Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Day 29

Hi everyone.  I know it has been a few days since my last post.  I'm sorry.  Honestly, I have been struggling with what to write.  Rarely do I have little to say, but I feel the Lord telling me to be still... be quiet... and lean on only a few right now.  There are so many amazing and wonderful things to share but they are often overshadowed by discouragement, disappointment, talk of further delays, and an overall ache to be back home with my family.  I sure miss them, that the thought of even talking to them  right now would probably have me crying buckets.  Yet, I still can't wait to hear their voices and better yet. . .  see their faces.

We are in our 10 day wait and the thought of being home around June 30th has been a beacon of light at the end of this tunnel.  It has been my hope that we would all be together in another week or so.
Yesterday, I learned of an upcoming holiday that will delay things a week, unless certain things happen.  I won't elaborate, but I will ask for prayer that the Lord works on the hearts of the people who will help with Nolan and Oliver's birth certificates.  Please pray with me.
I will also add that funds are really tight here.  We are having to spend more than I imagined, and that is above and beyond the nice cushion I brought.  I hope to figure out how to withdraw money from a bank and to find one with the lowest fees. 

But enough time spent on worrying about tomorrow.  Let me share about our last few days.

 On Sunday we stayed home.  The babyhouse seems to be on lockdown during the weekend so we decided to have a down day.  We washed some clothes and watched a few movies on youtube.
We watched Believe in Me, Cutback, and The Wish List.  Actually we watched one of those the previous day but I still wanted to mention it.

On Monday we visited the boys.  Nolan is behaving much better now, although he did throw sand.  But he is also a kid. . . an excited kid, and a boy so I didn't make too big of a deal out of it.  
Nolan always manages to end up with a few pieces of candy.  I don't know if it is because he is a favorite or if the caretakers are handing it to him with the expectation that he behaves for us.  Either way, it doesn't hurt anything.  He does end up with sticky hands, but I bought some wet wipes for 1 grivna.  

After an hour, I had to take Oliver back up to his room to eat.  It was Malto Meal type kasha again with a little brown spoonful of who knows what.  After guessing it was pureed meat or bulgar I finally asked.  It was mush made from "pachenya" which is a biscuit cookie.  As I fed Oliver, another caretaker began to feed another little boy.  In order to shovel it in faster, the caretaker pushed his head back against the blanketed back of the chair.  This method was not something I would use, but it certainly worked.  I think that kiddo broke a new world's record as fastest eater! 

Sorry, I do not mean to make light of the situation as I find it very sad that these kids are not talked to, played with, or encouraged to feed themselves, but what else is there for me to do.  I tried to talk and play with Oliver as I fed him so they could see from example how much more pleasurable feeding time can be for these babies, but at the same time I tried not to go overboard as to have my feeding duties taken away.

I saw two new babies in the groupa.  One little boy looks very sickly with purple fingertips so I assumed that he was at the hospital receiving treatment and had just gotten back.  The other baby is a little girl with DS who was born in September.  Both of them are cuties!

After I tucked Oliver in his bed, I went over to comfort two other little babies who were still waiting to be fed.  Amazing what just a touch of the hand will do.  I was with the other babies long enough for Oliver to fall asleep.  As I left the room I saw him sweetly sleeping with his chubby little legs hanging out through the bars.

That afternoon we went to another missionary friends' home outside the city.  I was not sure what to expect but Rachel and I were excited to be around other Americans.  The family has twelve kids with five still at home so I knew we would have something in common.  The family actually has a team of four from the states with them for another week, plus a Peace Corp volunteer so it was quite the party.  These missionaries have been here for 7 years.  The gave me a tour of their home which they built to American standards as close as possible so when other Americans come here they can have the comforts of home.  After being here for nearly 4 weeks, I have to admit that I found comfort in flushing my toilet paper.

We had barbecued chicken, pickled red tomatoes, freshly picked berries, tomato juice, summer salads, and stewed sweet peppers.  I ate raw garlic and onion fresh from the garden.  It was all very delicious. A neighbor came over and joined the party and later took me for a tour of his garden.  I ate gooseberries for the first time and boy were they yummy!

The two oldest boys reminded me of Adam and Caleb, and their little 5 year old girl made me think of Dennis.  It felt as close to home away from home as possible.

We were having such a good time that it was after 10pm before I looked at my watch.  We ended up spending the night.

The next day we rode a marshootka back into town with their oldest son Tim who still lives at home.  It was sad to leave, but what a huge blessing it was to get that time with them.  They filled up our emotional tank and gave us a break from the normal day to day activities.  

The next day we went to the open market.  I wanted to buy a bag to carry our things home.  When I asked the old babooshka who was selling them how much they were, I was surprised when she said three grivna.  I was very thankful and actually tried to offer her an extra grivna.  She asked, "What is this?" and seemed genuinely offended that I was offering her charity.  I was apologetic but at the same time I tried to show my appreciation for her and her honesty and hard work.  I guess love needs no spoken language because she understood my heart and gave me a great big hug and a kiss!  It was wild.
But she never did take that grivna.
As I walked away, I felt certain that we had both blessed each other. 

At the end of today's visit, Nolan did not want us to leave.  He did not want to go back to his groupa.  He did not cry, but he shook his head no to us leaving.  Finally with the promise to be back tomorrow, he waved to us good bye.

