Student ID's.

just a short post to say that all is well...

Got the boys their ids today to help with Delta. This is good. Hopefully VERY good.

Got a tour of #12 today. Bogdon is Superman. No doubt. If you haven't met him and you are a Frequent flyer to this area, you are missing out on an amazing person. He is the real deal.

Tomorrow is going to be early and par normal tonight is late... so that is all from this corner of creation except to reply that:

Yes, Chris and Gina that does count... and I have always thought a butterfly would be a nice choice... & Tolbert... ROFL... feel free to send the number... I think 11 weeks in Ukraine and turning 35 here with out my honey qualiflies me for a small not quite midlife thank you very much crisis and a butterfly will be a welcome addition to my other bumps and bruses from this process. :)

Peace and Prayers from UA.

J

We now resume our regularly scheduled program...

So... all is good...

Got boys on Fri. Went down town and got pics for ids for John and Kevin. Came out and ran into Lori and Anna... The chances of this happening are zero to none. We were invited to join Bogdon and the group of orphans that he was hosting from the south from a school for the invalid children. We were so thankful to be invited to go with them. They had this really nice huge tour bus and we had room to spread out and really LOOK at the city as we went from one end to the other and back. We went to see a 4D movie... The kids LOVED it... They played games together in the archade, and then got back on the bus to go to children's memorial park and eat pizza.

We left there and went to the Ukainian "Zoo Park." I never want to hear an American Zoo talk about the conditions for their animals again. You will be happy to know that only one child was eaten by a tiger here last year... OMG... I'm so glad he was sleeping... You will also be happy to know that when Kevin tried the door that says "DO NOT OPEN" in Russian clearly on the sign to the area that housed creatures like snakes, bugs, coy fish, the aligator, like an indoor atrium... that when it DID OPEN he promptly closed it and nothing got out... I ushered them out quickly regardless... know you are all proud of my choice...  

Got to the apartment and had a little trouble with a habit of Kevin's that will need some attention when we get to the states... Lori and I talked with him and he is going to work on it before we leave too :) I then um, took a little side trip, on my way back from the market... it created a bit of a stir here, (Full story upon arrival in US not fit for internet publication ~ Let's just say I am now well acquainted with some antique equipment here in Ukraine that would never make it on the set of present day "Grey's" All is well, and I have a lovely momento of my time here. :) No Comments or Q's here on blog, private email only thank you.)  and we called Oleg Magdych :)   He and his family helped us out and it was so awesome for our kids to get to know them. Oksana, his wife, took all four of our kids to the market and they look like they have been to "Extream Makeover Ukrainian Edition." They all now have a pair of new jeans, a  new shirt, and a pair of new slide shoes to wear that do not have holes and that WILL make it for the rest of this journey till we can get to America and get them things from there. She did what I never could have done and did it for $120 USD. I would have opened my mouth and spent that much for a pair of jeans and shirt as soon as I were found out as an American. I stand amazed. We are so thankful for the Magdych family. They gave me much needed help, wisdom, and a chance to recover from some of my time here... God has provided for our family all along the way and we are so thankful. I can never give back what has been given to me by our friends here in Ukraine or in America to help us get our family together...

The kids are good... bonding to each other, ready to get past this week... they told me they can make it till Friday. I am so thankful for their dilligence... they are pushing through the wacko circumstances that keep coming our way and they are over coming daily things before my eyes that I can't immagine myself going through at their ages. I have to return the boys tonight to 21 for the last time before next Friday. They have "school" this week so I can't get them out to spend the night it is "impossible" so we are thankful for the time we have had and are looking forward to Friday's meeting with Alla, the local administration, and CPS of Ukraine... I will bring flowers and then we will all leave 21... my looking back will be in months to come but I can promise you it will not be on Friday.

Hey Lori's Bday is on April 3rd... ya'll please pray for her, and if you want to post Bday wishes to her you can do it on our blog and she will read them there :) you can send them to this post :) she has been so good to us and we are so thankful to her... we can't wait to get her to the states in May and share some loving stateside with her too :)

We are thankful for your prayers... please keep lifting us up... (Dad that was for you) :)

Much Sympathy to the Carington Family and the church family of Olivet in the Homegoing of Sister Shirley. My prayers have been especially for Brother Ed, and for Ms. Lois. I know that this has been so very hard for you and I am praying for your comfort. Please know that while I am not there physically I am thinking of you each and asking God to wrap His arms around you and for you to recieve His peace.

Love from this side of the planet...

Jenn.

PS... Papa... John is begging, for his ear to be pierced... I have told him that this is up to you. I have your back... love this long distance parenting! Oh... btw.. if he gets to pierce his ear, then Kevin and Max want theirs done also... & I get a Tatoo :)

 

Mark Returns

March 29, 2008

So, not as glamorous as the return of Jaws, or Superman, or Batman ... But I am home nonetheless. I am torn being here, but it is how it is. Jenn and I had prayed much about me staying or returning and we really felt like this was the right thing to do. A shout out to Olivet, our church. They have been sooooooo gracious in allowing me to be gone 10 weeks, and offered to allow me to stay to see this through.

