tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33879363235364961042024-03-21T06:47:26.164-06:00Truax Adoption Adventure!2 parents, 4 kids and 1 dog set out on an adventure to change their lives forever by adopting 3 orphan siblings from Ukraine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-19800779337623602332013-06-21T01:18:00.000-06:002013-06-21T01:50:47.458-06:00Our NOT So Happily Ever AfterIf you are reading this post instead of the <a href="http://truaxadoptionadventure.blogspot.com/2013/06/our-happily-ever-after.html">Our Happily Ever After</a> post, then you want the gritty, real, messy details about what it's really been like to transition into life with three new kids from a different country.<br />
<br />
If you prefer to only know the happy, "life is perfect" details, you will want to skip this post and read the <a href="http://truaxadoptionadventure.blogspot.com/2013/06/our-happily-ever-after.html">Our Happily Ever After</a> post.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>You've been warned.</b></i></span></div>
<br />
This morning when my alarm rang, I leaned over to turn it off and then started to cry.<br />
I simply didn't want to face a new day.<br />
Sometimes I give myself a choice and allow myself to sleep in.<br />
But this morning I didn't have the choice, so I wiped my tears, took a deep breath and got out of bed.<br />
<br />
Since we've been home, so much has happened.<br />
When people ask me about how the adjustment is going, I usually respond,<br />
"We couldn't have expected it to be much better."<br />
<br />
And it's true.<br />
There are a lot of good things (read the Our Happily Ever After post if you don't believe me!) <br />
I should feel happy and blessed and excited that things are going well.<br />
Some days I do.<br />
Some days I don't.<br />
<br />
Many of the challenges were expected.<br />
To a certain extent. <br />
Some of them are harder to deal with than I expected.<br />
Some of them are not as bad as I expected.<br />
Some of them were a complete surprise.<br />
<br />
I've learned a lot over the last 112 days.<br />
The biggest thing being that I still have a LOT to learn.<br />
It's overwhelming and scary and difficult.<br />
<br />
I find myself wanting to escape from the overwhelming, scary and difficult.<br />
Sometimes I look for errands I can run by myself just to get out of the house.<br />
Sometimes I lock myself in the bathroom for long periods of time just for fun.<br />
Sometimes I hide in my closet or under the covers and pretend I don't hear children calling "MOM" over and over again.<br />
<br />
All of our children are AMAZING individuals.<br />
But I'm not perfect.<br />
And they aren't perfect.<br />
And parenting is HARD!<br />
Especially when you are expected to be the mature adult and you feel like having your own temper tantrum...<br />
<br />
Here are some of the hard things we've been dealing with:<br />
<ul>
<li>Our Ukrainian kids only like about 3 types of food (potatoes, bread and mayonnaise). Americans like variety. This has made mealtime difficult. Especially since ALL our kids feel a need to express how they feel about the food I serve. I try not to take it personally, but when I take a lot of time trying to come up with meals and ideas for food that they may like and there are lots of complaints, it's hard not to get a bit frustrated. As a result, I'm not cooking meals nearly as much as I was when we first arrived home from Ukraine. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I was SHOCKED that one of our Ukrainian children displayed a sense of entitlement. Our biological children know that this is an area where I have little patience. And since I wasn't expecting an orphan to get ticked at me every time I said "no" to buying whatever their little heart desired (or letting them do whatever they wanted), it caused some interesting drama in the beginning. We're still working through things in this area, but it's been a challenge!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I have one child that either worships the ground I walk on or wishes my death by shooting lasers out of their eyes. There is never a middle ground. And the feelings toward me can change in an instant. I started noticing that every conversation I had with this child would start out positive and would suddenly shift to a negative/angry/complaining place. I would dread every time this child asked me a question because I never knew how to respond in order to keep things from going crazy. With my biological kids (especially now that they are older), I've gotten used to actually conversing with them. With these kids, it's like parenting toddlers all over again. Especially with the language barrier! It's been hard, especially when I'm not looking at a toddler. Sometimes I want to say, "Grow up and act your age!" But that wouldn't help, so I have to try to act MY age instead. Believe it or not, this is actually really hard for me. *sigh*</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> Sometimes I wish for my previous simple "I know what to expect" life. Not that I wish our Ukrainian kids were out of the picture, because I don't! But I crave the feelings of stability and comfort and ease that I had before we jumped onto this crazy adoption train. Every day is a new adventure with new lessons to learn and new challenges to figure out. It's exhausting. I feel guilty that I struggle to enjoy each moment with my new amazing family. Many days I feel like I'm just enduring until I can get the kids to bed (which is usually quite late at night with teenagers!) I find myself wondering if it will ever get back to that comfortable and more often than not, enjoyable place again...</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> I am not as patient with 7 kids as I was with 4 kids (not that I was overly patient before). </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We haven't used real plates since March. I realize this is really bad for the environment, but I just don't care right now. There are still so many dishes! I grew up in a family with 8 children and we never used paper plates. However, I can't for the life of me figure out how we didn't have stacks of dishes in the sink all the time! Until I figure that out, my current family will likely continue using paper plates (there were some great paper plate coupons at Costco this month!) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I don't know how to give my kids everything they need. I'm talking about their emotional needs here. Someone told me that I need to realize that it's okay if my relationship with my Ukrainian kids is different than with my biological kids. They told me that it will take time to love them all the same, and that it will take time to create a relationship and history with my Ukrainian kids like I've already established with my biological children. They tried to comfort me by telling me that what I'm giving them, even if it's not what I originally envisioned, or is different than what I give my biological children, is still better than what they had. This concept is still really hard for me to accept because I thought I would be capable of being more than I currently am. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I have realized that God has a vision for me. He is trying to recreate who I am. I recognized this early on in this journey, but I didn't realize how much reconstruction I needed. Sometimes I feel energized and ready to take on whatever He throws at me. But much of the time I HATE IT! It hurts. It's hard. And it's not like I was a bad person before, was I? :-) I've realized that He has a vision for me to become something different than what I've been trying to become. I'm not supposed to fit the mold that I was trying so hard to fill. This is a painful process. This is a scary process. This is a vulnerable process. And I'm having a hard time really looking in the mirror at who I am and realizing just how much I need to change to become who He wants me to become. </li>
</ul>
We've had some amazing experiences since we've been home. As challenging as things have been, the Lord has been SO evident in our lives. I have never had so many spiritual experiences. I have never felt so guided and directed in my life. He is constantly there waiting to help me. He is constantly forgiving me for throwing my own temper tantrums or growing impatient or hiding from my kids. It's been such a growing experience. It's changed who I am. It will continue to change me.<br />
<br />
Albina asked me last week if I ever regret adopting them. <br />
<br />
She said, "You took three kids! That's expensive and lots of work. I see that you are tired and stressed. Do you ever wish you didn't adopt us or that you had adopted different kids?"<br />
<br />
Here is my answer to that question:<br />
<br />
<i><b>This adoption has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Taking on three more kids has been and continues to be exhausting. It is stressful. But there has not been a moment that I have ever doubted that these kids were meant to be in our family. God had a plan for our family, and it included Albina, Alina and Maks joining us. This knowledge is what keeps me going. It's what gets me through the difficult days. And it's what will continue to help me work through the challenges!</b></i><br />
<br />
Not once have I questioned that the Lord had a part in this journey. <br />
Not once have I doubted that He led us to these kids.<br />
It has been made very clear that they are meant to be a part of our family.<br />
<br />
And with that knowledge, what more could I ask for? <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpLfDOaW4hvzdnj_WuQVRQgCSJK18Pmj747V3O7JmXRgKeEB4bjOLfnAxV_fzyQXHCfMqFtOj20rzhyphenhyphen6FdEMgGu8NIpELC-VGY5fMVeCiXvj_1Bqv5fNospNc0wbmxoF3VIewLG0O-Lk/s1600/IMG_2227-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpLfDOaW4hvzdnj_WuQVRQgCSJK18Pmj747V3O7JmXRgKeEB4bjOLfnAxV_fzyQXHCfMqFtOj20rzhyphenhyphen6FdEMgGu8NIpELC-VGY5fMVeCiXvj_1Bqv5fNospNc0wbmxoF3VIewLG0O-Lk/s640/IMG_2227-86.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our forever family in front of the St George LDS Temple.</td></tr>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Note: We haven't gotten professional family pictures since Isabel was a little girl (14 years ago). When our Ukrainian kids were sealed to us in the St George LDS Temple, we hired a photographer to come and take family pictures. Everyone was happy and excited to get pictures taken. We got our individual pictures taken first. Then we gathered for our first family picture. Someone accidentally stepped on Alina's foot while getting into position. She was mad. As a result we do not have ONE family picture without Alina pouting, annoyed, angry or crying. I struggle to look through the pictures without getting frustrated that every single one of our "happy" family pictures have one not-so-happy person. </b></i><br />
<i><b>I will laugh about this someday, right?</b></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-80795271458163555442013-06-21T01:17:00.000-06:002013-06-21T01:43:50.883-06:00Our Happily Ever AfterWe've been home for 112 days now.<br />
That's longer than we were in Ukraine.<br />
<br />
Many people have messaged me asking me to please post an update...<br />
<br />
I haven't been ignoring you.<br />
I've just been paying attention to a lot of other things first.<br />
<br />
Since we've been home, so much has happened.<br />
When people ask me about how the adjustment is going, I usually respond,<br />
"We couldn't have expected it to be much better."<br />
<br />
Our Ukrainian kids seem to be adjusting well to American life.<br />
<ul>
<li>Albina and Alina did well attending the last part of school.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Alina has made many friends at school and church and was, apparently, the most popular girl in school because she had a cool accent.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Maks has been learning English really quickly. Almost every day I am surprised to hear something new that he has picked up and started utilizing in his vocabulary. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Albina sends James and I sweet texts each night before she goes to sleep telling us good-night and that she loves us.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Maks "reads" his good-night books to me fairly regularly. He loves his "Dinosaur Roar" book. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Alina loves to draw pictures and create "love" notes. She leaves them on our bed for us to find at the end of the day. (Sorry I don't have pictures of these available right now!) </li>
</ul>
<br />
Life has been busy and chaotic with extra people in our home. I find myself constantly counting kids whenever I go out to make sure we haven't lost anyone (I'm still getting used to taking so many kids places!)<br />
<br />
We've had some amazing experiences with our family since we arrived home from Ukraine, and we feel so blessed! We are amazed at how smoothly things went for our family (It was a total of 7 1/2 months from start to finish. Unbelievable!). We are grateful for all the help and support we've received from so many. It's because of all the support that we were able to pull off such a seemingly impossible feat! We have felt strengthened by the Lord as we've been on such a life changing adventure! It's been quite a ride!<br />
<br />
Here are some of the things we've experienced in the last 112 days: <br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We attended a concert at Temple Square with music from around the world.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egg Hunt: Albina</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egg Hunt: Alina</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egg Hunt: Maks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRBfEsANpwkdpOuJWkpexgqvU522gSH6OKbZ_xvs9zplItd81nl3SYM1uuN2FDIPTepD4WC6_dZh1ZEkDyStIEk-0RrE1zf77GxroQKboEj0VH3QijSo5SS-DBbUGmkoCrCd0ZkTqrpw/s1600/IMG_0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRBfEsANpwkdpOuJWkpexgqvU522gSH6OKbZ_xvs9zplItd81nl3SYM1uuN2FDIPTepD4WC6_dZh1ZEkDyStIEk-0RrE1zf77GxroQKboEj0VH3QijSo5SS-DBbUGmkoCrCd0ZkTqrpw/s320/IMG_0136.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina riding the merry-go-round.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9pypZLfcUpax1vTJEqfWhgS0zjbO7b1uMUhDjhIVZazBaN3EEYbSs7iKSmKx2BpiXUccmYNiwqVQYrUCuRQRRG93ELAj9TPQuj4EJNUPXAH4W3ZdtqVw0dXSD3DxISNwg-uC0-_oa1E/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9pypZLfcUpax1vTJEqfWhgS0zjbO7b1uMUhDjhIVZazBaN3EEYbSs7iKSmKx2BpiXUccmYNiwqVQYrUCuRQRRG93ELAj9TPQuj4EJNUPXAH4W3ZdtqVw0dXSD3DxISNwg-uC0-_oa1E/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma & Albina riding the merry-go-round.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eLUEYif0fmBZOmyxQ5IThhKhV-RmASAEHHHpDCkGn9ayyifNhQryt5rYGrIl9kjzqIn7_ocXMjiR-NzsgITz2VaULmLUklBc5eLVBCjKajLslxNtRR2tqgqhUsqArTIS7nHD-Og-1y0/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eLUEYif0fmBZOmyxQ5IThhKhV-RmASAEHHHpDCkGn9ayyifNhQryt5rYGrIl9kjzqIn7_ocXMjiR-NzsgITz2VaULmLUklBc5eLVBCjKajLslxNtRR2tqgqhUsqArTIS7nHD-Og-1y0/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabel & Maks riding the merry-go-round.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvk4T0qW8lWtVwyVnUcKq8dhNphsx5i4GpQGbyIOizLnJm8CwcCigG_FlAfHnDf4gxHmWZW1JUGMVYXx6Fo9DbVGfGYWme15uGiEISH5tMZD8ZkiNMikceYvEOCIss6JtuS_yhEWHRT4/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvk4T0qW8lWtVwyVnUcKq8dhNphsx5i4GpQGbyIOizLnJm8CwcCigG_FlAfHnDf4gxHmWZW1JUGMVYXx6Fo9DbVGfGYWme15uGiEISH5tMZD8ZkiNMikceYvEOCIss6JtuS_yhEWHRT4/s320/IMG_0188.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHwJLqF7vfCn8S5T7X_Pl3EfXcq2l93PcwrEHPw36ehvg0iSmsKqHiygB08DzkNqWLCAbUqA3vaoxrE8UK7GVmr-CEqI3unqlD7pmyRlRf4OrMnV1HMUQIyB6PQdDJDjPbZuksHmNdn4/s1600/2013-04-27+11.06.43.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHwJLqF7vfCn8S5T7X_Pl3EfXcq2l93PcwrEHPw36ehvg0iSmsKqHiygB08DzkNqWLCAbUqA3vaoxrE8UK7GVmr-CEqI3unqlD7pmyRlRf4OrMnV1HMUQIyB6PQdDJDjPbZuksHmNdn4/s320/2013-04-27+11.06.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina & Alina with James on their baptism day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUlCoJ9jOAVJry3Vxf_kfB6FM9WT_SXiUd13XkuPWEcNHAIKSXQoBlP4L82juUiKvzmSE1uwHE71xlYz3MgN9tdF8y4cCj5AJi58pIG5OZhuAjkFB7VYKS9wWP0qnwkRzr1wgyZJK8Bc/s1600/2013-04-27+11.10.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUlCoJ9jOAVJry3Vxf_kfB6FM9WT_SXiUd13XkuPWEcNHAIKSXQoBlP4L82juUiKvzmSE1uwHE71xlYz3MgN9tdF8y4cCj5AJi58pIG5OZhuAjkFB7VYKS9wWP0qnwkRzr1wgyZJK8Bc/s320/2013-04-27+11.10.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our expanded family on Albina & Alina's baptism day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyOznLxJBe458-yEvPVB6ePuhwU70z0KMLPXP14fKSp2Njle4d_5tQhaRDuvbmWRlOlphGD1splC01hAXbDss0fgFIh1JJTwnFv-oIxL7_Qx_TlunTWULmLuu1E4h4-5as_vhh5VN3vM/s1600/IMG_0456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyOznLxJBe458-yEvPVB6ePuhwU70z0KMLPXP14fKSp2Njle4d_5tQhaRDuvbmWRlOlphGD1splC01hAXbDss0fgFIh1JJTwnFv-oIxL7_Qx_TlunTWULmLuu1E4h4-5as_vhh5VN3vM/s320/IMG_0456.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina, Micah & Maks hiked to the top of a waterfall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfsZ5Ksh5tGjiu2myAQbdRdjU2h3wz0-bWwQbCNPVQybICZ-WFQL29thqRCy31HdEPysxqhy5iAFA9mLE7KLJNU3ab2-RcHvk7puEgbIaYLeeacnOntzBnIjdZAFO_S7cUmS587-qDgs/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfsZ5Ksh5tGjiu2myAQbdRdjU2h3wz0-bWwQbCNPVQybICZ-WFQL29thqRCy31HdEPysxqhy5iAFA9mLE7KLJNU3ab2-RcHvk7puEgbIaYLeeacnOntzBnIjdZAFO_S7cUmS587-qDgs/s320/IMG_0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Micah made a picnic lunch for he and Maks to enjoy together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB_Ntit07rwalpJlVFFvQ5L6U9DSaAqonEeaO_UoyivEcIjofriIq_hllqAUdb4RVuCJLasdqPryTACH0lQP6Agx8NCOhbkAdGLubpO3zmshpM46bSlgljOOEjwO3gVF4tIuYsUTsb8o/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB_Ntit07rwalpJlVFFvQ5L6U9DSaAqonEeaO_UoyivEcIjofriIq_hllqAUdb4RVuCJLasdqPryTACH0lQP6Agx8NCOhbkAdGLubpO3zmshpM46bSlgljOOEjwO3gVF4tIuYsUTsb8o/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina is a US Citizen!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Bx5vdRz1bnZ8SO7DqbMbMquU5-z1sWsNZMzBfZqRtWXM5V8SX7iOnqV2CwAqfOXdwHrd2JAwY7Rp9pXTEN6FXnfPTgkzS4Ns4crd0ohf91snzKmz41lWzkhp45hgK7FGm_FUHyy87s/s1600/IMG_2227-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9Bx5vdRz1bnZ8SO7DqbMbMquU5-z1sWsNZMzBfZqRtWXM5V8SX7iOnqV2CwAqfOXdwHrd2JAwY7Rp9pXTEN6FXnfPTgkzS4Ns4crd0ohf91snzKmz41lWzkhp45hgK7FGm_FUHyy87s/s320/IMG_2227-86.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family was sealed for time and all eternity in the St George LDS Temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Not once have I questioned that the Lord had a part in this journey. <br />
