Posts

I forgot a Key Post

By -
Just reading through this nice new format on the blog, I realized I left out an important day or two I wanted to pass along.  After the 10 day wait for the court approval of the adoption, you have an opportunity to get the children.  There was some concern about my taking Samuel home to downtown Kiev.  I took this as a slight, which was kind of arrogant.  They were thinking of my best interests.  Having Samuel downtown in Kiev in the apartment was so difficult. He would not watch TV, nor play with toys, nor eat most of what we tried to feed him, and for entertainment, he would stare at the washing machine.  The days dragged on, until I called Igor and asked if Samuel could return to the orphanage for a few days.  Igor, always nice, said "no problem". But this is besides the point.  The day before our embassy appointment, we were running between a police station in Kiev and another government office, and a notary service at breakneck speed....
Post a Comment
Read more

Another Tough Week

By -
I just read the final chapter in the Haak blog, and it spurred me to write an update.  Yesterday was the ECAS picnic, but we could not attend.  We had some trouble with  Anya in the past week that was pretty challenging.  We've had to call in additional resources in addition to the therapist she sees once each week.  Earlier in the summer, when school ended, we anticipated trouble, so at the advice of our therapist, we enrolled Anya in the summer YMCA program, which is essentially daycare with activities, that gets her out of the house four days a week.  So we have a home daycare, and one of our kids goes to another daycare.  Odd but necessary. Her therapist is telling us that home is so comfortable, and so safe, that she is able to confront the ugly reality of her pre-adoption existence, and it comes out in defiance, and undermining behavior.  It gets pretty exhausting, mentally, as we spend a lot of time in prayer about this....
Post a Comment
Read more

Just Witnessed a Miracle

By -
I've had visions, seen miracles first hand, seen God's word proved true over and over...but witnessing someone accepting Christ...nothing compares.  I feel like I'm in heaven right now, and I'm in awe right now at the amazing faithfulness of God.  Tonight, Anya accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I made clear to her that praying to accept Christ is not something to do to please Mom or Dad...it was a decision she makes all for herself.  After she prayed, I told her that all of heaven, all the angels, and every person in heaven was celebrating right now.  She asked if it was for everyone who accepted Christ.  I said, it was for her alone, and then told her about John 3:16.  She was amazed. It reminds me very much of my Dad, Edward Moore.  My dad resisted Christ strongly.  But we kept praying for him for 20 years.   It was at my brother Ted's funeral, that my dad wheeled over to Nellie, my wife, and told her, "last night I accepted Jesus ...
1 comment
Read more

Battles Continue

By -
We have been sending Samuel and Anya to a therapist for about 6 months now.  Dr. Kelly does play therapy, creating a safe zone for the kids to express their inner frustrations.  Nellie, Zach, myself and Matthias are ready for some play therapy.  I remember something my friend Jeff told me about Misha, a boy he adopted from Russia.  He said 5 years after the adoption, the boy still lies, and blatantly.    The funny thing is that there are days when you really believe you are making progress.  Then reality hits, and you see what was thought of as progress, was merely a calculation, a behavior displayed to yield a desired result.  This stands in stark contrast to any child we have raised previoulsy.  Our biological children at home, are really sick of these manipulative behaviors.  We are sick of them.  Talk about draining. But God has been our miracle worker over and over.  He is the one making progress, and He is not taking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Anya's First Day of Public School - Today

By -
Nellie just brought Anya to Elementary School.  A lot of prayer went into this day.  She got to sit next to one of the Wright girls that Nellie used to do childcare for.  We tried homeschooling Anya, but found her learning style did not fit well with home schooling.  We enrolled her in the 3rd grade to help her not get too far behind.  We do  think Anya will struggle quite a bit, and I'm worried for the teacher, because Anya has been very strident in her ability to study.  But, as Nellie said last night, a lot of the Ukrainian children are charmers when you meet them, so perhaps the teacher will have a good few weeks of goodwill.   We plan to enroll Samuel as well, likely in a preschool program next year.  The  chief concern with enrolling them is the worldly influence that is thrust upon the kids, but having help educating your child sounds like a nice idea right now. 
1 comment
Read more

Meeting JOH Kids Tomorrow at Airport

By -
Image
What a difference time makes.  I now look back on my time in Kiev with a lot of positive memories.  Zach and I actually have discussed going back to Kiev to visit the orphanage and take in Kiev, but this time as tourists.  When I read stories with Anya at bedtime, we often speak of Sergei and Igor, and some of  the humorous and good things we shared with them.  Anya still prays for Irina, and mentions kids she knew in the orphanage, and the kids here at prayer time. The kids are doing well.  Anya is homeschooled, as is Matthias, and Samuel will soon be getting speech assistance from the school district.  Anya is super excited to see the Journey of Hope kids coming in from Kiev tomorrow, on her Birthday, no less.  Zach is also excited and asked if he could come.  ECAS cautioned us from the start to get the kids into counseling right away, and boy, were they right.  Anya and Samuel see a counselor each week, and the improvement in each i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advice to ECAS Adopters - Trust Igor

By -
Image
 (Samuel and Anya with us at "Room to Roam" Farm Vacation in Fountain City, WI) I was just looking over some old blog posts, and the one thing I keep thinking about over and over, was how I needed to communicate better with Igor.  I wish I had always trusted the guy completely, because he was very honorable, and really understood our schedule and needs.  The time in Ukraine gets very stressful on your pocketbook, your emotions, and your will.  It is not easy being in a foreign land for so long.  At first, it is interesting, but I found I missed home terribly, especially on the days other families got to go home. I have regret now for the times I doubted Igor would get everything done.  The guy has amazing ability.  My advice, pray for Igor, and communicate with him, even when it feels uncomfortable(and of course, tell the Lord these things). Igor may not understand everything, but he will set things right.     (Samuel loves a...
Post a Comment
Read more