Arrival

Arrival
We are here. Our Internet is not working and we have not had time to get to an Internet store yet. I am borrowing Eric & Cindy's computer to blog. Can't post any pictures though they are in our computer. Everything has been very busy and Syvette is swamped with unexpected issues to work through. She has been working around the clock to try to serve all the families and to assure everyone's adoptions go through smoothly. We pray for her daily that God gives her strength and good health to help her make it through. We pray for Him to surround her and go before her. She is doing an amazing job.
The kids were all excited to see us. Lena cried when we left yesterday, I am not exactly sure what the tears are for, Syvette said their are many people still pressuring Lena about her decision to go to America. She ask to leave the orphanage as soon as possible and have us take her and Erik to Kiev to wait the remaining days here in the Ukraine. Not sure when that will be.c
Today we are to travel 5 hours round trip to apply for the kids passports. We have to travel to their city where they were born. Then when we return we will be meeting the kids older sister today. She is traveling from the city where she lives to meet us and say good-bye to the kids. We look forward to meeting her and appreciate the sacrifice she is making to come. Lena has shared with us how much they love their sister, but she is unable financially to come visit them so they have not seen her for a very long time. They do speak by phone and are still very close. She says leaving her sister will be the hardest for her but that she wants to go and her sister is happy for her and Erik. Today will be emotional I am sure.

Heading Home & Back Again

This blog was written by Russ the last day of our first trip, but I just now had a a chance to post it.
We started out this morning at 5 AM on the 6 hour trip to Kiev by van. Not sure what was worse the pot holes that will swallow your tire or the driver's quick erratic swerving to miss them (you may want to seriously consider Dramamine or Bonine to ease the car sickness) sleep is impossible trust me.
My thoughts go back to our final good-byes on our last night at the orphanage, much different than when we were here in the spring. The air was filled with much happiness, love and expectant hope! When Lena gave me her last hug good-bye it was as if she didn't want to let go and when she did there were huge tears on her cheeks. I gently brushed them away and said 9 days and kissed the top of her head as I said, "I love you sweetie."Without a word those beautiful piercing eyes of hers said, "Thank you pappa, I love you, I'll miss you, thank you pappa." After many hugs from Lena's friends and just before leaving her group I took one last lookat two special girls, Nastya and Anna P., two very sweet, loving, shy, precoous, ask for nothing, give everything type girls who want a pappa and mamma so very much ( wish our home was bigger)
Then it was up the sidewalk toward the car escorted by Artur, Dema and Erik for another round of embraces. Artur after 3 huge hugs looked me in the eye and said. "Good-bye, Ruzzell, see you." Dema with that happy ornery up to something smile said, "Russ see you, 9 days" then gave me a monster hug. Erik wanting to be last gave his usual affectionate, warm hug, looked up with that smile he normally has and said, " I love you pappa." I smiled and said I love you too, buddy. Then one more round of hugs and we were off.

Lori-
It hardly seems possible that we are back again. We arrived home last Sunday and treid to soak up as much time as posible with all our kids and grand kids. We managed to finish Christmas shopping and celebrated Christmas before heading back out on Saturday to return to Ukraine. In case you hadn't noticed that is less than a week home. It was hard to leave so quickly. This time Russ is accompanying me on the second trip.
We left Saturday morning at 9:00 AM for the drive to JFK Airport in NYC. It is a non stop 10 hour flight so we felt this would work best for bringing the kids home. Tina accompanied us, we missed Dusty but he has to work this round. When we arrived in Kiev we immediately left by van to go back to Krivoy Rig. This is the worst leg of the trip and took about six hours. Mick and Janel wish we could have stayed in Kiev and visisted with you then brought the train with you here. But we are here now. Not sure where we are staying yet. Tonght we are with Tina at her apartment we were told we were going back to the apartment we had with Noels but we did not want Tina to stay alone. Syvette called and said she will be here in the morning her and McCrackens are coming by train, still not sure why we didn't do that. Then I gusee we will move over with Eric and Cindy (if they can let the disco lights off and slow down the dancing long enough for us to get some much needed sleep). LOL

