Things are underway! Today I filled out and sent off our forms to officially start the process with the agency. It is a scary thing. It feels a lot like signing our life away. The Mr and I also had our physicals for our home study and for the Ukraine government, which involved being tested for HIV and Syphilis. I know, clearly we don't have either of these, but I guess we have to be safe. Plus its just fun to tell people that we were tested for them! I also prepared all the paper work that we need for our home study appointment on Tuesday. I am a little nervous about this. I know that we have a safe home, but it feels like everything is dependent on this one meeting. It is a lot of pressure on me!! Especially since our house is in such a huge mess trying to prepare for our yard sale tomorrow. I am hoping that the lady doing the study will be able to look past a some of it!, But, in reality I will probably lose my mind trying to get it all clean!
Today I also applied for my very first US passport. I am excited about this mostly because it means I can travel places, and I am not stuck. I hate to feel stuck!! Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get here.
Today is the Mr's birthday. He turns the Big 40. The kids have been asking him what he wants to do, but I think he just wants to try and forget it, so he tells them he want s to donate the money that would be spent on him to our adoption fund. Pretty selfless act, but I think I am still going to get him a little something :)
Like I mentioned, our yard sale is tomorrow September 1st. The weather isn't great right now and I am praying (please help us out and pray for us) that the rain will hold off for us in the morning! It is a long holiday weekend so I am also praying that we will get some people showing up! Come on by and help us out or at least pray that we get a good turn out! Thanks :)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Our Phone Call
Last night at midnight, we had a chance to talk with O. It was really great to speak with her. We only got to speak to her for about 10 minutes, but we loved it. The communication part was a little difficult and she struggled a little. At one point she even said "ugh, I can't speak English!" To which Mike responded " YES you can!"
She asked to speak to M, but we had to tell her how late it was here and that M was asleep. We asked her if she had been practicing her English and she laughed ans said no. So we told her she better do that. She told us she starts school next week, so will probably start English classes again then. She wished the Mr a Happy Birthday (he will be 40 on Friday) and we tried to get her to sing to him, but she got out of it by telling us she didn't understand. Hmmmmm, that might just be an excuse that we wont let her use for long hehe. The Mr asked her how her trip back was and if she was happy to be back in Ukraine, to which she replied a very definite NO! So we asked her if she missed America and she of course said YES.
The best part of the whole conversation was that she called us both Mom and Dad. She did this without any hesitation. It was great to know that she already thinks of us that way. She sounded very happy to be speaking to us, which just mad the Mr and I so happy. We wish it was easier to communicate, but the fact is we feel very lucky to be able to talk to her at all. Her orphanage director is very nice and will allow us to talk to her whenever we like. I think next time we will try and do it at a more reasonable hour so the children can participate.
She asked to speak to M, but we had to tell her how late it was here and that M was asleep. We asked her if she had been practicing her English and she laughed ans said no. So we told her she better do that. She told us she starts school next week, so will probably start English classes again then. She wished the Mr a Happy Birthday (he will be 40 on Friday) and we tried to get her to sing to him, but she got out of it by telling us she didn't understand. Hmmmmm, that might just be an excuse that we wont let her use for long hehe. The Mr asked her how her trip back was and if she was happy to be back in Ukraine, to which she replied a very definite NO! So we asked her if she missed America and she of course said YES.
The best part of the whole conversation was that she called us both Mom and Dad. She did this without any hesitation. It was great to know that she already thinks of us that way. She sounded very happy to be speaking to us, which just mad the Mr and I so happy. We wish it was easier to communicate, but the fact is we feel very lucky to be able to talk to her at all. Her orphanage director is very nice and will allow us to talk to her whenever we like. I think next time we will try and do it at a more reasonable hour so the children can participate.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
A Week Of Excitment
It's only Wednesday and I am already tired! It's been an emotional week.
I haven't posted for a few days because my brother and sister in law and their beautiful daughter came to visit us. It was so fun to meet my niece Summer for the first time and see my kids play with their cousin. They haven't had a chance to play with a cousin in about 6 years!
The Mr and I were able to participate in a really fun relay on the weekend. We were part of the best team ever, and had so much fun! It was nice to be able to break from the stress of this adoption and just have a great time with friends.
