One Month

It is hard to believe it, but we have been home for a month! Time does go by quickly. Things are going well, but they are still busy. We still have the loggers here everyday, they are finishing, they should be done  Thursday. We still have appointments for Max, my mom is doing well. Like I said there is a lot going on these days.

Max is doing well, he seems to love his new life, he loves his brothers and sister. He loves to go to church, when we pull into the parking lot at church he lets us know he is excited. He has many new friends there. Our church family have been so loving and accepting of our little Max!

The only bummer right now is that my children can not go out and play in our yard, well, we don't have a yard anymore. It is more like a waste land. Max loves to be outside, and he is missing it. We will have to go to the park and let that little man run and play! I think that when the loggers are done and it gets "cleaned" up, it will be better, but we don't have a lawn anymore, it's gone. yes it is bright and sunny now, but it is not the same yard.

Well sorry for this quick post, I will post more later :) Here are a couple of pictures!

He is so handsome!! We were getting ready for lunch after church.

Out in our back yard, Monday.

Silly boy, he was supposed to be taking a nap :) This is his little toy box.

Out side of our front door today!

Bill & Sheri

Very Different Now

We have had a interesting week so far, we are renting a house, and the last several wind storms there have been trees that fall. The owners of this property have decided to cut down most of the trees, I think someone said they are cutting down 76 trees.....I did not realize there were that many trees, but now that I see logs everywhere...well, there are a lot of logs laying on the ground. They are not finished yet, they just finished the front yard and have moved to the back yard. It is neat to watch those men plan on the place for each tree to land......and they do land where they are supposed to....there is more to logging than I realized.

A Beautiful Day

On a beautiful warm sunny day, we decided to take Max to the Beach. First we decided to just walk on the beach, there was a cool breeze coming off the water, it was nice. Max seemed to be content, but he started to watch the waves roll, and wanted to be in the water. It was warm enough out, that I let the children go wading.....he loved it!!! The water was cold, so I did not let them stay in very long, but Max had a blast. We all had a great day! I praise God for the beautiful day and His creation! Wonder at the creation, worship the Creator, to God be the glory, forever!!

Bill & Sheri

One More Time Please

Diapers for ODESSA

We decided before we left Ukraine that when we got home and settled that we would do one more fundraiser for Diapers for the Orphanage where Max spent several years....for the dear children we love that are still there. So we have worked everything out with a local missionary church, we will get the funds to them, they will spend every dime on a lot of diapers....and deliver them to the orphanage.

When we were there, they were not re-using disposables yet.....but next to it. All they wanted for the children were diapers, we brought toothbrushes and toothpaste for the children, when we gave it to them they said...."WE NEED DIAPERS" so we bought what we could at the time, and we decided then that when we get home will will do one more fundraiser.

So please, help if you can, get the word out, we need DIAPERS FOR ODESSA. Please share this blog, help us raise the money needed. We hope to raise about $1,500.....that will buy a bunch of diapers. We hope that they will be able to get some cloth for the babies, but they prefer disposables for the older children.

Telling the story of the "Three Little Pigs" It was in Russian, but I understood it, I am a mom.

It was a cute story, the way they told it. Max laughed . But look at those children, they are still there. Several with special needs.

The Big Bad Wolf one of the Groupa sheds in background.

The Nannie here in blue, was compassionate toward the special needs children, I liked her,

she spoke some English also. She was very helpful and kind.

The orphanage director telling me they need diapers, via her husband on the cell phone, he spoke some English also.

The gates that surround the orphanage, Max would go to the gates at least once a visit, as if he was trying to tell us he was ready to go! Praise the Lord....Max is home now!!

No Sound is So Sweet....

........As the Laughter of Children!

Our son Brady and daughter Sarah love to be outside with their brother Max. Max seems to know that this is home, and he loves his family! We have heard much laughter and seen many smiles from him since we have been home. He seems to be settled and enjoying each new moment. To God be the glory! We praise God for the great things He hath done!

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

We are truly blessed of the Father to have this amazing little man. Thank you Jesus!!

An Arrival Shower and More

First things first, we were greeted at the airport by our church family, there many pictures taken and videos. I would love to have those if possible. So those of you that were there, if you could send me those pictures and videos we would love to have them. I will post what I do have.

The family that made this, had the wrong arrival info, but we loved the thought and effort, they are dear to us!

When we got to the cars that day, there was a Bald Eagle soaring right over us...it was there for awhile, a symbol of freedom, that God sent to welcome our little Max home! God is awesome!!!!

An Arrival Shower

Our Church family gave us an "Arrival" shower, we are truly blessed to be a part of this body of believers. First, they told us, as our church family...that they are there for us, that they will help us and pray for us!! I do not take my church family for granted, they are an amazing bunch. But that is what we do in this family, we are there for each other, we help and pray, we bear each others burdens! The way God meant it to be!

So the way they delivered that support to us did surprise me, the shower surprised me, but the love and support of our church did not. I know this family very well, I know they will be there for us, we will be there for them. Words alone can not express how Bill and I feel, we truly do love this church family, more than they know.

A Few More Pictures

This picture was taken in Kiev, before we left, but I have not had a chance to share it yet, he loved watching the front loader go!!

Max with his brothers, Bryan and Brady!

Getting ready to eat BBQ'd Ribs.......YUM!!

Max, his brothers, his sister Sarah, and his Grandma!

One more with Grandma!!

Thank you all!

God Bless,

Bill and Sheri