tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46247982888641232542024-03-19T13:36:53.031-07:00For Such a Time as ThisMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-73698161119334188142012-07-08T18:49:00.000-07:002012-07-08T18:49:44.797-07:00The Week in PicturesI am a very visual person... plus I simply don't have the time or energy to be creative and write... so here you go...<br />
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Kenzie and Sasha helping get food ready for the 4th of July </div>
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Olga, Katya, Sasha (the one staying with the Cox family) and Mariana out on the lake.</div>
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Hunter and Kenzie with some friends getting ready to jump off the high diving board.</div>
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"Our" Sasha flying off the diving board for the 327th time.</div>
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Great Friends!</div>
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Beautiful Smile!</div>
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Me and my favorite "little people".</div>
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Have a great week!</div>
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-41243965486708962112012-07-02T05:43:00.002-07:002012-07-02T05:43:34.891-07:00It's here!And so our long anticipated summer begins! Here is our gang heading off to church... in two vehicles!<br />
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Along with our very good friends, Kevin and Jill Cox, I headed up to Atlanta, GA on Friday to attend a training for Homes of Hope International. After the training and a few delays we greeted a group of very tired kids who had traveled about 26 hours across the world to come and be hosted by many excited families. I can only speak for the three that we headed back to Orlando with but they were doing surprisingly well despite being exhausted.<br />
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Since we brought home two Sashas... I will refer to the one that is staying with us as "our Sasha" and the one with the Cox family as "their Sasha". <br />
Although he does not know any English, our Sasha jumped right into all kinds of "boy activities" with Hunter on Saturday. They definitely did not need words for biking, rollerblading, airsoft, swimming, Wii, or volleyball. They basically went from one activity to the next all weekend long. He is helpful, polite and easy.<br />
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Olga and our girls had much catching up to do as they have been best friends for a long time. Olga does speak a bit of English and is very sweet and quiet. On Sunday we spent the day on the lake and in the pool at the Cox home... it was a day filled with smiles.<br />
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Kevin and Jill are thoroughly enjoying their time with their Sasha. He is so bright and is working hard to learn more and more English. It's great that we will be able to hang out altogether this summer. Of course, lying in a hammock and eating pizza is a pretty universal language.<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-71188373235441679142012-06-15T06:54:00.001-07:002012-06-15T06:54:44.913-07:00Hosting VideoTy and I had the opportunity to be in a video advocating for the hosting program. <br />
Check it out and feel free to share with your church family or friends. <br />
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/43912678" target="_blank">https://vimeo.com/43912678</a><br />
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Thanks to Jeff and Gabe at our church for putting it together.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-72522357893094147412012-06-15T06:43:00.001-07:002012-06-16T05:01:08.281-07:00God's Ridiculous ProvisionI guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore.<br />
I mean really!<br />
Am I slow or what?<br />
(No comments from the peanut gallery!)<br />
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How many times is it going to take for God to SPECIFICALLY, PERFECTLY, AND CREATIVELY meet a need (financial and other wise) before I stop worrying, doubting, fretting etc.?<br />
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Throughout my 40 something years of life I have had MANY prayers, more than abundantly answered. I have also witnessed numerous miracles in my life... and in others.<br />
Sometimes the miracle or provision came as a "moving of a mountain", other times I felt like God was taking me "around the mountain", and still other times he just helped me "climb that mountain."<br />
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But no matter what it looked like, or how long it took, or how miserable I made myself in the process...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><u>God was there!</u></i></span><br />
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When I think back on all the times that God has provided in my life... in ways that I did not even think to ask, so thoughtful about little details, AND so abundantly...<br />
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I realize that God is really RIDICULOUS in HIS provision towards us!<br />
Think about that for a minute... it's really true! <br />
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Recently Ty and I celebrated 22 years of marriage!<br />
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Now in case you are wondering... I don't see my marriage as "climbing a mountain". <br />
At least that has not been my experience... hopefully not Ty's either :)<br />
I guess I see it more as God chose for me the Perfect person to climb those mountains with. Back when I was 20 something I had absolutely no clue to what I needed in a spouse.<br />
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But God knew!<br />
He blessed me with a man who has qualities I would not have even known to ask for.<br />
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Thanks God!!!<br />
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This past week we both got to witness God moving a mountain.<br />
This is Sasha. <br />
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He is 15 years old. He was on the Homes of Hope hosting list for this summer but had not been chosen yet. Time was running out.</div>
He has no siblings and no other family.When he turns 16 he will be out on his own.<br />
At that point Sasha's life could go in many different disasterous directions.<br />
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We prayed for a family to step up...</div>
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We sent out an email to about 100 contacts. We asked for help to get Sasha here. It costs $2950.00.</div>
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Within less than 24 hours the financial "mountain" was moved!</div>
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Shortly thereafter, a family answered the call to step up and now Sasha is coming to Florida for the summer!</div>
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It seemed at first... ridiculous how quickly our prayers were answered.</div>
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But I guess in light of what was at stake, it was not ridiculous at all.</div>
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And I suppose in light of how much God really loves us... </div>
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HIS provision is not ridiculous either. </div>
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We should not really be surprised!</div>
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If only we could clearly see and deeply understand the true measure of that love, moment by moment, how different would we live our lives!</div>
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Hmmmm! Something to think about. </div>
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ON another note... my boy turned 14!!! </div>
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Hunter is becoming a strong, thoughtful, funny, loving, creative and helpful MAN! I know he is still a boy but we are seeing hints of the man he is becoming and it is awesome! </div>
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I really love being the MOM of teenagers! </div>
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<br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-90433298115521871262012-05-10T09:29:00.002-07:002012-05-10T09:29:41.013-07:00We can't wait for the summer!!!Around this time every year we start getting so excited for the upcoming summer. Freedom from normal school responsibilities (YAY!), numerous trips to the beach, church camps, lazy days etc. All normal and probably similar to many other families.<br />
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BUT THIS YEAR... we are counting down the days til we have a couple more Ukrainians in the house! That's right we are evening up the ratios - 1 Ukrainian to every 1 American :)<br />
Ty and I will be VERY outnumbered by the teenagers this summer because we are hosting two kids from Ukraine for 5 weeks.<br />
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Meet Olga...<br />
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She is 14 and lives in Pertrivske at Father's House. She is a best friend of Katya and Mariana. Ty and I got to know her while we were in Ukraine and she is so sweet and thoughtful and has a real servant's heart. She loves photography and loves to express herself in artistic endeavors. We are hoping to give her a great summer here with the girls and perhaps find a forever family for her.<br />
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And here is Sasha...<br />
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He will be 14 in July. We are told that he really wants to come to America. He is a little shy but very helpful. He likes sports and being active and he also enjoys computer games. He wants to be a gas electric welder someday. Although we have never met him a good friend of ours got to spend some time with him and she said, "he just captivated" her. We are so excited to get to spend the summer getting to know him and we pray to also find his forever family.</div>
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It is such a privilege to get to enter into the story of these orphans and hopefully have an eternal impact. If you have never prayed about hosting a child in your home for the summer or for the Christmas holiday, then I urge you to spend sometime seeking God's direction in this. I promise it will shape the heart's of everyone in your family and will also have an impact on your circle of friends and extended family. Visit <a href="http://www.hohinternational.com/">http://www.hohinternational.com</a> to learn more about it. Mary Beth and Margaret have such an amazing heart for these kids and work tirelessly to get them here and connected with great families.</div>
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Stay tuned into our blog as we will post pics and updates on our Ukrainian Summer Adventure!</div>
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By the way... hosting a child does not mean that you want to adopt. This program gives these kids such a great opportunity to get out of their normal circumstances (which often are not good) and it gives them a hope for the future and helps them to be around a healthy functioning family which in some cases might be the first time they see one. You also never know what family they might get to meet while they are here that will feel led to adopt them. Your willingness to host could change their lives forever and I promise it will also change yours.</div>
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NOW ON A DIFFERENT NOTE... We moved!!!</div>