Not once have I doubted that He led us to these kids.<br />
It has been made very clear that they are meant to be a part of our family.<br />
<br />
And with that knowledge, what more could I ask for? <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-8415379820923017232013-02-28T12:48:00.001-07:002013-02-28T12:50:08.165-07:00Homeward BoundWhen I was 17 years old I spent the summer away from home. Almost every night I would listen to the song "Homeward Bound" by Simon and Garfunkel and cry because I was so homesick! (This is not an exaggeration.)<br />
<br />
Today we got up very early and started getting all our tasks taken care of:<br />
<ul>
<li>Paying for medical appointments</li>
<li>Picking up passports from the train station</li>
<li>Getting medical examinations for the children (this was quite an experience... medical clinics function much differently here than in the USA)</li>
<li>Filling out and submitting more paperwork to the US Embassy</li>
<li>And receiving the kids completed visas and passports!</li>
<li>Final accounting of all our adoption expenses</li>
</ul>
Once all these tasks were completed we had a number of people saying, "Congratulations!" because the process in Ukraine is finally FINISHED! We are now free to leave Ukraine with our children and head for HOME!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW66k0vI1b2-RfzMcFIQdTok1SbNUnXtPG601cewFdlpMX7yfgIiRqUfteBwK5JyQVEeC7nduEXW5QvBujb8hZ-KYuUChAzQPKk_F0e5a56jtYJwN2sYeJXYvhhXYAgDxlexm1GJ8aHu4/s1600/visa-passport_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW66k0vI1b2-RfzMcFIQdTok1SbNUnXtPG601cewFdlpMX7yfgIiRqUfteBwK5JyQVEeC7nduEXW5QvBujb8hZ-KYuUChAzQPKk_F0e5a56jtYJwN2sYeJXYvhhXYAgDxlexm1GJ8aHu4/s320/visa-passport_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm sure that many of you think that the past 7 weeks has flown by and it's unbelievable that we're already heading home with our three new children. And in some ways, I agree. However, in other ways, it feels like it's been FOREVER. I am so anxious to see my other children and be home in familiar surrounds. Every time I think about going home I get a little queasy, excited feeling in the pit of my stomach (you know, that feeling you get when you're a kid waiting for Christmas morning to finally come?) I'm just so ready for to have my entire family under one roof, together!<br />
<br />
And then there's the part of me that starts really analyzing this journey and I think about how my life has changed in only 7.5 short (or long, depending on how I choose to look at it) months. Here is what we have accomplished in such a short time:<br />
<ul>
<li>We met and/or learned of 3 children in Ukraine that needed a family.</li>
<li>We fell in love with and determined that they were meant to be a part of our family.</li>
<li>We began the adoption process (home study, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork!)</li>
<li>We raised and/or saved approximately $55,000 to help fund our adoption.</li>
<li>We flew to Ukraine and finalized the adoption of Albina, Alina and Maks.</li>
<li>We returned home (this has yet to happen, obviously, but it will happen before it hits 7.5 months).</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> And people say that miracles don't happen anymore...</b></i></span></div>
<br />
So in just a few hours we will actually be Homeward Bound and the <b>real</b> work begins. Because, let's face it! As difficult as the adoption process (or 9 months of pregnancy for that matter) is: the hard part is raising kids!<br />
<br />
So perhaps you think I'm excited to be at this point in my journey as the mother of 3 new children?<br />
<br />
<b>I am.</b><br />
<br />
But I am also <b>scared out of my mind</b>. I am completely <b>overwhelmed</b> with the responsibility I've just taken on. I'm feeling <b>inadequate</b>. Oh, so <u><b>inadequate</b></u>.<br />
<br />
I appreciated the honesty of one blogger (a couple that is currently finishing up their adoption here in Ukraine):<br />
<br />
<i>With the realization of just how much our lives are going to change in
just a few short days, we can’t help but feel like we are reaching the
peak of a tremendous roller coaster (one that we have been riding for 8
months!) . I have the same tingly feeling in my hands and feet that I do
when the clang of a coaster car’s wheels click to a stop right before
the free fall (have I mentioned I’m terrified of heights?). We are both
so excited for this next chapter, but at this very moment it seems like
such a daunting task. We’ve caught ourselves wondering just what we
have gotten ourselves into. But when we really think about it, we’ve
never gotten off a roller coaster regretting the ride. Hopefully this
ride is no different.</i><br />
<br />
So, here I am. In Kyiv for my last few hours. I'm listening to Albina talk on the phone with her friend before she leaves Ukraine. She giggles and laughs. I am noticing how excited Alina is to be finally going to America. I am enjoying the fact that Maks ran to me a number of times tonight to simply give me hugs. And I have to think that as hard as my life ahead may be... <b><i>it's all going to be worth it in the end.</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-9953594508800885302013-02-24T16:37:00.000-07:002013-02-25T16:37:58.205-07:00Church in KyivThis morning we got up and got ready for church. They kids looked so cute (James did Maks' hair):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjnEn4fYVKyfqXTZ5XHr26RCX9tZOAgSX66YINeLUQuORj9JpQRRU7yRRxG3lKpow8TE9YXdcc9l680P7Xr418g_MNm1q7WNytFfwa98tZSxYH_JRgjSAsQJ9xfCvlgbVkNshhBgpZcU/s1600/2013-02-24+03.27.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjnEn4fYVKyfqXTZ5XHr26RCX9tZOAgSX66YINeLUQuORj9JpQRRU7yRRxG3lKpow8TE9YXdcc9l680P7Xr418g_MNm1q7WNytFfwa98tZSxYH_JRgjSAsQJ9xfCvlgbVkNshhBgpZcU/s320/2013-02-24+03.27.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BmUZzie2zECBLT1NoatzXxfzzYyJ0yAA5QO8fZ77eOn9ud2P-bTSBO1eQW9aIFYZDjAXrWHXqKzHoj53yBaTgNM5aiwSLbOMlt9tDhvwy8rQdSUKc1hHHHWw4Y8pmezpFHMtOvohbgk/s1600/2013-02-24+03.28.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BmUZzie2zECBLT1NoatzXxfzzYyJ0yAA5QO8fZ77eOn9ud2P-bTSBO1eQW9aIFYZDjAXrWHXqKzHoj53yBaTgNM5aiwSLbOMlt9tDhvwy8rQdSUKc1hHHHWw4Y8pmezpFHMtOvohbgk/s320/2013-02-24+03.28.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once we arrived at church we attended Sacrament Meeting and then sent the kids to their individual classes. James and I followed Maks to make sure he was okay. After he sat down in Primary he looked like he was about to cry, so I went in and sat next to him. Sure enough, he was pretty scared and out of his comfort zone. When James walked in and sat by him, he finally relaxed a little and smiled, but he was still near tears for the first while. Once he went into his smaller class for his lesson he was completely fine (although James and I still stayed with him the entire time). He was so excited that he learned about Jesus Christ. He colored this picture:<br />
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<br />
During Primary he was asked if he had rules in his family. He said, "Yes. To help my mama and papa." His teacher was so good with him and made him feel really comfortable.<br />
<br />
After church we took a few pictures outside the chapel and then walked next door and took pictures in front of the Kyiv LDS Temple. It was so great to be able to go to church and see the temple with the kids.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-24799291882426948352013-02-23T16:04:00.000-07:002013-02-25T16:38:15.592-07:00Exploring Kyiv: Day 2<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning Albina told us she really wanted to clean the apartment and asked if we could all leave for a while. (Really???) James and I took Alina and Maks out to explore some more of Kyiv (and YES the apartment really was much better when we returned!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBaSgYmNsjCIfeSbadUiT_9XoLZN32NwxP0gpHcyUmja6cBzYJ95C8qEQArg5ndeclfIXaYh7KL3hjho8Bxq85DWSR-RENx4ejyR6ZstgpiWviCOaJS3UnllVLKCj_AgSeFc-C36VTdI/s1600/2013-02-23+06.23.04.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBaSgYmNsjCIfeSbadUiT_9XoLZN32NwxP0gpHcyUmja6cBzYJ95C8qEQArg5ndeclfIXaYh7KL3hjho8Bxq85DWSR-RENx4ejyR6ZstgpiWviCOaJS3UnllVLKCj_AgSeFc-C36VTdI/s320/2013-02-23+06.23.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Kyiv, Ukraine<u><br /></u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We aren't sure what this small museum was. We ended up inside and then realized it wasn't anything we were interested in. However, I did like this photo.</td></tr>
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We got to see a lot of interesting buildings on our walk:</div>
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There were also lots of places to shop on the street as well as a number of people begging for money. Alina kept asking us for money to give to them. We finally gave her some money and told her it was hers to give as she chose. She was very kind to everyone she met on the street.</div>
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We ended up at The Great Patriotic War Museum. We didn't end up going inside because the kids were tired and anxious to go home. However, we did talk them into walking around the grounds and taking some pictures. Alina took the camera for most of our time there and got some <i><b>interesting</b></i> shots. Here are some of the better ones:</div>
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While we were out walking, we came to a place with a lot of hills where children were sledding. Alina and Maks were excited about the snow and asked if they could climb the sides of the hills. We allowed them to climb and play for a bit. We caught this great moment of Maks on tape (sorry it's sideways for a bit and then changes... not sure why?):</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-49584501542249393832013-02-22T15:53:00.000-07:002013-02-25T15:53:24.890-07:00Exploring Kyiv: Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">
Today we took the kids out and explored a little of Kyiv with them. </div>
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We hoped to see more, but they got worn out quickly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipo2EvlmDIcPq5FffwNdTDcaLJ5rV9EnlYUjoHiokvPVzKH8bQhdRGMAn16Z_PGHGKyHY74OjcHhkwTL-WjzbZTJjeiJAPnmt6lkLCDTMIQ1zEzZQFyTkuoCm-vv1505kBIVGhSXwYpTQ/s1600/2013-02-22+04.41.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipo2EvlmDIcPq5FffwNdTDcaLJ5rV9EnlYUjoHiokvPVzKH8bQhdRGMAn16Z_PGHGKyHY74OjcHhkwTL-WjzbZTJjeiJAPnmt6lkLCDTMIQ1zEzZQFyTkuoCm-vv1505kBIVGhSXwYpTQ/s320/2013-02-22+04.41.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Independence Square is in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G67jDRI_kAJVBesH21IdeogMYaZnJWdSSY6mmTu16FBfc_nAmmezVlx7SdmTSDIaU0cTQzqZ5GGVkGvP10IEUAE22Wn-Xef3vRXi3YO5QBbm8MdgqOuzdLNNyNV1dhNP9vvLFlmyHoE/s1600/2013-02-22+04.41.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G67jDRI_kAJVBesH21IdeogMYaZnJWdSSY6mmTu16FBfc_nAmmezVlx7SdmTSDIaU0cTQzqZ5GGVkGvP10IEUAE22Wn-Xef3vRXi3YO5QBbm8MdgqOuzdLNNyNV1dhNP9vvLFlmyHoE/s320/2013-02-22+04.41.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids wanted to pose together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yyNTWiLqADxeEwT98ODtPiQpilk6XPKPZWtlRyTAep_5UfmP7R-yCrhyeg8RbbD2yPW3bUmb1OI6qJpQGjkOMUDZj3IQo8C-mlRIFxM696J5tUNbd_SRbZDMGAmR1TxGS9OqjuWS0_0/s1600/2013-02-22+04.42.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yyNTWiLqADxeEwT98ODtPiQpilk6XPKPZWtlRyTAep_5UfmP7R-yCrhyeg8RbbD2yPW3bUmb1OI6qJpQGjkOMUDZj3IQo8C-mlRIFxM696J5tUNbd_SRbZDMGAmR1TxGS9OqjuWS0_0/s320/2013-02-22+04.42.06.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you tell Maks you're going to take his picture, he frequently kneels in this pose. It's pretty cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bridge over Independence Square making silly faces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9faaeABk2050LId828Ojbs8-TYtfXeHx6up_dUWhKi1Y5fmICU7wi96ePj2uAdW3UTB_29lWprtoiqk9BYLmQzOysuSPZv4l3OLTpk4j7ki7j8aO5XvAG9euPQlWfEdCvtA1Z0BZZjqE/s1600/2013-02-22+04.49.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9faaeABk2050LId828Ojbs8-TYtfXeHx6up_dUWhKi1Y5fmICU7wi96ePj2uAdW3UTB_29lWprtoiqk9BYLmQzOysuSPZv4l3OLTpk4j7ki7j8aO5XvAG9euPQlWfEdCvtA1Z0BZZjqE/s320/2013-02-22+04.49.50.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument at Independence Square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07FguDBkrQuxwZs1q6-cQqcITvZtID49PWq_769-cYKR-4rWrnhET8yRG_L-IvyWBCAlZsYm6Oqwpq_bFRKjGf6SLmpZ-WaM1X7TUBrD6Pb7WwAXcRBzqIHlpogFF5v-mO5lMdoiQfQA/s1600/2013-02-22+04.50.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07FguDBkrQuxwZs1q6-cQqcITvZtID49PWq_769-cYKR-4rWrnhET8yRG_L-IvyWBCAlZsYm6Oqwpq_bFRKjGf6SLmpZ-WaM1X7TUBrD6Pb7WwAXcRBzqIHlpogFF5v-mO5lMdoiQfQA/s320/2013-02-22+04.50.03.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina doesn't like this monument, so she didn't want to be in the picture. I think everyone else looks cute though.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The very long escalator exiting the Metro.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding down the escalator.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwb78XQnLMA-8P6ZoncXnsh2kOqLY9S4XBIuc84dPjwdzhKWhE4HSu08HE5BtSuUcgltDzMYJn-ijAs-1QLgN2k-mBR8kQQhocFCath6DLYosfn99AWBELBjjV3U9TdnQL9pgvKPLGyo/s1600/2013-02-22+12.24.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwb78XQnLMA-8P6ZoncXnsh2kOqLY9S4XBIuc84dPjwdzhKWhE4HSu08HE5BtSuUcgltDzMYJn-ijAs-1QLgN2k-mBR8kQQhocFCath6DLYosfn99AWBELBjjV3U9TdnQL9pgvKPLGyo/s320/2013-02-22+12.24.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maks thinks this is the best ride EVER!</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-21758996785956926352013-02-21T15:44:00.000-07:002013-02-26T02:30:44.835-07:00Our Second Good-Bye... The Hardest Good-ByeThis week has been a crazy week. As soon as our 10 day waiting period was finished we were running around from place to place signing documents. We also needed to pack up all our things, get clothing ready for the children, plan food for the train ride and take care of more paperwork with Albina.<br />
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Albina was not happy about all the documents. She has informed us that she does not cry in public (and so far, she hasn't!), but it was evident that it is really hard for her to leave her friends and college behind. We anticipated this (we've moved with our other kids enough to know firsthand how difficult it is to move, especially at her age!), so we haven't been surprised by the mood swings and crazy comments. The fact is, she really loves our family and wants to come to America, but she also really loves her "family" here. That would be a tough transition for anyone, and I hope we can help her navigate through the challenges ahead.<br />
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After all our paperwork was finished and all the luggage was loaded up, we headed to the orphanage:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztNpghgExBMvtCUiy5rpX60_yorE0L1dJawmoDUeNrUnTvzXaAez0hYQMTmRvyEIMpFkB3jY_cOlWEtDXe_SpNZ6KPn90RZMgJFhxzQvBnnYv7Wyr0eooEdEpLY5Sdxg1TTkaOsxh4tg/s1600/2013-02-18+04.11.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztNpghgExBMvtCUiy5rpX60_yorE0L1dJawmoDUeNrUnTvzXaAez0hYQMTmRvyEIMpFkB3jY_cOlWEtDXe_SpNZ6KPn90RZMgJFhxzQvBnnYv7Wyr0eooEdEpLY5Sdxg1TTkaOsxh4tg/s320/2013-02-18+04.11.24.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-LJNYCp1g8Jm72F0bE4BwaaPzVmjq6O1VZSS8ZEyyt-k3gjfPAcDQy667JATcCIZ8iB6H2U0FIrViA6A4Lw9aHbeT37_UKv1arGP7jRoavHP5sE86y9GFUI4v4o1hYloqWXksQC6RXw/s1600/2013-02-18+04.11.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-LJNYCp1g8Jm72F0bE4BwaaPzVmjq6O1VZSS8ZEyyt-k3gjfPAcDQy667JATcCIZ8iB6H2U0FIrViA6A4Lw9aHbeT37_UKv1arGP7jRoavHP5sE86y9GFUI4v4o1hYloqWXksQC6RXw/s320/2013-02-18+04.11.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc6H4CCx5JoI3iA1-dmGqUh0StiNC_J1_R7RRXIqCb8hTeCnSioZyfhhd9LdTnnBtzjA1NPREJfns6wMFpzQ6LFQhMUkVczBaXA5qCyxATSRGy5YqgXv6meFyZ-9IH6eVQDcpVK-RADs/s1600/2013-02-18+04.11.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKc6H4CCx5JoI3iA1-dmGqUh0StiNC_J1_R7RRXIqCb8hTeCnSioZyfhhd9LdTnnBtzjA1NPREJfns6wMFpzQ6LFQhMUkVczBaXA5qCyxATSRGy5YqgXv6meFyZ-9IH6eVQDcpVK-RADs/s320/2013-02-18+04.11.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-_E4zrZTzGbWjhbLnemSgxR5IiYN30YIkdyjgBhAs8SrBptcU3ajM44eLhdQn7evB9nZ_tf03n6BnDrdjPtP636Xvj0q1s0lgESTcyLU4NP3n9c6ybfZUUJMlSUKgVpeYTZ5T9A77pM/s1600/2013-02-18+04.12.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-_E4zrZTzGbWjhbLnemSgxR5IiYN30YIkdyjgBhAs8SrBptcU3ajM44eLhdQn7evB9nZ_tf03n6BnDrdjPtP636Xvj0q1s0lgESTcyLU4NP3n9c6ybfZUUJMlSUKgVpeYTZ5T9A77pM/s320/2013-02-18+04.12.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once we got there we were rushed inside where we met with the director and the director assistant. They were very kind to us and wished us health and good fortune in the years ahead. They told us they were very happy that Albina, Alina and Maks would be joining our family. They feel that we are a wonderful family for them and they have enjoyed watching our interactions with the children during our visits. It was wonderful to talk with them and know that they completely support this adoption. I was very emotional during our visits with them (surprise, I know!) and felt very grateful for the love and care they've given our kids during the last few years.<br />
