Full Circle...

Concentric circles... there's the bigger circle of 2009. We applied to Building Blocks Adoption Services on December 31st 2008. So in a very real sense this calendar year was set apart to pursue our international adoption... full of LOTS of paperwork, homestudy, fire inspections, long distance travel, looking through books for the faces of children that seemed to have "Work" written all over them... and now we're HOME where we all belong. Guess when we arrived home? Yep, December 31st 2009! The smaller circle was our "in country" circle... our plane landed in the Ukraine October 31st and we arrived home exactly two months later. (At the beginning of our trip we faced a "flu ban," at the end of our trip the flu had hit the girls orphanage...round-and-round we went.)

What a wonderful reunion we had with our sons! Jesse is beaming... we're all "pinching ourselves" trying to decide whether this is real or a dream. Our guys have been great with the girls. Yesterday we all went sled riding... maxed out fun! Tim and Debbie were driving home and aggreeing that we both had enjoyed our sleding time and how many different combinations of people there are to go down on two-man sleds, when you have 8 people to share your family sledding adventure with. Tim concluded, "Eight is great!"

Full circle... expanding circle... it's a process and GOD always finishes what He begins!

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."
- Psalm 126: 5-6

PS - Look for a video... comin' soon...!!!!

PSS - Thanks for carin' enough to read our blog... we'll update "HisNewWorkCrew" several times over the next months... So feel free to take a peak back now-and-then! May God bless you all this New Year!

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Playin' Hide 'n Seek in our Flat...

Sasha has found out something about her new Papa... HE LIKES HIS COFFEE! So she came up with an ingenious idea... whenever Papa is not looking... HIDE HIS COFFEE!

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Christmas in Kiev...

Greetings from Patrick, Deborah, Sasha and Olya Work...from our very comfortable flat in Kiev...complete with jacuzzi tub for our soaking pleasures! We are counting down the 3-to-5 day waiting period for the girls passports. It is a good opportunity to make connections with the girls, in our slow-but-steady type of way. Our first 24 hours with the girls were very, very difficult because of how much we needed to get done in Odessa, sloshing through horribly thick slosh on all of the sidewalks, soaking wet feet for hours and hours and two train rides. (It must have been so confusing for the girls... this is adoption? Where is the USA? We've heard all this talk and seen pictures of Tim, Justin, Jordan and Jesse... when do we get to meet them? Debbie asked Zhenya to explain that we have to do all this to get passports SO THAT we can take planes back to Ohio and finally be HOME!)

We had a nice breakthrough in Kiev when Debbie invited the girls to help make eggs in the kitchen. They loved cracking the eggs, stirring, frying, scooping, setting the table, pouring juice, etc... Sasha wouldn't let Pat into the kitchen until everything was ready. It was so cute! Now we were seeing those smiles back again! Then in the evening we filled up the jacuzzi tub with deliciously warm water and the girls climbed in and took a LONG bath with jets bubbling full force! Now we were adding some laughter to the mix!

Today is Christmas and we are taking our daughters to our favorite Ukrainian restaurant, translated means... Fat House! Yum, yum! Another special memory was sitting together on the couch, Sasha holding a Russian version of the Bible and Pat and Debbie holding English versions. Pat found Luke 1 in the Russian Bible and Sasha read a verse in Russian and we repeated the same verse in English. It was one of the most powerful readings of the Christmas story we ever experienced! The last special memory we'd like to share is the present that Pat gave to his special ladies... we all received sparkling pink bracelets from Papa! He said that we were his special, beautiful girls! (See picture!)

May the Lord bless you and yours this Christmas and

throughout the coming New Year!

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FLU Epidemic hits the orphanage!

Can you believe it? (Remember our FIRST obstacle... a 3 week flu epidemic shutdown!) Their orphanage school is closed down. Everyone is wearing masks or scarves. Many children are sick and they are quaranteened in the dormitory. IRREGARDLESS: We are picking up the girls TONIGHT! (Debbie has visited the last two days, with her own mask firmly tied on. Sasha and Olya have slight coughs, but do not seem bad at all. They are very excited to come with us! Tomorrow we take them to Odessa on train to get them scanned for their very own passports. There is a 3-to-5 day waiting period for passports, so we'll head back to Kiev to wait... which will afford Zhenya some much deserved time with his wife and son and will be fun for us, cuz the girls have never seen Kiev and it'll be gorgeous with Christmas lights! Looks like Christmas in Kiev with our "angels!") Love you all!

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ANOTHER WALL... Smashed, toppled and broken!

