WE ARE HOME!!

We made it home safely and on time.   I was a little worried about making it through customs, immigrations and security in Washington D.C. with only a 2 hour layover, but we made it!!  We landed in Terminal B, went to Terminal C for customs & immigration and made it to Terminal A where they were just starting to board the plane.  We landed in Texas exhausted but into the welcoming arms of many friends and family members (we were counting today and it was right over 50 people).   It meant so much to us to have them all there!!  They have been praying for us, encouraging us, and supporting us throughout this journey. 

Slava Bogu!!! We are coming home!!

Slava Bogu means "Praise God" in Russian and I am definetly praising God today!!  It has been a long and crazy day, but we have Alona's visa and will be picked up for the airport in 3 1/2 hours!!  No sleeping tonight!!  Please pray for travel safety, no delays on flights, and a quick, easy time going through immigration in Washington, D.C. --  we want to make it home on schedule!!  We should arrive in San Antonio at 7:25p.m.   I have missed everyone and home so much and Alona has already told me "Nyet plach" No crying!!  I can't really promise that at this time.  This has been quite a journey and I am talking about the last 2 years not just the last almost 6 weeks.  I know this is just the beginning really, but as Mike always says "I am looking forward to seeing how God works this all out".   I will end this post with Alona's words (she has told everyone she meets, including random people on the street) " Alona Grace Mullins go to America forever!!"

Enough Said

Today the rain let up a little.., Yea!!  I don't know exactly what is going on with the weather, but it reminds me of a tropical depression.  It will rain really heavy and then let up and then another deluge comes.  I realized a while ago that is exactly how I have been feeling the last few weeks.  I can see the sun through the clouds for a little while and then all of a sudden I am overwhelmed.  Can I do this?  Can I help heal this child's heart, will she ever truly trust & love us?   I think Alona's emotions are doing the same thing.  She is over the top excited to finally be coming to America to live forever and she names every single person she know by name.  Yet, I think the idea of me being "mom" forever isn't an idea she can fully grasp or even wants to (at times).  I think she has been on her own for so much of her life that she doesn't know how to be a child.  Then there is that part of her that is emotionally at the level of a 5 or 6 year old.  One example is that she told our translator that when she was in America before her mama and papa would not let her watch TV much and only cartoons (as she rolls her eyes).  Yet everytime we see a place that sells movies what does she look at Nemo, Toy Story, Barbie movies..,  So how do we parent this broken child who has been rejected and let down by so many people in her short life?  The only way is to totally trust and rely on God and His equipping.  He and He alone put this child in our hearts and lives.  As I was sitting here today, hearing "No" for the hundredth time.  He brought this Scripture to mind  "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you"  John 15:12   Enough said...,

First U.S. Embassy Appointment

We had our first U.S. Embassy appointment/interview this morning and it was pretty quick.  I don't know if it was because they were closed on Friday and will be closed again tomorrow, but we literally did not see another person there other than the security people and the man that handled our case.  They asked a few questions, had me sign a couple of forms, pay for the visa and told me to come back on Wednesday after 2:00p.m.  So Wednesday  at 9:00 we are scheduled for Alona's exit medical exam and then in the afternoon we pick up the visa.  Please pray for these last two things to go smoothly because I really want to be on that plane Thursday morning.

View from our apartment balconey

It has been raining pretty heavily all day and it is 55 degrees.  So after running to the Embassy, we ate at Alona's favorite restuarant and then went and bought a movie "Nemo".  When the menu comes up it gives you 4 languages to choose from and one is Russian; but Alona chose "English".  We only made it through half of the movie and then Alona said she needed to sleep for 1 hour and then watch the rest.  I thought she was kidding because she never sleeps during the day, but she fell asleep in about 5 minutes.  I guess it is the dark, cool, rainy day nap.  It is 4:30p.m. so I am not going to let her sleep but 1 hour or I will be awake all night.  I know everyone in Texas would love to have some of this rain, but I am hoping it stops by tomorrow because I am getting a little cabin fever being stuck in this small apartment for the last 3 days.  Tomorrow is an Ukrainian holiday, Constitution Day, and there are all types of celebrations planned.  They have been setting up stages and are suppose to have a parade of some type, but there is also an 80% chance of rain.  Hopefully, it will stop so we can get out and see the sights.  Oh yeah, one more thing...., guess who wanted to wear Mama's babushka poncho today?  ALONA!!

A little market down the hill from us -- most of the stores don't have signs on the front of them

Rain and Babushkas

It is raining here again today and I think that it is suppose to continue until we leave on Thursday.  So please pray I can keep a very active girl busy indoors for 4 days.  Yesterday we left the apartment to go get some type of craft to do and all I had brought with me was a travel umbrella.  This umbrella is rather small, but would work for 2 people if both people would walk close together and in the same direction; but of course it didn't work for us.  I came back looking like a soaked rat.  When we first came to Ukraine, I had brought clothes for both warm and cool weather.   The weather was so hot when Mike was here that I sent all my warmer clothes home with him.  Well now it is cool and rainy with the high yesterday being 62 and the low 56.  I have one sweater and one long sleeve t-shirt and that is it.  So with dripping wet clothes and no clothes dryer, today I am left with little to wear.  But I found a clear poncho (like from the dollar store) in the outside compartment on my suitcase; so today when we went out I put it on.  Alona just starts laughing and laughing and tells me I look like a babushka.  When we get out on the street she walks at least 20 feet in front of me and keeps turning around and looking like I can't believe she really is wearing that.  When we get done eating lunch and are walking home this babushka that lives in our building (and Alona talks to every night) sees us and comes out in the rain to ask a question.  Guess what the question is "where did your mother buy that?"  Alona says "America" and then the lady looks all disappointed; so Alona asks me if when we leave in 4 days could she give it to that woman and I say "of course".  So both Alona and this lady are happy!!  When we get in the apartment Alona decides to take a picture of me and I keep telling her "Right, mama looking good"!  She decided then she would dress up like a babushka...,

Alona babushka

Counting Down the Days!!