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Once we were finished meeting with them we were taken into the Music Room where we were able to witness an awesome farewell concert for our kids. Alina was able to dance and sing, Albina sang and Maks danced. After the performance all the children ran to our kids and we witnessed lots of hugs and kisses and tears as good-byes were said. Again, it was a very emotional and bitter-sweet moment knowing that we now have our kids, but they have to say good-bye to such dear friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF5_GhtpelmhXphHfFCYL2YGtJAaZ4_gBmrYDDWovkALLeIxJEjzl-UuGgClRrCJbyoFo2PIZ5psIrJMGib70HxsX6pa6iqBbYMhdgGGFqji88sBySuCbUGa9hGiCkErHRgzRIIkeQ-0/s1600/2013-02-20+06.02.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF5_GhtpelmhXphHfFCYL2YGtJAaZ4_gBmrYDDWovkALLeIxJEjzl-UuGgClRrCJbyoFo2PIZ5psIrJMGib70HxsX6pa6iqBbYMhdgGGFqji88sBySuCbUGa9hGiCkErHRgzRIIkeQ-0/s320/2013-02-20+06.02.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Music Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUd2nef00U6nLHonyrPARk8soMxOMqwBe1NUhqTYpO9RDnuus9-l62VFPhldFSPILvCOb-Wy4-tj2IAAF1PPilASJQ5BNoBl4Cvb9simiJK_oVJJTkF775el9MIz6PtGMjC7X3TjIeuo/s1600/2013-02-20+06.25.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUd2nef00U6nLHonyrPARk8soMxOMqwBe1NUhqTYpO9RDnuus9-l62VFPhldFSPILvCOb-Wy4-tj2IAAF1PPilASJQ5BNoBl4Cvb9simiJK_oVJJTkF775el9MIz6PtGMjC7X3TjIeuo/s320/2013-02-20+06.25.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina hugging her friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqh5UX0g8NHC5Pb82YMVJ8lLf4ujs-6qPa5HvXPMvsM2kib-8WhWPsJ3OW600jiKyf5QN3lylivktetDob6kYFIPD6_D_mdeLRjYZuJlGfaoDEkelHbS_yyOOHEKPlpWRh1xXwccJTAk/s1600/2013-02-20+06.25.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqh5UX0g8NHC5Pb82YMVJ8lLf4ujs-6qPa5HvXPMvsM2kib-8WhWPsJ3OW600jiKyf5QN3lylivktetDob6kYFIPD6_D_mdeLRjYZuJlGfaoDEkelHbS_yyOOHEKPlpWRh1xXwccJTAk/s320/2013-02-20+06.25.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maks getting hugs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKNJsNdmBdF4SQPMpi4eHBw9zlQjrqx3d9zHwQVC5BdwWprdTGw8eg_PWZsPsWZ4q_Fd15ySmqwFMLs3In5IM9kuWfnGiMU_iUD5Deqc9V1O7-ePeVpbU3gQygvgQnYowIkKMM1TNRvI/s1600/2013-02-20+06.26.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKNJsNdmBdF4SQPMpi4eHBw9zlQjrqx3d9zHwQVC5BdwWprdTGw8eg_PWZsPsWZ4q_Fd15ySmqwFMLs3In5IM9kuWfnGiMU_iUD5Deqc9V1O7-ePeVpbU3gQygvgQnYowIkKMM1TNRvI/s320/2013-02-20+06.26.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot of the children with James and I.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ik8auVCzIgYAg5jr8IUVLrcQ_W62VyX-S9fBELyjHtNePZd2KqaYp3N5jJ2C9zdrMswcA_7PXwmG6dEymdLZAninumDh1ulohki1nx5SRTZfh0NBnudKvjEcdO-fj5ZVBSIyCM3Nmrc/s1600/2013-02-20+06.27.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ik8auVCzIgYAg5jr8IUVLrcQ_W62VyX-S9fBELyjHtNePZd2KqaYp3N5jJ2C9zdrMswcA_7PXwmG6dEymdLZAninumDh1ulohki1nx5SRTZfh0NBnudKvjEcdO-fj5ZVBSIyCM3Nmrc/s320/2013-02-20+06.27.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of Albina's goodbyes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpFwWZva9p1Wqs0djPOax3lxesaZusP5qhFjbW1ZNM0x_sK7piCf9DR9RQ35Lm-3S31L5Q7y0t96PD4tJ58g6Bfqtwpd-k50UZyvX-3Tjl3sjtNWZRphBF3_1dmIyIaU3gz_BZDzKgsA/s1600/2013-02-20+06.27.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpFwWZva9p1Wqs0djPOax3lxesaZusP5qhFjbW1ZNM0x_sK7piCf9DR9RQ35Lm-3S31L5Q7y0t96PD4tJ58g6Bfqtwpd-k50UZyvX-3Tjl3sjtNWZRphBF3_1dmIyIaU3gz_BZDzKgsA/s320/2013-02-20+06.27.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina's teacher and friends were all very sad to say good-bye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28sNpw5whb69UKvMdbDw-B6VIN6oVyIhTIDl34cdcjzRJmhiqU6ebOJXt9YaBAynTzV4R0RBRPO7HCxHSuWUi3RUwWUWIr2xXEMkvpCBnI4OjZQb2CBX3KwNz08pqxoe38SUJKEvJptA/s1600/2013-02-20+06.29.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28sNpw5whb69UKvMdbDw-B6VIN6oVyIhTIDl34cdcjzRJmhiqU6ebOJXt9YaBAynTzV4R0RBRPO7HCxHSuWUi3RUwWUWIr2xXEMkvpCBnI4OjZQb2CBX3KwNz08pqxoe38SUJKEvJptA/s320/2013-02-20+06.29.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More good-byes for Maks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCyarhZ4g1Tn3kYFAVxNMTcadnpRgWWRpMySi78H6I8nnkP8bWPC1nUmBcbkponjudjeC5FeFwmQVeB5ZP_YLMVNvXhm3Q2c6VaAq2_Z6qupM69A6w5IbhvrT-SRSH6EbL9ovK142V5A/s1600/2013-02-20+06.30.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCyarhZ4g1Tn3kYFAVxNMTcadnpRgWWRpMySi78H6I8nnkP8bWPC1nUmBcbkponjudjeC5FeFwmQVeB5ZP_YLMVNvXhm3Q2c6VaAq2_Z6qupM69A6w5IbhvrT-SRSH6EbL9ovK142V5A/s320/2013-02-20+06.30.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina's teacher and friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKE7Re4Ytsa8ltlGDTxUarNbymh8mfzmxiPStxJcSvuVkTao6rvu3ynkO4-lYcKi1SCJZwswhy-TnXovzuEHADirA2eFIepdwAvbOdzW9UMXwMHx8ZAFe-wDs20ks4TufBJuChIua8z8/s1600/2013-02-20+06.31.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKE7Re4Ytsa8ltlGDTxUarNbymh8mfzmxiPStxJcSvuVkTao6rvu3ynkO4-lYcKi1SCJZwswhy-TnXovzuEHADirA2eFIepdwAvbOdzW9UMXwMHx8ZAFe-wDs20ks4TufBJuChIua8z8/s320/2013-02-20+06.31.21.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina and her teacher.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1HCF0WVH1ZPzJVu7rwTPbeXSwlXiRQsb6GQF199YU0TaV80KFAdO82kWezly7N73HZShuPfNgZAog1NBtRGZacoHsWZaqYr9LZFFG_r1MOPtIAvBkuXO7ZmQNTcUgoXe7b8RD7XCsak/s1600/2013-02-20+06.29.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1HCF0WVH1ZPzJVu7rwTPbeXSwlXiRQsb6GQF199YU0TaV80KFAdO82kWezly7N73HZShuPfNgZAog1NBtRGZacoHsWZaqYr9LZFFG_r1MOPtIAvBkuXO7ZmQNTcUgoXe7b8RD7XCsak/s320/2013-02-20+06.29.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More good-byes for Alina.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywvf8H0xLyQfPEl7EL7mBjRY_jzybEnPpDNJdD5siTuKB2kAgHzmYr28EljQ2Q8EhgKP_8W97X7wqFRVbNaEbQ1OcVND_kADYBJlBDj-LmWWbH8tpMN4_syFwwqLjUw7G9FuTj74FZi8/s1600/2013-02-20+06.32.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywvf8H0xLyQfPEl7EL7mBjRY_jzybEnPpDNJdD5siTuKB2kAgHzmYr28EljQ2Q8EhgKP_8W97X7wqFRVbNaEbQ1OcVND_kADYBJlBDj-LmWWbH8tpMN4_syFwwqLjUw7G9FuTj74FZi8/s320/2013-02-20+06.32.00.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina and her best friend. We really grew to love her (we were able to
spend a lot of time with her as well as with our kids.) It was so hard
to say good-bye to her! She is such a sweet, beautiful girl!</td></tr>
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As soon as we said good-bye we were whisked out the door and heading off to the region capital to take care of more documents. Maks got car sick, but fortunately we thought ahead and gave each of the kids a bag to hold just in case. It still wasn't pleasant, but what can you do?<br />
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Once we finished with the kids passport applications, we had just enough time to run in and grab something to eat at: <b>McDonald's</b>. Albina was less than thrilled at this option, but Maks was excited! He had somehow gotten the idea that a hamburger was the same thing as a crabby patty and he thought that Sponge-bob was cooking in the kitchen. However, once the hamburger and fries came, he quickly realized that he did NOT like McDonald's food (regardless of who was cooking it). <br />
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After eating, we got on the train and headed to Kyiv. We were on the train all night and it was definitely the worst night sleep of the entire trip. Maks was really excited with our adventure (he doesn't remember anything before the orphanage, and since he's been there he's never been able to leave, so this was all very new and exciting!) He refused to go to sleep and got very mad at us when we turned off the lights and said it was time to sleep. Once he fell asleep, Alina was wired and kept turning on her light. Then she settled down and Maks woke up and started rummaging through luggage and bags of food. This went on all night and I felt like we would NEVER get to Kyiv.<br />
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However, you'll be happy to know that we are no longer on the train. We made it to Kyiv and will be here for a few days waiting for passports. Once they arrive, we'll go to the US Embassy to finish up the final paperwork for traveling with our kids and then we get to go HOME! <br />
<br />
As lovely as this trip has been, we are really missing our kids at home and are anxious to be reunited and have our entire family under one roof! <b>We can hardly wait</b>, and are so grateful that we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-19462980588888343312013-02-17T15:02:00.000-07:002013-02-25T15:03:28.370-07:00Our First Good-ByeToday we attended church for the last time in this area. We have really enjoyed getting to know the people in the LDS Branch here. There are many wonderful individuals in this area and they welcomed us with open arms. We especially enjoyed the time we spent with the missionaries. We were able to meet with them during the week for English classes and we also met them for dinner a few times. Today we said good-bye to these wonderful people. We hope to see the missionaries again at some point when they return to America, but until then...<br />
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"DASVIDANIYA"</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24AXd_ifzOX2_T1fYqsRHgHmoqqnie4MWrhhRaDFzt4eJqVY2KnC6l9luqupjAXemQB3WynpJzkvm6pxQI2SOKnnmC47xoRaXg_z_WGcaA29_E-KZ7IrvS0tpR8Y1jMGm3J22e68Pg1I/s1600/2013-02-17+05.32.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24AXd_ifzOX2_T1fYqsRHgHmoqqnie4MWrhhRaDFzt4eJqVY2KnC6l9luqupjAXemQB3WynpJzkvm6pxQI2SOKnnmC47xoRaXg_z_WGcaA29_E-KZ7IrvS0tpR8Y1jMGm3J22e68Pg1I/s320/2013-02-17+05.32.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cute little chapel here. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the members met in such a nice building here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaBEBWYK1NWLc6v8dZ55YV3seE7Ars4BMizdLuLz3gzRLBHWf1IcYPqJQqSNxeSIEUcibaUJNovQ5DpPnmGx9BrSiw-EideF0egAv21l1u6QbynjhYiLt25Z5urn5wokHduKAh0PPO-k/s1600/2013-02-17+05.29.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaBEBWYK1NWLc6v8dZ55YV3seE7Ars4BMizdLuLz3gzRLBHWf1IcYPqJQqSNxeSIEUcibaUJNovQ5DpPnmGx9BrSiw-EideF0egAv21l1u6QbynjhYiLt25Z5urn5wokHduKAh0PPO-k/s320/2013-02-17+05.29.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foyer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHW5bJ6_ziNyehSDlC3-r_xeanmEUIYueFmmcLZ74XRtgpqogeHwls9TvThf0M7v7dBHaexMpnhfT3gEzDhaxH7u4nSAzgLOAamyg50936wO9DroFRZAGyCXJYyfeGryzJxS7dwT4OQY/s1600/2013-02-17+05.28.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHW5bJ6_ziNyehSDlC3-r_xeanmEUIYueFmmcLZ74XRtgpqogeHwls9TvThf0M7v7dBHaexMpnhfT3gEzDhaxH7u4nSAzgLOAamyg50936wO9DroFRZAGyCXJYyfeGryzJxS7dwT4OQY/s320/2013-02-17+05.28.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one and only hallway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpq2iyqfVAYizgqeDeawyBxNLWL54hc77eOgRq5ZjtgYgkGVWq8LBkupH0K037EK3W-9aWdSTRaouxzm9s2ZWNsPy7s5rT2TC_E6xtELbh09_gciKZ8YxtxAebeqYVTnVpaTO0vIp0QU/s1600/2013-02-17+05.33.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpq2iyqfVAYizgqeDeawyBxNLWL54hc77eOgRq5ZjtgYgkGVWq8LBkupH0K037EK3W-9aWdSTRaouxzm9s2ZWNsPy7s5rT2TC_E6xtELbh09_gciKZ8YxtxAebeqYVTnVpaTO0vIp0QU/s320/2013-02-17+05.33.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQrL9e4mKZ0n7IXv4u3UFv0zzuataa3hUxHPF19iSF80bOjAEOdSXmFacYRwy6Ude7HyhUlmdsOM4M-hOe_8TnYOZviA9wRSgqfxbsJWBXIXBplZbocfVynn0Qe-oGZMYWKlQuaUTcdw/s1600/2013-02-17+05.39.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQrL9e4mKZ0n7IXv4u3UFv0zzuataa3hUxHPF19iSF80bOjAEOdSXmFacYRwy6Ude7HyhUlmdsOM4M-hOe_8TnYOZviA9wRSgqfxbsJWBXIXBplZbocfVynn0Qe-oGZMYWKlQuaUTcdw/s320/2013-02-17+05.39.59.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before our final good-bye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXSipCjX53Oaysl9fa-GbWJidIkyCBTmPp4ig6vg8DKj7hydTdIOpMWynWka9yiqTzi_vAV0nATl8rHRs8-lEqDsbrn3XHjep-JgVe71TInB-i6bVqBjn6gYaq7KKJblaNo1heM6qCKg/s1600/2013-02-17+05.41.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXSipCjX53Oaysl9fa-GbWJidIkyCBTmPp4ig6vg8DKj7hydTdIOpMWynWka9yiqTzi_vAV0nATl8rHRs8-lEqDsbrn3XHjep-JgVe71TInB-i6bVqBjn6gYaq7KKJblaNo1heM6qCKg/s320/2013-02-17+05.41.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the Sister Missionaries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGqXHR7dYXnG1aiKIUM1i4ZaldLr7QPqrZMnVPNRFGY0ifFgtS5RpiPcbERyIUQ9tT9COo4YQIe_a9AQV2kn2SKW_eXiPeUeqL591fVcb-pg27KYPtSrhpLDM7Pg93GobTffrj9yJDXw/s1600/2013-02-17+05.40.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGqXHR7dYXnG1aiKIUM1i4ZaldLr7QPqrZMnVPNRFGY0ifFgtS5RpiPcbERyIUQ9tT9COo4YQIe_a9AQV2kn2SKW_eXiPeUeqL591fVcb-pg27KYPtSrhpLDM7Pg93GobTffrj9yJDXw/s320/2013-02-17+05.40.11.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we're...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-L9Py7cWPAMAHq1z8d_753Mc7DNUaMhH5QwRB7T2hZJHU5Ooc0Oe8C55uKu4PSWC9q_PEKJec4DM2WIz67d69aCHyg0GRCMyD-8UE2ohag5PTlgJIgAzvlycyR-9Bqdmk9GW9dhX5hc/s1600/2013-02-17+05.40.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-L9Py7cWPAMAHq1z8d_753Mc7DNUaMhH5QwRB7T2hZJHU5Ooc0Oe8C55uKu4PSWC9q_PEKJec4DM2WIz67d69aCHyg0GRCMyD-8UE2ohag5PTlgJIgAzvlycyR-9Bqdmk9GW9dhX5hc/s320/2013-02-17+05.40.13.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OFF!</td></tr>
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<h1 class="subject" style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1006944704"></span><span id="goog_1006944705"></span> </h1>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-79429037018240582582013-02-16T14:50:00.000-07:002013-02-25T14:50:33.156-07:00Another Birthday Celebration!<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Today is Toria's Birthday. </b></div>
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<b>We aren't there to celebrate with her, so we created this movie for her. </b></div>
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<b>We love and miss you Toria! </b></div>
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<b>Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-91163964900565349692013-02-14T13:36:00.000-07:002013-02-26T02:32:51.233-07:00Happy Valentine's Day!Today was Valentine's Day. Unfortunately we were unable to go visit the kids because of something that was taking place at the orphanage (an inspection of sorts). Fortunately we learned that this would be the case yesterday morning so during our lunch break we ran and took care of getting Valentine's Day gifts for our kids and celebrated with them during our afternoon visit.<br />
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Because we didn't have any visits at the orphanage today, we had an entire day to spend together, just the two of us. We decided to take advantage of our free day as real tourists. We walked around taking pictures of everything we've discovered while we've been living here:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVf9Aip3o_wrgJBhpzSuK0PyICjFOvinuoy_tU0RVNynRuABeJN6um1pPUL-E1eUtVNWhIJoYbosm4ziwOs2tLF06D4X78_jpagxYUH1gvo-URRH2k4_EPQKIrd2QrCvDE0vvUZW5diq4/s1600/2013-02-14+06.50.40.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVf9Aip3o_wrgJBhpzSuK0PyICjFOvinuoy_tU0RVNynRuABeJN6um1pPUL-E1eUtVNWhIJoYbosm4ziwOs2tLF06D4X78_jpagxYUH1gvo-URRH2k4_EPQKIrd2QrCvDE0vvUZW5diq4/s320/2013-02-14+06.50.40.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance into our apartment complex.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLGUruNpJT51awzdaK9jNXAsEadbGtr4E_DR77kRgAB75kRIhw5NaR2BacOpFMeL3sUAbR0NVqSUIigrcyX_dnvHNPIlBe-fHD_V0th6G4zzaIvv_oFARQZ_xKUAgIhHmcHdDq05ND-k/s1600/2013-02-14+14.59.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLGUruNpJT51awzdaK9jNXAsEadbGtr4E_DR77kRgAB75kRIhw5NaR2BacOpFMeL3sUAbR0NVqSUIigrcyX_dnvHNPIlBe-fHD_V0th6G4zzaIvv_oFARQZ_xKUAgIhHmcHdDq05ND-k/s320/2013-02-14+14.59.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment bedroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSY25qt4HMLqN9Lh_SvzukghEmNjrQblDlNr4qadeeL9n1P-h7oKeui36fSlordFTHjgjKQ_EZNTXt1YQJ-wfGYgNgJppyealCxLauJr0ONie5sh3bDKkmv7WO8d2XyfUNxzCvIT-TRw/s1600/2013-02-14+14.57.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSY25qt4HMLqN9Lh_SvzukghEmNjrQblDlNr4qadeeL9n1P-h7oKeui36fSlordFTHjgjKQ_EZNTXt1YQJ-wfGYgNgJppyealCxLauJr0ONie5sh3bDKkmv7WO8d2XyfUNxzCvIT-TRw/s320/2013-02-14+14.57.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGRfcsvQV1OjrbYUtsEffq1pVNKVsjhqFf2SnzxOKfNHKTPjEXEyIZusyOmkg75-6U5_7nw7ZRq4Kt1K9tE4EZn9-b3xX_h5n-Gic3ay8qyW0N_AON3c7rlP6H7cjlzXMa6G348E3Yjw/s1600/2013-02-14+14.56.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGRfcsvQV1OjrbYUtsEffq1pVNKVsjhqFf2SnzxOKfNHKTPjEXEyIZusyOmkg75-6U5_7nw7ZRq4Kt1K9tE4EZn9-b3xX_h5n-Gic3ay8qyW0N_AON3c7rlP6H7cjlzXMa6G348E3Yjw/s320/2013-02-14+14.56.50.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment bathroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvMNIqy9a585q2IReiPHdyWM-8_K5qFfJYD2Fx0hTQOSIo0zB-MJ92s4itBFAk4mqUNtpKU2a5GTbPMxVvJAZ8Qjk9wrAPMATeytLIv6h2ogue0EfJmynIGSxhIj5aNqQhST7EB1qFM/s1600/2013-02-14+14.56.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuvMNIqy9a585q2IReiPHdyWM-8_K5qFfJYD2Fx0hTQOSIo0zB-MJ92s4itBFAk4mqUNtpKU2a5GTbPMxVvJAZ8Qjk9wrAPMATeytLIv6h2ogue0EfJmynIGSxhIj5aNqQhST7EB1qFM/s320/2013-02-14+14.56.37.