Oliver continues to have a snot nose and sounds congested.  I hope it is just allergies.  I seem to be more accepted by the caretakers since I have began showing them the photo album I brought.  Maybe this Mom of 17 actually knows something about taking care of a baby. :)

On the walk to the bus stop, I saw a man touching up the paint on his car with a bottle of nail polish.  Nice.



16 comments:

  1. I cannot imagine how hard this must be. But I will pray that everything moves quickly and you can get home with those boys. Hugs

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  2. Thank you for updating. It felt as if I was there. I guess the wonderful feeling is that you will not leave the country without Nolan and Oliver. I miss that part of adopting there. Hugs

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  3. I have been reading for a while and have commented a couple of times. I am praying that everything will work out! I am getting married on June 30th and I pray that you will be home to celebrate with your family by then! I love following your adoption journeys!

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  4. I have been watching for your updates. I know how hard it can be to be separated from your other children. But it is not forever. One day soon you will all be home together. Praying for you <3

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  5. As you know, I'm the last person to talk to for SYMPATHY....you know how I loved being in Russia and dreaded,almost, coming home. BUT, money worries are not fun, for sure. When something similar happened to me, on the trip for Ilya, we spent an afternoon sorting it out. I will never forget going from person to person asking "Gdye Sberbank?" I even approached a policeman, assuring Ilya that is what police are for. Well, I am not exactly sure that IS what they are for! He was certainly surprised to be spoken to! But, in retrospect, "the Search for Sberbank" is one of our most memorable adventures (I'm forgetting that my stomach was turned in fear lest somehow I couldn't withdraw the needed funds there.) Alls well that ends well, though. I hope the same for you (well....a much easier time finding the right bank!)

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  6. We had a very similar situation on our first adoption. Our 10 day wait ended just after Christmas and we encountered holiday closure probs with getting birth certs etc. Pray, pray, pray! God is for you not against you. On the day we headed out to get stuff done we encountered many roadblocks and felt very discouraged. It was a Friday. We sent out tons of prayer requests to friends, family, and church back home over the weekend. On Monday we went to the 1st Birth cert office (we adopted kids from 2 diff orphanages). It was closed for holiday....but there was a woman in there working anyway, and she did our paperwork! Then we headed to the next town for the next BC ofc. It was closed...but there was a woman in there working and she did our paperwork! Then on the way back to Kiev (we stayed in Kiev region) we needed a notary but none of them wanted the additional work for the day. We stopped at a few, and finally I started crying in the car. I just wanted to go home. We had been there through Christmas with all our bio kids at home without us. Our facilitator began to cry too and those tears made a difference with the next notary. We had the same experience at the passport ofc. It was closed, but there was a woman who just happened to be working. We had our passports the next day. I know I experienced miracles and maybe an angel or too! I'll be praying that God will move mountains for you too. For that adoption we were in country for 6 weeks. It's so hard, I know. I'll be praying!
    Sandra

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  7. I'm glad you posted an update. I missed not hearing from you. This long time away is obviously wearing you down. Some times it's difficult to be strong. I will pray for strength for you, along with the other things you've mentioned. I have read your blog since the time you adopted Dennis, but I've never commented. It's inspiring to hear the ups and the downs. The is a light at the end of tunnel, but sometimes that tunnel seems so long. Hang in there!

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  8. I know this is hard. Trying to stay on a budget in a strange country away from your family makes you wonder if it will EVER be over. I'm praying for things to go smoothly and quickly.

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  9. I'm with Jenny. At least you don't have to come back without them. That would be so hard. Hoping finances can work out.

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  10. Oh man, I know the waiting is so hard. Praying for you guys! You'll be home before you know it and it will be all worth it! xoxo

    Amy

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  11. I have been reading your blog for some time but never commented. I feel moved to contribute to help meet your unexpected expenses...hoping every little bit helps. If I use the donate button will you be able to access it, or do you need a contribution some other way?

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  12. Sorry for your long wait. OH, how I know that feeling of being so far away and wanting to be home!!! I am getting ready to take Bryson back to Philly and afraid we are going to have to stay a while for therapy and I am already pouting!!! I feel for you.

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  13. I can't imagine how hard it is for you to be away and discouragement is probably an understatement at all your delays! We are keeping you in our prayers. We saw some of the kids at Ignite tonight and they were in good spirits! Sveta always has such a sweet JOY about her that just bubbles out of her!!!! She always manages to tell me how pretty I am! She is so energetic and I just love that girl! (I love all the girls, but she just has recently been bringing a BIG smile to my face!!!) Anyway...love reading about your good and bad days! Thanks for being real! Let's me know what to pray for more specifically!

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  14. Bless your heart! Check your yahoo mail, Christine, for a VERY important email from me. God is in control. I love you and am faithfully praying over you and Rachel, Nolan and Oliver. Hugs, Elaine

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  15. Aw, Christine, you sound homesick and that is very understandable....HUGS.....Just remember that this time will come to an end, and soon you will be home with all your kiddos, back to smile and trails...with 2 lil new ones to love...: )

    I think its an awesome sign Nolan did NOT want to go back to his groupa....YAY!

    Hang in there...I will be praying for you all...
    HUgs, Gina

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  16. Silly question and maybe you already answered this...how does a grivna compare to dollars? Karen

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Thanks for taking the time to comment! Blessings!