More Summer Happenings

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY, MISSY!

 We celebrated Missy's birthday on Saturday with a family party.  I can't believe the little girl who first came into our family at age 8 is now 22!  She has a job, a car, and her own apartment.  How time flies!

A sunbathing Slava!

 Since we first opened the pool this season this has been Slava's out-of-water posture.  He gets cold fast so then he lays on his belly on the warm concrete to warm up.  His back is so tan because of it.  He has become a fish too.  He jumps off the diving board, swims under water, and does flips all without a life jacket!

Hot Summer Fun

The days have been hot, in the 90s.  I got some water balloons for the kids to play with.  Jordan & Slava were stealing the balloons as fast as Anna was filling them!  Notice Jordan got his cast off.  His next surgery is scheduled for Monday the 23rd.

Notice the 2 items on the right of the blog:  A Child's Hope Int'l is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to motivate and mobilize the Church to care for the orphans of the world.  The founder, Larry Bergeron, wrote a book titled "Journey To The Fatherless", one of the best books on adoption I've read so far.  Every pastor, leader, and church member, every Christian must read this book.  I'll be dedicating a post very soon on this subject.  The other icon is for Orphan Sunday.  Christian Alliance For Orphans, who sponsored the Summit I went to back in May, promotes Orphan Sunday.  At the conference I learned that hardly any churches in NY do Orphan Sunday!  I was surprised.  Our church does it, so I thought all churches did it (naive I know).  Well, now I'm the OS Regional Coordinator for all of NYS!  More about this in my next post also, so please stay tuned... :)

Summer Happenings

I'm always amazed at how fast the days fly by.  It seems like we just finished school, but now we're already half way through July!  Here are some of our summer adventures so far:

Missy, Kerri, Andrea, and Anna

 Missy's friend from Sweden, Andrea, spent a week here.  They met a few years ago while both girls were students in the Discipleship Training School at YWAM Kiev.  We took her to NYC and above we're on top of the Empire State Building.

Wayne & Kerri

 Wayne Jr. and Kerri both graduated from Liberty University in May.  We had a graduation party for them.  They also just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary.  Oh how time flies!

Slava, Jordan, & Daddy

 If there is construction equipment and dirt involved, Jordan & Slava are in it.  We had a new well drilled, and Wayne had to dig the new water line to our house.  For about a week this was the place to be for the little guys.

Jordan has muscles!

Jordan is finally growing and looking more like a little boy instead of a baby.  In a way it makes me sad, but I guess it's time since he will be 9 years old next month!  We can't wait for that cast to come off this week.  Six months is a long time to wear something that you can't take off and wash.  When the cast comes off that means it's time for another surgery.  Jordan will have his rods lengthened on July 23rd.  Jordan cracks me up.  We spent the weekend at our camp and the kids like to play Mad Libs around the camp fire.  For those who don't know what Mad Libs is, it's a word game where you fill in the blanks with nouns, verbs, adjectives, body parts, etc.  Then you read back the story with the random words people filled in and it's hysterically funny.  Jordan had to name a body part for his turn...he said, "rods."  Well, I guess if you're Jordan, rods are a body part!  

Playing Catch-Up

Soooooo it's been some time since my last blog post.  I've gotten a couple of complaints for being a slacker/blogger, so now I'll try to redeem myself.  Life is unbelievably busy.  I will try my best to get caught up here, and then I'll do some special posts on some specific events worth detailing.  

 On April 25th Wayne & I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary!  Our wonderful kids threw us a very special party complete with the renewing of our vows.  They attended to many details including a cake decorated like our actual wedding cake, pictures, the Guest Book from our wedding for our guests to sign, flowers, and so much more.  We are so blessed!

 This is Sierra and I at her piano recital.  She played beautifully even if Slava did manage to find his way up to the front and sit on the piano bench for a few moments!  You can view her performance on Facebook.

Wayne is digging a trench to run a waterline from our new well to the house.  It has become a little boys' dream playground complete with excavator, dump truck, and dirt!  Please ignore the safety violations here!

We are finished with school....sort of.  Wayne and I, Sierra and Andrii, attended the annual LEAH Homeschooling Convention in Rochester the first week of June.  Typically after convention, and the purchase of new school books, no one wants to finish the "old" books.  For the most part we are done, but summer just means a new routine, a bit more relaxed, but one where learning is still occurring.