This on the main street also -- Kreschetik Street

It has been a quiet day.  It has rain most of the day and been in the 60's.  I think it is suppose to be this way for the next few days.  Alona and I have played cards, colored, played games and watched a movie.  Now we just went out and bought a kit to make some sun catchers; hopefully, this won't be a big mess. 
I made a calendar when we first got to Ukraine for the month of June in English and Ukrainian.  We have been marking off the days until court and until papa left to go home.  Today I told Alona we could start marking off the days until we get on an airplane for HOME!!  5 more days.., well since it is 9:00p.m. here in Ukraine I am going to say "4 more days"!!!!

WooHoo..., PASSPORT!!

We picked up Alona's passport today at 3:30 p.m.   I am so thankful!!  It felt so strange when I opened Alona's passport up and saw her picture and then saw the words "Alona Grace Mullins".  It still feels surreal to think that she is really our daughter forever. 

Our first U.S. Embassy appointment is Monday at 10:30.  Tuesday is a holiday here, but the plan is for Alona's exit medical exam to be done Wednesday morning and we have our second U.S. Embassy appointment Wednesday afternoon and hopefully leave with a visa.  Our facilitator told me to go ahead and book my flight home for THURSDAY!!  That is only 5 days away (not counting today or the day we fly).  Please pray specifically for everything to go smoothly with the Embassy and the medical exam; so we can be on that plane early Thursday morning.  I don't have the exact itenary of our flights, but I think we land around 7:30p.m. in San Antonio. 

I had a really great time tonight!!  My friend and neighbor, Letty Quintero and I went to dinner to celebrate her last night in Kyiv.  She is returning home with their 4 newly adopted children.  I don't think either of us ever imagined that after hosting 2 years ago, that we would be in Kyiv at the same time bringing home our children within 5 days of each other.  Isn't God amazing!!

A New Day!!

This was taken at 10:00p.m. last night and it looks like this again by 3:50a.m.

Did you think you signed on to the wrong blog?  I decided to change the background to reflect the change in our journey and because today is a new day!!   I know Colby (our son) is going to hate it because he does not like color.   I have been a little down the last few days because I miss home (family, friends, etc.), I miss talking and understanding people around me, I miss ice in my drinks, etc.,   I have become impatient with how long everything takes in this process; and I even have become a little overwhelmed with some of our circumstances.  I realized last night how selfish I am being.  There are many families that would give anything to be in my shoes.  The SDA is shutting down (for sure) on July 11th -- the information is now posted on the U.S. Embassy website.  A new ministry is suppose to be set up to take over the facilitation of adoptions; however, no one know how long this will take.  I feel so sorry for those families waiting to come get their children; and even more so, for the children that are going to be left in orphanages while this transition takes place.  Instead of complaining and being impatient; I need to be thanking God for allowing us to complete our adoption just days before the shutdown.  I prayed last night for God to give me wisdom, patience and a new heart attitude.  I already today feel more at peace with our situation (even after finding out another family is getting everything done in 4 days that is taking us 10 days to complete:-)  I told our facilitator on the phone a few minutes ago, there must be a reason God wants us to stay in Ukraine for another week.  So.., I thought I would post a few pictures that have made me smile over these last 5 weeks.

This is actually how a lot of the women dress in Kyiv; needless to say I don't look fashionable

These signs are everywhere and sometimes I think Mike would agree that an Ukrainian wife wouldn't be such a bad idea.
www.WIFE.in.ua

This next picture is one I took on Sunday as I was walking down Kreschetik(the main street in Kyiv).  Two black cars came barreling down the street, shots were fired and then the cars screeched to a stop.  Two men dressed in black that looked like bodyguards jumped out and then the man in white step out.  As I was experiencing a mild heart attack,  an announcement was made (in Ukrainian) and everyone clapped.  I found out later it was a demonstration about the security that is being put in place for the Euro 2012 Soccer Event that Ukraine is hosting.  They have clocks throughout downtown counting down the days until the event begins. 

Alona and her best friend Galina

Back to our normal...,Day 33

Well now that we are finished with the Ukrainian side of the adoption, today was back to the normal routine.  We have swam, walked to the market to buy fruit, water, bread, etc., and ate at Alona's favorite Ukrainian cafe.  Now we are back at the apartment and I am trying to do a load of laundry and get it hung up to dry.  Alona has made friends with 3 little boys that live in the apartment building and there is a playground right behind the building and she has been playing soccer with them ever since we got back.  That is a good thing because she has a lot of energy and she needs to wear herself out.  I did feel sorry for her yesterday when we left her town for the last time.  She was sitting with her nose pressed against the window and was very quiet.  I wish I knew what she was thinking..., I am sure there are a lot of mixed emotions.  Her best friend had left earlier in the day on a hosting trip to Spain and I know that was hard for her to say goodbye.  She said that when this girl came back from Spain then she wanted us to come and adopt her so that they could be sisters.

I got a call this morning from our facilitator and we will not get our passports until Friday; so I have set up our first U.S. Embassy appointment for 10:30a.m. on Monday, June 27th.  Tuesday is a holiday and so I hope to have our second appointment and pick up our visas on Wednesday and fly home on Thursday!!  Please continue to pray that all of this falls into place because I am really ready to be home.  In all of our 30 plus years of marriage, Mike and I never have been seperated this long and it is hard.  For those of you that don't know us, we got married when I was 19 and he was 20..., so we are really not that old.

