A beginning!

Life is always changing...it is just a bigger change at the Edwards' home right now.

Culture shock has hit not just the kids but me! I was warned but really did not believe it. When I pulled out the silverware drawer in the kitchen...the second silverware drawer were I keep the extra serving spoons, knives, measuring spoons, etc. I thought "What do I use all of this for?" When I first walked into Western and there was so many choices of fruit and vegetables, leaf lettuce... I counted 5 kinds. All clean and pretty. I had a list and after I went through the cashier line I realized I could carry all of the groceries in my 2 cloth bags like in Odessa.

The first place out of the house I went to was the dry cleaners. I was cleaning Dan's suit and our many jackets. I got out to talk to the man and he smiled and spoke English. All the signs were English. I could read and understand. It has given me a feel for how Kolya and Christina must feel completely surrounded by English. Their comprehension is much much better than ours was in Russian.

Funny things the kids have done:

Brushing teeth with a sonar care toothbrush. Learning when to turn it on and off. The first couple of times the toothpaste spun off. Then they learned to not turn it on until it was in their mouth. Then they would go to spit and splatter when they take the toothbrush out without turning it off. The bathroom is messy!!

They were both excited about all their clothes. It did not matter if they were used or new. They were thrilled that the clothes were theirs. They had been excited for the small amount that we brought in the suitcases for them. Christina kept saying, " Christina's, Mama?" Kolya loved his clothes. They both amazed me by what they like. Their styles and tastes are pointing to personality. For Christina, glitter and sparkle and she will wear it. Kolya loves soft clothes.

They both love Haley, our dog. I have had to explain that Haley is a Babushka - revered older lady in other words a grandmother. Kolya wanted Haley to get up and run but she was ready for a nap!

Both the kids want Haley to sleep in their room. So one night Haley's bed is dragged into Christina's room and the next night is Kolya's. They also like to walk her on the leash. However we have been walking with the Megginsons and they have a new puppy so the kids take turns over the puppy.

Behavior problems are less frequent than in Ukraine. However we had a major blow up today. So please keep praying for us. We need strength, love and God's awesome power.

In Him alone,

Leslie

WE ARE HOME!!

We arrived Friday night to a great welcome at the airport!! Family and friends greeted us, cheering and clapping as we walked toward the entrance. Several other passengers were asking each other, "who is the celebrity?". I turned around and said, "see these 2 kids, they are the celebrites!". I went on to say we were returning from adopting them and that all these crazy people were our friends!! So sweet!! Signs of welcome, balloons, stuffed animals, flowers - WOW!! But especially faces of love and lots of love!!

We have seen a change in both kids as we are now home. Both are so happy!! Christina was still hesitant even Thursday before we left Kiev on Friday. Mainly the unknown was scarry! But she watched the map on the plane and when the plane had finally passed into America, she was excited. "America now, Mama?!" Both kids were very excited. They are now dual citizens of USA and Ukraine.

Thanks to all who have read this blog and prayed with and for us. I doubt that I will post many more but feel free to contact me at dedwards3420@charter.net if you would like to contact me.

Again we give God all the glory and honor for the adoption of these 2 kids, Christina and Kolya. We continue to ask Him for the next adoption of both Kolya and Christina into His family for eternity.

In Him Alone,

Leslie

We are going home!

Got the visas to US without any trouble. Changed tickets to leave 5:30 AM Friday arriving in B'ham 8:35 PM Friday!! YEAH!! We are going home!! Kolya excited, Christina scared! Pray for us! Thanks.

Need to get some sleep. We wake at 2 AM to get to the airport:( But we are going home :)

In Him alone,

Leslie and Dan
Christina and Kolya

Arrived safely in Kiev!

We got in last night about 10 PM. The kids were either in Odessa or in Kiev. They could not understand the in between even though we explained even with our interpreter that it would be 5-6 hours, until 10 PM that we would get to Kiev. They had never ridden in a car for a long trip. They had taken trains to camps and the short car trip from train to the camp. They were very good. Quite excited.

We got to sleep after 11:30 to wake up around 7:30 AM. We had an appointment with the US Embassy to start the paperwork for the visas at 9:30. Then to doctor for medical appointment. We have lots of forms to fill out. Tomorrow we have an interview at 2PM to turn in the papers. And everyone thinks we will have the visas back on Friday.

We leave early, early on Saturday morning. We have to be at the airport at 3 for our 5 AM flight. That means we leave the rooms at about 2 PM. Oh, well, no doubt but we will sleep on the planes.

We are in rooms in the same hotel that the Taunton family stayed in Kiev. It has a little grocery in the basement on the end of the building. We came with very little food so this morning we had hot tea and oranges only.

How the kids were doing? They are doing well. Some hesitation over the doctor but we had Sasha , our facilitator, explain how little of an exam it would be. And it was very short and sweet. Behavior, apprehension at each step then once we are through the step, joy! When Dan came home with the passports we all cheered and danced through the flat. Our landlord was sitting, waiting for us to leave. He just smiled but on the inside I am sure he was laughing!

