I'm sure I won't have time or be able to blog after EVERY day, but the first full 24 hours need a post.....
We got K from the airport last night about 9:15 or so. We could see her behind a glass wall with all the other kids that had flown in to ATL together. I was hopping up and down to see over the people in front of me, but I was finally able to get my first glimpse of her in 5 mos. I kept waving like a crazy person, and she finally realized it was me and waved back. They were bringing all the little hosted children out first, so we had to wait an extra few minutes to get our hugs. It felt like an eternity. I choked up the longer I had to just stand there, and by the time they let her walk out to us, I had the ugly cry going on. I think it was emotional for her too. Gabe was kind and let me cry all over her first, and then he grabbed both of us in a bear hug....guess I took too long. Once I let go, she fell into his arms too, and then that made me cry more.
Then after the hug there is that moment where I want to ask her a million questions, but I know she is tired and when she is stressed, her English goes out the window. So I just stand there and try and clean up the water works. She hugged Craig, who is the one that met her on his mission trip in March and we credit with 'matching' us. Her BFF "M" is being hosted by friends of ours, so I told her hello and hugged her as well. I have emailed this friend some, and M's English is really good, so after a few minutes we are all talking. M, by the way, has my birthday, and has the cutest lisp and freckles.
So we got to Gabe's truck and she hopped right in and put on his hardhat (which she wore about half way home, LOL). My sister had kept the kids at our house bc the flight was so late (and my youngest had a fever) so the ride was really quiet. We did talk alittle, but it really nice just to have her so close!
She seemed very excited to be back in our house. She seemed to look at everything quickly, as if she was making sure it was the same. She smiled big when she saw our Christmas tree, and then tried to find our cat. Turns out, 2 of our kids heard us come in and woke up to tell her hello. One was too tired to do much but wave, but K's roommate (my middle child) just kept giggling and giggling! She was sooooo happy to have her big sister home.
Today we mostly stayed around the house. We attempted a gingerbread house, but it will not stay up and together. We rode bikes and then after lunch we watched a movie. K plopped on the couch next to me and grabbed my arm and rested her head on my shoulder. She has been easy going and talkative, even though I know she is still terribly tired.
She started to really sag about 3, so we went to the park to take advantage of this really weird warm weather we're having. We all played soccer and then came home to have a snack. She gave herself a manicure, and then painted J and A's nails also. For dinner, I made her favorite: creamy chicken over rice, green beans, corn bread (not really her fave, but still....) and cranberry sauce (because my other 3 really REALLY like it. Don't think K thought it was too great, though......). Then I let everyone have soda at dinner instead of water. She ate 2 good sized helpings. Oh, and Gabe broke out the jarred jalapenos for her.
After a record breaking long shower, she joined us in the living room (barefoot and in her flannel Christmas jammies) and she and Gabe looked at her home town on Google earth. You can actually see tons of street level pictures, and she really seemed to like that. About 7:30, all the kids started begging to go to bed (!?), so off they went. K tried to read a book, but I'm betting she wasn't a page in when I heard her breathing change and she was asleep. (No, I'm not creeping, I have to sit with my 5 year old on the bottom bunk til she's asleep...but if I was creeping, can you blame me?)
To summarize: we're picking up where we left off. It's like she never left and has been here forever. All the 'work' we did this summer, building trust etc, is still in place. I was a tad worried we would have to retrace our steps, honestly. We came so far with her in four weeks. But she is barefoot, affectionate, saying "I love you", letting me wash her clothes, talking, joking, and asking for seconds. They really are simple things, but they did not just happen. She had to learn all that was okay.
I'm so glad she still knows it's okay. And I am. so. glad. she's. here.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wanna win a Kindle Fire?
Friends of ours are sponsering a giveaway to help us host this winter.
Please check this link out for ways to enter.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Rest of the Story:
Some of you watched this unfold on Facebook, but even those that saw the totals and updates didn't hear the whole story.
I would like to start off by saying that Sunday was amazing. Our pastor taught on exactly what Gabe and I needed to hear being somewhat (ok, very, discouraged) about fundraising. The songs were great, and the message was timely. The service ended with random people sharing about answered prayer. I'm not sure there was a dry eye anywhere in the room. We moved from there to our small group which meets right after the service at a friend's home. That too, was encouraging. It was all about prayer and encouragement and God moving in peoples lives. Then someone gave us a gift (read about that HERE), and that was the icing on the cake.
If I had not been at church or small group on Sunday, I am not sure I would have been able to handle Monday morning.
I knew we owed a hefty balance on our hosting fees. By yesterday morning, we had only been able to pay $656 towards $2300. So when the lady in charge of the L-tvian group called, I knew it was about our money. She starts asking about our financial ability to host since we seem to have issues getting money turned in, and do we really think we can host, or should we just focus on the adoption. She needs to buy a plane ticket and we don't have enough sent in for "K" to get a ticket. We can pull the plug and not host, or maybe she can try and float the funds but if we can't repay, everyone is out money. All I could tell her was we were trying to get the money and we knew God would provide. She kept pushing, saying she really needed to buy the plane ticket, bc if she waited and there were no seats left, "K" wouldn't be able to come. By this time I am in tears and I told her I would call Gabe and then call her later in the afternoon and let her know what we had decided.
I hung up and lay on the bed and cried and cried. Visions of "K" being alone at Christmas and us letting her down filled my head. I started praying. Hard. I asked God if we heard Him right; were we supposed to have her at Christmas? Was that just wishful thinking on our part? I called Gabe and told him what we were up against. Basically we needed $1000 (at least) TODAY or we were in serious trouble.
We hung up and I prayed more. Gabe found a parking lot to sit in and he sat and prayed as well. After I prayed, I posted what was going on on my FB page, and Gabe did the same on his. We each got several emails saying people were praying and giving what they could. I felt their prayers and was totally filled with a peace that was like a cool, refreshing blanket. It may sound like a weird explanation, but that's the only way I can describe it. I could literally FEEL the prayers of my friends translating into peace for my heart.