Okay, I am really jealous because I just a phone call from my friend Letty Quintero and she flew back to Ukraine on Monday afternoon.  The region her kids are from did their passports in two days and so they get to do their first Embassy appointment tomorrow and their 2nd on Monday and get to fly home possibly on Tuesday.  I guess our facilitator knew what she was talking about when she said the Kyiv region is harder and more expensive to adopt from.  The good news is that tomorrow after their appointment we can see them and hang out and speak English.

 It was nice the other night when we were eating at Alona's favorite Ukrainian cafe and the music playing was Casting Crowns (in English).  I guess Alona could tell I liked it and she said "Mama, like the music and the soup".  The family at the table next to us audibly gasped and said "You speak English? Are you from the U.S."  They were from New York and were here to try and adopt a 4 1/2 year old boy with special needs.  They were eating and then having to take a 10 1/2 hour overnight train to their region.  They were also Christians and liked Casting Crowns and they were very impressed with Alona's English..., which made her happy.  Alona had really pretty much lost all the English she knew from the hosting trips, other than "I love you, I miss you, how are you.  Over the last four weeks, she has really started to pick it up again and I know she understands a lot more than she says.  I have had to start talking in code to Mike on the phone or else later she will say "you told papa .....,"

2 Days of Rat Races

 It has been 2 full days of craziness, running around trying to get all the documentation we need to head home. 
      Monday, I left Kyiv at 7:00a.m. and went to Alona's region.   Roman (our translator/facilitator) and I went to the court house to get the court decree.  Usually it is signed for and given to the parents/petitioner of the adoption; but in this town you have to go and get the Inspector to sign for it.  So off we go to pick her up, only to find out she is in Kyiv for the day.  Finally, a solution is come to that her office will write a letter and the court will accept that and we will be given the court decree.  Then off to the orphanage to do release paperwork there.  Then we take Alona to have her picture taken for the passport and visa.   Then we have to take the Assistant Director back to the Inspector's office to drop off and sign some paperwork. Then we have to take the Assistant Director to the Registration Office to do paperwork.  The way it was explained to me this last step is sort of like a census and was started back when Ukraine was part of Russia.  So the paperwork is necessary to unregister Alona, or something like that.  Then we run and do copies and go to a notary and then back to Kyiv. 
    Tuesday, I get picked up at 7:00a.m. and back to her region and to the Birth/Marriage/Death Certificate Office.  It opens at 9:00 but we were told to get there at 8:30a.m.  Well we show up along with about 70 other people.  I was told this is a big wedding month, I guess just like in America.  When the doors open everyone starts pushing and shoving their way into this long skinny hallway.  I felt like I was back at Wurstfest in the 80's.  I lost Roman in the midst of this chaos, mainly because I am only 5'2" and everyone was really tall.  When I found him, he told me that we were number 3 in line for Birth Certificates because almost everyone else was there for Marriage Certificates.  Well we waited and waited and waited and then were told that our case was being given to a specialist?  When we found her office she told Roman that she could not issue a Birth Certificate because she needed both parents to sign.  Her reasoning was because we were both listed on the Court Decree.  Ramon politely explained that Mike was back in the U.S. and that he had never had to have both parents present to get a birth certificate.  This went back and forth and back and forth and he finally asked her to show him the law that stated this.  She said that she had been doing her job for 15 yrs and she knew the law and did not have time to show him.  So to make a even longer story short, Ramon made many phone calls and got a copy of the law that stated only one parent needed to be present and then he had to go and get a letter from the judge that did our court case.  And in a quick 4 hours and 5 minutes we got Alona's new Birth Certificate.  Oh one other side note, after all of this when I do finally have to sign for the Certificate she never even asked to see any form of id.  I told Roman he should of just said he was Mike and signed the paper; since she never checked that I was who I said I was.  After that we went and had her name changed on a tax number of some sort.  Then back to make copies and a notary.  Then over to the passport office in that town to start some type of paperwork.  Then back to the orphanage to deliver a copy of the new birth certifcate and pick up Alona's medical records.  Then a quick good-bye again to everyone and off to Kyiv we go.  We get here right before 5:00p.m. and go to the passport department here and Alona's has her picture taken again to have this office issue a passport.  We made it back to the apartment at 7:00p.m.
     I am happy and excited to announce we have now finished the Ukrainian side of the paperwork.  We now wait to get Alona's passport -- we are hoping for Friday.  Then we have to schedule two appointments at the U.S. Embassy and have an exit medical exam.  The place where the medical exams are given is closed Monday and the U.S. Embassy is closed Friday and Tuesday.  So a specific prayer request would be that we get that passport and get our first appointment on Monday and our second on Wednesday and fly out of here on Thursday.  This is a best case scenerio:(
    I know that I said I was going and try to enjoy every part of this journey because we have waited so long to come and adopt Alona.  However, I have to be truthful and say that these last couple of weeks have been very stressful.  I won't go into a lot of details until I am back home; but the new orphanage that Alona was put into 15 months ago has really not been good for her.  The director is evil and I do not use that word lightly.  Alona has learned some coping techniques that are not acceptable.  So a BIG prayer request would be for God's wisdom and direction for Mike and I as we navigate through this unforseen territory.  We did not go into this adoption with our eyes shut and knew we would have some hard work ahead of us.  All this being said, we love Alona with our whole hearts and feel with God's help we will be able to help her heal, learn to trust, and learn what unconditional love really is. 
     To end this post on an upbeat, I will say if anyone wants to work on strengthening their prayer life--try international adoption.  I have not only been on my knees praying for help with Alona, but I have prayed over riding the metro, prayed that I could get the washer door to open (it was stuck), prayed that I could get the water to turn off in the kitchen, prayed to get the stove's pilot light lit, prayed that I could find my way back to the apartment...., well you get the picture.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

I always knew my husband would make a terrific father.  He acts tough on the outside, but is all marshmallow on the inside.  I was the one who wanted children first and I was/still am a baby nut.  I love babies!!  I touch every pregnant woman's belly and I love to hold everyone's babies.  Almost all of our friends had children before we did, and my husband could never understand why all of them thought he would want to hold their newborn babies.  Yet that all changed when we had our own child; then I had to fight for a chance to hold our son.  My husband loved coming home from work and sit with our son lying on his chest for hours.  He helped coach our son's soccer and baseball teams, never missed a school function, helped him with many merit badges for Boy Scouts, volunteered at his school, and loves him unconditionally.   Even more importantly, he has been the spiritual leader of our home.  Teaching our son about God's Word and His Son, Jesus Christ.

