Friday, October 15, 2010
A bonus video of walking around Kiev.
This was friday afternoon before SDA referral pick up. This nice little jazz band was playing on the street and we thought it was really fun to listen to them. This is alot like NYC but maybe more like Philadelphia on a modeling runway steroid. Everyone here is either handsome, beautiful or exceptionally stylish. No chunky girls unless they are well over 50. Enjoy!
Kiev Day 4!
Ok for all you who are worried about us, the general concensus here is that Kiev is really cool. The city is quaint and charming and has a certain air of posh and beauty that is not familiar to me in America. It is not better, but maybe different in a really good way. Maybe we expected the worst and I think it is way better than what i expected. We feel safe and enjoy the challenge of making our way around in survival mode. I am sure we amuse the people at the deli, they no longer are rolling their eyes at us but trying to help us. Yes, in 4 days we have come a long way. Today we received our referral paperwork and leave Kiev on Sunday 7 a.m. and head to Dnipropetrovsk. You can google that city but I recommend cut and paste rather than spelling it yourself. We bought a second phone today for mom so we could communicate when we are not all together. It was a whole 40 bucks and I think money well spent. Anyhow the photos are of various things we do around the city. Alot of the stores say no cameras so we abide the best we can. Tully is doing laundry and we just had a great dinner in this evening. Evan is playing Legos and Mom is cleaning and rearranging the apartment...who is surprised?? yeah, no one. So we are having a nice relaxing night in....ask any questions if you have any. Like "does the hair clippers blow up when you plug them in with a converter...? answer "most definitely". We will meet Marina Monday afternoon. It seems so amazing to us. We all are very very excited! Pray for our dreams to be real.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The rest of the photos I was uploading yesterday...
This is at the pizza place that Evan found. Not only could he locate a big toy store but found his way into a pizza shop that had english subtitles on the menu. What a superior scout he is! He & my mom hamming it up for food:) Later at TGIF he met a precious little girl and they hit it off despite language barriers. Give two kids each a balloon and language becomes secondary to just having fun! And finally, walking home from TGIF at night. I forget how beautiful city lights are....we missed dinner because we did not know what time everyone was meeting and I missed it by a country mile. The other families met at 5:30. I think we had just about finished lunch by then. Perhaps we can try again at the end of the trip and meet fams coming in!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Day one in Kiev
A view of the market in down town Kiev. I would love to add more photos but it all just locked up. Will work on adding more!
Landed safely
Once again, the least likely to succeed has made it to the pinnacle with the army of heaven making a way:) I got to meet another adoptive set of parents in Frankfurt. Mel and John, and she and her husband were easy to spot in Frankfurt since they were hauling a stroller around with no kid in it yet!:)
I did not know it was possible to be this tired and still be conscious. Dinner tomorrow night at TGIF and enough groceries to feed a small army. Oh yeah that army would be us. I ventured out to find food like a foraging squirrel and in the mean time Mel was getting first class service from Nico! HA! Now I see how this works...of course Nico showed up right after we got back from grocery shopping and he took us...grocery shopping. Not wanting to hurt his feelings (translate: Need to know what we already bought...") we went right back out to go tour the 'hood. We have wired the tv to the dvd player so all is well. we have internet so all is well. Oh yeah, and the magic jack works amazing from here so my mom is calling everyone she knows. Apartment is large and pretty cool. But it is time to head for bed and get my beautiful self back in order since the competition is so stiff here to look fabulous!!! Oh and Shelly Burman, they took my matches OUT OF MY SUITCASE and left me a note signed by someone in international security. Can't wait for more adventures. I am sure there will be plenty.
By the way, for anyone else traveling, the groceries sell salt and sugar in the same area of the shelf...there are three boxes of salt in the cabinet in the apartment. We are not the first to fall for this sales technique but did taste it before loading up oatmeal with it. Yes, it was salt. It is a reminder I think that we are salt and light, and not to forget it. I laugh and think that sugar would have been a nice reminder for us to be sweet:)
Will update more later but tomorrow we receive our referrals and we need a ton of prayer for that time at the state department of adoption.