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Thanks to God's direction and provision we are now living in a beautiful 5 bedroom home that is tucked away under some gorgeous 100 year old oak trees. We have unpacked most of the boxes and moved fairly quickly thanks to the army of friends and family that showed up to help lift our ridiculously heavy furniture. </div>
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Also a few weeks back Katya, Kenzie, Mariana and Hunter got to spend a couple of days doing a service project at West Palm Beach. They had a blast! Here are some pics!</div>
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Katya and our youth pastor, Joel</div>
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I have more exciting news to share about God's provision and a family's obedience but I am being summoned over and over again by a bunch of kids so it will have to wait til the next post... stay tuned! </div>
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-3180201886485601042012-04-22T11:30:00.003-07:002012-04-22T11:40:42.785-07:00Change and more change!I guess I am just going to have to realize that as much as I want to keep this blog more up to date there is just not enough time in my days right now to get it done. So sorry to those who have faithfully followed our story from the beginning... I feel like I leave you hanging!<br />
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So many changes going on over here I really don't know where to start!<br />
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How about Christmas in March? Yes we FINALLY celebrated our Christmas. Since we were in Ukraine over the Christmas holiday our kids decided they wanted to wait til their sisters got home so that we could have Christmas together. As it worked out March 30th was the first day that all of the family was available to gather together. We had a GREAT time! Lots of our traditional Christmas food (Ty's famous danishes, Mom's popular deviled eggs, Murry's Antipasta, Shell's Christmas chocolate) And some new treats like Mandy's southern cornbread pancakes. We also had some AWESOME and competitive games of volleyball in the backyard. We were so grateful to the rest of the fam to put off Christmas til March.<br />
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Shortly after our Christmas celebration we headed over to New Smyrna beach to visit with some great friends who are in the process of adopting a sweet boy from Father's House (you can check out their blog <a href="http://drpnutmommd.blogspot.com/2012/04/braxton-hicks-and-a-word.html">http://drpnutmommd.blogspot.com/2012/04/braxton-hicks-and-a-word.html </a><br />
It was great spending time with them!<br />
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We have been home with Katya and Mariana now for a little over two months. We are still very much in the adjustment phase, but I am happy to say that we have more good days than not so good. The girls are working hard to learn English. Thanks to a good friend we came across a FREE English class being taught at the local library. This class is put on by the Adult Literacy Campaign and they have graciously offered us a FREE tutor as well! Praise God! This was definitely an answer to my prayers as I have (being transparent here) felt like I am drowning almost every day. We are also prayerfully considering enrolling the girls at the local high school for the ESL (English Speakers of another Language) class. My heart is definitely for homeschooling as that is what we have done for the last 11 years but we also want to be open to what will work best for each of our kids and so we are praying about what that looks like... I will keep you posted on what we decide.<br />
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Recently a new milestone was reached by our "Kenzer" She got her driving license!!!<br />
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For all of you with little ones... watch out! This happens overnight! Not really sure how my baby became 16 but she has and I love it! She is like me but improved on by about 1000 times. Whoever said that teenagers are difficult never met my Makenzie. </div>
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On April 15th we celebrated a second Easter in recognition of the Ukrainian Easter (they go by the Eastern Orthodox calendar). All the girls in the house spent the day preparing and cooking some traditional Easter dishes. It was fun but a lot of work. The girls actually got up at 6am to make the Paska! </div>
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Ok now for some more big news...</div>
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We have two more Americans in our home!</div>
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On Thursday April 19th Katya and Mariana officially took an oath and became American citizens. They now have the privilege of being citizens of Ukraine AND America. </div>
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Well there are many more exciting things to report on but you will have to check back. I promise to post more this week. There is much going on this summer in the Wells' home!</div>
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Blessings! </div>
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<br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-31047942565037089492012-03-18T18:23:00.000-07:002012-03-18T18:23:41.214-07:00Great Friends!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHArdmPjH8hpEw6Zt_QpZb6tWfu2GLUQIh6ZiGKPkFeDJgnvZd9VbCyjwN_or90lg3nrGf-zGopk0OeodMXV6EjSDLGR0bJ_8tcFLg71KZK2eH8FG2wwL0AddPq1Yve48f8YbuRU2X0XY/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHArdmPjH8hpEw6Zt_QpZb6tWfu2GLUQIh6ZiGKPkFeDJgnvZd9VbCyjwN_or90lg3nrGf-zGopk0OeodMXV6EjSDLGR0bJ_8tcFLg71KZK2eH8FG2wwL0AddPq1Yve48f8YbuRU2X0XY/s400/IMG_2577.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
First pool party of the year... kind of a last minute... pool is still cold but heck who cares kind of party. Kids started with a pretty informal game of volleyball in the backyard, which progressed to some slightly burned pizza, next a bit of wii dance followed by each person getting thrown into the cold pool kicking and screaming. <br />
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It was GREAT FUN!!!<br />
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Katya and Mariana are slowly learning more and more English.... and working hard to adjust to a very new and different life. <br />
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We apologize for not blogging more but life is on fast forward at the moment and we are just trying to hang on. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as becoming one cohesive family takes time and effort and God's blessing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrQAgga5zXtyb8CbIeUHtpZMmJPTrQg1CtI75rnEpzRQxMTPFQTtw78xhk2DhyphenhyphenwF6se3WX4rfQU5owLXHlpOih8xKugmqhdBlzdKa1AfEv6sYIm9FynYyZrc215vrewjkCXfJQ6SYKTM/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrQAgga5zXtyb8CbIeUHtpZMmJPTrQg1CtI75rnEpzRQxMTPFQTtw78xhk2DhyphenhyphenwF6se3WX4rfQU5owLXHlpOih8xKugmqhdBlzdKa1AfEv6sYIm9FynYyZrc215vrewjkCXfJQ6SYKTM/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJWJT9fIqCMirmNRGObjC5illF5NCnqoxHuiVM-qtlNgKbqDbrvcDw7g5g67gamPF6VOK09qRdEy7xRQgkRsrhojrACcSZJDJPirFqTrGojvD8HRlMk7Uk_w69G7EQdGgeokxlkwuDwU/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJWJT9fIqCMirmNRGObjC5illF5NCnqoxHuiVM-qtlNgKbqDbrvcDw7g5g67gamPF6VOK09qRdEy7xRQgkRsrhojrACcSZJDJPirFqTrGojvD8HRlMk7Uk_w69G7EQdGgeokxlkwuDwU/s400/IMG_2575.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPix8CmY3uBfsmBYdZ0IREZnE3lWpCmxN2Sjf1QInePzRRsuy9T15JY_Ko7k5gYYzTws2LXeFL6W3YLhA7IXzQreNWX-rQK09ZLT2hD8InPXjLDVfi9DS6YFixbQeYJitWXEUkLWJJ0J0/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPix8CmY3uBfsmBYdZ0IREZnE3lWpCmxN2Sjf1QInePzRRsuy9T15JY_Ko7k5gYYzTws2LXeFL6W3YLhA7IXzQreNWX-rQK09ZLT2hD8InPXjLDVfi9DS6YFixbQeYJitWXEUkLWJJ0J0/s400/IMG_2576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-5853551343560534672012-03-04T18:33:00.000-08:002012-03-04T18:33:04.051-08:00Pictures!It's been a busy week and my time on the computer seems to be more limited everyday. But wanted to share these pics of the "big kids" heading out to a birthday-barn-dance-party.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg987jSndtDyrR1xZqPaTEk_mrTWG-xELbDq8sIxtth_eTo3rBIedyTLLF08VmW21uw0p2JtEqSAtapsVCsweyveWo4Hr5-7Vd9VOLtEHXmuogQIbPx0u6Vz0Yp8kK7lRigeadRPmgSApc/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg987jSndtDyrR1xZqPaTEk_mrTWG-xELbDq8sIxtth_eTo3rBIedyTLLF08VmW21uw0p2JtEqSAtapsVCsweyveWo4Hr5-7Vd9VOLtEHXmuogQIbPx0u6Vz0Yp8kK7lRigeadRPmgSApc/s400/-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DDt-K7i0wj9kBE8EQVCV8RBpcxe08Hh7NXe-q7rciKtbwxDD977ddeTEHamDQHzVYskAPg_RqE7EgwpOVqp24YdckCjxQ78mvtwWCA9NnefAnVTXqsZzL84EC9op6GLTnxPK8dOlexc/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DDt-K7i0wj9kBE8EQVCV8RBpcxe08Hh7NXe-q7rciKtbwxDD977ddeTEHamDQHzVYskAPg_RqE7EgwpOVqp24YdckCjxQ78mvtwWCA9NnefAnVTXqsZzL84EC9op6GLTnxPK8dOlexc/s400/-2.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1HXpjrTaIVZJMsMo8uu-BhIc0cAu4Dbd6Q4FUPoNElEB1Opo6Ckd9Jl3TTPrcZRHeUoVuTB_NyL-F5re9K0EmGvNk41BuLRnLO6T0nFS53Dygf2kaVHsE-_U36NezcU_X8XWrYs9n6s/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1HXpjrTaIVZJMsMo8uu-BhIc0cAu4Dbd6Q4FUPoNElEB1Opo6Ckd9Jl3TTPrcZRHeUoVuTB_NyL-F5re9K0EmGvNk41BuLRnLO6T0nFS53Dygf2kaVHsE-_U36NezcU_X8XWrYs9n6s/s400/-3.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOa1a8q_sy1z7kFlZR8A_HUN7SXpdB2qYujAbUvNLUwp3ya-PlgsvOqHngLP1kz1LCKtxh7zSw9JqtRVXJY4y_hbIWwSGSGvKTS5LpsuFfQYfkC8NkbnQOSjCbGCk6lisQSJMUnHsYjs/s1600/-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOa1a8q_sy1z7kFlZR8A_HUN7SXpdB2qYujAbUvNLUwp3ya-PlgsvOqHngLP1kz1LCKtxh7zSw9JqtRVXJY4y_hbIWwSGSGvKTS5LpsuFfQYfkC8NkbnQOSjCbGCk6lisQSJMUnHsYjs/s400/-7.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too grown up!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-81512505982049104932012-02-25T15:58:00.001-08:002012-02-25T18:44:54.729-08:00Transitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #e69138;">The dictionary defines transitions as: movement, <span id="hotword"> passage, or change<b> </b><span id="hotword" name="hotword">from</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">one</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">position,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">state,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">stage,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">subject,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">concept,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">etc.,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">another;</span> </span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword" style="color: white;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><b> </b></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">change. </span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7byn8QVACnZzwpO7YkpC7hfhTHrod0yM4U8LT2bSlRUeH7jhJlD3l3IqAHcLGanwHjXVwS2n6rOA8s7k2dITVHh3PTWGb9nSf_br6HhKoKDWCaL7cPWo3_15dEEwraiY-x_LyYjxG2A/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7byn8QVACnZzwpO7YkpC7hfhTHrod0yM4U8LT2bSlRUeH7jhJlD3l3IqAHcLGanwHjXVwS2n6rOA8s7k2dITVHh3PTWGb9nSf_br6HhKoKDWCaL7cPWo3_15dEEwraiY-x_LyYjxG2A/s400/IMG_2456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">It's probably that word "change" that evokes the most emotion in any of us. Some of us avoid change at all costs. We run from anything that hints at different... and when we are forced into change we have a feeling of dread, hopelessness, fear etc. </span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">For others "change" is a welcome friend. Something to look forward to. It evokes a feeling similar to a fresh cool breeze blowing on your face.