Keep praying. We are almost home!! I pray thru out the day that the Lord will allow us to leave on Saturday. I don't even pray for the details, just that we can leave on Saturday. I do pray for us to be content with whatever His will will be.

In Him Alone,

Leslie

Leaving Odessa at 3 PM!!!

Got the passports at about 3 PM. Getting in a car to drive to Kiev now. Pray for safety as it is snowing and we are heading north into more snow!! Next message should be from Kiev!! Then the USA on Saturday!!

Please pray for us to get the visas from the US embassy by Friday for our flight on Saturday.

In Him Alone,

Leslie

Quick Message

I write with a much lighter heart in one sense.

We got a call this afternoon that another facilitator was at the
"closed" passport office and someone had found some old passports that
would work. Dan ran down and gave them the passport pictures. We
may have the passports in the morning! We are scheduling to drive to
Kiev as soon as we get the passports tomorrow.

As I am typing this, Kolya is yelling "Snow, Snow" in English:). I
look outside and it is not just light dusting of snow but big flakes.
All of the other snow is gone. We will see what this means for driving
tomorrow.

We have also talked with our travel agent and are trying to get
tickets on Saturday for all of us.

That is it. Do not know if this will all work this way but I am
packing ALL the suitcases!!

Thanks for praying...keep it up!

In Him Alone,

Leslie

Changes we have seen :)

Food: When we first had the kids they ate a lot and all day long. Even after eating they might take what was left over with them back to the orphanage plus a banana. I took juice and food with us wherever we went and usually they ate it all. There was no real hording but there was definitely over eating. We had been told to let them eat even to the point that they got sick. They never got sick!!

Now they wake and eat a light breakfast of fruit or cereal before they take their medications. Usually they drink tea in the morning - we have become a family who likes tea!! They do not usually eat until lunch which used to be their biggest meal. We will eat Borchst or some soup, sandwiches - open face, fruit and maybe some nuts or sunflower seeds. They will take a rest for about an hour - this was the usual routine in the orphanage and we see the profit of it! They will eat a mid afternoon snack of sunflower seeds or fruit or sausage- "cal-ba-soo". Then a regular dinner with maybe or maybe not a snack before bed. No hiding of food but if they want to save a sandwich know that they intend to eat it later.

We find that the major serious fights between them occur about sunflower seeds and money!! They hid their money from each other. This is so like siblings. I remember this with our kids. They even find secret places to put their money so that the other one will not know where it is.

Tempers: We found that there must not be much discipline in the orphanage. I really cannot understand how the kids survive..again the survival mode. We have seen that they got their way even about school if they threw a tantrum. The bigger the tantrum the more they are NOT made to obey. However we do know that some of the caregivers have used belts to discipline so I think that the extremes are found there.

So when we first would tell them "no" we knew there would be a full blown tantrum that lasted 1-2 hours. We took them into separate rooms and prayed, sang hymns and worked through the tempers until they cooled down. Then they obeyed. We have found that the longer we have had them the shorter the tantrums. Only 1 or 2 were hours long. As they have determined that we mean business and we are not going to back down even if it means hours, they in return are obeying quicker. Even today I had a disagreement with Christina. I told her to get dressed, she said "no". So we went into the room. There was no throwing things, no yelling and we quickily worked through it. Now we do have communicate conflicts. So if it gets major I called a friend - sounds like Wanna be a Millionaire?! I do not want conflicts that are not understood. So we take it on step at a time.

Even as I am writing this we have had a 45 minute conflict which has ended with "Mama, I am sorry". However I cannot discern real repentance. She just got tired of arguing in the bedroom. She had to stay in the bed 10 minutes, then look at me and say, "Mama, I am sorry."

We have been able to allow the kids to return to the skating rink after almost 2 weeks when we had a major blow out upon being told "no". We have explained and they know for they ask every couple days if they can skate. Their behavior has improved to the point that we told them we would go today. We told them we would do 3 things: ice skate for 45 minutes, bumper cars and shoot guns. When we were finished we walked to the magazine with only one question and when we counted the 3 things that we did, all was well. The pictures are of today's skating and fun!

I truely would have wanted in "Leslie's plan" to have returned asap. However God's plan has allowed us to attend to behavioral issues on a 24-7 basis that would not have been possible at home in the States with Dan leaving for work. Again as always His plan is for our best.

"Ok, Lord, what do you want us to learn by allowing us to stay longer without passports?" Maybe we will know and maybe it will be awhile before we figure that one out!

Sergei, our facilitator, left yesterday. He is a dear friend and helped us work through the adoption process. He successfully got the process completed. He cannot control the passport office. He will still be letting us know about when our passports come in or checking on it. He will not be here but at his home. Pictures are of our going away lunch with him. We took him to an Irish pub. He had never had fish and chips, I am not sure these were original but he had them!

At this point we have no new information about when we will get the passports. Please continue to pray for us to be patiently waiting for the Lord!

In Him alone,

Leslie