I am a week away from leaving to the Ukraine! There is so much going on right now in our lives- lots of stress- my family knows what I am talking about. At any rate, I am so excited to travel and meet my new son, and start bonding with him and giving him lots of love and attention!
We have been very blessed to have received a grant from the Ibsen Adoption Network! It was a complete shock to me to have opened up that award letter in the mail. God is so faithful! It is enough of a grant to cover a big portion of what we've spent already on the airfare!
I'm packing right now for our trip! I've received helpful advice from others to bring: laundry soap, duct tape, ketchup packs, lots of reading material, DVDs, cooking spices.... any other tips from my blogger friends who have already gone to the Ukraine before? I appreciate any tips you may have for us! Thank you!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
EURO 2012 thoughts....
Please pray that my court date, whenever that happens, does not happen to be at the same time that Kyiv is hosting a Euro 2012 tournament!
On the Euro finals schedule the following dates will hold soccer tournaments in Kyiv:
June 11, June 15, June 19, June 24, and July 1st. (I don't know if the hotels and apartments are booked on only the event nights or if it's likely that they are booked for 3 weeks straight for the whole tournamnet...)
So on June 4th, I will arrive in Kyiv for my June 5th appointment date. I will receive my referral to meet "Evan" at this visit. Then by June 6th evening I will take the train to Sevastapol to meet Evan and confirm that we will still want to persue the adoption. So then I need to wait 1-3+ weeks for the official court date back in Kyiv, Ukraine, then followed by a 10 day waiting period.
Our time in Kyiv around the official court date may mean NO HOTEL ACCOMIDATIONS!
I am arranging accomidations for my stay at Sevestapol tomorrow. I have inquired for accomidations for my first stay in Kyiv with a women who blesses adoptive families by hosting them in her apartment. I don't know if she already has another family scheduled... So I will update you as I get word!
I must walk by faith and not by sight- because I'm getting anxiety right now thinking about this. I think I'd best give it to God and let Him handle it! :-)
On the Euro finals schedule the following dates will hold soccer tournaments in Kyiv:
June 11, June 15, June 19, June 24, and July 1st. (I don't know if the hotels and apartments are booked on only the event nights or if it's likely that they are booked for 3 weeks straight for the whole tournamnet...)
So on June 4th, I will arrive in Kyiv for my June 5th appointment date. I will receive my referral to meet "Evan" at this visit. Then by June 6th evening I will take the train to Sevastapol to meet Evan and confirm that we will still want to persue the adoption. So then I need to wait 1-3+ weeks for the official court date back in Kyiv, Ukraine, then followed by a 10 day waiting period.
Our time in Kyiv around the official court date may mean NO HOTEL ACCOMIDATIONS!
I am arranging accomidations for my stay at Sevestapol tomorrow. I have inquired for accomidations for my first stay in Kyiv with a women who blesses adoptive families by hosting them in her apartment. I don't know if she already has another family scheduled... So I will update you as I get word!
I must walk by faith and not by sight- because I'm getting anxiety right now thinking about this. I think I'd best give it to God and let Him handle it! :-)
Monday, May 21, 2012
APPOINTMENT DATE
We finally recieved our appointment date! It is for June 5th- that is "Evan's" 4th birthday!
I can't believe how long it has taken to get to this point! :-) We are super excited- thank you everyone for your prayers!
I can't believe how long it has taken to get to this point! :-) We are super excited- thank you everyone for your prayers!
Monday, May 14, 2012
David's 28th Month Milestones
We don't have an appointment date- yet. I should be getting it in the next couple of days! It is VERY likely my court date will be around May 30th, give or take a couple days. So that is so very exciting!
There is so much to share on my blog about God's timing, His faithfulness, and the changes happening right now in our lives... but I feel my posts need to wait until after the adoption is finalized, so please bare with me right now as I ask for your patience!
But I will say that the timing of the actual adoption itself can not be ANY later... the earliest dated paperwork in our dossier is for December 28th- and this is a paper we can replace in a week or two's notice- it would only be a little hassle... The next dated paperwork is January 16th- and I can not replace this paperwork without having our entire homestudy revised- but there is further implications with this that could delay the adoption so much longer... So I am thankful that the adoption is looking to work out in the most PERFECT timing possible for our lives and what God is doing, and for the paperwork! Because my dossier paperwork can not be more than 6 months old!
It is due time to share about David's milestones as he is now 28 months old!
-David can walk longer distances, but can fall down if the ground level changes or if he trips over something. He walked down the block to a park yesterday- half of the time walking by himself, and half of the time holding on with one hand so he could step over a curb OK.
-David now circles his hands in the air for "The wheels on the bus goes round and round", the only other verse he can do on his own is "The doors on the bus go open and shut" and he will cover and uncover his eyes. He likes to beep my fist for the horn on the bus, but he will not beep his own fist.
-Put David in a room full of toys that are EVERYWHERE, and I will see him gather like toys and put them in a safe place away from the others. It's nice to see him separate toys out from others!
-David sits very well when you plop him down on any chair. He sits there just fine and doesn't try to get or fall out. I can feed him snacks or a meal this way. I'm finding I'm only using his real high chair for haircuts! He's doing much better sitting next to me and sharing my meal with me.
-David understands me when I say "bath time" or "let's go play in the water"- I start to walk towards the bathroom and he knows to follow me there for bath time. The same goes for "let's go bye bye" or "we're going to go see grandma!" he knows to follow me to the garage!
-David has finally graduated from Baby Einstein videos to Mickey's Clubhouse! He doesn't miss the Baby Einstein videos anymore. I was getting very sick of them. I'm sure he would still love to watch them, but I'd like him to watch something with characters and talking going on.
