A Month of Sundays

We have now been in Ukraine 5 weeks and have attended church here 4 Sundays. We've become familiar with the people here, and they have warmly accepted us and loved us and prayed for us. This morning it was announced that we are legally parents of our girls now and we will be leaving on Tuesday. Mark got up and had Valari translate for him as he thanked God and thanked the people of the church and the TLC for their gracious lovingkindness. So many people greeted us after the service, and even though we couldn't understand everything that was said, we know that it was all loving encouragement and praise to God. It is such a blessing to be joined in Christ with fellow believers, no matter where you are on the planet. When you speak the language of Christ, your earthly language is no barrier.

Tanya brought most of the girls' closest friends to church this morning and after church all of us were invited to a tea party upstairs in the TLC. Alexandra, one of the housemoms here, had baked a wonderful "Sacher Torte." It was heavenly! There were crispy round layers of something similar to phyllo dough that had been baked individually, but filled with a sweet creamy center in between each layer. Wow! Mark had two pieces. Afterward he told Alexandra, "If something ever happens to Dawn, I'm going to marry you!" Alexandra is probably in her late 60's or early 70's. She is the kindest, sweetest Christian woman, and she cooks great. You should have seen how red her face became! She smiled and said, "Oh, Mark!" Tanya suggested that she and Val move to New Mexico and live with us to teach the girls English and us Russian, and then Alexandra can also move in with us to cook. I actually really like that idea (only some small matters of space and money that might need to be taken care of first)!

Last night the girls slept in the bunkbeds upstairs, so I'm sure it was a better night's sleep for all of us. Zhanna and Ella have really connected with some of the teenage girls here. They have been doing hair and nails together, and playing with the two guinea pigs the girls keep upstairs. We've already promised Zhanna and Ella we'll get a guinea pig when we get home (we've done it before, we'll do it again! Dejavu!).

Since tonight and tomorrow will probably be the last blogs before we get back to the U.S.A., I thought I would share a list of things we will miss from our time here in Ukraine, and what we won't miss.

WHAT WE'LL MISS:
~ The warmth and love of all our new friends here.
~ The TLC kids gathered (squished) around the table every evening, holding hands in prayer and then saying, "Priyatnava Apetita!" before we eat.
~ Ukrainian Chocolate
~ The cool European style windows that open at the top and lean into the room when you turn the handle one way, but open at the side all the way to let in more air when you turn the handle another way.
~ A lot of the food here - it is wonderfully tasty "kusna" and very healthy
~ Ukrainian Chocolate
~ The great European hot pots that boil water in a matter of seconds
~ Ukrainian Chocolate (okay, you get the idea!)
~ The view of the sea from the top of the hill
~ Our walks to Amstore to eat and shop
~ Passionate Russian conversation
~ The flowers of Ukraine

WHAT WE WON'T MISS:

~ Raised thresholds in random doorways on which you always stub your toe (common in Europe)
~ Not flushing your toilet paper and having to throw it in the trash can (plumbing is an issue)
~ "Squatty Potties" in public places, if you can find one at all (I guess they think they are more sanitary than toilets)
~ Our walks to the orphanage everyday
~ Passionate Russian conversation (yelling) outside our bedroom window late at night
~ Daylight at 4:00 am

In the next blog I plan to share our list of Hardships and Blessings of the year, and of the adoption experience. So tune in tomorrow! Until then, our love to all. Your prayers are being answered. Please pray for our day tomorrow as we have a long day planned to drive to the village to get the birth certificates and then to Donetsk for the passports. Tanya will pick us up in the morning at 7:30 am.

God is mighty and He is to be praised. We love Him and adore Him. He is leading the way. We only have to follow Him - all the way home.

Love and blessings,
Dawn and Mark