Chernigov – 12 Feb 07- Monday
Dateline – an undisclosed location on the way to Gorodnia Ukraine, Saturday 10 Feb 07 – Traveling on the road to Gorodnia headed to take Sophie back to the orphanage for an overnight stay, we came upon one of the many horse-drawn sleds here. We stopped for a picture. These are not romantic, ride into the sunset after a wedding in Colorado type sleds, these are the things that country people use to transport things in the winter – hard scrabble affairs (been reading the thesaurus as I’ve run out of other books ;-) . As I took the picture, the men yelled something to me – it didn’t sound too bad, but what to say in return? “Good Morning” sounded too proper. “Cat under the table wouldn’t work”, “I would like something to eat” might result in an offer that would be rude to deny. Luckily, Oles told me now was the perfect chance to try my new phrase. I mentioned in a previous post, the utility of a well pronounced Russian phrase. At that point in our stay I only had one – “very interesting”. Now I had two. The second surely made them wonder as I yelled “very very suspicious!”
When we returned to the orphanage, we walked Sophie to her room and then Charlene broke out the bead case, and the ladies made bracelets. We also played Uno (Oles never wins despite believing that he should). Sophie’s best friend Katya, is adorable. They seem to be almost inseparable – sitting together in school, eating every meal together, sleeping in beds 3 feet apart. We would love to bring her home too, but her mother has not given her permission for her to be adopted. It’s hard to find words to describe the feelings associated with leaving Sophie at the orphanage. Suffice it to say it’s been the absolutely most difficult thing we have done during this entire adoption. We have a little cot set up in the hotel room for her – going to bed that night with the cot empty drove us to our knees for some very serious prayer.
Sunday morning we picked her up sans Oles. Oles is heading to Russia to get the birth certificate for another child that is in the process of adoption. We arrived at the orphanage, went to Sophie’s room and began the Uno tournament. Sophie has opened up quite a bit. Most interestingly, we’ve learned that she has a boyfriend, Volva. Coming from a family with three brothers, and having four boys now, I have thought a lot about what it will be like to have a daughter. One of the things I think will be great fun, will be intimidating boyfriends. I’ve already hatched several schemes – many involving cleaning guns and wearing camouflage, to put into action when a boy arrives to take my daughter on a date (probably 25 to 30 years from now). With my new information, I ask every boy I meet at the orphanage if they are Volva – to which I get a big smile from Sophie.
Some sort of cold/flu is still running rampant at the orphanage. Sophie spent all night pretty stuffed up. It breaks your heart to see so many children coughing and sneezing, with no parent to comfort them. I do hope our donation will help them get over this. Please pray for the health of the children there.
Finally – we’re into day 4 of the 10 day waiting period. It’s an odd situation. Everything to this point has been fast paced, new and exciting. Now it’s like we’ve dropped out of warp speed and are orbiting the planet Gorodnia. I’ve read every book I brought, have learned how to play Gin, and figured out the hotel restaurant menu. We hope to talk with the orphanage director this week and discuss setting up a class sponsorship program through our Heart for Orphan’s organization.
We appreciate the blog comments very much. E-mail is working now for both of us, so you can send Charlene e-mail at Charmq@cox.net and me at tjamesq@cox.net.
Dateline – an undisclosed location on the way to Gorodnia Ukraine, Saturday 10 Feb 07 – Traveling on the road to Gorodnia headed to take Sophie back to the orphanage for an overnight stay, we came upon one of the many horse-drawn sleds here. We stopped for a picture. These are not romantic, ride into the sunset after a wedding in Colorado type sleds, these are the things that country people use to transport things in the winter – hard scrabble affairs (been reading the thesaurus as I’ve run out of other books ;-) . As I took the picture, the men yelled something to me – it didn’t sound too bad, but what to say in return? “Good Morning” sounded too proper. “Cat under the table wouldn’t work”, “I would like something to eat” might result in an offer that would be rude to deny. Luckily, Oles told me now was the perfect chance to try my new phrase. I mentioned in a previous post, the utility of a well pronounced Russian phrase. At that point in our stay I only had one – “very interesting”. Now I had two. The second surely made them wonder as I yelled “very very suspicious!”
When we returned to the orphanage, we walked Sophie to her room and then Charlene broke out the bead case, and the ladies made bracelets. We also played Uno (Oles never wins despite believing that he should). Sophie’s best friend Katya, is adorable. They seem to be almost inseparable – sitting together in school, eating every meal together, sleeping in beds 3 feet apart. We would love to bring her home too, but her mother has not given her permission for her to be adopted. It’s hard to find words to describe the feelings associated with leaving Sophie at the orphanage. Suffice it to say it’s been the absolutely most difficult thing we have done during this entire adoption. We have a little cot set up in the hotel room for her – going to bed that night with the cot empty drove us to our knees for some very serious prayer.