I'm smiling from ear-to-ear! God is good... I just got the call I've been waiting for... and the latest issue has been resolved! Remember the story of the "cold" Chief Judge who kept telling us to "come back?" Well, Pat and Zhenya went this morning and she said that soon she was leaving for vacation. And, if she couldn't get it done today, she'd let another judge do it tomorrow, Tuesday, December 22nd. But, Zhenya appealed to her and asked if she could please try to do it today. She said, "Come back at 2:00 PM!" (Noticing a pattern?) SOooo, they came back at 2:00 PM. To make a long story shorter... she ended up calling her superiors at the Court of Appeals and they told her that since our ADOPTION DECREE is a valid document and has an addendum dealing with the mispelled last name... THAT DOCUMENT TRUMPED THE OTHER ONE and we did not need to change the original court decree that took away parental rights from the birth parents. Zhenya gently pressed further and asked the Chief Judge to call the Birth Certificate Chief Officer and explain all of this. She called and the office was closed. Zhenya had the ladies home phone number! THE CHIEF JUDGE ACTUALLY AGREED TO CALL THIS WOMAN AT HOME AND SHE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING FOR US!! (There was NO bribing involved... the judge simply had a change-of-heart!! Then Zhenya and Pat hired a taxi, went to the home of the lady who is in charge of birth certificates, picked her up, took her to her CLOSED office and she made NEW birth certificates...TODAY! The girls now bear our NAME, it is completely official...orphans no more! Zhenya said he estimates that we are 90% of the way through the adoption process... social text numbers, Passports and Visa's left to go. (Interestingly, we applied to Building Blocks Adoption Services on December 31, 2008!) Tick...tick...tick...goes the trip-o-meter!

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My two heroes... Patrick and Zhenya!

Forgive me as I get a little emotional today! I'm sitting alone in our hotel room, while Zhenya and Pat are heading back to Artsez...AGAIN... to face a formidable obstacle there, in the town where the girls grew up. Last Thursday "the gang" (Yuri, Zhenya, Pat and Debbie) all went together, in Yuri's taxi, to try and solve this same problem. But, we were buffeted by a huge snow storm and lived thru the most terrifying 12 hour trip of our lives. (But, God orchestrated miracle after miracle and literally saved our lives. If you are interested in this story of the amazing provision of God, please ask us for details when we get home. We'd love to tell you the story!) Barely recovered or warmed up, the next day we were slapped down by the Chief Judge who we found to be colder than our 45 degree hotel room or the many snow drifts we had to dig ourselves out of. FOLKS... did you know that the Cold War is not over yet? This judge has lied to us several times, but in one brief moment of honesty, she told Zhenya that she does not believe international/American adoptions are in the best interest of Ukrainian children. She flat out would not give us the addendum we need to correct the original court decree from 3 years ago. (We need this document to get the new birth certificates and social tech numbers.) Zhenya said our case has been the most difficult one he has faced in 10 years of helping people adopt!

Back to my HEROES! I want to honor my husband, Patrick for taking on the task of adopting orphan girls at the age of 52 years. He has been a wonderful friend, prayer partner, romancer, educator and leader on this trip. I miss him right now, and ask that you pray for success this Monday in all their endeavors (We need a couple of Christmas miracles this week!)

Also, Pat and I would like to honor ZHENYA... one of the most amazing people we have ever had the privilege to meet. Some of the best ways to desribe him would be... accomplished administrator, diplomat, fine legal mind, kind, generous to a fault, Lover of God, courageous and hard-working. But, probably the BEST word to describe Zhenya would have to be PASSION. He is passionate to find forever homes for orphans. We have laughed together, prayed, cried... he's seen us when we've been sick, he's defended us, suffered for us and given every last ounce of energy to help us. He has become a very, very special friend!

Saving the best for last, we'd also like to THANK and praise God, who the Bible describes as being a "Father to the fatherless." He is the consummate Father, yesterday, today and forever... and we are very thankful that he's adopted us into His family! Pat and I had been spiritual orphans before we were rescued by the love of God and we now see the sacrifice that Christmas represents in a whole new LIGHT! At Great Cost, the Father sent His only son to be our rescuer. At great cost, Jesus said Yes and left the pleasures of Heaven to come to earth. At great cost, Jesus said YES to a torturous death and bore our sins, so that whosoever believes on Jesus shall be saved and eternally adopted into God's family! Now that's the BEST adoption story ever!

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Met with the Judge this Morning!

Believe it or not... our most recent hurdle, has revolved around the letter "e." Sasha's original birth certificate had ONE mispelled letter in her last name. This simple clerical error has caused huge headaches for Zhenya and has slowed down our adoption process! Our judge here in Kotovsk, overreacted to the error and made Zhenya's job thrice as difficult... multiple trips, 4 hours south to Atrsez, rounding up 6 different documents! The SDA told Zhenya the judge was being ridiculous. Then Zhenya talked to another judge here in town and he said he would have easily OVERLOOKED the clerical error... a judge who understands the difference between "the letter of the law" and the "spirit of the law!" BUT, our judge held Sasha and Olya's adoption decree in his hand, so we had to jump through his hoops. SOooo, today we accompanied Zhenya at 8:45 AM to the judges chambers, armed with our newest batch of six documents, we appealed to the judge to release our paperwork and let us continue down the road! GOOD NEWS! The judge said, "Yes!" He was satisfied with the work that Zhenya had done and he surrendered our documents to us. Zhenya commented later that there was a definite difference in the demeanor of the judge today. HE HAD SOFTENED! (Thank you Lord... for turning the heart of the judge!)

Tomorrow... the three of us and Yuri, our friendly taxi driver will head south to pick up the "fixed up" original court decree that took parental rights away, get new birth certificates bearing the last name... "WORK" and obtain new social tech numbers!

WARNING: Our return flight reservations for December 23rd are seriously jeopardized because of these unexpected problems and delays. But, we hold out some hope for a literal Christmas day return. But, as our good friend Diane Negi shared with us that she is certain that the Lord will help us to return on just the right day. So we continue to take one day and a time and trust in the words of Jesus, "I will not leave you as orphans... I will come to you!"

