The First Week Home

Rocky

 The first week at home with these guys was delightful…I .can’t think of any other word to describe it.

They are such a joy to be around…..so  happy just to have the little things…a shower with shampoo they like, .fresh eggs in the morning, cheese, bananas, grapes… all things they did not have access to at the orphanage.  Most of all, the hugs don’t stop coming. It is great. They seem to be so happy to know that they are secure. They now have a mother and father who love and care for them (we have lots of years of hugs to make up for.)

I am so surprised at how busy I am. I don’t remember being this busy with Michael and John. Maybe it’s because there are so many things to do at first. We are going non-stop with doctor’s appointments, English and math lessons, shopping for basic things like pajamas, boots, etc, etc.

I feel so bad that I have not been able to answer all the emails from friends asking how things are going.  I am trying to put all of the work that has piled up on my desk for the last few months out of my mind. What could be more important that making sure these kids get off to the right start in their new home? I’m trying to establish some routines (neatness) and good habits. The best time to do that is the first month they are home. I keep telling myself that I will catch up in the office later. I hope that is the case.

Fun with David at Aunt Judy and Uncle Don's House

This week we had homeschool every day. We also went to the doctor's for immunizations, visited the Y and the kids swam in the indoor pool, visited Aunt Judy and Uncle Don's house for a Valentine's party, had dinner with John and Kait, Roman played soccer with a boy's team and loved it, Natalia played with Mila across the street. They also saw their friend, Philipe, and played soccer outdoors. The kids had a great time this week and so did I.

They are Home

Don...


It is finally over, or maybe just beginning. The kids arrived with Rocky on Thursday night and they now live in America. I have to include a great photo of the welcoming committee.

Uncle Don and Aunt Judy

They let him out of the home just for the night

He's not really in any kind of home. That was a joke. How many people would go to the lengths that he and his wife did? Not many. There was another couple that joined in later. They had planned on decorating the house but we beat them home.

We beat them home.

Welcome Home from Brad and Debbie

Welcome Home

Thursday Feb 9th (Home)

Going Home for Good!!

February 9, 2012

 Rocky

 All of our paperwork was done yesterday and I am headed home early today. We had to wake up this morning at 3 am to catch our flight. Our driver, Jania,  is unemployed and now works nights trying to earn some extra money for his family. As he wisked us out of the city of Kyiv, in the dark wee hours of the morning, we were pulled over by the police. Jania said that this is a common practice here at this time of night. Anyone who is driving around at 3 in the morning, is likely to be up to no good. I felt bad for the police who were standing around in sub zero temperatures performing this patrol.

 During our trip to the airport we also saw many girls dressed up in coats and high heeled boots trying to hitch a ride. I felt awful that they were also out late at night, in below zero weather, trying to earn some money. The kids and I pray for these people of Ukraine every night and hope that they will have a better life in the future. It seems to me that the corruption there has stifled the economy and is hampering progress.

I’m now flying on a Lufthansa jumbo jet at 36,000 feet…on my way home with my new daughter and son. Before coming back to Ukraine to pick them up, I have to admit that I had a few thoughts about going through the process of raising two children again. Having kids is great, but being a parent…well, you definitely have to make some sacrifices. However, after spending the last two weeks with these children while here in Ukraine, I have to say that I am really happy they are with me and I am getting more out of this experience than they are.

It is heartwarming to see the love and compassion they have inside… coming out, day by day.  As they feel loved by parents and become more self-confident, the positive qualities they possess have really shined here in Ukraine.  There were many instances where they showed kindness and an appreciation for others around them.  I was surprised when they began to console the friends they were leaving behind at the orphanage …children who currently have no families. It was touching. Roman and Natasha wrote great thank you letters to the people who worked in Ukraine to make their adoption possible. And during our visit to the Embassy, there was a family from Texas that had two toddlers with Downs (they are adopting them, God bless them, I don’t know how they can do it). The toddlers were cranky and fussy while they had to wait for over an hour on their paperwork. Natalia went over to the children and kept them entertained. By coincidence, this family was on the flight with us to Munich. Roman offered to carry their bags and Natalia entertained the babies again during the waiting periods. It was very nice to see that at 12 and14 years of age, they were thinking of others. I feel so blessed that God has given me the opportunity to improve their lives and to give me two more children to love. I have to tell you that every step of this long process has been worth it and it has made me a better person. I know they will be a wonderful addition to the already great kids we have. I encourage anyone thinking of going through this journey to take the first step.