I am cracking up at the comments about leaving half of me in Ukraine ... come on people, I only lost 30 lbs ... the tuff part is going to be to not eat at La Hacienda every day until my family gets home ... I took it easy this week, and only ate their food 3 times. LOL no weight has been gained back in eating La Ha ... unless my scale is dishonest.

I have enjoyed being back and being able to be a part of the ministry I am called to once again. I just came in from working on our new garage/shed. If things ever go bad in the house, i now have a well built haven to escape to ... and the keys to lock myself in. Oh, and Jenn you are more than welcome to come with me.

I wanted to first say thanks to all of you who have lifted us up in prayer. We have needed it! Everything, at times, has challenged us. Culture, people, activities of daily living, the children, the process, our spiritual walks .... but because you were praying, God has been so faithful to lift us up ... out of the mire and put our feet on a sturdy rock. I know there is much more unsteady ground to tread, but He truly sees you through the tuff spots.

Today, I want to give a shout out to some friends. Lori is one of them, as you have read on these pages. She is continuing to be there and suffer along side of us. Please pray for her endurance to continu doing the ministry and school work she is called to, while she selflessly aids our family. But I also want to mention the Magdych family. Oleg (yes another Oleg) and his lovely wife Oksana. Oleg, a very busy man directing Radooga ministries along side yet another Oleg and friend of ours, saved the day today. No need to go into details on here, but I am so grateful for the kindness he and Oksana showed to our family, to my wife and kids, that I had to publically say thanks on here. Our friends and family so appreciate your kindness and are reminded of what Jesus says in the gospels ... When you do this to the least of these, you do it for me, my brethren (loosely paraphrased). So God bless you Magdych family for loving people and for allowing yourselves to be used in yet another way to show the love of Christ.

Three weeks seems like a long time .... but I know in the scheme of this adoption, it is but a short time to be united as the Smith family, finally to be at home, together. Thank you for continuing to pray for Jenn and the kids. We love you!

Papa

Independance Square Day...

Hey good day here in UA. Getting ready to close it up for the night but wanted to tell you we managed to get Max and Anna their photo ID's and will get John and Kevin's tomorrow so we can talk to the good folks at Delta when we are ready to rock.

Right now, my thought is that we are inbound on 19 April. Again... anything can change would love it if it were earlier but guessing we may have "normal" stuff to deal with here and there and giving myself a buffer.

I told Lori it is the first day I have been here that I haven't felt like I was under the gun. I needed it today. You have no idea... Got the kids "football" jersey's at Independance Square. After I get the boys tomorrow and get "team Ukraine" assembled here I will take a picture and post it :) We got one for Pop too :) It will help me keep track of them in the airport at least :)

Thank you for the email support from the Grace clan. Needed to hear your words of encouragement Gina and Chris and think you guys are awesome.

Getting my boys tomorrow at 10am. I'll be the Mama with all the Men tomorrow, Lori is going with our friend Bogdon to the Zoopark and taking a group of orphans from the south, and some from here at 12, and he said Anna could go and Lori is going to be her chaperone :) I am so thankful for Lori's servant heart and praying that this will be a great day for her as she gets to interact with so many special kids!

Excited about moving forward...

Love,

Jenn

Burrrr, Bullies, and Birds...

So... again for the long version call Mark ;) for the short version here goes:

Got up this morning and headed to meet G. to go to the US Embassy. IT WAS BURRRR COLD. Snow on ground stuck from last nights flurries and it was icey as all get out walking down the hill to the Embassy. Passing through the gate there was quite nice, being able to read, hear, and speak my own language was really cool for a while... by now even reading the forms I was filling out was cool... ;)

Leaving the Embassy I was quickly jerked back from my short break to America as a guard bellowed at me in Russian as if to remind me I am not home yet that I was going the wrong way which he punctuated by calling me a stupid American... I'm sure he didn't think I knew what he said other than the American part but with 4 kids I have no problem with curse words here, and in my book, stupid + the nasty way he said it to certainly qualified... who pays his check? I will clean up for our younger audience and the sake of not losing my religion the thought which ran through my mind which was, "Welcome back to "paradise" " you may feel free to interpret...

Leaving there G, the kids and I headed back to what we thought was going to be Kreshatyk and what ended up being Vksona again. So now I have two kids making smart comments about how they missed out on the Fat House and how they want to go by train to Zaph. We had lunch at a place across from the train station it was good, but Max who is now a connoisseur of "buffets" found it not to be as palatable as the fat house and let G. know it later. What a butt head.

On the Marchutka out to 21 we went a totally different way than we had ever been before on 719 the route has changed and for a min. I was freaking out did I get on the right bus or not, I was not the only one with this question as the man next to me was also quite anxious. He asked me in his most impolite angry Russian if I knew where we were, I told him no. He asked me if I knew if the stop he was looking for was on this route and I did not know so I told him I don't know, he looked at me totally ticked off at my apparent incompetence Anna behind me telling me his tone and what he was saying are "shocking Mama" and Max in front of me telling me he is "Abusive Mama" meaning he is cussing at me... So as the Bully kept up his business, we pulled to a new stop, someone got off freeing a space for me to sit else where, and I called him a "Cranky Old Goat." which while I am sure was not my best line or moment cracked me and the kids up, later they asked me what "abusive" words I said, and they rolled laughing to find out it was "prostly" "simply or Just" calling him a goat... well... we fixed him...

