Thursday, April 29, 2010

Random Fun

Wednesday evening the kids and I decided to put up a tent in the backyard and have a picnic... their first time in a tent...
We went all out and made grilled cheese sandwiches with apples and chips...




Looking forward to having papa back home later tonight... no more travels until late May! :)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Learning English...

Scripture Memory Verse of the Week:
Psalm 23:1
"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

"Ok, let's practice..." I say while we're around the dinner table Sunday evening. Jana decides to go first. "The Lord I no want?" she makes her first attempt to learn the verse. To which James quickly and humorously replies, "You no want the Lord?!." Horrified, she responds "No! I mess up. I want Lord!"

Last night we told the kids we needed to see how much they weigh and measure how tall they are for our annual report. James jumps off the sofa and says, "I'll go get the weighster!"

I need to be better about writing down funny sayings as the kids learn English...

Meanwhile, James was the first one down for breakfast this morning (as usual) so I asked him to practice his Scripture verse. He said, "God is my pastor. He takes care of me." :) Good enough. He knows what it means. May we rest in His providential care...

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Annual Adoption Report

I've been working on our annual adoption reports for our children this weekend. Included are photo pages of each of the children. It has been fun looking back a year... Wow. May 16th will mark one year home...
(Picture Below: April 2009)
James & his Papa...
James playing Upward Soccer this year...
Angela and her Mama...
Angela, who used to hate the camera, singing on our back deck this spring...
Jana (Yana at this point) trying on her mama's earrings...
Jana modeling her own earrings on papa gave her from Ukraine last week...
Victoria posing for the camera in one of her calm moments at the orphanage... she was quite the live wire (and is still a little today - ha :-)...
Victoria posing again for a photo opp last week with her new earrings from papa...
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Gotcha Day...

April 21, 2009 the judge ruled to grant our petition to adopt in full... Tears of joy...
The picture below was taken inside the courtroom immediately following the ruling (Orphanage Director, Larissa, shown on the left in red... the young woman on the right was the Prosecutor who couldn't believe we wanted to adopt four at one time :)
Today we celebrate our "Gotcha Day"! Tears of joy...
After being stranded in Europe for an extra five days, Tony (a.k.a. "Papa") made it back on the one year mark late at night. [For those who did not know, Tony had been teaching at Kyiv Theological Seminary for a week in Ukraine.] We woke the kids up a little earlier than normal for a family breakfast celebration before school. They opened presents from Ukraine, which made the celebration even more special....
The first day we met our kids at the orphanage, we had taken some toys for each of them. We had given James a truck. However, their teachers at the orphanage had confiscated everything we'd given them there (they literally had to leave the orphanage naked - well, we'd bought them clothes to change into... they returned everything including their underwear). Anyways, James had asked for another truck. He was excited to receive one, as well as a Ukrainian Soccer Jersey!
Papa brought the girls some earrings and barrettes... They were ecstatic and immediately changed into them to show their teachers and friends at school...


Tears of joy...

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Weekend...

At the Primary School on friday, Jana and Victoria participated in a cultural learning experience about Japan. Victoria came home with chopsticks wanting to know how to use them. So, I decided we'd have a family cultural experience... ha ha... I pulled out some wooden chopsticks I'd purchased when I traveled to Vietnam a couple years ago and ordered Chinese food. We had a blast trying to eat Sweet & Sour Chicken with Shrimp Fried Rice - yum! A lot of concentration was taking place at the table...
As well as celebration when they could get it to work...

There was a little permissible cheating going on... ha...




Saturday, following fun at James' soccer game, we had a field trip to Wally World for some inexpensive entertainment... The girls needed new swimsuits and we spent $18 for some backyard fun... Victoria was napping when I took this picture... she is still recovering from a week of cousins and weekend of fun with Babushka... My oldest three played for hours in this little wading pool! We laid towels out and had a picnic on our deck. Priceless fun!
We had a wonderful day of worship with our TBC family Sunday. Pastor Andy did a wonderful job expositing the Word on the subject of worship... wrapping up the Nehemiah series... may we live lives of worship unto the One who alone is worthy!

