Through the looking glass
Posted by: Gabe on: July 8, 2009
After dinner tonight, Oksana grabbed Kim’s camera and ran around taking pictures of everything. Enjoy!
I had to pose.
Kim at the desk from outside.
Oksana and our plum tree.
Oksana and our fish tank.
Standing on the bed!
Oksana IN our elephant ears.
Zeppo, not amused.
G'Day mate!
Lost in Translation
Posted by: Gabe on: July 8, 2009
I had a few hours today with Oksana and the translator. The translator was very nice and we went bowling and then I drove her to Roswell to her next house. Yikes. I hate traffic like that. But I digress…
Oksana asked me if I was going to give her a suitcase, and I told her yes, we were. She only came with a back pack, so she kinda thought she had to leave all the clothes. I told her NO, they were HERS and I was trying to get her some winter things to take back as well. That made her very happy. I feel bad that for 2 weeks she thought she was going to have to leave all the things we had given her!
I asked what her favorite thing we had done so far was, and she said all of it. She is so childlike sometimes. Things that I totally take for granted, she has never seen before. Like automatic doors, simple ‘baby’ toys, Gabe’s mechanical pencil. Squirrels. She points out airplanes and helicopters. I would love to see things through her eyes.
I asked if she would like to take a present back for her brother, and that got a big silly grin and a yes. That will be fun to help her get.
She also asked about my kids having their ears pierced. Turns out she REALLY wants to have pierced ears too. I told her it was against the rules and why (possibly angering the orphanage director, etc) The translator said that her O.D. was here, and was very OK with things like that, and if we asked, she bet it would be alright. So everyone say a prayer that we get a YES and we can take her. Again, it’s the little things.
There were a few other little things that we asked back and forth, but I don’t think any of them were as big as what I posted. So all in all a fun day.
~Kim
Welcome Party!
Posted by: Gabe on: June 29, 2009
Today all the hosting families went to a park in Roswell for a ‘welcome’ get together. Oksana was SO happy to see her friends. She kept ‘checking in’ with us, but she got to spend a lot of time with the other kids, and could finally talk freely and in her own language.
Her best friend, whose name I forget/can’t pronounce anyway =/ and her decided to taste all the kinds of potato chips. Her friend would go up to the food table, grab a bag and then come back to their seats. They would eat several and then the friend would go put the bag back and bring back another.
She brought back one bag of cheese puffs. But they were the super hot spicy kind. All of a sudden I hear “MOOOOMMYYYY!” and I turn back to Oksana and she is freaking out and waving her hand in front of her mouth. I grabbed her juice she had left with me and gave it to her. She drank it, made another face and just looked at her friend. The friend kept eating the puffs no problem. So Oksana grabbed another, and took a bite, then yelped like a hit dog again and drank more juice. Then she gave her friend a dirty look.
Hilarious.
Oksana’s parting gift from the picnic was a bag of Freetos.
~Kim
Oksana and her friend
Day Two
Posted by: Gabe on: June 26, 2009
So today we took the kids to gymnastics (their last day) and then I introduced Oksana to the wonder that is the Loganville WalMart. She took the cart from me right away and pushed it all around the store. It was weird not having to push it, but since she wanted to, I let her and tried to enjoy it. I had to walk ahead of her, so I couldn’t see her reaction to what she saw. We just grabbed a few things, and then I had her try on some tennis shoes. I let her pick which ones she liked out of a couple that fit and got her some socks since she came with only one pair. I tried to find checkers, but they were no where to be found.
Later, we went and watched the kids demonstrate what they learned at “gymnastics camp school” as Jadyn calls it. My mom, sister Kate and brother Wesley were all there, so they got to meet Oksana. Then it was home for lunch (which O ate, but I’m pretty sure she disliked….) and rest time. No one except Hadley slept, and then we went to CFA for ice cream.
On a side note, my mom sent a link to Google translator. I type in English and then it translates it into Ukrainian. I am saving this for when I need to ask her something very important or specific or explain something. It’s one sided, since she cannot type a response, but it has been a huge help. Earlier I explained that tomorrow we would go on a picnic and meet up with her friends that she came with. Then I made sure she liked ice cream. This got a big smile and head nod.
We went to McD’s first, but their ice cream machine was out, so we left and went to CFA. The cow-man wasn’t out there, but if he was, I’m pretty sure we would have had to take O’s pic with him. A super nice young man from our church was there working, and he gave us all our ice cream for free. He’s nameless, b/c I would hate to get him in trouble, but it made my afternoon, for certain. so THANK YOU!