We got out to 21 early found John and was told that Kevin was inside "someplace" we hung out in the yard, Suzette Davies, her daughter and V. came to visit Victor @ 21 and it was nice to see her smiling face. Suzette is always very positive about her experiences here and game to share things that she is learning from spending time with V. They took pictures of John, Anna an Max having a snow ball (yep... snow ball) fight with Alexandra before they headed home for the day.

And... as for the birds... well that snow ball fight I was talking about...got going again after the Davies family left and, got a little, pardon my pun, "out of hand" for Max today when he got reamed by some of the older boys, his brothers included. One whom I adore, and he because I do, does not, named Vova, really nailed him. There were double barrel birds a flyin and Mama happened to look at the right time, which was the wrong time, for my buddy Max. We had another chat about keeping them in the cages and he was really miffed when I asked him to tell Vova he was sorry, cause he sure wasn't...

Tomorrow we work on finding the place in town that helps get you ids for delta :) since we love to fly and it shows... I figured it would be a fitting way to spend the day...

Ya gotta laugh people... you just gotta laugh...

Ya'll take care... Williams Clan... please take a real shower and do not use your socks as a wash cloth act like the civilized folk from MS that you are... and when some one sees Ronny Brock do tell him someday I need his definition of "aketa mu handa" because I am trying it the next time I sit next to a goat like the one I was stuck with today!

Lovin from,

Jenn Smith, John, Anna, Kevin and my future "Ornithologists" Max...

"We are family"

Slavic & Luda, Anna and Max.
Mom in the pic too.

Catch up pics...

Who was that masked man feeding the dog outside of #12

New Time Line

March 26 - Visit American Embassy

March 27th - I have been here for 10 weeks... I want a cookie (Oreo or my husband's chocolate chip home made ones) and medal...

March 31 - Courts closed but 10 day wait over.

April 2 - Court docs picked up applications made for new birth certs and id numbers.

April 3 - Lori's bday. 11 weeks in Ukraine.

April 4 - We are supose to be allowed to get John and Kevin in the presence of the tribunal here and get them out of 21.

April 5th - Word up to Calyn... it is her bday :)

April 6th - 35 and the Mother of 4 teenagers...

April 8 - hopefully # has registered.

April 10 - Week 12, I have now completed a semester of Russian.

April 11 - Hopefully Visit Dr. office with boys

April 14 - Hopefully Embassy visit with boys

April 15th Hopefully pick up boys Visa's...  Hope you all paid your taxes :)

April 16th Dare I hope it???

ANYTHING... and I do mean... ANYTHING... can happen... Ya'll keep praying... I want to be home for Kevin's bday by the 23rd in the states... He wants that so much.

Love you guys...

J&Crew.

 

tidbits.

Ok... so we left off at the kids sister visiting.

That turned out to be a nice day for them, and not a good time for John and Kevin. John was not happy with me for cooking for everyone while Anna visited with her sister and felt like I was "not being strong" by serving them food insted of Anna and Max doing it. I explained the best I know how but they were not thrilled by my servanthood at that point. Working on it.

Max begged his sister for new shoes * Note they know they are suppose to wait till the states for some things and I have good reasons for that... one of those Max learned today... later...

The gifts that went back and forth between the siblings was normal, understandable but not kosher with my boys since they didn't get any thing not even a candy bar when the sister knew they were here and I have them. It was kind of stinky.

I took the boys out for a few min. on their own, and got them a drink and some sunflower seeds, a dollar store watch and you would have thought I got them the hope diamond. Needless to say it was resolved fairly well. Longer version if you want it later.

Nice walk to the Green line terminal from our appartment this am. Met up with G. and then headed to go to the medical clinic for Anna and Max where they were cleared to go and got first in series of Hep B shots and had blood drawn. Were told not to bathe for two days, they loved that, and told not to eat "chocklick" for two days which Anna said was, "shocking" and to any Ukrainian it really is. To tell them no candy especially "chocklick" is like saying "please hold you breath and do not breath for two days." you see the drama and understand my point.

Embassy visit tomorrow for these two.... suppose to apply for their visas... not sure how that will happen since presently papers I need from Mark I think are not here yet, will see how that goes, not sure why I was told to go and get the appt. if they don't have an answer to how to fix it so there must be one, surely no one would send me on wild goose chase for no reason here in Ukraine... Right? Of Course...

Two quick interesting notes:

1. yesterday at the market, John was asking a vendor a question at a stall, when he and Kevin turned to leave the woman asked him, "are you from the orphanage" his reply was swift and confident freaking himself out evident by the shock and then grin that registered, "NO!" Kevin said, "Me too, I am not from the orphanage." and smiled at me. John looked and repeated the conversation in russian again and looked so proud to say again, "NO!" in answer to the woman's question! I'll take baby steps with the Big Boy... any steps I can get.