A bit later, I got an anonymous email. It stated they had seen the Facebook post and they wanted to help. They asked how much we needed. I said my best guess was $800 since all the donations were going straight to the hosting organization and I didn't know exact totals at that point. A couple of hours after that email, I received another saying $800 had been put in our account for "K"s behalf, and if at the end of the day we were short, to let them know and they would make up the difference. My jaw hit the floor. I called Gabe and he just kept saying "What?! What?!"
In less than 8 hours, God provided over $1200. We are in the clear for paying for her plane ticket, and only owe about $350 left on our hosting balance. Even though I had faith (or was at least TRYING to have faith) that God would provide, SEEING Him do it was completely amazing. Gabe and I are still in a shock of sorts that God made a way, and did it so fast, and in such an amazing way.
I will never be able to thank each of you enough for the prayers, donations, comments, emails and texts that you sent. They meant so much to me and were a huge encouragement throughout the day.
This is not our story, but it is "K"s story and God is writing it. He is moving in big ways on her behalf and I cannot wait until she is HOME and knows enough English that I can tell her all the miracles that God did for her. Just. Because. He. Loves. Her.
She really is a daughter of the King.
I would like to start off by saying that Sunday was amazing. Our pastor taught on exactly what Gabe and I needed to hear being somewhat (ok, very, discouraged) about fundraising. The songs were great, and the message was timely. The service ended with random people sharing about answered prayer. I'm not sure there was a dry eye anywhere in the room. We moved from there to our small group which meets right after the service at a friend's home. That too, was encouraging. It was all about prayer and encouragement and God moving in peoples lives. Then someone gave us a gift (read about that HERE), and that was the icing on the cake.
If I had not been at church or small group on Sunday, I am not sure I would have been able to handle Monday morning.
I knew we owed a hefty balance on our hosting fees. By yesterday morning, we had only been able to pay $656 towards $2300. So when the lady in charge of the L-tvian group called, I knew it was about our money. She starts asking about our financial ability to host since we seem to have issues getting money turned in, and do we really think we can host, or should we just focus on the adoption. She needs to buy a plane ticket and we don't have enough sent in for "K" to get a ticket. We can pull the plug and not host, or maybe she can try and float the funds but if we can't repay, everyone is out money. All I could tell her was we were trying to get the money and we knew God would provide. She kept pushing, saying she really needed to buy the plane ticket, bc if she waited and there were no seats left, "K" wouldn't be able to come. By this time I am in tears and I told her I would call Gabe and then call her later in the afternoon and let her know what we had decided.
I hung up and lay on the bed and cried and cried. Visions of "K" being alone at Christmas and us letting her down filled my head. I started praying. Hard. I asked God if we heard Him right; were we supposed to have her at Christmas? Was that just wishful thinking on our part? I called Gabe and told him what we were up against. Basically we needed $1000 (at least) TODAY or we were in serious trouble.
We hung up and I prayed more. Gabe found a parking lot to sit in and he sat and prayed as well. After I prayed, I posted what was going on on my FB page, and Gabe did the same on his. We each got several emails saying people were praying and giving what they could. I felt their prayers and was totally filled with a peace that was like a cool, refreshing blanket. It may sound like a weird explanation, but that's the only way I can describe it. I could literally FEEL the prayers of my friends translating into peace for my heart.
A bit later, I got an anonymous email. It stated they had seen the Facebook post and they wanted to help. They asked how much we needed. I said my best guess was $800 since all the donations were going straight to the hosting organization and I didn't know exact totals at that point. A couple of hours after that email, I received another saying $800 had been put in our account for "K"s behalf, and if at the end of the day we were short, to let them know and they would make up the difference. My jaw hit the floor. I called Gabe and he just kept saying "What?! What?!"
In less than 8 hours, God provided over $1200. We are in the clear for paying for her plane ticket, and only owe about $350 left on our hosting balance. Even though I had faith (or was at least TRYING to have faith) that God would provide, SEEING Him do it was completely amazing. Gabe and I are still in a shock of sorts that God made a way, and did it so fast, and in such an amazing way.
I will never be able to thank each of you enough for the prayers, donations, comments, emails and texts that you sent. They meant so much to me and were a huge encouragement throughout the day.
This is not our story, but it is "K"s story and God is writing it. He is moving in big ways on her behalf and I cannot wait until she is HOME and knows enough English that I can tell her all the miracles that God did for her. Just. Because. He. Loves. Her.
She really is a daughter of the King.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Occasions when a plank of wood actually makes a great gift idea............
So my super fab friends made this for us, and it is now hanging in our living room where I can see it all day and be encouraged:
(It looks way better in person when there is no glare.) For the story behind the verse, read THIS. And, yes, I cried.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Bingo
Some of you know, last fall/winter I made 'memory boards' out of ceiling tiles that I painted and gave the money to 2 sets of friends that both happened to be adopting from DRC (Congo).
About a month ago, a friend from church put together a "Fall Market". It benefits our church's outreach fund in several ways AND anyone could rent a booth and sell out of that space. We decided to rent a spot and sell the memory boards. I have been painting like crazy the past 2 weeks. The end is in sight, and I am really looking forward to Saturday. I get to hang out with my hubby, friends, family, have fun and hopefully, prayerfully, sell the boards and make some money.
The deadline to pay for K's return visit is looming. We are trying to sell Gabe's car so that when we fill out the financial papers for the adoption, we aren't as lopsided as we look. The adoption will be around $18,000. We still owe about $2,000 for hosting.
I want to panic. But I am trying to trust and have faith. I have friends that have amazing stories of how God provided, and I am looking forward to passing along our own story one day.
Also, some of you may not know that I have wanted to adopt from Eastern Europe since about March 2009. It was a weird feeling to know that my family wasn't complete, and somewhere- there was a child waiting for us. There were a lot of nights I would cry and pray for the one I knew was "out there". I can't explain the feeling in my heart. I prayed and prayed and prayed for her/him and prayed too that Gabe would change his mind about international adoption.
Anyway, there is a song that we sing in church and it says
"And I don't need to see it to believe it.
I don't need to see it to believe.
Cause I can't shake this fire deep inside my heart......