BIG Day

Today was a BIG day. Rus & I and Dusty and Tina had our court hearing today to adopt the kids. Tina and Dusty are officially the Papa and Mama of Dema. Russ and I now officially have 8 children!
There was alot of emotions, tons of joy and happiness and blessing abounding. Eric and Cindy met Dema today also. So it was a day to celebrate.
Dusty and Tina shared that they held their emotions together fairly well until the orphanage director at court shared the story that when Dema cam to their orphanage fro the baby orphanage at 2 the first thing he ask the director upon arriving was, "Do you have a mama and papa for me?" Dema has been waiting for 14 years, all his life for this day to arrive. God couldn't have chosen a more perfect family for him.
Our court was a bit longer this trip than with Ana as we were ask questions about her also. And of course we alwasy get the question how many children do you have and why do you want more when you already have such a big family? Syvette told us most peopel have 1 or 2 children and 3 is a large family. When ask if we had grandchildren and how many and our response was 8, they chuckled 8 children, 8 grandchildren, would you like to adopt the whole orphanage to which I replied, "I wish we could."
It was great to share in such a special day with Dusty and Tina, Eric and Cindy. Seeing them with their boys warms my heart. Nostya D. was beaming as she got to be with Cindy, he other Babushca. I told her Haiden said she is going to have to learn to call me Grammy, tha Babushca will not work. She thought that was funny.
Andre once again popped in. He is such a little sweetheart. He looked in the room then took off running. I went after him and we shared a hug. I picked him up and he told me something. Nostya said he said, "I do not have a family. Where is my family." Bless his heart, he has been finding us everyday and seeing people come that he knows from America, but he hasn't been able to find his family. He wants to know where you are Doug and Lindy, he is looking for you. Nostya D. and I explained that he does have a family coming and he wanted to know when. We told him after Nostya's family probably February. He seems to accept that. Nostya D. said she will keep reassuring him. Maybe you better send a Christmas gift with family pictures over when we come back (which will be Saturday, Dec. 18, we get home Sunday the 12th). A quick trip home to celebrate an early Christmas with family.
Lena and Erik are very happy. I was very proud of them in court. They were very brave. Erik went first since he is the man the judge said. He answered yes to his questions: do you want to be adopted by Russell and Lori, do you want to live in America, do you agree to have your sir name changed to Walk? Next Lena stepped forward to answer the same questions and in addition she was told, "Are you sure you want to go to America? Here in the Ukraine you are a famous painter, in America you will be zero." She didn't give a typical simple yes, not Lena (she is so much like her sister Heather, knows what she wants and is self assured and independent) she answered, "I feel I will have even more opportunities in America than here in the Ukraine."
For dinner we went out for a celebration. (Cindy, Eric, Dusty, Tina, Syvette, Andre, Russ and I) We had a great time full of lots of laughs. I laughed until I cried, Cindy said she had never seen me laugh so hard.
Tomorrow we go to the notary to start the passport process. Then shopping to buy coats and other items the orphanage director gave us as much needed things for the children.
Tomorrow will be our last day on this trip. We fly home Sunday. Eric and Cindy are staying with us at the apartment we have and will remain here after we leave. It was so great to see them and have them stay with us.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:

December 16th the courts are scheduled to take the final vote for closing international adoptions. The preliminary vote passed. If it is brought up for vote and passes then all adoptions will stop Dec. 31 for an indefinate amount of time until formal agreements can be reached between the Ukraine and countries desiring to adopt from them. This needs our prayer attention!

Tomorrow Is Court

This was the last day at the orphanage before court, we played cards, skyped Russie and Cheri with Nostya D., she loved seeing her and Vika's bedroom. She was in awe. Vika D. didn't get to see her room she was at the hospital, the kids said that at Age 13 everyone has to spend a week in the hospital getting tests. Must be pretty extensive from how they were describing it. We also Skyped Ana at school so her friends and previous art teacher could speak to her. Everyone was excited to talk to her. Of course they reverted back to calling her Nostya, I am not sure how the new America names will be applied or if they will all call each other by their Ukrainain names. I can hardly imagine Artur being called anything other than Salt. The kids looked at pictures from when they were at camp at the lodge and laughed at pictures of family in costume at the Halloween Party. Isaac and Russie's costumes were the big hits for laughs with them. Lena is nervous for court tomorrow she is afraid they will not let her be adopted. We tried to put her mind at ease and explained what questions she would be asked and assured her everything would be ok. Pray for us tomorrow we have a 10:00 Am and noon court date one for Tina and Dusty and one for us. We do not know which time is which yet, we will go together to court. Cindy and Eric will be arriving by train with Syvette in the morning. They will be staying with us in our apartment. Can't wait to see them. They will get to go to the orphanage tomorrow to meet with the director about Dema and will get to see him. I wish I could watch their joy when they are reunited for the first time. At the top are the pictures of Andre when we saw him yesterday.