2. Anna today was observing some girls on the bus home. They were all very "emo" lip rings, all in black, buttons that said, "I love emo" etc... They were not quiet on the bus which is not typical of the way you act, and didn't exactly call the conductor "sugar" if you get my drift in Russian. When they got off, she looked at me and said, "Mom, she had a hole in her lip, and her friend had two. Shocking!" I asked her in my baby talk Russian with a hint of sarcasm, "Shto? Tee ne budish tosha?"   "what,you don't want one too?" she rolled her eyes at me. Guess we are safe on that one for a while.

3. Max has a fat daddy blister on his foot from his new shoes... and was not happy with me when I grinned at him and said, "hummm maybe this is why Mama said wait till America to buy shoes."  He grinned back and said, "Maybe" in English... it is so on with these two... ROFL.

Lori is on her way over in the rain... this is a huge thing... Lori doesnt have to come out in the rain/ almost snow for sure!! and we are going to have eggs and cheerios for dinner... we are happy with this choice. We are making soup for the kids. :) & Anna and Max both got a "tablet" when they got home of the "chocklick" variety to ward off any thing offensive in the weather. Anna thought this was a good choice... :) 

Tomorrow promises to be "very interesting" and long we are starting at 9:30 one stop past Zodi on the green line to go find a little piece of America here in UA. Pray for peace and justice I could use a little of both.

Love,

Jenn & Crew...

PS no visit with 21 today since kids had shots and it is raining. going out tomorrow post embassy...

 

...Rainy Days and Mondays...

OK that is a bad dating... maybe some of you won't get it those of you who do please don't comment on my Carpenter's Moment.

So last night at around 8 we got a call from Luda who as you may recall is Anna and Max's sister. She said that she would board a train from Zaph take it over night and be here at 7am. She asked for someone to come and meet her at the station. Not really all that easy to do with 4 kids, but not something I was unwilling to do either b/c she said that she was afraid and wouldnt be able to do this by herself. After I agreed to be there... and hung up... Max informed me that in fact she would have her boyfriend with her. They wanted to come visit the kids. He is from Moldova and they have not been to Kiev. So... my clan stayed up er hummmmm late... it was a huge party and they had a great time. Let's say 6 came early.

I was on the marchutca at 6:00. At the metro and at "Voksana" (which I learned today is something like "train station" or something obvious like that duh...) and got off to go and get the crew. Lori, once again, our angel, was here for the kids... which is good, b/c there was a bomb threat for the train to the south that kept their train from getting here until after 10. I of course had little info on all this as I was solo flying... First I heard 7, then 9:10, then 10:10... by 10:30 I was frozen (in and out of train station waiting for the different times that I was told that I could expect the train and travelers.) It was raining, the wind was "wow" cold. I was folding when I saw Luda in front of McDonalds. ummm no comment.

Got them back to the apartment and it was on. The boys did their best to be cool, and I mean that very literally. They wanted NONE of this visit. They basically were not happy that it was happening in the first place. I understand. A trip with them later to the magazine to get a dollar store watch and the mother load of sunflower seed bags (4uah for a gian bag, they were in hog heaven) and we were all on good terms again.

Anna and Max are loving being with their sister, and her friend and I am thankful they wanted to come and spend the time with them. It is good for them to have another visit before the kids go stateside for a while. All is good.

Still have our guests... so this will be short... more later... but wanted to let you guys who are waiting to hear know that we are all ok, no one is the worse for wear, except poor Lori who is going to be so ready for us to get lives in another country! :) she is THE BEST... and we love her. Ya'll keep praying for her ;)

Lovin from over here to over there :)

J & Clan.

Happy Easter

With out knowing, Lori got me flowers this morning for Easter. She brought me these pretty Lillies which I have gotten for Easter for years. I can't believe how amazing He is. I was so thankful.

Also, in answer to so many of your prayers for our kids this is the prayer that Anna prayed in her own words said, "I read it last night. I prayed it this morning." and has written out from her devotion book and shared with her brothers. She is very serious about them understanding what she knows about God...

Dear God, I know that you created me, and love me and want that I know you. I understand that my sins keep me from knowing you. I tear out my sins, I thank you for Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life right now. Please forgive me my sins, and take in your hands my life. I pray to you in the name of Jesus Amen.

I am not convinced she understands what she read or prayed, however, the point is that she is seeking. She is seeking and not only that, she is shraing what she is learning with her brothers. They (John and Kevin) are presently less interested in spiritual things but Max said this morning he understands what he read too.

Happy Easter... What a Beautiful Day...

Love
Jenn & All Our Kids :)

"Beckman Returns"

So Jan and Jerry Williams brought Max a Batman outfit. He asked me at the conference if he could wear it to bed. I was cracking up. He wasted no time putting it on when we got to the apartment... OMG... is he too cute or what? BTW, not that I think I should, but I am going to tell you that the man is a size 8... this gives you perspective on what happens to kids who do not have proper nutrition in the orphanages. Remember cronologically he is 12.