On Tuesday, C started school. He has waited for Kindergarten to start for a long time. He was so excited to walk to school with his Uncle. He raced inside so quickly I had to literally chase him down to say goodbye. I tried to make him feel a little sad to make me, his more lonely old mother, feel better about him missing me, but it didn't work. He just wanted to be left at school alone. Oh well, I am told I should be glad that I raised self sufficient children. I guess I am.
On Tuesday night The family left to go home to Australia. I am always so sad to see my family leave. I don't get enough chances to spend time with them. It has been 7 years since I have been home and it makes me feel so homesick when they leave. I hope that they had as good a time visiting with us as we had with them.
Today M got her braces on. This has been something that we have argued about for a while and finally I talked her into it. She did a great job with not getting upset and I am proud of her for her decision.
The most exciting part of today is that I received an email this afternoon from the orphanage director in the Ukraine. She told me that she had passed our messages onto O and that she would love to talk to us. She gave us her phone number and told us when to call. I am so excited to be able to talk with her. I am not exactly sure how it will work since we don't speak Russian, but we are willing to give it a try so she knows that we are thinking her. I will let you all know how the call goes tomorrow.
Also on Saturday we will be having our first fundraiser. We are having a yard sale. I have already received many donations from fabulous people. Thank you all again. If there is anyone else that has anything that they would be willing to donate to our sale please let me know. I will be happy to come and pick it up from you. Just let me know!
P.S It seems I am a little computer illiterate and the pages I made are not working yet. Sorry to anyone that may have tried clicking on them. I will info posted as soon as I can.
I haven't posted for a few days because my brother and sister in law and their beautiful daughter came to visit us. It was so fun to meet my niece Summer for the first time and see my kids play with their cousin. They haven't had a chance to play with a cousin in about 6 years!
The Mr and I were able to participate in a really fun relay on the weekend. We were part of the best team ever, and had so much fun! It was nice to be able to break from the stress of this adoption and just have a great time with friends.
On Tuesday, C started school. He has waited for Kindergarten to start for a long time. He was so excited to walk to school with his Uncle. He raced inside so quickly I had to literally chase him down to say goodbye. I tried to make him feel a little sad to make me, his more lonely old mother, feel better about him missing me, but it didn't work. He just wanted to be left at school alone. Oh well, I am told I should be glad that I raised self sufficient children. I guess I am.
On Tuesday night The family left to go home to Australia. I am always so sad to see my family leave. I don't get enough chances to spend time with them. It has been 7 years since I have been home and it makes me feel so homesick when they leave. I hope that they had as good a time visiting with us as we had with them.
Today M got her braces on. This has been something that we have argued about for a while and finally I talked her into it. She did a great job with not getting upset and I am proud of her for her decision.
The most exciting part of today is that I received an email this afternoon from the orphanage director in the Ukraine. She told me that she had passed our messages onto O and that she would love to talk to us. She gave us her phone number and told us when to call. I am so excited to be able to talk with her. I am not exactly sure how it will work since we don't speak Russian, but we are willing to give it a try so she knows that we are thinking her. I will let you all know how the call goes tomorrow.
Also on Saturday we will be having our first fundraiser. We are having a yard sale. I have already received many donations from fabulous people. Thank you all again. If there is anyone else that has anything that they would be willing to donate to our sale please let me know. I will be happy to come and pick it up from you. Just let me know!
P.S It seems I am a little computer illiterate and the pages I made are not working yet. Sorry to anyone that may have tried clicking on them. I will info posted as soon as I can.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Facts about Ukrainian Orphans
Our future daughter is from an orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine. We have been told that this is a tourist town in the Ukraine and from what we can tell she is taken care of well in the orphanage that she lives in. However, as well taken care of as she seems, nothing compares to having a family around you that loves you unconditionally. Having a home and a family, people that will tuck you in at night and hug you when you are sad, all the small things that we take for granted, can mean the difference between success and failure in a child life. Here are some facts about Orphans in the Ukraine for you to think about:
- Ukrainian orphans “graduate” from the orphanage system at the age of 16 (This means that our sweet O only has a few years before she will be on her own. SO we would like to get her home with us as soon as possible!)