I did not know it was possible to be this tired and still be conscious. Dinner tomorrow night at TGIF and enough groceries to feed a small army. Oh yeah that army would be us. I ventured out to find food like a foraging squirrel and in the mean time Mel was getting first class service from Nico! HA! Now I see how this works...of course Nico showed up right after we got back from grocery shopping and he took us...grocery shopping. Not wanting to hurt his feelings (translate: Need to know what we already bought...") we went right back out to go tour the 'hood. We have wired the tv to the dvd player so all is well. we have internet so all is well. Oh yeah, and the magic jack works amazing from here so my mom is calling everyone she knows. Apartment is large and pretty cool. But it is time to head for bed and get my beautiful self back in order since the competition is so stiff here to look fabulous!!! Oh and Shelly Burman, they took my matches OUT OF MY SUITCASE and left me a note signed by someone in international security. Can't wait for more adventures. I am sure there will be plenty.
By the way, for anyone else traveling, the groceries sell salt and sugar in the same area of the shelf...there are three boxes of salt in the cabinet in the apartment. We are not the first to fall for this sales technique but did taste it before loading up oatmeal with it. Yes, it was salt. It is a reminder I think that we are salt and light, and not to forget it. I laugh and think that sugar would have been a nice reminder for us to be sweet:)
Will update more later but tomorrow we receive our referrals and we need a ton of prayer for that time at the state department of adoption.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Setting sail to a new world....
I wonder that God has such a sense of humor that He cuts us free on our discovery adventure on Columbus day. Seriously, can you just here Him elbowing Jesus saying I wonder if she'll notice?
And I do. I feel as if we don't really even know what we are setting off to discover. This is the one part of the journey that I have no idea the joys and battles we will face. There is only so much imagination in this brain, and it has exhausted its resources as of this morning. One step at a time, one mountain moved after another. God has proven to be mightier than my faith even, which has been very paltry at times. Every single donation and every saved dime has been allotted and we are completely covered with our known needs. We have just enough checks from work coming in while we are gone to cover our bills. There are still mountains to be relocated but I rest in Romans 8:31. If God is for us who can be against us? That means all of us. He did not fight this for me, he fought this for the children that need a mother and a father. I am not afraid as we head into the middle of this story. I am humbled that God believes in us enough to send us and work through us. We too, are orphans, and he sent a Rescuer for us as well. We lived in a darkness that we did not know was as dark as it was. Until Hope showed up. And the darkness fell away from our lives. Still human, still fallen, but no longer orphans. We have been rescued. May we go with the lesson that we have been taught as we sail on His very own wings today, the wings of obedience.
This probably started out my own personal war. To bring home a child to compensate for the lack of chaos that rang silent in our house after Caylyn passed on. But the need has shown itself not to be about me. Or Tully. Or even Evan. It is about being the vessel of Love that God has molded us into, and broken us to trust Him, so that the light shines through all the cracks of our own weaknesses. Sometimes a voice inside hisses about how I do NOT have to go back into the world of Down syndrome since I was released from its membership. And I know that voice is satan himself. Because I reflect back and there is nothing about Caylyn's life that would make me feel that way...except the leukemia maybe, and that is not relegated only to DS. And honestly, through the battle with Leukemia, I learned that God is waaay closer than we want to believe. I know when I am most broken, God is most close. The more I learn about the needs of the children we are called to go see this week, the more I know He is my strength and my fortress. And once we have seen, we will be responsible, because faith without deeds is dead. The song Albertine by Brooke Fraser has been on a running loop in my head for days now, with those same words if you want to hear music to that line of wisdom. (it is in the tunes player below).
So I know that although we know nothing about how this trip will go, we will go with open heart, open arms, and a willingness to hear Him above all else. I ask that you pray for us to maintain that direction the entire time we are there. Not safe travels or any of that sort of random stuff that would be nice to have of course, but to really know His voice, and to not be afraid to answer Him. I think this is about far more than bringing out orphans. We are light and salt, and we are being sent out as warriors in a crazy war.