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">In either case, change comes... welcome or not.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">At our best I think we should fall somewhere between the two extremes. Personally I don't necessarily seek out change but when it comes, I, <i>usually</i>, take on the challenges that it might present and try to focus on the positive outcomes that may result. Sometimes, successful. Sometimes, not.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Regardless of my feelings, change has come to our home.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">But more obvious and more importantly, change has come into the lives of Katya and Mariana... in a most life changing way. </span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">And it is a change in every aspect of their lives!</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">There really isn't a part of their teenage experience that has not been touched by this change... culture permeates every part of everything we do... often without our recognition of its effects. And they have had to leave behind one culture and learn another.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Relationships, chosen and circumstantial, also greatly influence our daily routines and our thoughts and actions and emotions. Every relationship they had in Ukraine is now long distance at best. And they are having to work at developing new relationships.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">And language! You never realize how many words you use in a day until they are not there for you. Think of all the people you know that tried to learn a second language in school and succeeded. </span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Not many, right?</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Learning a language is very difficult... or else we would all be, at least, bilingual.</span></span></div><div style="color: #e69138;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUDE2MCUZXIuFoZwrvFr1DI2ktddC2QgcrWR8x4vFfcCm2xldTQIfDiqwGsGgW53rczXDUXsz69oFES89XRdt4tvyjX0kGE_G5NCwqvSWUP69gVcy7EGhwMs0Y9hE-WgsDErVvQeenfQ/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUDE2MCUZXIuFoZwrvFr1DI2ktddC2QgcrWR8x4vFfcCm2xldTQIfDiqwGsGgW53rczXDUXsz69oFES89XRdt4tvyjX0kGE_G5NCwqvSWUP69gVcy7EGhwMs0Y9hE-WgsDErVvQeenfQ/s400/IMG_2466.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;">Today is two weeks that we have been home... all together under one roof. I would be lying if I said that it has been all smooth sailing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;">But each day has seen some kind of progress... Praise God!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;">We are thankful for each forward step... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;">Katya and Mariana are working hard to learn everything new. Kenzie, Hunter, Emy and Nic have been encouraging, supportive and welcoming in every way imaginable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #e69138; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e69138;">I have great kids! All six of them :) </span></div><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><br />
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</span></span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-3835036171377915502012-02-19T13:49:00.001-08:002012-02-19T13:50:30.587-08:00ONE WEEK HOME!!!As promised I want to share some of our pictures from the reunion at the airport. We feel so very blessed to have been able to experience such a momentous day like this, twice in our lives. Once when we came home with our little boy and once this past week arriving home with our girls.<br />
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Words can't really express the range of emotions... I'll just let the pics tell the story!<br />
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Spotting our loved ones... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkYo83dMW3RaDIlbuj54xcCqoLSozaqOOHthOtYtsKq-wY27aVsc3aR_WW8LyeRynIT_UKIeZW8lES02EOr_Yd93_0kzvOgKjuA24rSwRLLKcG1-3j3CumAbNbAwD7YjUaBmWi4VgPlY/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkYo83dMW3RaDIlbuj54xcCqoLSozaqOOHthOtYtsKq-wY27aVsc3aR_WW8LyeRynIT_UKIeZW8lES02EOr_Yd93_0kzvOgKjuA24rSwRLLKcG1-3j3CumAbNbAwD7YjUaBmWi4VgPlY/s400/-1.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First hugs... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLR73ufkFpxFJQCMiAV78__CZbJp_lvm2KPM-_O2QqYw1SvucKTx8VyvGoQNPYq29rZ3KSOd9tDHJyhHE8RZEk5knl4_oQjokLwVJP3dVckpcWWTI2S-pz2MzvmLMgyyhKY2vudEh33s/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLR73ufkFpxFJQCMiAV78__CZbJp_lvm2KPM-_O2QqYw1SvucKTx8VyvGoQNPYq29rZ3KSOd9tDHJyhHE8RZEk5knl4_oQjokLwVJP3dVckpcWWTI2S-pz2MzvmLMgyyhKY2vudEh33s/s400/-2.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sisters reunite... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Momma's Big Boy... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A very happy Daddy... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Me and My Dad... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cute little cousins... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tearful friends... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QbUiClx9q-K_0oupKmx8tCJY4GgOnHIQxryrtNAsRDE2R2Uaz4VKKnOWuSKHSSgOFycbIu7xk3kGg_sqoxmJhEopXCA9SkzgnRpPZFN0tcf243eJBtldOJNXVUTwhiiMX8m9iHkGcY/s1600/-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QbUiClx9q-K_0oupKmx8tCJY4GgOnHIQxryrtNAsRDE2R2Uaz4VKKnOWuSKHSSgOFycbIu7xk3kGg_sqoxmJhEopXCA9SkzgnRpPZFN0tcf243eJBtldOJNXVUTwhiiMX8m9iHkGcY/s400/-13.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My MOM... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNs8p_AkfM3caQ9Cph3JylLYnNSLuR0LcNwoyOMFt4dTjyAgQWg_vYKRK5KMPnh99bapnuZkQONhylI8wZHs2vyIhI4TAjH5Wc40fm5FLXHpysDFG4Tm_ywh8RDo4BI7cVALhKcG9Bp4/s1600/-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNs8p_AkfM3caQ9Cph3JylLYnNSLuR0LcNwoyOMFt4dTjyAgQWg_vYKRK5KMPnh99bapnuZkQONhylI8wZHs2vyIhI4TAjH5Wc40fm5FLXHpysDFG4Tm_ywh8RDo4BI7cVALhKcG9Bp4/s400/-14.jpg" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No more separation... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My four favorite teens... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmnjIWHN9bKFs2zEMTTtUEuxHylpcA1brXgQ7WiCR7OMGBdFUSCIlNKPuFn3B1nefNjKUQN2BL04PzJ4KQ3ZiQyu-prKKh7Sy43apeazh8OD2rSbWpey7HWj26-dunyhyphenhyphenul70IZyNSMM/s1600/-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmnjIWHN9bKFs2zEMTTtUEuxHylpcA1brXgQ7WiCR7OMGBdFUSCIlNKPuFn3B1nefNjKUQN2BL04PzJ4KQ3ZiQyu-prKKh7Sy43apeazh8OD2rSbWpey7HWj26-dunyhyphenhyphenul70IZyNSMM/s400/-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uCPyiRgjbNHwpdZWDCLhbNQ3n0sa_SO5zlYTv0KJP0JbwN7G0PLbPHSfMxs4DlvpSzxHdHI5NCkSPeGmfnz1LDs6CrHfH5NjaxMcJqohBK0hBVkeZoW63ZntbpOKw8t943-d236yN7Y/s1600/-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uCPyiRgjbNHwpdZWDCLhbNQ3n0sa_SO5zlYTv0KJP0JbwN7G0PLbPHSfMxs4DlvpSzxHdHI5NCkSPeGmfnz1LDs6CrHfH5NjaxMcJqohBK0hBVkeZoW63ZntbpOKw8t943-d236yN7Y/s400/-19.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Heading home!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-42155048451870059252012-02-14T06:25:00.000-08:002012-02-14T06:25:22.464-08:00Baby Steps!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMyBpmfsxDjwpepTu_wEw33WSlecvMzRAEExjfWfQcqpBedlKMK7GEVmmsG9gVGGXtq5RjETWoTu_-eqYoqHFP9LxRUzTKhPIGRMkG6kZm_J6HfHRrWca40hxPGz9ThTNPWM3FknR6Q/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMyBpmfsxDjwpepTu_wEw33WSlecvMzRAEExjfWfQcqpBedlKMK7GEVmmsG9gVGGXtq5RjETWoTu_-eqYoqHFP9LxRUzTKhPIGRMkG6kZm_J6HfHRrWca40hxPGz9ThTNPWM3FknR6Q/s400/IMG_0598.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my sweet Nicholas when he was first learning to walk... taking baby steps! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our family has now been under one roof for 3 days! And I believe that success is going to be measured in baby steps... for awhile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although the first part of our adoption journey is now finished, we begin the next phase which I will call, <span style="color: #cc0000;">"finding the new normal for the Wells."</span> I am not sure of what it will look like... but I do know that it will take time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Thank you for all of your support and prayers through this part of our journey... we could not have done it without you. But prayers are even more important now as the girls adjust to everything new and let go of everything that was familiar.<br />
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Stay tuned for all the airport reunion pics... coming in the next post! <br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-44610324830983953822012-02-09T06:21:00.000-08:002012-02-09T06:21:19.939-08:00Tough Stuff!Tomorrow Ty and I and Katya and Mariana will board a plane headed toward home. Although Ty and I are so excited to see our family and friends, our daughters are having to say good-bye to family and friends that mean so much to them. <br />
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It is tough stuff! <br />
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Tears have already begun to be shed by those who love the girls! Although everyone may be in agreement that having a solid, in tact family that will love and protect them is best for the girls it is still difficult to know that they will be separated by 6000 miles from everyone and everything they know. <br />
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No child should have to make the decisions that our girls have had to make... and yet, it is what it is.<br />
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Please pray! I know I have said this a zillion times before but please pray for our girls as they transition to a new life in the Wells' family. And please pray for the family and friends left behind. There is not really anything else we can do...<br />
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... but prayer is effective and God is Sovereign.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHEls5OPXfZ-uAGu2q1hW0fATkC7qgax9dVUi9EbDPp_5rWxX8P65iZVF-_5ks_GOdREOwh44Qi0lzQEUmK25iZGKWwhFEa35rKApNq_oc0HUoyMeB0yU5DuPsDYIMl-4buLLxxhnAhk/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHEls5OPXfZ-uAGu2q1hW0fATkC7qgax9dVUi9EbDPp_5rWxX8P65iZVF-_5ks_GOdREOwh44Qi0lzQEUmK25iZGKWwhFEa35rKApNq_oc0HUoyMeB0yU5DuPsDYIMl-4buLLxxhnAhk/s640/040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-70598438045198408952012-02-07T08:01:00.000-08:002012-02-07T08:01:25.535-08:00Slava BOGU!!!SLAVA BOGU!!! That is PRAISE GOD in Russian. We got the passports for the girls today!<br />