What makes me especially proud of my husband, as a father, is that when he could be counting down the days to an early retirement, or a vacation, or a new home, etc.  He instead chose to follow God's call and become a father to the fatherless.  He chose to adopt and love a little girl that others have called unlovable.  And I know in my heart, that he would (and probably will) travel halfway across the world to do it again. So even though Alona and I will not be home in time to celebrate Father's Day with him and our son; I hope he knows how much he is loved!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!
LOVE YOU PAPA!!


Learn to do right; seek justice
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17

One month today our Ukraine adventure began; 10 wait period over yesterday

Alona and her uncle

Yesterday the 10 day appeal period ended on Alona's adoption.  This 10 day period gives anyone (with valid reason) an opportunity to appeal our adoption of Alona.  We did not think anyone would oppose our adoption of her, but I guess you never know.  Well this morning at 9:00a.m. I get a call from our facilitator and she tells me that late yesterday (day 10) that Alona's uncle had called the orphanage and was wanting to see Alona today.  I asked if they were appealing our adoption of Alona and she said no he would just like to see her.  She asked if I opposed this meeting and I said "no" if Alona wants to see him that is fine with me.  Of course I hate that every decision that has to be made is when it is in the middle of the night in the U.S. and I have to make them on my own.  Oh well..,

 Let me back up and explain this relationship..., last April right after Alona was moved to the big older orphanage, we were informed that an aunt had called the director to inquire about Alona.  (We found out later that the aunt is really Alona's bio mom first cousin sort of. -- Alona's grandmother and this woman's mother were half sisters).  Anyway, as we have found out in Ukraine it is very common for people to call someone aunt or sister no matter how far off the relationship is.  This woman said that she knew Alona's mother had given birth to Alona but they did not have contact with her after Alona was two years of age.  She was not a  big fan of Alona's mother.  She said that they had no idea that Alona had been in the orphanage system and wanted to pick her up for a few days.  We really felt like they would adopt her or at least foster her so that she would not have to live in this bad orphanage.  But after having her for a few days, they returned her to the orphanage and they have had only had minimal contact with her after that. But oh well back to the story...,

So we met at the McDonald's in Kyiv at Independence Square and Alona seemed happy to see him.  He seemed like a nice enough person.   He spoke no English and I speak very little Ukrainian so Alona did the translating.  He asked to exchange contact information with him and I did and he asked if they could Skype Alona and I said "yes".  Okay, here I go again being honest without trying to sound judgemental...., one problem I had with him is that he bought Alona two ice creams and let her keep the change --12 hyrivnas.  Then as she ate her ice cream, he sat and literally showed me about 200 or more pictures on his camera.  The problem with this was it wasn't of family, it was pictures of all their vacations.  One in Moscow showing me all the palaces, St. Petersburg, etc., one of a Mediterrean cruise they went on, one of some ocean where they went snorkling and scuba diving in caves & one of a friend's of their house on the Black Sea.  It was all very beautiful, but it made me sad for Alona.  I know he was just probably trying to show me that they were not like her bio mom; but I would have prefer them just calling Alona or visiting her or something.  I asked if he had any pictures of Alona's bio mom and he said "no".  I then let Alona show him her photo book that I had made for our trip to the SDA, inspector, court, etc.,   He did look at all the pictures and asked some questions.

Anyone who knows me knows I hate dressing up or posing in silly pictures, but I was being a good sport today

We then spent about 3 hours walking around Kyiv and he took a lot of pictures.  At one point Alona and him were walking ahead of me and I heard him ask her something.  Alona said "Alona no like her Ukrainian mom" and then she mimicked some actions and then she said "Alona loves her American mama". " Alona's name is Alona Grace Mullins." 

When he got ready to leave, he kissed me on both cheeks and said something.  Alona translated and said that he like her new mama very much and he was happy she was going to America. 

P.S. I have been on this Ukrainian adventure for 1 month today and tonight I am celebrating!!  I found an ice tray and bought bottled water and am making ice cubes.  Tonight it will be CocaCola Light over ice..., YUM!!

Day 27, It was good

Alona working on her bracelets..., like the tiger sheets on the bed.  They match the tiger throws on the chairs

The "it was good" was Alona's words about today.  I went to the orphanage & got Alona,  then to eat, then to swim and then on a 2 hour shopping excursion.  Guess what for?  Embroidry thread!!! It seems some older girl at the orphanage made her this bracelet before she left for her hosting trip to Spain.  Now Alona is determined that she is going to make them for all her friends at the orphanage as going away gifts.  Well 2 hours later and a whopping 10 hyrivnas (a little over a dollar) we found it.  She is happy as a clam.  We successfully made it through this with no pouting, eyerolling or anything!!

