April Action

Ahhhhh April has finally arrived!  I'm so thankful for the warmer weather.  The kids have been outside more and sleeping a bit later in the morning.  We're all feeling a bit more energized, and it's a good thing - the next 7 weeks are going to be busier than usual!  

Grammy with Iona!

 I snapped this shameless selfie during my first official baby-sitting gig with my granddaughter!  Being a grammy is the most wonderful thing in the world!

Poor Slava had a touch of the stomach bug.

 While I was out with my mom for a doctor appt, Sierra called to tell me Slava threw up.  She took good care of him as you can see and he enjoyed a Curious George marathon.  Thankfully it didn't even last 24 hours and no one else got it!

Happy Birthday Curtis & Andrii!

 We celebrated their birthdays last Saturday.  Curtis here was getting ready to blow out his candles.  I can't believe he's 22!  Next we sang to Andrii.  It also amazes me that he'd already 17!

My Mom enjoying her coffee at Cracker Barrel!

 My mom was supposed to have a blood transfusion last Friday, but on Wednesday the doctor's office forgot to send her blood sample over to the hospital so they could match it and have it ready.  So, since it wasn't ready and Mom didn't want to wait 4 hours for them to get it ready, she opted to go out to breakfast instead!  We went back on Monday and she got her transfusion, unfortunately her blood work on Friday indicated she needs another transfusion this Monday.

Miss Iona

 My weeks have been crazy, but I look forward to Wednesday evenings when I get to spend a couple hours with this precious little one.  The highlight of my week!

Construction Project

Wayne promised Anna that when spring arrived he would break ground to make ready for her horse to come home.  He ordered a pre-fab 2 stall barn which should be delivered any day and just needs to fence in the corral area.  The little boys have been having a great time helping daddy!

This coming week will include Mom's transfusion, a homeschooling moms' luncheon, an advisory team meeting for the Sound of Life radio station, and a trip to look at another college.  Sierra has been accepted at Gordon College in Mass.  After we tour their campus on Thursday she will have to make a decision by May 1st!  Jordan will also get his cast off this week to be ready for surgery next week.  We are in a very busy season of life.  I'm not sure there's anything we can eliminate that we are currently doing. Thankfully, the Lord is faithful to carry us through each day.

I Could Never Do That

"That's so wonderful what you've done for those kids.  I could never do that."  I've heard that comment many times, and I always cringe.  First of all, I am brutally aware that I haven't done anything more than obey God.  Isn't that what we're all supposed to do?  Walk out in obedience what He has called us to do?  And caring for orphans is something He calls all of us to do.  Secondly, I am only able to do what He calls me to do because He does it through me.  My job is to remain in His presence, so I can hear His voice and follow His lead.

Over 15 years ago in a women's Bible study group I was immersed in Blackaby's Experiencing God:  Knowing and Doing His Will.  That study transformed my walk with God.  Since then my everyday goal has been to experience God - to know His will and to walk it out in obedience.  Funny how God doesn't waste anytime issuing the first assignment!  And you know how the Scripture says, "Well done good and faithful servant.  You've been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness."?  It's true.

 My first assignment was welcoming an 8 year old girl into our home.  She was kin, needed a family, and we were that family.  Looking back, it amazes me that we were clueless to the James 1:27 mind-set.  We didn't think, "Oh, orphans and widows, let's do this."  We just saw a need, knew God wanted us to meet it, and so we did.  I will say this, 5 adopted kids later, I wish I knew then what I know now.  We have no regrets about adopting our daughter who is now 24.  The only regret being not knowing or understanding wounded children.  My second assignment was to volunteer-teach at the small Christian school our kids attended.  There I discovered my passion for teaching and God's sense of humor, as my next assignment was to homeschool our then 4 kids.  That was 11 years ago and Flach Academy is still going strong.  I have 4 survivors, I mean graduates, and 4 current students.  Then came our biggest assignment (yet):  to grow our family through international adoption.  We stepped out in faith again and adopted our 3 Ukrainian-born kids 7 years ago, and then 3 years later continued the journey to the 4th.

