Family Fun

My plan with this blog is to update weekly...ha ha...easier said than done! Life is so busy and full that I just don't get to everything. I've stumbled upon a plan of success recently though. I begin my day with a list of things I'd like to or need to accomplish, then I give it to the Lord and ask Him to accomplish what is on His list instead. Amazingly, when I remember to do this, my days are much less overwhelming and much more productive.

We've had some fun family times since my last post too. Sierra turned 15 in November! I just can't believe it. We also attended a bridal shower for my nephew's bride-to-be. Now we're mid-way into December and Christmas preparations are upon us. Our tree is up, the house is decorated, cookies are baking, and there's a whole lotta shopping going on! This week will be the last week of school for us (another advantage of homeschooling). So the week before Christmas we can enjoy the season while getting all the last minute things done.

Toilet Paper Brides

Sierra & Gracie (victims of a bridal shower game)!

Some Flach Girls

Sierra & Missy with Grammy Flach

The Birthday Girl

Mr. Slava

This picture cracks me up!

Wayne took pics of the boys in his Royal Ranger class for a craft project, and this was Slava's pose!

This week is shaping up to be a marathon week: Jordan has a doctor's appt, piano lesson, church ladies' Christmas party, Royal Rangers/Missionettes' Christmas parties, Christmas shopping with Curtis, attending a play with the kids, a hair appt, a birthday-movie-date with Sierra, and the last week of school until January!!! Tis the season to be jolly! But after this week things will slow down and we will snuggle in and enjoy the celebration of Christ's birth with our family!

It's November 22nd Already!?!

It amazes me that it's been a month since my last post. Life has been incredibly busy and just when I finally said "enough" I look at the calendar and realize that it's Thanksgiving, Sierra's birthday, and the Christmas season! Well, maybe I'll take it break in January!

October flew by and we finished it up with a trip to New York City for a David Crowder Band concert. Wayne & I went with Sierra, Andrii, Wayne Jr. & Kerri, Missy, Curtis, Aaron & Becky (Wayne's bro/sis-in-law), and Linda & Shannon (Kerri's mom & sister). The weather was wet and cold, but we had a great time. We saw the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at Discovery Channel, ate at Pete's Tavern, and enjoyed the show. The next day I came down with a cold which ended up as the flu. It was a rough week especially since our homeschool group hosted an art camp for 50 kids that I had organized. I'm so very thankful for the moms in our group who really took care of things while I was out of it sick. That same week I'd planned an evening of facials for my Missionette class. My sister-in-law, Bree, came in to teach my 13 5th-7th grade girls about skin care while I was flat out on the couch at home still sick. God was very faithful to take care of things during a very busy week.

This week I've been feeling very sentimental. On this very day last year we picked up Slava from his orphanage in Ukraine. The whole month I've been revisiting my journal where I'd documented our adoption adventure last year. God is faithful and amazing; He has done (and continues to do) amazing things in Slava. He has grown into such a loving, cuddly, little boy. He walks around all day saying, "I love you," "I love God." I make sure he knows that we love him and God loves him. He's still a lot of work, but I wouldn't trade him or our experience for anything. November also happens to be National Adoption Awareness Month and our church celebrated Orphan Sunday on the 6th. Wayne & I have become members of Christian Alliance For Orphans which works to inspire, connect and equip Christians to "defend the fatherless" through effective adoption, foster care, and global ministry rooted in the local church. I encourage you to check them out at www.christianalliancefor orphans.org

Yet again I loaded the pictures on backwards, so they start with the most recent ones.

Here are a bunch of the kids at my niece's wedding last Saturday. From l to r around the table: Missy, Jonathan, Sierra, Andrii, Curtis, Julie, Kerri, Wayne Jr., Shane, and Jed. Not all ours but mostly!

Homeschool Art Camp with Visual Manna

My precious Missionettes class.

I love teaching these girls!

NYC!!!

The weather was so cold and wet that we decided to hail a cab (or 3) to take us the 20 or so blocks to the concert. Amazingly, a limo pulled up and said he'd take all 13 of us for $100...he even made our dinner reservations for us. It was so much fun that we called him back after the concert. He picked us up and took us all the way back to Grand Central Station!

