Court is at 10a tomorrow... Please pray it goes smoothly.
The deputy director showed us their newly redone computer lab and a speech therapy room. Apparently the staff is doing all the labor themselves to save money and they are doing a really nice job. I will add pictures once I get them off the camera.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Court
Another great few days... I haven't written much simply cause it has been fairly uneventful besides having fun.
We spent more time today with the kids. We brought two basketballs and two soccer balls which were really well received.
There is one really sweet girl there I wish could find a family... She has like five siblings over various ages though and would probably have to be separated to be practical. She was hanging out with us periodically, always has a smile, and has a very meek/mild personality. Unfortunately I don't think she is on the hosting program this time.
We got this Friday the 23rd as a court date.
Praises
- early court date
- all the paperwork made it out last Friday
- Melissa is doing much better but still under the weather
Prayer requests
- the next few days go well, especially with Ashley who was really tired today
- for a great court... The main adoption judge is out so we aren't exactly sure what to expect
I think this picture says it.
We spent more time today with the kids. We brought two basketballs and two soccer balls which were really well received.
There is one really sweet girl there I wish could find a family... She has like five siblings over various ages though and would probably have to be separated to be practical. She was hanging out with us periodically, always has a smile, and has a very meek/mild personality. Unfortunately I don't think she is on the hosting program this time.
We got this Friday the 23rd as a court date.
Praises
- early court date
- all the paperwork made it out last Friday
- Melissa is doing much better but still under the weather
Prayer requests
- the next few days go well, especially with Ashley who was really tired today
- for a great court... The main adoption judge is out so we aren't exactly sure what to expect
I think this picture says it.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Just keeps getting better
Our translator is awesome and all the documents made it on a bus to Kyiv so we can get a scheduled court date.
We got to the school at 8am and went out playing with Amber shortly after. Some of the kids seem took take the opportunity to use our being there as yet another excuse to ditch class. Amber's best friend actually asked and got permission to spend time with us. Once I caught on to what was going on I took the iPad away from the boys getting in trouble and told them to go to class. Apparently some kids have a half day on Friday and some a full day... Had one trustworthy kid who could speak English ok -- the one who actually asked permission -- help me figure out which was which :)
The iPad is a huge hit and since there is no internet there I don't have to worry about the kids getting into trouble with it. I don't put anything on there i wouldn't let my 11 yr old daughter use. The boys tend to play one of the racing games and the girls alternate between barbie fashion studios and cake doodle. I frankly just leave it and let them play with it... Ashley doesn't mind letting them use her toy and the only "problem" I've had is forcing things so the less assertive kids get a chance.
We have been able to spend a lot of time with Amber and gotten to see her with her friends... And not so friends. Had some good conversations with the caregivers too.
Looking forward to tomorrow... Especially not having to get up at 6a to head out. Keep in mind it takes me two weeks to adjust to a timezone... Always been that way... And 6a here is 11p back home.
We got to the school at 8am and went out playing with Amber shortly after. Some of the kids seem took take the opportunity to use our being there as yet another excuse to ditch class. Amber's best friend actually asked and got permission to spend time with us. Once I caught on to what was going on I took the iPad away from the boys getting in trouble and told them to go to class. Apparently some kids have a half day on Friday and some a full day... Had one trustworthy kid who could speak English ok -- the one who actually asked permission -- help me figure out which was which :)
The iPad is a huge hit and since there is no internet there I don't have to worry about the kids getting into trouble with it. I don't put anything on there i wouldn't let my 11 yr old daughter use. The boys tend to play one of the racing games and the girls alternate between barbie fashion studios and cake doodle. I frankly just leave it and let them play with it... Ashley doesn't mind letting them use her toy and the only "problem" I've had is forcing things so the less assertive kids get a chance.
We have been able to spend a lot of time with Amber and gotten to see her with her friends... And not so friends. Had some good conversations with the caregivers too.
Looking forward to tomorrow... Especially not having to get up at 6a to head out. Keep in mind it takes me two weeks to adjust to a timezone... Always been that way... And 6a here is 11p back home.