This summer is one of transitions.  Sierra is babysitting and managed to land a little job at the local library.  Andrii mows our lawn but has also begun to work a couple days with Pop Flach (his grandfather), and Anna is working at a near by farm helping with the horses.  It requires a little more running around for me, but next summer both Sierra and Andrii will be driving so that will help...I think.

Curtis is taking a summer Calculus 2 class and working, Wayne & Kerri just celebrated their 2nd anniversary, and Missy has a dear friend from Sweden, Andrea, visiting for the week.  We girls are all heading to NYC one day this week to show Andrea the sites.

Stay tuned on a post about my trip to Christian Alliance For Orphans' annual Orphan Summit.  God is showing me so many things and breaking my heart for the fatherless.

March Update

It amazes me how fast time flies.  My last post was March 3rd, and I really intended to start blogging weekly as least.  Here we are a month and a half later!  I guess it's been a busy 6 weeks.  Typically our week looks like this:  Mon night Wayne has men's Bible study, Tues afternoon Sierra has piano and I have women's Bible study in the evening, Wed night we all go to church for Missionettes/Royal Rangers/Fife& Drum/Flagging, Thurs night is Karate (Sierra, Anna, and now Jordan & Slava too), Friday night is Youth Group (Curt, Sierra & Andrii), Sat. mornings has been youth archery (which is finished now), and Sunday is church.  I'm tired just typing it, but this list doesn't include doctor/dentist appts, shopping, homeschooling or any of the other dozens of things that also happen during the week. But even with all of the craziness I'm content where God has me.  My daily goal is to remain in Christ, trusting He remains in me, for I know apart from Him I can do nothing.  

And I just want to bring glory to His name.

On April 2nd Curtis turned 20 years old!

 Sierra arose early and made him a birthday breakfast, which he ate before leaving for college with Slava happily keeping him company.

The annual pinewood derby was a fun time for all.  Andrii won 1st place in his Royal Ranger class and best looking car.  Jordan won fastest car in his class too.  Andrii turned 15 on April 10th also.

Anna promoted to a yellow belt.  Jordan & Slava have also joined Karate.  My goal is for them to learn self discipline, self control, obedience, and upper body strength.  I'll post pics of them  next time.

 Jordan with his car and medal.

March was also busy with Sierra going to NYSSMA, a women's conference for me, the Men's Retreat for Wayne & Curtis, Sierra had 4 wisdom teeth pulled, and our home school group started bi-weekly co-op classes.  We had a wonderful Easter.  I attended and spoke at the annual Mom's Luncheon, and the girls and I enjoyed a Missionette's sleep-over at our church.

Sierra has been taking an SAT Prep-Course on Monday nights.  She's not only ahead a year in school, but she's completed so much work that I'm now looking into setting her up with some on-line college-credit courses for next year.  She'll be a Junior, but aside from math and history, she's completed every stitch of high school curriculum we have.

I'm thrilled to be going to California for Christian Alliance For Orphan's annual Orphan Summit on May 2nd-5th.  Wayne felt I should go, so I'll be traveling with my pastor's wife, Mary, and our good friend Jocelyn.  And we were all blessed with some frequent flier miles, so our round-trip tickets only cost $10 each!!!!!!  God is so faithful and good.

I'm sure I'll have some exciting things to post again,

so please check back again soon!

Orphans, Orphans, Everywhere!

My last post wasn't really about the family, so I guess I better blog about the kids. At the end I will update on some more of what God has been showing me about orphans & trafficking.

"Jesus Loves Us-by Anna & Slava"

I went for a walk to enjoy one of the mild days we've been having, and I stumbled upon this masterpiece on our driveway. This kind of thing makes it all worth it.

Jordan, Curtis, Slava & Anna

Our first real snowfall this season. I officially declared a snow-day so the kids could enjoy it while it lasted. Curtis (college didn't have a snowday) arrived home and joined in on the fun.

Anna (on right) our flag girl.

Anna (I can't believe she's 12 already) is on our church's flag team.

Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Flach Jr.

My precious son & daughter-in-law at my nephew's wedding.