- Many orphans, after they graduate, will become homeless and alone. They will lack the education necessary to provide for themselves.
- 10% of orphans will commit suicide by their 18th birthday.
- 60% of the girls will end up in prostitution.
- 70% of the boys will enter a life of crime.
- Only 20% of orphans will find work.
- Orphans are the kids that human traffickers target and exploit.
- Typically, after the age of 5, a Ukraine orphan only has a 20% chance of being adopted (So our amazing kids have a very small chance of being adopted if we are unable to bring them into our home.)
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| This is O and her best friend Svetlana with M and L and their Orphanage director Melaniya. |
We understand that we can not help all of the orphans in the many Ukrainian orphanages. If only life was that easy! We can however, with your help, change the life of one of them. It only takes each of us to do a little to help these kids. By donating time, money or even just your love and prayers, you make it possible for us to change the destiny of this young girl. So Thank YOU!
We Need Your Help
I received and email this morning about helping another family adopt 3 of the orphans from the Ukraine. They are looking to raise a lot more money than we are and I felt for them in their fundraising efforts. I however feel unable to help them because we are trying so hard to raise our own money.
We have received many "congratulations" and "wow, that's a such a wonderful thing you are doing for her" responses from people that have found out our story, but as yet we have only received one donation. A wonderful friend of mine in Australia, yes all the way in Australia, donated to our cause. It was so wonderful to get that first donation, it made me cry and think that this thing we are trying to do, might actually be possible. But, since then we have had nothing.
We are still in the process of compiling documents for our home study, so we are not as far a long as I would like. After that is completed we have to file the paperwork with the INS, and then the big fees start coming. Let me share with you an example of what is to come -
we still need to pay our facilitation fee of $4900, we can postpone this for a little while and only send them a few hundred to get started, but eventually we will need to pay it.
Next comes the fees for the home study $750
Then the INS fee of $890
Then we need to find the 1st portion of our foreign fees, this is paid to the agency in the Ukraine $4800
we then need to get all of our documents apostatized $480
Then we need to have them translated and registered in the Ukraine $4500 and pay to fedex them over there $200.
All these things have to be done before we can even travel over there, which will bring many more fees and expenses. I think you can see why I am overwhelmed, discouraged, stressed and wondering how this is going to be possible.
If you are looking at those numbers and thinking, wow that is so much I can't possibly help, think again! There is no donation too small that it will not bless the life of this beautiful girl! You can not possibly imagine the gift even a few dollars would be to her and to us!
So with that said, I ask again, PLEASE share our story with everyone you know. Email our blog link to all of you friends, you never know who will be inspired to help. Share it on facebook or twitter. I don't care how the word gets out, I just need it too!! You don't have to know us to help us save an orphans life, you just have to have the desire to help :)
You can be a part of a great thing, no matter what part of the world you are from. Look in your couch cushions or under you bed.
PLEASE help us save a life, you will be blessed for it!
Thank you to everyone that has so willing donated items to our yard sale. Our garage is filled! But, please don't think that we can't use more. Whatever you have we will willing take. So let me know if you have something that we can come and pick up. :)
We have received many "congratulations" and "wow, that's a such a wonderful thing you are doing for her" responses from people that have found out our story, but as yet we have only received one donation. A wonderful friend of mine in Australia, yes all the way in Australia, donated to our cause. It was so wonderful to get that first donation, it made me cry and think that this thing we are trying to do, might actually be possible. But, since then we have had nothing.
We are still in the process of compiling documents for our home study, so we are not as far a long as I would like. After that is completed we have to file the paperwork with the INS, and then the big fees start coming. Let me share with you an example of what is to come -
we still need to pay our facilitation fee of $4900, we can postpone this for a little while and only send them a few hundred to get started, but eventually we will need to pay it.
Next comes the fees for the home study $750
Then the INS fee of $890
Then we need to find the 1st portion of our foreign fees, this is paid to the agency in the Ukraine $4800
we then need to get all of our documents apostatized $480
Then we need to have them translated and registered in the Ukraine $4500 and pay to fedex them over there $200.