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 11:36-12:2

Many of you know, Tony's return from Ukraine was delayed due to the aftermath of Iceland's volcanic eruption. He was supposed to have returned this past Saturday. Now we are praying for his safe return to us on Wednesday night. We are doing well and appreciate all your thoughtfulness and prayers!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Brief Reflections... (Well, at least my attempt at brevity)

"seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." (Isaiah 1:17 NRSV)

This past weekend I was privileged to participate in the International Justice Mission's Global Prayer Gathering in the Washington, D.C. area. Here is a brief story of how I became connected with this wonderful human rights organization...

In 2007, we began our adoption journey out of a response to God's command to care for orphans as well as our desire to grow our family. We wrestled in prayer over where and how many. For a multitude of reasons, we felt affirmed in the call to adopt from the country of Ukraine. The statistics are heartbreaking. Some estimate that 60% of Ukrainian orphaned girls end up in prostitution, often targeted by sex trafficking rings... the promise of a good job or better life. Approximately 70% of Ukrainian orphaned boys end up in a life of crime, die young from a violent lifestyle and/or spend time in prison where cases of TB are rampant. This seemingly distant reality of human trafficking began to get a little more personal....

The work of IJM was introduced to me by a friend the beginning of 2008. Although, at the time, it still seemed distant... other comings and goings of life were more tangible... if you will. Later in 2008, I came face to face with that seemingly distant reality. I was invited by a dear friend to travel as her research partner to SE Asia. The goal was to develop curriculum that would equip national church leaders with a biblical worldview of self for vulnerable children... being created in the image of God... While in Cambodia, we were able to meet with several NGO's about their work in the trenches against sex trafficking. We met with some IJM staff and were greatly encouraged by their efforts, as well as strategy... a model that works. They focus on four areas: victim relief, perpetrator accountability, structural prevention and victim aftercare. (Please visit their website to learn more and discover ways to get involved: www.ijm.org)

In 2009, I was able to attend IJM's Global Prayer Gathering. Wow. It was intense. Glory to God. It is a beautiful thing to gather with the body of believers to do battle on your knees. God's presence was thick in our midst as we offered praise for the work He had done and petitioned God for the rescue of those who are being oppressed around the world. I left the weekend broken, yet filled up.... full of hope in the One who is mighty to save. Five days later we received our call to get to Ukraine as soon as possible (ha ha... typically you get a month's warning, but we had only a couple days!).

One year later this past weekend, I was back for the 2010 Global Prayer Gathering. This time with the faces of my children to further personalize it. The thought of my five year old daughter (or any of my children) being victimized by the 3rd largest criminal enterprise in the world is absolutely devastating...

For some, including myself, the extent of feeling 'trauma' was being the recipient of a heated lecture by a worn out and stressed police officer over the failure to yield to a no u-turn sign because it had been knocked over or was hidden from your sight by a large SUV! That happened to me over a decade ago and I'm still bothered by it. But, I don't know trauma! Trauma is having your mother sell you as a 5 year old to a man who believes sex with a virgin will cure his HIV status and afford your family the karaoke machine they've always wanted... then return home the morning after as if nothing happened... a week later, undergoing a surgery to reverse the effects in order to be sold again as with virgin status.... Our God wants injustice to stop. God's desire for justice is not a new idea, it is a biblical mandate that God's people have always been expected to follow (Isaiah 1:17; 58; Matthew 23:23...). Help me, Lord, to follow you...

I began the weekend confessing great need. Here is some of what I wrote in my journal: "Heavenly Father, You know my deepest need... I need You to fill me up... I've run on low and even feel about down to empty here recently... I need You, Lord, to speak truth, clearly, grant discernment... Lord, I want to walk in Your ways, ever close to You in Your Word and amidst the lost and hurting and dying... Speak to me this weekend."

The primary text for the weekend's plenary sessions was Psalm 23. Verse 3 particularly resonated with me friday evening:

"He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

God's presence was evident in our midst... I wish I could share all the ways in which God moved this weekend, clarified some personal things, or take time to compose a call to action but this would no longer bear the title "brief reflections" (probably too late for that anyways:)... not to mention, the fact there isn't enough time in my day at present to write a book. :) So, with that being said, just one more confession... Here is the theme passage that God led me to for the weekend (and I continue to wrestle with today)...

