We're Here (Where Are We?)

After nearly twenty-four hours of sitting in airports, flying and going through customs, we are in Kiev! The flight was uneventful except for Pam spilling a whole glass of water in her seat. To say that we are tired, sore and smelly is an understatement. We were picked up by a very nice gentleman named Igor who spoke no English; he got us to the bank to exchange some money and then to our apartment. He walked us to the supermarket (which was only a block and a half away) and left us after we told him that we could find our way back no problem! We bought some bread, cheese, water and tea, and then proceeded to get lost on our way back to the apartment. Pam stayed calm and we backtracked, got our bearings and found our way.

The apartment is pretty nice and very clean inside; most importantly, it has internet, an iron and a hair dryer! The elevator is the size of a phone booth and the apartments have steel security doors. We will let you know what the outside looks like in the morning. We are anxious to see more of the city in the days ahead.

Our appointment with the SDA is at 2:00 on Thursday. We hope that we will have caught up on some of our sleep before then. Tomorrow we hope to check out the city and leave a trail of bread crumbs from the apartment. We are having a great time so far. Will try and post again tomorrow with some pictures.

Greerwald's Adoption Vacation

It is 3am in the morning not a soul in sight...and the thunder rolls... Well not really, but I have been singing that song in my head since 3am. It is 3:45am now. I can't sleep anymore and besides that is all we will be doing for the next several hours. I am excited to travel. We had a group sleep over in our bed last night with the kids. Garrett said we were going to need a bed upgrade to a king bunk when we bring two more kids home! Morgan got choked up about us leaving and said how much she was going to miss us. That almost made me start crying too. We reminded her that it was only going to be a few weeks. We also shared with her that, that is what "V" and "D" feel all the time. They miss having a mommy and daddy. We reassured her she was doing a good thing by allowing God and friends to comfort her during this time. Garrett will probably throw a party for a couple of days and then he will start missing us too. Funny how they are both so different!

The new chapter in our journey begins today. We will be in Ukraine by 4:20pm on Tuesday. We should have a day to recover from traveling before our SDA appointment if all goes according to plans. We were told someone should pick us up at the airport and if someone isn't there ask someone to help us call him. It just occurred to me we speak English!

We have decided to take Matt's advice and be in the 3rd person, spectators! This way nobody gets hurt. Our vacations always resemble National Lampoon's Vacations and we call ourselves the Greerwalds! Why should our adoption be any different. This time we will call our adventure National Lampoon's Adoption Vacation. We are sure we will meet lots of Cousin Eddies along the way! Sorry this isn't a deep spiritual post but what do you expect at 3:00am. Stay tuned for the adventure, you won't want to miss it.

What!!! The Chicken Pox???

No, I didn't think things were going to go perfectly smooth getting ready but I didn't expect my kids would catch the Chicken Pox right now either! Yes, yesterday my daughter Morgan kept complaining of bug bites on her body. She had the vaccination for Chicken Pox and so did Garrett. I didn't think twice about Chicken Pox but didn't think it was bug bites either. I took her to the pediatrician and she confirmed yes, it is Chicken Pox. We had a very relaxing day yesterday watching Ann of Green Gables (I love those movies). It was a nice day to just snuggle together on the couch. I kept falling asleep. I made chicken noodle soup for dinner. Today Garrett woke up with a really bad stomach ache. He is still laying in bed (very unusual for him). Even though Morgan has the spots, she is reading to Garrett trying to comfort him. Last night I had a fever and today I have a stomach ache too! I have had the Chicken Pox and so has Kevin. Fortunately, I have most things ready to leave so I don't have much to do except clean my house.

I contacted all the people who will be caring for my children while we are gone and they said it was no big deal to them. They have all either had the virus or the vaccine. I was relieved to hear that. I prayed last night that if Kevin or I were to get sick, please let it be before we leave. I certainly don't want shingles or something like that in Ukraine! We plan to take it really easy again today. The doctor put Morgan on an antibiotic to help shorten the time of the virus.

We would appreciate your prayers for our family. I still believe everything will be fine by Monday when we leave. :)

The Time is Approaching!

