Okay it is COLD and WET for us in Texas - not a fun combination. We are just not used to this weather and I can't say I like it... I know this is nothing compared to many places - but at least in some places there are fun things to do related to the cold - like snow instead of rain! All right - I'm done complaining. On the other hand, we've had good excuses for hot chocolate, lots of card games and reading books :)
We are actually choosing to go to much colder conditions in March!! We are so excited to go skiing (with the kids - even Ben gets to go) in Colorado for spring break with my parents and my sister's family - Allee and Jadon can't wait. When we took them for the first time last year, Jadon began campaigning that maybe God was telling us to move to Colorado forever and Allee began saying that she might find a college in Colorado. So I guess they don't mind the cold at all! We are going to drive 18 hours to get there so that should be an adventure all in itself :) Am I really smiling about 18 hours both ways in the car - I may have a different emotion halfway home...
On another note, I am so proud of Allee. I have watched her start a very challenging new school this year with all new friends (who have all known each other for many years). She took it on like she does most things in life - with courage and hard work and an incredibly positive attitude. She worked so hard when the homework was new and different last semester and even made honor roll the first trimester. And she did it all without hardly a word of complaint. Sometimes I was more overwhelmed than she was and she would just tell me "It's not that much Mom" It was a lot at first and she inspired me with her attitude. Now she's got the hang of it. She is gifted with being super smart but more importantly she just is a hard worker and doesn't get discouraged easily. Anyways, I was just thinking about what a gift my sweet girl is... she is such a joy to us!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Few Updates
We did get news from our agency that Nastya made it back her home and with ALL her belongings! Thank you for praying. We have all missed her greatly this past week. It is hard because we have not yet found a way to call and don't have any contact with her. We have put together our first care package and hope to send it next week but even something like that we are still learning what you do to go about mailing to Ukraine (affordably :)). We are very excited to have connected with a missionary group that visits her orphanage I think weekly, and we may be able to send things through them. What a blessing to have these missionaries working with these kids and to be able to see the effect they have had on this child. Everytime Nastya talked about them while she was here, she would just light up and it was clear from things she said and wrote that she truly knows that God loves her and prays to Him on her own initiative. It is wonderful that these people have poured love and hope into the lives of children who have so few who care about them. And so neat to see that while Nastya may not fully understand why they do what they do, she does feel love from them and believes that God loves her.
In the other news - we have just been busy playing catch-up with work and school and basic housework (piles were taking over and those who know me well know that is bad...:-o ) We are getting back into the daily routine after a great break from school and more structure. It was a nice break but good to be back into the "groove".
It is also a time of reflecting and praying for God to lead us to what He wants in this. We trust Him. This time with Nastya has changed us in some fundamental ways... we are trying to take some time to process it all... We have become more grateful for the incredible blessings we have been given - our family and extended family top the list. Of course we are always grateful for the people in our lives, but it deepens the reality that it is a blessing and a gift and we can't take these people and this time for granted. We do know that we are blessed beyond what we can comprehend and don't want to miss the joys of each day!
In the other news - we have just been busy playing catch-up with work and school and basic housework (piles were taking over and those who know me well know that is bad...:-o ) We are getting back into the daily routine after a great break from school and more structure. It was a nice break but good to be back into the "groove".
It is also a time of reflecting and praying for God to lead us to what He wants in this. We trust Him. This time with Nastya has changed us in some fundamental ways... we are trying to take some time to process it all... We have become more grateful for the incredible blessings we have been given - our family and extended family top the list. Of course we are always grateful for the people in our lives, but it deepens the reality that it is a blessing and a gift and we can't take these people and this time for granted. We do know that we are blessed beyond what we can comprehend and don't want to miss the joys of each day!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
On Her Way to Ukraine...
Tonight we put the sweet girl who we have come to love deeply on a plane to New York and then to Ukraine. They said it would be hard - I had no idea it would be this hard. A week ago it would have been hard - now it was nearly impossible. I cling to knowing that God loves her more than we do, that He is with her, that He goes before her and before us.
This past week has been so precious. We hit some emotional roadblocks with her about halfway through last week. Things had been going great and then seemed to get more difficult last Tuesday or so. I think she was unsure about whether she could trust that we really loved her, and we still felt a bit distant although comfortable with her. Then this past Friday - after the t.v. filming - somehow (several close friends were praying I know - thank you!) things turned around and she really let down her guard. She began to open up to us emotionally. It's hard to explain how we could know that when we couldn't talk with her, but we have found that words are not as necessary as we might have previously thought and that body language and actions and a few attempted words in another language can speak volumes. This past weekend and this week have been especially precious and we are thankful for each moment. We have come to love her so much and it is difficult not to think of her as our daughter. But God is in control and we know that He is able to do all things and that He is good and loving. So we trust that His plans are perfect for our family and for Nastya. We pray that He would give us grace to trust Him and to clearly see His plan in each step.