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment entry and hallway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ_5xwmx-3EZBdi3Lz_gOnTRSCLqHeWlv4GV_wn9nrYfsYugl4Bdc9mlwWlmVz0JABqiooUlFQZLIWa0JdH8ZKsuqMwsMrnJaFraiq6i6ZtA_CZpi6NZISCe0Af6I7jo1dwCSDrwEaos/s1600/2013-02-14+14.56.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ_5xwmx-3EZBdi3Lz_gOnTRSCLqHeWlv4GV_wn9nrYfsYugl4Bdc9mlwWlmVz0JABqiooUlFQZLIWa0JdH8ZKsuqMwsMrnJaFraiq6i6ZtA_CZpi6NZISCe0Af6I7jo1dwCSDrwEaos/s320/2013-02-14+14.56.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our apartment living room / James' office while living here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1PeunGSziY2v5hc5SwrsEz6UKjrBk40GwA0EHsUFmikU0ZniX3cPvEMXtKGxphkmNVymmcULTVIXW6WnyG9yCLX-a7xA_zEKAxcogqRQoKGbNMmml9sW4jS_zaTLzLeOI_KSA34K_u0/s1600/2013-02-14+08.44.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1PeunGSziY2v5hc5SwrsEz6UKjrBk40GwA0EHsUFmikU0ZniX3cPvEMXtKGxphkmNVymmcULTVIXW6WnyG9yCLX-a7xA_zEKAxcogqRQoKGbNMmml9sW4jS_zaTLzLeOI_KSA34K_u0/s320/2013-02-14+08.44.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Albina's favorite store. She informed us that it's like Wal-Mart in America (it's not, but it is the closest thing we found.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn9kw4AxU0XbOTihgulyRaBop44GtqjLIxpMRpurfUpWRTunM8V1pCUQyOfSiciKh7YYoRgXfxR_lGgW9fXT8ZWTJGvw-YXMDX0RbP79F9xN0Eaj7Cj8DNk3iYibbzFMVteEMlZ0wCJY/s1600/2013-02-14+08.39.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTn9kw4AxU0XbOTihgulyRaBop44GtqjLIxpMRpurfUpWRTunM8V1pCUQyOfSiciKh7YYoRgXfxR_lGgW9fXT8ZWTJGvw-YXMDX0RbP79F9xN0Eaj7Cj8DNk3iYibbzFMVteEMlZ0wCJY/s320/2013-02-14+08.39.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the college that Albina attended.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccCWqCsTCweDwDtvFdfsBAhe3Qk2j159cfIdhEpvfMu9w4K40iDLeNIcXzINsS1DSvIDoxisdDGMFppV7zFMZgoVRYldsN7wqtycn5_by3sU0qIqSTXhjaPc6xaV8fdMp9OXdv-IyUjs/s1600/2013-02-14+07.15.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccCWqCsTCweDwDtvFdfsBAhe3Qk2j159cfIdhEpvfMu9w4K40iDLeNIcXzINsS1DSvIDoxisdDGMFppV7zFMZgoVRYldsN7wqtycn5_by3sU0qIqSTXhjaPc6xaV8fdMp9OXdv-IyUjs/s320/2013-02-14+07.15.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a Sharma stand. They are all over the place. A sharma is yummy, but very greasy and fattening. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qHSB0CRJe4TkNW4xnl7fyg-8Msu5-mpwoKp1JuqPlKcC95RnHBrrQ9dtyiTUlXVQodamArMEGS57kE0uj9g6ABeWX4JPjFocyo-CHc-emMMMBunkSKvR9UuWcYFM34SD9JW9xUvU9Cw/s1600/2013-02-14+07.12.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qHSB0CRJe4TkNW4xnl7fyg-8Msu5-mpwoKp1JuqPlKcC95RnHBrrQ9dtyiTUlXVQodamArMEGS57kE0uj9g6ABeWX4JPjFocyo-CHc-emMMMBunkSKvR9UuWcYFM34SD9JW9xUvU9Cw/s320/2013-02-14+07.12.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the entrance to the underground crosswalk. There are also shops inside.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnLOoP2XFGx-ZVFhLg87i-ak7-LpOlTP5aDieWmyLc-Ne-c6N8bIW71J6qsm8-Sn_zp_jD1gDJeuPb667mw0mV7L365HpBykzj4YAwGqIs1KMtYivPT7r0gNmZhEjO2tmpkonXUhxBfs/s1600/2013-02-14+07.11.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnLOoP2XFGx-ZVFhLg87i-ak7-LpOlTP5aDieWmyLc-Ne-c6N8bIW71J6qsm8-Sn_zp_jD1gDJeuPb667mw0mV7L365HpBykzj4YAwGqIs1KMtYivPT7r0gNmZhEjO2tmpkonXUhxBfs/s320/2013-02-14+07.11.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the mall.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAFhsYt-0WvwwWsNIzgpHMROFjtniWuqtiwn1UFfh1uWmaYVJtC1SblD63wXmZMKbSwnJ0q51URO0dLOPv1YmHwyPZCsQRz3g49vVDB4r7tEI10c1fkyzqpw1NUZX3CYkHPwWHL7rdbo/s1600/2013-02-14+07.11.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAFhsYt-0WvwwWsNIzgpHMROFjtniWuqtiwn1UFfh1uWmaYVJtC1SblD63wXmZMKbSwnJ0q51URO0dLOPv1YmHwyPZCsQRz3g49vVDB4r7tEI10c1fkyzqpw1NUZX3CYkHPwWHL7rdbo/s320/2013-02-14+07.11.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is McDonalds. We didn't eat here even once. Albina has never eaten here either (she HATES McDonalds).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6WoGhyphenhyphenDVNNJjaDdHy_sHdQItra2u7jd1ByCrhQjbBTNuTL2cgtQ6A0DSg7DGJplZrBGL1cCxmp_tVug9-jkmnEiajIjd0PxMWLezqHBQzrNz1a0aILP6HFvpxsFyI-46bil8o495FL0/s1600/2013-02-14+07.07.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6WoGhyphenhyphenDVNNJjaDdHy_sHdQItra2u7jd1ByCrhQjbBTNuTL2cgtQ6A0DSg7DGJplZrBGL1cCxmp_tVug9-jkmnEiajIjd0PxMWLezqHBQzrNz1a0aILP6HFvpxsFyI-46bil8o495FL0/s320/2013-02-14+07.07.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the Drama Theater in the city center. We wanted to watch a show here, but the only things playing this month were comedians. We figured that not understanding a Russian speaking comedian would be a bit of a disadvantage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTG8o8tj0j6NJailJbAU4YFcyGyxNyVrs4w5lSfEjEFtT3D0p980j6gqC6UlGjphyphenhyphenq0BjKUaBSJg4V2tSR_oRiDbeAQ5c7Vzb6fekw3PIY7XUM7GWn5122DpFG6MtVIRH8YEiIfcnS40/s1600/2013-02-14+07.08.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTG8o8tj0j6NJailJbAU4YFcyGyxNyVrs4w5lSfEjEFtT3D0p980j6gqC6UlGjphyphenhyphenq0BjKUaBSJg4V2tSR_oRiDbeAQ5c7Vzb6fekw3PIY7XUM7GWn5122DpFG6MtVIRH8YEiIfcnS40/s320/2013-02-14+07.08.28.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Albina's favorite Cafe. They have French pastries. It was yummy and cheap!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmnO01PQUnzLSL7guCwxRRjS1pAdVYIEv1RfDjddIm1lMJrspZFxNaZyoCsKcTuhQa83-foqCQ7chejpdXzEu2cBgm2x8ye2BRNNkVThsYER0G8vf_QfgrBK2dPrrkBi3GIxhtjFSSSA/s1600/2013-02-14+07.07.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmnO01PQUnzLSL7guCwxRRjS1pAdVYIEv1RfDjddIm1lMJrspZFxNaZyoCsKcTuhQa83-foqCQ7chejpdXzEu2cBgm2x8ye2BRNNkVThsYER0G8vf_QfgrBK2dPrrkBi3GIxhtjFSSSA/s320/2013-02-14+07.07.01.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very large church that's currently under construction.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWaLvHvXqzmu2pJQ20jbBppZ3jGMAe5yyuuHsEAPWzZmf6pMNFwWpVIe_iqDDHd23kQRqC-2I4rqLLlv8gNcnaBLgXstk302qEQ8hzvskr8Md6HYqWKHZ3CYfHkPCPQ7u-DXY2lRkS8U/s1600/2013-02-14+06.57.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWaLvHvXqzmu2pJQ20jbBppZ3jGMAe5yyuuHsEAPWzZmf6pMNFwWpVIe_iqDDHd23kQRqC-2I4rqLLlv8gNcnaBLgXstk302qEQ8hzvskr8Md6HYqWKHZ3CYfHkPCPQ7u-DXY2lRkS8U/s320/2013-02-14+06.57.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lviv Chocolate Shop. So delicious (and beautiful displays inside)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMLpvjwmfUJeIMPkGTAyXZl2tEtqqXUW_1p76noiGJWXgDll2qfxXXNteaMuuIR02OTd07FmxwAsdqG13nOeOBUaOTmlKNI3eFZioNvSDGcB_pAn17sGTjg2NftPUlqmXJaJPVsheUHA/s1600/2013-02-14+06.58.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMLpvjwmfUJeIMPkGTAyXZl2tEtqqXUW_1p76noiGJWXgDll2qfxXXNteaMuuIR02OTd07FmxwAsdqG13nOeOBUaOTmlKNI3eFZioNvSDGcB_pAn17sGTjg2NftPUlqmXJaJPVsheUHA/s320/2013-02-14+06.58.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Les Mis with Russian voiceovers anyone? We decided to pass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpN7qSAUdsP4R1AhsTeDqwFdSZ_ayl1kkhqOgevlQTQW-UEFM-ETdf42BsbZqj_MuXxtonrlW9xpigxAvdCM-KGD0FU5_j1yh38MfGaINRNnyKc4YoCxJIVGiA84fwirkwR32NjidEwA/s1600/2013-02-14+06.58.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpN7qSAUdsP4R1AhsTeDqwFdSZ_ayl1kkhqOgevlQTQW-UEFM-ETdf42BsbZqj_MuXxtonrlW9xpigxAvdCM-KGD0FU5_j1yh38MfGaINRNnyKc4YoCxJIVGiA84fwirkwR32NjidEwA/s320/2013-02-14+06.58.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many options at the cinema!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We ended our day eating our Valentine's Dinner at one of our favorite cafe's in the area. What's a holiday without carbs?:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcaBXCs6FlETTVauQXlb_DMz_GotQovvVgRPzzxqBkqGuhiftzAytMJ9fuAKV7bK5ZCO_0AEQOsxMvSbysOEtNd02ll4y0UK6BUGWY-PGvlH8LkvDpWLO-Ni1pr0AYs84uxwyaA0eXtU/s1600/2013-02-14+08.23.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcaBXCs6FlETTVauQXlb_DMz_GotQovvVgRPzzxqBkqGuhiftzAytMJ9fuAKV7bK5ZCO_0AEQOsxMvSbysOEtNd02ll4y0UK6BUGWY-PGvlH8LkvDpWLO-Ni1pr0AYs84uxwyaA0eXtU/s320/2013-02-14+08.23.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was about the most American looking restaurant in the city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qBZ7JHPz7dhdewIdOpsMZF0HiJTCk3jVYRZl_3CUKWSj53frCjTKV9tDO01DTbi9shLjZikqz8xxRtCHAtIwkGy1OBEmZyZgak8A7e9Q26YoLD1DsnEo64DuJ5KfgTe3CZLapscTS2o/s1600/2013-02-14+08.23.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qBZ7JHPz7dhdewIdOpsMZF0HiJTCk3jVYRZl_3CUKWSj53frCjTKV9tDO01DTbi9shLjZikqz8xxRtCHAtIwkGy1OBEmZyZgak8A7e9Q26YoLD1DsnEo64DuJ5KfgTe3CZLapscTS2o/s320/2013-02-14+08.23.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cafe has really great quiche, meat/cheese filled pastries and desserts. Yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>All in all it was a lovely day!</b><br />
<b>Hope you enjoyed celebrating with those you love. </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-26480984075616647322013-02-08T14:49:00.004-07:002013-02-08T15:16:09.883-07:00First Annual Family Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Today is February 8, 2013</span></b></div>
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This is now a very important day in our family. </div>
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Here are some highlights:</div>
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This morning our facilitator/translator came to our apartment to discuss what to expect in court today. We were given a number of things to memorize and recite during court. She asked us all sorts of possible questions and helped us with how we could best answer each question. By the end of this meeting we felt like we had a pretty good idea about what to expect, but we were still <b>very</b> nervous!</div>
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We arrived at court about 45 minutes early and waited for everyone to arrive. At around 1:00 pm we were taken into the court room. There were 13 people in attendance (judge, 2 jury members, secretary/court reporter, prosecutor, 2 orphanage representatives, local representative, our facilitator/translator, James, Albina, Alina and I).</div>
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Court lasted for about 1 1/2 hours. During this time we listened to the judge read over all our documents (That's a lot of documents and a lot of reading!) </div>
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The judge asked the girls a few questions about how they felt about being adopted, why they wanted to be adopted, if they wanted to be a part of a big family and what they thought about us. They both seemed quite nervous, but did beautifully! (It was really sweet to hear them talk about how much they loved us and wanted to be a part of our family!)</div>
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Then she asked James and I a few standard questions. There were none of the difficult questions we had been prepared for. Phew!</div>
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After we answered our questions the judge asked everyone how they felt about the adoption. Each person in attendance stated that they supported this adoption and felt it was in the best interest of the children. They felt that because James and I already had 4 biological children we were capable of being good parents and providing a good home to these children.</div>
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The judge thanked everyone and left the room to make her decision.</div>
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About 15-20 minutes passed.</div>
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The judge reentered the room and stated that she supported our adoption of Albina, Alina and Maksym!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Announcing the addition of </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Albina Michelle, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Alina Rose </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">and </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Maksym Douglas </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">to the Truax Family on </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">February 8, 2013.</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn5IdCMyIOl8teh7e_wXH6_egS_snoKDTaloSPuVL1aNfopFzhE8PrXcsDHmZjSLT8Hw0ElaRs3LBq94P6UoGyNIP7OGAlPsQvwsj9EF1vRKoo2Uws4bD3VonEDpBDhOiLkNlMcjy5AY/s1600/2013-02-08+06.59.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn5IdCMyIOl8teh7e_wXH6_egS_snoKDTaloSPuVL1aNfopFzhE8PrXcsDHmZjSLT8Hw0ElaRs3LBq94P6UoGyNIP7OGAlPsQvwsj9EF1vRKoo2Uws4bD3VonEDpBDhOiLkNlMcjy5AY/s320/2013-02-08+06.59.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">James and I getting ready to leave the court room. The kids (along with almost everyone else) left before the judge returned, so we were left to celebrate alone.</span> </td></tr>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblD4svmH4zvIRarSjlMrg0BWelkPOpUnn7zVrH36M5fZ8YVvQDd6Yg-vGA1vSDgIMGgdsQGUdquYCPCEWhGIlRma462Zz04eWojN4uQI4P5LV4GT3LsvBFdecGi68MYsicTL9VR3i9MY/s1600/2013-02-08+06.59.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblD4svmH4zvIRarSjlMrg0BWelkPOpUnn7zVrH36M5fZ8YVvQDd6Yg-vGA1vSDgIMGgdsQGUdquYCPCEWhGIlRma462Zz04eWojN4uQI4P5LV4GT3LsvBFdecGi68MYsicTL9VR3i9MY/s320/2013-02-08+06.59.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our amazing facilitator/translator. She was awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After court we went back to the orphanage and saw Maks briefly. I was able to give them each a charm with their name on it to place on the chain that I wear around my neck each day. I was really emotional all day, but this was an especially sweet moment for me. Each of the kids put their charm onto my necklace and then I placed it back around my neck. It's wonderful to know that these children (whom I've felt were <i><b>mine</b></i> from the moment I saw and met them) are now officially recognized as my children. <b>We are a family!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp7kVLmkzLqSFAvacng7xsCHwG904VnnOY8JJeegIEO5kIcMoOdacFIZ8MbjlSjsd3WqMf_o8p9aQodQltIw7LNlZVwpQotku_cbcce8pSNQTIR_jcSMe7DvymymNgqu4P_BQr0q4Y-0/s1600/2013-02-08+23.00.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp7kVLmkzLqSFAvacng7xsCHwG904VnnOY8JJeegIEO5kIcMoOdacFIZ8MbjlSjsd3WqMf_o8p9aQodQltIw7LNlZVwpQotku_cbcce8pSNQTIR_jcSMe7DvymymNgqu4P_BQr0q4Y-0/s320/2013-02-08+23.00.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then it was time to PARTY! So we all (except for Maks who wasn't allowed to leave the orphanage) went out for pizza. The kids love pizza, and fortunately there is a really great pizza place here that is very reasonably priced. Yay for celebrations that involve adopting 3 awesome children!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_8dLxptt5t82NpPC5-stMRkUyfBScxDFrTQ3HBMI8vRgWVLhxmKt_OhJu2j-xSwhjM-7NzDZQ9-pDbMWDMMkswZNF_2pWP6VVX9XdLcXuRiEebQ6rRSc-NT8r_kw2ssChZZvxDX9UuE/s1600/2013-02-08+09.04.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_8dLxptt5t82NpPC5-stMRkUyfBScxDFrTQ3HBMI8vRgWVLhxmKt_OhJu2j-xSwhjM-7NzDZQ9-pDbMWDMMkswZNF_2pWP6VVX9XdLcXuRiEebQ6rRSc-NT8r_kw2ssChZZvxDX9UuE/s320/2013-02-08+09.04.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina and Alina posing outside the pizza place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpL6TWeN33CFTy8IYeziK4W40maMA2kQ53cA8br02Q9lSypM9OHSHKE-r-h_bC4emrM2oOnFh3c08xMv6zgJ0P8SxYSloc4yG5IgOZQXTzsYigP7U7SdDBRDOEL7AJO0EKKvEP53v1Pw/s1600/2013-02-08+09.05.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpL6TWeN33CFTy8IYeziK4W40maMA2kQ53cA8br02Q9lSypM9OHSHKE-r-h_bC4emrM2oOnFh3c08xMv6zgJ0P8SxYSloc4yG5IgOZQXTzsYigP7U7SdDBRDOEL7AJO0EKKvEP53v1Pw/s320/2013-02-08+09.05.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Alina.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGactFVoXhv2GcEyFiII9VL6qrraHcfYGzmnuPHyUzuLb4BsvAn_hSM16Wbgtzo87zTZ2jSD0t9aKW-oPl8xOIwRj1KmLSsJH0nTWZpeO5jhpOaBlgJKepAdTyh1Uwi8xWf6X6qiKfAI/s1600/2013-02-08+09.05.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGactFVoXhv2GcEyFiII9VL6qrraHcfYGzmnuPHyUzuLb4BsvAn_hSM16Wbgtzo87zTZ2jSD0t9aKW-oPl8xOIwRj1KmLSsJH0nTWZpeO5jhpOaBlgJKepAdTyh1Uwi8xWf6X6qiKfAI/s320/2013-02-08+09.05.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Albina.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7u0ocFtAXpN8MLDJuH1xeAK-XmiHgPos_q3l7VwoZBBhbqKr7nwY4MzyWd3OsE0gDYJ_Hus3FHZP0qeCUsd-KPvmuc8PzIKSO-ySIhtCZTnKi-wlTLNwUGs802p8AqH5TLrq7BdwOCE/s1600/2013-02-08+09.05.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7u0ocFtAXpN8MLDJuH1xeAK-XmiHgPos_q3l7VwoZBBhbqKr7nwY4MzyWd3OsE0gDYJ_Hus3FHZP0qeCUsd-KPvmuc8PzIKSO-ySIhtCZTnKi-wlTLNwUGs802p8AqH5TLrq7BdwOCE/s320/2013-02-08+09.05.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, Mom, Albina and Alina. So very happy!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a GREAT day! </span></b></div>
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And next year on February 8, we will celebrate again since it now becomes a major family holiday. Yes! This is a pretty important moment in Truax Family history!</div>
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And now we just have more waiting and then more paperwork and then even more waiting. The final step is figuring out how to pay for airfare for all of us to get back to America. </div>
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Please remember that we haven't yet reached all our financial goals. We are now here in Ukraine with the faith that we will be able to somehow come up with the money to get home. We have been so hugely blessed and know that we couldn't have gotten this far without the generosity of many of you. So...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Thank you! </b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-10793512578220644232013-02-08T13:08:00.000-07:002013-02-08T13:08:10.603-07:00The Beach, The Devil and SweatingIt's been a long time since I last updated. We continue to visit the orphanage daily. We spend a lot of time playing "Go Fish", "UNO" and "Spoons". Sometimes we watch a video. Sometimes we draw. Sometimes the kids play games on our phones. Sometimes we play with cars or blocks (for Maks). All in all, it's not much different day after day. And although we love spending time with our kids, our activities are limited which means that there simply isn't much to report.<br />
