It's been girls night at the apartment for the past few days since Natasha came back to Poltava. It has been really fun. She is a crack up. I even tried red caviar for the first time. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I doubt I'll be adding it to my shopping list anytime soon.
I have been getting to know the girls better along with some of their friends. One in particular, Anya has really touched my heart. I nicknamed her "Principessa" (Italian for Princess), and she just lights up whenever I say it. One day she laughed and said, "I'm not a princess", and I said, "You are to me". She just beamed at me. She writes me notes in my notebook in broken English saying we're friends, and sent me a text message last night. I wish I could adopt her too, but she has an 11 year old brother and we're not approved for that many through the State Department. I will really miss her.
Some of you may remember when we first began this journey by deciding to host a child in our home through the Save a Child organization http://www.saveachild.cc/, we were thinking of hosting two of a group of three sisters. A few weeks before the children were to come over, we found that the two younger sisters were not at the same orphanage as their oldest sister, and at 16, she was too old to be legally adopted without them. We were so surprized our first day here to see her because we thought the kids had to leave the orphanage at 17 instead of 18. As we've watched her interact with others, we are very impressed with her. Loren and I have decided to meet with her and see if she would be interested in us sponsering her to come to the U.S. to attend college at the end of the school year. Even though we cannot legally adopt her, she can still be part of our family. I hope she'll accept.
Today is the final day of the waiting period, so tomorrow we can get back to work picking up their new birth certificates from their birthtowns. When we have those, we can apply for their new passports. After that waiting game, we can finally get to the Embassy in Kiev to get their visas issued. At this point it looks like I will be able to fly home on October 10th. I am very grateful for all of the hard work and organization our agency has done for us (http://www.adoptionway.com/). Every adoption has it's twists and turns depending on each child's individual circumstances, and Natasha is a pro at figuring out how to make it all come together. If I had tried to do this myself, I would be here until January! I'm finally able to post a few pictures again. It took some trial and error to guess at what to click on since the computers are set up in Russian.
Watch the news on October 18th because this year's group of children being hosted will be coming to Utah that evening. It's quite a scene at the airport with all the excited families, balloons, signs, etc. Seeing it on the news two years ago touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes inspiring us to take this wonderful journey. I am so glad we did.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday-I have no idea what else to put for the title!
The girls came by to watch Enchanted last night. Today I found the first five Harry Potter DVD's for about $30. I love a good deal. Jessica has been texting me cute messages full of "I love you". She treated us all to ice cream last night. At the shop she said, "You no pay, I pay". It was really sweet. These girls are remarkable considering their not-so-great childhoods. They are positive, strong, thoughtful and enjoy life. At the orphanage I saw evidence of what the kids think of alcohol in their culture. Some of the student's art hangs in one corridor, and I saw lots of art depicting their hatred of it. The most poignant one showed a man in a suit, to the right of him was a very fuzzy looking man, then onto just a shape, and finally into a bottle of vodka. I took a picture of it, but I wouldn't want to post it on the internet without the student's permission. I see more liquer stores than shops, and they even sell it in vending machines! Lots of men walk down the streets with open bottles. Natasha said for every 100 women in Ukraine, there are about 60 men, because many have died early from alcoholism. Most people working are women. It is so sad.
I just got a call that Svieta had to go to the hospital with swollen lymph nodes. I hope she will be okay. At least the hospital is about three minutes from the apartment if she has to stay.
I just got a call that Svieta had to go to the hospital with swollen lymph nodes. I hope she will be okay. At least the hospital is about three minutes from the apartment if she has to stay.
Top 10 Things I Like About Living Alone in the Apartment
1. I can drink straight out of the box of milk.
2. Noone can accuse me of snoring.
3. It's quiet. Very, very,very, very,VERY QUIET.
4. I can sing the Phantom of the Opera songs as loudly and as badly as I want to in the shower.
5. I can guarantee there will be toilet paper in the bathroom (not a priority elsewhere).
6. I get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt as I search for mosquitos in the middle of the night (see
yesterday's blog).
7. I can pick which channel I want to watch on TV that I won't understand.
8. I don't even have to watch TV. I can choose to listen to drunk people outside my window who think I can't hear them.
9. I get a constant adrenaline rush as the shower changes back and forth from hot to cold in 1 1/2 minute increments.
10. Doing laundry in the shower basin and drying it in the sauna.
2. Noone can accuse me of snoring.
3. It's quiet. Very, very,very, very,VERY QUIET.
4. I can sing the Phantom of the Opera songs as loudly and as badly as I want to in the shower.
5. I can guarantee there will be toilet paper in the bathroom (not a priority elsewhere).
6. I get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt as I search for mosquitos in the middle of the night (see
yesterday's blog).
