Busy Family Blessings

We are enjoying a busy summer full of blessings.  Everyone is busy going somewhere and doing something all the time it seems.  With teenagers working, radio shows recording, graduation parties, birthday parties, and other social gatherings which our teens just cannot miss, I'm wondering if the lazy-hazy-days-of summer really exist!  Good thing I have 2 little boys who need to be supervised in the pool so I can sit and catch my breath!  

Curtis, Andrii, Jordan & Wayne Jr.

 I walked into church last Sunday just before worship started and discovered the Flach boys in a jam session.  This always blesses me.

Happy Birthday, Missy!

 We had a birthday dinner for Missy last week.  Of course she picked out her favorite meal:  steak and rigatoni tomato salad.  We added baked beans, potato salad, and water melon.  It was delish!

Mother/daughter date!

 Friday night Wayne took Andrii, Anna, Jordan, and Slava up to our camp in the Adirondacks.  Sierra and I stayed behind until Saturday night because we were working a fund raiser for Justice For Orphans on Saturday.  We took the opportunity for a date to our favorite seafood restaurant! for dinner Friday night!

Mary & I with NY Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk

 We had a fund raiser at our church during the Coxsackie Yard Sale Day.  The Senator was visiting our booth so we took this photo-op.  She purchased a hand bag and an "orange julius" in support of JFO.  We were thrilled to have raised $800 for our orphan ministry that day!

After the yard sale event, Sierra and I hit the road for camp.  We enjoyed a beautiful lake day on Sunday.  Sunday night Wayne and Andrii left for home so they could go to work Monday morning.  I remained at camp with Sierra, Anna, and the little boys.  We went to the movies in Old Forge on Sunday night and enjoyed the lake on Monday morning.  We got home early Monday evening.

Jordan & Slava on the pontoon boat with Andrii & Anna getting ready for water sports.

Our camp is in the background.

Silly Slava & Wayne relaxing.  

My husband's favorite place in the world is the Adirondacks.

 Andrii & Sierra on the jet ski.

Anna getting set to wake board.

Wayne & Slava on the jet ski.

 We enjoy our time on Otter Lake.  It's just a small lake in comparison to others in the Adirondack park, but it's perfect for family recreation time!

My view on our Monday morning kayak adventure.

 Slava and I manned the big green kayak and Jordan went solo in the gray one.  I can't believe he is now big enough to maneuver his own kayak!

Now we're home getting caught up on laundry and paperwork that seemed to multiply the 2 days I was away.  Looking at the calendar I see Anna has a horseback riding lesson at 11am, Slava has an appointment with his social worker at 1pm.  Back to reality I guess!

Jumping Into July

Now that we're home from our vacation we've officially jumped into July.  We've been enjoying the hot summer days in our pool which got a new liner this year.  

Jordan (in the cast) and Slava (aka - The Fish)

 Jordan got his cast off so he could enjoy the beach for vacation, but Dr. Carl wanted it right back on when we got home.  His next surgery is scheduled for Sept. 23rd for a rod lengthening.  Thankfully they use a fiberglass cast so he can swim...and bathe.  Slava loves the water and is in the pool much of the day.  He jumps off the diving board and can do a pretty good hand stand too.

Anna Perfecting Her Back-Flip

 I honestly believe Anna could have been a gold medal olympian had she had the opportunity.  She is built like a Ukrainian gymnast and can do back flips, splits, and is so flexible.

Other family stuff:  Sierra got her drivers' license and some summer jobs.  Anna started horseback riding lessons again, the big kids (Wayne Jr., Kerri, Curtis, Sierra, & Andrii) all took Missy to a Reliant K concert for her birthday last night.  It was great seeing the kids reaching out to their sister.

Justice For Orphans has jumped into the studio at The New Light WDCD 96.7fm to begin recording for our "Orphans No More" radio show.  The shows will begin airing every Friday at 1:30pm on 8/9 and run through November.

Mary with the Bethany Ladies (Cindi in the middle/Dianna on the right)

This week we recorded a show with Dianna McGreevy and Cindi Fabozzi, Adoption Specialists with the local office for Bethany Christian Services.  Bethany is one of the oldest and is the largest Christian adoption agency in the U.S.  The topic of this show was the climate of international adoption and will air on 9/6.

Cher Joseph, Mary, and Sandra in the WDCD studio.

We also recorded a show with the dynamic Cher Joseph of Albany County Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families. Cher is a Home Finder and Adoption Case Worker for Albany County.  For this show we discussed foster care in the Capital District area which will air on 9/13.  We are so excited for the doors the Lord is opening for JFO to work with Albany County on behalf of kids in foster care.  Our ministry has a mission to rally the Church for the cause of the fatherless and we advocate for Christian families to adopt and/or do foster care.