a place of peace, drama over...
Mary reminds me of what has always been one of my favorite bible lessons.
Matthew 14:22-33 Why did Peter sink? He saw Jesus walk on the water and as long as Peter focused his eyes on the LORD, Peter stayed afloat. It was when Peter took his eyes off of the LORD and on to the waves beneath him that he sank. The lesson, that our faith must be rooted in Christ and we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by life's circumstances. If we keep our eyes on the LORD rather than the situation that threatens to engulf us, we too can walk through the waves with confidence in Christ's ability to bring us peace in the middle of what ever storm is raging over our lives. There is nothing that we can face that is outside of God's control.
Let me share something I know about myself. I don't do drama well. Not that I don't believe that some circumstances in life naturally create drama, and it even becomes necessary at times, it's just that typically it's something I try to avoid. I have a pretty clear understanding that in most cases I really have little or no control, except when it comes to my own response. So I tend to view it as being unproductive, a waste of time. I also find I am not a person who needs to forecast to the future. And I much prefer to view a silver lining than to view a dark cloud. Don't know if that's just the way I'm wired, possibly my environmental circumstances, past and present, or maybe in the last 51 years I may have actually learned something. Go ahead you pick...
The first 10 months of our adoption process has gone relatively smooth, it's what we've been experiencing the last couple months that have put me at times in a "dramatic" frame of mind, which brings about a sense of concern, questioning, and a search for possible ways to control the circumstances, along with a ache in the pit of the stomach that doesn't want to subside. NOT my thing at all!
October 27th we awoke to an email from Konstantin, GREAT NEWS!! I have been successfully registered as an official candidate to adopt in Ukraine by the SDA!! I say I, because children in Ukraine can only be adopted by a married couple and the age difference between the child and at least one of the adoptive parents can be no more than 45 years, Charlie comes in at 46, he's too old (I enjoy reminding him or that from time to time), so I will be adopting Lena in Ukraine, Charlie will make it official when we return home. But along with that news, we received an appointment date for November 3rd... NOT good news, although we thought that could be a possibility if you remember. Words written directly after the November 3rd date in the email, "do not freak out!" (which made me laugh, poor Konstantin, I wonder how many people have freaked out over that information, apparently a lot). Of course there was no way we could be ready to travel within a weeks time, what with work schedules, preparation and packing, not to mention Lena will not be available for adoption until sometime mid to end of December.
We are now in the process of requesting a new appointment date. Our hope, and prayer, it will coincide with Lena coming off the registry. Travel could happen as early as the 2nd week in December. We have learned once in Ukraine we can request another appointment date if needed, but would likely add a few days to the process. OK Judy? Yep, OK.
Feel the need to explain something else, in a traditional Ukrainian adoption the adoptive parents are unable to pre-select a child to adopt. The selection of the child is usually done the day of your appointment, most are given profiles of children available for adoption based on their requested criteria, ie: girl age 9 - 14. They are then given permission to visit the children that are deemed a good fit for them and select. Also note, the children do have a voice in whether they are comfortable with a particular adopting couple. They can refuse an adoption. We find ourselves in a non-traditional Ukrainian adoption, having hosted, met or learned of a child through a hosting program, many families decide they want to adopt the child they have fallen in love with. Timing then can play a factor, especially if the child is still waiting to come off the national registry, as is our situation with Lena. These non-traditional adoptions are highly successful, but as they say, "timing is everything". Still doing OK Judy? Yep.
November 2nd late afternoon, we receive word through another adoptive family that the vote on the adoption moratorium had just passed. That parliament will be voting again in another 10 days, that by the end of the year it seems likely all votes needed to stop Ukrainian adoptions will take place. You've got to be kidding!!!???? Speculation runs rampant... make it stop!!!! The following morning we hear this news: Yesterday Ukrainian parliament (Rada) supported the movement from independent adoptions to either Hague system or bilateral agreements system of international adoptions. However, instead of making it a law the parliamentarians supported the draft law "as a baseline", which means "in essence". It is a show of political will, a political move and carries NO EXECUTIVE meaning at least in the near future. The date for further hearings is not set up - all talk on the web about another vote in 10 days is nothing more than a rumor at this point. When deputies really want to adopt a law - they move through 2 hearings in the same day: adopt a law as a baseline and announce final vote in 3 minutes. This did not happen. It is believed most deputies do believe that international adoptions must continue, however, yesterday's political will vote shows that Ukrainian authorities want to have more control over the information/future of adopted children after they leave Ukraine. Speaker of parliament said this vote will push the government to finally make specific moves to signing bilateral agreements with countries citizens of which adopt frequently in Ukraine.
Feeling much better, but oh how we and a good number of other families wish the chatter of this vote would vanish for good... Still hanging in there Jude? Barely...
November 5th, thankful for a scheduled phone appointment with my dear friend Mary. Have once again arrived at a place of peace, drama over...
Mary reminds me of what has always been one of my favorite bible lessons.
Matthew 14:22-33 Why did Peter sink? He saw Jesus walk on the water and as long as Peter focused his eyes on the LORD, Peter stayed afloat. It was when Peter took his eyes off of the LORD and on to the waves beneath him that he sank. The lesson, that our faith must be rooted in Christ and we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by life's circumstances. If we keep our eyes on the LORD rather than the situation that threatens to engulf us, we too can walk through the waves with confidence in Christ's ability to bring us peace in the middle of what ever storm is raging over our lives. There is nothing that we can face that is outside of God's control.
Simple really, yet...
Charlie and I spoke again with Lena on Saturday morning, WE LOVE OUR GIRL!
Yesterday Charlie and I celebrated our 18th Anniversary, I LOVE YOU CHARLIE!
Sooo looking forward to the next 18, and bringing Lena home!!
How ya doing Jude? GREAT!!!!!!!!!!
Keep praying!!
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