-David's not saying any more/new words at the moment, but he understands us a lot more and is so playful, giggly, and loving.
I am so excited for Evan. I asked David yesterday if he wanted a brother, and he kept signing "Please"! It was so sweet!
There is so much to share on my blog about God's timing, His faithfulness, and the changes happening right now in our lives... but I feel my posts need to wait until after the adoption is finalized, so please bare with me right now as I ask for your patience!
But I will say that the timing of the actual adoption itself can not be ANY later... the earliest dated paperwork in our dossier is for December 28th- and this is a paper we can replace in a week or two's notice- it would only be a little hassle... The next dated paperwork is January 16th- and I can not replace this paperwork without having our entire homestudy revised- but there is further implications with this that could delay the adoption so much longer... So I am thankful that the adoption is looking to work out in the most PERFECT timing possible for our lives and what God is doing, and for the paperwork! Because my dossier paperwork can not be more than 6 months old!
It is due time to share about David's milestones as he is now 28 months old!
-David can walk longer distances, but can fall down if the ground level changes or if he trips over something. He walked down the block to a park yesterday- half of the time walking by himself, and half of the time holding on with one hand so he could step over a curb OK.
-David now circles his hands in the air for "The wheels on the bus goes round and round", the only other verse he can do on his own is "The doors on the bus go open and shut" and he will cover and uncover his eyes. He likes to beep my fist for the horn on the bus, but he will not beep his own fist.
-Put David in a room full of toys that are EVERYWHERE, and I will see him gather like toys and put them in a safe place away from the others. It's nice to see him separate toys out from others!
-David sits very well when you plop him down on any chair. He sits there just fine and doesn't try to get or fall out. I can feed him snacks or a meal this way. I'm finding I'm only using his real high chair for haircuts! He's doing much better sitting next to me and sharing my meal with me.
-David understands me when I say "bath time" or "let's go play in the water"- I start to walk towards the bathroom and he knows to follow me there for bath time. The same goes for "let's go bye bye" or "we're going to go see grandma!" he knows to follow me to the garage!
-David has finally graduated from Baby Einstein videos to Mickey's Clubhouse! He doesn't miss the Baby Einstein videos anymore. I was getting very sick of them. I'm sure he would still love to watch them, but I'd like him to watch something with characters and talking going on.
-David's not saying any more/new words at the moment, but he understands us a lot more and is so playful, giggly, and loving.
I am so excited for Evan. I asked David yesterday if he wanted a brother, and he kept signing "Please"! It was so sweet!
Friday, April 20, 2012
David's 27 Month Milestones
-David is walking everywhere! He doesn't walk like a monkey anymore! His hands are more relaxed at his side now.
-David is an escape artist! He will climb over couches and maneuver through tight spaces to get out of his play room.
-David says "up"- he emphasizes this with a hand pump.
-David now does the sign for "water"
-David will pat my hand for "on" (not his own), he will hit my elbow for "cracker" (not his own), he will move my thumb to my chin for "mommy" and not do it to himself! The stinker! :-P
-David is starting to make the craziest words/noises with his tongue.
I have a video from our speech therapy visit. I'll post it soon. David says "ball" in the video. :-) Way to go! He hasn't said it since!
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Regarding the adoption, I am just waiting patiently for our appointment date, the latest I should know is May 2nd. That's coming up quickly! I'm so very excited to finally adopt our little boy!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Money Growing on Trees!
It's from my nurse friend, last year when we were doing the raffle. She dropped off her share of the raffle tickets one night when I wasn't home and I never saw the money, and didn't want to ask about it out of respect. Well she put the raffle tickets and money in separate bags in separate spots on the tree. Oh my!
Right now it's pretty moldly, wet, and stinky. But that's another $114 towards the adoption I previously didn't have! Thank you Lord for putting in our hearts today to do yard work! :-)
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Dossier Update/Fundraisers
My dossier will be submitted on April 12th! The Ukrainian government has 20 days to come up with an appointment date for us! So the time is drawing near to finally bring Evan home!
That also means the time is drawing near to come up with the last $10,000, and I am hoping to fundraise this amount!
Here is my last efforts and attempts to fundraise this:
**My friend Jessica is hosting a skincare/makeup party on April 24th, and we are trying to get the word out all over facebook for this event!
She will sell all of her products throughout the month of April with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Evan's adoption: https://www.amway.com/
**We are having another "Evan's MEGA Adoption Fundraiser Yard Sale" on April 28th and 29th! I have officially submitted our story to the local newstations and I am praying to get their help in spreading the word about our story and the yard sale. It would be amazing to see the community come together again in this event like the last time!
**Today and tomorrow I will be completing grant applications. That is the last thing I can think of for trying to fundraise the remaining amount.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to Evan's adoption this past year, and even to those who have contributed to Evan's fund- prior to us even committing to the adoption. The grants are such an amazing help to us. So thank you everyone indeed!
That also means the time is drawing near to come up with the last $10,000, and I am hoping to fundraise this amount!
Here is my last efforts and attempts to fundraise this:
**My friend Jessica is hosting a skincare/makeup party on April 24th, and we are trying to get the word out all over facebook for this event!
She will sell all of her products throughout the month of April with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Evan's adoption: https://www.amway.com/
**We are having another "Evan's MEGA Adoption Fundraiser Yard Sale" on April 28th and 29th! I have officially submitted our story to the local newstations and I am praying to get their help in spreading the word about our story and the yard sale. It would be amazing to see the community come together again in this event like the last time!
**Today and tomorrow I will be completing grant applications. That is the last thing I can think of for trying to fundraise the remaining amount.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to Evan's adoption this past year, and even to those who have contributed to Evan's fund- prior to us even committing to the adoption. The grants are such an amazing help to us. So thank you everyone indeed!
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