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Solo Visit Today!

Pat was feeling a little under the weather today... fighting a cold and winning the fight but thought he'd keep the germs in the hotel and take a nap. Sooo... Debbie ventured to the orphanage, compliments to our ever faithful friend, Yuri, the taxi driver. When I saw the girls I pantomimed to them that Papa was sick... coughing and he stayed back at the hotel to sleep. I could tell that they understood. So we settled into some counting games and looked at a beautiful picture book of Kiev. Then we finished with several rounds of UNO! (Ya gotta love UNO, cuz your learning how to say colors and numbers and SOMEONE WINS! Mama - 2 games, Sasha - 2 games, Olya - 1 game!)

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Visit # 19...

Every day is different. Our visits always seem to get off to a slow start. On the weekends we visit in the dormitories, during the school days we meet in the adjacent school. No one ever seems to be expecting us, even though we visit the same time each day. We have to round up the girls and then the challenge is... WHERE to actually visit. Yesterday we spent some time in Olya's little bedroom and played "I Spy" and ball toss alphabet and practiced the song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Today, we visited in Sasha's room and the little lounge/dressing room she shares with about 8 other girls. (See attached pictures taken by Olya and Sasha.) The last week or so, we've introduced Chad Tumino's laptop (hey, thanks a million Chad!) and an Alphabet Al, sing-along CD and songbook. After we do that for awhile, we let them go to Microsoft Word and they type their names and Papa and Mama and various words from the songbook. Today Sasha typed, Papa and Mama - I love you. As the girls typed today, we popped in a Glen Miller CD... Olya was so cute as her head bobbed along to the Big Band tunes and she hunted for her A, B, C's on the keyboard.

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Tears of Joy... Tears of Sorrow

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to breakdown, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh." - Ecclisiastes 3

We have laughed with the girls playing basketball and acting out action verbs like... jump, run, walk, catch and throw. One day we made a flutaphone and Pat's hat into makeshift "bat" and "ball." We took turns pitching, catching and hitting. Olya took a turn pitching to Papa and Pat started making the silliest faces and wiggling his butt at "homeplate" while taking practice swings with his flutish bat. Olya started laughing SO hard she literally fell on her pint-sized butt!



Then there have been times of tears...tears in Kiev and tears in Kotovsk. Together we have wept while praying, talking and reading out loud. We were both moved to tears while visiting the Monument of Hunger. There were tears of JOY, the day we finally got to meet Sasha and Olya! (Debbie remembers asking her roommates, back when she was single, to pray for her, because she never cried. She wanted to feel things more deeply and be stirred to the point of tears. God heard that prayer back in 1984 and must have said to Himself... it's only a matter of time!) God definitely seems to be softening our hearts and increasing His compassion within us. Our most recent "waterfall" experience was in the office of Ludmilla, the Executive Director of the orphanage. As she told us the story of our daughters early years... a story laced with gross neglect and rejection we were deeply saddened. (In an attempt to honor our daughters privacy, we are withholding certain details of their history.) But, honestly this new knowledge has already been helpful to deepen our desire to serve as Mama & Papa and strenghthen our commitment to see them thru the tougher stuff of life.

Today we took the girls, with Zhenya and went shoe/boot shopping! Oh my... (that committment I just mentioned...? already tested!) they were overwhelmed by all the choices... they wanted toys and hair clips and Sasha wanted black shiny high heels and when we went to eat, they ate and ate! On our way back to the hotel, they wanted to stop for candy and chips. While in our hotel, they split a banana, ate a big cookie and had TWO BOWLS OF CEREAL! (The good news is that they seem to love bread and cereal...just like their brothers back home! We keep asking ourselves, "Where could they possibly put that much food?" Zhenya said this is completely normal, that orphans tend to hoard food.) So back to the shoe shopping. We had to set limits and price shop... Sasha and Olya's first introduction to Papa and Mama's version of "generousity within the budget."

After this somewhat exhausing shopping trip and lunch venture we headed back to the hotel and Zhenya was off to work on the birth certificate issues. Debbie built some great memories curling the girls hair for the first time. And, then something WONDERFUL and UNUSUAL happened... Sasha decided that she wanted to clean and straighten our hotel room. Wait a minute... as Debbie pinches herself and asks Pat, "Did you ask her to clean?" Pat said, "No!" Debbie asked again, "Did you command or suggest that she clean up?" "Double negative," Pat replied. Then the angel choir started singing the Halleluia Chorus as Mama watched her beloved daugher make her bed, fluff pillows, wash dishes and CLEAN ALL THREE SHELVES, and straighten each nicknack and napkin! (Babushka Holley soak this in... Auntie Beth stop your toothy grinning and give me a "high five!" Ha!)

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Bought the girls some new coats!

Right down the street from where we stay, there's the coolest market ever! Vendor after vendor selling everything from bowls and cups to shoes, coats, fresh veggies, puppies, live poultry, fresh eggs, books, shaving lotion, handmade socks and disposable diapers! (Most vendors have an official structure that serves as there little "store front." The market is open for business... Weds., Friday and Sunday. But, some folks just lay a blanket down on the outskirts of the market and sell things from their blanket.)