Batman eats a piece of candy lop eared...


















Every Mom wants to eat dinner with her "souper hero" Beckman and I in our kitchen, yes my fanny is touching the ref, as I bend over, and touch the table... We have had a long day. It has been a good one over all. We are so thankful for our time at the conference. So glad to have seen so many smiling faces and so thankful for His Spirit which was needed to drive out some of the darkness that is so overwhelming at times. We took a break from dealing with the metro today and just took a taxi back and forth to the conference. It was really nice to be above ground and see how things fit together. I even figured out a short cut to the Green line metro stop. Not that it is really that short, or that I use it much anymore with the boys on the Red line stop but it was good to know :) Since we were up late last night, and early this morning, and since I am sure that at 3am our kids were up and had their door open making sure Poppy didn't leave before they got up, bed time is going to be on time tonight.. I know Mark will be proud. LOL. He says he is the only one who can get them in bed on time. :) I am going to give it a shot tonight.

The boys get here tomorrow at 11 and we have them till Monday night. We got a phone call from the kids sister Luda... she is going to travel to Kiev and will be here on Monday and leave Monday night. Please pray for a good, safe, pleasant visit.

Anna is presently reading out of a book that I got at the conference that is a devotional in Russian... She has been really swallowing up all things she can find on Christ, and I will not be suprised at all if she is asking Him to be her all and all soon. They had a lot of vendors there that had things I wish I had really known that was going to be the case but I am so thankful for the few things I was able to pick up that are for the kids in their own language to learn about Christ. God is just so good.

In case I do not get to tell you tomorrow, Happy Easter... you are loved. You are appreciated. You are thought of... Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for taking care of my husband... I miss him more than I can tell you...
Love,
Mama, Anna, and Beckman for the Smiths ;)

Thank God for Friends.

So we got Mark out the door this morning, and then we went by taxi to the Aviation University. That was were the Radooga conference was today. We had a wonderful time. It was a safe haven from the moment we walked in, the music was so beautiful, the drama was funny and was very pointed about living a pure life. Who can have a complaint about David Nasser? More than anything what I was so thankful for was to walk in the door and get to see Jan & Jerry Williams, Randy & Valerie Hall, Ronnie Brock, and finally get to see Oleg Magdych. It was more than I could have asked for at that time. It was good to get hugs, to hear how are you? To see people love on the kids, and to know that what God has started with in the presence of all these good people He will finish in His perfect time. Getting to sing, "How great is our God." while my kids learned it in their heart language, and knowing that this style of worship is mine too, just made it such an awesome experience. Anna was spellbound the whole time. Max did a great job, he was a wee bit antsy by the time we got toward the end of Davids second sermon but he made it like the self proclaimed "champion" that he is... Jan brought a present for Max, pics to follow, and Peanut Butter for Anna... PRAISE THE LORD!

More to follow...
J

Mark's Departure

... so heads up folks, my honey left this morning and as far as I know was able to catch his flight. He said he will contact me when he is stateside. Ya'll take good care of him please, his two kiddos that were here were not happy at all to see him leave. They are happy to see friends from Bham today at the conference, and so am I... We all need today very much.

Tell ya how it goes later.

J

Past Pretense.

It's Good Friday... That has always been an oximoron to me. How could it be good when Christ suffered so much, and yet we have so much to be thankful for because He did. I love Jesus. I love Jesus and so does my Husband and we are settled into His grace for good.

Our boys did not have school today regardless of what we have been told.

Our boys do not have school tomorrow, they are going down town to Kreschatyk to play games regardless of what we were told. And are not here to night to spend one night with us as a full family before their Father leaves for America... They will not join us at the conference because there are "too many people there, and they might get a virus" and "it would be too hard for me to keep up with four children at a conference "like this" when I have many people I might want to be speaking with."  NOTE... HELLO... I might have to take care of all four of them for the rest of my days I am their MOTHER now... & get this... Our boys will be DOWN TOWN... ON A SATURDAY... ON KRESCHATYK... Ya don't think there might be a couple of people down there who could have a cold do ya? I am way past pretense at this point forgive me for letting it fly...

There are other stories from today, which my husband will relay in person, or which I can tell you in person if you see me and ask or call later and I'll let ya know. For now, just know that we are thinking about all that it means to be a Christian. We are clear on the fact that because we are and because we had intentions to allow our boys to be at this conference this weekend that we are denied the privilage of their company.

For you Brothers and Sisters out there, I say this, Sunday is coming... Our Sunday is not as early as the 23rd in some ways... and you hear me... but it is coming... and soon we know there is a day when we will be able to walk in the fullness of who we are with our whole family. Sunday is coming. Think about the freedom you have to tell your kids all about what today means. Think about the freedom you have to take them places and teach them what your family believes, so they are free to make a choice for themselves.(Deut 6) Walk in the fullness of your identity with them and enjoy every minute of it... Do not take it for granted :) Do not take HIM for granted. Sunday is coming... I'm looking forward to it more and more EVERYDAY...