All these things have to be done before we can even travel over there, which will bring many more fees and expenses. I think you can see why I am overwhelmed, discouraged, stressed and wondering how this is going to be possible.
If you are looking at those numbers and thinking, wow that is so much I can't possibly help, think again! There is no donation too small that it will not bless the life of this beautiful girl! You can not possibly imagine the gift even a few dollars would be to her and to us!
So with that said, I ask again, PLEASE share our story with everyone you know. Email our blog link to all of you friends, you never know who will be inspired to help. Share it on facebook or twitter. I don't care how the word gets out, I just need it too!! You don't have to know us to help us save an orphans life, you just have to have the desire to help :)
You can be a part of a great thing, no matter what part of the world you are from. Look in your couch cushions or under you bed.
PLEASE help us save a life, you will be blessed for it!
Thank you to everyone that has so willing donated items to our yard sale. Our garage is filled! But, please don't think that we can't use more. Whatever you have we will willing take. So let me know if you have something that we can come and pick up. :)
Monday, August 20, 2012
New Week
This week is going to be a busy one. We have meet the teacher today, I have to figure out how to get our mail back, (if you haven't heard our mailman decided that I had left the mail sitting in our box for too long and wont deliver to us anymore!) T and L start school tomorrow, M has her second of 3 orthodontic appointments to get her braces, and has an intake meeting for her new home school program. C gets tested for kindergarten, and Uncle Adam, Aunty Erin and Summer come to visit. Oh and The Mr and I run a relay on the weekend. . I also need to organize our fundraising yard sale, which we are still taking donations for, and get all the documents together for our home study. Find a way to pay the first installment of expenses and do just the normal everyday house work stuff! Now for most people this would be a regular day, but not for me. I am
usually pretty boring and never leave the house, so I will feel a bit overwhelmed this week!
I am really looking forward to spending a few days visiting with my brother and sister in law and getting to meet my beautiful niece. I am also really looking forward to running on the weekend with a van full of great friends. It is going to be a blast!!!
So, it is a new week and I am going to try and feel blessed because of the things I GET to do this week, and try and do them with a smile. I am not going to let the disappointments and trials of last week over shadow the accomplishments I might have this week. I will look to the future and hope for the best.
Here's to a new week, a week of fun and a week of smiles.
I am really looking forward to spending a few days visiting with my brother and sister in law and getting to meet my beautiful niece. I am also really looking forward to running on the weekend with a van full of great friends. It is going to be a blast!!!
So, it is a new week and I am going to try and feel blessed because of the things I GET to do this week, and try and do them with a smile. I am not going to let the disappointments and trials of last week over shadow the accomplishments I might have this week. I will look to the future and hope for the best.
Here's to a new week, a week of fun and a week of smiles.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Rough Day
Today has been very disheartening. I know there will be many days like this during this process. I was fully aware of that going into it. But it still is a sucky feeling. I have been trying to apply for different things to help us afford this adoption, but unfortunately none of them are going the way I hoped they would.
I am stuck in this viscous cycle of I have to pay to start the process, but I have to have the process started in order to get money! I am trying really hard to believe that the Lord will provide a way for us to accomplish this very huge thing we have started, and I know that its only the beginning of a very long heart wrenching journey. But, it is really hard to see that there will ever be a way for us to afford it. I know that my faith will be tested all the way along, and today is just the beginning! But boy, has it been hard.
My only hope is that it is going to be especially hard because it is the right thing for us. Satan always works the hardest when we are trying to follow the spirit, right?! So I will keep trying to remember that, because I have to hang on to some hope that the Lord wants us to be able to bring O home!
I am stuck in this viscous cycle of I have to pay to start the process, but I have to have the process started in order to get money! I am trying really hard to believe that the Lord will provide a way for us to accomplish this very huge thing we have started, and I know that its only the beginning of a very long heart wrenching journey. But, it is really hard to see that there will ever be a way for us to afford it. I know that my faith will be tested all the way along, and today is just the beginning! But boy, has it been hard.
My only hope is that it is going to be especially hard because it is the right thing for us. Satan always works the hardest when we are trying to follow the spirit, right?! So I will keep trying to remember that, because I have to hang on to some hope that the Lord wants us to be able to bring O home!