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Alina recently got a hold of James' phone and took a number of pictures and videos. I'm posting them below (primarily for the benefit of my kids back in America). Hope you enjoy as well:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>One day after our visit to the orphanage, we went to the beach<span style="font-size: large;">:</span> </b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2m2By7GQM8cloaZusTUiclp4lLcKQzKOeDY8Ljh9zOgr4EDlTFuU6tgekxMD3b1KR8iNXQwvo7NUpIlowZa1aDScUXO0-l6WKijLygpeqKtsd3qTHNzUUre-gqvizCzcvvDTCPWbzQk/s1600/2013-01-26+12.33.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2m2By7GQM8cloaZusTUiclp4lLcKQzKOeDY8Ljh9zOgr4EDlTFuU6tgekxMD3b1KR8iNXQwvo7NUpIlowZa1aDScUXO0-l6WKijLygpeqKtsd3qTHNzUUre-gqvizCzcvvDTCPWbzQk/s320/2013-01-26+12.33.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelly standing on the seashore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zXN8T4HHHuRutoyEufm22uRxSLAkiwVZ7S4l2adZALQ3HdEs9YK_fKSVjbz3eGediNmig3NWZrw8xlrixNuguGDV98-cbLFo5Nv6lyywfn-7xanPAy0WU6lhYPuNi1uQ2uKu-IQfbCY/s1600/2013-01-26+12.34.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zXN8T4HHHuRutoyEufm22uRxSLAkiwVZ7S4l2adZALQ3HdEs9YK_fKSVjbz3eGediNmig3NWZrw8xlrixNuguGDV98-cbLFo5Nv6lyywfn-7xanPAy0WU6lhYPuNi1uQ2uKu-IQfbCY/s320/2013-01-26+12.34.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James standing on the seashore.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaECpyCWB46pOlmBevnzDQqgkaBmswuo9rNbfXKWeXxskmEQD_trlCggcp7rhY9oA4Tw-OLNmU_jFrPs2Emf9mR8kvbpSgEROjlqnsWwcOihKMkgC6xEO3SRECF9muj2WAqNPm6Bn2-ZE/s1600/2013-01-26+12.34.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaECpyCWB46pOlmBevnzDQqgkaBmswuo9rNbfXKWeXxskmEQD_trlCggcp7rhY9oA4Tw-OLNmU_jFrPs2Emf9mR8kvbpSgEROjlqnsWwcOihKMkgC6xEO3SRECF9muj2WAqNPm6Bn2-ZE/s320/2013-01-26+12.34.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sea waves push the top of the frozen sea up onto the shore creating a number of frozen blocks of ice. It's pretty interesting to look at! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUdXGFrXvxNZeokr7FupX_5yKD8uz257vaqiDZvjMrZumyfaSrdumabz2Pj3TkV7N8tS-1-pZ2Ryg6RPpnhkBl0r4LGRJqtEOGG9EcmWHSY8DeaAd0Tj-ZDg5UjOGarI_9MBlu9WFT4/s1600/2013-01-26+12.33.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrUdXGFrXvxNZeokr7FupX_5yKD8uz257vaqiDZvjMrZumyfaSrdumabz2Pj3TkV7N8tS-1-pZ2Ryg6RPpnhkBl0r4LGRJqtEOGG9EcmWHSY8DeaAd0Tj-ZDg5UjOGarI_9MBlu9WFT4/s320/2013-01-26+12.33.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The factories that line the shore.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoYFokWFfWRUzUI8hBtqJUwxfRE5WSLxV-061bUKAy7InIQ1u_XVBQs2jrqDTCOuoloKQHokFP8B3MOhSfnIzx_0HtN3LTPJCd_FptjiJWYmH_nkQ7TBwd8pOGcPC3qFsUfnIA4JM_dI/s1600/2013-01-26+12.33.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoYFokWFfWRUzUI8hBtqJUwxfRE5WSLxV-061bUKAy7InIQ1u_XVBQs2jrqDTCOuoloKQHokFP8B3MOhSfnIzx_0HtN3LTPJCd_FptjiJWYmH_nkQ7TBwd8pOGcPC3qFsUfnIA4JM_dI/s320/2013-01-26+12.33.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More pictures of the factories.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BRn3N4HgihrokrFQcaVG5VXMPcCvk6cPynmT7lrn5A2Wp0DTq7O0ZHPpszSRdrR42GV2xV8v-KlAl54g75ZnkQo-gp1YobhODjNyV68zTEz-3fwB5fQrEITbBFcTy_5ieTtfgA_aHoA/s1600/2013-01-26+12.37.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BRn3N4HgihrokrFQcaVG5VXMPcCvk6cPynmT7lrn5A2Wp0DTq7O0ZHPpszSRdrR42GV2xV8v-KlAl54g75ZnkQo-gp1YobhODjNyV68zTEz-3fwB5fQrEITbBFcTy_5ieTtfgA_aHoA/s320/2013-01-26+12.37.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beach resort had an outdoor patio for dances.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB6jERuG4xo2eq_GARLlmQuvhW2_8A-30MCQFV5qFCUo00wwUuvRt97SBcMrlVl3M9nKwTnJCWKWZrd6AifMWYqhic_bjWfWte9iP4DljA7bb9ORnDasm8BRTTEuEOKhyphenhyphen9NTMV8spVXU/s1600/2013-01-26+12.37.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB6jERuG4xo2eq_GARLlmQuvhW2_8A-30MCQFV5qFCUo00wwUuvRt97SBcMrlVl3M9nKwTnJCWKWZrd6AifMWYqhic_bjWfWte9iP4DljA7bb9ORnDasm8BRTTEuEOKhyphenhyphen9NTMV8spVXU/s320/2013-01-26+12.37.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They even added a palm tree in case you forgot that you were at the beach.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">One day we were able to meet some of Alina's friends (some of them we met this summer, so it was wonderful to see them again!)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt4259G_WKMhgAm7gm58PltIi-F7Z-WrzcBNZ9LYgnUoye7MoC8ZyX_8RfuivezlTIPLp9HNEtYK_Z2MaqaOMW5GlRDtUX0pTwyStgLBqQyg2lthJrvKjyIzIHGy19otpmQOnR28pQ8U/s1600/2013-01-31+16.26.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt4259G_WKMhgAm7gm58PltIi-F7Z-WrzcBNZ9LYgnUoye7MoC8ZyX_8RfuivezlTIPLp9HNEtYK_Z2MaqaOMW5GlRDtUX0pTwyStgLBqQyg2lthJrvKjyIzIHGy19otpmQOnR28pQ8U/s320/2013-01-31+16.26.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Alina's dear friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsmvCVQsx_QItorm4fg5ZO4JzPhX9i2Yz5DZ1EN4C0SeascTdev14O0ThXTcU6euJ38ruIcotp1XyEml8rrxjnbt-uAcg_zlcfZ6bTTs3HoCvSIIlaLwiLgfrohiyObx6N2Uk3uwsIxo/s1600/2013-01-31+16.26.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsmvCVQsx_QItorm4fg5ZO4JzPhX9i2Yz5DZ1EN4C0SeascTdev14O0ThXTcU6euJ38ruIcotp1XyEml8rrxjnbt-uAcg_zlcfZ6bTTs3HoCvSIIlaLwiLgfrohiyObx6N2Uk3uwsIxo/s320/2013-01-31+16.26.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Alina's friends hugging Maks.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXPE-LqtLiGlrf3LP3LWQVbTfnb09S4BhyphenhyphenfJnXH1hRbvhgcV_3ibrU__WfkTfPbq1sPvXGt5Wol9wwD6IYpPpu8mMdqANtL2QOeRbVpyAbSCj3shnUmEq-zYw8snMeaYQMRypbB1AxaY/s1600/2013-02-05+10.44.54.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXPE-LqtLiGlrf3LP3LWQVbTfnb09S4BhyphenhyphenfJnXH1hRbvhgcV_3ibrU__WfkTfPbq1sPvXGt5Wol9wwD6IYpPpu8mMdqANtL2QOeRbVpyAbSCj3shnUmEq-zYw8snMeaYQMRypbB1AxaY/s320/2013-02-05+10.44.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the Sports Room where we meet with the kids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEEPE71T568CNbsYgov0l3nwLmgvFqLrARW2WinJ-rO1dyUQomnnYa94WNGrvXMmFsqWrnT8vp3bHyFp746jfowNzaCsvr1Ts4hEweKNZLnI45Vyn75lkv46mICnuUbz2NrIl38q7sDQ/s1600/2013-01-31+16.27.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEEPE71T568CNbsYgov0l3nwLmgvFqLrARW2WinJ-rO1dyUQomnnYa94WNGrvXMmFsqWrnT8vp3bHyFp746jfowNzaCsvr1Ts4hEweKNZLnI45Vyn75lkv46mICnuUbz2NrIl38q7sDQ/s320/2013-01-31+16.27.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina and some of her friends.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alina likes to bring treasures to us so we can get them packed and ready to take to America:</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MQ23JYlQiwPKSoRYdLmdqWNmLTHBl6brAlKPWctiqy7oRAUFrcEYyyHqR3FBhG0YavB3C07IUTPsPVpWyk8xsQ0Lha3T_TeJTZ07vx-ZytQdvBkhVqPWzpt4Dod3tmArDuZwSK7N_Rw/s1600/2013-02-04+10.30.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MQ23JYlQiwPKSoRYdLmdqWNmLTHBl6brAlKPWctiqy7oRAUFrcEYyyHqR3FBhG0YavB3C07IUTPsPVpWyk8xsQ0Lha3T_TeJTZ07vx-ZytQdvBkhVqPWzpt4Dod3tmArDuZwSK7N_Rw/s320/2013-02-04+10.30.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina was really excited about this headband (now packed and ready to go to America) and wanted us to make scary faces while wearing it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJupT43MpO_AHOS3pycaph6zORIN1WOhKm3wqPzjTypzDKwWd4kB7Bk8n8oXCkCwjyF5YsNo6VVf8yHWWYztoKhK1IASoXBeVxOwFlvC2XTXbn_6Zo5hDJMSs8Y8T7eIeaKXCidUt0EU/s1600/2013-02-04+10.31.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJupT43MpO_AHOS3pycaph6zORIN1WOhKm3wqPzjTypzDKwWd4kB7Bk8n8oXCkCwjyF5YsNo6VVf8yHWWYztoKhK1IASoXBeVxOwFlvC2XTXbn_6Zo5hDJMSs8Y8T7eIeaKXCidUt0EU/s320/2013-02-04+10.31.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is James' idea of a scary face. I WIN!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZeCyAi8yscv6IjWxnQ0hLf72XtXxK7ot8Z03unctiOhweNomQv0l26oK5KQ-cTizH5l9GZvsoLyC4mcyKL1bXuDmJZx3FzHaHmompcH8ohhdkjQ9h5XMgnMxD-sOBOCh9mbjwO8qerM/s1600/2013-02-08+20.10.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZeCyAi8yscv6IjWxnQ0hLf72XtXxK7ot8Z03unctiOhweNomQv0l26oK5KQ-cTizH5l9GZvsoLyC4mcyKL1bXuDmJZx3FzHaHmompcH8ohhdkjQ9h5XMgnMxD-sOBOCh9mbjwO8qerM/s320/2013-02-08+20.10.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are some of the other things she has asked me to pack for America.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Alina LOVES giving gifts to everyone. She brought presents for James and myself as well as our other kids to us the other day. She wanted to take pictures to show them what they should be looking forward to receiving when she arrives home:</span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4TULJB5izYPaoTQikNcZqtAcl9qTvbxV24Zhyphenhyphen2Joz-MZpFPG6W1Y8_5uD_MFSGu_L-slAXtiR4GM8gNEGbxkJLdhnxU6MWTu1SNh9GG-b5c069dgvyZBdTGrWEgyxodB2AePV2WGKc4/s1600/2013-02-04+11.30.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4TULJB5izYPaoTQikNcZqtAcl9qTvbxV24Zhyphenhyphen2Joz-MZpFPG6W1Y8_5uD_MFSGu_L-slAXtiR4GM8gNEGbxkJLdhnxU6MWTu1SNh9GG-b5c069dgvyZBdTGrWEgyxodB2AePV2WGKc4/s320/2013-02-04+11.30.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Present for Isabel and Emma (front)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ptkiL_Mc6uqvdJ5g1exmYEt-C4mlDrlTAU0YxQPsMEi23dI_y564m3BnRLquHB5AWrVpUeL8rw9MSFSZWdH-UPyk0scBkJ5I5E6lrxmVwm4irv5ky3tXuFwuB5uIh_tyUCDGOcOQtc/s1600/2013-02-04+11.30.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8ptkiL_Mc6uqvdJ5g1exmYEt-C4mlDrlTAU0YxQPsMEi23dI_y564m3BnRLquHB5AWrVpUeL8rw9MSFSZWdH-UPyk0scBkJ5I5E6lrxmVwm4irv5ky3tXuFwuB5uIh_tyUCDGOcOQtc/s320/2013-02-04+11.30.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Present for Isabel and Emma (back)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDH0uSFHhjgnSfJCwzJxIaOYc_CC3x-8GnGifosPxfwG1chekJBlH4n9EQZtHYfLQVWRGhwoomu1aojSBtbj6NbhtXiJsGZj3LZK229KhUAIZHva5RmB5RmhpO6Q8QFsJkqydqV8XH_8/s1600/2013-02-04+11.30.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDH0uSFHhjgnSfJCwzJxIaOYc_CC3x-8GnGifosPxfwG1chekJBlH4n9EQZtHYfLQVWRGhwoomu1aojSBtbj6NbhtXiJsGZj3LZK229KhUAIZHva5RmB5RmhpO6Q8QFsJkqydqV8XH_8/s320/2013-02-04+11.30.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Present for Toria and Micah (front)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxF21cmDQyM7FEqv5kaIzd6boU0vMK8h9ZjRzjGG6A7fPC4arUtyp360XqP23XHkG0INnRxOe0ICXAhFpCfBiRqDIzYX9Xw8kV6NLncJrkop04JSFAaA5yeQTvy4jdzZvqfFQKQX91rU/s1600/2013-02-04+11.35.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxF21cmDQyM7FEqv5kaIzd6boU0vMK8h9ZjRzjGG6A7fPC4arUtyp360XqP23XHkG0INnRxOe0ICXAhFpCfBiRqDIzYX9Xw8kV6NLncJrkop04JSFAaA5yeQTvy4jdzZvqfFQKQX91rU/s320/2013-02-04+11.35.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Present for Toria and Micah (back)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUhL-nMXLdFZPpLwijwX90LT-_5hCcfVMJagNb0dN5S_iAf_-qKMmbAMizXDqq-392-npmEKdyshAGecjzwezQgoN_VvgTxn3_lfmTYMEK3JGwe2ecucL9T-52prsQ7MDyIyoU__nEUU/s1600/2013-02-05+10.44.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUhL-nMXLdFZPpLwijwX90LT-_5hCcfVMJagNb0dN5S_iAf_-qKMmbAMizXDqq-392-npmEKdyshAGecjzwezQgoN_VvgTxn3_lfmTYMEK3JGwe2ecucL9T-52prsQ7MDyIyoU__nEUU/s320/2013-02-05+10.44.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade Valentine by Alina (along with some bookmark treasures she wants to take to America).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Usually we are stuck in one specific room with the kids. Occasionally they send us to the Sports Room where they have balls and exercise equipment etc. Maks loves to play and run and get really sweaty. However, when he gets really sweaty, Alina gets in trouble for bringing him back all yucky (Unfortunately we aren't really sure what we're supposed to do with that? They dress him in about 10 layers [okay, maybe only 3] and send us to an already hot room with a very active 5 year old that sweats easily. We don't really think we can be expected to ask him to sit still and stop sweating, can we?) A few days ago they sent us to have our visit in one of the group rooms. We were able to watch Russian TV along with our standard games and such.</b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pSFmY7gXJuMDOcLSyXmMpTIaIY5IrywFTN7mTgCJjd2L6HVI4jEM8BBJZKUqF3lK6WQ3-1kbVPFJKxFiEhc2hRq68hu4PkXFbS0Uk-RauBD6BCKLYG162QT8E7PyTuPOZSFAYdKeDw8/s1600/2013-01-31+16.26.53.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pSFmY7gXJuMDOcLSyXmMpTIaIY5IrywFTN7mTgCJjd2L6HVI4jEM8BBJZKUqF3lK6WQ3-1kbVPFJKxFiEhc2hRq68hu4PkXFbS0Uk-RauBD6BCKLYG162QT8E7PyTuPOZSFAYdKeDw8/s320/2013-01-31+16.26.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sports Room where we frequently visit with the kids (some of Alina's friends are in the background).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXPE-LqtLiGlrf3LP3LWQVbTfnb09S4BhyphenhyphenfJnXH1hRbvhgcV_3ibrU__WfkTfPbq1sPvXGt5Wol9wwD6IYpPpu8mMdqANtL2QOeRbVpyAbSCj3shnUmEq-zYw8snMeaYQMRypbB1AxaY/s1600/2013-02-05+10.44.54.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXPE-LqtLiGlrf3LP3LWQVbTfnb09S4BhyphenhyphenfJnXH1hRbvhgcV_3ibrU__WfkTfPbq1sPvXGt5Wol9wwD6IYpPpu8mMdqANtL2QOeRbVpyAbSCj3shnUmEq-zYw8snMeaYQMRypbB1AxaY/s320/2013-02-05+10.44.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the Sports Room where we meet with the kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj6Nx4Kihy5cIEci9Yrs8sEVVWElvYGYbum6TjIxLxPvFiBLUuKzzJj9ehN10RMX0uAYSdW7nOBoZFx4xjdPCtwGmRcYne6IitVzwWJXtYuDp9yhR5yttUzXQFT_mr5frN1OLkyyy2DQ/s1600/2013-02-06+11.01.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj6Nx4Kihy5cIEci9Yrs8sEVVWElvYGYbum6TjIxLxPvFiBLUuKzzJj9ehN10RMX0uAYSdW7nOBoZFx4xjdPCtwGmRcYne6IitVzwWJXtYuDp9yhR5yttUzXQFT_mr5frN1OLkyyy2DQ/s320/2013-02-06+11.01.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children's group living area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG2Qh4XgORtALe9ADz2ie4tXgd4qEYSVtej99mR-9itTBXGl223grfWQuwSBhngAJ7Ygt2HYJp2UDcC4jlRzR-HGtiyGI1be7V_3vOpoRVSl1pDAyNeH42yK2gCa8FjUfKH4zwARkuvI/s1600/2013-02-06+11.01.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG2Qh4XgORtALe9ADz2ie4tXgd4qEYSVtej99mR-9itTBXGl223grfWQuwSBhngAJ7Ygt2HYJp2UDcC4jlRzR-HGtiyGI1be7V_3vOpoRVSl1pDAyNeH42yK2gCa8FjUfKH4zwARkuvI/s320/2013-02-06+11.01.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the children's group living area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifJ_l4bVormPEazRm6qF1_mBrDwidFczjiWI_Hdk0e9fmfuZUsEFu6YIExzWFtNeTBLHb2pAiBw2vmLUih8uR6M3Qw2stuTLLTRfHL-AGeZThV2cSirJG-uBJOzleEn7P8qVVQ7ipZFI/s1600/2013-02-06+11.01.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifJ_l4bVormPEazRm6qF1_mBrDwidFczjiWI_Hdk0e9fmfuZUsEFu6YIExzWFtNeTBLHb2pAiBw2vmLUih8uR6M3Qw2stuTLLTRfHL-AGeZThV2cSirJG-uBJOzleEn7P8qVVQ7ipZFI/s320/2013-02-06+11.01.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kitchenette area (with bathroom through the door) located in the children's group main room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI1-xRTJZ3wth_K6838DN54bo7UU7jIdXKAEUbUydJI_qWIi-roMfQZXoDFg72uNz9Gt33-nF5wvcilq4gPn5o1_AqeQPd5_wRXr2db273O_Kh9QaLItVwDMYPuaYVRPjhFoDT0vGR70/s1600/2013-02-06+11.01.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI1-xRTJZ3wth_K6838DN54bo7UU7jIdXKAEUbUydJI_qWIi-roMfQZXoDFg72uNz9Gt33-nF5wvcilq4gPn5o1_AqeQPd5_wRXr2db273O_Kh9QaLItVwDMYPuaYVRPjhFoDT0vGR70/s320/2013-02-06+11.01.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom entrance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Aside from the orphanage and our kids, we have been able to meet and spend time with some of the people in Ukraine. We met a number of people from the local church and were able to go and attend an English class this last week. We have loved getting to know these people! They are incredibly kind and generous and have made us feel very welcome. In addition, we've been able to spend some time with the missionaries that are serving in this area. Some of them are from Utah, so we will be able to see them when they return from their missions. (More Russian speaking friends, YAY!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiExCOaUJGEfDWGWcwNHnBejDmN7wuoUAxzckqI2_ywuIM2dcJg_HdS_L19wheFFBxoekcEG93IozTh2Kw2vcSY4qC7AsYtGONZO3pNVKKYa9r2uoPIaHYY2CSuvH5bTrTfBHXhbY3yPk/s1600/2013-02-06+19.23.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiExCOaUJGEfDWGWcwNHnBejDmN7wuoUAxzckqI2_ywuIM2dcJg_HdS_L19wheFFBxoekcEG93IozTh2Kw2vcSY4qC7AsYtGONZO3pNVKKYa9r2uoPIaHYY2CSuvH5bTrTfBHXhbY3yPk/s320/2013-02-06+19.23.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English class.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUy4upwvbcuWX161UfTm_FeyVmU2eablxHKhkgqc50vHOo6P4xgbiEXVjC51fKZAdkKFhGD7rAywlwEqDBkRB4J8mnR17M4fnhGe1fOWQv67s6-UyTNhPFMI_f7ouktVMHoiXfm_qCFwA/s1600/2013-02-06+19.22.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUy4upwvbcuWX161UfTm_FeyVmU2eablxHKhkgqc50vHOo6P4xgbiEXVjC51fKZAdkKFhGD7rAywlwEqDBkRB4J8mnR17M4fnhGe1fOWQv67s6-UyTNhPFMI_f7ouktVMHoiXfm_qCFwA/s320/2013-02-06+19.22.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing English after class.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOsY8Nh1U6fhP5CFyJisvoUCt1UiWBJYSOy6cb5kMEdZe9sk6S3AyllOwfsynFKly3DKnSjuqyRyVo0183LEYUHwt7xmIX6csTQz_JleNllS5eVl-_Ci5qDTzHOXBlIGouRgJXwmmN0/s1600/2013-02-06+19.23.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOsY8Nh1U6fhP5CFyJisvoUCt1UiWBJYSOy6cb5kMEdZe9sk6S3AyllOwfsynFKly3DKnSjuqyRyVo0183LEYUHwt7xmIX6csTQz_JleNllS5eVl-_Ci5qDTzHOXBlIGouRgJXwmmN0/s320/2013-02-06+19.23.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After English class people stayed to converse in and practice more English.