"if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:10-11 ESV)

May God's light rise in the darkness as we pour ourselves out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted for HIS Name's sake!

There will be more reflections to come. Please join me in praying for God's guidance to know Him and make Him known with urgency...

Saturday, April 10, 2010

April 10, 2009

A year ago today, we sat in awe once again of the grace of God in our lives... as we sat in the office of the orphanage's director experiencing feelings I can't seem to find an adjective for... following two years of preparation and anticipation... now seems like slow motion video in my memory... we watched with joyous tears as our four children came through the door hand in hand with no idea of what was ahead... here is a picture of that day...
My heart overflows, as do the tears... Thank you Abba Father for this glorious gift... Grant us wisdom as parents for Your Name sake!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Happy Birthday, Beniam...

Wednesday marked our nephew, Beniam's 7th birthday...
Big brother, Noah, helped decorate the cake...


A new DS game :)...
Tuesday evening all the girls watched "The Princess and the Frog"... Mercy is pictured below with her adorable new Princess Tiana attire...

Thursday morning, we said farewell until next time... It has been such a busy, blessed time as well as much too short... When it came time to say goodbye, I could feel the tears begin to make their way forward... what can you say, time flies... wish we lived closer to one another... what a blessing family is... God is so gracious to us...
Wednesday afternoon my mom flew in from Virginia to take care of the kids for us while Tony and I head out in separate directions on Friday... Tony will be flying to Ukraine to teach at Kyiv Theological Seminary for the week... I will be flying to Washington, D.C. to participate in the International Justice Mission's Global Prayer Gathering and Justice Advocacy Training for a few days... We covet your prayers as we are all away from each other, for the various things we will be involved with, and for my mother as she graciously takes care of our precious ones... We hope to keep you posted as we are away... We are grateful for your prayers and support... :)

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Ethiopian Food...

On Monday, my niece Selamawit (a.k.a. Grace), made Ethiopian food for all of us to enjoy... filling the house with incredible, mouth watering aromas... she was so sweet and excited to share with us... what a blessing...


Sunday, April 4, 2010

Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!

This Easter weekend has been extra special with the arrival of Tony's sister (Lisa), her husband (Ryan) and their six children (two of which we met for the first time since coming home from Ethiopia at Christmas!) They arrived Saturday afternoon from Kentucky. After settling in a little, we loaded up and headed to the church for some exercise and for an egg hunt... :)
Ryan introduced Tony to P90X workout routine while the kids ran around the gym and the mamas went to hide Easter eggs...
When it was time for the big hunt, we loaded in the elevator up one flight... only to be traumatized by the elevator's attempt to swallow up Mercy's precious little hand! As we exited the elevator, she had put her hand on the door ahead of walking out and allowed it to slide with it as it opened. Unfortunately, her hand kept going with it between the cracks. As she let out several screams, Mama Lisa worked to pull out her hand while I worked to push buttons to make it stop and close.... all of which happened in a matter of seconds. Thankfully, her hand was released and intact. Most of the other kids didn't grasp the reality of what had happened and took off running for eggs, while Lisa and I caught our breath. After a 10 minute re-coop, all was well... Praise the Lord!
And then they were off...
This picture makes it seem like quite the arduous task, ha ha...
But, as you can see, they took on the challenge... and found 83 of the 84 eggs... someone in building B of Temple will enjoy the long lost little egg...
Ryan and Tony caught their breath and enjoyed the sounds of laughing kids on an egg mission...


Mercy and Victoria after they went swimming together in the bath tub... too much fun...
Then it was time for "just dance" on the wii...
Mercy showing off her moves...
Beniam was not all that impressed...
The Easter bunny dropped off a few goodies Saturday night for a Sunday morning surprise...
Cute cousins on the couch....

Handsome...


A couch full of cousins crazy over their Easter baskets...


Uncle Tony and Noah stylin' for a cameo...
What a wonderful morning of worship celebrating:
Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскресе!

"Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!"

Sunday afternoon provided the perfect opportunity for a pick up whiffle ball game in the backyard (following a cookout and nap)...




Grace playing 1st base while Derara pitched...
Beniam up to bat...
Victoria's turn t