Monday, August 13, 2012
The Journey Begins
Yesterday morning we said a sad goodbye to our Ukrainian daughter! It was a really hard day for our family. On the way to the airport The Mr turned to see O with her sunglasses on looking away from everyone because she was crying. That started the sadness off. It was a very somber ride all the rest of the way despite the Mr and I trying hard to cheer everyone up.
When we finally reached the airport (we were the first family to arrive) things had settled down a little and we prepared for her departure.
After a few minutes the large group of kids and host families started pouring in and the crying and hugging began again.
I felt overwhelmed by peoples generosity, especially people I know that donated, when I saw the many, many bags of clothing that was to be sent back to the Ukraine.
Thank you to all that donated clothing and suitcases. The orphanages that will receive these things will be very grateful!
We stood around for a what seemed like a long time, while the people in charge of this large group got everything ready and everyone checked in. There were many opportunities for more hugs and more pictures and especially laughing and crying.
After standing around we were lead upstairs so they could all go through security. This was were we had to all say our final good bye. The kids were all really upset, they didn't yet know that we had decided to adopt O, but we told them about it when we got home. They were all very excited to think of ways to help us get money.
As sad as the Mr and I were to see our daughter leave us, I felt a very strong feeling of peace knowing that we would see her again. It may take us a while and it will definitely take all the money we have, but I know she will come home and be part of our family once more. She is in our prayers every night and I hope that things will go smoothly for us along this journey so we can have our whole family together again.
When we finally reached the airport (we were the first family to arrive) things had settled down a little and we prepared for her departure.
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| O, M and C sadly sitting around waiting for everyone to join us. |
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| O, L, M, C and T. |
After a few minutes the large group of kids and host families started pouring in and the crying and hugging began again.
I felt overwhelmed by peoples generosity, especially people I know that donated, when I saw the many, many bags of clothing that was to be sent back to the Ukraine.
We stood around for a what seemed like a long time, while the people in charge of this large group got everything ready and everyone checked in. There were many opportunities for more hugs and more pictures and especially laughing and crying.
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| me and our beautiful girl |
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| Checking in |
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| waiting |
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| Some of the group arriving. |
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| M clearly unhappy to see her friend/sister leave |
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| sadness all around! |
As sad as the Mr and I were to see our daughter leave us, I felt a very strong feeling of peace knowing that we would see her again. It may take us a while and it will definitely take all the money we have, but I know she will come home and be part of our family once more. She is in our prayers every night and I hope that things will go smoothly for us along this journey so we can have our whole family together again.
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| Yes there were better pictures but I thought this accurately showed you C! |
Friday, August 10, 2012
Our Next BIG Adventure!
So after fasting and praying about our visitor O, The Mr and I have decided that she is meant to be a part of our family!! We are planning on adopting her. This is a REALLY huge process and VERY expensive. We had a meeting last night with a few other prospective adoptive families, to discuss the process and the expense. I am a little overwhelmed by how much it is going to cost, and not really sure how we are going to pay for it. We don't have a lot of money and this will be pretty hard. But we feel like she is meant to be here, so we are going to try and find ways to get this done.
So here is where I ask for everyones help!!!!
We will be doing fund raisers (not sure just yet what they will be) to help cover the cost. We would love anyone that is willing or able to help us with that, to help by donating to our cause. I hate to ask people for money, but the fact is we don't have this kind of money, so I am going to have to break out of my comfort zone for the benefit of our new daughter!
If anyone knows of any non profit organizations or people that might be willing to donate as a tax right off, please let me know, or contact them and tell them of our situation, PLEASE!
If you can think of a good fund raiser, please tell me about it. We will need all the help we can get.
Our first expense will be straight away, so we need to work fast! O is available for adoption right away and we would love to have her home for Christmas. What a great family Christmas gift!!!
If all you can do is pray for us, that would also be greatly appreciated as well. I know we will need many small or maybe large miracles all along the way.