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsCVL48tC60k-q0F_hob7v49528bKUbWahAdoT__qWt4moDE0XHhNV5e0gmMcgrn50nwWQe4AQP3_Ig7v4ymMTsC1Pc4ncROr0OJ6miHMP4OvnizH3NlKl5tmQGReu2T3JnO2gL4D8ik/s1600/2013-02-06+19.23.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJsCVL48tC60k-q0F_hob7v49528bKUbWahAdoT__qWt4moDE0XHhNV5e0gmMcgrn50nwWQe4AQP3_Ig7v4ymMTsC1Pc4ncROr0OJ6miHMP4OvnizH3NlKl5tmQGReu2T3JnO2gL4D8ik/s320/2013-02-06+19.23.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Elders plays the violin! It was fun to hear him play.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVO2qbKKsFS97vGwAcEYN2eb-FcavwCO2ykzMtv3p-J5fpXyq8rGHAFexa4esEsxtRkXqJv5MkNRfV4s-hmCczI87tXHALmebmZYlK8sgQS7vMnEIdI6ugzAA9u7yyhSolZTgX1fa1o8/s1600/2013-02-06+19.23.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVO2qbKKsFS97vGwAcEYN2eb-FcavwCO2ykzMtv3p-J5fpXyq8rGHAFexa4esEsxtRkXqJv5MkNRfV4s-hmCczI87tXHALmebmZYlK8sgQS7vMnEIdI6ugzAA9u7yyhSolZTgX1fa1o8/s320/2013-02-06+19.23.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful girl gave me a big hug the first time we met and has treated me like we're best friends. Such an amazing and sweet girl! She speaks English very well and was able to chat with me after English class.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The End!</b></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>PS I have been working on this post for 2 days and keep losing either internet connection or power (there have been issues with our specific apartment... ugh). Still having issues with the power tonight, but hopefully I'll be able to not only get this post up, but a post announcing the events of <b>TODAY!</b></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-30307617598919940512013-01-27T14:11:00.005-07:002013-01-27T14:16:02.084-07:00ForeverlyJust so Isabel doesn't feel left out, here is her birthday video to Alina:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzabs_uDrmQfv2SK8tXw4qKDolix9W7wFb477h4NRhE9ZcV074VFlWVrSpqyU2EHJodG-NzKGcTy19zOP6Wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And another short video made by Isabel especially for Albina:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>PS Albina does NOT like Justin Bieber. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>But we all agreed that we really like Isabel. :-)</i></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday during our visit, I had this conversation with Alina:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alina: We go to America in March?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Me: Yes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alina: OH! *sigh* That's foreverly!</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think "foreverly" is my new favorite non-word. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And yes, getting to March does seem like it will take</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>foreverly!</b></u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=foreverly"><i>http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=foreverly </i></a><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-46938711394988378802013-01-25T13:09:00.004-07:002013-01-25T13:10:53.910-07:00Happy Birthday Alina!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today is Alina's 11th birthday.</b></span></div>
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Yesterday she told us she wanted a HUGE cake so she could eat a lot and get really fat. She told me she was very hungry. She also wanted to have enough cake to share with all the kids in her group. Finally, she told us she wanted a BIG present.<br />
<br />
So today James and I grabbed our bag of tricks and came up with this celebration:<br />
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1. We played Happy Birthday videos from all our kids back home (Except for Isabel... we're still waiting for her to email us her video. tsk tsk Isabel!) ;-).<br />
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<br />
2. We gave her 2 small gifts. She got to make her own bracelets and a craft butterfly that I (thankfully) picked up at the dollar store before coming to Ukraine.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRSP3vNdpUsfY1CDC8BxLqd4sSmS_M0UKZvUvsp4hIskvKVv-Mdp1hfFZ6c5oSJqnWE2nLV6IV2Jwo-McjOukHA4nwDu-18GbK3I5Iox-RD30B0SY5BLkHR-sqKj3nuIICWkGpGxY1HY/s1600/2013-01-25+02.54.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRSP3vNdpUsfY1CDC8BxLqd4sSmS_M0UKZvUvsp4hIskvKVv-Mdp1hfFZ6c5oSJqnWE2nLV6IV2Jwo-McjOukHA4nwDu-18GbK3I5Iox-RD30B0SY5BLkHR-sqKj3nuIICWkGpGxY1HY/s320/2013-01-25+02.54.02.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina modeling the bracelets she made.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwhHLVBQE_Iv9qTEWwwSJNJ44qilJTRgzjZapgd7MJ-tw4fjeuHlmLzV78rNLXP21UL0G7pnlqOt9JTwL5o8MlBy1qKjedDixUatOIQPNJ1JNjmFK7xExxsv3CdhX4DvxzKew-iqhnjc/s1600/2013-01-25+03.50.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwhHLVBQE_Iv9qTEWwwSJNJ44qilJTRgzjZapgd7MJ-tw4fjeuHlmLzV78rNLXP21UL0G7pnlqOt9JTwL5o8MlBy1qKjedDixUatOIQPNJ1JNjmFK7xExxsv3CdhX4DvxzKew-iqhnjc/s320/2013-01-25+03.50.07.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina making her butterfly.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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3. We purchased 2 cakes (one for the family and one for her group) as well as soda so we could celebrate by eating lots of cake (per her request).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxZ0wfTknj-MkE1GDOa6wpIRQgBLcy-QWIB8E7Fuy3GBM4quzULfHc7rLN9rHtZFKh1mVdoTrZ2K07GU5qSPL20VXqUiU9HyThPe8Gft2qXF5yjzRNdvUuTrwl7362EndtRZJBvp4l6A/s1600/2013-01-25+03.21.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxZ0wfTknj-MkE1GDOa6wpIRQgBLcy-QWIB8E7Fuy3GBM4quzULfHc7rLN9rHtZFKh1mVdoTrZ2K07GU5qSPL20VXqUiU9HyThPe8Gft2qXF5yjzRNdvUuTrwl7362EndtRZJBvp4l6A/s320/2013-01-25+03.21.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful cake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95c9jgO6N47b7bJV-XORoXBxI4dElIS3B8XpdMpAquZ7Z_XgixKHYrUzgZ6X84_90eXlFJO9QplseC1nV_zI99z6rDq81CyNR6aYVkOKjfK2z6APrJ89XSS6E3-aCHJjuiLu4IBh7fAw/s1600/2013-01-25+03.23.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95c9jgO6N47b7bJV-XORoXBxI4dElIS3B8XpdMpAquZ7Z_XgixKHYrUzgZ6X84_90eXlFJO9QplseC1nV_zI99z6rDq81CyNR6aYVkOKjfK2z6APrJ89XSS6E3-aCHJjuiLu4IBh7fAw/s320/2013-01-25+03.23.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Alina getting ready to cut the cake.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxDP5cEaMjN8E8GCfFQa7zMU_52ahBqZqrwnq9oIHGEtIhuXYuxVi0Y5kxyuaf8e48lasOvxX5AcfPvTlYzm__fcNiispEBtERuvugsAG0KKp2nQ2n6FNWgML9z7EE9iwWjzxugzH_G8/s1600/2013-01-25+03.23.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxDP5cEaMjN8E8GCfFQa7zMU_52ahBqZqrwnq9oIHGEtIhuXYuxVi0Y5kxyuaf8e48lasOvxX5AcfPvTlYzm__fcNiispEBtERuvugsAG0KKp2nQ2n6FNWgML9z7EE9iwWjzxugzH_G8/s320/2013-01-25+03.23.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albina and Maks getting ready to eat cake.</td></tr>
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4. We sang "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to Alina.<br />
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5. We gave her a birthday card.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT4nFMyYFQfNwtXpayWbQRkvKW-YwZ03aebyaxZIWbE-fwflpcgH6GHEeUplu6bDb8i9HwWPGW2hDbVUhLY1eIEcOJ_vQyIz5fg4VNXjuMTJGH_GueAgT5JZ1SDK4mX6mZi0ODHhi7EA/s1600/2013-01-25+03.49.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT4nFMyYFQfNwtXpayWbQRkvKW-YwZ03aebyaxZIWbE-fwflpcgH6GHEeUplu6bDb8i9HwWPGW2hDbVUhLY1eIEcOJ_vQyIz5fg4VNXjuMTJGH_GueAgT5JZ1SDK4mX6mZi0ODHhi7EA/s320/2013-01-25+03.49.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A birthday card for Alina.</td></tr>
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6. I took pictures of the beautiful birthday girl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL9dEH8ZOx1D9EZANVd_KP_vGltRCK-pry9HOHXCgw_TQZZOAh6j6WPoqgDeThDSN1C3lyYftjtJPWYo2MoxFBBFWX7kYFqdtQjH77NKwHcS-Erob-fz9MWf_q2yb7ifwZKaVxlVKkcs/s1600/2013-01-25+02.54.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL9dEH8ZOx1D9EZANVd_KP_vGltRCK-pry9HOHXCgw_TQZZOAh6j6WPoqgDeThDSN1C3lyYftjtJPWYo2MoxFBBFWX7kYFqdtQjH77NKwHcS-Erob-fz9MWf_q2yb7ifwZKaVxlVKkcs/s320/2013-01-25+02.54.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina with dad, Albina and Maks.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrqiOxk06yBixy6lRcLn4aTq5GLiofXDZZMKymxAkNItCDL5SuDe1FCEfmPxOl6Mb28rW_y7XnaeaR8X_R6-IQosDKZa_kYnLBmtBwjcv8MFiOm97RwaZqpWWVE3NURzARJwSZTfPWrw/s1600/2013-01-25+02.54.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrqiOxk06yBixy6lRcLn4aTq5GLiofXDZZMKymxAkNItCDL5SuDe1FCEfmPxOl6Mb28rW_y7XnaeaR8X_R6-IQosDKZa_kYnLBmtBwjcv8MFiOm97RwaZqpWWVE3NURzARJwSZTfPWrw/s320/2013-01-25+02.54.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina with dad, Albina and Maks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbabROnnzLJy7ZfNgiGjsWFNEDa0gY82wCOpx_OPY5ooAyj4m2KrZ1gpKm48bExIlhiOpgXrmoabqozxylHn8AELExjmVyzeHzEbUvHp-iFjaFriKTBJ-j55djcBJDgR2nTiE1Gvz-ao/s1600/2013-01-25+03.40.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbabROnnzLJy7ZfNgiGjsWFNEDa0gY82wCOpx_OPY5ooAyj4m2KrZ1gpKm48bExIlhiOpgXrmoabqozxylHn8AELExjmVyzeHzEbUvHp-iFjaFriKTBJ-j55djcBJDgR2nTiE1Gvz-ao/s320/2013-01-25+03.40.36.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina all dressed up for her birthday.</td></tr>
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7. Then Alina insisted on taking pictures of me and then dad and me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXoYx9kO2s4Ehni8S1KNY0KDb2q6TRXUxAbdaQgzPyBC7uBcUquSW-U5aQdbdfnlKnNjOtEIdeG3QilEyMYd1a-nVuWR93XuW0pYtc0W33utE8G-oz5DBNBsDbAJHAxFEwk0yVUh887c/s1600/2013-01-25+03.41.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXoYx9kO2s4Ehni8S1KNY0KDb2q6TRXUxAbdaQgzPyBC7uBcUquSW-U5aQdbdfnlKnNjOtEIdeG3QilEyMYd1a-nVuWR93XuW0pYtc0W33utE8G-oz5DBNBsDbAJHAxFEwk0yVUh887c/s320/2013-01-25+03.41.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYcP_jF9_OXOZe34fusrr93lIT8z6n1XxWoTZJQkifI6nkN_Csi7fTaPEZN-1xF6hPQdJooYuAQcQj2FQ02BjVv7bod7sfy3vxex-MHNPYATzU7LldpTlOw6gq4-89kDyKNb0RNCmov0/s1600/2013-01-25+03.43.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYcP_jF9_OXOZe34fusrr93lIT8z6n1XxWoTZJQkifI6nkN_Csi7fTaPEZN-1xF6hPQdJooYuAQcQj2FQ02BjVv7bod7sfy3vxex-MHNPYATzU7LldpTlOw6gq4-89kDyKNb0RNCmov0/s320/2013-01-25+03.43.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7JpQvJchRdUZJwxQzjEWYo6Y1NlOxcwdEswwfH2ZUQGNuum5qDtIZ6ZaSM0uoM21ho6smMQi_rV36qr6H5_YKk3yP54OQrt1ir4l_-_jczBMZhWtEvQCBMdfLPGwJgpMCj8bLmuVC0o/s1600/2013-01-25+03.41.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7JpQvJchRdUZJwxQzjEWYo6Y1NlOxcwdEswwfH2ZUQGNuum5qDtIZ6ZaSM0uoM21ho6smMQi_rV36qr6H5_YKk3yP54OQrt1ir4l_-_jczBMZhWtEvQCBMdfLPGwJgpMCj8bLmuVC0o/s320/2013-01-25+03.41.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />
8. We asked Alina if she wanted her main gift now or when we leave to go to America (we had planned to wait, but decided to give her a choice). She said she wanted to wait. So we played games and chewed gum (one of the favorite daily activities) until it was time to say goodbye until later this afternoon. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBYdt3ZpzrfoP-2aJN8T7eTB2UH0B1JoBBMmzj2txmKzIQyeGDfssthyKsnsCE9Ec9Im5vLfDakZQ8Mx0LOzWr0lZBj7_JCmYcJGuppxt2K0En9Jr8Ni4yAiiAXe8hof37I3hRiwIpIE/s1600/2013-01-25+03.44.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBYdt3ZpzrfoP-2aJN8T7eTB2UH0B1JoBBMmzj2txmKzIQyeGDfssthyKsnsCE9Ec9Im5vLfDakZQ8Mx0LOzWr0lZBj7_JCmYcJGuppxt2K0En9Jr8Ni4yAiiAXe8hof37I3hRiwIpIE/s320/2013-01-25+03.44.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
During this afternoon's visit we primarily played games (just like usual). Then Maks found dad's phone and somehow got his music playing, so we had a dance party. It was a fun afternoon! (Please don't ask me why I chose to record most of this sideways.)<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bumq3URp57w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the sweetest moments today happened when two of the ladies that
work at the orphanage came in to wish Alina a Happy Birthday. They gave
her a chocolate bar and a mug that has pictures of our family on it as
well as a picture of the orphanage. I got choked up when I saw this
sweet present. I failed to get a picture of it, but I'll try to
remember to take a picture later.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And <i>finally</i>... in other news:</b></span></div>
<br />
This morning we got an exciting phone call and learned that we have a court date to meet with the judge and finaliaze things with our adoption of these kids. Our court will be held on February 8. While this is 2 days later than our "best case" scenario, the good news is that it doesn't actually change our timeline (If our court was scheduled on February 6, our 10 day waiting period would end on a weekend which wouldn't do us any good since paperwork can't be picked up over the weekend. That means our waiting period would actually become 13 days. Moving our court date to Friday keeps our waiting period at exactly 10 days and becomes the same day as if our court were on the Wednesday.)<br />
<br />
Progress is being made.<br />
We are enjoying spending time with our kids.<br />
And James and I are even enjoying spending lots of time with one another.<br />
Amazing! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-55877786579503088802013-01-21T12:45:00.002-07:002013-01-21T12:46:48.096-07:00Laundry In The Living RoomTonight while I was hanging up wet laundry in the living room, James said,<br />
<br />
<i>"If we ever move here for a couple of years you will do so well. The worst is behind us, you are already adjusted to life in Ukraine."</i><br />
<br />
I <b>am</b> feeling more comfortable in our apartment, with the grocery shopping, doing laundry without a dryer and finding my way around town. However, those aren't the only things to adjust to if you want to become a part of a new community. Regardless, we are enjoying our time here in Ukraine.<br />
<br />
Things are continuing to move forward. Most of the things that are currently taking place with our adoption are happening behind the scenes while we simply spend time playing with our kids. Occasionally we are asked to run to the notary and sign papers or we are called and asked basic questions so others can fill out paperwork for us. It seems that we are making good progress. We haven't experienced any major hurdles or obstacles so far (keeping fingers crossed!).<br />
<br />
Yesterday we walked around town for about 3 hours. We enjoyed seeing where different landmarks were and took note of some shops and restaurants that may be worth checking out a little more carefully in the future. We walked to the orphanage so we could see how difficult it was to get there on foot. We thought about taking a camera, but it was a very foggy day, so we didn't think pictures would turn out too great. We'll take another walking trip soon and share pictures of this amazing city.<br />
<br />
James
and I are eating a lot of pasta, bread and Vereniki (potato filled
pasta that is delicious). It's all very good food, but heavy and
filling. As a special treat, we were told to check out a local chocolate shop that is just around the corner from our apartment. While it may sound wonderful that our apartment is so conveniently located to this shop, it is actually very dangerous! The chocolates are absolutely beautiful and SO delicious! (<a href="http://www.chocolate.lviv.ua/en%29.">http://www.chocolate<wbr></wbr>.lviv.ua/en).</a><br />
<br />
Maks is opening up to us more
and more (Especially with James... he is a typical 5 year old boy that loves to play cars, airplane, and
wrestle with James. He giggles and giggles and giggles when they play
together. It's so cute!). Alina loves to read to me out of English
books. Even though she doesn't know what it all means, she is very good
at sounding out and reading English words. Albina loves to play games
and put together puzzles with James and I. Each day we take new books, puzzles, games and/or activities to do with the kids. We also take snacks for them. Maks LOVES sugar and will eat it constantly if it's available. As a result, we started leaving candy out of my bag and started purchasing fruit at the local market. He seems to love fruit just as much as the candy, so that's good (Unfortunately, it looks as though we'll have a substantial dental bill once we arrive home. Plus we'll need to do quite a bit of teaching on how to brush teeth properly so we can avoid additional cavities once his adult teeth come in. He truly looks as though he has cavities in every single little baby tooth. Ouch!)<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx8XJWdHYKjw9awSjjGWuJr07vT5nzpCcYKaxk4SnBp8Rlq514d-HoNOYO2rgt_HtfhwOpZ17mt-TWMRvyld7wmX_roIXiSW4rFN2riC1OueooyNeu7SCSkSxuGTCKG6MOrPcNropItg/s1600/2013-01-17+17.06.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx8XJWdHYKjw9awSjjGWuJr07vT5nzpCcYKaxk4SnBp8Rlq514d-HoNOYO2rgt_HtfhwOpZ17mt-TWMRvyld7wmX_roIXiSW4rFN2riC1OueooyNeu7SCSkSxuGTCKG6MOrPcNropItg/s320/2013-01-17+17.06.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alina trying on dad's glasses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcmwlG563UubXZ5OQ7tn_BnaCt5RM2U9pBdhfsGhJzDkOPYSZwhdKWARetRCvvDwJwRhiwJvpDyHR_7fnG56j6qZiE2kRanngyOtgd1bHuzeouWm3JTqnTMNPRSztIW9XDZ4Q2wnM_Wg/s1600/2013-01-17+17.07.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcmwlG563UubXZ5OQ7tn_BnaCt5RM2U9pBdhfsGhJzDkOPYSZwhdKWARetRCvvDwJwRhiwJvpDyHR_7fnG56j6qZiE2kRanngyOtgd1bHuzeouWm3JTqnTMNPRSztIW9XDZ4Q2wnM_Wg/s320/2013-01-17+17.07.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maks trying on dad's glasses.</td></tr>
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<br />
Today the girls chose their new middle names. We needed to have everything chosen for paperwork that was being filled out today. We had Albina choose first.