I have decided this is how she is like me, I tend to roll my eyes..., unintentionally.
She is like Colby (our son & now her brother) because she likes to say "Eat at restuarant please" He doesn't believe in cooking.
She is like Mike because she loves desserts. If we go to one of those Ukrainian cafes (like a Luby's) she tries to get me to let her have 3 desserts..., not doing it!!  At least if Mike eats more than one dessert it is like gingersnap cookies, low fat yogurt or no fat pudding.   I told her "no" today and said diabetes runs in papa's family and so you can not have all that sugar..., she said okay!  I know she has no idea what diabetes is, but she always wants to be like papa so it worked.

Played Tourist Today

I played tourist in Kyiv today and went to some of the normal sites that people visit.

Bogdan Khmelnitsky (a national hero) 1888

St. Sophia's Cathedral 1017

Church of St. Michael's 1070

This is right outside the SDA building and there is a bug (looks like a beetle) on the man's bottom.  You are suppose to touch it for good luck.

PinchukArtCentre

I was told this was a museum with contemporary art, but I am not quite sure.  The current exhibit is called "Your Emotional Future".  It is free of charge, but don't think I would recommend it. I don't know how to describe it..., when you entered one room it was very hazy, with bright lights and you could not see anything. It was like walking in a maze.  Another room had very disturbing art work and then in one corner it had this big ball made of purple butcher paper and it had written in English "Blow Up" and there was small pieces of this paper on each of the paintings.  I am really not making this up, it was so weird that I could not wait to get out of there.

Sunshine & Roses vs. Honesty

I have received word that people back in the U.S. are getting worried because I haven't blogged in 2 days.  I am alive, well and doing okay. I haven't blogged because I knew I would have a hard time putting into words what I am feeling and experiencing right now.  You know how when you are a little girl and and you imagine exactly how your wedding day will be and then years later it isn't exactly the way you imagined it.  I think that is what I did with adopting Alona.  The only problems I even envisioned were with the legal aspects of the adoption. I never thought I would experience any problems with Alona herself.  I thought that as long as we were in Ukraine everything would be sunshine and roses.  I thought we would have the honeymoon period everyone always talks about and then start having some problems after we got home.   Ninety percent of the time she is the same same sweet, loving, high-energy little girl that we hosted twice; and the other 10 percent of the time she is testing us (me) or seemingly pushing me away.  It has caught me off guard and I am trying to figure out the best way to handle it and there have been moments when I have thought I am not equipped to handle it.   I then remind myself that God does not call the equipped but equips those he calls.  I find myself constantly analyzing why she is doing some of the things; but I have realized that I don't think she even knows why she is doing some of the things.  After it is over, she will always apologize and tell me how much she loves me and will listen and obey me.  If I am being honest then I have to admit that this is just what I do when I sin against God.  I know it is wrong and I love Him so much that I want to listen and obey; but I fail.  And even worse, sometimes when I am hurting or afraid and need Him the most that is when I push Him away.  So maybe that is exactly what my daughter is doing to me.

I am not trying to be depressing; but to be honest.  I know that God had my family planned for me from the beginning and it included this little Ukrainian girl.  I know in my heart she is and always has been my daughter.

 I took her to the beach (river)  the other day and their were many children running, splashing and yelling "Mama"; but even with my eyes closed I recognized her voice..."mama" -- because she has been in my heart for 11 years.

 So maybe this part of the journey has not been exactly how I imagined it 2 years ago; but it is exactly as God planned it.  I know that He is using this time to grow my faith and to teach me once again to surrender and trust Him completely.

Randomness of a Sunday

I just love this picture!! It proves kids will be kids no matter where they are.  Alona came to our apartment and built a tent on the balcony.  She had the best time out there coloring and singing to herself.

This was our ride to court -- it cost 60 hrivnya or about $7.50

I have successfully taken the Kyiv underground metro two days in a row and not gotten lost.  It is really cheap -- 50 cents round trip.  I have to admit I do pray before I get on it and when I get back to the apartment.  Another first, is that I swam at the Hydropark today; it is basically a beach area along the river that runs through Kyiv.  The river is brown just like the river in Alona's town; but I did see a lot of fish so I think that is a good sign that it is not toxic.  There were probably around 200 people in our area and I was one of 3 women in one piece bathing suits.  I knew I would stand out, but I am just not comfortable in their tiny bikinis; even though all ages and sizes wear them.  I figured I would just let everyone think I am part of some religious sect that requires women to cover up their private parts. 

Another interesting fact is today is the celebration of the Trinity.  I was told that I needed to buy some fennel (or some green grass) and spread it around the apartment and behind the door.  This would insure that I had God's protection and love and would keep evil spirits away.  I decided to pass on this tradition and am going to trust that God will protect me without the ritual.  Also, told that I could do not work except cook today; but I had already messed up and swept the kitchen of our apartment.

I do not know why but all the brooms are really short here -- maybe you are closer to the dustpan

 

I have been in Ukraine 23 days and it has never rained.  I asked my translator and he said it mainly rains in March and April.  To be safe I asked Mike to leave me the travel umbrella and he did; unfortunately, I did not take it with me last night and got caught in a deluge.  After it quit raining there was a plague of little gnats that came down.  So if you are coming to Ukraine soon, bring an umbrella and some bug spray.

Hurry Up and Wait

Everything is a hurry up and wait thing over here.  Hurry we need this paper signed/notarized, but wait 30 minutes in the car while we go make a copy.  Hurry, get dressed, and be downstairs in 45 minutes for an appointment, but wait the driver will be 30 minutes late.  You get the picture!!  Well this morning I got one of those hurry up and get downstairs to meet the driver calls.  I should have learned by now that you don't go downstairs on time, but I did.  I had not been standing there 5 minutes, when a police car pulled up to the building next to me and three police officers jumped out in full riot gear.  They had helmets, bulletproof vests, baton and of course guns.  They ran into the building and what did I do..., just stood on the sidewalk waiting on my ride (what a dummy).  The police over here really scare me; they are not exactly the good guys.  Well they eventually came out with no one and got back in the car and drove off.  The street that our apartment is on has nothing but high dollar cars parked on it and they even have guards during the day watching the cars.  So who knows what was going on.   The rest of my day has been an uneventful day.