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Today was another day filled with lots of frustrating and stressful waiting. All par for the course with Ukrainian adoptions, I know. You would think that with the end in sight Ty and I would have more patience but it seems that the opposite is true. Our patience meters are running on empty. So when our ONCE AGAIN DELAYED passports were still not ready and we realized that we would be at least one hour late for our US Embassy appointment, we were both struggling with how to respond. Instead of boring you with details I will just give you a picture of what we really felt like inside... Fighting Mad!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw_GsBj8RDLbamvtrdyoJt0MfvqDPT4QT9-KVdzSEnDN397Y__pwarx4Jmla4PQvrX8nb5khc-zAmmwFE5ukHKBl6FHkdbgAWcfHur60hCa63uXuZQroPXiDcugnYVtjt2TPyEx_rOQU/s1600/DSCN1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw_GsBj8RDLbamvtrdyoJt0MfvqDPT4QT9-KVdzSEnDN397Y__pwarx4Jmla4PQvrX8nb5khc-zAmmwFE5ukHKBl6FHkdbgAWcfHur60hCa63uXuZQroPXiDcugnYVtjt2TPyEx_rOQU/s400/DSCN1821.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To add to that... blood sugar was running dangerously low, (all of you who know me know what this means) due to the delays and the enormous amount of waiting required at every single appointment! By 2:30 "my tongue was hanging out" and I couldn't think straight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But SLAVA BOGU! At the end of the day we had success! Our first of two Embassy appointments was successfully completed. The required medical appointments for the girls was accomplished (a quick side note... Ty and I had been to this same facility almost 6 years ago for the medicals for Nicholas... quite a strange deja vu.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow we go to our final appointment which will be at the US Embassy to get the Visas for Katya and Mariana. We will then be ready to spend the day on Thurs. packing and saying our good-byes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our hurdles to getting home are becoming fewer and fewer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our final push will be the 24 hours of travel that will eventually land us in wonderful Orlando, Florida!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At which point we will feel like this... and then some!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK so some of you might think I am really stretching to get in pictures of my kids (and dog) on the blog... but at this point creativity headed out the door when patience left so you are just going to have to humor me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span id="goog_1010264577"></span><span id="goog_1010264578"></span></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-85144964741815468622012-02-03T10:21:00.000-08:002012-02-03T10:21:12.885-08:00FLYING HOME and Crazy Cold!Well the big news is that <span style="font-size: large;"><b>we have tickets to fly home next Friday, February 10th!</b></span> As incredibly exciting as this is to us we still have a few hurdles to get through so we are counting down the days... while still holding our breath. <br />
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When we get on the plane on Friday we will probably feel like this...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGQjC8UgW0QrgHfLSBf57ffLh7lmFSesXPYGVn_y63iiSrHMrIgz-EqeyWeJyhGbKcck8gAFOiMGhFcFP_DEYJn0OtbVWHehaCa3oaEVnB1nU-NaHOLOY9JGAk7dd-eUTBIac4w0sayU/s1600/n608640902_2495310_1458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGQjC8UgW0QrgHfLSBf57ffLh7lmFSesXPYGVn_y63iiSrHMrIgz-EqeyWeJyhGbKcck8gAFOiMGhFcFP_DEYJn0OtbVWHehaCa3oaEVnB1nU-NaHOLOY9JGAk7dd-eUTBIac4w0sayU/s400/n608640902_2495310_1458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I know that this is an old picture and I will probably get in trouble for having posted it but I thought it best depicts the excitement and anticipation and just pure joy we will feel when we board that plane next week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last four days have been consumed with going back and forth between notary offices, internal passport offices, external passport offices, many times over. Our facilitator told us that this has been the most complicated passport application that she has had in her eleven years of working in adoptions... LUCKY US!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seven hours just today of waiting in the car, waiting outside of offices, driving back and forth etc... but I have to say our girls were troopers! Thankfully at the end of the day we can say that things are still moving in a forward momentum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of you who follow me on Facebook have seen me post how cold it is here in Ukraine. In the news today, it said that 101 people have lost their lives to the intensely cold conditions in just the last week. Most of those are homeless people as 64 of them were actually found dead on the street. It's quite tragic!!! Upwards of 1000 have been hospitalized with hypothermia and frostbite and other related conditions. It's expected that tonight could drop down to -25.6 F in some areas of Ukraine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The elderly and homeless are of course most at risk and could certainly use our prayers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ty and I thankfully have a nice little space heater in our room... although the heat works in the apartment it just has too much cold to keep up with. Here is a pic of my honey warming his feet, reading a book and drinking his tea...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y4XaGXcXtG_APlPv-Vf0J5gkVdb0uEN-tAcZVKp7BWohNBrEHsBnj4hF-P6BnFD1mgmw0gAFH1uy6wFTAZylGJ_Lp7GR2jpANnvQFjBaQf8wvol16rxtj5O6aLP2hSTMzCumUF7s1iA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y4XaGXcXtG_APlPv-Vf0J5gkVdb0uEN-tAcZVKp7BWohNBrEHsBnj4hF-P6BnFD1mgmw0gAFH1uy6wFTAZylGJ_Lp7GR2jpANnvQFjBaQf8wvol16rxtj5O6aLP2hSTMzCumUF7s1iA/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-58157367834661388622012-01-30T08:38:00.000-08:002012-01-30T08:38:42.246-08:00Random Pictures with Random Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am a visual person. I learn better by seeing something. I become more engaged in a story if I can see the people involved or the places spoken about. I understand instructions better if I can see them in writing. </div><br />
This also translates into other things in life... I usually put on makeup first thing in the morning even if I do not plan on heading out the door, if one of my boys puts on something that doesn't match I have a hard time not saying something that convinces them to change, and I would find it very difficult to invite friends over without first making sure everything is clean and tidy and looks good. Some may call the latter examples a result of vanity. <br />
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And maybe in part they are right. Regardless, I am a visual person.<br />
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Hence, I really do appreciate a great picture!<br />
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That is why I find it strange that I have never picked up photography as a hobby. <br />
Now I'm sure at this point many family members are raising eyebrows because I am usually the one person in the family that consistently forgets to take out her camera at any given gathering. And the camera I usually have at my disposal is either a borrowed one or a family hand-me-down. Never have I invested in a good camera. My brother and my sister on the other hand both have very good cameras with the extra lenses etc. And they take beautiful pictures! So what genetic defect causes this inconsistency in me... truly appreciating the visual yet never investing in the time or tools to create the perfect picture? I'm not really sure! I welcome any insights.<br />
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All this rambling to say... don't judge these pictures! They were taken with a small digital (borrowed) camera. Often they were taken while I was still walking or in the midst of a busy city, and most of them were taken with numb fingers because of the bleepity bleep cold. <br />
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Nevertheless, despite all this they have a story to tell. Or maybe they simply fill in the gaps to our story, here across the world. In any case I found them interesting and I hope you will too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGqyslLTsejJEe0jwZs9NYoOElrdi6wCEorrXrVADNdsPWeRsOOo6iF7iWq3bv84Pg4LrQgAJddPSGdYAhEbnZHOFQeynDqBRvN2dtI08nd83Jhq33sUdHiUQIbI0VAJ7bKyRssKTFNg/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGqyslLTsejJEe0jwZs9NYoOElrdi6wCEorrXrVADNdsPWeRsOOo6iF7iWq3bv84Pg4LrQgAJddPSGdYAhEbnZHOFQeynDqBRvN2dtI08nd83Jhq33sUdHiUQIbI0VAJ7bKyRssKTFNg/s400/036.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These beautiful flowers would rival any in our tropical Florida climate but can be also found on any given blistery winter day in the underground metros of Kyiv. Merchant after merchant lines the walls with everything you can imagine... pastries, sweaters, souvenirs, groceries, undergarments, raw meat... you need it and it is probably here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewD0qxsrA8IugvB-aDa7zQl21CMEnqD4T9L8ZYSgbApfK0Fu_PTmaTWrB_QeYZSn0QExTH5lhH0eMd1mjdYz8IDl8wNhEgcQ_MbEi9FA_owGUVlYthcNDmQpztIvailXZR4X4z3LL5K0/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewD0qxsrA8IugvB-aDa7zQl21CMEnqD4T9L8ZYSgbApfK0Fu_PTmaTWrB_QeYZSn0QExTH5lhH0eMd1mjdYz8IDl8wNhEgcQ_MbEi9FA_owGUVlYthcNDmQpztIvailXZR4X4z3LL5K0/s400/045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kyiv, like most large cities cannot escape the problem of heavy traffic. Add snow and ice into this mix (which came later) and you better hope you are not in a hurry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO_RfRT6gy1Jxanb_bL2kmck-cJNtsDBTcLtm16h9fDv0HwUjsnMD7uBczgBuZ50q8FYPc7BH_jeKjxNzyEgq8t4itQ33O4xjAR8wNgOI_-6v_CJ822KbxCdeECG-4vsNaqxWpGG5vHw/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYO_RfRT6gy1Jxanb_bL2kmck-cJNtsDBTcLtm16h9fDv0HwUjsnMD7uBczgBuZ50q8FYPc7BH_jeKjxNzyEgq8t4itQ33O4xjAR8wNgOI_-6v_CJ822KbxCdeECG-4vsNaqxWpGG5vHw/s400/009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My favorite pizza ever!!! Those are thinly sliced pieces of salmon, some kind of green, and a drizzle of sour cream. Yum!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGcPOj-Fyn3GcG4-tz0sHMytd21ESemjwYhdZD7-KwBhzhWHb1YAbFxwIMoWQxGfruo-TENq_XkqbNa_pTF9-Uur0-YUpg1TVMdml_5L_px1LfKMf_c13DpNUOLay1iUdlUqyR20XsMo/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGcPOj-Fyn3GcG4-tz0sHMytd21ESemjwYhdZD7-KwBhzhWHb1YAbFxwIMoWQxGfruo-TENq_XkqbNa_pTF9-Uur0-YUpg1TVMdml_5L_px1LfKMf_c13DpNUOLay1iUdlUqyR20XsMo/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And while on the topic of interesting food... here was a unique but delicious dessert. Lightly fried pineapple with sesame seeds and honey to dip it in. Another Yum!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa2KArA-6df0wAyrGl-XeY2b9n6tCL_N9cAM49e1S6XmT4HFj0BsVL_IBNQTJjPuQxqVYtfjm-cJkmNIYT3WSGOAI9hyphenhyphenKNsldnrTt-EGtjUrV8ndJcxK3hK0I6f2hnjh8hECGWdv6BQk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa2KArA-6df0wAyrGl-XeY2b9n6tCL_N9cAM49e1S6XmT4HFj0BsVL_IBNQTJjPuQxqVYtfjm-cJkmNIYT3WSGOAI9hyphenhyphenKNsldnrTt-EGtjUrV8ndJcxK3hK0I6f2hnjh8hECGWdv6BQk/s400/015.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here's a funny story... the night before court I showed my two teenage daughters what I was planning to wear. It was a long, flowy, brown skirt, with brown high heeled boots and a flattering brown shirt. To which they both responded with a giggle and in their Russian accents said, "You like this???" I replied with a tentative, "yes... at least I thought I did." Long story short they took me to their closet and dressed me in what they thought made me look much younger... and this was the result. When I later asked Ty if he liked my brown skirt he said, "it's not your most flattering." Thanks Honey!!! So much for thinking I was a "hip Mom." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You cannot walk very far in Kyiv or even in Pertrivske without seeing one of these. It is so unlike the architecture or even the colors that we are use to seeing in America. It speaks of an older time and is hard not to be drawn to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdGkkoOQhIu-DQW8Ty8kqweN_5DOF0s1b_1zHRl43FWmaQZKbIgkVwOkjvL1h5HYnmcTdn48rgGweAZab7CtNP2TRbLoq79d87Ou2b1Jeqg2iuLEBRMFaGB0LWeaP2hjuTv6zl2cB-Ls/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdGkkoOQhIu-DQW8Ty8kqweN_5DOF0s1b_1zHRl43FWmaQZKbIgkVwOkjvL1h5HYnmcTdn48rgGweAZab7CtNP2TRbLoq79d87Ou2b1Jeqg2iuLEBRMFaGB0LWeaP2hjuTv6zl2cB-Ls/s400/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of color... after 6 weeks of being here the grey hairs started to get unruly. In fact a black Sharpie Marker became my new best friend every morning. Yes I really did color the greys every morning with a Sharpie Marker... kind of proud of my creativity. Or maybe it's vanity. I don't know, anyways after awhile Ty convinced me to be brave and get my hair colored here. A new friend recommended a very nice salon in walking distance. So here is the result of my appointment. Went for some reddish highlights... told at the salon that the dark black made me look older... that's becoming a theme. Ty loves it, I'm getting use to it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4DPX_P36d3ZT_xKVcfCRQXhFqD2pVpiqK8XzHqxqSpNet-fIH4KxNzaN8vVmHpVNQ0NHXd3GxJeoc1drQiEFgYudOHE9qZqtjLUu3zFBTJwECNnF0gdQ63xT6tG2bbuh220iMHaMK6Y/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4DPX_P36d3ZT_xKVcfCRQXhFqD2pVpiqK8XzHqxqSpNet-fIH4KxNzaN8vVmHpVNQ0NHXd3GxJeoc1drQiEFgYudOHE9qZqtjLUu3zFBTJwECNnF0gdQ63xT6tG2bbuh220iMHaMK6Y/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This bed of dogs was on a busy corner in the middle of Kyiv. An old woman was standing nearby and had food that she was feeding them. We were told that this in fact was her bed and no one messed with it because of all the dogs she had with her. It's hard to see clearly but there were probably about 10 - 12 dogs on her "bed". It looks like either she or someone else had taped off the area so that all the passer-bys would not disturb her home. Today the temperature was 14 degrees fahrenheit... that is without the wind chill. I guess I can't blame her for wanting all those dogs around her... good for body heat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-ey3C6HCQFQ6YAJd_5U84ig_BnI1fZb3M2YEbbmzC3ppgQARGNtACvZQ1c6eCtOp1PgvaFJxJFZCCMjzksjulRPvZE-oiDGnWkwqyltoNzK3_X8U5QDTkRKTubOC1-qFrFMLcVsmONk/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-ey3C6HCQFQ6YAJd_5U84ig_BnI1fZb3M2YEbbmzC3ppgQARGNtACvZQ1c6eCtOp1PgvaFJxJFZCCMjzksjulRPvZE-oiDGnWkwqyltoNzK3_X8U5QDTkRKTubOC1-qFrFMLcVsmONk/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well had to represent for all the cat lovers out there. Here is a lone kitty watching all the traffic go by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny-NIMuiw_bLjd0pEyo57-6_s__hzkam4VKb2EgwTChR_X3Ws-joIPfpaa6sVQKDXll_YtSH1Mk8RBpFerIP4h0RUN2uXJvZ6N1oAJpUxEBbSHgBjxAH9HEJpnzHfDbUIBd2fThnjxR4/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhny-NIMuiw_bLjd0pEyo57-6_s__hzkam4VKb2EgwTChR_X3Ws-joIPfpaa6sVQKDXll_YtSH1Mk8RBpFerIP4h0RUN2uXJvZ6N1oAJpUxEBbSHgBjxAH9HEJpnzHfDbUIBd2fThnjxR4/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A cyclist getting ready to ride! I found a cyclist!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohQFDA1Uat3yUn95YflefqBwZ8eQGbEnb_t28CK4vfKpoSMwxc4bQMOVq-C8YrW_wwozo_WFCmpnR8q-28K0QdDiiHPEAYpPjKO_xZyYgJW8LGN7wraehvpLclPTBusG3NIO_iUfcRYM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohQFDA1Uat3yUn95YflefqBwZ8eQGbEnb_t28CK4vfKpoSMwxc4bQMOVq-C8YrW_wwozo_WFCmpnR8q-28K0QdDiiHPEAYpPjKO_xZyYgJW8LGN7wraehvpLclPTBusG3NIO_iUfcRYM/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The snow is NOT stopping this avid cyclist!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsHZGKLR17wxDlKIipAC3mdl3aUg0OhOeiW710iA4doeWulDWrTBMMw1BBhWXa1v0zw9W1Qt_yRhf3CCNrbPGOv8Lv8ey1__QNH7rMfhjBBt2lF8NRRie8NSIc8bJvsmJedQ-6CyrFsU/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsHZGKLR17wxDlKIipAC3mdl3aUg0OhOeiW710iA4doeWulDWrTBMMw1BBhWXa1v0zw9W1Qt_yRhf3CCNrbPGOv8Lv8ey1__QNH7rMfhjBBt2lF8NRRie8NSIc8bJvsmJedQ-6CyrFsU/s400/020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every house in Pertrivske stands behind a wall of some sort...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7vBJMZqCAPBKS0bh4HuWsmwxL85Rdb_Wot0l0TiXRcsYKkJtCk8Yxa9WJI4fBUeCahZ-MeV_NT9-11eDGS2x90gUxP2THxl4y5y6LN-vG3XWvBWXcgDLsjopBWYoQWhDuMa2xnT1R_k/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7vBJMZqCAPBKS0bh4HuWsmwxL85Rdb_Wot0l0TiXRcsYKkJtCk8Yxa9WJI4fBUeCahZ-MeV_NT9-11eDGS2x90gUxP2THxl4y5y6LN-vG3XWvBWXcgDLsjopBWYoQWhDuMa2xnT1R_k/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... here are a couple of the prettier ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcR3G4ZXjSYPGACPaY014948_1hL2JPquL2GDVtz-x4QGi_9fl1RdPrUEAg_WT6L_GPkpUong8jmLhkFtCUwtX2x1WjpioIJKH40Vy2EHrNDUXCPqytN-ETLWVPBMePNVJ2qKDWxX2fg/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcR3G4ZXjSYPGACPaY014948_1hL2JPquL2GDVtz-x4QGi_9fl1RdPrUEAg_WT6L_GPkpUong8jmLhkFtCUwtX2x1WjpioIJKH40Vy2EHrNDUXCPqytN-ETLWVPBMePNVJ2qKDWxX2fg/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And some in need of repair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Old apartment buildings...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsYw2mkAafRLHjVeJkAGzTUtk0ubfiEOb6igVZxw4OpEhKfMTsEZfuY2Pyazj3hRo35wB8xj0tFgjutMZtRbEx1xOqg70IGUgaUutVhhKw4KTLkg8PsEzBpTknFZHNZwpRBdw3B68pxM/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsYw2mkAafRLHjVeJkAGzTUtk0ubfiEOb6igVZxw4OpEhKfMTsEZfuY2Pyazj3hRo35wB8xj0tFgjutMZtRbEx1xOqg70IGUgaUutVhhKw4KTLkg8PsEzBpTknFZHNZwpRBdw3B68pxM/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monuments and cathedrals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN4vbiQEGUVgtVD7TOD5rJEF8Fnx6PX4lBt4Q0ZGgxZlktaTCz1jTo7YYVskWOTxG7icmoc-jk5qpfAJgW-nl5MRju3dWagkeeTNQvetIz9pw-Agip7r0nNZ2p2ZMlVn9WpJWlRNMOzU/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN4vbiQEGUVgtVD7TOD5rJEF8Fnx6PX4lBt4Q0ZGgxZlktaTCz1jTo7YYVskWOTxG7icmoc-jk5qpfAJgW-nl5MRju3dWagkeeTNQvetIz9pw-Agip7r0nNZ2p2ZMlVn9WpJWlRNMOzU/s640/002.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ready to head out for a day of souvenir shopping... only to find out hours later that I should have had on two pairs of jeans, not just some leggings... This Florida girl still learning how to dress for bitter cold. I did have on two pairs of socks but it didn't make much of a difference.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally... Ty and I snuggled up in bed yesterday as we listened to and watched our Mosaic church service 6000 miles away via livestream feed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPj1vllF6Mjgz0slUulvtyIgMA1maTseu93PTFjmLpdua1UMZroZmGv2QvyLLXsDrlTMfIkFFcqYL3CXxIFL9rGuJdSHp0ca2RBtWKzlRe6rSDHDIjwE9UJTQnncpC2-oylvGIihK2kY/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPj1vllF6Mjgz0slUulvtyIgMA1maTseu93PTFjmLpdua1UMZroZmGv2QvyLLXsDrlTMfIkFFcqYL3CXxIFL9rGuJdSHp0ca2RBtWKzlRe6rSDHDIjwE9UJTQnncpC2-oylvGIihK2kY/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-73863254051110094862012-01-29T10:56:00.000-08:002012-01-29T10:56:26.747-08:006 Weeks Later...Six weeks ago today we got on a plane with a very minimal knowledge of the journey that lay ahead. We were given no promises as to the amount of time we would have to be gone... in fact our own experience and the experiences of others told us to expect delays. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJEhoXgH6Fka5p5b5rRZCLXP6K4yMilbz98DC6P3-WiolFaVo4Cqxce_BH7IgXQP3aJLrqpalcN-mXQ8JRtTx206KhHOXcik9tMM-JdmZecM6Kar7mETQ_X6UoAUaUypG_aEzCLBpAyA/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJEhoXgH6Fka5p5b5rRZCLXP6K4yMilbz98DC6P3-WiolFaVo4Cqxce_BH7IgXQP3aJLrqpalcN-mXQ8JRtTx206KhHOXcik9tMM-JdmZecM6Kar7mETQ_X6UoAUaUypG_aEzCLBpAyA/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Now when you are in the comfort of your own home, with your family close by, delays can be quite irritating!<br />
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But when you are 6000 miles away from home AND family, delays are no longer just irritating. <br />
They become a little more threatening to an inner struggle that for me is always felt. <br />
It's that struggle between wanting to make something happen because I am so very TIRED of waiting or even giving into despair because I am UNABLE to make something happen. <br />
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Or CHOOSING to trust in a Sovereign God who sees the greater masterpiece - not the little speck that I am focused on.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklRMWJtsMQDDzk1Uy0XlcHN7OgwMdnild4Stf1JtKMT_xxVeKyVfa-KOpCRyVsYq4wsCdecKVzjjvRHAoYYFgfxOdIaXomN_qHkCdaKQ_n2SOQAyp2cuZVbXQLB_M3PIwUWTQnbgopUA/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklRMWJtsMQDDzk1Uy0XlcHN7OgwMdnild4Stf1JtKMT_xxVeKyVfa-KOpCRyVsYq4wsCdecKVzjjvRHAoYYFgfxOdIaXomN_qHkCdaKQ_n2SOQAyp2cuZVbXQLB_M3PIwUWTQnbgopUA/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
With six weeks behind us we can see that there is an end to the tunnel and it is fast approaching. But we still do not have any definitive departure date ... and we have a few more hurdles before us. <br />
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In the interest of being transparent... it IS getting harder to be patient. Our first trip to Ukraine, almost 6 years ago lasted 5 weeks. I struggled so much on that trip. My kids were younger, our faith was smaller, and my strength was definitely weaker. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOQrrLD6mMUB_uzQnJj63p9RpJQVahimK4Y_r48kyUoPVAcuKckGP8RioMCctxhVTdKpHhJz_rhKFHAakMmLCFimSAsOp5Kpvcwaylfvrn-VEGDNY9o82YdeqQnsqPAuWAN4luMZfKyQ/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOQrrLD6mMUB_uzQnJj63p9RpJQVahimK4Y_r48kyUoPVAcuKckGP8RioMCctxhVTdKpHhJz_rhKFHAakMmLCFimSAsOp5Kpvcwaylfvrn-VEGDNY9o82YdeqQnsqPAuWAN4luMZfKyQ/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
But during those 5 weeks God was writing a beautiful story of rescue and redemption that our family got to play a part in... a story that featured a little boy now named Nicholas... which incidentally means Victorious.<br />
Being able to look back on lessons from that trip, has allowed us to experience this trip with eyes wide opened. Open to see the many blessings that God has surrounded us with during these 6 weeks (which will likely be 7 - 8 when all is said and done.)<br />
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As I have mentioned in a past post, Ty and I consider it quite a gift to have been able to meet and spend some time with Katya's and Mariana's family. Today was yet another gift (blessing). We were able to spend the day with Andrey (their brother) and his sweet girlfriend Lena. It was actually just the four of us and we spent the day in Kyiv shopping and sightseeing. Despite the absolutely bitter cold... so cold in fact that Ty finally broke down and bought a hat, after six weeks... we had a WONDERFUL day with <b>heartfelt and sincere conversation,</b> successful souvenir shopping and a great meal.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hope that you will join us in prayer for a successful week of obtaining visas, passports, and airline tickets!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-86892854317478141762012-01-26T04:45:00.000-08:002012-01-26T23:37:21.823-08:00Celebration of AdoptionLast night we had the privilege to attend a very special celebration. Marsha and Sergai, the houseparents for Katya and Mariana (for the last four years) put on a going away party for the girls. This is often done for the children when they get adopted. <br />
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The couple on the left of Ty, are Marsha and Sergai (houseparents). The pretty lady right next to me is Raya, the director of Father's House. And the couple on the far right are the founders of Father's House, Natasha and Roman. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Roman addressed all the kids, reminding them to be grateful for all that they have. He also specifically spoke to Katya and Mariana, telling them that God has a mission for them to be a blessing to their new family and that all of this was orchestrated by God. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Marsha, also spoke through many tears to the girls, exhorting them to stay close to God. Sergai was too choked up to add anything. It was an emotional night as many of these people have invested 4 years of their lives into our girls. It was obvious that they are happy that the girls are getting a family but that they will also miss them very much.</div><br />
Ty and I took some time to let them know how appreciative we are for everything they have done for Katya and Mariana and for everything they continue to do at Father's House... and how very impressed we are with this ministry.<br />