Location:Zaporizhzhya,Ukraine
Thursday, September 15, 2011
A really great day
Today was just a really fantastic day... Probably in the top ten ever. We got to the orphanage around 8a. Anya wrote the letter saying she wanted to be adopted, we got a question on the birth certificate answered definitively the way it needed to be, got nearly all the documents we needed, and of course spent a great day with Anya and all the kids.
Anya insisted on changing her entire name... A little sad because I actually love her name Anya but happy she was comfortable telling us that much. She chose Amber Noelle. It will take some getting used to.
We talked and played a lot. UNO... The iPad was a huge hit. Delivered the NHFC packages... Except one where the girl moved to the trade school. The iPad has been great... Not only the games but we showed some picture and video of host families as well as one girl used it to write a short letter back to her host family... Which I was already able to send.
The kids and staff liked to talk and look at the photos a lot. I have not ever heard of such a supportive orphanage... Not even close. For whatever reason the kids understand that families are good, the realities of their situation, but at the same time have a healthy relationship with their school mates. I can assume it is a culture built by the staff and it is very healthy... And it is a poor orphanage so they do with little.
Our daughter Ashley instantly found several new best friends. She was having such a good time she asked if she could stay... Um no... But I did smile... I didn't want to leave this evening either even knowing I'll be back bright and early tomorrow.
This summer Amber had asked us if we were going to adopt any more kids after her... Wanting a no, and no was our plan. Today she asked if we were going to host or adopt any more after her... And then said she had several suggestions, specifically the adorable little girl standing next to her and wearing a pair of the ear rings we gave her yesterday.
Some of the other girls we know were giving me hugs... At one point Amber said to one of them "my dad"... I noticed she had been a little jealous and cuddling closer most of the day, wasn't minding and she was clearly happy. They were all her good friends. At the end of our time Amber said she was going to be standing there right at the driveway when we come tomorrow.
Current Prayer requests...
0. Melissa gets over her sinus infection
1. That the mayor is in early tomorrow and signs our document
2. That the inspector is in tomorrow and signs the corrected school documents
3. That we can get everything on the train to the SDA tomorrow evening
4. That the discussion at the courthouse goes well tomorrow
5. For a near term court date with a good judge
Anya insisted on changing her entire name... A little sad because I actually love her name Anya but happy she was comfortable telling us that much. She chose Amber Noelle. It will take some getting used to.
We talked and played a lot. UNO... The iPad was a huge hit. Delivered the NHFC packages... Except one where the girl moved to the trade school. The iPad has been great... Not only the games but we showed some picture and video of host families as well as one girl used it to write a short letter back to her host family... Which I was already able to send.
The kids and staff liked to talk and look at the photos a lot. I have not ever heard of such a supportive orphanage... Not even close. For whatever reason the kids understand that families are good, the realities of their situation, but at the same time have a healthy relationship with their school mates. I can assume it is a culture built by the staff and it is very healthy... And it is a poor orphanage so they do with little.
Our daughter Ashley instantly found several new best friends. She was having such a good time she asked if she could stay... Um no... But I did smile... I didn't want to leave this evening either even knowing I'll be back bright and early tomorrow.
This summer Amber had asked us if we were going to adopt any more kids after her... Wanting a no, and no was our plan. Today she asked if we were going to host or adopt any more after her... And then said she had several suggestions, specifically the adorable little girl standing next to her and wearing a pair of the ear rings we gave her yesterday.
Some of the other girls we know were giving me hugs... At one point Amber said to one of them "my dad"... I noticed she had been a little jealous and cuddling closer most of the day, wasn't minding and she was clearly happy. They were all her good friends. At the end of our time Amber said she was going to be standing there right at the driveway when we come tomorrow.
Current Prayer requests...
0. Melissa gets over her sinus infection
1. That the mayor is in early tomorrow and signs our document
2. That the inspector is in tomorrow and signs the corrected school documents
3. That we can get everything on the train to the SDA tomorrow evening
4. That the discussion at the courthouse goes well tomorrow
5. For a near term court date with a good judge
Location:Zaporizhzhya,Ukraine
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Anya
Us right after getting Anya's SDA referral.
