May 12, 13, 14
It has been awhile as we were away from the internet. Will today (actually tomorrow) be the day? Will we finally get the passports? We have seen a faxed version and they are supposed to be on a train to Kiev from Chernivitsi. Bill and our driver Sasha (Crazy) will leave our hotel at 5:15 tomorrow morning to meet the train and hopefully get the passports. We will then race around Kiev trying to complete paperwork at the medical center and embassy in time to be at the airport by 11 AM. If we can't make that flight we will have to pay some heavy change fees and wait until Friday. We have learned to plan and then expect to change plans so it would be great to finish and leave Thursday but...well you get the idea. Some very big additional news to share on our first blog outside Ukraine. You will just have to wait.
Monday we tried to fill our day with activities. We washed the car in the morning. Of course once the eight of us piled in, it was pretty messy again from kids' feet on the seats. Then it rained off an on all day so ...Murphy's car wash laws work here as well. Then we went out shopping and afterwards found a nice Italian place to eat. We had spaghetti and pizza-pretty tasty-but still not home. Then we enjoyed a boat ride on a small river. Finally, we returned home to prepare a Shishkabob/barbecue/birthday dinner for our host mom, Luba. Bill and I have taken to humming "One Day More" from Les Miserables to each other (very appropriate don't you think). Our late dinner party was outside and lit by candlelight. Then the rain came so in this country setting the food had to be moved inside and the clothes taken off the laundry line. Somewhat abrupt end to a nice evening.
Tuesday-packed up and headed back to Kiev as the holidays are finally over and we cold get back to business. Our patience and cash are getting thin. Negative vibes from the newest daughter have not helped. She seems nostalgic for the "good old days" in her region. Who knows what will come of this? Our new kids are getting used to one another. They love one another but also can argue and be impatient. They have spent very little time together the last two years. They still have their dream of a perfect family- and, if you know us, that dream cannot come true. This sounds pretty negative so lets be clear.
Hope comes from our faith, not our circumstances. Jesus remains in charge, even in a place such as this and circumstances as we have described. We need to keep our eye on the vision of success: boarding the plane home and completing this part of the journey. As a friend recently reminded us the word of the month is ENDURE.
For those reading this at Bill's work place, the City of Angels, please do not take his office or move his desk just yet. He actually does plan to return to work. And soon!
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I can't believe it! "negative vibes" from a 17-year old!?! Must be something unique to Ukrainian adolesents. One would certainly never encounter something like that here in the United States. ;-)
ReplyDeletePrayers continue for harmony and understading.
Good to hear from you again. Prayers continue. Love you all much.
ReplyDeleteD.
God will ALWAYS offer His Love and Comfort to us and our families which is not necessarily by making everything lovely and comfortable. There will be great times and not so great times (just as in any family). The love and care of orphans is in His will. As we read, fulfilling His will is not always easy, but will be rewarding. Lean on Him – you will surely be blessed by what you are doing – even if it is not always readily apparent. Continued prayers for your family and all of the FH families stepping out in faith. Tony
ReplyDeleteWe are also in the process of adopting, but are several steps behind you. We do have friends in the Chernivitsi area, if you need another contact there. The husband is Ukrainian, wife Ukrainian with US citizenship. Both speak EXCELLENT English and he helped us when we were in Ukraine last spring. If you'd like their contact info, just comment on my blog.
ReplyDeletewe wanted to let you know that we are praying that God puts the people/things as well as what you need(spirtually) to get you through all this.Remember God is in control and won't let you down.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless
Alma&Anthony
Hello Rebecca and everyone who gets to read this msg.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to touch base with you and let you know that you are still in my prayers
As I write this note I hope you are all well and I hope that maybe you are on your way home if, not already here.
We hope to hear from you soon,
The Lord Bless and Keep you all well and safe
Alma and Anthony