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We enjoyed great conversation and food. Many of the kids were there from two of the FH families (there were several other families not there). We took lots of pics. Some of these children need homes while a few of them have parents working on adoption paperwork. If you see a child that you are curious about please email us as we can get you more information about them.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the girls with their singing teacher.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was really a wonderful night! We feel very blessed to have been able to spend so much time here, getting a peek into what the girls' life has looked like at Father's House. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-28995695088324068442012-01-22T09:18:00.000-08:002012-01-22T09:18:58.249-08:002 Days Down!We awoke to another winter wonderland this morning... and living in Florida, this is more of a treat than an inconvenience for us. It has pretty much snowed non-stop for four days now, making it pretty slick on the roads and on the sidewalks. So when Ty headed out this morning to take out our trash, I started to worry when he was not back after 10 minutes. I had visions of him sprawled out on his back somewhere in the snow ... imagining that he had slipped on the ice and had seriously hurt his back and was unable to get up... yes my imagination can get away from me.<br />
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But upon looking out the window I saw that he had joined two of the young boys in shoveling the walkways, that needed to be cleared for everyone to be able to get out to church.<br />
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I smiled to myself cause I knew that Ty was TOTALLY enjoying this and that the two boys were also very glad for his experienced-snow-shoveling help!<br />
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Yesterday we had a wonderful afternoon meeting Katya's and Mariana's Aunt Lena and her family. Andrey, their brother and his girlfriend also joined us. We met at a cozy and neatly decorated restaurant and shared a meal while we got to know each other. Lena speaks English, beautifully so we had some great conversation. <br />
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Ty and I have felt that it has been such a gift to get to meet the girls' aunt, brother, and mother. This does not usually happen in adoptions but has allowed us to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of our girls. Our intention and hope is that we will all be able to keep in touch despite the great distance. And I know that it is their family's desire as well.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTsZ7t0uAIImZ0SR6CcDryUBntT-yVnl4tXlr3Fb82zTiHv4Iu_uJryi4XmLmhdFFOkCOiKXsObCjneB-OQ-SslPbw7mKp7YCCLiPX_BKdBwA8F-NgEmppzUCclRaOSeXpENAUGemIe0/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTsZ7t0uAIImZ0SR6CcDryUBntT-yVnl4tXlr3Fb82zTiHv4Iu_uJryi4XmLmhdFFOkCOiKXsObCjneB-OQ-SslPbw7mKp7YCCLiPX_BKdBwA8F-NgEmppzUCclRaOSeXpENAUGemIe0/s400/028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Two days of our mandatory 10 day wait are now behind us!!! The countdown continues...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-35990421886077114572012-01-20T04:50:00.000-08:002012-01-20T04:50:25.081-08:00Snowstorms, Nerves, and Court Proceedings!Ty and I woke up to the worse weather we have had in Ukraine in our 34 days since leaving sunny Florida. Having grown up in New Hampshire we are well aware of blizzard conditions and what that means on the roads. So when are driver was stuck in traffic on his way to pick us up for court, the nerves we already were experiencing elevated slightly. <br />
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My white knuckled grip on the door handle as we headed into Kyiv spoke volumes about my anxious thoughts as I realized we were probably going to arrive late. I wondered whether any grace was given to people who showed up late for court when all along the roadways cars were slipping and sliding. Somehow we managed to arrive right at 10am - our scheduled time to appear in court. But scanning the dark hallway I was not able to see our facilitator/translator, Olga. <br />
This cannot be good, I thought. However as we sat and waited in the dark hallway no one seemed to be calling out our name. Perhaps the judge was late too.<br />
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Eventually Olga came, she too effected by the horrible driving conditions. Still no judge. We were told that she was listening to another case. Finally after sitting for two hours we were ushered into a small, cold, court room. The judge asked Ty and I questions about why we wanted to adopt these girls, could we in fact afford to take care of them etc. Then she asked Katya to stand and asked her many questions about her parents. Prior to court we had heard that the judge will sometimes deny the application to adopt if biological family is involved at any level with the kids. This was our major concern coming into this day. The judge seemed to really press Katya and we waited holding our breath not being able to help her at all. The judge then asked Mariana some questions. Finally the lawyer, representing Father's House stood and stated the reasons that they were in favor of this union. <br />
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The judge was expressionless and silently stared out the window for what seemed like an eternity. I searched her face to see if I could guess at her thoughts, but to no avail. <br />
Finally we were dismissed from the courtroom. <br />
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As we were on our way out, she said, "I will grant it."<br />
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And it was over! Just like that!!!<br />
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It was hard to believe as it had been told to us about as unceremoniously as possible. But that did not matter. <br />
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Finally in the eyes of Ukraine, we were now the forever family of Katya and Mariana. <br />
PRAISE THE LORD!!!<br />
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The dark hallway inside and the horrible weather outside hampered our attempts to get a good celebratory picture, but here we are right after court standing at the front door to the courthouse.<br />
Thank you to the two ladies in the picture who spoke in favor of the adoption.<br />
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And of course a huge thank you to all of our family and friends all over the planet that prayed for success in court. We could not have accomplished this without you.<br />
Thank you to our Lord and Savior, Jesus who has sovereignly orchestrated every moment of this journey.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-61325448821853378832012-01-19T01:16:00.000-08:002012-01-19T01:16:50.267-08:00We Have a Date!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtIo1pL1QwtJ1GNSdtdqag4v8td7CYY4Q8rDXAE5PvwQHefd7E9eg5CyQjFs5P-6CTmenYnPpH1mc5qiAWPpTsOpJ2TEbflgk8Xd7ysNKAwC6XQYs5nd61xHvYZSRYCQMzmtwYjBelI/s1600/NicPool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtIo1pL1QwtJ1GNSdtdqag4v8td7CYY4Q8rDXAE5PvwQHefd7E9eg5CyQjFs5P-6CTmenYnPpH1mc5qiAWPpTsOpJ2TEbflgk8Xd7ysNKAwC6XQYs5nd61xHvYZSRYCQMzmtwYjBelI/s400/NicPool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Almost 6 years ago we took this picture of our sweet Nicholas. We had just recently returned home with him and we honestly believed that our adoption journey was finished. Little did we know at the time the impact that trip would have on our future... way beyond finding our precious son. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ty and I were forever changed by the "face of the orphan" in ways that we did not even comprehend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well if you have been following our story you understand some of the far reaching effects of that change.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fast forward to present day... tomorrow January 20th at 10 am we will once again stand before a Ukrainian judge to seek permission to legally join Katya and Mariana to our family... forever. Our hearts have known for some time that they are our daughters but Ukaine law will officially catch up to that fact tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After court, a mandatory 10 day wait period will begin that will bring us to January 30th. On the 31st we hope to get our court decree which will allow us to get new birth certificates, visas, and passports for the girls. That may take between 4 -7 days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we will finally be able to begin our long journey home!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhYdEzK-Im-LDQq71p81RAiXYbMQvU4mPf_cuBOH9VeNaL-cLvJPZO0JMAZtK8PKrWvbsCh7PF7lEMxKzMVO3feI_dPZ1eRPDZADYgM49lSCzVWEP7zAh-f8UGGNd4QgPuT7SpMt9MiE/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhYdEzK-Im-LDQq71p81RAiXYbMQvU4mPf_cuBOH9VeNaL-cLvJPZO0JMAZtK8PKrWvbsCh7PF7lEMxKzMVO3feI_dPZ1eRPDZADYgM49lSCzVWEP7zAh-f8UGGNd4QgPuT7SpMt9MiE/s400/IMG_1098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please continue to pray for a smooth process and favor before the judge tomorrow (3am Friday morning your time). We also ask for prayer for our girls, as leaving everything they know will be challenging at best. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Praise God for His continued goodness in our lives!!!</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-68149216445366009672012-01-16T01:41:00.000-08:002012-01-16T02:27:22.350-08:00Christmas Plays and Snowballs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUVG7qin1ZXTdR5nksIErltBgbL5K6riORHhah6jUzZYYE10FFlbtJ-_YsrCfG7IcGJoAdnX2TVaJ9DOvv8ogMRGXOAnCyVI4nJ2qO_Tvkyw19yEuTWkJnU11EKW_f19Awr7wdrr2p7o/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUVG7qin1ZXTdR5nksIErltBgbL5K6riORHhah6jUzZYYE10FFlbtJ-_YsrCfG7IcGJoAdnX2TVaJ9DOvv8ogMRGXOAnCyVI4nJ2qO_Tvkyw19yEuTWkJnU11EKW_f19Awr7wdrr2p7o/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I know in the States most of the Christmas decorations have been tucked away in attics, basements, and closets, to wait out another year; which inevitably will fly by as quickly as this last year did. Children's Church leaders have already had a couple weeks worth of rest from their work involved in putting together successful Christmas programs. In fact they are more than likely already looking at summer Vacation Bible School and all that is required in making it come together. Most families have officially ended the Christmas break with the start of school and regular work weeks. <br />
For all intents and purposes Christmas 2011 is finished. <br />
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Here in Ukraine however, it seems that the Christmas story continues to be played out. As you may remember Ukraine celebrates Christmas on January 7th. But Ty and I have continued to see the Christmas story told in play form several times since then. In fact I think we have seen probably 6 Christmas play productions in all. These productions rival any that we have seen in the US, with many talented singers/singing groups, elaborately made costumes and of course unsuspecting toddlers being included as cute little barn animals.<br />
