God is real

WOW! We have been home 5 weeks! These weeks have flown by! Vitalik says it feels like he has been home a year. Don't know if that is a good sign or a bad one! Counting the two months he was with us in Ukraine, I guess you could say we are 3 months along on the journey; but hardly a year! Colton left to go back to college on Monday. We miss him terribly. My mother and her husband came to visit one day last week. Two of my nephews are here this weekend. We have been keeping activity to a minimum; mostly just hanging out around home. Eli went to Awanas for the first time Wednesday night and loved it; in spite of insisting that he would hate it. Gabe has been teaching Vitalik to cut the grass and even let him operate the bobcat to move some trees that fell during the last storm that came through. Luke is taking one class at Faulkner and one at a homeschool co-op. Alexandra is taking all of her classes at home but has piano lessons once a week. We are still working on dentist and doctor visits. Posting a daily schedule on the refrigerator keeps everybody in the groove.
The first four weeks at home were the roughest. Things have been gliding along smoothly now for about 10 days. That may not sound like a very long time but it is the heart change I am seeing in the boys that make it more significant. They are making such improvements. Pouting has dramatically decreased. They are grasping the concept of obedience and are making an effort at it. They are apologizing for their mistakes instead of denying them. They've got the homeschooling schedule down and are both working diligently during school hours. I am becoming more in tune with their moods and weaknesses and am able to circumvent some of the earlier problems. I won't say that it is easy. They still require my attention every waking hour. I am so thankful for the time that Gabe can spend with them to give me a break. I know that there will be more flare ups in the future but I am feeling more and more equipped to handle them. That is due, more than anything, to a heart change God has wrought in me. I have seen that, even with 20 years experience in parenting, I am not equipped in and of myself to parent these special children. They need more than I could ever muster up. But God has been faithful to once again remind me of his grace toward me as well as toward them. He will be the gentleness they need when my frustration seeks to get the best of me. He will forbear when I would choose to get angry. I am living out a lesson on the fruits of the Spirit. Not always successfully; but I will try and try again as the Holy Spirit enables me to do so. I am thinking this is going to be my last blog. I hardly have time to check email much less blog; however, if there is anyone who comes upon this blog and has any further interest in how life is playing out for these two precious children of God, please leave me acomment with your email and I would be happy to communicate with you further. Comments come to my email. Especially if you are considering the adoption of older children from Ukraine, I would love to tell you more about the blessings and joys, and yes, the struggles, of this calling. Even though we have only been home from Ukraine for 5 weeks, there is a restlessness in my spirit that draws my thoughts back to that country and its people. I still see the faces of the many children I have met there; children who, like my two sons, long for a family. Eli asked me recently if I believed in God and I said yes. Then he asked why. As I was thinking of how to explain my deep theological answer, he said "That's a silly question, isn't it? God gave you two new sons." "Two sons from Ukraine," Vitalik added. That fact was proof to them that God exists. I invite all readers of this blog to step out in faith and consider how they might prove to a broken, hurting, orphaned child that God is real and that He hears their cries.

Family Night at the Lanes

Surprise visit from Vitalik's friend, Chris Underwood today; Chris has been home from Ukraine for about 8 months

Out and about

We have been home a little over two weeks now. Everything is going smoothly for the most part. There is the occassional bump in the road but nothing that was not expected. We have started school-lite, working our way into the real thing when Colton leaves to go back to college August 25th. We celebrated Colton and Vitalik's birthday right after he got home. We have been to several movies at the Rave. We are slowly introducing the boys to some of our favorite restaurants. We went to Birmingham this past Saturday and visited Gabe's family. We also were able to visit with some of the kids who are being hosted from Ukraine this summer plus visit with one of Vitalik's friends who was adopted last fall. I can remember Staci and I longing for the day when we could go get our boys. It is so awesome for me to be able to post a picture of the four of us in Birmingham with our arms around them and each other. The boys continue to enjoy hanging out around home, driving golf carts, playing games and just enjoying life. They both like to go swimming; and Eli has become the newest filmmaker in the family! They are getting better each week at sitting through church. I know that is a challenge for them when they don't understand the language. Both boys are trying hard to communicate in English and are doing very well. However, when we are out in public around people they do not know, they relish not being able to understand! Everyone has enjoyed watching the Olympics this week. What a great way to jumpstart patriotism! We are planning to go the beach later this week. I know they will love it. The other kids are looking forward to it as well since we have not been down there since we moved 4 years ago! I will post as many pictures below as I have time to upload; I don't have near the free time as I did before we added to the family. And for that I am extremely grateful!

We Are Family

We've been home a week

And it has been a good week. My biggest adjustment has been the change in the amount of groceries I have to buy. You wouldn't think that 2 more mouths would make such a big difference but I am having to go to the supermarket daily. I can't keep enough fruit, eggs, milk, bread and sausage in the house! Vitalik had gained 20 pounds in the 8 weeks he spent with us in Ukraine; hopefully that pace will slow down now that he can get out and exercise.

We have spent most of our first week close to home. We went to church Sunday and went swimming at the YMCA today. We got haircuts a few days ago and bought some clothes for the growing boy. Other than that, we've just hung out here. Its been like a vacation for me since we got home. To be able to leave the boys with Gabe while I run an errand......what a luxury. To have a few minutes of quiet while they play outside was not something afforded me in Ukraine.

The boys are working on their English and are improving daily. Eli has taken a couple of spills on the bicycle and has given it up for the time being. We are still struggling with remembering to call him Eli instead of Roman but he just goes with the flow. He has become such an affectionate and loving boy. He learns songs so easily. Our favorite to sing together is "More" by Matthew West. He is so precious singing it. When we were in Ukraine and he would start pouting, I would sing the Barney song to him and that has become another of his favorites, done with a dramatic "great big hug and a kiss from me to you." I already cannot imagine life without these two boys.

Luke is hosting a Halo party tonight and Vitalik has been practicing all week to get ready for it. I am glad that he will have the chance tonight to make some new friends. Colton is coming home tomorrow after being in California for 6 weeks or so. I can't wait to see him. He is such a delight to have around and I know will have lots of entertaining stories to tell. It will be good to have everybody all together in one place for the first time. Maybe we can arrange for our first family portrait. If so, I'll post it right here.