This week I've been savoring the Thanksgiving holiday. Last year we arrived home from Ukraine just after 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. My mom had made dinner for us at our house and it was wonderful to come home to that delicious American meal after 4 weeks in a foreign country. This year I'm in the kitchen again, and I'm loving the shopping, baking, and cooking...especially with all my Ukrainians running around the house! God is so good, and I'm so thankful for all the abundant blessings He's poured out on my family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Women's Retreat, Field Trip, & Life

Oct 14th-16th I got to go on our church's annual women's retreat. This year it was up in Schroon Lake, NY, and I was thrilled to go. Last year was the first time I'd ever missed a retreat, but I had a pretty good excuse because I was in Ukraine for Slava's adoption. This year about 30 women converged on the Silver Spruce Inn for some fellowship, fun, and awesome teaching. Carol and Jocelyn Heneghan shared on God's love, how to receive it, live it by dying to self, and give it to a needy world.

Saturday morning a bunch of us hiked up a mountain for a few of Schroon Lake. Here I am with some of my hiking buddies:

L to R: Shannon, me, Catherine, Sandy, & Gabrielle

Kerri & Shannon strolling outside of the Silver Spruce.

Nothing brings you back to reality like a home school field trip. More than 50 of us converged on Conbeer's organic farm in Fonda, NY this past week. The kids enjoyed a hayride, hay maze, wagon train, a corn maze, a sunflower hunt, a petting zoo, and cider & donuts.

Slava feeding a goat, another first for Slava!

It was a fun, fall experience, and the weather cooperated - we were freezing!

October is certainly topping September's busy-ness. Lately I'm feeling like I just can't cross all my "t's" or dot all my "i's." Last week at a glance:

Mon: school, Tues: school, piano lesson, Bible study, Wed.: school, prep for church, fife/drum/flagging & Missionettes and Royal Rangers, Thurs.: dentist appt, school, help parents move, Fri.: field trip, lunch at Panera Bread :), grocery shop for birthday party, Sat: cook, clean, party, clean up, Sun: church, help parents move. And on top of all the daily stuff, I'm working on an art camp for our homeschool group, an adoption message for church, and did I mention moving my parents? A glance at my calendar reveals the next 8 days straight are just as busy. Please don't even mention there are only 63 shopping days until Christmas!

Yet again I could not put everything in 1 post, so please scroll down and check out Slava & Anna's birthday party post. It amazes me that exactly 1 year ago we travelled to Ukraine to bring home Slava. That little boy who, a year ago, didn't like hugs or kisses now pounces into my bed in the morning declaring, "Ooo, Mama warm" and "I love cuddle." His latest obsession, asking me 100x a day, "Why Jesus die on the cross?" "Big cross or little cross?" "Why bad guys hit him?" I do my best to answer each question, "Because Jesus loves Slava." That seems to satisfy him for about 5 seconds, then he asks, "Why Jesus die on the cross?" His bedtime prayer: "Thank you, Jesus, for the food and Jesus, and God, and Lord. Amen." Priceless!!!!

Happy Birthday Slava & Anna!

On Sunday we celebrated Slava's 6th & Anna's 12th birthdays. For Slava it was like his very first birthday ever since birthdays go by pretty much unnoticed in an orphanage. He was so excited!

Here he opened his present from Missy, slippers! He was thrilled. He loves slippers. Missy commented how cool it was that he'd worn them to church this morning...something I hadn't noticed until she pointed it out!
Here Anna is surrounded by her friends relishing the special day. We got her a portable dvd player which she'd asked for. She loves movies!
Uncle Aaron & Aunt Becky got Slava this power tool. He loves tools. I wish I'd gotten a pic of him with the Thor hammer that Curtis got him. It's a giant foam-rubber hammer, exactly what this little guy loves. He went to bed that night with his new flash light. hammer, and drill. He's one happy little guy.
Slava with his first ever birthday cake. I made 2 ice cream cakes, one for him and one for Anna. He loved it when we sang "Happy Birthday" which he yelled at the top of his lungs. Surrounded by friends and family, both Anna & Slava had a very good day.

I'm feeling a bit sentimental since exactly 1 year to the day (Oct 23rd) we had just arrived in Ukraine for Slava's adoption. The 24th marks our appointment day and very first visit with him in the orphanage. That very difficult little boy has grown into a very loving, cuddly, and much loved little boy. God is so good!