For all Your sons and daughters.
Who are walking in the darkness.
You are calling us to lead them back to You.
We will see Your spirit rising.
As the lost come out of hiding.
Every heart will see this hope we have in You." (Hillsong)
That song yelled at me every single time to just wait and have faith. I told Gabe before K got here in July that she was meant for us. But I did promise not to nag, I just wanted him to know what I felt. So when she had been here 2 weeks, Gabe came to me with tears in his eyes and said that God had confirmed to him that she was our daughter. I was in complete shock. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't feel my legs or my nose.
Guess what we sang the next morning in church????
So then, for some reason, I began to pray and ask God for a verse for K. I would read different verses, and I always had one eye open, but weeks went by with nothing specifically for her. And then 2 weeks ago in church we read 1 Samuel 1:27, "For this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him."
Bingo. I don't even know what to say after posting the verse. I am still in awe that THERE it IS.
I am going to have to find/buy/make a sign with that verse on it.
****If you are in the area THIS SATURDAY, Oct 22, from 8-4, stop by the Fall Market. 301 HD Atha Rd, Monroe****
About a month ago, a friend from church put together a "Fall Market". It benefits our church's outreach fund in several ways AND anyone could rent a booth and sell out of that space. We decided to rent a spot and sell the memory boards. I have been painting like crazy the past 2 weeks. The end is in sight, and I am really looking forward to Saturday. I get to hang out with my hubby, friends, family, have fun and hopefully, prayerfully, sell the boards and make some money.
The deadline to pay for K's return visit is looming. We are trying to sell Gabe's car so that when we fill out the financial papers for the adoption, we aren't as lopsided as we look. The adoption will be around $18,000. We still owe about $2,000 for hosting.
I want to panic. But I am trying to trust and have faith. I have friends that have amazing stories of how God provided, and I am looking forward to passing along our own story one day.
Also, some of you may not know that I have wanted to adopt from Eastern Europe since about March 2009. It was a weird feeling to know that my family wasn't complete, and somewhere- there was a child waiting for us. There were a lot of nights I would cry and pray for the one I knew was "out there". I can't explain the feeling in my heart. I prayed and prayed and prayed for her/him and prayed too that Gabe would change his mind about international adoption.
Anyway, there is a song that we sing in church and it says
"And I don't need to see it to believe it.
I don't need to see it to believe.
Cause I can't shake this fire deep inside my heart......
For all Your sons and daughters.
Who are walking in the darkness.
You are calling us to lead them back to You.
We will see Your spirit rising.
As the lost come out of hiding.
Every heart will see this hope we have in You." (Hillsong)
That song yelled at me every single time to just wait and have faith. I told Gabe before K got here in July that she was meant for us. But I did promise not to nag, I just wanted him to know what I felt. So when she had been here 2 weeks, Gabe came to me with tears in his eyes and said that God had confirmed to him that she was our daughter. I was in complete shock. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn't feel my legs or my nose.
Guess what we sang the next morning in church????
So then, for some reason, I began to pray and ask God for a verse for K. I would read different verses, and I always had one eye open, but weeks went by with nothing specifically for her. And then 2 weeks ago in church we read 1 Samuel 1:27, "For this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him."
Bingo. I don't even know what to say after posting the verse. I am still in awe that THERE it IS.
I am going to have to find/buy/make a sign with that verse on it.
****If you are in the area THIS SATURDAY, Oct 22, from 8-4, stop by the Fall Market. 301 HD Atha Rd, Monroe****
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Letters From Home......
The whole family was together this week for my youngest daughter's 4th birthday. I took the opportunity while everyone was here to take the following pictures. I plan on getting these printed and sending them to our girl instead of a regular letter.
 |
| 2 of my sisters and my brother |
 |
| and because we can't do anything without joking around..... |
 |
| My daughters |
 |
| My mom and dad |
 |
| Me and my hubby |
 |
| my in-laws |
 |
| I think she will be happy to know that Ziggy cared enough to write ;-) |
 |
| Even grumpy Zeppo misses her. |
 |
| We got these fish while she was here. Just want her to see we haven't had to flush them. Yet. The signs say "We love you" in R*ssian and "We miss you" in L*tvian. I wish I could see her face when she gets these! |
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Small Updates
I officially mailed off the first of what I hear will be lots and lots of paperwork to the adoption agency. Some of you might be surprised that this is only the 'first' of the paperwork. There's not a lot of hurry as we are waiting for the father's parental rights to be terminated. Then there is a waiting period. We were advised to wait until fall, but be ready in the spring to swing into action as soon as the waiting period is over.
I know the court date for the father's rights to be terminated is coming soon, I just don't know exactly when. And with that comes some uncertainty. Will he fight? Will he have any say? Will she know? How will she be affected? I can only pray that it will go smoothly and God will comfort her heart in the process.
We are still doing our puzzle piece fundraiser. You can read about that *here* I also have plans to make memory boards and sell those at 2 local Fall Festivals. The other thing that we have done is we ordered business cards with our adoption blog address on them. If missionaries have prayer cards, I felt like we should too. I didn't want her name and face floating around, so we went with the simpler card to hand out. Several times a week I get to talking to people about what we're doing, and I thought it would be cool to have something to hand out. The more people praying and the more awareness we can raise, the better!
I know the court date for the father's rights to be terminated is coming soon, I just don't know exactly when. And with that comes some uncertainty. Will he fight? Will he have any say? Will she know? How will she be affected? I can only pray that it will go smoothly and God will comfort her heart in the process.
We are still doing our puzzle piece fundraiser. You can read about that *here* I also have plans to make memory boards and sell those at 2 local Fall Festivals. The other thing that we have done is we ordered business cards with our adoption blog address on them. If missionaries have prayer cards, I felt like we should too. I didn't want her name and face floating around, so we went with the simpler card to hand out. Several times a week I get to talking to people about what we're doing, and I thought it would be cool to have something to hand out. The more people praying and the more awareness we can raise, the better!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Puzzle Piece Fundraiser
Friday, August 12, 2011
Puzzle Piece Fundraiser!