We have had a day... but it pales in comparison to what Good Friday means. Please in everyway embrace this day for the suffering and the beauty that it really is...

We love you, :)

The Smith Family.

 

 

NOTE...

NEW CONTACT INFO FOR JENN NOW UP ON BLOG...

Please use the number listed for all calls and any txt/sms you may be sending from here out.

Thank you~

The Managment...

PS... Mark is saying ya'll won't be able to see me, I am the freak under the sign that says "Jennifer" who is pointing up vainly at her name on the wall in Russian :)

Let it sneer let it sneer let it sneer

View from the Court House.

Papa, Mama, John & Kevin

John, Mama, Papa, Oksana the Prosecuter, Alexandra the Inspector, Alla the Director of 21, and Lena our Court Translator... & of course... Cool Breeze Kevin...

The word for Snow is Sneer... & we had plenty of that today just in time for court... We left the apartment and the weather was really nice and we came up from the metro in Obilon to find a thick bunch of snow swirling around us. We were kind of shocked, and by the time we made the walk from the metro to court we looked like drown rats. No worry, the judge still said yes after our time in court and you can see by the photos we have officially added two more boys to the Smith Clan.

We were asked all kinds of fun stuff like, what is the size of your home, how many rooms do you have, do you know that these boys come from a "special" orphanage and that they will need lots of love and attention? Do you have enough money to care for them? What will happen with their education? What opportunities will you give them? We were asked a very interesting question and one that frankly threw us... and that was, are you thinking of adopting anymore children... Mark did a great job and said we were planning on focusing on the children that God calls us to. I liked the answer... and it dosen't count us out for anything He is working on. And then off the record while the judge was out we were asked some other interesting things... those will remain off the record for now... :) But the conversation with the folks remainging was quite something.

While we thank you for your prayers for court, we also want to thank you for your prayers for the conference. Tomorrow is Mark's last day here... which is blowing all of our minds... we can't believe it is finally time to start moving toward HOME... :) We wil go out to visit the boys because they are not allowed to come and stay with us for the weekend. Anna, Max and I will not go out to 21 on Sat. we will attend the conference. Then on Sunday morning we will go out and get John and Kevin and they can come to the apartment for one night. I have to return them by Monday evening. I am compliant... which is not to say I am thrilled with this choice. I am biting my tongue and thinking of the days when Mindi and I joked about getting it pierced with a pink tongue ring - which is by the way a total joke still- & not something I am endorsing... end side note... I have done that more than once here. I have a feeling it will not be the last time before I get home.

The best part of court, besides the judge reading our decree that we could have the boys, was listening to them answer their questions. John went first of course, and he was asked what is your name? He answered "John"... they were like, um, no your name... he was like, oh... and answered Oleg Kuzin... they asked him if he knew who we were... he said yes, do you want to go with them? yes. Who are they? He said that is Papa Mark... and then looked at me blankly... bless his soul... he finally said "Mama." He has never called me anything but Mama. I was cool with that :)

Then in came cool breeze... Kevin is so funny. He thinks he is from some huge city... his strut is way bigger than he is right now... anyway, they asked him a similar round of questions. He was Kevin, honest, even though it was not his best picture when they asked, what kind of student are you, "so so" and what kind of student will you be in America? "I'll be so so" Nicely done Son, nicely done. He was asked who are we, and he stood there like, ummmmm not sure... cause he couldn't recall our first names and thought that is what they were asking, finally the inspector prompted him with a Mama and Papa, and he looked at her like, "well duh is that what you wanted to know? I thought you wanted formal stuff lady of course that is Mama and Papa..." His new last name proved no easier to remember. :) No worries... he will get it in time. He blissfully did NOT answer completely when asked "and did you help to pick out your name?" which was the follow up to do you like your new name? I thought, OMG please do not let him say "yes I picked it out because I watched it off of a movie." ROFL. Exit Kevin... Praise God, because everyone, except of course the serious Judge was cracking up.

When all was said and done we ended up leaving with out our boys to go and meet S. at the Darnitzya Metro stop. It was hard to watch them just walk down the steps with the Director knowing they are ours but not allowed to be with us formally yet. There was no way to celebrate with them today, there was no time. We left feeling good and deflated all at once I know that sounds ungrateful and really we are not it was just hard to be told they couldn't come with us and hard to hear that because they have lessons on Sat. they can't go to the conference... I am not trying to be snotty but "please!" they are as good as done with school there b/c the 10 day wait is over on April 1 and they only have school tomorrow, half day Sat. and on the 31st.. are you kidding???? ok end of rant. It just really bit.