We gave her the options of 'Michelle' (after me) and 'Josephine' (after my grandmother). She
immediately told us she wanted her middle name to be 'Michelle' after
me. Next we asked Alina what she wanted her middle name to be. When
she learned that 'Michelle' had been taken by Albina, she was
disappointed. Fortunately she didn't make a huge deal out of it.
Her two choices were 'Josephine' and 'Rose'. She chose Rose. I had hoped that
one of them would chose the name 'Josephine' since that's such a special
name to me, but we really wanted them to have a say in their middle
names. Since they are older, we realize that changing ones name at
this stage of life is a pretty big deal. I knew that meant I had to be
okay with whatever the outcome was. And I am. I think both the names sound beautiful.<br />
<br />
Since Maks is only
5, we didn't give him a choice. At the beginning of this process, we
decided we wanted his middle name to be 'Stewart' (I've always wanted a
son with my maiden name as his middle name). However, a number of weeks ago I started thinking that we should have his middle name be 'Douglas' after my brother who passed away in 2006. Once I thought about that name, it sounded just right and I realized it was meant to be. I hope someday Maks realizes what a special middle name he has been given.<br />
<br />
Announcing...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Albina Michelle Truax</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Alina Rose Truax</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Maksym Douglas Truax </span></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
We
are really missing Toria, Emma, Isabel and Micah. However, we knew this separation was a
necessary part of the process. We are being patient and enjoying the
opportunity to learn more about the Ukrainian culture. However, we are
really looking forward to the time when we will be able to join our Ukrainian family to our United States family and be all together!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-2207924407700834802013-01-17T12:51:00.001-07:002013-01-17T13:00:12.327-07:00The first of many "FINALLY"'s <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>It finally came.</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night we got on a train in Kyiv around 8pm, slept in the train, and arrived in the region where the orphanage is located. We immediately got into a car and drove for 2 more hours to the orphanage. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Before we could actually go into the orphanage we needed to get permission from the local government. That requires additional paperwork and time for processing. So, while we were waiting, we went to the apartment and got settled.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally the time came to head to the orphanage. However, when we arrived at the orphanage, there were other issues that the orphanage was dealing with. We were required to do more waiting, waiting, waiting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After what seemed like forever... the door opened and Alina and Maks walked into the room. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Ahhh… hugs and kisses all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Maks (although we’d never met him
before) was so excited to see us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At one point he was sitting next to me and suddenly turned, wrapped his arms around me and gave me a huge hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> So sweet!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few minutes later, Albina came into the room. Again, hugs and kisses all around.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We talked for a bit, and then played a game of UNO before James and I were called out to
meet with the orphanage director, psychologist, social worker and
medical doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meeting was
VERY interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all had
their files and went through and disclosed all information about the
children that they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some of the things we learned:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>The children arrived at the orphanage 4 years ago.</li>
<li>Albina is a very hard worker and loves to be challenged. She is very tidy and loves housework. I was told a few times that she will be a very big help to me.</li>
<li>Alina frequently tells the director how much she loves her family and asks when they are coming for her. She has been very anxious to have us arrive!</li>
<li>The orphanage personnel believe that Albina is meant to be a scientist, but say that she can be whatever she wants. They told us she is very clever and a very good student. </li>
<li>The orphanage personnel believe that Alina is meant to be an actor. She loves drama and dancing and loves to be the center of attention.</li>
<li>Maks' speech is somewhat delayed, as is typical of orphans that don't learn to speak in a family setting (they simply don't have as much one on one interaction). This should be remedied once he's in a family setting.</li>
<li>The orphanage LOVES these children. They were very positive about them and loved talking about them. </li>
<li>At the end or our meeting, the director told us that we would definitely look back and be very grateful to the orphanage for these children because they are such good children. :-)</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our meeting, we had more time with the children while our facilitator ran some errands and worked on more paperwork for our adoption. Albina wasn't able to spend a lot of time with us because she has a final mathematics exam tomorrow that she needed to study for. However, we were able to spend quite a bit of time with Alina and Maks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Toward the end of our visit, Alina wanted to take pictures and videos with my camera:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKth7urbA7CT6tHh93yioxHHhyxrR0vbH15nz6qxOsDRdnZIDK1xzYAlmkLx3zVHoGPOG6uD8UqR-jFsj5udqA81hU6LaZVLxDQQZPJuWHScl_Ooo4g63wzmEvoEt_NLg3LzrvSWCng0/s1600/2013-01-17+14.57.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKth7urbA7CT6tHh93yioxHHhyxrR0vbH15nz6qxOsDRdnZIDK1xzYAlmkLx3zVHoGPOG6uD8UqR-jFsj5udqA81hU6LaZVLxDQQZPJuWHScl_Ooo4g63wzmEvoEt_NLg3LzrvSWCng0/s320/2013-01-17+14.57.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James and Maks in orphanage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W-BT6uCw-0vCDuAYvzokgfTfMIOYkpmaniSwPAQ6rVgjzwEZlexwGZ8fPKcRisrfiPjB1Ev9At0dXPsdET2llAlHRxpa_FgkhkunjsFuBAQfkm-mGl3TesrZ-22ua8Mn825p_PD6u50/s1600/2013-01-17+16.46.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W-BT6uCw-0vCDuAYvzokgfTfMIOYkpmaniSwPAQ6rVgjzwEZlexwGZ8fPKcRisrfiPjB1Ev9At0dXPsdET2llAlHRxpa_FgkhkunjsFuBAQfkm-mGl3TesrZ-22ua8Mn825p_PD6u50/s320/2013-01-17+16.46.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James, Shelly & Maks in orphanage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVfdh9Ed60fTudTltXm1bv6XI-YbCzQgvTo_7rBhaOXXJIuxJmj19fVrH5ySBzgwYwlDMSegSg5QvBPJ2H8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
After leaving the orphanage, we went and got groceries and had dinner. Now we are relaxing and about to sleep in preparation for another long day tomorrow (more meetings, paperwork, and finally visiting with the children again).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was a long day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was an exhausting day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was a great day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WE SAW OUR KIDS!!!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-74844032319004911592013-01-14T08:17:00.003-07:002013-01-14T08:20:29.857-07:00We're In Ukraine!We've been in Kyiv for 2 full days. <br />
<br />
Our travels were fairly uneventful, which is just the way we like them! When we arrived in Kyiv, we were met by our driver and taken to meet up with our facilitator here in Ukraine. He helped us purchase a cell-phone and some groceries. Then they took us to our apartment:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTU9OK_wUdfCfYFCWT56lexnWX4jcDViqT_hqy-F-sEB3kcqS7vTY7mA4IDT5Zug8YhMf-28eyicUpLW7emZcVEb8vYO6ioNyopSIvdxF6U0YSwA5Ujiiw_uciGTm6Cyr5r1mDBLJzqk/s1600/2013-01-14+16.29.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTU9OK_wUdfCfYFCWT56lexnWX4jcDViqT_hqy-F-sEB3kcqS7vTY7mA4IDT5Zug8YhMf-28eyicUpLW7emZcVEb8vYO6ioNyopSIvdxF6U0YSwA5Ujiiw_uciGTm6Cyr5r1mDBLJzqk/s320/2013-01-14+16.29.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance into apartment in Kyiv</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyStxPir8whUf5bolHRxeiNI0o7omD9UmfFGRjeyfilsUmZHBXoSPxIm_7Vc34SWFfZNwdRNWbllbS25dgTte5kLItxT3zKT9qeViJm-OH_H6wQo7h-BBSFXeyRPk5r8VrAxODBb36B4/s1600/2013-01-14+16.29.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyStxPir8whUf5bolHRxeiNI0o7omD9UmfFGRjeyfilsUmZHBXoSPxIm_7Vc34SWFfZNwdRNWbllbS25dgTte5kLItxT3zKT9qeViJm-OH_H6wQo7h-BBSFXeyRPk5r8VrAxODBb36B4/s320/2013-01-14+16.29.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen in apartment in Kyiv</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1Z9ixHUXH8BFdziqJftYASU4P4qdYBVFa7TZecIEuCAjIT_YqHX_E892PjyXVKI5yjgypQZ0aFoJp-J1qY8TLqksrIzbz66fVzowWFjmPVEdfg4LwyNgs9NSHiHcqNVhc4_Du-aAnc/s1600/2013-01-14+16.28.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiil1Z9ixHUXH8BFdziqJftYASU4P4qdYBVFa7TZecIEuCAjIT_YqHX_E892PjyXVKI5yjgypQZ0aFoJp-J1qY8TLqksrIzbz66fVzowWFjmPVEdfg4LwyNgs9NSHiHcqNVhc4_Du-aAnc/s320/2013-01-14+16.28.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom in apartment in Kyiv</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Upon arrival, we immediately went to sleep even though it was only 6:00 pm. The next day we woke extremely early, but felt well rested.<br />
<br />
We were able to attend church in Kyiv and meet some new people. It was a lovely experience. <br />
<br />
After church, we went back to our apartment and were able to meet up with part of another family that is here finishing up their adoption. The father and daughter are staying in Kyiv until the daughter is able to get her Visa. It was so lovely to see and visit with them. We were also able to meet some of their friends from Ukraine. Now we have someone to call when we come back to Kyiv after the adoption is finalized. It will be lovely to have someone local that we can call on for help or simply suggestions on what to see or experience or where to go during that particular waiting period.<br />
<br />
While with our friends, we were able to go walk around downtown. Yesterday was "Old New Year", so there were decorations and lots of excitment in the town center. It was fun to observe some of the activities that were taking place:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTedUJ9D4WI/UPQgmdfoHmI/AAAAAAAAICY/T462l_kMHaQ/s1600/2013-01-13+14.18.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTedUJ9D4WI/UPQgmdfoHmI/AAAAAAAAICY/T462l_kMHaQ/s320/2013-01-13+14.18.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Kyiv, Ukraine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADxW35p6oT0/UPQgmuEzuRI/AAAAAAAAICc/jxSUNy7Pv_A/s1600/2013-01-13+14.18.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADxW35p6oT0/UPQgmuEzuRI/AAAAAAAAICc/jxSUNy7Pv_A/s320/2013-01-13+14.18.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Kyiv, Ukraine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1F1qZcD-rs/UPQgmasJQLI/AAAAAAAAICg/O3eItrDrWUI/s1600/2013-01-13+14.18.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1F1qZcD-rs/UPQgmasJQLI/AAAAAAAAICg/O3eItrDrWUI/s320/2013-01-13+14.18.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Kyiv, Ukraine: Huge Christmas tree that lights up beautifully!</td></tr>
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It was a completely amazing day!<br />
<br />
Today we were supposed to have an appointment with the facilitator, but it ended up needing to be moved until tomorrow. As a result, James and I got to go exploring on our own. We went to the nearby shopping center and checked things out:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX4RcTKOF4mWEIOx6AEIQC-XnJ0aPctVhgstMj7RW_KS4MuIpquYCeYeeakmG0AU_K_TzhmbRxbg9TXdIenNv2YuZlENbO50i0lgbFhDNKgjDJuyziDdMGesHyJw6UvaB-OXfJG_zdxY/s1600/2013-01-14+14.07.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX4RcTKOF4mWEIOx6AEIQC-XnJ0aPctVhgstMj7RW_KS4MuIpquYCeYeeakmG0AU_K_TzhmbRxbg9TXdIenNv2YuZlENbO50i0lgbFhDNKgjDJuyziDdMGesHyJw6UvaB-OXfJG_zdxY/s320/2013-01-14+14.07.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearby shopping center.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1ecmfzXZIPm2jHPnmZ1TxFEzlmLes-MrFvSsRiQ7CnJjjyhfvkfEpNq_3FzYFUwwEXk_PHWIpWUuDzBNdQYbV51RBeYi0sAImT-VrWOZITfIkdPN5EqG421Erl9XTgMELL1YB6ngE_Y/s1600/2013-01-14+14.01.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1ecmfzXZIPm2jHPnmZ1TxFEzlmLes-MrFvSsRiQ7CnJjjyhfvkfEpNq_3FzYFUwwEXk_PHWIpWUuDzBNdQYbV51RBeYi0sAImT-VrWOZITfIkdPN5EqG421Erl9XTgMELL1YB6ngE_Y/s320/2013-01-14+14.01.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearby shopping center.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zmwQ5nbvfwSc-Ful3prKM9GFiY0p7M-z5K6VPF-eSy_BV9E2dg61g_T2bhHpizQ-zzK2nwQOysrlwSYRO_XZdywTD3JZAQE8lJsYRR4LOV18duMTFV0NCqso_Er-rWdQJG64gq5qxro/s1600/2013-01-14+14.07.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zmwQ5nbvfwSc-Ful3prKM9GFiY0p7M-z5K6VPF-eSy_BV9E2dg61g_T2bhHpizQ-zzK2nwQOysrlwSYRO_XZdywTD3JZAQE8lJsYRR4LOV18duMTFV0NCqso_Er-rWdQJG64gq5qxro/s320/2013-01-14+14.07.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nearby shopping center.</td></tr>
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We primarily did window shopping. It was fun to look at some of the shops that they had. There are some really cute things like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59k_XvpU5KIbNcuRxjfPxTKLjP9Td-Jchm1wNhpSQUauTLqwSGJ__Z9wROl-aYJSRDxmOa8Xo8-iCdnKls0ApadGuS7gCDoTkQquY84eFy2e83ZKm0NcIxvum2PSt6Yc6cNoWxoeZYFg/s1600/2013-01-14+13.14.05.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59k_XvpU5KIbNcuRxjfPxTKLjP9Td-Jchm1wNhpSQUauTLqwSGJ__Z9wROl-aYJSRDxmOa8Xo8-iCdnKls0ApadGuS7gCDoTkQquY84eFy2e83ZKm0NcIxvum2PSt6Yc6cNoWxoeZYFg/s320/2013-01-14+13.14.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saw this coat and thought it was so darling. I just needed a picture.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The only things we purchased were two books in Russian for the kids to read to us. We brought some English books with us to read, but thought they would like to read something to us as well:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7UI6xZSN28E_59V_-kECOtERd0dkUgaZxfR4TZHfSP93ojzdPtburDw1fftncilJ7cRMbJYefMibCwXedKybjTQt_9yS1KBgSGc3BoJgYB0JE_fBvNrMNEJR-2JBWB3LI2phzdjt4a4/s1600/2013-01-14+16.50.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7UI6xZSN28E_59V_-kECOtERd0dkUgaZxfR4TZHfSP93ojzdPtburDw1fftncilJ7cRMbJYefMibCwXedKybjTQt_9yS1KBgSGc3BoJgYB0JE_fBvNrMNEJR-2JBWB3LI2phzdjt4a4/s320/2013-01-14+16.50.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After our excursion, we went back to the apartment and made, ate and cleaned up dinner:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5u92K3xf5RRkhf3OkwSs_5wcISNEyxEHDD0jrZzcVCpKHjzACqzvbACDIk-uD8CEXLjCC-dTU9KWsXYVX8mP1k_BUHEIyoDUNM1FXJfVgRSeYRQN8tG2yimeeqX4pzWM0lsyjP_DUCY/s1600/2013-01-14+15.27.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5u92K3xf5RRkhf3OkwSs_5wcISNEyxEHDD0jrZzcVCpKHjzACqzvbACDIk-uD8CEXLjCC-dTU9KWsXYVX8mP1k_BUHEIyoDUNM1FXJfVgRSeYRQN8tG2yimeeqX4pzWM0lsyjP_DUCY/s320/2013-01-14+15.27.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vareniki (potato filled dumplings) with sour cream and sauteed onions. Yum!<b><br /></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvqSnMYxGGUnlQ4NIyNvMVpGIA9Z02ZrIbTgmcY3wreWgsdp_OJMGk24OoguRpjNDa0xeW_Fu6XKvUw1a2-qATwc1GpUtIhuUZcT2cvnnoEmFVzdOJgtpkkr3_u-alTRyIEBjJoOazAg/s1600/2013-01-14+15.48.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvqSnMYxGGUnlQ4NIyNvMVpGIA9Z02ZrIbTgmcY3wreWgsdp_OJMGk24OoguRpjNDa0xeW_Fu6XKvUw1a2-qATwc1GpUtIhuUZcT2cvnnoEmFVzdOJgtpkkr3_u-alTRyIEBjJoOazAg/s320/2013-01-14+15.48.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James washing the dishes in our cute little kitchen.</td></tr>
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Last night we were able to get Albina's phone number. After dinner tonight, we gave her a call. She recognized James' voice immediately. They spoke for a while and then she asked if I was around. I was able to speak with her as well. This was the highlight of the day! Her English is improving! Here are some of highlights of our conversation:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Albina wants to come to America very much. She would like to return to Lagoon (a local amusement park that we went to this summer) and YOGURTLAND. (This is a girl after my own heart!) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>She asked when she would be going to school. I said, "You can start school as soon as you want." To which she replied, "I no want..." and then laughed. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>She told me that Maksym is very excited and anxious to go to America! I told her that Micah is really excited to meet him. She said, "Oh... because he's a boy, right?" (And of course that's the reason! If you were Micah, wouldn't you be anxious to get a brother after being the only boy for so long?) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I told her Kyiv was amazing and she said that the city where she is is even better. I said, "Is it because you are there?" She said, "Yes! Of course!" and laughed.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
I can hardly wait to see these kids again!!! I am simply giddy with anticipation.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we have our SDA appointment. This is when we request permission to gain access to our kids and the orphanage. We will fill out the paperwork and receive the final permission on Wednesday. Then we will be on a train to the orphanage!<br />
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Only 2 more full days until we see our kids!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-82856823564578094272013-01-09T10:51:00.003-07:002013-01-09T10:56:18.544-07:00Kindness Begins With MeWe have received so much kindness throughout this process. And it just keeps coming. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>clothing, money, notes, hugs, gifts, time, shoes, hard work, prayers, phone calls, etc.</i></b></div>
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And now there are people that will be watching and helping with our children and our dog while we are in Ukraine. There are people taking care of our mail and our home. There are individuals that are on call for any emergencies that may creep up. It's absolutely amazing! We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAoGjXGvWX4/UOxxvy-yMBI/AAAAAAAAH8U/ugQ2J3GA-Ts/s1600/aesop+act+of+kindness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAoGjXGvWX4/UOxxvy-yMBI/AAAAAAAAH8U/ugQ2J3GA-Ts/s400/aesop+act+of+kindness.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I received a darling note and boondoggle key chain from a neighbor girl the other day. She wants me to take it to Ukraine and give it to Alina. It truly made me so happy that Alina has someone who is excited to be her friend and anxious to welcome her into our neighborhood. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD6XrAM6Cl8EBYm_ySkBXg1pt7zQekwktK41bqexWAX26W-90ch4uqDesZXH4PNd9w0_jxHth6l7cYRlzTMcOCzQMI0sNreQRQtlSaCfB8wwKJnd3TCG-FXnCfktVhZ9zFX-OO7U32EU/s1600/2013-01-08+12.07.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD6XrAM6Cl8EBYm_ySkBXg1pt7zQekwktK41bqexWAX26W-90ch4uqDesZXH4PNd9w0_jxHth6l7cYRlzTMcOCzQMI0sNreQRQtlSaCfB8wwKJnd3TCG-FXnCfktVhZ9zFX-OO7U32EU/s320/2013-01-08+12.07.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Dear Alina, Hi! I am so excited to be your neighbor! I am also so excited to get to know you and become friends! Do you know what a boondoggle is? It is a key chain, and that is what I made for you. I hope you like it. I hope that you like Utah, and that you get here safely! See you soon!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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A number of youth in our neighborhood got together and created a short video for me to take to Ukraine to show Albina. They want to let her know that they are excited to see her again and/or meet her (if they weren't able to meet her this summer).<br />
<br />
Like any parent, I worry about my kids.<br />
I worry about Albina, Alina and Maks feeling welcome.<br />
I want them to make friends and feel loved and accepted.<br />
I pray that they will be able to quickly adjust to their new life!<br />
As a result, these kind gestures have helped to ease some of my worry. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I love kindness. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It really makes such a huge difference! </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zF6cgp2QDpA/UOxxzzTa17I/AAAAAAAAH8c/DuwAsEwCNtI/s1600/smile+kindness+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zF6cgp2QDpA/UOxxzzTa17I/AAAAAAAAH8c/DuwAsEwCNtI/s400/smile+kindness+quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>___________________________________________________________________</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span><b><i>We
leave for Ukraine in <span style="font-size: small;">less than 2</span> days! We still have $1<span style="font-size: small;">3,680</span>.92 left to
raise. Thanks <span style="font-size: small;">to a generous donor that took care of our initial fee<span style="font-size: small;">s so we don't have to worry about them o<span style="font-size: small;">nce we arrive home! However, we still need funds to cover our Ukraine e<span style="font-size: small;">xp<span style="font-size: small;">enses. We've been so ric<span style="font-size: small;">hly blessed throughout this journey! Can you s<span style="font-size: small;">pare just a little to help us get Albina, Alina and Maks home?</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span>Any donation amount will help get us
closer to our goals. </i></b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><b><i>Thank you <span style="font-size: small;">SO</span> much!!!</i></b></span></span>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-65047606980742711452013-01-08T11:53:00.001-07:002013-01-14T09:00:21.483-07:0071 Hours!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7<span style="font-size: large;">1</span> HOURS. AND COU<span style="font-size: large;">NTING DOWN!</span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea73Ci_XkQY/UOxqvfeC50I/AAAAAAAAH6U/TaBR8Rrdh8E/s1600/71+hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ea73Ci_XkQY/UOxqvfeC50I/AAAAAAAAH6U/TaBR8Rrdh8E/s320/71+hours.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">That's right. In only 7<span style="font-size: small;">1</span> hours James and I will be on our way to Kyiv, Ukraine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We'll be there for 6-8 weeks and then bring our kids <b>HOME</b>! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's bound to be quite the experience (to say the least<span style="font-size: small;">)!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For those of you interested in the process, here is a basic overview of what we expect to experience on our trip.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border: double windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: thick-thin-medium-gap; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: thin-thick-medium-gap; mso-border-right-alt: thick-thin-medium-gap; mso-border-top-alt: thin-thick-medium-gap; mso-border-width-alt: 1.0pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>January 12</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Arrive
in Kyiv. We are arriving early because our flights a day earlier were
much cheaper AND we need to give ourselves extra time just in case there are
any issues with weather and flights... better safe than miss our appointment in
Kyiv!</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>January 15</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our
appointment with the State Department. This is when we receive permission
to get access to the orphanage and begin the process leading up to our main
court date.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>January 17</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Once
we've gotten paperwork gathered and approved, we head to the orphan<span style="font-size: small;">age where we get to</span> meet with our kids <i>(YAY!)</i> and begin preparing and
compiling the next set of paperwork. </span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>January 21</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Submit
paperwork requesting a court date to the SDA and begin <span style="font-size: small;">waiting for them to contact us with our court date.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>*During
each waiting period, we have daily scheduled visits with our kids. We've
been warned that these visits will begin to feel like "Groundhog Day"
(you are allowed in one room and have no outside play because of bitter cold weather).
