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.