The coats (pictured above) were bought at the market... pink for Olya and Red for Sasha! Oh how fun to start shopping for some girl things!

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Happy 12th Birthday Jesse Ryan!

Can it be that you've turned 12 years old already? It seems like yesterday that we were counting how many steps you could take before you fell on your well padded, diapered bottom! We had so much fun watching you grow from a baby to a boy and (oh no) soon from a boy to a young man! We are VERY, very proud of you buddy! (You're going to be a super dooper big brother to little Olya... we have NO DOUBTS about it.) Thanks to Auntie Beth for coming to our home from Columbus to make your special day memorable! Have fun!



(Enjoy the attached video clips!!)

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The Judge said, "Yes!"

The courtroom was humble, two bare lights hanging down from chains, a judge sitting up on an elevated wooden desk, flanked with two court witnesses. Their was a court recorder on our left and a prosecuting attorney in front of us. The girls sat to our left and Zhenya to our right, the Inspector to his right, the orphanage lawyer sat behind us. The judge started by asking Pat his name, address, profession and salary and the same questions of Debbie. He wanted to know about how we'd handle the language barrier, how does it work having grandparents living in the same home? The prosecuting attorney asked Debbie how would 4 boys relate to 2 sisters? Debbie explained that we raised our boys to be gentlemen, that they are kind and are looking forward to having sisters. The attorney wanted to know why 4 boys were not enough? Debbie explained that we had extra room in our home and hearts and that we wanted to give two sisters another chance in life. Zhenya encouraged Debbie to share how she wanted a daughter. So she explained that we've always joked that we don't have the "recipe" for having a girl (muffled laughter throughout the courtroom, even the judge chuckled.) Debbie explained that she was looking forward to being a mama to these two sisters. The Inspector testified to the lack of contact the girls had with their brother and the troubled track record the brother had and that it was his opinion that it was in the best interest of the girls to be adopted into our home. Pat ended by making a final promise to the judge that we'd do everything in our power to provide for, love and protect these two precious girls. The judge then took a break to deliberate with the two witnesses. We reconvened in 5 minutes and the judge awarded us custody of the girls and granted permission to change their names to... Alexandra Faith Work & Olya Isabella Work!

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A few words from the "orphans" back at home...

OK, so I know everyone is expecting every blog to come with Ukrainian stamps on it, but not this time. This blog comes from nowhere else but Medina, Ohio! Yah, I know, the big news is with my parents and the girls... but here's something to hold you over...

Our experience without my parents can be culinarily described in one word- chicken. Yup, chicken. Lots of it, too. Ever since the memo went out that we don't want pig in our meals the poultry seems to fly in to our home all by itself. But it hasn't really... it's been delicately cooked and seasoned and personally given to us brothers and for that we say thank you! Particularly, thank you Mrs. Negi and Mrs. Turner for helping out an extra lot. We've been well fed! In fact, for the first, I don't know, fifteen days we didn't have to prepare a dinner at all! We either ate fresh homemade food or had the painstaking and unbearable duty of warming up leftovers! I hope you picked up on the sarcasm... life's been easy without our parents... culinarily speaking..

Maybe you laughed at the blog title, but I have felt, and perhaps all of my brothers have felt, like "orphans" lately. Olya (not a typo) and Sasha have had it much, MUCH harder, but I atleast feel like I can empathize with them, especially since our parents departure was over a month ago. I grow fonder of them even when I'm with them, but when I'm not....

So what has my experience been like, food aside? Let me tell you this... I miss their prayers and their wisdom. I just talked to my mom and dad a few hours ago and was amazed with the wisdom I've been missing. You see, lately the scary thought came to me. What if Olya or Sasha hug Jesse more than they hug me!!! Or what if they avoid talking or playing with one of us! It was so comforting to here my mom say what her and my dad had realized.... It's not about us! Yes, we'll love the laughter and games and the ability to learn together, but this whole mission is about showing the love of Christ. No matter what happens, if we show the love of Christ (who was rejected in his own town) even if/when they don't seem to show it back, we are still doing what He wants us to do! I take great comfort in my parents wisdom to dwell on the fact that is truly not about us. It's about two orphans being adopted into the Work family and shown the way to be adopted into God's.

We miss our parents a lot, yes, but we're comforted by knowing that they're safe and thriving physically, emotionally and spirtually. Thanks to everyone who's read the blog, prayed for my parents, given us meals, prayed for us, financially supported, hosted us, and blessed us with their well-wishes, hugs and love.

One month down, one month to go.

Love you all and God bless you!

- Jordan (semi-on-behalf-of-his-brothers)

P.S. - If you have a desire to feed us... we wouldn't mind a chicken-free dish.

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Court Date Set!

This Friday, December 4th at 11:00 AM, Alexandra and Olya, Patrick and Debbie and Zhenya will appear before a judge in a court here in Kotovsk. If the judge decides in our favor, we will officially become parents of these two precious sisters. We will go out for lunch and "whoop it up" Ukrainian style. Then it'll be back to the orphanage for a mandatory 10 day waiting period. Afterwards, we will pick them up and travel to Odessa where we'll need to pursue getting new social security-type numbers and passports. (That process can take 3 - 5 days.)