We are kicking off a Puzzle Piece Fundraiser! The purpose of this
fundraiser is to jump start our funds to start our home study
(which we need to bring K home for good!).
You can read about that by clicking here.
Each puzzle piece is $5.
Click on the PayPal button at the top right hand side of the page.
When you send your contribution, please add a note telling
me what name to put on your puzzle piece. It can be for your child,
your family, or in honor/memory of a loved one.
When the puzzle is complete, we will frame it in a two-sided frame
so that K will be able to see the names of those that
helped her become a part of a forever family.
Please feel free to repost!
Last day and Future Plans
Thursday, August 11, 2011
So on Tues we took K to the airport to send her home. That was one of the hardest things we have had to do. Even though we plan on her returning for Christmas, it didn't help ease the pain of watching her walk away with her chaperon thru security. Or make the van seem less empty. The house is too quiet. Even our kitten paced the house meowling that night, as if she was looking for her buddy also.
The kids are each dealing with K leaving in different ways. Jadyn cried and cried. Ava became completely obnoxious, trying to be funny and making a constant stream of non sense words. Hadley kept asking where she was. Yesterday seemed very very long. K's favorite pass time was Uno, so the kids wanted to play Uno all afternoon and evening. So we did, but even that was flat.
So what do we do now? We plan and pray she comes back at Christmas. We are able to email her, and I am so grateful for that connection. There is something more though. We knew before she got her she was unavailable for becoming our daughter. One parent still has legal rights. We have still chosen to pursue her, though. We are praying and hoping that by spring, we can start the process and that she will be with us as a daughter by summer.
She is a God story if I ever saw one. I cannot wait to be able to tell her everything, so that SHE can see and know that God has brought her to us. Please pray with us and for us (and her) as we start this journey. I cannot wait til the day her laughter is in our home again.
The kids are each dealing with K leaving in different ways. Jadyn cried and cried. Ava became completely obnoxious, trying to be funny and making a constant stream of non sense words. Hadley kept asking where she was. Yesterday seemed very very long. K's favorite pass time was Uno, so the kids wanted to play Uno all afternoon and evening. So we did, but even that was flat.
So what do we do now? We plan and pray she comes back at Christmas. We are able to email her, and I am so grateful for that connection. There is something more though. We knew before she got her she was unavailable for becoming our daughter. One parent still has legal rights. We have still chosen to pursue her, though. We are praying and hoping that by spring, we can start the process and that she will be with us as a daughter by summer.
She is a God story if I ever saw one. I cannot wait to be able to tell her everything, so that SHE can see and know that God has brought her to us. Please pray with us and for us (and her) as we start this journey. I cannot wait til the day her laughter is in our home again.
Lining Up
This morning I am on the verge of being emotional. I cannot bear the thought of putting K on a plane on Tues. Although I will have to, and Tues is coming no matter how much I mentally drag my feet. I was on my way to shower but I feel the need to post what is on my heart this morning.
I believe God has a plan. And whether we know it or not, we are all playing a part in it. Most of the time, we don't see the effect we have on others. Generally, we don't see how an act of kindness makes someones day, or the gift card we send anonymously makes someone cry with joy and relief. Those are the short term things.
But there are long term actions too. They line up like dominoes. Craig and Kevin feel led by God to go to Latvia on a mission trip. People make donations to make it happen. They stop at an orphanage they have never been to before. There is a girl there that begs to come to America. Craig blogs about her story and Kevin posts pictures. In America, I sit and cry reading her story. Then I see her picture, and I KNOW. People donate. We host her. We fall in love. We plan on rehosting, and ultimately, bringing her home for good.
We don't know what part we play. The point is, we were willing. It seems impossible? It makes no sense? It seems too small? Silly? Too much? Not enough? Doesn't matter. If God wants you to do something- DO IT. Even if you never see the whole story play out. Even if it seems impossible, or silly, or too small or overwhelming. God uses us in spite of those excuses; He wants to use us for His glory and for His purposes.
Who are we to ask why?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
I believe God has a plan. And whether we know it or not, we are all playing a part in it. Most of the time, we don't see the effect we have on others. Generally, we don't see how an act of kindness makes someones day, or the gift card we send anonymously makes someone cry with joy and relief. Those are the short term things.
But there are long term actions too. They line up like dominoes. Craig and Kevin feel led by God to go to Latvia on a mission trip. People make donations to make it happen. They stop at an orphanage they have never been to before. There is a girl there that begs to come to America. Craig blogs about her story and Kevin posts pictures. In America, I sit and cry reading her story. Then I see her picture, and I KNOW. People donate. We host her. We fall in love. We plan on rehosting, and ultimately, bringing her home for good.
We don't know what part we play. The point is, we were willing. It seems impossible? It makes no sense? It seems too small? Silly? Too much? Not enough? Doesn't matter. If God wants you to do something- DO IT. Even if you never see the whole story play out. Even if it seems impossible, or silly, or too small or overwhelming. God uses us in spite of those excuses; He wants to use us for His glory and for His purposes.
Who are we to ask why?
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
UNO!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sometimes silence means things are not going well. For me, at least in this case, it means that things have been going so well, I don't know where to start updating, LOL. Plus, we have been so busy, even on days we're just hanging around the house wearing out the UNO cards, by days end I am too pooped to blog.
K has gotten MUCH more relaxed and open around us. She is not as stiff and uncomfortable any more. She is walking around barefoot, calling dibs on the shower, trying to scare me and Gabe, asking for seconds, and laughing laughing laughing! Tiny things are making me happy-seeing her feel free to grab a throw blanket and snuggle down into a pillow to watch a movie, joking (even when she shouldn't be) and tiny things she is telling me about her home, all mean she is relaxing and trusting us.
She has told me some about her past and her family; it will just come out of no where and spill out. She tells me about her friends and what they like and don't like. She has told me some about her school. She is hugging me at night and holding my hand when we walk into stores. I love it. She is more reserved around Gabe, but she loves to watch him mow or grill, and she is def. ready to see him when he gets home. I see her watch the clock and listen for the garage door to open.