In an effort to make these visits more enjoyable, we've tried to gather lots of
puzzles, games, coloring books and other activities... here's hoping we have
enough things gathered and that they truly do help make our visits more
enjoyable!</i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>February 6</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our
potential Court Day. This is the court that takes place with a judge and
jury. We are put on trial to determine if we should be allowed to adopt
these children. It sounds quite intimidating, but I've been told that's
the way it's intended to feel, so we'll just try to relax.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>*After
the court there is a mandatory waiting period before you can take your kids
from the orphanage. More visits, puzzles, coloring, etc...</i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>February 19</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Waiting
period is over. Begin picking up additional documents, get birth
certificates and apply for passports.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>February 27</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Pick
up passports and travel with kids to Kyiv.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>February 28</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Kids
get medical exams. Apply for VISA's at the US Embassy. </span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>March 1</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Pick
up VISA's</span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>March 2</u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="border: medium none; margin: 0.1pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leave
Kyiv and head HOME!</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> It seem<span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;"> like a fairly short trip when I map it out that way, right? </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But...<span style="font-size: small;"> when I consider that I won't be home until March, that<span style="font-size: small;"> sounds like a really <b>LONG</b> <span style="font-size: small;">time!</span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will really miss Toria, <span style="font-size: small;">Emma<span style="font-size: small;">, Isabel and Micah</span>!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And my bed. :-)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But I can't wa<span style="font-size: small;">it to see my other kids.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I<span style="font-size: small;">'m really looking forward to bringing</span> them home and hav<span style="font-size: small;">ing</span> our family all together<span style="font-size: small;"> under one roof!</span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-65407235505609770262013-01-05T15:46:00.002-07:002013-01-05T15:46:33.269-07:00The Perfect SonWe all know that with the New Year comes the opportunity to reflect
on what we've accomplished in the past year and set some new goals for
the upcoming year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpRihPc71Hs/UOis85JERXI/AAAAAAAAH5E/ebhJAiVEMlE/s1600/new+years+resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpRihPc71Hs/UOis85JERXI/AAAAAAAAH5E/ebhJAiVEMlE/s320/new+years+resolutions.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
On New Years Day we were pleased that Micah sat down and wrote his own goals for the year (with no prodding from us!)<br />
<br />
Here are his goals. I especially like #15. :-)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS</b></u></span></div>
<ol>
<li>Be nicer to Guster the dog.</li>
<li>Make more friends.</li>
<li>Control temper / be nicer.</li>
<li>Be more reverent in church.</li>
<li>Exercise more.</li>
<li>Get over stage fright.</li>
<li>Get over fear of dark.</li>
<li>Get over fear of masked murderer.</li>
<li>Don't brag when I win.</li>
<li>Have fun even if I lose.</li>
<li>Write more letters.</li>
<li>Don't pick scabs.</li>
<li>Record my songs.</li>
<li>Play more sports.</li>
<li>Get three Ukrainian orphan's to the U.S.A.</li>
<li>Learn gymnastics.</li>
<li>Eat a better diet.</li>
<li>Be a better artist.</li>
<li>Be a better dancer.</li>
<li>Be a better speller.</li>
<li>Do more school.</li>
<li>Be better at school.</li>
<li>Write a play/book/movie.</li>
<li>Go to bed earlier.</li>
<li>Wake up earlier.</li>
</ol>
When you add all the life altering changes we were already
planning to make, to the changes I'm about to see in Micah... Well, it
looks like it's going to be quite a year!!!<br />
<br />
As for my resolutions... so far I only have one.<br />
<br />
1. Keep breathing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Mn3kQ8ICh0/UOitNMEatNI/AAAAAAAAH5M/A6wnU5bWjVc/s1600/calvin-hobbes-new-years-resolutions-620x469_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Mn3kQ8ICh0/UOitNMEatNI/AAAAAAAAH5M/A6wnU5bWjVc/s320/calvin-hobbes-new-years-resolutions-620x469_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hope your year is looking great so far!<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">___________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>We
leave for Ukraine in 6 days! We still have $19,392.92 left to
raise. I can hardly believe how much success we've experienced in such a
short period of time! However, we still have a ways to go and a short period of time to get there! Do you have a <a href="http://truaxadoptionadventure.blogspot.com/2013/01/uncertainty.html">dollar</a>
you can spare? Or maybe $5? Any donation amount will help get us
closer to our goals. And don't forget what a difference you will make
in the lives of Albina, Alina and Maks by donating to our cause! </i></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Thank you so much!!!</i></b></span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-23138558333483307812013-01-04T13:13:00.000-07:002013-01-04T13:13:12.136-07:00UncertaintyYesterday my sister posted <a href="http://michaelandbonnie.blogspot.com/2013/01/do-you-have-dollar.html">this</a> on her blog.<br />
<br />
<b>I love her!</b> She has been such an awesome support throughout this process.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I realize that everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing that we need more money. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>We need more money.</b></i></div>
<br />
As far as her uncertainty about when we need money, I'll explain here:<br />
<br />
Most of the funds are needed as soon as we leave for Ukraine (1 WEEK from today). The remaining portion (about $5500) has been due from the very beginning (we were to have paid it as soon as we decided to move ahead with the adoption). Fortunately the agency has been very kind to work with us throughout our fundraising and they've allowed us to wait and pay off that portion until the end.<br />
<br />
Donate your $1 today and make a difference in the lives of Albina, Alina & Maks.<br />
<br />
My sister already did! :-) <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYFItoKlH-oX-3pJDVe2ZzddI1hvnf0Y-ftVymU7snw_HQ305kctwjDg4Tqey27lZQMYQe7lSGjNXqmhQ9WXCp26PkeaVgj8D7JmkILetYFdIS1VW59WKbRScT5RokL8H2mX1mZP5v4E/s1600/Albina+New+Years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYFItoKlH-oX-3pJDVe2ZzddI1hvnf0Y-ftVymU7snw_HQ305kctwjDg4Tqey27lZQMYQe7lSGjNXqmhQ9WXCp26PkeaVgj8D7JmkILetYFdIS1VW59WKbRScT5RokL8H2mX1mZP5v4E/s320/Albina+New+Years.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is Albina (on right) with a friend at their New Years celebration. Isn't she beautiful? I can't wait to see her again!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-29390335765057337712013-01-03T16:18:00.001-07:002013-01-03T16:18:24.204-07:00ListsSometimes I feel like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJRk6iMOi74/UOYNTMLQlkI/AAAAAAAAH18/e2UMAMeNGB4/s1600/messy-desk.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJRk6iMOi74/UOYNTMLQlkI/AAAAAAAAH18/e2UMAMeNGB4/s320/messy-desk.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
Like lately.<br />
<br />
<i>I have lists on my nightstand (for when I wake in the middle of the night in a panic.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I have packing lists for me.</i><br />
<br />
<i>I have packing lists for each of the kids.</i><br />
<br />
<i>I have lists of things to do before I leave.</i><br />
<br />
<i>I have lists of things to clean. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I have lists of food to eat (so our fridge can be cleaned out).</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I have lists of things to make lists of.</i><br />
<br />
I have been feeling fairly calm. <br />
Until yesterday.<br />
<br />
I didn't realize anything had changed.<br />
Until my daughter walked into the kitchen and started bouncing a rubber ball over and over again on the tile floor.<br />
And I <i><b>snapped</b></i>.<br />
<br />
James looked at me, smiled and said, <i>"Are you okay? Starting to get a little stressed?"</i><br />
I said, <i>"I didn't think so... but apparently I'm feeling a little stressed."</i><br />
<br />
Thankfully he knew to give me a <b>hug</b> instead of making me feel guilty for a bad mom moment. <br />
<br />
I feel like there is so much to prepare.<br />
Still so much fundraising to do.<br />
Limited time to spend with Toria, Emma, Isabel and Micah before being away from them for a LONG time.<br />
So... I suppose there may be a little stress building up inside of me.<br />
<br />
We leave for Ukraine in <b>1 WEEK</b> from tomorrow.<br />
That is not very long.<br />
I am so <b>anxious</b> that I can hardly stand it.<br />
I am so <b>excited</b> to see our kids again. <br />
And so <b>scared</b> and <b>nervous</b> about all the unknowns.<br />
<br />
<b>1 WEEK.</b><br />
Still <b>$19,384.92</b> left to raise.<br />
So, I'm <i>begging</i> you to look for spare change.<br />
See if you have <i>anything</i> more you can offer us.<br />
This is my last effort to beg and plead for <b><i>help</i></b>.<br />
<br />
So many of you have been so generous.<br />
We are so grateful.<br />
And so amazed that we've been able to raise so much money in such a short time.<br />
Yet, as grateful as we are, we still aren't quite there.<br />
And our trip is just around the corner.<br />
<br />
Albina, Alina and Maks are waiting for us.<br />
They are anxious for us to come to Ukraine to adopt them.<br />
Is there any way you can spare a few more dollars to help them? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-53057788137021898382013-01-01T18:04:00.001-07:002013-01-01T18:11:19.845-07:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!<span style="font-size: small;">In Ukraine, they celebrate the holidays differently than we do in the States. As a result, our family has engaged in many discussions about how to merge Ukrainian holidays with our traditional family holidays.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">One evening our discussion became so emotionally charged that one of my daughters had a complete meltdown over when Santa should really come and visit our home. We've obviously created some pretty strong family traditions when it comes to Christmas. It might be difficult to let go of some of our past traditions, but we realize that under the circumstances, we have to be sensitive to the holidays and traditions that Albina, Alina and Maks feel strongly about.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Since New Years is one of the bigger holidays in the part of Ukraine where Albina, Alina and Maks live, we realize that we need to incorporate it more into our family holidays (up to this point it's basically been a "throw away" holiday). Over the next while we'll figure out the details a little better, but for this year we incorporated one new tradition for New Years (thanks to my cousin who directed me to this <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/12/new-years-tree/">website</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A few days before New Years Eve I asked for each member of our family to write down 5 favorite memories from 2012. Then, on the night before New Years Eve, James and I took all the decorations off the Christmas tree and added a few of our own:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8VyErOifuge3JB6GJWzWHEWS0NRJ8Ost5ItBQEF8A_MxfGYmYICehcUiX_wHpfa3DM0kMuNTlrKyynCCsFjd5d7PFBIudS2lWh3-Dlstx5cL6EpglmF3dT3ieTXNjtZj-lyBTT1szCw/s1600/2013-01-01+00.05.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8VyErOifuge3JB6GJWzWHEWS0NRJ8Ost5ItBQEF8A_MxfGYmYICehcUiX_wHpfa3DM0kMuNTlrKyynCCsFjd5d7PFBIudS2lWh3-Dlstx5cL6EpglmF3dT3ieTXNjtZj-lyBTT1szCw/s320/2013-01-01+00.05.19.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We kept it simple. I printed off the memories and put one memory in each balloon. Then at midnight on New Years Eve we popped open our balloons and read our memories out loud. Guster got a little crazy with all the popping (he popped a few balloons with his teeth)... but otherwise it was an awesome way to end the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Here are a few of our favorite memories from 2012:</span><br />
<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">This summer we met Albina and Alina
for the first time. Seeing them at the airport gave us all an amazing
feeling... like we'd known them before. When we arrived home from the airport
we gathered to kneel for family prayer. Suddenly, Alina stood up and did
the Cha-Cha.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">In July our family celebrated the life of James C Watkins. We drove to Kansas and enjoyed time with family members. Shelly, Toria, Emma & Isabel sang at "Papa's" memorial service. Then we headed to the cemetery where we witnessed a touching graveside service. The military was in attendance and presented the family with a United States flag. Papa was a great patriot that served our country faithfully. Before Papa's
graveside service, Micah put sunglasses on <span style="font-size: small;">Sheba (the dog)</span>. Throughout the entire service the dog walked back and forth in the
background wearing sunglasses. It was such a funny sight. Every
time the service got extra emotional, the dog would walk by and instead of
holding back our sobs, we would have to hold in our giggles.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">This year Micah got a Spy Kit for
Christmas. He spent all day on Christmas reading all about how to be a
spy. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">This summer we looked at homes so that
we could move closer to Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts.
However, in the middle of our home search, we learned of 3 Ukrainian children
that needed a family. Instead of moving and getting a new home, we
decided to add 3 new children to our family!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">This spring we worked really, really
hard and got our yard looking amazing! Why? So our friends could
hold their wedding reception in our home and yard. It ended up being a
beautiful event! However, after the wedding, we were so tired of doing
yardwork that the yard wasn't kept up throughout the remaining months of
summer. Oh well!</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">This year Toria worked hard and was
accepted into Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. This was a HUGE
honor! However, in the end, she decided to attend college at Utah Valley
University. She received a theater scholarship and is studying Theater
Performance.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">On October 25, Albina sent a message
to the family that wished Emma a Happy Birthday. She then sent a picture
and song to Emma on her actual birthday (October 26). It was the best
part of Emma's birthday: knowing that she had not been forgotten by her sister,
Albina.</span></i></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> 2012 has proven to be a VERY eventful year for our family. Last year at this time, we certainly didn't anticipate such adventure ahead! But as amazing as 2012 has been, I truly believe that 2013 will be our best and most exciting year ever!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I can't wait to pop open the memory balloons next New Years Eve!</span><br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>HAPPY NEW YEAR <span style="font-size: small;">FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOUR<span style="font-size: small;">S! </span></span></i></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR AMAZING YEAR!!!</span></span></i></span></b> </span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-22189273403590529882013-01-01T12:29:00.001-07:002013-01-01T12:29:19.329-07:00Adoption Banned!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_zfV0Pj3Hc/UOM5Az2xyzI/AAAAAAAAHz4/MsA368h6k2s/s1600/russian+adoption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_zfV0Pj3Hc/UOM5Az2xyzI/AAAAAAAAHz4/MsA368h6k2s/s320/russian+adoption.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><b>"Russian President Vladimir Putin
just signed a cruel and spiteful law that will bar Americans from
adopting Russian children. The new law will wreck the lives of the 46
children whose American adoptions were already under way, hundreds of
other American families who had launched the adoption process, and the
lives of countless children to come who will now live out their
childhoods in Russian orphanages. Americans adopt nearly a thousand Russian children every year."</b></i> (Read more <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Russia-s-adoption-policy-cruel-spiteful-4156079.php#ixzz2GkkslTmO">here</a>.)<br />
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Chances are, you've heard about this story in the news.</div>
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I've had many people ask how this new law affects us.</div>
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Here is the answer:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>NOT AT ALL.</b></span></div>
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Ukraine isn't affected by this law that's been recently instigated by it's neighboring country of Russia <b>at all.</b> We will still be flying to Ukraine next week and will move forward with our adoption as planned.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">___________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>We
leave for Ukraine in 10 days! We still have $19,484.92 left to
raise. I can hardly believe how much success we've experienced in such a
short period of time! However, we still have a ways to go and a short period of time to get there! Your
generosity and help in getting Albina, Alina & Maks home is hugely
appreciated!</i></b></span></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387936323536496104.post-19332103944612444612012-12-29T16:47:00.002-07:002012-12-29T16:47:43.117-07:00Ready or Not...The next 2 months consist of many exciting (and somewhat scary) steps to getting our kids home. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 1: Getting to Ukraine</b></span></div>
<br />
Yesterday we were able to purchase our airfare to get to Ukraine. <br />
We were very blessed to find really good rates! <br />
<br />
So, it's final... <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We are going to UKRAINE!!<span style="font-size: large;">!</span></b></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1