We got to the Mc.D's and met up with S., Lori, and Anna and Max. & have I mentioned again that Lori is amazing? And I mean just totally a God send? Wellllll she is... She watched Anna and "Beckman" today while we went to go and take care of court. The snow had not only stopped by the time court was over it was gone. Then as we placed our order in line it came again... a total white out. I mean like, unreal blizzard looking, for like 30 min. Wind and all. The flakes were as big as quarters. And the wind was so wicked. I say all this to set you up for what really happened next... See while we are about to eat our nice McLunch there are two children who come up to S. and ask if they can have some money... She said, no, but are you hungry? they said they were and she said she would order them something. She did. While she did she asked a few questions. Where were they from? A village outside the city. They got here two weeks ago. Why did you come here? Mom and Dad are drug addicts and it was worse at home than on their own. She stepped aside to order, I asked them, where have you been today? They said in the street. I asked where will your bed be tonight? They told me in the street. Get it folks... the snow is swirling outside like there is no stopping it, and these two kids 14, year old Roman, and 15 year old Andrey, with no heavy coat on, are telling me their bed will be in the street tonight... I am over come at what we can't do... and not at all satisfied with what God has allowed us to do so far... and I know I have to work on that... I am not sure how, but I know that my heart is not ok with kids sleeping on the street here or home or anywhere for that matter... Mine were upstairs waiting for their "Happy Meals" and while they gave their Dad heck tonight about getting in them, they have a bed. A warm one. Two more were headed back to hotel 21 which any of you eagles fans x or still can take anyway you want... but they were fed, and in I hope, under 15 days they will be home in a family... Where are Roman and Andrey tonight? I don't want to think about it, and I can't stop. It just isn't ok, and it isn't enough to be satisfied where we are now.

It is Maundy Thursday... It is the day of preperation for the Passover Feast... it is the day Christ bowed and washed the feet of His disciples. Have you ever had your feet washed? I have... Have you ever washed someones feet? I've done that too by His grace... It is the most amazing feeling to show that kind of compassion and love to someone. God has let us wash some "Viniyet" (stinky) feet... but they are the most lovely feet. Can I challenge you to serve someone today? Serve as Christ did? No expectation of a repayment. No promise from the other party that they would respect and love you back for it... This parenting thing see, it is really quite a twist for us as Christians... we are constantly being shown His love through the circumstances that we find ourselves in, constantly learning how we treat the Lord, and how we should really. Today I watched S. serve some kids with some serious problems. We begged them to come to the orphanage. They are fearful. I hoped to see them tonight, told them how to find us, but they never came. When you get in bed tonight, please do so having first served someone totally from your heart with no thought of self... and second, please pray a prayer of thanks for the life you live, good bad or indifferent in your oppinion, and ask Him to look out for Roman and Andrey and so many more like them.

Love from the other side of creation...
The Smiths.

Sweet Friends...

Please pray with us for families for so many kids that need them... God is always doing something... These two are buddies from John & Kevin's class... Yuri and Vova ;) Vova is the one we just had the bday party for this week. He turned 14. No one should have a birthday and not get a party if they want one... even if it was only cookies and soda... Love you guys... thank you for your prayers.

Snow...

so... for your short morning entertainment :) (I am thinking of you S.H. rushing to see what we are doing today!)

It is snowing... no kidding.

We are all going to go shortly to 21 to see the kids, they have called to make sure we will be there today at 3. we will be. It takes an hour and a half to get there and same to come back :)

Tomorrow is court. We found out yesterday that the kids have "spring break" starting on Friday... Hummmm how very interesting... see that means that children can leave and go and be with their families if they have them around.... Guess what? Our boys have a family that is around and it is after court so we are asking them to be able to come and be with us for their week long spring break... PLEASE PRAY FOR A POSITIVE RESPONSE... WE KNOW OTHER FAMILIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS PRIVILAGE AND SEE NO REASON WHY OURS SHOULD BE DENIED.  please pray that they don't find a reason to tell us no.

Thanks ya'll...

Much lovin... more later...

J for the Smith Clan.

Personality Plus

Ok, so you saw from the pictures that we are moving forward in our relationships and that God has been answering prayers about those left and right. We are thankful for all of you on your knees for us, and all of the things you are doing to help us to get ready to get home.

Each of the kids have their own personality that is awesome… Here is a snap shot of each with words:

John… Where to even start with the compassion that floods his face sometimes is hard to capture. John is strong, and John is weak. John has lived in hard places… some times you can see on his face that those places have taken from him more than they ever should have by 14 years old. John is a giver. John is wise in some ways beyond his years… all our kids are… John is a peace keeper. This is a blessing for all of us and some times it is hard for him… He will go with out if he thinks it will cause a conflict. When John is finally fed up and feels an injustice past what he thinks is fair you will know it and so will the next town over. He bottles it and then when he is done and is ready to explode you stand back and let him roar and get it over with. He wants to understand. He tries. He is afraid to use English so it will be hard for him to start with. He is a loner… not the first one we have had in our lives, surely not the last. When he laughs and smiles his whole heart is in it and joy spills out over him and anyone else around. He is John.