I've got so much more to post, but yet again I've got to break it up into 2 or even 3 posts. The days and weeks are so busy that I just can't always get to it, but I'm committed to keeping you all updated on our shenanigans.

Autumn Amusements

This is my favorite time of the year. The foliage, the apples, school, the crispness in the air...ah make that mosquitoes in the air. Anyway, I love it! But it doesn't matter what time of the year it is it always seems like a busy season around here.

A couple weeks ago Sierra forced me to go bowling with a bunch of her friends. I in turn forced my daughter-in-law to join me for back-up. We really did have a good time though...all 10 of us!

Slava lost his very first baby tooth. He had no idea what was going on and was upset with the fact that his tooth was loose. Thanks to big brother Andrii, it came out in one swift pull. We had to explain that it was ok and now he'll get a big boy tooth in its place.
Missy and Slava had some fun playing in the leaves. She kept throwing them on the trampoline and he kept bouncing through them. The trampoline is a great tool for burning off Slava's steam. However, I think we'll need to be purchasing a new one since the springs have been literally popping off.
Looking through my kitchen window I can view my favorite tree all dressed up for autumn. Andrii captured this picture for me.
Tonight Wayne & I are headed out for a "date night" which are few and far between these days. So when he mentioned that he'd like to see the new Courageous movie, and since men's Bible study is cancelled for tonight, I seized the opportunity. I'm also looking forward to this weekend for our annual women's retreat. About 30 of us are heading up to the Silver Spruce Inn in Schroon Lake. I can't wait! I missed the retreat last year because of our Ukraine trip to get Slava. I cannot believe it's been almost a year. Sometimes I find my sentimental self reflecting back at what we were doing this time last year. I even find myself missing Ukraine.

I'll be sure to bring my camera so I can share some pics of the retreat. Until then, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to read about mine!

September Here and Gone! Part 1

I cannot believe so many weeks have gone by since my last post. August went and September sprang upon us with a full calendar! We started school on Wednesday the 6th. Slava still makes things interesting and each of the kids takes a little time during the morning to play with him. Now he sits up at the school table and asks to do "schoom" which is a blend of the 2 words school and room. He actually does sit for quite some time as long as I engage him with some activities. We are presently focusing on recognizing numbers 1-10. He can count, but he doesn't really know which number is which. We also do a lot of hands on educational activities with him. Thankfully, Kerri has resumed coming 2 mornings a week to work and play with him.

We also started our Wednesday night church programs last week. I'm teaching Missionettes and have 13 lovely girls (grades 5-7) in my class. The only way I'm able to teach this year is because Wayne switched his Royal Rangers class. He used to team-teach the teenage boys class, but now he's partnered with the teacher in the little guys class. The reason for the switch is so we could put Slava in Royal Rangers too. He's old enough to join, but not quite ready to fly solo...I wouldn't wish that on any teacher! He did really well his first class. The only hitch is getting him to sleep at night since he's up much later than normal and overtired. And believe me, he does NOT sleep in to make up for it the next morning!

Royal Ranger Slava

September means apple picking! Wayne insists on going every year (I think he has more fun then the kids)! It was Slava's first time and he had a blast.

Slava & Jordan

I wanted Slava to pick a pumpkin. It was the first time he'd ever seen one. We had the kids sit on some for the pictures. Then Anna, Jordan & Slava picked out their own. When we got home Wayne put them on the steps outside. Slava walked into the kitchen and asked, "Where's my seat?" I guess he thought pumpkins are for sitting on!

Sierra, Slava, & Anna

Youth Group resumed at church also. They kicked it off with a youth retreat to Mt. Snow, Vt. Eric & Ginny Hanson (visiting from Cambodia) did teachings on the Holy Spirit throughout the weekend. Sierra, Andrii, & Kerri (youth leader) are among the kids in this pic. Wayne Jr.(youth leader) & Curtis rode up with some others after work that Friday evening.
This was only the first half of September. I posted the rest in a Part 2 post, so please be sure to scroll down and read that one too. Other things going on...I started running for exercise and now I'm addicted. I finally got tired of being so exhausted by 3pm that I needed coffee to get me through until it was time to make dinner. And the thought of making dinner, cleaning up, and doing bedtime with the little kids just seemed unbearable some days. Running makes me feel so much more energetic (I'm hoping to lose some weight too). I started off briskly walking our road (round trip is 2 miles), then I worked up to walking/running in 2min/30 sec intervals. My friend, Lauri, and I started doing it together with another friend, Kristi, who is our coach. Kristi's a beast, but now we're up to walking/running 1 minute intervals each. Kristi works with us 3 days each week and we fill in the other days on our own. I've been going everyday, it's a great stress reducer too.

