Growing

The past 2 weeks, no make that 3 weeks, or maybe 4.......any way, life has been so crazy-busy that I lost focus of why we do what we do.  The Word says "do not grow weary in doing good for in due season you shall reap if you faint not."  Weary is where I've been.  Weary lulled me into lazy which led me to be off guard which caused the pressure-cooker to finally blow.  Yup, just ask my kids.  When the pressure cooker blows - it's down right ugly.  God's timing is always perfect, of course.  And He brought to my attention some Scripture which I needed to chew on.  And of course, He did it in a very humbling way - while I was teaching it to my kids!  More on that down below....

Anna should have been a gymnast.  She is built like a gymnast and the Ukrainian blood has something to do with that I'm sure.  But it's a bit late for her to start seriously since she's already 13.  However, my nephew's wife opened a gymnastics academy about 40 minutes from us.  Though it's too far to go weekly for classes, I promised Anna we'd go check it out.  Jamie let us come so the kids could bounce around for a while and try it all out.  Yesterday I took Anna, her best friend, Mary, and Jordan & Slava.  They had a blast!

Mary & Anna

 We pretty much had the place to ourselves and the kids tried everything.  Anna is a natural and is very strong.

Anna just hanging out.

 Jordan on the uneven bars.  

 Jordan would love to do gymnastics (he tried to get me to buy the little suit the boys wear).  Dr. Carl said "no" to him participating.  I let him play around on all the stuff, but he's not allowed to arch his back since the rods in his back do not bend.  Of course, that didn't stop him from trying!  We had an answer to prayer last week!  Jordan saw the pediatric endocrinologist on Monday.  The same doctor he saw last year who said he'd need to grow at least an inch to be safe from growth hormone treatment. I remember asking the Lord for him to grow 2 inches.  Well.........Jordan grew 2 inches!!!! Praise God!

Future Olympian!

 Slava is a natural and has boundless energy!  He (and I) could really benefit from regular gymnastics classes for him.  It was a great outlet for him.  Plus he has no fear!  He went nonstop for the hour and a half we where there.  When I put on his coat to leave he said, "Let's go to Dunkin' Donuts.  I need a big, fat donut with sprinkles!"  I guess he really worked up an appetite.  Yes, of course I got him the donut!

My computer is not cooperating with my blog lately.  I have no idea why these pics came out this way?  

My mom on her 75th birthday!

 Happy Valentines Day!

 These roses were from Andrii.  He hand wrote the card and in case you can't read it, I'll be happy to tell you what it says, "For the best Mom ever!!!"  He is now my favorite son!

Slava can do knuckle push-ups!

 Thankfully Karate is only 5 minutes from our house.  Sierra, Anna, Jordan, and Slava all participate weekly.  It is the best thing for those little boys.  Slava loves it, I think we have a future black-belt on our hands!

Uno!

Slava's new game is Uno, and he's very good at it.  Since it's hard for his little hands to hold all the cards, we play with our cards on the table (or rug).  This morning while he and I were home alone we played 6 rounds - he won 4 of them!

...Now back to the pressure cooker.  The Scripture that got my attention is 1 Peter 5:5-9 -
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith.....
As I mentioned in my last blog post, I realized I'd been trying to do things in my own strength.  Not on purpose, but with all the running (OT, PT, doctor this, dentist that, piano, karate, church, store, post office, bank, hair cuts, kid in crisis, social worker appt, etc....and did I mention homeschooling?  With all of that I find that the day starts and gets away from me before I realize it.  I do try to start the day with the Lord, but sometimes it's only 5 minutes and the little boys are up.  I found myself in a very lazy habit:  since I'm so exhausted once the little boys are in bed, I go crash on the couch around 9pm.  But then I can't get myself off of the couch and in bed at a decent hour.  If I went to bed earlier I could get up earlier and really have the time for the Word and prayer that I really need.  The enemy is very crafty - lull me into a lazy routine and I will be caught without my armor on.  I was not alert or sober minded and so became a prime target.  I was not humble, I was trying to do it all.  I found my self in a place where I didn't know what I didn't have to do.  I was trying to do it all, which I can't, and started feeling like a failure because I couldn't.  I love the above verses because it covers exactly everything:  Humility (I know I can't do this - the Lord doesn't call us to assignments that we can do in our own strength).  I must cast all my cares upon Him.  He does a much better job with it than I do!  I'd gotten lazy and my spiritual muscles were getting flabby - I didn't see the enemy approaching so how could I resist him when I didn't see him coming?
So there's a new plan in place around here.  I'm on a couch "fast".  I'm heading to bed to read and get some sleep, and now I'm getting up earlier.  My prayer life is getting back to where it should be.  Wayne and I are working on the calendar.  I'm so thankful (#784) for my husband who is my partner in this ministry.  Together we've been looking for solutions so that all of the pressure isn't on me 24/7.  He even offered to do the monthly grocery shopping for me.  Poor guy had no idea what he was offering to get himself into!  I wouldn't take advantage of him like that!  I don't mind doing the shopping, or taking the kids to appointments, or doing any of the things I do.  But it just got to the point where there is so much of it to do, plus homeschooling (which I know we're called to do), plus house-keeping, etc. that even the thought of needing to pick up milk became an overwhelming thought.  I really love doing what God has called me to do, but the enemy really wanted in so he could mess it up.  I must be alert, vigilant, and humble.  We decided to have Kerri come to help me 3 days instead of just 2.  And I sat down with my calendar and blocked off every other week as a "No Appointment Week."  On those weeks I will schedule no appointments beyond the routine weekly stuff we already do.  These things, combined with the most important quality time with the Lord, will help us get where we need to be.  I see it as a spiritual growth spurt.  I'm so thankful (#806) that the Lord doesn't leave us in the messes we make for ourselves.  And I'm thankful (#807) for growing in Him!