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Our most favorite production took place this past Saturday and included many of the Father's House kids that we have come to know and love. But even more exciting to us was that our girls were part of it and we got to see them perform their singing talents (many of you have probably heard the clips I posted on facebook). So being the proud parents we took many pictures and want to share them with you.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The girls' singing group and teacher.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Some of the kids insisted that we take pictures with just them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWof9_GShc8DKGpRCYXP1lSLxnCZUmyvgzqn9V41DQYrKlLR7UvM5cSLefCRuTUIgxN8GyVJwKcbQpjalfBy1jzyUvVF6bt4fK4l1pDZ9RKfdFVok1SXd2Djal7s-Jn8ET5QjoLZZZUyM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWof9_GShc8DKGpRCYXP1lSLxnCZUmyvgzqn9V41DQYrKlLR7UvM5cSLefCRuTUIgxN8GyVJwKcbQpjalfBy1jzyUvVF6bt4fK4l1pDZ9RKfdFVok1SXd2Djal7s-Jn8ET5QjoLZZZUyM/s400/002.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in between scenes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82ZkpAo7DJJXGgOBVeCyllRvHd_yMly-239MaCXE_KGfuujdnM_ZCJkKmrA5GQy4hbjVSTPW03JQixZ_zO-2qK1RH8FaD1WewxDiNX9HreTabQgjympy_QeqvsaXid1U42b2C3UQvWFM/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82ZkpAo7DJJXGgOBVeCyllRvHd_yMly-239MaCXE_KGfuujdnM_ZCJkKmrA5GQy4hbjVSTPW03JQixZ_zO-2qK1RH8FaD1WewxDiNX9HreTabQgjympy_QeqvsaXid1U42b2C3UQvWFM/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful Costumes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbVt-lEC2FhEufIL4UV2OFtwftM6jpQn-o2KlOqsSfESWb1IylSZKPWvkYEOpwIC7-ujQrY7dIysry_DKDxMIV3KLwghVm3MAni0ZdsMhBFkJPr_8waCfT8HHBGT8DfNnUICamOobj8Q/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbVt-lEC2FhEufIL4UV2OFtwftM6jpQn-o2KlOqsSfESWb1IylSZKPWvkYEOpwIC7-ujQrY7dIysry_DKDxMIV3KLwghVm3MAni0ZdsMhBFkJPr_8waCfT8HHBGT8DfNnUICamOobj8Q/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picture Perfect!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Incidentally, these same kids all left bright and early this morning to perform in front of the President of Ukraine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the production Saturday afternoon we left to find that it had starting snowing! For us Floridians that is a treat! Well, that snow continued off and on all of Sunday and we woke up to more of it this morning. This was the view from our window on Sunday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When we got out of church service it had picked up again, making me very glad that my great friend, Debbie Titus, had let me borrow her beautiful coat with a much needed, warm hood. Thanks Deb!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pgocHAz9DUOLf_eM3-i3eXaolnnbEo3uSLPKG4YWwRSll9OwEhbnZVKa614jSXXtt_1Ka5wDu17xNyNUEJiljgD-rpFASJZsZinPTiBu38WRGVWbyIowB3fOQSbQkQ5TZtPit8ZjAnA/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pgocHAz9DUOLf_eM3-i3eXaolnnbEo3uSLPKG4YWwRSll9OwEhbnZVKa614jSXXtt_1Ka5wDu17xNyNUEJiljgD-rpFASJZsZinPTiBu38WRGVWbyIowB3fOQSbQkQ5TZtPit8ZjAnA/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The younger kids spent the entire day outside, pulling each other around the yard on sleds and having more snowball fights than I could count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9HZ4ZsrXhDr5LS6sWdQHBOpK6Tvv_OZIEnZ9yUxzcpVgacLGRCmtr3X5CLor-0QMkBjbjOd6htcAowGytubFQ6inI1srr2wMMihCZRlW3StRYYpMlopDqbFX3je1NGk1qBAO_zc6kgk/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9HZ4ZsrXhDr5LS6sWdQHBOpK6Tvv_OZIEnZ9yUxzcpVgacLGRCmtr3X5CLor-0QMkBjbjOd6htcAowGytubFQ6inI1srr2wMMihCZRlW3StRYYpMlopDqbFX3je1NGk1qBAO_zc6kgk/s400/009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The big kids (including the Biggest) got in on the action after dinner. The minute Ty stepped out of our apartment he became the target for every snowball made. It was so cute hearing the kids yell, "Ty" in their Russian accents... only to be followed up with a snowball sailing through the air towards Ty's head. He was a good sport and it seemed that the rougher he got, the more the boys loved it. It was a great time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An attempt at a pyramid. Notice the biggest kid at the bottom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgparKZB7SRPMBj6oUmJgWsmEYA6eaZGuxngGrAPFuK7zy9YfcOF0_XLi0nZq1YRuTAGSU4YCfYpr80hajWbnPNSv0ZpSr6rMKgdjMZPduC9fcdeAPgky0X2S1PnuL5Ft7Zk0FnzKADRkU/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgparKZB7SRPMBj6oUmJgWsmEYA6eaZGuxngGrAPFuK7zy9YfcOF0_XLi0nZq1YRuTAGSU4YCfYpr80hajWbnPNSv0ZpSr6rMKgdjMZPduC9fcdeAPgky0X2S1PnuL5Ft7Zk0FnzKADRkU/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adoption news: No news :(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS... Yesterday was 4 weeks since we left our family at home. We are hoping that we are more than half way through our stay in Ukraine. So in honor of that I thought I would change up the look of the blog... hope you like it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-1130175583707087172012-01-14T03:47:00.000-08:002012-01-14T03:47:43.095-08:00New Friends!I remember when I was a little girl, my Mom singing the little song to me... "Make new friends, but keep the old... one is silver and the other gold." Does anyone else remember that? <br />
For some reason I have never forgotten that, and it came to mind yesterday as we headed out to meet some new friends for sushi. Clarke and Kris Stoesz are from Colorado but are currently in Ukraine for their third adoption!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRno5bS1-zf5thbd8wVu_Sx9dgaYKD8jF7GkHfMGu8zkcaVVuqlGs1ti-qBlfh2Ao0Exl8ahFrtIiQDGahmHNk1wPF_BDwhLzVm3rJVOBzuc1cy4O9GBDhoVVBdBZFLLVNpufXQW6GuzA/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRno5bS1-zf5thbd8wVu_Sx9dgaYKD8jF7GkHfMGu8zkcaVVuqlGs1ti-qBlfh2Ao0Exl8ahFrtIiQDGahmHNk1wPF_BDwhLzVm3rJVOBzuc1cy4O9GBDhoVVBdBZFLLVNpufXQW6GuzA/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They have been here since December 9th and are closing in on their completion of the adoption of their new daughter, Samantha. They, like us, now have 6 kids, 2 boys and 4 girls! It always feels extra special to meet a family that is at least as crazy as we are. <br />
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Because they are a little further along in the process they have been a great source of information and hopefully we encourage each other as we discuss the obstacles in the adoption process and the challenges that lie ahead as our families work out a "new normal".<br />
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At their recommendation we met at the Golden Gate. (Incidentally, the Golden Gate was thought to be constructed sometime between 1018 and 1037, and was the only entrance into the city.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmrgApehnmcMQIwqvlH4pnUFRjZ9kcQGhuCyphiHOelW3JMxS74iKeS0NMJUkd1fh-YBevJF-xbzb8xEP-W-HlOg1m4NuTd-BMdzGh3RL2Ez52I4FVqteVZ7Zt_-KERiLML_H6e4iyWs/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmrgApehnmcMQIwqvlH4pnUFRjZ9kcQGhuCyphiHOelW3JMxS74iKeS0NMJUkd1fh-YBevJF-xbzb8xEP-W-HlOg1m4NuTd-BMdzGh3RL2Ez52I4FVqteVZ7Zt_-KERiLML_H6e4iyWs/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But for purposes of this evening, it was simply a landmark next to a very good sushi restaurant. For all you sushi loving followers, I had to include a picture because it looked too pretty and colorful not to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KSZZJdDqZPfmS5VPmtYr73pR9oOKnPfbvFFi8Ql5VJy_5gfOwSNAo_6gVm4aS4GAuelAGq5w6choVk2pbiAv5AbEZKf9l7r-IG9ChyphenhyphenWkiRlJjGC2aEx4vs9ATajS7xiKIDWDNJNbKbE/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KSZZJdDqZPfmS5VPmtYr73pR9oOKnPfbvFFi8Ql5VJy_5gfOwSNAo_6gVm4aS4GAuelAGq5w6choVk2pbiAv5AbEZKf9l7r-IG9ChyphenhyphenWkiRlJjGC2aEx4vs9ATajS7xiKIDWDNJNbKbE/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And thankfully the tastes did not disappoint. Sushi has become quite popular in Kyiv in recent years and there are many sushi restaurants sprinkled throughout the city. In case you were wondering, Ty and I ate every last one of them, in addition to soup and salad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZU78AXg2vAYv9xwQhrGKIHo1joMbsFA-8ZURigUnEM59vPvaOcdY8fB6JNpU2sayM5N6ksAzxfk0yYBt-RZ7gy4NsLvJp8jEun5abgTHyf-L2fHIx2GP14puXH3WdXbItU08IUwj20Q/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZU78AXg2vAYv9xwQhrGKIHo1joMbsFA-8ZURigUnEM59vPvaOcdY8fB6JNpU2sayM5N6ksAzxfk0yYBt-RZ7gy4NsLvJp8jEun5abgTHyf-L2fHIx2GP14puXH3WdXbItU08IUwj20Q/s400/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a wonderful and much needed night out for us. Clarke and Kris have a wonderful passion for orphans and have allowed God to shape and mold their family. You can follow their journey by checking out their blog at <a href="http://stoesz-race.blogspot.com/">http://stoesz-race.blogspot.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are looking forward to seeing and hearing the girls sing later today in a church production. And I am sure there will be a volleyball game in our future. Thanks for following...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-10474731284778758812012-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:32:53.002-08:00Random and Useless TriviaWe don't have much to report on our adoption process as we are still waiting for a court date. However, our time is not in vain as we are getting to spend time with Katya and Mariana everyday and we are forming new relationships with some awesome kids and amazing houseparents.<span id="goog_1039744932"></span><span id="goog_1039744933"></span><br />
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</div><div>Despite that though we still have a lot more time on our hands than we have had in most of our marriage... especially since having kids. I could tell you that we are learning new things about each other every day but after 21 years of marriage, Ty and I know each other pretty well and there are really no surprises. So in the interest of killing time and being a little more creative we thought we might share with you some random (and admittedly, probably pretty useless) information about ourselves.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnTsMtGnRAdME3z2VY_DGOHktKvIbZRTBYrYapMr_n4d0B6YFXsrjQTzpXZrYqSQ8_baZXRG7mxmfsGPlcsWckHOKmggXOpIKeOPrkvR6_G4VQYQiLZ2cavWwlnVIIomqPVZre0FVPlE/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnTsMtGnRAdME3z2VY_DGOHktKvIbZRTBYrYapMr_n4d0B6YFXsrjQTzpXZrYqSQ8_baZXRG7mxmfsGPlcsWckHOKmggXOpIKeOPrkvR6_G4VQYQiLZ2cavWwlnVIIomqPVZre0FVPlE/s400/010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ol><li style="text-align: left;">When asked what we wanted to be when we grew up... Shell wanted to be a veterinarian and Ty wanted to be a pilot. (Obviously neither of those aspirations were pursued.)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"> Something we do every morning... Ty wakes up slow and makes the statement that he could go back to bed and sleep for a few hours. Shell drinks coffee while chewing a piece of gum.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Focus words for 2012: Shell is Purpose, Ty is Overcome.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Activity of choice on a rainy day: Ty, read a book and drink some tea. Shell take a nap.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Aside from hanging out with family... Ty prefers to be in the woods and Shell prefers to be running long or cycling far.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Something Ty could eat everyday: meat. Something Shell could eat everyday: pizza.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Other than being away from family... the hardest thing about being in Ukraine is: for Ty the language barrier for Shell it's a tie between the language barrier and not being able to run.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">One thing that we would like to get better at in 2012... Ty : listening. Shell : homeschooling.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">If I could have a super power it would be... Ty: time travel. Shell: read minds.</li>
<li><span style="text-align: left;">Three things on our bucket lists are... Ty: diving in Grand Caymans, visit Africa, own a camp in the woods. Shell: Compete in Hawaii Ironman, learn to speak fluent Russian, Run an Ultra Marathon. </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></li>