The good news is my husband made it home and we got to Skype.  He looks extremely sleepy, but said he had lost over 7 pounds in the 3 weeks he was here.  So maybe I will lose double that, since I have to be here 6 weeks.  I would think with the fresh food and all the walking, I would have to had to lose weight & inches..., just not ready for that thong bathing suit though:)

We had a great day-- us girls!!

I know that many prayer warriors must have been on their knees for me today.  Alona and I spent a wonderful time together today.  She was happy, no pushing limits, no fussing or pouting..., you get the picture.  I am well aware that we are not done with the acting out; but we will take it a day at a time for now. We are still in the groundhog routine.., eat, walk around, swim, ride one carnival ride, shop at the market.., you get the idea. I did buy a bathing suit today and boy was that an experience.  I was really trying not to I know she is as impatient as I am to get to America.  Mike had mentioned the two days the US embassy will be shut which will delay us; but also our ten day appeal period is up on Friday, June 17th.  The court decree can not be picked up until the 11th day, which will be on a Saturday; so we will have to wait until Monday June 20th.  Then social services are closed on Mondays, so we have to wait until Tuesday to get Alona's birth certificate.  Then we hit the two US embassy days.., so that is why we are looking at not getting home until June 30th or so.  Oh well, we will enjoy this mother daughter time.  Sounds so weird to say that:)

Alona is missing her papa very much, even though he Skyped us from Frankfurt airport and Chicago airport.  We had quite a few tears when he left. 

P.S. I am having trouble commenting on other persons blogs, as well as my own.  I am trying to figure out what the problem is.  If anyone has any hints let me know.

Prayers for Michelle

Just wanted to let everyone know that I (Mike) am heading home Friday at 3:00 am. Michelle will be left here by herself for the rest of the trip. Unfortunately it may be June 28 to July 1 before she is able to fly home. The US embassy is closed on the 24th since it is the last friday of the month (what  is that about) and also on the 28th for a Ukraine holiday. This could cause additional 2-3 day delay.

Alona is still the same child with a heart of gold for the needy. I do think because she has been let down by every adult she has known that she is testing us to see if we are going to bring her to America or leave her at the orphanage. Please pray for Michelle because she won't have anyone here to help with this challenge.

Thank you for your prayers up to now, but please double them for the remaining portion of the journey. I am very sad that I must leave them and it will help us all have more strength and peace. God has been so good to us in providing our prayer warriors. He has used y'all to give us the much needed comfort we need.

A quick & smooth court hearing!! Part 2

I try to make our court story short, because it really was short.  Mike and I did not get much sleep last night, I think a little bit of nerves.  Ramon, our facilitator, came to our hotel room at 8:00a.m. and just went over what to expect from the judge and the hearing.  The courthouse was bigger than I expected and was a very busy place -- people everywhere.  We waited in a long hall on a bench, along with Ramon, a representative from the inspector's office and the assistant director of the orphanage.  We were called into the judge's office and we all sat around a table.  Our hearing was nothing like we expected; it was very informal and the judge joked around with all of us.  The judge asked each of us to stand and state our name, date of birth and address.  He asked Mike a few questions regarding his work and if he could afford to raise another child. The big surprise for me was that I was asked to stand and he asked me more questions than he asked Mike.  What I did for a living, how big our house was, if we had room for a child, when did I meet her, how long she stayed with us, if knowing everything I did about her did I still want to adopt her.  Would we register her once we got her to the U.S. and if we would send pictures and letters to the orphanage to let them know how she was doing.  He then asked how we would communicate.  I said I knew a little Ukrainian and Alona knew some English.  They then asked her if she could communicate with us and she said "yes" "Please hungry" and that made them all laugh.  The judge then asked her if she wanted to be adopted by us and she said "Yes" and then he asked her if she would invite him to her wedding in America and she said "No, he would be too old by then".  That made everyone laugh.  He then asked if anyone had a reason to deny this adoption and they all said "No". and that was it.  No recess to think about it or render a decision or anything.  The two jurors shook our hands and congratulated us and it was over.  I think it took less than 30 minutes.  We thank you all for your prayers they were definetly heard, because it could not have gone any smoother.  After two years of fighting for Alona this just seemed too easy.  We didn't like the struggle or the waiting; but we know it was God's perfect plan and perfect timing. 

P.S. Alona loves saying her new name "Alona Grace Mullins".  I think she has said it 50 times today.

                     June 7, 2011.., Blessed with a daughter
                               Alona Grace Mullins

The definition of Grace is God's undeserved, unearned favor.  It is by His grace that we were adopted to be His children and it is by His grace that Alona was brought into our lives to be adopted by us.  Mike and I did nothing to deserve the gift of a daughter, and it is only through His grace that we were finally able to adopt her after 2 years.  There was nothing we could have done on our own to make this happen; other than persevere in obedience to His call to adoption.  We talked to Alona about her name and she wanted to keep Alona as her first name, which was fine because she looks like an Alona to us. So Alona Grace Mullins it is!!

  We really wanted court on Monday, but we got Tuesday June 7th instead.  Later I was thinking how perfect it was that we had to wait until the 7th.   The number seven in the Bible denotes completeness or perfection.   In my husband's family seven is an important number also.  As a matter of fact, when I became pregnant with our son my due date was October 6th; but my husband said you better wait and have him on the 7th.  I actually went into premature labor on August 7th but he was not born until the 8th..., but the year of his birth ends in 7.  So here are the 7's in Mike's family: 
               His brother was born January 7th
               Mike's birthday is February 7th
               His parents anniversary is February 7th
               His mother's birthday is Sept. 17th
               His father's birthday is Nov. 27th

So how perfect is it that Alona Grace Mullins became part of our family on June 7, 2011. 
P.S. Alona's real birthday is August 17th!!