While we were at the Embassy, we were invited to a very rare meeting with the American Ambassador, John Taft. I’ve never met an Ambassador before, so it was fun. He spoke with us and a few other families and it was nice for the kids to meet him.

The way God works:

Don...


My wife and our new children arrive tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. I am sitting here in my hotel room in Calgary (yes I have a job), and pondering all that has happened to this point. Honestly, if you would have told me even eight months ago that my wife and I would be adopting two kids from Ukraine, my response would be "I don't think so".


I am almost 55 years old. I have eight grand-kids. I can pretty much do what I want, go where I want, be what I want and not have to look over my shoulder. Why in the world would I get myself into something like this?


It came to Rocky and I as an idea. Then we became curious. Then we looked into it. Then we became educated about the plight of these children. Then we inquired about hosting. Then we hosted. Then we fell in love with two perfect little strangers. Now we are parents all over again. We couldn't be happier.

Saying goodbye to the director of the orphanage

It is amazing how God works isn't it?

Coming Into the Final Stretch

Rocky

February 7, 2012

We went to the American Embassy today. We are only a few days away from making it home.  The Embassy would not accept our passport photos because the ears weren’t showing in the photo…it has to be a face forward shot and Natalia’s chin was turned to the left. I don’t know how the passport photo office messed this one up, but it cost us a day…We had to go and re-take the photos and so we missed our doctor’s appointment. We are going to try to get the medical exams tomorrow.

I can’t wait to get home. I have been here way too long and I am starting to go crazy.

We met our translator, Alla, for the last time today and she gave us some paperwork that we needed. The children wrote her a thank you note. Natalia thanked her for all of her work to help them have a family. Roman said that because of her hard work, they now have a family. “Without Alla”, he wrote, “they wouldn’t have any parents”.  It was very touching and brought tears to our eyes. We hope that she can come and visit with us in the U.S. sometime. We gave her some money for all of her extra hard work. She said that she is saving up to buy a dishwasher someday.

Sorry, I haven’t posted any photos. I am having trouble loading my photos from my iphone.

We arrive in Kiev-the last leg of the trip

Rocky

Everything went well in Chernigivka. All of Roman and Natalia’s friends came to the school entrance to say goodbye. They were happy that all of their friends were there to see them off.  I felt bad for the children who they were leaving behind. I’m sure they were all hoping it was themselves who found a new family and were headed to America. It was very touching. Roman wanted to take a photo with Rosa and as they posed together (holding hands) she started to cry. I felt bad for her.  I know that she will be very lonely without him there.  I know she has been in the back of Roman’s mind for the last few days.

These children are so good (I hope it lasts). I keep hearing the words Alex (the school director) said to me as we were leaving, “you have good children, you have good, good children”.  “Yes”, I said, “I know. They are very good”. They have been wonderful and have been very helpful in our travels. Roman is like the little man in the family here…carrying the heavy bags, looking out for his sister, etc. It’s been an incredible experience to be their mother and I am thankful that God has given me all the 4 children that I now have. I feel very blessed.

We had a somber ride from the orphanage to the train station, but once we got on the train, it was very exciting for the children. We had our own sleeping car and the train ride was fun….freezing cold, but fun. Ukraine is having a deep freeze and they told me it was -27 C. Yikes!! It is so cold, that your nose hurts when you breathe. My heart aches for the many stray dogs that roam around Ukraine. I don’t know how they survive. Everyone here saves their table scraps for these dogs, so I  now find myself putting our leftovers in plastic bags for them.

The last five days I have spent here with the children have been great.  Although I can see a slight sadness in Roman that he left behind his girlfriend (he doodled a heart on his notebook with her name), they are both so happy to have a new family and to be headed to America. There has been a lot of joy in their hearts and  I have gotten some really good hugs and it’s great.

One of the highlights of our trip has been our taxi driver, Sergei. We had some bad taxi drivers here at first. When we found a good one, we got his name and number and so we call him whenever we need a ride. The kids love to see a familiar face when we go somewhere. He even came in the grocery store and helped us with the bags on the first day we were here (and only charged $15 for the ride-I was very grateful that he waited for us to grocery shop and he got a good tip from me).

Our apartment is located near the National Opera House and is very nice. Today we visited a Russian Orthodox Church (St Vladimir). It is very, very old and it was gorgeous....lot’s of gold everywhere and every wall (and ceiling) was hand painted. It reminded me of the Sistine Chapel.  This afternoon we are going to the National Marionette Theater to see a show.

Our translator expects our passports to be printed tomorrow so we can have our visit at the Consulate and go to the American Embassy on Tuesday.  If all goes well, we can leave here Thursday or Friday.

More later…