Today, during our visit, Pat had Zhenya interpret to the girls that we love God and God loves them and it is BECAUSE of HIS LOVE that we are pursuing them and want to adopt. Honestly, they looked a little "blank" when we talked about God, but that's OK... we just planted our first seeds!

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Daily Visits to the Orphanage...

We're settling into a new routine here in Kotovsk. Our days start with something simple to eat... a banana, cup of coffee, piece of bread or poppy seed kuchen and then Debbie goes down to a mini-lounge area to have some quiet time by herself,allowing Pat time to pray alone in our small room. Afterwards, we reconvene and share any insights we've gleaned from prayer and/or the Bible. We pray for our time at the orphanage and our boys back home, etc... and then Yuri, the taxi driver picks us up for our daily visit with Sasha and Olee. Our visits are different every single time... but always sweet and blessed with laughter and learning. We start with "skola" (school) and bring picture books and teach some vocabulary and practice what we learn... "stand up" and "sit down." Today we introduced... happy, sad, hug and kiss! We've played card games, done puzzles, take pictures, play hide-and-seek, done simple math equations, given gifts and smiled till our cheeks ache! We've met and filmed and photographed many of their friends and have fallen in love with two of Sasha's girlfriends... both named Tonya. Today we started praying for "forever families" for these two cuties and we were both overcome with tears and deep emotion at the thought! Life is good!

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Happy Birthday Jordan!

Several weeks ago... when it became apparent that your parent's would not be home for your birthday or Jesse's birthday, you graciously released us from worrying about gifts... You told us that all you wanted for your birthday was for two orphan girls to become your sisters. Well, dear son it looks like God is granting the desire of your heart!

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart!" - Psalm 37: 3-4

Have a blessed, happy, Sabbath holy BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Papa & Mama

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There's Something You Don't Know...

The girls have a 17 year old brother! Yes, we were encouraged to keep that "under wraps" until we knew more. We wouldn't know more until we travelled to the girls orphanage. We were told that he was in a trade school... that is all. The day we met the girls, the orphanage director told Zhenya that their brother had been in that same orphanage and then "graduated" to a trade school. When he was at the orphanage, he didn't pay too much attention to his sisters and since he's left he has not been back to visit them. What's worse, we found out that he had run away from two different trade schools and they did not know where he was! That was not good for Sasha and "O-lee" and the Work Family, it was very important to us and to the process that we find the brother and he agreed to "release" his sisters to be adopted. Gulp, another obstacle we needed God's help to break down! The last they knew, the brother had been in a trade school 4 hours south of Kotovsk. Zhenya arranged for a long distance taxi to take us there. We left at 6:30 AM, Thanksgiving morning, not knowing who we'd find or what would happen! We had an 11:00 AM appt. with an official who had organized a search for the brother. They found him... he was working on a farm out in the country! We drove out FAR into the country... many windy dirt roads, criss-crossing without signs or signals anywhere. I asked Zhenya and Yuri (the taxi driver) how did they know where to go? He said, "Ukrainian instinct!" Plus, they stopped and asked 3 "babushka's" for directions. We ended up at the mayors office of a small village. She knew of the farm and of the boy. Debbie had to get out of the taxi and a worker drove with the men to show them where the farm was located. He was working as a shepherd on a farm! Zhenya had a LONG talk with him. He was willing to sign a release for his sisters to be adopted. He had no problems doing that. Zhenya gave him our home address and told him that we were interested in cooresponding with him if he was interested in that, that he was welcome to visit and we asked for HIS address. He said that he didn't have a permanent address, but when he did, he'd give it to us. Zhenya gave him his cell phone number and told him he'd talk to the Inspector and see if he could get him back into the trade school. The boy said he'd try it again and STAY this time. Our hope and prayer is that with the news of his sisters adoption, another crack at trade school, knowing that there's an American family open to communicate with HIM, he will have a new catalyst to set goals and have something to aim for.

Armed with the brothers release form we headed back to the town where the children were from. We did some more paperwork and were on our way back to Kotovsk when Zhenya called the SDA and read them the paperwork over the phone. They said it wouldn't work because it didn't have the word "separation" on it! So we turned around and went back to town. Zhenya went to the supervisor and she went to the regional supervisor. The regional supervisor said, NO! We must adopt all three! But, Zhenya reminded her that because the boy ran away from trade school there was no one to prepare his documents. Plus, he did not want to be adopted. SOooo, not taking NO for an answer, he appealed to the Asst. Mayor. He agreed with Zhenya and got him into the mayor's office. The mayor agreed to sign a form granting a separation. So they formed a committee of four and wrote up a document and all signed it. After hours of waiting, walking and wondering Pat, Yuri and I were amazed to hear the tensions and challenges that Zhenya had just faced. We arrived back "home" 16 hours later, worn out yet THANKFUL for all that we were able to accomplish that day. (Besides it being Thanksgiving Day back in the USA, it was Zhenya's 5th anniversary and Yuri's 21st anniversary. It was a day we will never forget! Been having alot of those lately!)

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Introducing... Alexandra Faith & Olya Isabella!!