She has come soooooo far in the last 2 1/2 weeks. We only have til the 9th with her, and then she'll have to go home. I can't stand the thought of her leaving. I am glad we will be able to email and communicate that way. Meantime, we hope for a day when she can return.
K has gotten MUCH more relaxed and open around us. She is not as stiff and uncomfortable any more. She is walking around barefoot, calling dibs on the shower, trying to scare me and Gabe, asking for seconds, and laughing laughing laughing! Tiny things are making me happy-seeing her feel free to grab a throw blanket and snuggle down into a pillow to watch a movie, joking (even when she shouldn't be) and tiny things she is telling me about her home, all mean she is relaxing and trusting us.
She has told me some about her past and her family; it will just come out of no where and spill out. She tells me about her friends and what they like and don't like. She has told me some about her school. She is hugging me at night and holding my hand when we walk into stores. I love it. She is more reserved around Gabe, but she loves to watch him mow or grill, and she is def. ready to see him when he gets home. I see her watch the clock and listen for the garage door to open.
She has come soooooo far in the last 2 1/2 weeks. We only have til the 9th with her, and then she'll have to go home. I can't stand the thought of her leaving. I am glad we will be able to email and communicate that way. Meantime, we hope for a day when she can return.
I Tried to Explain the Tooth Fairy, but I think that got lost in translation.....
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Most nights when K goes to bed, she will jump under the covers and pull them up to her chin and turn away from me and Ava. (She is sharing a room with my middle one and I have to sit with A to make her go to sleep.) When i try to hug her goodnight, she is stiff as a board. She won't acknowledge me or even say good night. Really, any touch towards her gets met with stiffness. I have tried to just do simple things to let her know we're not going to be rough or mean....mostly I pat her back or hand. At night, because she jumps into bed so fast after we pray together, I will kind of pat/scratch her arm and/or kiss the top of her head. I haven't actually tried to hug her goodnight in a few days since I sensed she was tense at night.
So tonight, she gets in bed and stays facing me as I walk across the room towards her. I hadn't planned on hugging her, but she reached out and initiated a nice hug and then said good night! I couldn't believe it! I was so happy, I tucked A in as fast as I could and then ran out to find Gabe to tell him.
We had an overall good day. Two of mine weren't so great, but by the afternoon, all was well. K jumped in and helped my oldest clean her room. (And I mean, they CLEANED it. Under the bed, under the mattress {which is another story in itself} and the closet.) J has embraced K and told me she likes having K as an older sister; she thinks she is fun! They even came to the table holding hands. Then we all had a silly evening playing Wii bowling. There was lots of laughing and smack talking. Every time Gabe does something funny, she calls him Mr Bean, and then dies laughing.
She is showing her dare devil side too, and I think if and when we have issues, it will probably be from that. She is really compliant and helpful otherwise. Oh, and she talked a lot today too. Lots. Gabe all of a sudden at dinner demonstrated some new Russian words he had learned from a guy he works with (whose wife is Russian) and that brought lots of giggles too.
Too bad she couldn't follow his story of a bug literally jumping in his throat while he was out watering the tomatoes.....
So tonight, she gets in bed and stays facing me as I walk across the room towards her. I hadn't planned on hugging her, but she reached out and initiated a nice hug and then said good night! I couldn't believe it! I was so happy, I tucked A in as fast as I could and then ran out to find Gabe to tell him.
We had an overall good day. Two of mine weren't so great, but by the afternoon, all was well. K jumped in and helped my oldest clean her room. (And I mean, they CLEANED it. Under the bed, under the mattress {which is another story in itself} and the closet.) J has embraced K and told me she likes having K as an older sister; she thinks she is fun! They even came to the table holding hands. Then we all had a silly evening playing Wii bowling. There was lots of laughing and smack talking. Every time Gabe does something funny, she calls him Mr Bean, and then dies laughing.
She is showing her dare devil side too, and I think if and when we have issues, it will probably be from that. She is really compliant and helpful otherwise. Oh, and she talked a lot today too. Lots. Gabe all of a sudden at dinner demonstrated some new Russian words he had learned from a guy he works with (whose wife is Russian) and that brought lots of giggles too.
Too bad she couldn't follow his story of a bug literally jumping in his throat while he was out watering the tomatoes.....
Jalapenos, anyone?
Monday, July 18, 2011
So tomorrow marks one week of having K here. She is still pretty shy, but there are times where we see the funny, bouncy child she really is. (If you play Uno with her, she is very good and will be funny and sassy while she is beating you!)
She is veeeeerryyyy slowly starting to talk more. Over today, we got 3 whole sentences out of her. "In L-tvia, I swim in (insert word for lake/pool/river/creek here)." Then she said it in R-ssian AND L-tvian in an attempt to help me know what she meant. She also was teasing Jadyn after playing the Wii and said "I am winner. You is loser." Then giggled when Jadyn said it back to her. She has the best laugh. Ever. The End. It's like sun is shining in my living room when she laughs. I love it. (There are some moments I literally ache for her to have more confidence!)
Yesterday we went to church. She went into class with Jadyn, and J said she did fine in there. She is very well behaved, so I wasn't worried, I just didn't want her to be completely overwhelmed. Apparently, she wasn't, lol. She even did the motions to the songs they sang.
One of our friends is a fireman, so we went to his station mid afternoon and he showed the girls the trucks and equipment and then let the kids get in the fire truck. That was pretty neat. Hadley (3) asked what would happen if she touched the fire truck. She had such awe in her voice; it was cute!
Then the cap on our weekend was going to the Laser Show at Stone Mountain. We met up with friends who are also hosting, and had a great time. K had fun with their girl (also L-tvian) and ate and laughed and ran so much, I'm amazed she didn't throw up, LOL.
Today we went to a lake near us that has a white sand beach. She was in heaven. And she didn't sunburn. She was pretty sedate the rest of the day...guess it all finally caught up with her. She was happy to hear we're going again soon.