I Cannot Do This

Our pond continues to be the winter hang out place.  Sierra and Andrii have been hosting ice hockey parties with our church youth group.  

The gang's all here!

 Night hockey under the lights!

 l-r:  Anna, Sierra, Curtis, with Jordan standing.

How gave that kid a stick?

 Even Jordan and Slava have been getting in on the action!  Somehow Slava made it out onto the ice without his skates.  He does wear them, I should know, I have to put them on him about 10 times a day!

Keeping warm by the fire!

 It's been so cold, but the fire makes it nice.  I, however, stay in my nice cozy house during these games.  I did manage to make about 20 cups of cocoa and deliver them to the frozen youth.  Then I fled back into the warmth of my cabin!

Lego Maniacs!

 My computer keeps posting my pictures out of order.  I haven't figured out why.  Here Slava & Jordan (who suddenly became camera-shy) were sorting through our Lego collection with Daddy.  We've got Legos from the years Curtis (now almost 21) was a Lego maniac.  Then Andrii took up the slack when Curtis got too old to play.  Actually, I do still catch Curt in the Lego bucket with the little boys at times.  Now Jordan has reached the age where he can actually build things himself.  Basically Slava just likes to throw them!

Daddy's (or should I say Jordan's) New Toy

Anna & Slava Writing On the Walls!

 I'm always looking for ways to help improve Slava's fine motor skills.  And with all the ice cold weather we've been having, the kids are always looking for something to do.  This week I hung up a long piece of brown paper and the kids drew with markers all over it.  It kept them entertained for a little while.  This week Wayne & I took Slava to his appointment with a developmental pediatrician.  It took us 6 months to get this appointment.  We didn't learn anything that we already didn't know, but this was the doctor to officially diagnose what we already suspected.  So it's official.  Slava has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  Yup.  That's it.  Straight across the board from the physical features, growth rate, and behavior he fit all the categories.  Of course we knew this, but having it formally diagnosed was still heart breaking.  Continuously consuming large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy damages the brain of a developing baby.  FASD is really a type of brain damage.  It is very commonly found in children adopted from Eastern Europe.  So, we knew this was a possibility with any of our kids from Ukraine.  Jordan most likely has it.  He has some of the physical features, ADD, and even the scoliosis can be caused by it.  But Slava has it more extensively.  There is hope for him, lots of hope.  He's smart, already beginning to read, understand math concepts, and is over all doing great in Kindergarten (considering he's 7).  We're used to such delays with these kids from hard places.  In Slava's case, FASD really manifests in his behavior, reasoning, planning, decision making, etc.  All of this makes our job of parenting him draining, even frustrating, but always worth it!  On the hardest days (when I think "I cannot do this") I remind myself of a few things.  #1-God called us to this and when He calls, He equips.  And the Lord rarely calls us to do easy things that we can do on our own.  He calls us to just say "yes" and let Him do the impossible through us.  When I have remember this, I've experienced His faithfulness in spite of my failures.  #2-I remind myself of where these kids would be if we had chosen the easy, cushy life instead of God's will.  I am gravely aware of the statistics of kids in Ukrainian orphanages who never get adopted and age out of the system.  They end up on the street, living a life of crime and poverty.   The boys end up in crime, drugs, and jail.  Most commit suicide.  The girls are prime targets of traffickers who force them into sexual slavery.  So no matter how hard my hardest day might be, it's nothing compared to the future our kids would have faced if they had not been adopted.  #3 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress...James 1:27.  This is not optional.

Curtis and the Hockey Crew

 I love seeing Curtis and the big kids involved in the hockey games.  And Wayne is always out there with them too.  This week he even purchased some nice new goals and some skates for himself.