7. I can pick which channel I want to watch on TV that I won't understand.
8. I don't even have to watch TV. I can choose to listen to drunk people outside my window who think I can't hear them.
9. I get a constant adrenaline rush as the shower changes back and forth from hot to cold in 1 1/2 minute increments.
10. Doing laundry in the shower basin and drying it in the sauna.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Loren's on His Way Home!
Loren's plane should be taking off right about now. He left at 3:30 a.m. to get to Kiev and get some things done at the embassy. Even though I'm by myself, it was nice knowing we were at least in the same country! The day seems a bit greyer now that he's gone. Now that I'm alone, instead of staying in the hotel on the outskirts of Poltava, I have moved to an apartment within walking distance of the orphanage downtown. The apartment is decorated very nicely, but it is an apartment used by a company that sets up (usually) American men with Ukrainian women. That's a little creepy. It does have a sauna, however. That doesn't quite make up for the missing slats in the vertical blind that requires dressing in the bathroom though. We tried to get some sleep before Loren had to get up at 2 am, but we had a noisy mosquito buzzing by our ears every few minutes. Loren finally killed it right before he left, and I thought everything was fine until I heard another at 4 am. I killed it along with a small cockroach, then mosquito number three came buzzing by. I finally ended his reign of terror (okay, that's overdoing it a bit) at around 5:30 am and fell asleep for three hours.
Before he left, we took the girls out. Jessica, Arianna and I went bowling, and Loren and Svieta played pool.
I went grocery shopping today. We have a lot of tiny shops close to the apartment, but everything is behind the counter, and I have no clue how to ask for what I need. That left me to walk a half hour to an actual grocery store I knew of. I had forgotten how fun it is to walk BACK with the plastic grocery bags cutting the circulation off my fingers. I haven't had to do that since I lived in England. I did enjoy getting out among the people and pretending to know where I was going. I picked up the video Enchanted in Ukrainian for when the girls come by the apartment tonight along with some roasted chicken potato chips. I've had some good and bad experiences with the food here. Luckily there's a pizza joint with English menus just around the corner if I need something familiar.
I look forward to getting started on the last leg of paperwork when the ten day waiting period ends on Tuesday. We have to travel to each girl's hometown again to pick up the new birth certificates so we can apply for their passports. I miss my boys terribly, so I hope everything will go quickly so I can see them again soon.
I've thought a lot about the pre-Reagan era when we were all so scared of the Soviet Union. Ten years ago we asked some Ukrainian friends of ours in Seattle whether they were as scared of us as we were of them. They said they had the same drills as we did in case they were attacked, and they were truly frightened of us! Our driver and friend, Vassily said he was down in Cuba during that conflicting time with John F. Kennedy. It really makes you think when you realize that someone that sweet and kind was there, not just a bunch of Soviet robots. Ukraine is split pretty much down the river that runs North to South through the middle of it on being pro-Russian today. The western half wants only pure Ukrainian taught and spoken and is very critical of Russia's involvement in Georgia and worried that Ukraine might be next. The eastern half primarily speaks Russian or a combination, and seems to sympathize with Russia on the Georgian conflict, especially down in Crimea, just north of the Black Sea. They refer to Russia as "Mother Russia". Our translator said you get a completely different picture of what's going on depending on which radio station you listen to, and she thinks they both have a lot of propaganda and half-truths being spoken. It's kind of interesting to get the perspective of the people here while this is all going on.
Well, I've rambled on enough for today. I'm trying to avoid my empty apartment until the girls come. Thank you for your comments. It's nice to feel connected.
Before he left, we took the girls out. Jessica, Arianna and I went bowling, and Loren and Svieta played pool.
I went grocery shopping today. We have a lot of tiny shops close to the apartment, but everything is behind the counter, and I have no clue how to ask for what I need. That left me to walk a half hour to an actual grocery store I knew of. I had forgotten how fun it is to walk BACK with the plastic grocery bags cutting the circulation off my fingers. I haven't had to do that since I lived in England. I did enjoy getting out among the people and pretending to know where I was going. I picked up the video Enchanted in Ukrainian for when the girls come by the apartment tonight along with some roasted chicken potato chips. I've had some good and bad experiences with the food here. Luckily there's a pizza joint with English menus just around the corner if I need something familiar.
I look forward to getting started on the last leg of paperwork when the ten day waiting period ends on Tuesday. We have to travel to each girl's hometown again to pick up the new birth certificates so we can apply for their passports. I miss my boys terribly, so I hope everything will go quickly so I can see them again soon.