Sunday morning we picked her up sans Oles. Oles is heading to Russia to get the birth certificate for another child that is in the process of adoption. We arrived at the orphanage, went to Sophie’s room and began the Uno tournament. Sophie has opened up quite a bit. Most interestingly, we’ve learned that she has a boyfriend, Volva. Coming from a family with three brothers, and having four boys now, I have thought a lot about what it will be like to have a daughter. One of the things I think will be great fun, will be intimidating boyfriends. I’ve already hatched several schemes – many involving cleaning guns and wearing camouflage, to put into action when a boy arrives to take my daughter on a date (probably 25 to 30 years from now). With my new information, I ask every boy I meet at the orphanage if they are Volva – to which I get a big smile from Sophie.
Some sort of cold/flu is still running rampant at the orphanage. Sophie spent all night pretty stuffed up. It breaks your heart to see so many children coughing and sneezing, with no parent to comfort them. I do hope our donation will help them get over this. Please pray for the health of the children there.
Finally – we’re into day 4 of the 10 day waiting period. It’s an odd situation. Everything to this point has been fast paced, new and exciting. Now it’s like we’ve dropped out of warp speed and are orbiting the planet Gorodnia. I’ve read every book I brought, have learned how to play Gin, and figured out the hotel restaurant menu. We hope to talk with the orphanage director this week and discuss setting up a class sponsorship program through our Heart for Orphan’s organization.
We appreciate the blog comments very much. E-mail is working now for both of us, so you can send Charlene e-mail at Charmq@cox.net and me at tjamesq@cox.net.
Sorry we missed the wedding in Sofa-City - hope it went well.
Pictures - one is of Sophie and her best friend Katya, the other is a Ukrainian sneg motorcycle
Thank you for your prayers, Tim and Charlene
Thank you for your prayers, Tim and Charlene
Posts
8 comments:
Hi Guys...sounds like things are going well-- it is hard to wait I know-- but it sounds like you are having some awesome moments with Sophie and just more time to understand her world. I'll try and call you later this week.
Much love and many blessings,
Karen
We are counting the days too! Wish we could send you some books...we ran out too when we were in Kharkiv! Maybe E-Books?? Sounds like you are having some great bonding time. Enjoy - and we hope that Sophie and the rest of the kids get well. Stay healthy yourselves!
~Jean & Jim
That motorcylce did not look like a Harley? Wedding in Sofa City went greatly. Wes and Heidi are heading out 2day on honeymoon. Hope all of you do not come down with the crud.
Love reading your blog. You guys are so funny! Yeah, Steve displays his sharpshooting award and sample target in a prominent place when boys come around here!! We had a great lunch yesterday with everyone, including Stan and Terri! Saw your boys at church and congratulated them on their new sister. Can't wait to meet Sophie! Maybe I'll see you in Ukraine? I'll be there 20-24th. We'll call you...
Nancy
Good luck with the 10 day waiting period. Great you have games and activities to enjoy..you will certainly be Uno champs! Like a smile, a universal game! Really enjoy reading your journal and pray the time goes fast and you are home with Sophie before you know it. Sounds like you and Sophie are spending a lot of great time together... Blessings, Debbie & Dale
Hi guys!
it's great reading along with you in your journey!
just wanted you to know the group of ladies that meet here on wed. mornings are praying for you too!
it was interesting that when i asked them to pray, a couple of them mentioned they knew of two other families overseas to adopt children this month as well.. so we have been praying for all three families!
God is so good!
we are very excited for you!
love ya,
continued prayers,
crystal
Hey Charlene and Tim,
The sidecar reminds me of Hogans Heroes and Andy Griffith ...there was an episode where Barney gets motorcycle/sidcar & zips all over town, merrily issuing tickets for the slightest infraction-and of course, driving everyone crazy!! (gotta find humor wherever possible!!)
Anyway, we're happy your 10 days is going well. We continue to pray until the day you bring Sophie home. (We head back Sun 2/18 and will take overnight train to Berdyansk. Hope to be in Kiev with our children Wed 2/21!) We'll call you.
love,
Terri and Stan
Tim,
The motorcycle cracks me up. As I sit here in an additional 2 feet of snow in western New York and although tempting...the thought of breaking out my trusty Suzuki as a chief mode of transporation in single digit degree weather jsut isn't too tempthing. Now, as the father of a teenage daughter, here's how you deal with the boys. I told my daughter a couple of years ago that she can kiss all the boys he wants...no problem, but there is one catch if they want to kiss her then they have to kiss me first. Stopped that problem real quick and of course, Katie squealed to my wife my nefarious (use your new thesarus) plans who put an immediate kabosh on any intimidating tactics I could cook up. Anyhow, take care...we're thinking about you, Charlene and Sophie often.
Pat and Sandy Dowden
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