The train arrived this morning in Zap. It wasn't bad though I kept worrying about my daughter falling off the top bunk since she moves around so much at night... So got way less sleep than I normally would have.
Got to the inspector office around 2p and got the paperwork done shortly after for the referral and headed over to the school. Unfortunately the deputy director and director weren't there so we didn't get the official answer but it was clear Anya was coming and the inspector and social worker (?) asked her questions. We had rushed to embrace when she entered the room. It was a really good day.
Ashley had been saying, almost demanding, to go see Anya... Made it clear she didn't care about anything else but seeing Anya. We saw her smile more than any time at all on this trip. She really liked giving Anya the rose we got for her and the jewelry she had picked out in America for her.
The topic of Snezhana not going did come up... Which was good, it has been the elephant in the room on our calls for a while since we had not real answer to give her. When we told her she was only slightly bummed and was worried about losing her Ukrainian... Told her we would still go to the Russian speaking baptist church if she wanted and of course let her call Tanya her new friend from Ukraine in America... There is also Dennis though I understand he's not the level of communication she is looking for. We affirmed we want her to keep her language skills too as when she graduates from college, having three language fluent is a big step up... Especially in the DC area. I forgot to mention we are going to let her call h friends in Ukraine too.
We got as much paperwork done tonight as we could. We will be at the school at 8am to do more. We have to figure out with her what name she wants to go by tomorrow. We will also hopefully get the NHFC gifts handed out tomorrow too.
Location:Zaporizhzhya,Ukraine
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Snezhana
Finally got a definitive answer from Snezhana... a no as expected. Now we can hopefully focus on a quick and fun trip with Anya... though we still have to break it to her that S isn't coming. I think she knows though and she'll be fine with it... she gets her own room and she knows S was causing some trouble in the house at the end of hosting that she was pretty appalled by.
We are still sad in many ways and wish her the best but it was good to get an answer she is confident in. At some point we will let her know she needs to reach out to us if she wants to continue contact with us and Dennis. We will keep sending letters to her grandmother on an ongoing basis and the orphanage director at least until she leaves... so she will always know how to get in touch with us. I might send return postage to grandma next time in case she wants to write back.
We take the late night train to Zap tonight... hoping to see Anya tomorrow. We have about 70lbs of gifts with us :)
We are still sad in many ways and wish her the best but it was good to get an answer she is confident in. At some point we will let her know she needs to reach out to us if she wants to continue contact with us and Dennis. We will keep sending letters to her grandmother on an ongoing basis and the orphanage director at least until she leaves... so she will always know how to get in touch with us. I might send return postage to grandma next time in case she wants to write back.
We take the late night train to Zap tonight... hoping to see Anya tomorrow. We have about 70lbs of gifts with us :)
Monday, September 12, 2011
SDA done
I don't think we remembered to take any pictures. It was all done quick and Ashley and Melissa are a bit under the weather with allergies.
It took a little bit of explaining with the whole Anya, Snezhana, and Dennis thing :). She also wanted to make sure we knew about Snezhana's siblings Violetta and Yaroslav... Yes yes, we know and they don't want to be adopted. It was the same SDA person who jumped in last time and seemed to be making up rules to make our lives more complicated but she was fine this time though everything by the book. I actually could tell her voice when we were outside and she was yelling down at our facilitator... Cringe.
We will get the referral for Anya tomorrow and hopefully get to the train tomorrow night. Found out some stuff we didn't know that got me choked up but the rest of the stuff was typical of SDA write ups.
Thank you for your prayers, keep them coming.
It took a little bit of explaining with the whole Anya, Snezhana, and Dennis thing :). She also wanted to make sure we knew about Snezhana's siblings Violetta and Yaroslav... Yes yes, we know and they don't want to be adopted. It was the same SDA person who jumped in last time and seemed to be making up rules to make our lives more complicated but she was fine this time though everything by the book. I actually could tell her voice when we were outside and she was yelling down at our facilitator... Cringe.
We will get the referral for Anya tomorrow and hopefully get to the train tomorrow night. Found out some stuff we didn't know that got me choked up but the rest of the stuff was typical of SDA write ups.
Thank you for your prayers, keep them coming.
Location:Kyiv, Ukraine
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