Today and yesterday Nastya was very specific about what she wanted to do. And she was clear that she did not want Allee to go to school but to stay home with her - they have had soooo much fun together. It was bittersweet to see her relishing each moment. She had a glorious time riding her bike at my mom and dad's, feeding the horses one last time, taking a long bath (two actually), fishing for minnows with a net (the reason for the 2nd bath), and getting her back scratched. She also ate as much fruit as she could hold and plenty of sausage :) She kept asking to take back food to Ukraine and we sent a little on the plane, but of course she couldn't really take much with her. We hope to send a care package soon.
Please pray specifically for Nastya's belongings as she travels back to Ukraine. She loves her baby doll and her photos and several other items. She had been asking for photos and was delighted this morning to receive a book full of tons of pictures of all her adventures and favorite moments. We packed a suitcase of clothes and things too. Pray that she is able to keep up with her carry-on backpack and that her checked bag will make it intact to her orphanage.
Well, that's about it. We go to bed tonight incredibly grateful for this precious time that we have all had together. Thank you to each and every one who have been praying for us and encouraging during this time. It has been all the more special and fun to be able to share it with you.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
This past week has been so precious. We hit some emotional roadblocks with her about halfway through last week. Things had been going great and then seemed to get more difficult last Tuesday or so. I think she was unsure about whether she could trust that we really loved her, and we still felt a bit distant although comfortable with her. Then this past Friday - after the t.v. filming - somehow (several close friends were praying I know - thank you!) things turned around and she really let down her guard. She began to open up to us emotionally. It's hard to explain how we could know that when we couldn't talk with her, but we have found that words are not as necessary as we might have previously thought and that body language and actions and a few attempted words in another language can speak volumes. This past weekend and this week have been especially precious and we are thankful for each moment. We have come to love her so much and it is difficult not to think of her as our daughter. But God is in control and we know that He is able to do all things and that He is good and loving. So we trust that His plans are perfect for our family and for Nastya. We pray that He would give us grace to trust Him and to clearly see His plan in each step.
Today and yesterday Nastya was very specific about what she wanted to do. And she was clear that she did not want Allee to go to school but to stay home with her - they have had soooo much fun together. It was bittersweet to see her relishing each moment. She had a glorious time riding her bike at my mom and dad's, feeding the horses one last time, taking a long bath (two actually), fishing for minnows with a net (the reason for the 2nd bath), and getting her back scratched. She also ate as much fruit as she could hold and plenty of sausage :) She kept asking to take back food to Ukraine and we sent a little on the plane, but of course she couldn't really take much with her. We hope to send a care package soon.
Please pray specifically for Nastya's belongings as she travels back to Ukraine. She loves her baby doll and her photos and several other items. She had been asking for photos and was delighted this morning to receive a book full of tons of pictures of all her adventures and favorite moments. We packed a suitcase of clothes and things too. Pray that she is able to keep up with her carry-on backpack and that her checked bag will make it intact to her orphanage.
Well, that's about it. We go to bed tonight incredibly grateful for this precious time that we have all had together. Thank you to each and every one who have been praying for us and encouraging during this time. It has been all the more special and fun to be able to share it with you.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Friday, January 4, 2008
Famous!
Well we made tv today! Or at least our pictures did :) But Nastya and the other four kids all were on live television along with our friends Becca and Craig Hill and our translator - Laura. San Antonio Living had them all on their show today to raise awareness about orphans and the possibilities to help. Oprah, Good Morning America - here we come! It was a great time for the kids, and the adults really enjoyed seeing a tv station at work. If you want to watch the show just go to http://www.woai.com/ and click on "SA Living" (one of the headings at the top) Then look down and click on "watch SA Living" and ours is, of course, Ukraine Orphans. Afterwards, we all enjoyed a nice lunch and encouraging conversation by the River Walk. There have been so many blessings through this time, but one of the biggest has been the precious friendships we have made with these other host families. These ladies have encouraged me and prayed for me and it is incredibly comforting to all be in this together. It is so wonderful to be able to talk with ladies who have such a strong faith and who are right in the middle of the same joys, fears, struggles, and hopes. And they are just fun to hang out with too!
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