One more crazy thing.....typically, these kids don't like spicy foods. They like sweet, salty and creamy, but not hot. Gabe was eating a *shudder* pickled jalapeno and saw K was eyeing it. He made sure she knew it would be HOT and she said, "Yes. Okay." and popped a piece in her mouth and nodded in approval. Then she ate more. Didn't sweat or flinch. Amazing. I think they bonded. Pretty sure she is the only L-tvian to enjoy and eat more of those! I'm still shaking my head!!!
She is veeeeerryyyy slowly starting to talk more. Over today, we got 3 whole sentences out of her. "In L-tvia, I swim in (insert word for lake/pool/river/creek here)." Then she said it in R-ssian AND L-tvian in an attempt to help me know what she meant. She also was teasing Jadyn after playing the Wii and said "I am winner. You is loser." Then giggled when Jadyn said it back to her. She has the best laugh. Ever. The End. It's like sun is shining in my living room when she laughs. I love it. (There are some moments I literally ache for her to have more confidence!)
Yesterday we went to church. She went into class with Jadyn, and J said she did fine in there. She is very well behaved, so I wasn't worried, I just didn't want her to be completely overwhelmed. Apparently, she wasn't, lol. She even did the motions to the songs they sang.
One of our friends is a fireman, so we went to his station mid afternoon and he showed the girls the trucks and equipment and then let the kids get in the fire truck. That was pretty neat. Hadley (3) asked what would happen if she touched the fire truck. She had such awe in her voice; it was cute!
Then the cap on our weekend was going to the Laser Show at Stone Mountain. We met up with friends who are also hosting, and had a great time. K had fun with their girl (also L-tvian) and ate and laughed and ran so much, I'm amazed she didn't throw up, LOL.
Today we went to a lake near us that has a white sand beach. She was in heaven. And she didn't sunburn. She was pretty sedate the rest of the day...guess it all finally caught up with her. She was happy to hear we're going again soon.
One more crazy thing.....typically, these kids don't like spicy foods. They like sweet, salty and creamy, but not hot. Gabe was eating a *shudder* pickled jalapeno and saw K was eyeing it. He made sure she knew it would be HOT and she said, "Yes. Okay." and popped a piece in her mouth and nodded in approval. Then she ate more. Didn't sweat or flinch. Amazing. I think they bonded. Pretty sure she is the only L-tvian to enjoy and eat more of those! I'm still shaking my head!!!
She really loves Mr Bean!
I finally have a second to update some of this week's details. I have tried to post updates on FB, but it's hard to get all the details on there.
K arrived Tues night and I was a bit worried bc she only took a few sips of water in the van and didn't want to eat dinner. Once we finally got home, she perked up at the cat and very clearly said, "I like cat!" Then she went to bed. She (well, all the kids) went to bed a little after 9 and I had to wake her up at 9:45 the next morning. There is a 7 (I think) hour time difference, plus travelling for 20-something hours, and you can imagine how tired she was. I hated to wake her up!
Once awake, she got dressed and then sat on her bed working on mazes and looking at books. I tried to lure her out with breakfast, but she didn't want to eat anything. She did gulp down some milk, and then went straight back to her room. She was so quiet, the kids were being quiet! I knew she needed a swimsuit, but I had wanted to wait a day or two before we went to a store, since sometimes that can be overwhelming. But since she wouldn't come out, I figured if I got us all out of the house, she'd HAVE to come out. So I told her 'machina' (Russian for car) and she nodded and got her shoes. We just went in to Target and I gave her 2 swimsuits to choose from, and she held hands with Ava and/or Jadyn the whole time. Once we got home, it was lunch time (which she did eat) and then we all watched a movie. She wowed the kids with her crazy jump rope skills and demonstrated how she can stand on her head (with no wall). They thought she was awesome.
My mom, sister, and her two little kids came over for a bit. We had baked brownies earlier, so we all enjoyed those. After they all left, Jadyn got really upset because she forgot to give my sister a card she had made, and K was very concerned that she was crying so hard. She patted her head and stood there with us, til she stopped crying. It was sweet.
Thursday I had promised that we would go swimming. Then of course, it rained. All day. So we hung out at the house and played games and hung around. She was still being really quiet, but she wasn't in her room all the time. We did venture out to a friend's house to pick blueberries. She was a trooper picking in the drizzle and ate so many, I thought she might be sick later. That was our big entertainment for the day til Gabe got home and set up the Wii. That helped her come out of her shell a tiny bit more.
Today we went one way to meet a friend and take his Russian speaking daughter with us to go the opposit way to the eye doctor. {K for some reason did not bring her glasses. She said she forgot, you can tell she really needed them, so maybe she was trying to be 'cool' and not have glasses? Who knows.} She quickly picked out 2 frames (they had a good deal for 2 sets and an exam) and then we had the exam. There were moments it was comical. The teen that was with us has been in America since March '10, so she was still alittle shaky on a few English words. But she did great. K was terrified and stiff and Z stayed calm the whole time, even though it had to have been awkward and stressful at times. I still had my three kids there, but they all love Z, so they enjoyed reading to her and sitting in her lap. Z stayed very calm with them and helped me keep them in line. Plus, she was great company for me. She was easy to talk to. She's very funny and helped keep everything 'light'. It was nice to be able to ask K what she thought of things and what her favorite color is and that sort of thing.....She was SO relieved when we got out of there, though. She was very cooperative, but you could tell she was scared and stiff.
Gabe picked the glasses up on his way home and she was very excited when he got home. She gave us hugs and said thanks to each of us. Then she got all nervous and put them away, and I said, "Uh? K! Glasses!" and laughed and she got the purple ones out and put them on. She was shaking, and after the initial telling her how good she looked, I was glad the kids didn't say anything else and we just had dinner as usual.
There was about an hour this afternoon where she was talking and running around with the kids and using English and Russian and laughing a lot. I hope I see that side of her more often. You can tell she has no confidence at ALL. She keeps her face blank and eyes down a lot of the time. It's very sad. She is also very artistic, and enjoys crafts- even playdoh and coloring. We are trying to constantly encourage her at every turn.