The above mentioned assignments do not have a deadline or completion date.  They are on-going.  That's ok with me because it has been this on-the-job-training that has brought me closer to the Lord.  My faith has grown, I've matured in the things of God, and I have a deeper understanding of my salvation.  Adopting children taught me about my own spiritual adoption in ways I wouldn't have learned otherwise.  The Bible says, He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not what it means no know me? Declares the Lord.  Yes, caring for orphans will bring you to a place of knowing God beyond anything you can imagine.  I could never do that...without God!

The Calendar Says It's Spring

Well, the calendar says it's spring even if the upstate NY weather hasn't sprung!  It's still cold, but our days are busy and full.  Recently I enjoyed a little escape with Sierra as we headed to the western part of NY to visit Houghton College.  She loved it - even if it is 4 1/2 hours away.  She's already been accepted there for the fall, but we're looking at a couple more.  I guess that means more road trips are pending!

Houghton Or Bust!

The little boys are getting cabin fever.  They keep escaping to Daddy's garage and dragging various items of interest into the house.  The other day Jordan actually used plexiglass and wood dowels and built this little table.  Slava decided to enjoy his snack on it.

Great Grandmothers with Iona!

 I love this pic of my mom (on left) and my mother-in-law (on right) holding their great-granddaughter!  This is a precious picture to me.  My mom has been ill and my mother-in-law had a hip replacement the same day the baby was born!

Legislative Day in Albany, NY

 Crystal Langdon, of Crystal Clear Finances invited me to share her table at Leg Day 2014 so I could represent Justice For Orphans there.  Crystal is responsible for me being on the radio for the very first time a few years ago.  That led to our radio show on The New Light WDCD in Albany, and then the Lord opened the door further for us to be on The Sound of Life also.  Two exciting radio developments:  (1) all of our past Orphans No More shows are now on our website  http://justicefororphansny.org just click on "Events" and then "Radio Show"!  (2) WDCD just added another time slot for or show!  We are now on 1:30pm Fridays, 10:30am Sundays, and 1:30pm Wednesdays!

Miss Iona & Aunt Sierra

 This little blessing is getting bigger! She's almost 2 months old already!  She's looking around and checking everyone out - and there are a lot of us to check out!

Uncle Curtis!

 Iona would like to announce that her Uncle Curtis made the Dean's list at RPI this quarter!  

Grammy & Iona

 Wednesday nights are my "date nights" with my grand baby!  I love this special time to visit with Wayne Jr., Kerri, and the baby.

Grammy Love!

Can you tell I'm loving being a grandma?  

Exceeding Abundantly Above

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worth in us.  Unto Him be glory...   Ephesians 3:20

It's been a long winter, but God has been faithful and blessings abound!  

I came home from a day of appointments and found the kids all outside and playing with these giant icicles.  We've been studying the American Revolution and it has affected their play time!

Icicle Guns!

Jordan, Slava, Neighbor Mary, and Anna

Slava - Burrito Bongo!

 Slava often has trouble managing himself and deep-pressure touch helps him to regulate.  I'm always on the look out for ways to help him manage.  He has a weighted blanket which I wrap him in burrito-style when he feels the need.  The other day I added these weighted core discs and played "bongos" on him.  He loved it!

Patriots!

 We've been watching the Liberty's Kids dvd series as part of our history curriculum.  We've also been following the current events in Ukraine since our kids are from there, we have friends there, and it's a country near-and-dear to our hearts.  While watching an episode of Liberty's Kids which included a battle between the Patriots and the British, Jordan commented, "This looks like what's going on in Ukraine."  Hmmmm, very good observation, my son!

Baby Shower Shenanigans!

 Sierra, Missy, Anna, & Kerri (opening gift).

We finally were able to pull off a baby shower for Kerri.  Between snow storms, sickness, and Iona arriving early, this was no small fete!  

Me and my girls!

 L-R (Anna, Kerri w/ Iona, Me, Missy, & Sierra)

Sending off a son.

 Recently our pastor's son, Sergey, who was adopted from Ukraine over 10 years ago, embarked on a new adventure.  He headed back to Ukraine to do a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  He's with a team that works with older kids in orphanages.  Serg has a heart to minister to orphans in Ukraine, as he had been one.  In the pic Pastor Stan is preparing to pray for his son.  On the left is Victor, Sergey's younger bio brother.  These 2 young men know what "adopted to sonship" really means.

