We can fly, we can fly, we can fly!

We're OFF to Neverland!

God has opened the windows and we've flown right through! 

Well the time has come and we have our tickets! 

 All four of us are scheduled to fly out of the U.S. on Sunday the 18th and take a 23-hour trip to Kiev, Ukraine. God is good, he has provided all along the way and we have faith we will be back with our boys as our own. We are quickly preparing for our trip and taking care of last minute things that can't be left undone before we leave. Vadym and Valera are counting down the days and have told me over and over again, “I SMILE, BIG SMILE”. 

We are excited and can't wait for the moment when we can see our boys again.

 

So our plan is that Chris, I and both Bryce and Dawson will be in Ukraine for roughly three 

weeks. At that time Chris and Bryce will return to the U.S. and Dawson and I will remain in Ukraine for most likely another three weeks. This places us at returning just around the end of the year.

While we are there we have hopes to visit with the children that we have heard over the phone and that we've met on previous hosting trips as well as advocated for a year now. I honestly CAN'T wait to hug each of them! We're really hoping that we can take each sibling group on an outing and possibly even to church, if we can work out the details. We are praying that the Lord opens the door. Just in the last week I've met several people from Ukraine and it's been a huge encouragement to me knowing that God is in control and is bringing key people into our lives. We also have many friends whom we've already met from Ukraine and they have impacted our lives greatly throughout this journey. The Ukrainian population here in the greater Seattle area is very large and we feel so blessed that God has us here during this time. Not only does loving people from Ukraine surround us but because of hosting, we have met two families who live only 30-40 minutes from us who are adopting from the SAME orphanage!!!! This just makes my heart beat fast and my arm hairs stand up straight! What on earth are the odds of that? The total number of children is 8, eight children from the same orphanage adopted by families who love the Lord and live just miles from one another!!! God is SO good to us!! He loves these little ones SO much! I feel honored to be apart of this divine plan and I cannot even tell you how special I feel to be the mommy to Bryce, Dawson, Vadym and Valera! It's a surreal feeling to know that God has entrusted them to me and also that he has blessed me beyond words and literally to tears! What an awesome and wonderful life it is to live by faith! I can only ask that the few of you reading this post take a moment and ask yourself if you are trusting in the Lord to live your life. The moment I said, “YES! God I want you to guide me, to lead me and to take hold of my life”, it's been the most incredible feeling, an exhilarating ride! Scary many times and the need and desire to take control are strong but when the Lord God is in control he blesses, and the blessings are beyond this world!

Love Locks

Family

Over Christmas Valera gave me a tiny red heart-shaped padlock. The kind you get out of a quarter toy machine. His eyes were lit up like the fouth of July and he said, "my mama" kinda quietly. I of course LOVED the little gift and put it on my key chain so I could see it every day. Two days later he handed me another one, again he said, "my mama." I gave him a huge hug and placed the other one in a safe place to keep it from getting scuffed up.

Just days after the boys left for their long journey back to Ukraine, I was online and saw a picture of a gorgeous snowy covered bridge. I clicked on it out of curiosity. Looking back, I can see now that it was a glimpse into our future. 

As I looked in closer, I asked myself, "what are those, are those ribbions tied to the bridge?"  So I clicked on the picture again and it led me to a link with many photos, all with PADLOCKS locked onto bridges!! At first it looked like litter and then I read the title, Bridges of Love. My heart melts just thinking about it; the photo below, 

to my disbelief, was taken in Kiev Ukraine. It's a pederstiran

 Love Lock Bridge.

Love lock bridges are found all over the world, and although they are usually a tradition done by two lovers the thought behind a love lock is that you clasp your padlock onto a bridge and toss away the key to ensure your love lasts forever. I can't help but want to create a special memory for my family by having our own symbol of forever unity and love for eachother. 

We had not yet decided to adopt the boys and so at the time it was just a sweet gesture from my little boy to me. He had handed me a padlock, and to me it meant he wanted to give me a heart, a smooth, shiny, red, flawless heart. What I didn't know is that perhaps it might have meant more. Perhaps it's not just a little peice of heart shaped metal. Maybe, just maybe, there is meaning behind his, "my mama". 

When he handed it to me that day, his enormous smile and sparkling eyes were looking up to me with so much affection and wonder. I honestly can't say if he knows anything about the Eurpoean traditions encircling padlocks but I can imagine that he must have heard a story or two. 

So much to my surprise they CAME, all the way from India, they came!! Padlocks! 

So of course you can imagine how excited I was to receive our own special padlocks in the mail the other day. Wrapped in old canvas sack cloth, sealed with wax, bubble wrapped and then tightly enclosed in a news paper from India were our very own locks of love. 

We plan to attach one lock to the love lock bridge in Ukraine and then display one in our home to remember that we're a family no matter what!

сім'я

(sim'ya)

=

Family

Papa's SouPRIZE

 ~ Papa's SouPRIZE! ~

All three trips to Marvel Food and Deli Valera asked to get Papa a SouPRIZE! He would pick up this box of yummy looking puff balls and say with excitement in his voice, Papa LIKE?! On our third trip I finally consented and we tucked it away in my bottomless bag and headed for home. The next evening after dinner we all excitedly waited to bring out our special little gift for Papa. Valera and Vadym were so thrilled to be giving him a gift. The treat was delicious and I can't wait to have more! We miss our sweet little treasures. 

If you are in the area and crave some scrumptious German Candy Please stop by Marvel, it carries all your Europian favorites!

7 Days Gone By

Just a mess of photos to share

Baby Dawson will be 1 tomorrow the 26th of July!! I can't believe it! He is such a smart and determined little guy. I love how serious he can be and at the same time he's so smiley! He walks all over the place and loves all the attention from the three big boys. 

The boys loved tubbing, their smiles would reach their ears when they would go over the bumps or catch air. So fun to see them enjoying the water.

Bryce went tubbing too, but loved to just be in the water and jump off the boat. He was the co-skipper with Grandpa Weber. Bryce loved driving! I love that Bryce looks like he's going to eat Chris' foot here. Love that boy! He is SO much fun! 

Love those faces

A little trip to the park with friends. We had a good time and even though it looked like it would rain it didn't. lol, my cheeks can't be any happier. Happy MAma!

The new scooter was a hit. The boys had to put it together and get it to work first, I think that was actually the best part.

Brothers! 

I was SO happy to see all these faces to greet us! It speaks straight to my heart when people come together. My heart was so happy to have the boys greeted at the airport! 

I can't even count the number of times this baby is kissed each day! 

Skate Park in Buckley

After the park we walked down and got some ice cream and french fries. We enjoyed the sun and eachother. So much fun!

They may go pro! lol, it was fun to see them working those ramps, later we took them to a gymnastics class, they did great!

Arrived

Summer Hosting

The boys are here!! Summer hosting has begun! We have had a wonderful time so far and seeing all four boys in the same room is my favorite thing of all! I can't believe how fast the last 6 months have gone by. In many ways sad but on the up side they are here and my heart is so happy to see them. Picking up at the airport was an incredible expereince and I'm SO glad I got to be apart of it. Seeing all the children and saying hello is such a special memory!