Almost There

Only 2 days until court. I cannot wait! I am homesick! I miss my family at home and I am ready to go home!
Last night we recieved a phone call that our granddaughter was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. She has her tonsils ands adnoids removed the day before Thanksgiving and an artery attached to one burst and started hemorraging. She was throwing up blood and having a hard time staying conscience enroute to the hospital and her bp was 80 over 40 when she arrived. It is so hard to be so far away when your family needs you. Ryan called as they were pulling into the hospital to ask us to pray. As we were praying I felt a point where God was saying everything is ok she is in my hands I will take care of her the bleeding has stopped. We later found out God did indeed intervene and stop the bleeding. The surgery was still done to carterize the artery to prevent future problems. Emails are a hard way to be in contact through out the night when your little grandbaby is in trouble. So needless to say there was little sleep.
Lena had an art exhibition featuring 10 of her paintings open yesterday. She and the srt teacher went to view the paintings and to have Lena interviewed, the day before we arrived in Krivoy Rig they had interviewed Lena on television about her art work. Unfortunately the orphanage director would not permit us to attend the exhibit since we have not officially adopted Lena, even though it was open to the public. Also, Lena was not granted permission to go to the viewing until after her scheduled interview since she will be going to America instead of staying here. It was hard for Lena and her art teacher, they both cried when they were not permitted to attend the interview. Many people here do not want Lena to go to America she has ben told various times to not go that she is their shining star. Lena is committed to going. We were told Lena is already in America, that is all she thinks about, dreams about and longs for and hat she loves her family very much and cannot wait to go with us.
Lena and Erik are both very special children, intelligent and talented. Eddick is a quiet observer who takes everything in and forgets little. He is initially quiet and observant. Lena is bubbly, outgoing and hides nothing. She is very open and honest. They are both wonderful children and we feel blessed to have them as a part of our family.
Olya is back with the girls which was exciting. The girls were all in high spirits from her return. The girl's group is very warm and welcoming and loves to have us visit. They were full of giggles tonight as Lena tried to video Vika S and Nostya D speaking to their host families in America. Vika D. was not there this evening she was getting a check up at the doctors, just routine nothing wrong.
I also had a pleasant surprise when Andre showed up at the girl's dorm with one of the older boys. When he saw me his eyes got big and when I reached out to him he came running into my arms with a big hug. He had a coat on that made him look 3 times his size. He is so sweet and precious Doug and Lindy.
I also visited Ana's group to give her teacher a letter from Ana I was almost bowled over with hugs as the girls swarmed around me. They were so proud to show me the new things they received from the money Ana left for them from her deceased mother's account. They are a happy group.

A PIcture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Lena kept the camera over night here are some of her pictures. Erik will keep it today so tomorrow we will post some of his pictures of the guys.

Eric and Cindy arrived safely in Kiev their SDA appointment is tomorrow. Their blog will have more information about the little kids than we have ben able to provide, since Dema is in the younger group.

Counting The Days

We are trying to stay busy to help the time pass more quickly. Everyday we learn more how much we do not understand. My advice is DO NOT ask questions, do what you are told without hesitation, do not try to make sense of anything, DO NOT do anything you are not directly told to do even if it seems like a kind thing to do. I am not joking. Gifts are seen as bribes and are unacceptable unless the adoption is complete and you are on your second trip. Small gifts for your child are ok but nothing else.

Next have an international phone with you. Today we received a phone call from Sasha who was at the airport in Kiev waiting for Eric and Cindy who were just boarding a plane in State College to leave due to a plane delay. We were pretty wrried when we couldn't reach them and no family memebers knew their expected arrival time in Kiev. Picture this: arriving in KIev, you can't speak the language, there is no one waiting for you because no one knows when you are coming and you have no way to get ahold of anyone, not good. Thankfully David was able to get the correct arrival times to Sasha. Lesson; let David know your flight itinerary and any delays, let someone at home know, have an international phone so you can call someone, have Sasha's number in your phone, (our very first trip we called David in the states and he found Sasha for us.) Eric and Cindy will arrive tomorrow at 1:10 pray for safe travel for them please.

Today we spent time with Lena's art teacher and Dusty and Tina had opportunity to watch Dema box and to meet his instructor. It seems we have a prize winning boxer and a great artist coming home with us. Tomorrow wew have the privilege of going to an art exhibit with Inna, the art teacher, the orphanage director and Lena because Lena's art will be displayed there. People have been buying her work when it is on display, I hope we have the opportunity to buy one of Lena's pieces. She told us when in America that the thing that would mean the most to her from the Ukraine would be to bring her art work to America with her.