JFO - "Love In Action" wrist band fundraiser.

 We are currently preparing for our biggest JFO event to date.  Our Love In Action - Finding Families For NY's Waiting Children event on May 16th is a foster care focused event.  Our fundraiser includes these wrist bands we're asking a $3 donation each for.  Let me know if you'd like one...or ten!  To learn more visit our website:  http://justicefororphansny.org

JFO's Justice Conference booth!

 Wayne decided to take our little boys skiing for the weekend recently, so I used the opportunity to represent JFO at the Justice Conference in Clifton Park, NY.

Radio Show Recording

 This is my view front the hosts' seat for our radio show Orphans No More.  For this episode we interviewed Stepan & Oksana Terletsky of Mercy Trucks Ukraine (pictured on the laptop).  It was our first attempt to record a show from a remote location, in this case Ukraine.  In the background is Mary's son, Kireel.  He was watching from the producer's studio.  You can listen to past episodes of the show by visiting our website http://justicefororphansny.org and click on "Events" and then "Radio Show".

Slava's Stitches

 Friday evening, while everyone was out and I was home all by myself (a rare occurrence) the phone rang beckoning me to urgent care.  Slava was bitten by a friend's dog.  With Slava's many issues, impulse control and reasoning are weak points.  He has pulled a very large dog's tail and was bitten as a result.

 He got 3 stitches in his left cheek, 1 on his head, and 5 in his ear.  He's on an antibiotic and we're watching him closely.  When I discussed with him that we should never touch a dog, he pretty much declared that if that dog bit him again he'd punch it.  I guess we still have a lot of work to do!

Singing Sisters

Missy stopped by the other day to practice music with Sierra.  Missy works at an assisted living facility and she's had Sierra come in to play the piano for the residents.  Now they're  working on some songs together.  I was blessed to hear their music!  

So that's what's been going on here!  Feeling very blessed!

Winter Wanderings

As we wander through this snowy, white winter there are a few things warming our days!  Mainly the joy we are experiencing as we get to know our newest little family member:  my very first grand daughter, Iona Elizabeth.  Though I've given birth to 3 of my own babies, there is something extra-special about a grand child.  I can't explain the desire to just sit and watch her...preferably with me holding her, but even if someone else cradles this treasure it's enough to just gaze at her preciousness!  She is the first-born of my first-born!  And my son will FaceTime with me on occasion and I get to see him handling his baby girl like he's handled a dozen babies even though she's his very first.  I am in grateful awe to my Abba Daddy that I get to see my son be an amazing daddy already.  

Newborn Photo Shoot - this one is my favorite!

Her daddy sucked his thumb too!

Hi, Grammy!

Iona & Aunt Anna!

Ok, ok, enough baby pics!  There have been other things going on in our family.  In the midst of tons of snow, we have been homeschooling, playing, running Slava to OT, PT and Speech, gearing up for a huge event for Justice For Orphans, and bringing my mom to her doctor appointments and blood transfusions.

Jordan built a "fire"!

Anna sprained her wrist snowboarding...

 ...and that was before the Olympics!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Valentines:  Sierra, Anna, Jordan, & Slava

For Valentine's Day I found these chocolate "gold medals" for the kids.  I played the Olympic theme song on my I-phone while they lined up and I gave them all gold medals for being the best kids in the world!  They got a kick out of it!  Andrii was not home at the time because he was out plowing the 2 feet of snow that fell.

I'll be doing a post soon to update on Justice For Orphans' upcoming events!  God is doing amazing things!

Every Good and Perfect Gift Is From Above!

Monday morning, 1/27/14, began with me taking my mom to her blood transfusion.  But when I awoke to start the day I found a message on my cell phone from my son, "We are at the hospital."  Could it be that our anxiously anticipated little bundle of blessing (aka very first grand baby) would make her arrival 2 weeks early???  I headed out to bring my mom to Albany Memorial Hospital while my mind was on what could be happening at St. Peter's Hospital just a few miles away. 