The next post will be from Kiev. And I will start posting pictures at some point that will make my droning on a lot more interesting:)
And I do. I feel as if we don't really even know what we are setting off to discover. This is the one part of the journey that I have no idea the joys and battles we will face. There is only so much imagination in this brain, and it has exhausted its resources as of this morning. One step at a time, one mountain moved after another. God has proven to be mightier than my faith even, which has been very paltry at times. Every single donation and every saved dime has been allotted and we are completely covered with our known needs. We have just enough checks from work coming in while we are gone to cover our bills. There are still mountains to be relocated but I rest in Romans 8:31. If God is for us who can be against us? That means all of us. He did not fight this for me, he fought this for the children that need a mother and a father. I am not afraid as we head into the middle of this story. I am humbled that God believes in us enough to send us and work through us. We too, are orphans, and he sent a Rescuer for us as well. We lived in a darkness that we did not know was as dark as it was. Until Hope showed up. And the darkness fell away from our lives. Still human, still fallen, but no longer orphans. We have been rescued. May we go with the lesson that we have been taught as we sail on His very own wings today, the wings of obedience.
This probably started out my own personal war. To bring home a child to compensate for the lack of chaos that rang silent in our house after Caylyn passed on. But the need has shown itself not to be about me. Or Tully. Or even Evan. It is about being the vessel of Love that God has molded us into, and broken us to trust Him, so that the light shines through all the cracks of our own weaknesses. Sometimes a voice inside hisses about how I do NOT have to go back into the world of Down syndrome since I was released from its membership. And I know that voice is satan himself. Because I reflect back and there is nothing about Caylyn's life that would make me feel that way...except the leukemia maybe, and that is not relegated only to DS. And honestly, through the battle with Leukemia, I learned that God is waaay closer than we want to believe. I know when I am most broken, God is most close. The more I learn about the needs of the children we are called to go see this week, the more I know He is my strength and my fortress. And once we have seen, we will be responsible, because faith without deeds is dead. The song Albertine by Brooke Fraser has been on a running loop in my head for days now, with those same words if you want to hear music to that line of wisdom. (it is in the tunes player below).
So I know that although we know nothing about how this trip will go, we will go with open heart, open arms, and a willingness to hear Him above all else. I ask that you pray for us to maintain that direction the entire time we are there. Not safe travels or any of that sort of random stuff that would be nice to have of course, but to really know His voice, and to not be afraid to answer Him. I think this is about far more than bringing out orphans. We are light and salt, and we are being sent out as warriors in a crazy war.
The next post will be from Kiev. And I will start posting pictures at some point that will make my droning on a lot more interesting:)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Can anyone say Amen? Like real LOUD???
Ok, So it has been a few days, and several thousand emotions crashing into each other. None more prevalent than any others, but just a myriad of them all. I have also had a difficult time talking in a straight line. But this post is a direct amazing thank you to the God who always turns out bigger than my imagination. We have received all funds to complete our trip. In less than a week.
I got this in my email box today and it is so perfect to say thanks with...
Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” -Albert Einstein
Wow, who knew Albert Einstein was so smart??
We leave Monday afternoon and arrive in Kiev on Tuesday. Our SDA appointment for referrals is on Thursday. That sums up what I actually do know about our trip. The rest of the details is in the adventure to come. Pray fervently that God moves mountains and hearts for His will to be done. I already know it will be, but it doesn't hurt to have a cheering squad. And I am sure we would love to continue the hedge of protection that is surrounding us as we face this life changing opportunity.
Thank you thank you thank you to every person who has made this possible for us even to consider going. Starting with our beautiful daughter Caylyn and right up to you, who are reading this and making this journey with us.
I got this in my email box today and it is so perfect to say thanks with...
Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” -Albert Einstein
Wow, who knew Albert Einstein was so smart??
We leave Monday afternoon and arrive in Kiev on Tuesday. Our SDA appointment for referrals is on Thursday. That sums up what I actually do know about our trip. The rest of the details is in the adventure to come. Pray fervently that God moves mountains and hearts for His will to be done. I already know it will be, but it doesn't hurt to have a cheering squad. And I am sure we would love to continue the hedge of protection that is surrounding us as we face this life changing opportunity.
Thank you thank you thank you to every person who has made this possible for us even to consider going. Starting with our beautiful daughter Caylyn and right up to you, who are reading this and making this journey with us.
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