TRIP 2

We arrived Mon.20th had a great flight but hectic arrival,no facilitator or interpeter. Taxi driver we knew from before but no place to go . Our train didnt leave until 5:45pm it was 11 am when we arrived. Facilitator wanted us to hang around a cafe all day and wait. We were tired and jet lagged, I just want to lay down after 20 hours of travel. We insisted on hotel room where we could buy minutes for phone and computer. We ate and rested very little and off we went to 6 hr train ride. Very nice train, private car but no beds. After another hour car ride we arrived in Kochetok about 1am.

We walked down to the school and surprised our Maryna. She looked so happy to see us. This was what we have been waiting for !! She visited with us all day, I'll be so glad when we can just keep her. Our Court date is Thursday so it wont be long. We played together all day, she is just a doll. She told us she is ready to go. We are all extremely happy!!

Sky High flights

Its Jan. 3rd and we are shopping for flights again. It ended up costing an extra $1600 to come home early just for flight upgrades. Expedia has deals that look good but it seems impossible to get Maryna on a flight with us one way home without it costing $2400. Round trip for Steve and I discounted tickets at $730 EA, but by the time we buy her ticket all the savings is gone. I am going to check with my travel agent and trust that now the holidays are over she will be able to get us a better deal.

Its good to be home and the holidays were a blur. My granddaughter could not get enough of my attention when we came home and to tell you the truth I could not get enough of her. I am excited about going back, but dreading the long haul to Kharkov. I am excited about finishing this all up and whisking her away into a new life of freedom. Roller Coaster here we come. Maybe I'll get lucky again and get stranded in hum mm I don't know maybe PARIS,ROME. I'll leave that up to God, I'm sure he has more surprises just waiting for us!

New York New York

After eight days in a desolate region and 10 hour train ride followed by an hour car ride followed by a 10 hour plane ride we found our selves strained in New York. Our plane circled JFK for 45 minutes, taxied down the runway what seemed like another 30 minutes. We ran through the terminal with only minutes to spare waited on luggage and ran to another terminal across the highway down an icy slope pulling my luggage out of breath hoping to get home. We found our flight that we were already late for but hoping it would be late too was CANCELED!!! Stood in line with the other hundreds of people who's flights were canceled for 3 hours. Tired ,stressed, wore out completely and the line didn't move for 2 hours. 650 flights were canceled that night.

Thank God for my daughter Tiffany who was truly amazing, she was on the cell with me on the computer with the airlines on the phone with the hotels, Before long we had a great hotel room at the Majestic Hilton downtown Manhattan over looking ground Zero and the Statue of Liberty. The only thing available,Thank you GOD!

We went from pure hell to pure Heaven, 50Th floor over looking New York at Christmas,with no where to go until Monday. It was like a dream. We shopped, walked, took in the sights I loved it.Its nothing we could ever really afford but we had no choice,there was no trains,planes or automobiles available for 3 days. So we just embraced it all and rested and enjoyed being back in America.

We will return to Ukraine about the 19Th of January to bring our daughter home. Hopefully that trip will only be about 2 weeks. It was a very long hard trip with allot of ups and downs ,We will need to rest to take it on again.

I learned allot, was challenged physically, spiritually. I really enjoyed the fashions in Europe, and was surprised with New York's . We were stretched to the max and then rewarded to the max. We were so blessed in the midst of chaos , no matter what the situation God made sure we were comfortable with first class accommodations whether plane or hotel it was always the only option left . A year ago a prophet of God spoke over us and said God was going to cause us to travel and had lots of surprises for us, Boy did He!! Bye for now, we will resume when we return to Europe at the end of January, We will see what other surprises God has for us.

This roller coaster is a rough ride

We had no court today after all. All the court dates are now scheduled after JAN 7th. So we are coming home without our girl and will return in 3 weeks to finish up. We did get half way through the process. When we come back we will just need to go to Court and wait 10 days and finish up minimal paperwork. We are sad but still trust in Gods perfect timing. My Maryna cried her eyes out , we explained the best we could. She put on her brave face as I am sure she has had to do for six years. It is ripping our hearts out to leave her, I don't know what else to say but I know My God is good and greatly to be praised and we trust him with all our hearts our minds and everything that's within us , we will sing to the Lord praises and worship his Holy name forever and ever on the mountaintops or in the valley. AMEN

Today we have color

Today the sky is blue and it is snowing. We received a call from our facilitator to stand by for court today so we are holding our breath waiting for the call to go. We expect favor galore today. God is for us and not against us. We are the highly favored heirs of Christ. Walking in extreme favor and the peace that only Christ can give. Thank You for your prayers. Keep praying that everything moves fast . We require unprecedented favor with the judge and village today. We need our Facilitator to move swiftly .

Steve told me yesterday that when he went to pick up our daughter she ask him if it was time to get her clothes. She is as anxious as we are. I told my daughter what her new middle name will be . We explained the meaning to her and she seemed happy. Her new middle name is Karis (meaning Grace) named after my best friend Kari and my grandma Carrie thus comes Karis. Isn't that perfect,double the grace. bye for now we will update after court.

Just a thought

You know Steve and I have often prayed God what is it you want us to do? I believe this is that, to see this little girl, I know she is ours. She is so precious and she has been here for 6 1/2 years waiting for us. I cant wait to take her home and be the Mother she deserves. To see her and Steve together is a delight. She just loves him so much. She is very considerate to give us both equal attention too.

God is so good, I can wake up at anytime and low and behold my sister Nancy has woke up half the way around the globe and ready to talk with me,Thats God!! Thanks Nancy you have been so comforting. My daughter Tif is so attentive too. She calls everyday and just handles all my little emergencys.

This is not easy here, I cant wait to get home. We are racing against deadlines of holiday closures. It will be extremely hard to come home without her and then return in 3 weeks.
I pray that is not the case. We need favor with God and favor with man.That is our pray tonite!

Update 12/16 7pm

We recieved a call tonite that our facilitator will arrive in region tomorrow and try to get us a court date,maybe even tomorrow, Thanks for your prayers,God is good!!