I've thought a lot about the pre-Reagan era when we were all so scared of the Soviet Union. Ten years ago we asked some Ukrainian friends of ours in Seattle whether they were as scared of us as we were of them. They said they had the same drills as we did in case they were attacked, and they were truly frightened of us! Our driver and friend, Vassily said he was down in Cuba during that conflicting time with John F. Kennedy. It really makes you think when you realize that someone that sweet and kind was there, not just a bunch of Soviet robots. Ukraine is split pretty much down the river that runs North to South through the middle of it on being pro-Russian today. The western half wants only pure Ukrainian taught and spoken and is very critical of Russia's involvement in Georgia and worried that Ukraine might be next. The eastern half primarily speaks Russian or a combination, and seems to sympathize with Russia on the Georgian conflict, especially down in Crimea, just north of the Black Sea. They refer to Russia as "Mother Russia". Our translator said you get a completely different picture of what's going on depending on which radio station you listen to, and she thinks they both have a lot of propaganda and half-truths being spoken. It's kind of interesting to get the perspective of the people here while this is all going on.
Well, I've rambled on enough for today. I'm trying to avoid my empty apartment until the girls come. Thank you for your comments. It's nice to feel connected.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Court, etc.
The court hearing went great. It was very friendly. They asked the girls individually at the end whether it was their desire to become part of our family. When it was Svieta's turn, she smiled and announced enthusiastically, "I'm ready to go live in America forever!", then turned to look at us and giggled.
The woman who takes care of Svieta's sister called Natasha to say that if we wanted to adopt Victoria, she would let us, so as not to separate the sisters. When I think of how important my Mom was in my life at the age of three years old, I cannot even imagine the horror of being separated from her. This woman is the only thing this little girl has ever known, and Victoria has no idea she even has a sister. I think it would be way too damaging to her to pull her out of her secure life. I just can't do that. Svieta doesn't seem to be too attached to her anyway, just curious.
On Saturday, when we went to pick up the girls, Zhenia's grandmother was there. She invited us to her home just outside of Poltava, so we went and met some of her family. When we got out of the van, her little cousin Katia ran to throw her arms around her and began sobbing. That made her aunt Natasha cry too. We felt so bad. But they were very gracious, fed us dinner, and we spent about an hour and a half talking with them. It was a very touching experience. I felt bad that they kept apologising for how small their home was, and for not having a better spread for dinner. I thought it was great. We fit 14 people in a room slightly smaller than my small bedroom growing up. If you have love in your home, the size just doesn't matter as much. I wish I could post some photos, but my hard drive crashed so I can't load any onto my flash drive to take to the internet cafe. We time things great, don't we?
We took the girls ice skating this week. My hips are still sore! We also took them to a movie that was recommended as safe for children by the ticket agent. Unfortunately her idea of safe for children and ours is vastly different. We'll be even more careful next time!
The girls wanted to come to church with us on Sunday. Their uniforms were being laundered over the weekend, so all they had were jeans. They came anyway, and nobody even looked twice.
Loren leaves on Wednesday, and at this point, it looks like I will be here until around the 10th of October. I tried replying to some emails this morning, but after the first two, hotmail continues to kick me out everytime I try to send something, so sorry! I love reading them and the comments on our blog so much! It's so fun to share our excitement with everybody. This has been such a life changing experience.
The woman who takes care of Svieta's sister called Natasha to say that if we wanted to adopt Victoria, she would let us, so as not to separate the sisters. When I think of how important my Mom was in my life at the age of three years old, I cannot even imagine the horror of being separated from her. This woman is the only thing this little girl has ever known, and Victoria has no idea she even has a sister. I think it would be way too damaging to her to pull her out of her secure life. I just can't do that. Svieta doesn't seem to be too attached to her anyway, just curious.
On Saturday, when we went to pick up the girls, Zhenia's grandmother was there. She invited us to her home just outside of Poltava, so we went and met some of her family. When we got out of the van, her little cousin Katia ran to throw her arms around her and began sobbing. That made her aunt Natasha cry too. We felt so bad. But they were very gracious, fed us dinner, and we spent about an hour and a half talking with them. It was a very touching experience. I felt bad that they kept apologising for how small their home was, and for not having a better spread for dinner. I thought it was great. We fit 14 people in a room slightly smaller than my small bedroom growing up. If you have love in your home, the size just doesn't matter as much. I wish I could post some photos, but my hard drive crashed so I can't load any onto my flash drive to take to the internet cafe. We time things great, don't we?
We took the girls ice skating this week. My hips are still sore! We also took them to a movie that was recommended as safe for children by the ticket agent. Unfortunately her idea of safe for children and ours is vastly different. We'll be even more careful next time!