Tomorrow will be the first full day Gabe has been home since K arrived. She doesn't seem to fear him, or hate men like so many girls in her situation do, and that has been a relief. Oh, and tonight she showered without being told and her clothes from today went into the hamper instead of back in the drawer. I have learned that the simple act of putting clothes in the hamper is a huge act of trust in most cases. In most orphanages, they have shared clothes. So if you like something, you don't take it off. You wash it in the sink at night, if at all. I took some of her dirty clothes out of her drawer and washed them and returned them before she knew they were gone (I think) a couple of hours later. I wanted to SHOW her that I can be trusted....that I wasn't going to give her clothes to one of mine; that her things were her things and I would really give them back. Clean, even. So when I saw her clothes in the hamper, I had a tiny party in my heart.
It's only been 3 days. There is generally a 'honeymoon' period and then the tantrums or defiance can/will start. But I feel like we have covered a lot of ground for 3 days, even though there is so much more to go! Please keep praying, for her and for us and for the girls. There are good things happening, big and little, and it's been great to watch it all.
K arrived Tues night and I was a bit worried bc she only took a few sips of water in the van and didn't want to eat dinner. Once we finally got home, she perked up at the cat and very clearly said, "I like cat!" Then she went to bed. She (well, all the kids) went to bed a little after 9 and I had to wake her up at 9:45 the next morning. There is a 7 (I think) hour time difference, plus travelling for 20-something hours, and you can imagine how tired she was. I hated to wake her up!
Once awake, she got dressed and then sat on her bed working on mazes and looking at books. I tried to lure her out with breakfast, but she didn't want to eat anything. She did gulp down some milk, and then went straight back to her room. She was so quiet, the kids were being quiet! I knew she needed a swimsuit, but I had wanted to wait a day or two before we went to a store, since sometimes that can be overwhelming. But since she wouldn't come out, I figured if I got us all out of the house, she'd HAVE to come out. So I told her 'machina' (Russian for car) and she nodded and got her shoes. We just went in to Target and I gave her 2 swimsuits to choose from, and she held hands with Ava and/or Jadyn the whole time. Once we got home, it was lunch time (which she did eat) and then we all watched a movie. She wowed the kids with her crazy jump rope skills and demonstrated how she can stand on her head (with no wall). They thought she was awesome.
My mom, sister, and her two little kids came over for a bit. We had baked brownies earlier, so we all enjoyed those. After they all left, Jadyn got really upset because she forgot to give my sister a card she had made, and K was very concerned that she was crying so hard. She patted her head and stood there with us, til she stopped crying. It was sweet.
Thursday I had promised that we would go swimming. Then of course, it rained. All day. So we hung out at the house and played games and hung around. She was still being really quiet, but she wasn't in her room all the time. We did venture out to a friend's house to pick blueberries. She was a trooper picking in the drizzle and ate so many, I thought she might be sick later. That was our big entertainment for the day til Gabe got home and set up the Wii. That helped her come out of her shell a tiny bit more.
Today we went one way to meet a friend and take his Russian speaking daughter with us to go the opposit way to the eye doctor. {K for some reason did not bring her glasses. She said she forgot, you can tell she really needed them, so maybe she was trying to be 'cool' and not have glasses? Who knows.} She quickly picked out 2 frames (they had a good deal for 2 sets and an exam) and then we had the exam. There were moments it was comical. The teen that was with us has been in America since March '10, so she was still alittle shaky on a few English words. But she did great. K was terrified and stiff and Z stayed calm the whole time, even though it had to have been awkward and stressful at times. I still had my three kids there, but they all love Z, so they enjoyed reading to her and sitting in her lap. Z stayed very calm with them and helped me keep them in line. Plus, she was great company for me. She was easy to talk to. She's very funny and helped keep everything 'light'. It was nice to be able to ask K what she thought of things and what her favorite color is and that sort of thing.....She was SO relieved when we got out of there, though. She was very cooperative, but you could tell she was scared and stiff.
Gabe picked the glasses up on his way home and she was very excited when he got home. She gave us hugs and said thanks to each of us. Then she got all nervous and put them away, and I said, "Uh? K! Glasses!" and laughed and she got the purple ones out and put them on. She was shaking, and after the initial telling her how good she looked, I was glad the kids didn't say anything else and we just had dinner as usual.
There was about an hour this afternoon where she was talking and running around with the kids and using English and Russian and laughing a lot. I hope I see that side of her more often. You can tell she has no confidence at ALL. She keeps her face blank and eyes down a lot of the time. It's very sad. She is also very artistic, and enjoys crafts- even playdoh and coloring. We are trying to constantly encourage her at every turn.
Tomorrow will be the first full day Gabe has been home since K arrived. She doesn't seem to fear him, or hate men like so many girls in her situation do, and that has been a relief. Oh, and tonight she showered without being told and her clothes from today went into the hamper instead of back in the drawer. I have learned that the simple act of putting clothes in the hamper is a huge act of trust in most cases. In most orphanages, they have shared clothes. So if you like something, you don't take it off. You wash it in the sink at night, if at all. I took some of her dirty clothes out of her drawer and washed them and returned them before she knew they were gone (I think) a couple of hours later. I wanted to SHOW her that I can be trusted....that I wasn't going to give her clothes to one of mine; that her things were her things and I would really give them back. Clean, even. So when I saw her clothes in the hamper, I had a tiny party in my heart.
It's only been 3 days. There is generally a 'honeymoon' period and then the tantrums or defiance can/will start. But I feel like we have covered a lot of ground for 3 days, even though there is so much more to go! Please keep praying, for her and for us and for the girls. There are good things happening, big and little, and it's been great to watch it all.
The 'A' Word
Monday, July 11, 2011
Some pretty encouraging things happened this weekend as far as hosting K goes. An acquaintance of mine mailed us a check to go towards taking K to the game ranch and Monkey Joes (the 2 activities that I mentioned in my last post). It was very sweet and we are very grateful! The second thing was a friend from church walked up to me yesterday and asked if I needed anything for K by the time she gets here Tues. When asked out right, I really do have a hard time accepting help. I generally don't even let the baggers at Publix take my groceries out..."I got it" is what I tell them....even if I don't. So it was hard on my behalf to say "pajamas". And then this sweet lady said she would take care of the pjs and make sure we had them by Tuesday. Relief and gratitude washed thru me.