There are no words... but we will try! Every tear, financial set-back or fear was washed away in a tidal wave of love and joy! God's presence was there from start to finish... it was 45 minutes of bliss! We greeted them with hugs and told them they were beautiful! Then we were ushered to a table and the girls sat in the middle and Pat sat on one end by Alexandra (nickname "Sasha") and Debbie sat next to Olya (pronounced Ohl-ya). We told them that we'd like them to meet our family and see our home back in the United States. Be began by introducing our sons and then showed them all the rooms of our house, including the room that may become THEIR BEDROOM!) Then we asked them about their favorite colors, foods, sports, etc... They love TOMATOES! Pat is psyched! Then we gave them dolls, a brown haired Bella doll for Sasha and a blonde, blue-eyed doll for Olya... blue eyes like her! We had fun unwrapping the packages and playing with each accessory. They braided and brushed the dolls hair and then Debbie and Sasha and Bella all took turns rocking the dolls! Too precious! Debbie started to clean up scraps from the presents and then Sasha insisted that SHE CLEAN UP! Beyond...beyond! The girls really seem to love/like each other, so that is good. Zhenya said that the girls knew right away they wanted to be adopted by us and today they called us Mama and Papa and signed paperwork testifying that they say, YES!

Final note to our sons - Tim I saw Olya, smile and point to your picture and giggle and say something to Sasha! Justin... all I can say is Makayla and Maggie need to scoot over! Jordan - you will never be the same! Jesse - hey buddy your gonna be a BIG brother and have a schoolmate cuz Sasha is in the 6th grade!

Thanks for all of your prayers back home! AND THANK YOU JESUS!

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Two angels...

Every morning for the last three weeks, we've looked out our bedroom window, here in Kiev and saw these two angels. I thought that was soo sweet of the Lord to provide a fourth floor apartment with these cherabim's right outside our window. (I know that we're not adopting angels but, it was still fun to see these 2 littles statues.)

We leave tonite on the 10 PM train. We will arrive in Kotovsk at 4:00 AM. We have an appointment with the inspector at 8 AM. Then we will go to the orphanage and meet the girls! If they like us, then it is a GO and Zhenya will start all of the paperwork necessary to bring them home... birth certificates, court date, visa's, passports, etc... Of course we will like them... we already love them!

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Founding of Kiev

The name Kiev comes from a medieval legend about three brothers, Kie, Shchek and Khoriv, and their sister Lebid. By tradition they founded the city in the 5th century A.D. and in May 1982 the 1,500th anniversary of Kiev was celebrated. It was named Kiev in honor of the oldest brother, King Kie (Kyi, pronounced kiy, in Ukrainian). According to church tradition, the founding of a great city on that location had been predicted by the patron saint of Ukraine, Saint Andrew the Apostle, after he visited this land about 50 A.D. We found out that "Kiev" was the spelling used by all Ukrainian writers into the nineteenth century and by Taras Shevchenko, the greatest of Ukrainian poets and writers. (Also spelled, "Kyiv")

Today we went to say goodbye to Kie, Shchek, Khoriv and Lebid!

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Mr. Robata learning Russian!

Yes... "robata" means WORK in Russian. So here we have Pat robatically holding his Russian primer... as he gets ready to work at his Russian! (Groan!)

Here are a few Russian vocabulary words he'd like to share...

Dad = papa, Mom = mama, Brother = brat, Sister = sestra, Grandma = ba-bush-ka,

Grandpa = dee-ye-dush-ka, Good job = bravo!, Cat = kot, Dog = sa-ba-ka, Milk = ma-la-ka,

Sunshine = sol-nish-ka

GOOD NEWS! The SDA & orphanages, schools & Universities all open Monday, November 23rd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Open the Orphanages!

Tomorrow the government votes about opening the schools, SDA and orphanages back up! Yes, it is clearly time to be up and running again. Our "enforced vacation" (as Pat's friend Horatio so aptly describes it) is coming to an end...the next phase of the adventure is about to begin... we hope and pray... soon. If all goes well... we will travel to the city of Kotovsk and visit the girls, early next week. For the weekend we will enjoy the sights of our beloved Kiev a little bit longer. (This city takes architecture to a whole new height!)

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Mr. Yushchenko... Tear Down this Wall!

While we've been here in the Ukraine, the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Berlin wall's demise. What a monumental victory that was! In this picture we have Pat trying to push open a set of imposing gates... huge archways, black iron fences are everywhere here in Kiev.

We are still in a holding pattern. The doors of the orphanages are scheduled to open back up on November 23rd. Once the SDA opens back up, they'll issue us our paperwork and we will head toward Kotovsk, near the border of Moldova. We recently read online that Ukraine took the strongest actions against the swine flu of any European country, including closing of 4 of their borders.

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Ukraine's National Flower...

I've been seeing sunflowers everywhere I go! In our first flat, we had a sunflower bedspread. Sunflowers are frequently found in their folk art. This year, before I traveled to the Ukraine, I started having a special attraction to sunflowers. It may sound funny to you... but they INSPIRE ME! Why? Well... every morning the sunflower is looking to the east, waiting for the sun to rise. It follows the sun across the sky all day long. It makes me think of the scripture in Hebrews 12 that reads..."fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." So in a very real way... I too want to be the Lord's SONflower, riveting my attention on HIM. (Of course I need lots of reminders to get my focus back on the Lord, so these constant "sunflower sightings" have been helpful!) When I found out that "sunflowers" were this nation's national flower I was thrilled!