I will update later today and tell more about the court proceedings

Court Tomorrow!!!! PRAYERS

Our court date is tomorrow at 9:00 am (1:00 am US Central Standard Time) and we really need lots of prayers. It should go well but nothing is certain in this process.  Please pray specifically that God softens the hearts of the judge, jury, etc., and that He gives us His words when we are asked to speak or answer questions.  Pray for God to give us (Michelle, Alona & I) His peace throughout the court proceedings. 

Today has been a roller coaster of a day and I just read Michelle's post from earlier today. So pray that my patience lives up to her beliefs. I appreciate her praise but really have not said anything because what is the point. But this is a better trip than last time.

Please pray for Michelle starting now because I will be leaving on Friday and I know she is going to need all our prayers being a single parent with a new almost 12 yr old child.

We will let you know how court goes tomorrow. Thank you again for your prayers, e-mails, blog comments and phone calls they have encouraged us so much.

Monday.., Day 17

I just wanted everyone to know how proud I am of my husband!!  As most of you know, he did not enjoy our last trip to Ukraine.  He was sick almost the entire 9 days and fell on the ice and broke a spinous process on one of his vertebrae.  He has said many times how much he dreaded the thought of having to return to Ukraine to adopt Alona; even though he loves her to death.  Well since we have been here this trip, he has done better than I have.  I haven't gotten sick or fallen, but I have missed home!!  I was going to write about everything I missed but instead will write about everything I am blessed with:
    1. Our son, family, friends
    2. Our church family and worshipping there
    3. My dogs
    4.  Smiling people (the hotel staff are the only ones who have smiled at us-- even though Mike assures me that there have been a few more)
    5.  My bed and my sheets ( ok maybe I am high maintenance on this one)
    6.  My washer and dryer (it gets old washing everything by hand)
    7.  Ice and diet coke  (we drink water all the time-- which is a good thing)

I am sure that there is much more, but you get the idea.  Mike on the other hand seems to be enjoying all the challenges (except when we did not have air-conditioning).  He is not speaking much Ukrainian, but he is able to convert money better than I, order from the 3 restuarants (1 restuarant has an English menu),  he doesn't seem to even realize when people are unfriendly, and he has gotten us water with "no gas" all but one time, etc.,  You get the idea..., I am really going to miss him when he leaves on Friday.

Here are some of the things we have enjoyed hot tea in the morning, our living accommodations at this hotel (and the staff), and all the children.













  When we are in the park, I love watching all the families.  They really seem to enjoy their children.  All the children have on hats of some type and the little girls are dressed so cute.  The little boys are dressed different than in America, the shorts are usually really short & tight and they wear socks with their sandals.  If they have on dress pants, they always have their shirts tucked in and the pants are pulled up really high.  The other thing different here than in America is that it seems that they place a higher value on cultural arts for children -- even in the orphanage.  Alona was always having to learn songs, poems, etc.  Almost everyday that we have been here somewhere children are performing -- singing, dancing, or putting on a play.  Here are just a couple of pictures from yesterday.

They were dancing to music that sounded like a polka

The little girl singing was about 6 years old and she was very good. 

Been in Ukraine 2 WEEKS!!

I am going to try and write this blog early in the day, and maybe it will be more coherent.  Yesterday,  we did our regular things -- market for food & water, swimming, park & carnival rides.  Last night they set off three different rounds of fireworks, still not quite sure why.  Maybe it is for our friend, Harold, back in the US who celebrated his birthday yesterday!!  We also walked around the city and took pictures of landmarks or things we thought Alona would like to see when she was older.  Now I will remind you this is a small town, so there is not a lot to take pictures of.  Here are a few:

Statute of Lenin-- there is one in every town in Ukraine
We are told in western Ukraine the statute is smaller but still present

Main street in town--everything runs off this street

Alona at the fountain in the middle of the park

This one makes us laugh.., Alona looks like a lost tourist in our hometown
We do not know who the person is,
 but there are fresh flowers laid there daily

Tomorrow, Anja (our US translator's sister) is coming to our town and going to play tour guide/translator for us.  She has been here several times delivering packages to Alona and gifts for the children of the orphanage.  Tuesday if court goes well, we will be going to Kyiv to get more paperwork done.  Mike has e-mailed the US Embassy for an appointment on either Wednesday or Thursday.  This will enable him to do the necessary paperwork for me to stay in Ukraine and finish up the US side of Alona's adoption on my own.  We are hoping this will all work out so that he can fly home on Friday, June 10th.  I think our son and our dogs are missing him.  It will also enable him to work for a couple of weeks before Alona and I get home.  I am hoping Mike being around a little more in the beginning will help with Alona transitioning into our family..., Right now it is more like we are on an extended vacation.

Marina who runs trampoline
she stands in these 10 hours a day

I have decided that the three biggest industries in this town are telephone sales, shoe sales and beer sales.  You can stand in any one place and see at least three of each.  I would love to take pictures of all the shoes, but I think I might get arrested for being some kind of shoe stalker.
 The other night we were at the park and I told Mike that I was going to walk down this side street and find us a new place to eat.  I could see two different outdoor cafes or aleast that is what I thought they were.  Nope, I actually found three (one offered WIFI) but the only thing on the menus were different kinds of beer, shots and pistachos.  Drinking is very big here!!  We can go into the mall at 10:00a.m. on any morning and there will be people sitting drinking beer (not coffee or tea).  These are just ordinary looking people, not street people.  On the beach (which is a family type beach) there are always groups of teenagers drinking beer (they look about 14 yrs and older).  There is no drinking age here and so this I guess is normal. 
FYI there are two things that I brought that were mistakes:  Crayola makes colored bubbles and they say they are washable.  Well they are a big mess and it takes a lot to wash them out.  Also, I brought those magnetic bottlecap necklaces.  I saw them everywhere in the US and the sales people said they were popular, but Alona did not want to give them to anyone.  I found out the reason was because she thought they were made with beer bottle tops and given her background that is not a good thing.

