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.