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Is there a Dr. in the "HOUSE?"

Who remembers Dr. Gregory House, from TV series, House MD? The series debuted in 2004 and featured Dr. House, an arrogant, aloof medical genius/forensic specialist who was partly modeled after Sherlock Holmes. The actor's name is Hugh Laurie and he hails from... none other than... the UKRAINE! Yes, and many souvenir booth's offer bags and shirts with his face printed on the front. That's OK... we'll pass. (Season #1 just arrived to the Ukraine!)

Today we walked to a different church called St. Andrews. It is right next to the SDA. As you can see, the church is amazing in it's design and intricacies! (See side bar.) It is considered a baroque church and was built between 1747 -1754.

The location of the church is attributed to the place where the Apostle Andrew arrived and erected a cross and prophecied the future of a great Christian city. At that time the region was barely inhabited. Many believe his prediction became true because the city of Kiev eventually became the center of Eastern Orthodox faith.

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Veteran's Day Update...

Pat & Debbie... just before their appointment at the SDA

Today we had our second appointment to look at children's files at the State Department of Adoption (SDA). They spent even more time with us then last time and let Zhenya go through several binders with us. So many children between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. Many younger children are being taken into foster homes, just like in the USA. We saw several girls that did not have any siblings and seemed very precious, but we held firm in wanting siblings. So after considerable deliberation we chose, two sisters... who recently turned 9 years and 12 years of age! We are quite sure they are small for their ages, so they'll seem and look more like 8 and 11 years old. So it was a BIG DAY. We feel like "veteran's..." veteran's in a "war" fighting to adopt two children! "Forward! Halt! Onward... Kneel & pray... Fight the good fight of Faith!"
And, all of you back home are lifting our arms and it all means alot to us both!

Good News! *There has been some news reports that the flu epidemic is lessening! Keep praying for God's mercy of healing to be poured out upon this country and that the political officials will reverse the ban and open the SDA and all the orphanages SOON! Yes and Amen! We cannot go and visit these two sisters until the ban is lifted! *Also, another praise report... Our church took up a generous collection of money to help us during this time. What a blessing because our trip is likely going to be weeks longer than anticipated. And, that is more time off without pay. SOooo, thanks to Covenant of Grace Church!

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Language learning...

Guess what these signs mean?

Pat is giving himself to studying the language... especially the written language. It helps as we walk about the city, the signs are starting to make more sense... since he's "cracked the code." SOooo, here's your first lesson:

Some Ukrainian consonants are the same as ours! Yeah! That's easy! For example: Our M, T and K are the same as theirs. Our "A, E, I and O" vowels are the same as theirs. BUT, they have some letters that look like our letters but "SAY" something different... their capital "B" says, "v" or "w" and their "P" says, "rrr." Plus, you have to memorize some completely new letters... like a circle with a line running thru the centor of the circle (see above) and that says, "f."

Question: Taking what you've learned so far... guess which sign reads, "Diplomat" and which one reads, "Cafe Bar??" Have fun!

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Bridal Brigade!

The sun broke thru today so we decided to go for a walk to see St. Sophia's and St. Michael's Monastery of the Golden Domes. Little did we know that November 8th was "THE" day to get married... We saw at least 6 brides! It was mostly sunny and upper 50's... so a brisk and pleasant day to get married! (This pretty area is only a 5 minute walk from our flat in Kiev.)

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Culture notes...

Let's start by discussing food! Don't we all love that subject? Bread is big (and cheap!) We can walk to the market and get a loaf of fresh bread for 50 cents and an 8 in. roll of poppy seed pastry for 75 cents. The national soup is "BORSCH" made out of beets and beans, cabbage, onion and served with a small scoop of sour cream. We really like it! Not a lot of ice for drinks. Pierogies (called varenyky) can be filled with everything from mushrooms to cherries.

Their calendar starts on Monday and the two days off per week are Thursday and Sunday.

The hot water is on the right side of the spigot and they wear their wedding bands on the right hand. I guess they're right and we're wrong!

Winter dress: Fancy coats with big fur collars and knee high boots are a FASHION must for the women. There are so many fancy boot shops it's hard to imagine they keep them all busy. The men wear lots of black or navy... and you could sum up the men's style with words such as "functional" and "simple."

Transportation: Lots of electric cable cars and cars from all over the world. Pat loves seeing so many variety of cars... Ukrainian, Russian, Czech, Romanian and lots of KIA'S! (boys... Dad got footage of a Kia Rio TAXI... front and back bumpers intact.) But, by far the most popular method of getting from point A to point B is walkin'!

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Stranger than Fiction...

The whirlwind hit into a brick wall!! Please pray with us! Please pray for us!
As you know, we traveled by train all nite last nite to meet the children. But, when we got
to Odessa the mayor had shut down the city. No schools, no national adoption, no international
adoptions. The FLU has hit the Ukraine and they are taking drastic measures! The State Dept.
of Adoption has stopped giving referrals to families seeking adoption until the threat of flu has
passed. The inspector of Odessa said, "No appointments at the orphanages!" Zhenya talked to the orphanage director and the regional supervisor. Found out that the children were in different orphanages.

