Oh what a journey we are on!!!!

First, I will say sorry that it took so long for me to post. We are just settleing in to what will hope to be a few promising weeks.



To begin with we traveled 30 hours to arrive in the Ukraine on Monday at 9pm. We were delayed in Atlanta for several hours, missed out conecting flight in JFK, only to have to take a flight from JFK to Paris and then on to the Ukraine. After some- well lots- of confussion with our "lost" luggage that was actually in the Ukraine before us, we finally arrived to our apartment in Kiev around 10:30 pm. Needless to say, it was a very long Sunday and Monday for us. We are happy, comfortable and doing well despite all of that.



I guess I could go on and on about what we are doing, the food and such, but I am sure you want me to get to the APPOINTMENT!!!!! It was a dreary, rainy and cool morning on Tuesday, our appointment was at 11. We decided to walk to the SDA with our translator since we had not had fresh air in two days. It was a nice walk, just few block on a cobblestone sidewalk. The air was damp, cool and crisp. It was calming. We arrived at the SDA and waited just few moments before going inside. While we were inside I heard these words "Are you Kristina's husband?" - I immedietly thought- OM, do I have a friend in the Ukraine???? And as I turned I saw a beautiful women with a warm smile. It was a new friend that I have meet thru our blogs. Heather Smith. She had her appointment on Monday. (Thanks for meeting us, Heather. It was the best surprise yet!) She gave me some quick advice before we were called upstairs for our appointment. The room was small, filled with desks and two couches and a small round table. Ed and I sat on one couch, the translator sat on another, and the pshycologist sat across from all of us. She was a pretty women(as most of the Ukrainian women are). She has long dark hair and a comforting smile. She let us say a few things about ourselves, I showed her the book I made for our daughter, and then the two women talked back and fourth. We sat there as she began to take files out. Files of sick little girls. AIDS, FAS, deep mental delays, small head(really, no joke, probably a sign of FAS). We were very discouraged UNTIL I put my two fingers on my check as a sign to Ed to pull out the "sisters" card. I spoke with our translator and told her that we would be willing to accept TWO healthy girls! SURPRISE!!! So, we are going to visit a 4 year old and a 6 1/2 year old. They are half sisters. One may have an issue that we will have to address, but it is too ealry to get into all of those details. I will not give out anymore information out until after we meet these girls on Friday. We are taking the train to Donets'k on Thursday. It is an overnight ride, and a two hour drive to the town once we get in the region. I will say that both girls are beautiful. One is dark hair, dark eyes- the 6yo and the 4yo is lighter hair and dark eyes. The pictures that we were shown were not recent, so they may look different when we see them. They both have sweet, engaging eyes. We smiled the moment that we saw the files. Our hearts are open to them. We hope and pray that they will be ours. Fingers crossed.



I hope that makes sense to everyone. I am a little off my game, but I am adjusting.



What happens now...........we will tarvel by train to the region. From there we will go to the town they are in. They are in two different orphanages, because of the age differnce. At that time we will meet with doctors, the directors and the care givers of the children. We will have a more detailed file about their history, family and medical. We are hoping that we will have the weekend to decide if we will accept the referrals and adopt the girls. I will let you all know AFTER we have talked with the boys.



My parents and the boys are all doing well. We talk to them everyday after school. We miss them terribly, but know that they are happy and doing great. My parents are doing fine also. Besides a few things with homework, everything seems to be going well. Thanks Mom and Dad! We can't say it enough how thankful we are that you are helping us. You are making this all possible for us! Thanks! We love you.



Here are just a few pictures that we have taken thus far........


Me- somewhere in the Ukraine..... Our kitchen.........SUPA fancy!! :)





Ed- chillin' on the couch in his new hat and a picture of St. Michael's Church







We will post better pictures tomorrow- or as soon as possible. The weather has not been great. Rain, clouds and cool, the the pictures are not good that we took.


OK- that is all for tonight. I will post again- if we have connection.


One small request...please continue to pray for us and these two little girls that we hope will be as perfect for our family as we hope. And, if I may, please pray for my friend Heather. She is hear without her husband and hoping to adopt twins. She is facing a battle of her own. She needs as much support and prayers as possible. Thanks for all the love! We feel it way out here in the Ukraine.

Don't forget to comment on the blog- internet costs a lot, so the faster I can get on and off, the better!!! :)


Happy Birthday, Grandma Tilly!

Ed says "Hello" to everyone! :)


All our love- Kristina and Ed