Our specific prayer requests would be for our court hearing to go smoothly and for God's wisdom in raising Alona.

Tired but doing well

We are alive and well, but too tired to write much.  I will just post some pictures and write more tomorrow. 

Every wedding we see Alona says "I like it very much"

Friday and Saturday mornings are very big wedding times.  I think we saw two yesterday and 4 today.  They always are at this building, never a church.  They decorate all the cars in the wedding party.  And the bridal attendants usually have on sashes like ones worn in beauty pageants.  There are tons of fresh flowers everywhere.

BIG PRAISE -- COURT DATE!!

We have a court date!!  It is Tuesday, June 7th at 9:00 a.m.  We were starting to get a little nervous yesterday because our Interpol clearances had not come in.  I guess there were two people out in those offices and so they were taking a few days longer; but we got the Interpol clearances & SDA consent for court this morning.  WOOHOO!!!   Our specific prayer request would be for God to soften the hearts of the judge, jurors, prosecutor, etc., so our adoption of Alona would be granted without any problems.
After court there is a 10 day waiting period, then we will pick up Alona's new birth certificate, officially check her out of the orphanage forever, have a going away party for Alona and her friends, and then we will do the U.S. paperwork.  We are guessing if all goes well that we could be back in the U.S. by June 24th!!  That would really be unbelievable, because that would be 4 weeks from our SDA appt.

On a totally different subject..., Alona (like I am sure most orphans) has a really hard time figuring out where she fits age wise.  She can cook, chop, wash clothes, clean, take the public transit on her own, etc., but then we see that she totally is happiest doing things that are like a child a few years younger.  We have watch no TV since being here (totally not appropriate), but we brought some movies with us.  Yesterday was the first day she wanted to watch one and what did she pick but a Princess movie.  It was a movie that she saw our US translator's daughter, who is 4 yrs old, watch.  When we go to the carnival across the street she will pick these little bikes you pedal and then this bigger ride.  Also, everytime we cross a street I instinctively grab her hand, last night I wasn't thinking and didn't do it and she freaked out!!!  MAMA!!! Machina (car) hit Alona!!  This is the same girl that takes public buses by herself.  So pray for us as we try to help her have the childhood she missed but not coddle her.

One week since she ran into our arms!!



Vlad (4yrs) youngest at orphanage with 4 siblings; little girl in purple has had 10 surgeries & needs more; director, Alona & I

One week ago today, Alona ran into our arms and I think we still can not believe this could be forever.  We are still waiting to hear on our court date; still praying for Monday, June 6th.
While we wait, we have sort of settled into a "Groundhog Day" routine.  We get up and eat breakfast at 9:00 (that is when the hotel serves it).  It is always eggs, bread, sausage, cheese, hot tea and then they change it up with either yogurt or these crepes.  The crepes have either a poppyseed filling or a cream cheese.  Then Mike works for about 2 to 3 hours and Alona and I head downtown.  We go to a park, then the mall (that has the trampoline) and then the market for water and fruit and then back to the hotel.  Then after lunch, Mike and Alona head down to the water.  I do not have a bathing suit with me and I am not about to buy one of the bikinis they have here.  Way too tiny!!  I have not seen any one piece bathing suits at all.  Everybody from puberty to 80+ wear bikinis.  Then we hang out and make puzzles, play cards, color, etc.  Then eat dinner and head to the carnival across the street.  We let Alona ride about 6 rides (or should I say times) because she tends to ride 2 rides multiple times.  That's our day!!

Yuliya 16 yrs almost 17 was in the shelter with Alona yrs ago.  From what we can gather she is on her own, works here everyday.  She always has a smile for us & is very kind to Alona

During this week, we have discovered that Alona is still the same kind hearted little girl with lots of energy.  She is really well behaved 90% of the time and 10% of the time it is normal pushing the limits.  Like 5 more minutes on the swimming, or one more ride pleeease!!  We have stood firm and then we usually get some pouting and then about 5 minutes later she will say "I am sorry".  As much as Mike and I would love to spoil her, we both see that she responds better with stricter structure.  She has had a lot of freedom over the last year; as an example, Alona has said they can take the shuttle bus to town anytime, it is free for orphans to ride.  It does not even seem to enter her mind that someone might do her harm without us around.  So this will be an area that we are going to have to work on when we get home. 

Mike and I both feel it would have been so much easier and better, had we been able to adopt her before she was placed in this older orphanage.  She had enough baggage in her past, without the influence of this rougher orphanage.  We know God's timing is perfect, so there must have been a reason for the delay.  We are so thankful though that things Alona was exposed to during those hosting trips, in our home & through others made an impression.  Yesterday, when it was time to pray, Alona said "Alona pray" and here is what she prayed:

Dear Got (God),
    Thank you Mama, Papa, Kolbi, Broccoli (Berkeley) and Sophie (last two names are our dogs)
    Alona loves Mama, Papa, Kolbi, Broccoli, and Sophie
    Got (God), pleeese Alona america, airplane
    Got (God) Alona nyet plach (no cry), mama nyet plach and papa nyet plach
    Alona america pleeese, nyet Ukraine
    Thank you very much.
Amen