We had been told they were in the same orphanage and that their health was good.
Only to find when we got there that the boy was hospitalized, and had more serious health
problems than we were lead to believe. The day before Zhenya was having great difficulty
contacting the orphanage director. (There are many good orphanages in the Ukraine but this
one seems not to be one of them. And, their files were not accurate. The 3 of us went back to our apartment and talked and talked and tried to discern what to do next. (Was this an obstacle to overcome or a door closing in front of us??)

We felt that God was blocking/stopping this particular referral. There were many blocks from many angles.

SOOOooo, where does that leave us? We are going to officially refuse that referral. We've travelled back to Kiev on bus. And, have decided to stay for another appt. next week, and look at new children's files. At that time we will see if the flu epidemic has settled at all. We need to be prepared to travel home at the end of next week... without any children. And, go back to the Ukraine to finish the process when the epidemic has settled down. We are choosing
to view this as a sovereignly closed door and that there are other children meant for us.

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The Appointment

Today we met with Zhenya and a psychologist that works for the State Dept
of Adoption. It was surreal... a meeting we have imagined many times. The
worker did not speak english. We were shown or discussed 3 or 4 sister sets
and several brother/sister sets of siblings that were available for adoption.
But, we were most drawn to a brother/sister combination. They look sweet,
truly orphaned and they are from down in southern Ukraine, near the sea!
We will take a train ride starting tonite at 9 PM. (Sleep is overrated, right!?)
We will meet them tomorrow, if all goes well. Please pray for THEM, as they
may refuse us and that has happened before. The sister just turned 11, her
brother is 7 yrs old.

(I'm at the post office right now. Connectivity can be an issue. Can't gaurantee
how often I can update the blog. Please Pray for that as well. I love blogging
and letting you all share this adventure with us!)

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Walking tour of Kiev!

Today Elana gave us a 4.5 hour walking tour of Kiev. The architecture is amazing! Elana is a recent college grad. We really enjoyed our time with her. She was a big help getting around and interpreting for us. At one point we visited an underground mall and had some great coffee and chatted about her family and our family. When we showed Elana some pictures of our boys she thought they were really handsome. She said that there is an Ukrainian costume that says that if a husband and wife truly love each then their children will be good looking. Then she said, "You, Patrick & Deborah must REALLY love each other alot!" What a hoot!

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Kissin' in Kiev

We had a wonderful "first night" in Kiev! Took a walk, bought fresh

bread and olive oil at a market. Bread was only $1 American and an

old sailor spontaneously helped us find what we were looking for. We've

"forced" ourselves to stay awake so we can go to bed "Ukrainian time."

All is well!

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Four planes... Four letters!

We're here! We're really here... and let me tell you... Kiev is a beautiful city! We received VIP treatment when we arrived at the airport. Our representative, Zhenya had an associate waiting with a sign with our name and he took us to the head of the line at customs and we picked up ALL THREE OF OUR SUITCASES, (the luggage that hopped from one plane, to the other, to the other... right along with us. Thank you Lord!) Zhenya and his driver took us on a brief driving tour of Kiev and then on to our apartment (nice 1 bedroom w/ kitchen, bath and little wash machine - no dryer.) Zhenya has really taken to Patrick... he thinks he is hysterical! He called his colleague on the phone, she's going to give us a walking tour of the city tomorrow... Zhenya kept saying Pat is funny, Pat is so funny. He also said our job is to: 1.) Pray (you gotta love that) 2.) be happy 3. be open minded & patient.

I'd like to close with a quick tribute to our 4 sons back home. They each wrote us one letter. The letters were marked, "Plane 1" "Plane 2" etc... On each leg of our journey we opened a letter and our hearts were deeply touched by the prayers and encouragement of the boys. SOooo, thanks guyz! What a blessing to have something to look forward to on our long journey. In a small but very real way... all four of you came with us!

Love, Dad & Mom

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Momentum Builds...

-Last week we recieved a $3000 grant from SHOW HOPE, a Christian adoption ministry. We were thrilled and thankful for this blessing from above.

-Today we recieved "the call!" Building Blocks Adoption Services called to inform us that we have been invited to travel to the Ukraine. November 2nd we have a meeting in Kiev at the State Department. Praise the Lord!

-Tomorrow... book airline reservations and START PACKING!

-Debbie

"Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the

deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before

him! He is a Father to the fatherless and

protector of widows is God in his holy

habitation. God settles the solitary in a home."

~ Psalm 68: 4,5 & 6a

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HisWorkCrew: Under Construction

Our earnest desire as a family is to adopt a sibling group from the Ukraine. We look forward to sharing our home, lives and heart with these children. The idea was birthed in Patrick's heart some 17 years ago when he was reading a FOCUS ON THE FAMILY magazine and the issue was presenting the need for foster-parenting and adoption. God so strongly moved on his heart that he couldn't even talk about it without crying. We started looking into fostering at that time. But, then Debbie got pregnant with son #3 and the dream took a place on the "back burner." Now 17 years later... our household has grown to four sons, we've moved to a bigger home with an in-law suite for Grandpa & Grandma and still some extra room for our adopted children!!

Although Patrick & Debbie will be the ones traveling to the Ukraine, this is a ministry desired by our WHOLE family. Tim, Justin, Jordan & Jesse look forward to the future family adventures that lie ahead for His NEW Work Crew!

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