Mom & I playing Yahtzee to pass the time.

 As we were leaving Albany Memorial to head to St. Peter's I got this message, "10 cm dilated and pushing."  Ahhhhhhh.  I flew to St. Peter's.  As I threw my car at the valet parking guys I got another text..."born 11:50am, 6 lbs 3 oz."  Ahhhhhh  get me to the 3rd floor!!!!  I dumped my parents off at the room of my nephew and his wife (their baby boy arrived 5 weeks early the day before) and I not-so-patiently waited in the waiting room for Wayne Jr.  After being joined by Kerri's parents and sister, the 2 very ecstatic grandmothers were escorted to the delivery room for our very first peek at our precious grand daughter:  Iona Elizabeth Flach!

Happy Family!

Happy Grammy Flach

Happy Grandpa!

Monday was a whirlwind day.  I spent most of the day between 2 hospitals.  In addition to my first born having his first born, I got a peek at my nephew's baby boy, and my mother-in-law had hip replacement surgery at the same hospital that same morning!  I guess little miss Iona didn't want to miss the party!  The happy family came home on Wednesday and are doing wonderfully!  All my kids are excited to be first time aunts and uncles.

Great Grandma & Grandpa

On Saturday my parents were able to visit Wayne Jr., Kerri, and baby Iona.  I treasure this picture of my mom holding my grand daughter.  My mom celebrates her 76th birthday this week.  We celebrated with a family dinner out at our favorite restaurant.  But the best present of all, the good and perfect gift from above, shining down from the Father of light - my precious grand daughter!

New Year - New Seasons

Welcome to the New Year!  It started out very interesting as New Year's Eve day my mom was taken to the hospital.  She's had a blood disorder for many years where her bone marrow over produced blood.  It over produced so much that now it's burnt out and can no longer produce enough.  From this point on she will need regular blood transfusions.  I'm her advocate, and her daughter of course, and I will be taking her to all of her appointments.  This is a new season in our lives.  Prayer is appreciated and God is faithful.

Andrii (center) and buddies Ben and Evan.

 Andrii ventured up to our camp in the Adirondacks with a couple buddies to do some snowboarding just before Christmas.  Looks like they had fun!

Justified!

 Sierra trying out Andrii's new gun.  Yup, that's right.  She's shooting guns.  Just another day in the life of this homeschooling family!

Anna & Avalon

 Anna has been enjoying bonding with her horse, Avalon.  She's been going over to the ranch twice a week for riding lessons and hands on grooming etc.  She's a happy girl.  It looks like they both are!

Slava in his weighted blanket!

 We got Slava a weighted blanket for Christmas.  Weighted blankets are recommended for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder.  He really likes it.  When he's having a hard time managing himself, we wrap him up burrito-style and have him chill out for 5 minutes.  It seems to help.  Now if we can only get him to stop hitting/kicking and saying "stupid" all the time.  Slava's a lot of work, but worth every minute of it!

Jordan and his new skates!

 The pond is frozen over and that means ice hockey!  The kids  have been hosting games every chance they get.  Our pond is a popular place this time of year.

Slava - Cool Dude at the Dentist!

I took the little boys for dental cleanings and couldn't resist snapping this picture while Slava was in the chair!  Both boys had improved brushing, but both still needed a filling each.  Basically Jordan's mouth is a mess.  He'll need lots of orthodontics in the near future.  Fun, fun.

Other things going on - this past weekend Curtis moved into his own apartment.  This is a new season for us.  He's almost 22, but it's still bittersweet for this stay-at-home/home schooling mama.  He didn't move far, but it's still an adjustment for us.  I suspect he's enjoying some peace and quiet, something our house has little of!  

We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of our grand daughter!  As I type this, Kerri has 3 weeks to her due date!  With everything that's been going on, I am looking forward to the arrival of my very first grandchild and the joy she will bring to our family!  

Justice For Orphans, our ministry, has been moving and growing.  We've got some exciting events planned for 2014 along with the theme:  Love In Action.  The radio shows have been going great, we've got some fundraising events planned, and a huge foster care-focused event in the works for May.  Stay tuned for more details or visit justicefororphansny.org to learn more.