Jordan is on the ice!

To add to the craziness of life, Wayne and I signed up for foster parenting classes that Justice For Orphans is hosting at our church.  We want to be able to do respite for relatives who will be fostering and, since JFO advocates for adoption and foster care, we feel it is important for us to be educated on the process.  Plus I figure we'll learn something new.  Presently we don't have a bed for another child, but one day down the road that might change.  

I've been reading an excellent book that Mary told me about.  Kisses From Katie is about a young woman who felt the call of God to go to Uganda right out of high school.  By the time she was 21 she'd adopted 14 little girls and was called "Mommy" by hundreds of others who she demonstrated the Gospel to by feeding, educating, and meeting their medical needs.  Katie has reminded me that I cannot do this.  Only God can.  Lately I've been feeling a bit cranky about all the running:  doctor appt, dentist appt, OT, PT, get milk, drop this one off at work, get this one to a birthday party, pick this one up from work, get groceries, make dinner, run to church, run to karate, do school, pay bills, clean this, organize that, whine, whine, whine.  The crankiness comes from trying to do it all in my own strength.  Meanwhile nothing ever really gets done and I end up way behind and very tired....and cranky.  Not the way I want to be.  Katie reminds me that I'm not able to do it all.  Only the Lord can do it.  He just chooses to use us.  I'd been forgetting that.  So when I got up in the morning I'd be nonstop until I crashed at the end of the day, exhausted, tired, and way behind in my responsibilities.  So, I've had to repent of my prideful attitude.  Katie reminds me:

164.8 million needy children.  And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.  The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left....

....People are people.  They all need food and water and medicine, but mostly they need love and truth and Jesus.  I can do that.  We can do that.  We can give people food, water, medicine, love, truth, and Jesus.  The same God created all of us for a purpose, which is to serve Him and to love and care for His people.  It is universal.....

.....Adoption is a redemptive response to tragedy that happens in this broken world.  And every single day, it is worth it, because adoption is God's heart.

From the book Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis.  

Thank you Katie.  And thank you, Jesus!

Winter Wonders & Wanderings

Winter Fun

 Our kids love winter sports and activities.  A few weeks back Wayne brought (l-r) Anna, Sierra, Andrii, and our neighbor, Ezra, snow boarding at Windham Mt.  Jordan (front) kept Wayne company in the lodge since Dr. Carl said 'no' to him skiing with rods in his back.  Jordy wasn't too happy with that!

Andrii the Ginger

 Andrii has gorgeous red, wavy hair.  He's decided to grow it out until his birthday in April.  We'll see if he makes it that long!  He's also counting down the days until he can get his drivers' permit.  He's only got 2 months, 7 days, 23 hours, and 44 minutes until he can drive!  Not that he's counting or anything!

Slava working on fine-motor skills.

 Slava is really doing great in homeschooling.  He's beginning to read and loves learning phonics.  We're focusing on developing his fine-motor skills, so I thought I'd get him to paint some numbers here.  He did a really good job with this.  He also found a pen with a light on the end of it on Daddy's dresser.  He proceeded to fill several pages of paper with tiny circles that he was drawing.  It's really the first time that he initiated drawing/writing on his own.

"I love you back and front"

 Slava loves playing with these radios.  He started this game where he would radio me and say, "I love you back." Then I would answer, "I love you front."  This went on quite a while covering every opposite I could think of.  Notice he's wearing glasses again.  Sometime before Christmas he lost the spare pair he had.  Last week we saw the eye specialist and she changed his prescription a little bit (amazingly his sight actually improved slightly).  We ordered up 2 pairs of glasses - because one pair is always either lost or broken.  Actually he's being really responsible with these so far.

Ice Hockey anyone?  

 The kids were thrilled when our pond finally froze enough for skating.  Last weekend they had a bunch of kids from church over to play hockey.  And as I type this, they will all be back again in a few hours!  Anna is seated closest to the camera.

Miss Melissa

 We abducted Missy again after the little boys' karate class and took her to Subway for dinner.  We had a nice visit with her before she headed off to work.

Sierra loves taking pics of herself.

More skating fun.  

 Curtis is far left in brown - without skates!

Annnnnnaaaaaaa!

Anna loves hamming it up for the camera!

The last 2 weeks have been packed full of appointments, activities, and issues which kept me very busy and very stretched.  Having a large family is challenging, and having a family of kids from hard places is especially so.  I can't always post the challenges out of respect for my kids' privacy, but have no doubt that we're dealing with much more than I post here.  But God is faithful, and when He calls - He equips.  He has never let us down.  We experience much joy each day, and some heartache along the way.  But it is worth it.  Each and every one of our kids is worth it.  God calls us to love and to live out the Gospel.  He never said it would be easy.  He guarantees that He will be with us and that in Him we have victory.