We are excited to take this path, (although a little overwhelmed and scared as well) but O is a VERY welcome addition to our little family. We would love you all to meet her before she has to return to the Ukrainian orphanage (sad day for us) on Sunday. So if you get a chance come on by, you will love her!
Oh if anyone wants to help me with my Russian, I would love that as well. I am pretty bad at it!! :) hehe
So here is where I ask for everyones help!!!!
We will be doing fund raisers (not sure just yet what they will be) to help cover the cost. We would love anyone that is willing or able to help us with that, to help by donating to our cause. I hate to ask people for money, but the fact is we don't have this kind of money, so I am going to have to break out of my comfort zone for the benefit of our new daughter!
If anyone knows of any non profit organizations or people that might be willing to donate as a tax right off, please let me know, or contact them and tell them of our situation, PLEASE!
If you can think of a good fund raiser, please tell me about it. We will need all the help we can get.
Our first expense will be straight away, so we need to work fast! O is available for adoption right away and we would love to have her home for Christmas. What a great family Christmas gift!!!
If all you can do is pray for us, that would also be greatly appreciated as well. I know we will need many small or maybe large miracles all along the way.
We are excited to take this path, (although a little overwhelmed and scared as well) but O is a VERY welcome addition to our little family. We would love you all to meet her before she has to return to the Ukrainian orphanage (sad day for us) on Sunday. So if you get a chance come on by, you will love her!
Oh if anyone wants to help me with my Russian, I would love that as well. I am pretty bad at it!! :) hehe
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Our Visitor
We are excited that today we get to welcome into our home a 13 year old girl from the Ukraine. Olena will be staying with us for about 12 days. She is here as part of a program to help her and about 14 other orphans find families to adopt them. They get to take English lessons and visit places of interest as well as fun places like 7 peaks. They get to experience new things and see what it's like to live with an American family. Most of the kids that have come have been alone for a long time. Some, like Elana have living family members that wont take them for all sorts of reasons, and so have given up hope of ever being loved. We hope to be able to help with that in some small way. I hope to be able to show her that there are people that can love her and that she can enjoy life. Most of the children that have made this trip wont be able to find families to adopt them because they are too old. In most cases, people want to adopt a baby or a young child. They want to be able to mold them and teach them. But really, imagine instead what we could learn from these kids!
In the Ukraine, a child in the system will "age out" when they turn 16. That means they are on their own. They are no longer allowed to live in the orphanage, with people they know and feel safe with. They are forced out onto the streets to care for themselves. This doesn't usually end well for them.
As is normal when I feel like I am doing something important, today I have been faced with the worst behaved kids I have had all summer long. All four of them have given me nothing but grief all day long. They have hit, kicked, bit, yelled, spilled garbage all over the ground, pouted, complained at every turn, and the day isn't even over. I am hoping that this behavior only means that what we are doing is the right thing and that Satan is trying to stop it. So, I will fight on. Our home may not be perfectly clean or organized when she arrives. There may even be some fighting amongst the kids and probably some growling from me. But, even though we don't have a lot to offer this young girl, what we do have, we most certainly share with her. I hope it makes even the smallest difference in her life. Then I will know that it was worth it.
If you can open your heart and home to a child for a week, or forever, please let me know. They are still looking for host families and adoptive families for these children.
In the Ukraine, a child in the system will "age out" when they turn 16. That means they are on their own. They are no longer allowed to live in the orphanage, with people they know and feel safe with. They are forced out onto the streets to care for themselves. This doesn't usually end well for them.
As is normal when I feel like I am doing something important, today I have been faced with the worst behaved kids I have had all summer long. All four of them have given me nothing but grief all day long. They have hit, kicked, bit, yelled, spilled garbage all over the ground, pouted, complained at every turn, and the day isn't even over. I am hoping that this behavior only means that what we are doing is the right thing and that Satan is trying to stop it. So, I will fight on. Our home may not be perfectly clean or organized when she arrives. There may even be some fighting amongst the kids and probably some growling from me. But, even though we don't have a lot to offer this young girl, what we do have, we most certainly share with her. I hope it makes even the smallest difference in her life. Then I will know that it was worth it.
If you can open your heart and home to a child for a week, or forever, please let me know. They are still looking for host families and adoptive families for these children.
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