Well, it's time to run. It's Tuesday night and I'm off to women's Bible study. We just started a study on Jonah-Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. One of my favorite things to do is study the Word of God with a bunch of women! Actually it's a better stress reducer then running!

September Here and Gone! Part 2

It amazes me that our "baby boy" turned 22 this month! We had a small family party with all of us, both sets of grandparents, Wayne's in-laws, and a few others. Ok, small means like 30 people! We had a yummy dinner and Kerri made this delicious homemade chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting - to die for.

Wayne Jr., Sierra, & Slava

My precious niece, Jessica, is getting married in November. We enjoyed a beautiful bridal shower last Sunday given by her bridal party.

Sierra, Jessica, & cousin Alexis

Tis the season for baking apple pie. We went apple picking (as seen above) and Sierra baked her very first apple pie all by herself. Her mother was out running...yes, I said running. And when I returned the pie was in the oven. I only had a spoonful to taste it and it was delish!

Slava has made great progress lately. Here he's playing Candy Land with Curtis. He's really good at it too. He knows his colors and understands the concept of the game.
Thank you for following my blog. I should be back up to posting weekly now that we're in a routine for school. Actually October is shaping up to be a very busy month to, but I promise to keep you all posted on the Lord's faithfulness and goodness to our family.

A Very Busy Summer Comes To A Close

I guess it's either feast or famine with my blogging! As most of you may know, Sierra made it home safe and sound from Cambodia. She had an awesome time and is already talking about going again next year! We spent the rest of August celebrating Jordan's 8th birthday, going to camp, and getting ready for school. Our school room was a catch-all over the summer and I had to wade through a mountain of stuff just to find the school books. Organizing, typing lesson plans, setting up curriculum, etc have been the order of most of my days. We will officially begin school on Sept 7th, but of course when you homeschool everyday is a learning opportunity.

Here Slava & Jordan look on as their big brother, Wayne Jr., pours a concrete sidewalk. Oh how they loved watching the cement truck send the wet cement down the chute and into the forms.
My Ukrainian kids LOVE sunflower seeds. Anna planted her own seeds and grew these 2 huge sunflowers all by herself. Presently she's attempting to dry them so she can harvest the seeds to eat.
This is the gang at Enchanted Forest-Water Safari in Old Forge, NY. I took our younger kids and my good friend Lauri came up with her younger kids for our annual trip to the water park. From l to r: Luci, Anna, Slava, Mary, Andrii (sitting) Sierra, Ezra, and Jordan. I think you can figure out which one is Paul Bunyan!
HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY, JORDAN!!! We had a small party of about 40 people to celebrate. I say "small" because it was just family and some special friends! Jordan was very blessed. I can't wait to celebrate Slava's birthday in October. He will turn 6, but it will be his very first birthday party ever! He can already sing "Happy Birthday To You"!

It amazes me that Jordan is now 8 years old. He's still quite small for his age. In fact, he had an appointment with the Pediatric Endocrinologist at Albany Med in mid August. I was really praying about this because the concern is that he has Growth Hormone Deficiency which requires Growth Hormone Therapy (daily injections). I'm praying for the LORD's mercy and compassion on him. He has enough going on, I don't want to add that on top of it. The appointment went very well and stress free. Basically the Dr. got a base line of height, weight, blood work, and the hand x-ray. She wants to see him again in February to see if he's grown. Ideally he should grow 1 inch in that time...I'm praying he grows at least that...maybe even 2!

Well, that's it for our August. We fared very well with Hurricane Irene. We didn't even lose power, but we did gain my parents for a few days while their's was out. We ate lots of food and played lots of Yahtzee. The Lord has been very good to us! Thank you, Jesus!

Another Cambodia Post - week 2

I just couldn't resist posting for a 2nd time today! These pics just came up on facebook via Eric again. They had 300 children come to VBS out in Saang province!

