It took almost 40 hours, but at last home sweet home!!

 "Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."
                                                                    Psalm 106:1

We are all so excited to go home.  As I was packing I discovered Caleb in our largest suitcase. 

He is all ready to go!

Unfortunately, due to a huge error by our travel agent, we could not fly on our original flight in the morning and spent the entire day waiting at the airport in Kiev until we ended up purchasing new tickets.  Please pray for wisdom & Godly character as we deal with this issue with our travel agency.  We took the last flight out that day to Amsterdam.  This is where we spent the night in the Amsterdam airport from 7:30 pm until 10:00 am the next morning.  Alena & Caleb do not have Visas to stay in Amsterdam so we could not leave the airport and the airport hotel was booked.  It certainly looks like it should be comfortable doesn't it?  Well, looks can be deceiving.  Thankfully all the kids slept a good 8 hours but mom & dad just rested all night.

We're home at last!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Alena loves her new room that she shares with Katelyn.

Playing games & having fun on a rainy day. 

Caleb enjoys playing with his dog and brother Nicholas.

Caleb loves the swingset.

We can jump for hours! 

Oh Happy Day!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALENA!

Wednesday was Alena's 9th birthday.  To celebrate we traveled out to the orphanage for the day.  We planned on getting ice cream instead of cake to share with the children.  It has been in the 80's & 90"s  for weeks.  However, when we stopped at the market by the orphanage the 3 freezer chests that are always fillled with ice cream were full of fish.  Alena asked a worker where the ice cream was and she said they were all out.  Alena was disappointment and on the way out of the store kept insisting that maybe the ice cream was just hiding under the fish. When we arrived at the orphanage Natasha took us to two other stores so we could get ice cream to share.

The children had strawberries for snack & then were served the ice cream.

The Alzen's have just arrived in Kiev & joined us at the orphanage for the day.

They brought balloons for the kids.

Thank you Alzen's, we enjoyed spending the day together.

 Caleb blowing up his balloon - blue of course, his favorite color.

Next thing we know all the children & staff get ready for a little show.   Alena is placed on a chair with shiny gold material over it.  They sing & dance & some of the children speak about Alena.  Nina, Alena's friend, sings to her.  Everyone joins in for some dancing with the music.  It is so wonderful & fun!

They gave Alena the game Twister & a horse with a Hello Kitty braclet. Then tossed her up & down 9 times.  We can see that this is something they must do for all the children on their birthdays.  It was so heartwarming to see how special they make the children feel.  It was a wonderful & joyful day.

We are so thankful to all the staff at Cradle of Children's Hope & their genuine love & care for all these precious children.  Thank you!

Oh happy Thursday!  Victor calls in the afternoon and tells us the children's passports are ready - it usually takes a week. Jeff takes a taxi to quickly meet Victor and we now have passports in hand.  We then hurry to email the US Embassy to see if they can squeeze us in on Friday.  They call back and yes they will accommodate us. 

So today we had our first appointment at the Embassy and on Tuesday the children will have their physicals and we will receive their visas.  ADOPTION EXITING PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETE! 

We then email our agent to see if there has been any cancelations or something we can do to leave sooner.

Long story short - Oh happy day.  We will be leaving the Ukraine Wednesday, June 15th at 12:30pm.  We have a 2 hour layover in Paris, then fly to Atlanta, Georgia were we will need to collect our baggage, go thru customs and re-check our baggage with just an hour and a half layover.  If all goes well we will arrive in Minnesota at 11:45pm.

This song just keeps running through our heads today.

Oh Happy Day!

The greatest day in history
Death is beaten
You have rescued me
Sing it out
Jesus is alive

Empty cross
And empty grave
Life eternal
You have won the day
Shout it out
Jesus is alive
He's alive

Oh happy day
Happy day
You wash my sin away
Oh happy day
Happy day
I'll never be the same
Oh no
Forever I am changed

When I stand in that place
Free at last
Meeting face to face
I am Yours
Jesus you are mine

Endless joy and perfect peace
Illicit pain will finally cease
Celebrate, Jesus is alive
Yeah, He's alive

Oh happy day
Happy day
You wash my sin away
Oh happy day
Happy day
I'll never be the same
Oh no
Forever I am changed
What a glorious, glorious day
I'll never be the same


To listen to this song go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io4PI1g_hqc

Everything is new!

For Alena & Caleb so much is new to them; from city life, new toys, new family, new rules, food choices & availablilty and the Lord.  Saturday was a day of starting to figure it all out.  Our timeout chair got alot of use, mainly by Caleb.  We have wonderful, loving children who are learning things like asking before doing & first time listening & obedience & no bickering.  Alena & Caleb will be talking in Russian and I will say things like talk with kind words or be nice; they look at me with a - how did you know what we were saying look. They think I understand them but I have no clue. Mama's secret, it's all in the attitude and tone of voice. This morning, while we were out and about,  Caleb began holding up one finger, after he listens the first time, and saying, "Look mama first time."  He receives much praise from mama and papa.  It has only been a couple days & we are already seeing progress.  For two parents, who are already emotionally and physically exhausted from being here so long, we are thankful. God is so good and gives us much strength when our own is definitely lacking.