Later today, I will go to Walmart and use a gift card another friend gave me to get last minute groceries and possibly some underware for her. My mom donated all the toiletries that K will need. Things are coming together, and it's exciting to watch God provide what we need. We couldn't MAKE this stuff happen- it's all God's hand on K's behalf.
Another quick note that I need to mention: please please please do NOT mention the word 'adoption' anywhere near K. She is unavailable for adoption currently and if she hears the word, she might get her hopes up. She speaks pretty good English, and even the ones that don't know that word. I have one friend that refers to that as the 'a' word, lol.
Say a quick prayer today as she travels to us! I'll post pics tomorrow night after we get her!!!
Later today, I will go to Walmart and use a gift card another friend gave me to get last minute groceries and possibly some underware for her. My mom donated all the toiletries that K will need. Things are coming together, and it's exciting to watch God provide what we need. We couldn't MAKE this stuff happen- it's all God's hand on K's behalf.
Another quick note that I need to mention: please please please do NOT mention the word 'adoption' anywhere near K. She is unavailable for adoption currently and if she hears the word, she might get her hopes up. She speaks pretty good English, and even the ones that don't know that word. I have one friend that refers to that as the 'a' word, lol.
Say a quick prayer today as she travels to us! I'll post pics tomorrow night after we get her!!!
The Time Aproaches~
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
We are less than a week away from picking 'K' up at the airport. We set up her bed, washed her sheets and cleaned out a drawer for her. I set her alarm clock, plugged in her lamp and started cleaning. I'm not sure she'll care that I washed out the fridge and cleaned the vents, but she might ;-)
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Some people, when they host, fear the language barrier. Some people fear they won't like the food that their family normally eats. This is our third hosting, and I don't fear those things. At least not much. I'll stock up on chicken, Ramen noodles, chips, fruit, potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes. Surely K will like something we have, right? And I hear she speaks okay English, but even if she didn't, I have had amazing talks with people via the computer translator and charades.
Honestly, my biggest fear is her being bored. We can all remember being kids and being at some one's home for a few days and once there is nothing to do- anything can happen. Homesickness to hyperactivity. The last 2 summers I have kept us moving and going places. This year, our budget is so tight you can hear it squeak and I won't be able to do that. I really want to take her to Monkey Joes and I really want to take her to a game ranch nearby where you can pet and feed all kinds of animals. I'm praying I can do both. At the very least we will be able to swim at the lake quite a bit. I'm praying she likes to swim.
My other concern is one I can't quite put words around. I want to make sure she sees God in our family and knows that Jesus loves her and has a plan for her life. Even though everyone else has quit on her, He will never quit. My prayer is that we can show her that in 100 different ways while she is here. I know her history, and it's painful and harsh and too much for an 11 year old. I pray we can begin to touch her heart and set her on the right road. The road where she doesn't become like her parents, or those around her, but a woman who has a purpose and a hope and does good things for others.
This is a prayer someone posted on a pic of her before we agreed to host her (or even knew she COULD be hosted):
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Some people, when they host, fear the language barrier. Some people fear they won't like the food that their family normally eats. This is our third hosting, and I don't fear those things. At least not much. I'll stock up on chicken, Ramen noodles, chips, fruit, potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes. Surely K will like something we have, right? And I hear she speaks okay English, but even if she didn't, I have had amazing talks with people via the computer translator and charades.
Honestly, my biggest fear is her being bored. We can all remember being kids and being at some one's home for a few days and once there is nothing to do- anything can happen. Homesickness to hyperactivity. The last 2 summers I have kept us moving and going places. This year, our budget is so tight you can hear it squeak and I won't be able to do that. I really want to take her to Monkey Joes and I really want to take her to a game ranch nearby where you can pet and feed all kinds of animals. I'm praying I can do both. At the very least we will be able to swim at the lake quite a bit. I'm praying she likes to swim.
My other concern is one I can't quite put words around. I want to make sure she sees God in our family and knows that Jesus loves her and has a plan for her life. Even though everyone else has quit on her, He will never quit. My prayer is that we can show her that in 100 different ways while she is here. I know her history, and it's painful and harsh and too much for an 11 year old. I pray we can begin to touch her heart and set her on the right road. The road where she doesn't become like her parents, or those around her, but a woman who has a purpose and a hope and does good things for others.
This is a prayer someone posted on a pic of her before we agreed to host her (or even knew she COULD be hosted):
"Father God cover K that what Satan would try to use in that pain and betrayal you would claim your glory..that all of it would be used and that this child would not remain in that hurt but cling to you while you carry her from it. May she rise up a God fearing woman that knows your love. May you send her rescue now Lord, a woman that will share you with her! Claiming her life for you Lord!! Amen"
Please pray that our family can be her 'rescue'.
On a slightly different note, but just as serious, there is a sight called Reeces Rainbow. Many of you have heard of it. It has pictures and short bios on children in other countries that are waiting to be adopted. These kids are special needs kids; some have FAS, some have Downs Syndrome or CP or HIV. Some are barely affected and others have horrible health problems. These are the unwanted of the unwanted. Time for these kids is short, because after they turn 5, they are moved from 'baby houses' to 'adult houses' where they spend their days drugged, under fed, and strapped to their beds sitting in the one diaper they get for the day. Sounds too awful to be true, yet it is. 85% of these kids die in the first year after they are transferred out of the baby homes.
This sight has matched so many kids to their forever families.
Today, a cutie pie with Downs Syndrome died without a family. He was so cute and when I saw the fwds saying he had passed, I cried. He was almost 3 and deserved a family. He probably died of something that a family and proper medical attention could have prevented.
People debate about helping kids in other countries before we help our own. That's like saying that missionaries have no business going to other countries until everyone in America is a Christian. A life is a life, whether they have a disease or not and whether they are overseas or not. Children are dying while people do nothing. People are stalling around waiting for a convenient time to adopt and children die with no family. You can't look at this sweet face and not be moved.
Pick someone to help and do it. For Warner. For Ksenija.
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