Sierra in her banana suit

Some of the kids at VBS

They might just be having too much fun!

front l to r: Liz, Katie, Jocelyn, Sierra, Abby

back l to r: Kerri & Sue

If only I could bring this one home...

Shhhhh...don't tell my Mom, but I'm thinking Wayne and I should go on the mission field in Cambodia. We could build a big house out in the province and take in a hundred orphans and raise them up for the Lord. Just sayin'.

Cambodia - Week 2

Oh how I am missing my girls! This last week in Cambodia is going by fast for them. They are busy doing VBS out in Saang province and helping the girls in the Sak Saum ministry. Sak Saum means "dignity" in the Khmer language and the ministry rescues girls at risk for human trafficking (or who have been formerly victims of this horrendous act). Ginny ministers to these girls, builds relationships with them, and teaches them a trade (sewing absolutely gorgeous hand bags). Not to boast, but I only use Sak Saum bags.

Here my beautiful daughter-in-law Kerri holds up a bag.

The team with the Sak Saum family.

In the bottom row on the left first is Emily (from our church now full time with IHSI) with Sierra next to her.

Here the team is in the mix helping with some sewing. Sierra is standing far right. Ginny is standing far left.

Sierra sent me another email which I will post below. It made me laugh out loud! They are all doing well and I can't wait to see them late Monday night.

Sierra:

Flach Industries Blue??? Hmmmmmm. We'll have to see. I'm really confused with the time change but I think it's thurs. morning there so you should get this before you leave. Is the flooring done..and if so how does it look? I find myself missing the Cole Sla and all the Kids....So tell them I Love them with the heat of a million burning suns. I haven't seen any pictures yet because facebook is slow so I hope they make me look good. English class is super hilarious because the guy I teach with, Sokra, doesn't talk very much and were like complete opposites....so it's hilarious. And I think i'm a little taller than him. He remembers Curtis and Sokra and Sopheak wear there 'Flach Industries' hats almost everyday. When we were playing Dutch Blitz with some of the kids one girl told me I looked like Curtis...so. I have Like twenty nicknames...I have all my stuff in a pile in this little closet like place and Kerri and Shannon (whom I room with) call it my "Rat Hole", when I play Volleyball I tend to his the ceiling of the pavilion or hit it out into the Sugarcane fields so Jocelyn calls me 'Destructo", and no one can say 'Sierra' because in Khmer it phonetically doesn't exist so I began to announce myself as CC which, in Khmer, is a not nice way of saying 'Eat' so all the little kids love saying, "Hi, CC" then run away laughing. They love the Banana suit as well so...have fun at camp tell everyone I said hi....love you guys To translate a bit "flach industries blue" is what the color we painted her walls looks like. "Cole Sla" is a nickname we have for Slava. Curtis and Wayne Jr. brought over some Flach Industries baseball caps a couple years ago...and it sounds like Curtis is well known over there? Sierra does look like him. "Rat Hole" & "Destructo" are totally accurate adjectives to describe her. We got her a banana suit to wear for the VBS as they are teaching the fruit of the Spirit. The LORD is so faithful. I can't wait to hear all the stories and testimonies when they return! Wayne Jr. is finishing up her room today. I can't wait to move all her furniture out of my school room and back into her room. Then it will be time to begin deep cleaning and organizing our school room. School starts in a few weeks after all!

GCCC Cambodia Team 2011

Liz, Katie, Sierra, Kerri, Shannon, Abby, Jocelyn, Victoria, and Sue.

We've survived the first week with Sierra away in Cambodia. Though we haven't heard from her much because they're very busy and don't get much opportunity to visit the internet cafe. She has left some little notes on facebook, and Eric has put up some pics so I decided to share this one with you. Today I got this email from her:

Hey, sorry I haven't emailed....I've had really bad luck with the internet cafe computers shutting down on me. So it's 8:10 PM here and we just got back from an amusement park with the kids and staff from the foundation center. Were going out to Saang tomorrow for a staff meeting and hanging with the Sak Saum girls i believe then.....my favorite thing in the world...English Class. It's simply the best. The food is actually really good. The Pork and Rice in the market I could eat every day....the Pork and Rice in the Province, however, is not quite so good. Wed. Thur. and Fri. were doing VBS and English Class every day then Saturday we go to the market and the Love Feast. Sund. we leave. I don't want to tell you any stories just yet but I will say I have not thrown up or had Diahrrea once. What's the progress on my room and what's been going on???? Anyway See you soon,

Love,

Sierra

I know she'd love teaching English. It's her favorite subject: reading, writing, etc. I can't wait to hear all the stories too. She's alot like her mom, very detail oriented! The first Sunday back (Aug 21st) the whole team will share about their experience during church at GCCC. If anyone is interested church starts at 10:30am!