The girls wanted to come to church with us on Sunday. Their uniforms were being laundered over the weekend, so all they had were jeans. They came anyway, and nobody even looked twice.
Loren leaves on Wednesday, and at this point, it looks like I will be here until around the 10th of October. I tried replying to some emails this morning, but after the first two, hotmail continues to kick me out everytime I try to send something, so sorry! I love reading them and the comments on our blog so much! It's so fun to share our excitement with everybody. This has been such a life changing experience.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Court hearing today
We go before the judge in just a bit with our girls for the final approval. Then, assuming nobody comes forward to cause any problems for us, we have a ten day waiting period before we can get their passports and visas and COME HOME!
We are getting to know the girls better even without perfect communication. We muddle through some Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, English, and the ever present reverting to hand signals! It's wonderful when we have a translator. Last week Jessica gave me a rose she had bought. When I smelled it, I realized she had sprayed perfume on it. How cute is that?
We are getting to know the girls better even without perfect communication. We muddle through some Russian, Ukrainian, Italian, English, and the ever present reverting to hand signals! It's wonderful when we have a translator. Last week Jessica gave me a rose she had bought. When I smelled it, I realized she had sprayed perfume on it. How cute is that?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A long awaited update!
It is usually a couple of days between when we can make it to an internet cafe to update our blog, and the last time we tried, the power went out! Things are going well getting to know the girls. Svieta has finally come around and decided we'll do as parents. She is so cute. All the girls watch for the van to pull up every break they get and come running to us. They are all really funny. We have to travel to two of their home towns to finish some paperwork and hopefully our court will be on Friday. Loren is scheduled to fly home next Wednesday, and I will stay here to finish it out. We asked the girls if they wanted to keep their names or change to American names. Svetlana wants to keep her name with her nickname being Svieta, Zhenia wants to change her name to Jessica, and Alvina wants to be called Arianna, so hereafter, that's what I'll refer to them as.
We have taken them to dinner a number of times, to a park with rides, and to a movie. They are excited about everything. Jessica loves taking pictures, she just doesn't like being in them, so we have to make sure she doesn't delete them before we can transfer them to the computer! It's a good thing we have a digital camera or we would have used about 13 rolls of film by now!
We are having such a good time and meeting so many nice people. We love our facilitator Natasha and driver Vassily. They are great people, and they really love the kids. All the kids run to play hide and go seek with Vassily when we park at the orphanage.
We went to the Poltava branch on Sunday. It was touching to listen to "I Am a Child of God" in Ukrainian/Russian (I can't tell the difference yet). I love being halfway across the world and knowing that we are all God's children. So far, the Ukrainians have been so friendly. Yesterday, the woman at the front desk of our hotel was so excited that she learned to say, "Good morning! How are you?" in English for us. We're picking up isolated words that we have no idea how to put into an actual sentance unless we plan on telling someone, "Good day six morning bye thanks hair". Not really effective.
We miss our boys so much. Listening to Chandler and Jason's cute voices on the phone makes me feel so guilty for not being with them, but I know we're doing a good thing and that these girls are supposed to be in our family. Our timing was lucky. We found out today that Jessica's paperwork was being completed for her to go to a foster family, so we are relieved that we get to have her instead.
We have taken them to dinner a number of times, to a park with rides, and to a movie. They are excited about everything. Jessica loves taking pictures, she just doesn't like being in them, so we have to make sure she doesn't delete them before we can transfer them to the computer! It's a good thing we have a digital camera or we would have used about 13 rolls of film by now!
We are having such a good time and meeting so many nice people. We love our facilitator Natasha and driver Vassily. They are great people, and they really love the kids. All the kids run to play hide and go seek with Vassily when we park at the orphanage.
We went to the Poltava branch on Sunday. It was touching to listen to "I Am a Child of God" in Ukrainian/Russian (I can't tell the difference yet). I love being halfway across the world and knowing that we are all God's children. So far, the Ukrainians have been so friendly. Yesterday, the woman at the front desk of our hotel was so excited that she learned to say, "Good morning! How are you?" in English for us. We're picking up isolated words that we have no idea how to put into an actual sentance unless we plan on telling someone, "Good day six morning bye thanks hair". Not really effective.
We miss our boys so much. Listening to Chandler and Jason's cute voices on the phone makes me feel so guilty for not being with them, but I know we're doing a good thing and that these girls are supposed to be in our family. Our timing was lucky. We found out today that Jessica's paperwork was being completed for her to go to a foster family, so we are relieved that we get to have her instead.
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