We went after that to p/u some clothes and a checkers game from another friend. SHe managed all day not to throw up, although the last drive made her woozey. She flopped on the couch when we got home. Gabe got home and he had stopped at a craft store to get a cross stitch kit (WM didn’t have those either. Boo) He gave it to Oksana and she was incredibly happy. She light up and took it from him and had the biggest smile I’ve seen. Then she ran to her room yelling “Tank you” over her shoulder. She got right to work on it. In fact, after dinner was ready, we had to tell her 3 times to come eat. As soon as dinner was over she ran back to sew some more. She did finally put it down, and I got out the checkers and we played 2 games. (The 3 little kids were in bed at this point) She kicked my tail. Bad. Really bad. The last game she had all my pieces and I only had ONE of hers. She laughed and laughed. Then she played Gabe and beat him too, which was more of an accomplishment than beating me. Then she collapsed into bed.
Tomorrow will be long and hot with a 3 hr round trip car ride. Mom got her some chewable motion sickness stuff, so we’ll see. But say a prayer. Or two.
~Kim
Oksana & Hadley
Sidebar Links
Posted by: Gabe on: June 26, 2009
I have added several links on the sidebar. Some lead to other hosting families, and some lead to those who ahave already adopted. Please be sure to visit them.
Day One
Posted by: Gabe on: June 26, 2009
Fox 5 News Clip
Posted by: Gabe on: June 25, 2009
The Arrival
Posted by: Gabe on: June 25, 2009
This was an experience that we will never forget. There were a few hiccups in customs that delayed the children and led to us waiting for about an hour and a half. Considering the environment and all the noise our kids did really great. There was much walking around and waiting patiently, but the payoff was well worth it.
As we waited Fox News interviewed a few of the hosting parents and filmed the kids meeting the host children for the first time. I managed to record the actual newscast and will post some of it here. God is doing something great with this.
This is the first time New Horizons has hosted any children from the Ukraine, so there are lots of “firsts” to be worked through. Oksana does not speak any English so we have a challenge ahead of us, but we will prevail!
The biggest thing that hit me when we actually met her for the first time was how un-prepared I felt. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I guess you could relate the feeling to bringing home your first child from the hospital. Its kinda like,”Okay, now what?!” All we can do is take it one day at a time, and make the most of each day.
Oksana is coming from an orpanage in the city of Sumy is eastern Ukraine. She has a brother out there some where in the world who has already been adopted. The reason we have been told as to why Oksana was not adopted alongside her brother was, she was not pretty enough. I really dont know how best to respond to that in a civilized manner. This girl is beautiful. As will see in the pictures and videos to follow. Currently I have a video uploading to YouTube, as soon as it is up and ready, I will post it here. Until then, here is a photo of Oksana and my youngest daughter Hadley.
Oksana and Hadley
The Journey
Posted by: Gabe on: June 24, 2009
Several months ago, my wife and I were given the opportunity to host an orphan from eastern Europe. This opportunity was presented to us from an organization that does nothing but place children in hosting homes. New Horizons for Children identifies children from Russian, Latvian, and Ukrainian orphanages. The idea of doing this was a daunting challenge, and at first I was quite afraid, for lack of a better term. I am the type of person who wants to see the whole plan laid out ahead of time and know what is going to happen when. My wife however, she was ready to make it happen right then and there. So we balance each other out quite nicely.
Moving forward to the now, we have raised $2350 for all the various fees and plane tickets and everything you can think of. We have undergone an FBI background check, local law enforcement background check, home visitation and hug training. Yes, my wife and I are officially trained to give hugs to those in need.
Today, Wednesday the 24th, we pick Oksana up from the airport. Her flight is supposed to be in around 4:00pm. Our two oldest daughters are seriously keyed up and ready to meet Oksana, I think the same goes for Kim and myself. I plan on documenting as much of this journey as I possibly can. I know that God will most likely grow us the most from this experience. We have so much we want to do and show her while she is here, but not all of it will happen. Sometimes it is good to just slow down and BE a family, and that is our hope for this whole trip. We just want to show Oksana a home where she is loved and wanted. Our hope and prayer is that she will be able to find a forever family while she is here.
There are a lot of details I have left out, but they will get filled in as we go. Please visit this site often as I plan on uploading pics and videos of the experience.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.