We've been keeping busy while she's gone. Anna and I have split up Sierra's chores, and Wayne Jr. came today to begin painting her room and putting in the new floor. I'll post again in the next few days with more pics and goings on from around here.

Cambodia Bound

This morning Sierra and I were up at 2:30am (yes, a.m. as in morning) and we were greeted by my dad in our kitchen with his cup of coffee already in hand. We had to be at our church at 3am for the beginning of their amazing adventure to Cambodia.

GCCC Cambodia Team 2011

The Team from l to r: Victoria, Kerri, Liz, Sue, Katie, Jocelyn, Abby, and Shannon & Sierra in front.

Sierra & Kerri at Albany Intl Airport 4:30a.m.

What do you expect? It's 4:30am!

The plane left Albany at 6am headed for Atlanta where they have a 4 hour layover. They leave Atlanta at 1pm (8/1) flying on Korean Air flight KE036 and arrive in Seoul, Korea Incheon Intl at 4:40pm. Don't let the arrival time fool you. They will be in the air over 15 hours! They depart Korea at 6:40pm on Tuesday 8/2 on Korean Air flight KE689 and arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at 10:05pm. I included the flight details in case you'd like to track their flights on Flightaware.com. I will be glued to my computer!

I am excited for the whole team and a bit jealous too. About 6 years ago Wayne and Wayne Jr. went to Cambodia with a team from our church. Three years ago Curtis and my dad went with a team and 2 years ago Wayne Jr. and Curtis both went again. This year Sierra felt like it was time for her to make the trip. My daughter-in-law Kerri and her sister Shannon are making the trip for the first time too. Their fearless leader, Jocelyn, will be making it her 10th trip there!

The team will be working with In His Steps International which was founded and is led by a family from our church, Eric & Ginny Hanson. The Hansons began going to Cambodia part-time in 1996 and moved there full time in 2004. A young woman, Emily Sok, also from our church is there full time as well. Emily married a young man, Solomon, who is part of IHSI as well and now they are expecting their first baby. IHSI is passionate about transforming lives spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, economically, and socially through Jesus Christ. To learn more about exactly what they do and to see some awesome pictures of their ministry in Cambodia you can visit them on facebook at "In His Steps International" and/or check out their awesome website: http://www.ihsionline.org

Sierra just called to say they arrived safely in Atlanta. I'll keep the blog updated. Please keep Sierra, Kerri, and the whole team in prayer. They will be there for 2 weeks arriving home on 8/15.

Crazy Days of Summer

Well, the days have been hazy and crazy but they are no where near lazy around here. It has been a while since my last post only because things have been so busy that I don't get anywhere near my computer these days. There are only 6 weeks left to summer vacation and I've barely accomplished anything on my summer goal list. So what have we been up too?

Wayne decided that it was time to put Andrii on a bigger dirt bike (husbands are just big kids on the inside). On their first ride to the shale-pit he slid and cut his arm open. I nominated Wayne to make the trip to Emurgent-care since I'd already spent 3 days in the hospital with Jordan. He willingly complied and 3 hours later they returned with 12 stitches in Andrii's arm....just in time for his week of paintball camp at Camp Pinnacle!

Andrii & his new dirt bike.

(No, that is not Skeletor in the background, it's Slava!)

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY, MISSY!!!

Missy turned 21 on the 15th, so we had a family party for her. She has enrolled at the Orlo School of Hair Design and begins classes August 1st.

Jordan & Slava

The kids all pitched in and gave me a gift card to Picture People for my birthday. We had family portraits taken last week. I think they came out great. Slava did really well. He's actually a little ham!
Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! Psalm 127:3-5 NLT

We've also been doing the Matthew Project again this summer. Our kids love volunteering weekly at Grace Covenant Church making sandwiches, packing lunches, and delivering them to kids in our community. I was very blessed to go to hear Joyce Meyer in Albany on Thursday night with my daughter-in-law, her mom, and my pastor's wife, Mary. We had a wonderful evening out and the message was excellent.