Andrii & Sierra

February was full of doctor & dentist appointments. Curtis had a minor surgery on his mouth, Anna got 3 fillings, and Sierra is scheduled to have all 4 wisdom teeth out. We got good news (and answered prayer) on Jordan. He saw the pediatric endocrinologist and she was pleased...he grew a whole inch since August. His blood work was great too. She took another x-ray (I think this kid could probably glow in the dark from all the x-rays he's had) of his hand and said we didn't need to come back for another year! We enjoyed my nephew's wedding, Wayne took Andrii and 2 of his buddies (and Jordan) up to camp for a weekend, and then I blinked and now it's March!

I believe God is giving the green light on me (and my Pastor's wife, Mary) going to Christian Alliance For Orphan's Orphan Summit in California in May. As I was looking over the details of the conference I came across the workshop listings. In between the key-note speakers are 15 breakout sessions to choose to attend. They are all adoption/orphan/foster care related of course, but 2 caught my eye. Aside from the "How to begin an orphan ministry" meetings (which we're interested in) there is a workshop on Ukraine's orphans and a workshop on Orphans & the Global Human Trafficking Crisis. These are exactly the things on my heart. Then a few days ago I got an update on the Summit and Dr. Karyn Pervis of Texas Christian University's Child Development Dept. will be speaking at a pre-conference session. Last summer I read Dr. Pervis's book on behavioral issues in adopted children. Her book was so helpful to us in parenting Slava that I even ordered a dvd of her teaching her techniques for Wayne & I to watch together. Last summer I was hoping she would be speaking somewhere in our area, but it didn't appear that she does much in the way of speaking engagements. And now here she will be at the Summit. God knew that would get my attention. Pastor Stan gave Mary the green light to go, now I'm just waiting for God to give the green light to Wayne so I can go.

On that note I'd like to share a God-moment I had the other day. I had an eye appt followed by a hair appt and found myself with 40 minutes between the 2. My first reaction was to go to Dunkin Donuts, get a coffee, and sit in the car and read my book...for 40 quiet, uninterrupted minutes. But then I had this thought that I should go into the Silver Spoon Cafe for a cup of soup instead. I figured that was a strange thought, it would be weird, and I'd rather sit alone. But I felt like God was nudging be to go where people are. So I went in, grabbed a booth, and ordered up a cup of soup. While I set there, by myself, in walked a young couple that I knew from town. This Christian couple, I knew, is in the process of adding on to their house to expand in order to add more children to their family. They have 2 little ones of their own (and one precious angel in heaven), and have done foster care. When they saw me in the cafe they made a beeline for me wanting to discuss...adoption. They're feeling called to adopt a child from Russia and wanted to talk about international adoption. Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite thing to talk about is orphans and adoption! They want to set up a meeting with me to talk all about it. I walked out of the cafe that day knowing I'd just had a God-appointed meeting. The Lord is certainly directing my steps towards orphan ministry. My plan is to say "yes" to Him as He guides me along.

Thanks for listening...or reading!

In Him,

Sandra

Justice For the Oppressed

Wow! It's only been a week since my last post, but I'd like to share what's been going on. In my

last post I shared some of what God has been putting on my heart. I had sent a message to a missionary friend, Vicki, who has been part of YWAM Kiev since the early 90's. She and her husband were part of the original team that established the base in Kiev. Vicki is the one who told me that Ukraine has the highest number of girls in all of Eastern Europe. I asked her the questions I'd posted here, basically who is doing something!?!

As it turns out, Vicki and her husband started Justice For Youth (please check it out at justiceforyouth.org). It's basically a platform to bring about info, awareness, and hopefully solutions. Today we skyped for an hour discussing trafficking in Ukraine and Moldova. I'm really seeking God on what the next step for me is supposed to be. I do know one thing...I can't not do something. Something Kay Warren said in her book struck me. She was referring to the global issues of HIV/Aids, poverty, orphans, trafficking, etc. "Hope for sustainable, lasting societal change is found primarily in the Church of Jesus Christ.". She also said that God put all his eggs in one basket...and we, the Church, are the basket. There is no other basket. Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. Jesus wasn't speaking to a select few, He was speaking to us. We can't always just throw a few dollars into the offering plate and call it a day. Sometimes you just have to put yourself into the offering plate. I am stepping into the offering plate.

LORD, You know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them.

Psalm 10:17-18

Dangerously surrendered,

Sandra

And Another Month Flies By...