On Sunday we had Dillner church with Alena & Caleb for the first time.  We listened to CJ's testimony & worshiped with Sovereign Grace music.  We sang "Thank You Jesus" & explained how much Jesus loves them.   Alena said, "I do not know this Jesus."  Then later said she likes to sing to him.  That afternoon Caleb pointed up and said to me, "I love Jesus!"  and while he was playing he tried to sing the song.  What joy to watch God begin to work in their hearts.  While there isn't complete understanding, God is already at work in their hearts.  Please pray for a softening of their hearts and a desire for them to know him.

Now for the business side of things.  We have in hand the children's new birth certificates and tax ID numbers.  Today we spent the day running from place to place to apply for passports for the children.  There is much paperwork to compile from many different places in order to do this.  We are thankful for Igor & Victor who both do such a wonderful job and who know the system & the people so well.   Hopefully we will have the passports by end of the week so we can have our exiting appointments at the US Embassy next week.

We miss our children & family, friends & our church very much.  We are counting down the days (14 days, 14 hours, 39 minutes & 23 seconds) literally.

"My body and my heart may grow weak. God, you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need."   Psalm 73:26

 

 

Moving Day!

Friday was scheduled to be our official moving day to Kiev.  We arrived at the orphanage around 10:30am with backpacks in hand.  In order to take the children we need the judge to sign the official court decree.  However, Victor, our lawyer, was waiting at the courthouse and no judge.  Since it is Friday we are alittle nervous.  We can see that Alena is very worried about not being able to go to Kiev.  Need distraction & a new plan - enjoy the day with the kids at the orphanage & wait for a phone call from Victor.  It is another beautiful and very hot day in the Ukraine. We play outside & the girls & I walk to the market for hair binder & barretts. 

JUST HANGING OUT!!!

Around 2pm we receive a phone call.

The judge has signed the decree, there are no mistakes & we can leave for Kiev.

There is much jumping for joy & happy squeals.

 

Friends - Alena , Kirill & Caleb

Kirill's papa will be back in a few days but it is still hard to see friends leave.

  

Jeff leaves with Sergei to meet Victor to get new birth certificates.

The children & I are off to Kiev.

Riding the bus to Kiev.

First time on a subway.  When we start to go fast Alena grabs my arm & Caleb says "Wow!"

We stop at McDonald's in the underground mall & splurge on Happy Meals because today is definitely a celebration.

Back at the apartment something new - games on the cell phones.  This is going to be an obsession - let the real parenting begin.

Katelyn is thrilled to have her sister & brother here to play with.

Alena writes in her new notebook over & over the word family.

 New pajamas, popcorn & a movie before bed.

Today, Saturday we received the children's new birth certificates and on Monday Victor will apply for their tax ID numbers.  After these two things are completed we can then apply for the children's new passports.  After receiving the passports the final step is meeting with the US embassy, twice. The first appointment is to obtain the children's Visas and at the second appointment the children will receive medical checks.  We then get to go home!  Hip Hip Hurray!!  These final couple steps will take a good two weeks.  As of right now we are scheduled to arrive home at 12:25pm on Wednesday, June 22nd.

For those of you who have expressed interest in becoming a host family please contact us at 6savedbygrace@gmail.com & we will contact you with additional information.  With 5 families adopting in the last 3 months, it has become hard on those children who are still without families.  Some of the children have asked the workers at the orphanage in the last couple days,  "Why doesn't anybody want us?"  A heartbreaking question; these children both need and want parents.  Thank you to those who have expressed interest.

Enjoying our last full week at the Orphanage.

Cradle of Children's Hope Orphanage

Wednesday morning was a very special day at the orphanage.  In honor of Child Protection Day the children performed a musical for their guests.  Those in atttendance were people who are sponsors of the orphanage & friends of the workers.  The performance included dancing, singing and little musical skits.  The children  & workers worked hard for weeks preparing for this day.  The costumes & room were beautiful, the music was upbeat & fun and everyone did a great job.

The children & staff of Cradle of Children's Hope

After the  performance the children received gifts of books & toys from the church & the sponsors.

Also reopened this week - Rebecca's Nail Salon

We brought along some polish & sticker decals.   Very fun!

60 polished & decalled nails later - kraseevaya! (beautiful!)



We will truly miss these beautiful children that we have had the priviledge of getting to know.  We have been here long enough that they have become a  part of our lives & have worked their way into our hearts.

Leaving the Ukraine will be bitter sweet.

Please keep these children in your prayers.

 "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close."  Psalm 27:10