Jordan is healing up nicely from surgery, but we did have a bit of a scare Friday night. Upon changing the bandages we noticed a lump to the right of his incision. We hadn't noticed it before, and although it didn't hurt him we were concerned. I took his temperature and it was 100.2 so off to the ER we went (praying all the way). Infection is a serious concern since he's had so many surgeries in the same spot and so many more ahead of him. Scar tissue is more susceptible to infection. I have Shanti's cell phone # (Dr. Carl's assistant) she called Dr. Carl immediately and one of his residents found us in the ER. The lump turned out to be "hardware" basically the bottom of the new, longer rod. The low-grade fever was most likely due to a slight sunburn. They sent us home with antibiotics "just in case" and we'll be seeing Dr. Carl this week to follow up. Phew! Thank you, LORD!

This week Anna is enjoying Horse Camp at a local horse farm where she takes bi-weekly lessons. She goes each day from 9am to 2pm and she's loving it. It's also a big prep week for Sierra since she leaves for Cambodia in 1 week! There has been so much going on and I'm sure I've missed a few things, but that's all I can think of for now. I will update again soon. For now, here's another Psalm. I've been reading through them this summer and loving it...again!

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Jordan's Surgery

On Monday Jordan had another surgery. This time he had one rod extended and one rod replaced. His surgeon, Dr. Carl, was pleased with how well it all went. While in surgery, though, there was a discussion about Jordan's small size. Dr. Carl decided to take an x-ray of Jordan's hand so his bones could be measured. As it turns out, Jordan's bones measure that of a 4 or 5 year old.....next month he turns 8! We now have to make an appointment with a pediatric endocrinologist.

Jordan - PostOp

We spent 2 nights in the hospital because his doctor wanted to make sure that all the fluid drained out of the surgical site. Tuesday morning he was ready and raring to go, but since we had to stay he made use of his time entertaining the hospital staff on D7n.
In the above pic Jordan is riding ON his IV cart (he was hooked up to it) and the PCA Zach was pulling him around so Jordy could "assist" him at work. Jordan's nurse, Eldrid, had a great time with him too. He's the one sitting down. Today Jordan even accompanied Eldrid down to the 1st floor pharmacy for a little field trip. The staff at the desk were even making ID bracelets with whatever Jordan suggested written on them. Eldrid's bracelet said "Smelly Eldrid" and he wore it too!

Roman & Jordan

Tuesday evening Jordan started playing with a boy who was also in the same unit. He and Roman enjoyed visiting each others "room" and going to the play room. They kept Eldrid busy too since he was the nurse for both boys. It turns out that Roman who is 11 years old was also adopted from Ukraine! I met his mom and it turns out that she's friends with my niece Jessica and her mom. Roman's parents were told, when they adopted him at the age of 2, that he was healthy. But they soon realized that it was not the case. Roman can speak and walk, but he has brain damage to a region of his brain (from fetal alcohol), he has autism, and leukemia! He also sees an Endocrinologist for growth problems. We were very blessed to meet this family and share our Ukrainian adoption stories.

Dr. Carl, Jordan, & Shanti

Jordan had to be fitted for a new brace and before we left the hospital today we had to stop by Dr. Carl's office so he could check the fit. Dr. Carl and his assistant, Shanti, were thrilled to have their picture taken with Jordan. We will return in 3 weeks for a checkup and a new cast.

I am very thankful for the grace our Lord gives as we walk through these things. Sierra, Andrii, and Anna held down the fort (aka Slava) during the day. Wayne would arrive at the hospital around 5pm to relieve me so I could go home to be with the kids, put Slava to bed, shower, and return to the hospital again at 10pm. Wayne would go home to sleep and go to work in the morning and I'd spend the night in the hospital with Jordan. It is a system that seems to work for us. I also want to send out a BIG "THANK YOU" to my sister-in-law Bree for delivering dinner to the house on Monday night, my mom for keeping Anna one night and making dinner on Tuesday night, and my mother-in-law, Rita, for delivering a ham dinner tonight, and my good friend, Lauri and her family for helping with Slava today and delivering a meal for Thursday! We are very blessed to have your support. And of course we thank everyone for their prayers. As usual we can literally feel them being answered each day. And we're so thankful to the Lord for He is so good to us.