It amazes me how the days turn into weeks! I really wanted to update this blog weekly, but before I know it 3 weeks have past since my last post. The busy-ness is all part of having my "cup runneth over" full house of blessings. So this is what's been going on:

Nurse Colleen, Dr. Jordan, and "Art-Art" the patient.

Jordan had another rod lengthening surgery on January 10th. This picture was taken in pre-op with one of his favorite nursers. We've had very good experiences at Albany Med. We always joke that we're "frequent fliers." Everyone loves Jordan and he's pretty famous in pre-op, the OR, post-op, and up on the pediatric floor (especially at the nurse's station)! Surgery went well. Dr. Carl lengthened his rods a whole 10mm which is a lot actually. Jordan complained more about the pain this time, and I was more concerned about the look of the incision as he healed, but he's back to normal now. We just had an awesome visit to Dr. Carl's office where everyone is requesting that Jordan be made the office mascot! We go back for x-rays in May and the next surgery will most likely be in July.

Ukrainian Princess Anna

Our Missionettes had a fashion show where they got to dress up in time period clothing or a costume of their choice. Anna really wanted to be a bride, but I had no idea where I was going to find a bridal gown. We settled on a bride's maid type gown, then my friend, Kelli, showed up with a whole bunch of dresses...including her wedding gown. Anna was thrilled to her toes! This pic isn't the greatest, but she did look beautiful.

Sierra getting ready to walk the red carpet.

Sierra managed to pull off wearing 2 outfits, including this gown (also from Kelli) and a top hat and cane she borrowed from Curtis.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

February 4th was my mom's birthday. We had my parents, my brother & sister-in-law, and all the kids over for dinner. I cannot mention her age since she frequents this blog!

Our days have been filled with doctors, dentists, school, archery, and church activities. Curtis, Sierra, and Andrii spent last weekend away at a youth retreat. Tomorrow we're all looking forward to a fun time at my nephew's wedding.

In my free time...which usually doesn't happen until 9pm or so, I've been doing a lot of reading. Over the summer the Lord put it on my heart to search the Scriptures on the topic of orphans, which brought my attention to the word "oppressed." Then my pastor's wife lent me the book Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren which launched me into researching human trafficking and forced prostitution. I'm not sure why, but I'm compelled to read. I know in my heart that trafficking and orphans are linked. It is the poor, vulnerable girls who are preyed upon by traffickers whether they be in Asia or Eastern Europe, or even right here in the U.S. Ukraine is a place near and dear to my heart, and it just so happens that most of the girls trafficked in Eastern Europe are from Ukraine. I can just picture traffickers hanging around the villages outside of the orphanages, just waiting for the teenage girls who "age out" of the orphanage. Girls with barely any education, no money, no job, no family...prime targets for sure. I'm having a difficult time finding out whether anyone in Ukraine, any Christian ministry, is reaching out to the at risk girls, the girls in orphanages, to educate them and warn them of this potential snare. Who is training them to earn a living in a safe, healthy way? Who is teaching them skills? Who is ministering to the girls who actually make it out of the nightmare? I have friends in Cambodia doing exactly this stuff with girls at risk there. I've always known about trafficking, but now I'm seeing clearly, like God has brought it into focus. I'm not sure yet exactly what I'm supposed to be doing about it. For now I'm praying, researching, and waiting for the Lord to show me the next step. My heart is still on orphans and adoption, and it probably always will be. My mother-in-law just lent me the book Choosing To See by Mary Beth Chapman. She and her husband, Steven Curtis Chapman, adopted 3 girls from China, the youngest of whom tragically died in an accident. I sobbed through the book, and even starting searching Chinese adopting online. At this moment I'm not feeling the call to actually adopt, but of course I never say never...my mission is to always say yes to God. And right now He's got me wrecked for the oppressed. I would however, really like to see others adopting. Every Christian family needs to adopt older girls from Asia or Eastern Europe. We became members of Christian Alliance For Orphans. They put on an Orphan Summit each year to promote adoption awareness and to help churches to advocate for orphans and adoption. It seems almost impossible for me to go, but I'm praying about it. It's May 3rd-5th in Southern California at Saddleback Church (Rick & Kay Warren's church) and one of the featured speakers is Steven Curtis Chapman!

So now I'll step down off my soap box. It's 9pm. Time for me to curl up with my research! Thanks for listening.

Sandra