</ol><ol></ol><div style="text-align: left;">Kind of boring, I know... I guess we are in that part of a race where the excitement at the starting line has dissipated and the anticipation of the finish line still seems a long way off.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for your prayers!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-67765402414059191892012-01-09T02:39:00.000-08:002012-01-09T03:32:01.834-08:00A Ukraine Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ty and I had a full and busy weekend! Saturday, January 7th was the day that Ukraine celebrates Christmas (in accordance with the Russian Orthodox calendar.) Our day started <b>earlier</b> than we expected due to a miscommunication caused by the enormous language barrier. We answered a knock on our door, in our pajamas having been up for only a short time, to be told that it was time to leave for Christmas day church. YIKES!!! There was a few minutes of panic (mostly by me) but I am proud to say that, 20 minutes later we emerged in full Sunday attire ready to go... and we were not even late for service!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGigxvyk4-LyHPf7ng3OhsmNDBYC4jRtzgnEd2jcQo-mkEBe0-kH2Rd3nQomYQRjx-DWb1CfvS3TTLTai1niVlJF3RH9Bruhh7QkjfTI4BH8RunkVrYtB8wHNLBCWdGHjQYVi5rWDgzDs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGigxvyk4-LyHPf7ng3OhsmNDBYC4jRtzgnEd2jcQo-mkEBe0-kH2Rd3nQomYQRjx-DWb1CfvS3TTLTai1niVlJF3RH9Bruhh7QkjfTI4BH8RunkVrYtB8wHNLBCWdGHjQYVi5rWDgzDs/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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We were very glad that we went! Katya and Mariana's church is beautiful and probably seats about 1500 people. Although the message which was completely in Russian (of course) was lost on Ty and I we did really enjoy the music and dancing and drama.<br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">During the two hour long service I found myself wishing I had not drunk so much coffee. So after the Pastor finished preaching, Katya and I excused ourselves to find a restroom. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now here is where I depart from the spiritual and just share the very practical. What do I do with this?</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPgntfQzz6md4c5ewkGH790rphvr21nQJ2ky3RqCQ4EDQjqn_F_b-oCmIxF_zjvIY9qLlMi1kGgH3yJuWo1urIPgRcZGfqUG5eVgjal0aVAnTA6bwdaIqNi-UVKkNjXT_5vNAsfX3Itw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPgntfQzz6md4c5ewkGH790rphvr21nQJ2ky3RqCQ4EDQjqn_F_b-oCmIxF_zjvIY9qLlMi1kGgH3yJuWo1urIPgRcZGfqUG5eVgjal0aVAnTA6bwdaIqNi-UVKkNjXT_5vNAsfX3Itw/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If you can't tell by the picture this is not a normal toilet. It was only about 3 inches off the ground. For those of you globe trotters out there this may not seem like a big deal but it was my first experience with one and I have to say it took a little bit of figuring out before all was accomplished.<br />
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After the service we all headed out and I was able to get a picture of the girls with their ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL houseparents, Marsha and Sergai.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYro6pPOHPuhkaymH52K0uQ2_spccaKfm83srXEOM-cw9A0tkBKnUswpIuBERxRLrE8hAagbkDrbUKPQGl3-dS1JbvpC0O-0QqazMGxfqIxVR0QNz4EGXcAT6m1iuoSghjcNJ31gvduus/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYro6pPOHPuhkaymH52K0uQ2_spccaKfm83srXEOM-cw9A0tkBKnUswpIuBERxRLrE8hAagbkDrbUKPQGl3-dS1JbvpC0O-0QqazMGxfqIxVR0QNz4EGXcAT6m1iuoSghjcNJ31gvduus/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
What I haven't mentioned is that Katya and Mariana came to church with their brother, Andrey and his girlfriend Lena. Because it was Christmas the girls had slept over his apartment the night before and the plan was for us all to spend the day in Kyiv. So once again we were given an opportunity to meet more of Katya's and Mariana's family. Thank you, God!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF86_UD918PNTrYWhNQR074QeUeMfofUpkqlwzB-9G_hmAWxSvHkx7fYVh8Vuys3PwzIH_lNysFbwzhlY3R8QzXc0jY_FuOAqRfyfbUdcfJB-d3yL2ln8xf7uR1h2TQFnatG7yWzp2A4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCF86_UD918PNTrYWhNQR074QeUeMfofUpkqlwzB-9G_hmAWxSvHkx7fYVh8Vuys3PwzIH_lNysFbwzhlY3R8QzXc0jY_FuOAqRfyfbUdcfJB-d3yL2ln8xf7uR1h2TQFnatG7yWzp2A4/s400/009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Andrey who is 25 spoke a little bit of English, so between that and the help of Sasha and the girls we were able to have some good discussion. We went to a restaurant called Mafia, which specializes in Pizza <b>and </b>Sushi... two of my favorites! It was very good and the atmosphere was elegant and quiet. We enjoyed a very nice meal together and got to share some of our feelings in regards to this adoption. Andrey seems to genuinely love and have concern for his sisters' future. And at the end of the day he told us that he was very happy about this situation (our adopting the girls). We let him know that it was important to us to have his support and that we want to keep up this relationship.<br />
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After lunch we headed over to Dream Town (along with most of Kyiv). We ended up playing some ping pong and spent a little bit of time in the shooting gallery.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7wMZkrSlwMaeD_zeNSDEEfalkSP2mKPoPGHpaUYfZBg9U8bN2rnjw4S8XlMLL2isA6MRL2JvM4woZjdxjnhWfF1PeolDHPgcCRSDU8l0sm3ck6B-UCbxtDDRFshdrWLM85e0y4VvXzg/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7wMZkrSlwMaeD_zeNSDEEfalkSP2mKPoPGHpaUYfZBg9U8bN2rnjw4S8XlMLL2isA6MRL2JvM4woZjdxjnhWfF1PeolDHPgcCRSDU8l0sm3ck6B-UCbxtDDRFshdrWLM85e0y4VvXzg/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQtJcGv2by2xrczAsnhH9zAbFxamvFXW7qAjIKznBy0fp1LG_L3BnGQJDSiUopeWImIakSaLa0NfQ-Q84vwgwx2NzNfY0i42meCQFgQzctrQBH6Z-KN4tH0NUWgUyhL1QpkiQqqcRs-A/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQtJcGv2by2xrczAsnhH9zAbFxamvFXW7qAjIKznBy0fp1LG_L3BnGQJDSiUopeWImIakSaLa0NfQ-Q84vwgwx2NzNfY0i42meCQFgQzctrQBH6Z-KN4tH0NUWgUyhL1QpkiQqqcRs-A/s400/022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lena, Andrey's girlfriend could not speak or understand english but she was very sweet and beautiful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLmGN_4K7lMY0FLh00SkTLq1_ji6R0Zi-D-QQRmGhNipC3U2wmeW538YgvkhFv_uyzmf2blnyQtNHLtYyPdwC2bTdIjZfCC9jEfEmbBcGQ6g81ni1J99UDkCDrF_EIIt3WgiQzSzv_rk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLmGN_4K7lMY0FLh00SkTLq1_ji6R0Zi-D-QQRmGhNipC3U2wmeW538YgvkhFv_uyzmf2blnyQtNHLtYyPdwC2bTdIjZfCC9jEfEmbBcGQ6g81ni1J99UDkCDrF_EIIt3WgiQzSzv_rk/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We really had a fun and wonderful day. We are hoping to be able to get together again before we head back to Florida.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We parted ways at the metro and headed back to Father's House where we got to enjoy a Christmas dinner with a couple of the families. I am really enjoying the Ukainian dishes and am hoping to either learn how to make a few while I am here or at least have Katya and Mariana duplicate them once we get home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW0og0qYuFgPacdEKPijcDZTZzNzDdDNnzcG6DDTznxVYYsO-oeNr6ix0e4_Ga82XUpzaLY3FBqXqV45K_MJD5FkgLGy8fE8NLThnm6br_ifs-viWKXuXvDGzTmPGVsFWlISvSzSiDMk/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW0og0qYuFgPacdEKPijcDZTZzNzDdDNnzcG6DDTznxVYYsO-oeNr6ix0e4_Ga82XUpzaLY3FBqXqV45K_MJD5FkgLGy8fE8NLThnm6br_ifs-viWKXuXvDGzTmPGVsFWlISvSzSiDMk/s400/025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natasha and her mom, Marsha (my two favorite Housemoms)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UU3G_mV6TwrYyF3jdv0SNMcZZFV2WkiyrvIhNBbWjlyM014WjtuLTSMgltiV7e6FTMg3a8Z0h5IloGZvapLQS9-8npUSSTFEZGIO7NaIt1MgIkamxbbWCAFYbceuYSR9l0aRKNyRFPs/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UU3G_mV6TwrYyF3jdv0SNMcZZFV2WkiyrvIhNBbWjlyM014WjtuLTSMgltiV7e6FTMg3a8Z0h5IloGZvapLQS9-8npUSSTFEZGIO7NaIt1MgIkamxbbWCAFYbceuYSR9l0aRKNyRFPs/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After dinner, I helped Vova, one of the boys here skype with his family in Michigan. They are working on his adoption now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWxj7y9wpdRFEQ7IEFK-tL5pfUuyKubRkbSojXHQLpAhIHdw8xJBsyHG8Lzlyissoj_A7AsLrQC_hLQ-ca7pPqI6fH5ucjStikhe5QzOG4pFpv57FUkSDlPqhXUF2nZAZec_sxXYyIvE/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWxj7y9wpdRFEQ7IEFK-tL5pfUuyKubRkbSojXHQLpAhIHdw8xJBsyHG8Lzlyissoj_A7AsLrQC_hLQ-ca7pPqI6fH5ucjStikhe5QzOG4pFpv57FUkSDlPqhXUF2nZAZec_sxXYyIvE/s400/029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And after all that we headed down to the gym to once again play some serious games of volleyball... til about 12:30 at night. Needless to say it was a wonderful, fun, long and special day for us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now... I have to post some pics of faces that we miss terribly!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZkLYqgH8Svpkn3DXz9g0TJrnAuFVdUFNp9DpL6gqXmzrNxt2VJ6jDi6fe2CNz1HjUZ_rfYZBcPxwpSVXxMoP73jbKX3Sbpe_jnZGkV4f_RQ-eyuf8UmGe0GVyVsNcNwWEJzUC0Y3XCk/s1600/IMG_2032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZkLYqgH8Svpkn3DXz9g0TJrnAuFVdUFNp9DpL6gqXmzrNxt2VJ6jDi6fe2CNz1HjUZ_rfYZBcPxwpSVXxMoP73jbKX3Sbpe_jnZGkV4f_RQ-eyuf8UmGe0GVyVsNcNwWEJzUC0Y3XCk/s400/IMG_2032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4GQAI6DnkTNOtgWJtr0Y3DP4Jvi-CEPS0OQXkEu6Lfkxfo5s1mHD1PRJoQ5hWjkphAOtzfo68kBupVcHXrF-6cgosJFg1aEd76qvxv-IaPTjL_rHbriVd2nsQD0m3AsXj8QuEQAWmpU/s1600/IMG_2070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4GQAI6DnkTNOtgWJtr0Y3DP4Jvi-CEPS0OQXkEu6Lfkxfo5s1mHD1PRJoQ5hWjkphAOtzfo68kBupVcHXrF-6cgosJFg1aEd76qvxv-IaPTjL_rHbriVd2nsQD0m3AsXj8QuEQAWmpU/s400/IMG_2070.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE35mw-9g_savJx-v0R9WIQP7eOOfv2Y17Fl0cE2icSWuErFhyLVv5N-0kVRPJlc2cnqZRjAISwesV9DniYKUWSEQQT_1flVCcGLpAIa3GsqTISdDmeWeI6XGcZHfBdrsRaUE9AyGUI1c/s1600/IMG_2110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE35mw-9g_savJx-v0R9WIQP7eOOfv2Y17Fl0cE2icSWuErFhyLVv5N-0kVRPJlc2cnqZRjAISwesV9DniYKUWSEQQT_1flVCcGLpAIa3GsqTISdDmeWeI6XGcZHfBdrsRaUE9AyGUI1c/s400/IMG_2110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I end with my crazy Nickle Pickle doing his best model pose!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4624798288864123254.post-68707273101788869152012-01-05T02:23:00.000-08:002012-01-05T02:23:13.714-08:00Meeting Svetlana!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz9gs3LJ5tk/TwV2U1BeqxI/AAAAAAAAAY8/y9EFKLh0P08/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz9gs3LJ5tk/TwV2U1BeqxI/AAAAAAAAAY8/y9EFKLh0P08/s400/003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Two days ago, Ty and I had the privilege to meet Svetlana, Katya and Mariana's mom. The visit went better than we could have hoped for. We met in Kyiv and went together to a Ukrainian restaurant and shared a delicious meal. Then we went bowling altogether for a couple of hours.<br />
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We had great fun! We learned while there that it was Svetlana's first time ever to bowl... in her life!<br />
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She was warm and engaging, trying hard to communicate despite the language barrier. We were all very grateful for the opportunity to meet each other.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although she is not able to care for the girls it is obvious that she loves them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For us, it was a special blessing to get to meet her; one that we never had with the adoption of our Nicholas. Thank you God for your goodness in all things!</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05659729251188049808noreply@blogger.com2