Anna is something else. She is a village girl. Therefore, LOL, she will fit in perfectly in Milton. She is to these folks here in the city, what rednecks are to “high falutin” folk at home. She is a totally awesome person. She is funny. She is prissy. She is a royal pain in the rear… she is hard headed, she is soft hearted, she is loud and she is contemplative. She watches people, she is a decent judge of character, she is smart and she will tell you she is the best student in our family. She is a whiner, OMG… we hate whiners!!! She is strong. She can whoop your tail and then dry your tears. She tries to do the right things and when she fails, after a while, when she is good and ready… she can say she is sorry. She has blue eyes that you can swim in, and when they are happy she is so lovely… and when she is mad, you better run for cover or be able to take her on. We have done both. She has learned we will not take her guff… and she is learning limits though we have no fear she will test them again stateside. She is Anna.

Kevin… Can you say clown? The kid knows no limits. He is funny, he is serious, he is as lazy as they come. He is the one at the car wash that looks like he is working no matter what he is doing but you know he hasn’t done beans because his hands aren’t wet. He is smart, he is too street smart. He has been in the system since he was born. He knows nothing really of family save what he has seen on tv or in a movie. He loves us, but doesn’t know what to do with us. He is good with Max… and then again… watch out because those two together are trouble right here in river city. Kevin is the one we want to see “feel at home” with us more consistently. He plays hard. He is competitive. He wants to be the best at whatever he does. He likes to take Mark’s cap and act like a rap master. He is loose as a goose… and yet his so wound up… tighter than a drum. He will be the one who is the wild card. He is the wild card for all purposes. We are glad that God has called us to learn from him and with him. He is Kevin.

… and then there is Max. You can take one look at Max and know that you are in trouble because you are going to get sucked into his personality. He is the charmer. He is whip smart, he is naive. He is smart enough to stay out of trouble and then boy enough that when it finds him he thinks he might just go along for a while. He has an alligator mouth and a tadpole body. He will hold his own, and if you don’t believe it, try him… he is a strong little bugger. He will work, and he works hard, but when it is time to play he will play just as hard and crack you up the whole time. Max has had to depend on his personality to be his trump card with people around him. Max was a baby ~ the baby ~ when things went way south in the family. Anna has been his “Mama” till now but she is slowly letting go of that title, slowly, LOL… He is able to hang with the big dogs, he doesn’t know he isn’t one of them, save all the people who try to tell him over and over. He doesn’t listen. He has one speed ~ GO… from early in the morning till late at night. He is Max.

We are thankful that court is Thursday. Please keep praying with and for us, we do not foresee any problems. We are confident that those have been ironed out. Read it however you choose. More than court I am thinking about this weekend and looking forward to it and dreading it. Please pray for us. See the deal is, we have a chance this weekend to get the boys and take them and Anna and Max to a rough equivalent of Student Life Tour for Easter. David Nasser is going to be here and he is going to preach. Sergey, a friend of Mark’s, is doing worship. He is a wonderful person and a lead worshiper for sure. I hope that the kids will be allowed to be a part of this, but this requires permission for them to spend the night Friday and Saturday. We are ready to do what ever we need to do to get them permission to be there. On the flip side of this which is what we are looking forward to, none of us are jumping up and down with excitement about Papa going home. By the same token we know that this is important for our family and for Papa to go back to the States and get to it with the Youth Group! He is ready to get back to Rolly Pohlee too. He had a dream the other night that he had to get up and feed them~ I had one that Pohlee was licking my face. I think it is time to get back to the boys aye? Mark leaving is the right thing to do, but I have to tell you, he is my partner and I love him so much. I miss him like crazy when he is gone. The kids do too. They totally love their Papa. Please pray that God will use that time apart to strengthen their love for him and their desire to be with him.

More than praying for a smooth court, please pray for us to be able to get the kids to “tour” here and for Mark’s travel. That is what we are all focused on most of all. On Thursday time flips over again. It marks the start of the 10 day wait here in Kiev. On April 1st our papers for John and Kevin come into full effect. They will be totally official. (It really ends on the 31st but we have been told it will be the first before we can get them so far… who knows… ) Lori’s birthday is the 3rd. We look forward to celebrating it with her some how fun! In the mean time we will be doing medical stuff with the kids, and trying to get their passports from the embassy etc. This is a rough look at what is ahead. Those who have gone before, any advice you want to pass on is welcome at my email address. I am looking for tips, hints, landmines to avoid. Ya’ll have helped us so much by telling us what to do and not do, please keep it up.

Today was great.... we had a small "birthday party" for Blonde Vova. He turned 14 today. Ya'll whom ever is writing him, please do... some days he looks so hopeless... he just wants a family... More to share and will do so later on...
Love
MJ & Crew

Papa's Girl

Think this stands on it's own...

Max ready for Travel, or Plumbing School...

Our Kids...

It's all funny till someone drops their cone...

Actually... John thought it was pretty funny afterward too... he and Anna were messing around and she was laughing at him and her ice cream cone fell Mark's reaction was priceless :)

This was a good time for our kids...

More Ice Cream

Mahrozeshinyah

I Scream
You Scream
OUR KIDS SCREAM FOR
Mahrozeshinyah

The Pot Belly...

The Kids at Puzahta Khata

Friends :)