More pics

The Paper Chase

More paperwork today! Finally the paper got signed today and sent off to Kiev!  We are so thankful for many things! God continues to guide and direct each step along the way.  It looks like court is going to be the 17th of August.

We are so thankful to have such a wonderful church family supporting us in prayer and helping out family back in Pennsylvania!! Facebook is such a wonderful way to keep in touch and I am so glad we are able to skype Kevin & Hannah often.  It is a lifeline for us. 

Travel has been interesting here! I will post some more pics. The van is going to feel like a huge bus when we get back! We even have SEATBELTS in the van. hahaha

The waiting game

More paperwork today!! However, we waited all morning for someone to sign a paper and they never signed it. 

It turned out to be a good day because we got to swim in the Black Sea!! Roman LOVES to swim.  It is so beautiful here.  Loving the time with the boys!

Waiting

Beautiful





Roman, Keith, and Dylan

Roman and a friend





The end of a good day

What a difference a year makes!

Matthew 6. Thanks Hannah  - great verses for today!

I am really struck by the fact that it was just a short year ago that we welcomed Roman into our home.  Our lives were all changed when God brought him so far away and straight into our hearts.  We have been through many trials and triumphs this year, and we are amazed that God has directed our paths in a way that not only changes the lives of Dylan & Roman forever, but in such a magnificent way that we will never ever be the same again.  The love that God brought to our door just 12 months ago has transformed us and our family in ways that we never imagined!

We cannot wait to welcome these amazing children of God into our home, hearts and family forever. It may not be easy. It might not happen quickly.  We will absolutely depend on the Lord for strength and appreciate so much the prayers of friends & family!

My wonderful friend Christal Gerhart reminded me of a verse that inspires us to continue this journey!  "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9



Birthday dinner!

More Kerch pics

The Black Sea at Kerch, Crimea

New friends from New York - such a blessing



Our new friend!



Kerch pics!

Playing games

Roman's friend!

Dylan & Roman

Phase 10

Scripture

Hannah gave me lots of encouraging verses to read while we are gone.  Here are some awesome verses.
Psalm 121 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day. Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from ALL evil. He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

These sum up our whole trip!

Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint."

Paperwork

Today went really well. We spent about 8 hours working on papers to be processed at different places.  God continues to watch over us and work the details out. Please continue to pray that things will move as quickly as possible. We had a great visit today with Dylan and Roman! Thank you all for your encouraging words and prayers. It is a life line for us.

Kerch

We made it to Kerch in one piece!! Amazing! What a day!
We had a short visit with Dylan and Roman and it went really well.  Please continue to pray for us on this unbelievable journey.  Kerch is a beautiful city.

Our boys!!!! Dylan and Roman

All Aboard the Blue Train

Train pics on the way to Kerch

Train ride

Today we pick up our referral to go visit the orphanage.  We will be taking an 18 hour train ride to the town of Kerch. Please pray for safety and that the process of paperwork will go well. Also we will be able to visit with Dylan and Roman and that we would have a special bonding time with them. We are thankful for many things, but most of all we are thankful for praying family & friends that have stepped up and enabled us to be here doing this. We love you all and miss you already!

Sightseeing in Kiev

What an amazing city! When I was in the Bell Tower (the building with the cross on top) I thought WOW - God has a great sense of humor sending two Perkasie folks to Ukraine to love two very special boys. <3 Thanking God for such an incredible opportunity! The beautiful building with the gold domes is called St. Sophia Cathedral.  Keith is "Lovin' it"!

First appointment

Heading out for our first appointment with the Ukraine goverment. Then hopefully we can do some sightseeing! Beautiful day! So much to be thankful for :)  Thankful for people praying. We can certainly feel the prayers <3

Suitcase!

Keith's suitcase finally came!! Yay!! 

Waiting

We are hoping to see the boys on Wednesday!  It's raining and kind of cool in the sixties.  We haven't gone anywhere because we were waiting to have Keith's suitcase delivered.  We have a meeting tomorrow with the Government and then we will have a chance to look around.  We have been really tired today and it has been so nice to rest a bit.

Kiev

We made it safe and sound to Kiev! Praise the Lord!  We already have a funny story too.  I was showing Kev and Hannah our apartment on Skype and we opened the blinds and there was a guy on his porch 5 feet away talking on his phone in his underwear!!!!! hahaha

Keith's suitcase is still in London.  We are hoping to get it soon.

Travel day is finally here!

Keith and I are finally beginning our journey to Ukraine!!! I will update as much as I can. All the preparations have been made at home and my wonderful parents are staying with Kevin and Hannah. I am so thankful for them <3 Hopefully we have packed well!

Encouragement

I am so thankful for encouraging family and friends on this journey! We would not be able to do this without the Lord and all of you praying!! <3 <3

Peace

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Sure needed this verse this morning.  I am constantly reminding myself to turn this whole process over to God - He can handle it!! Instead of worrying about all of these details and having anxiety about the uncertainty of the process, we can just let our requests be made known to our incredible Lord!!  In EVERYTHING!! That means all the details, timing, tickets, everything.  Then Keith and I can have the glorious peace of God - hard to understand in the middle of all this! - and will be guarded by that peace against all those doubts, fears & uncertainties. What an amazing God we serve!! So thankful for that peace - I am absolutely praying for Him to take our anxious thoughts away and replace it with glorious PEACE <3

Skype again!

Just got to Skype with Dilan and Roman! Wow what a blessing! It is amazing to see them "in person" and talk with them.  The boys are very excited and so are we!

Courage!

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 3:6 -- Thankful for those reminders this morning.

As we go through this process, I am constantly aware that God is right there with us every step of the way.  He is the one I get courage and strength from! I pray that He is directing our paths as we go along this journey.  We could not make it without the courage that comes from the Lord. <3

Endurance

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Thankful

Thanking God for providing for us in many different ways!! <3

The lonely

In a devotional book the morning I read these verses:

Psalm 68:5-6 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in familes.

WOW I needed to hear these encouraging words today!!

Travel plans!!

Today was the day! We were notified that we will be traveling to the Ukraine on July 20th!!  We have our appointment on July 23 at 12:00.  Please pray for us and the boys as we prepare to go. We have a lot to do in two weeks. Please pray for God's direction in all that we do. Please pray for Kevin and Hannah and my parents as they will be holding down the fort while we are gone. :) We also want to thank you all for praying for all of us this past year. It has been a wild ride but God remains faithful in all of it!
Is 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.