Our plane tickets are purchased, arrangements for Garrett and Morgan have been made, pantry is full, bedrooms organized, septic tank emptied and waiting on furniture! WOW! I can't believe all the things you have to do to go away for a few weeks. I have two overflowing suite cases on the floor of my bedroom. I planned on packing light! I have been throwing my wish list of items into the suite cases. I will go through it all right before we leave. How do you pack light for three weeks? I figure if I can fit it, why not?

One week from today we board the plane! One week from Thursday we will finally get answers to questions we have had for months. Will we get the children we have been asking for? Soon after our appointment we will get to see the children we have been longing for, for 15 months! We hope to update good news very soon. We would appreciate your continued prayers.

Hands In the Air!

We got to speak with "V" today and tell him we are going to be on our way real soon. He didn't say much. After fifteen months, he must be as numb as we are to waiting. We told him that we would be there in a couple of weeks. This has to be an eternity to him. He is only 9 years old.

We told "V" we should be home for Christmas. Won't that just be so cool?! We can make Christmas cookies together, homemade Polish sausage and pierogies and a Gingerbread House! The Christmas holiday is a big deal in our home. We have many traditions. Kevin is already worried about getting more stockings and downloading Christmas music. He would play it all year if I let him!

Sadly, we tried to speak with "D" just to say hi. She wasn't able to come to the phone again. Not real sure what is going on with her. This is the third time we tried to speak with her and we couldn't. It is not looking very positive with her. Please pray God will give us clear direction as to what to do about bringing home a second child.

I have so much to do in getting ready I don't even know where to start. The hardest part I think is getting everything situated for my two kids being left at home for three weeks. I am getting really excited to go.

Kevin and I have compared this trip to a roller coaster ride with your hands up in the air. We just want to let go and let God direct us. We are going into it knowing it is all out of our control. It is all in God's hands so why fight it! (Good at least in theory I know) I have a feeling God is going to try and stretch us and teach us more.

Hebrews 12:7-11 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it , afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Travel Date!

We leave for Ukraine on Monday, October 27th for our SDA appointment on the 30th!! It feels like a weight has been removed from our shoulders and now we can prepare in earnest. I prayed in our last post, "Please, dear God, set the date" and He has answered us. After fifteen months of pruning, He is ready to let us go.

Pam and I talked about this last night and she said, "can you imagine if we had been allowed to go three months into the process? What a mess that would have been with our impatience and inflexibility!" We are not the same people that we were when we hosted the kids last July. Our joy was in our little family, our home and what the world had to offer. God has used this time to change us.

I am confident that He isn't done shaping us and that we are racheting up for the next curves and loops on the roller coaster. I just pray that I can let go, put my arms in the air and shout for joy when it starts!

Psalm 57:7-11 "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth."

Happy Birthday "V"

Job 42:2 I know that "You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

Today, there is a little boy in Ukraine, turning nine. I know his birthday wish. His wish is to have a family to call his own. He wants a Papa and a Mama who will love and care for him. Today, there is a Mama whose arms want to hold this little boy with all of her heart! I am so sorry "V" that we aren't there to be with you on this very special day. Happy Birthday!

When "V" was here a year and a half ago, we went to a BBQ. I made chocolate chip cookies before we left. You know, this was the first time "V" or "D" had a warm cookie straight out of the oven! I think I could have let them eat all 4 dozen of those cookies. It was so satisfying to watch them enjoy such a seemingly, small treat. We went to the BBQ and brought the cookies. "V" walked around serving cookies to everyone who would take one. He said "My Mama made these cookies" with a big, proud smile on his little face.

One of our friends was able to visit Ukraine a few months back. He took a picture of "V" with tears in his eyes after receiving the gift. He wrote us a letter that said "I wait for you impatiently". He wants a Mama and a Papa. (Kevin adds, "V" also said, "I want to be taken by you as soon as possible." Please, dear God, set the date.)

Today my prayer is that "V" knows "We wait for you impatiently also". Our prayer is that we will have a good word soon and can come and get you. We love you so much. We pray today that someone will show you kindness and wish you a Happy Birthday with a big hug!