Going out

Our activities this week:

Monday: Mid-morning we went out to a park with a friend where the kids played hard for two hours. Then me and the kids made our way to Fort Whyte Alive nature center where we enjoyed the wildlife, Spencer got attacked by a goose, and we made a new home-schooling friend.

Tuesday: A friend came over in the afternoon with her daughter for a teatime playdate. Then the kids played so hard outside and had such a good time all afternoon and evening that I didn't even mention going to swimming and soccer at the Y.

Wednesday: We went to Mom's Group at church where the kids played in the gym, ate doughnuts, and generally had fun while I chatted with other moms. Then we went home, picked up the food for Forward House, and dropped it off before we headed over to the library where they picked out books, movies, and played video games on the computer.

Thursday: We went to a home school mad science hour where the kids had a great time learning about air, air currents, and conducting air science experiments. Afterward we came home and had another home school family over for a quick playdate. In the evening we went to the YMCA for Spencer's TaeKwonDo class and other kids played on the play structure for an hour with other friends they've made there over the months.

Friday: As we were getting ready for Good Friday morning services, Collin says, "Mommy, can we go OUT somewhere?! We never go anywhere anymore!" Seriously, the more I take them places, the more he feels like he doesn't go anywhere!

Update on Vanya, the little boy with a dream

Praise God! He has heard and answered the prayers of hundreds and hundreds of people around the globe for one little boy to have his dream come true: the dream of being part of a loving family. 

For the original call for help for Vanya, see this post. 

This is a message I received today from the Eli Project: 

What an amazing 2 weeks!  For an amazing little boy!  When Adeye Salem emailed me a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to advocated for a little boy and that the little boy she wanted to advocate for was Vanya, I knew something special was going to happen.  If you never read the original post, you can view that here.   This post included a letter from someone who works closely with Vanya and knows him well.

In just about 10 days, more than $15,000 was raised by more than 370 contributors!   And then, more than ONE HUNDREDfamilies responded that they might like to adopt Vanya.  The reason are getting this email---  you responded about Vanya (maybe just inquiring...maybe wanting to commit to adopt him).  There were MANY families who hadn't ever begun the process of getting a home study or any other adoption documents, there were some that had lots of paperwork done (for other countries) and there were some who checked in to making appointments for getting a home study started.

As last week went on, we received word that the country where Vanya lives is going to be making some changes in their procedures and what government office handles adoptions.  Therefore, they will be closing the office in early June and will be closed for an undetermined amount of time (probably 3-4 months or more).  Last time they closed for this reason, it was much longer.  It's been anticipated that it will happen,  but the timing was never known.  So it was a bit of a surprise only because we didn't know when it would happen.

So why did Vanya's situation become more urgent?  He is currently living in a transition center where he will not be able to stay long.  In fact, missionary friends in his country have lobbied the direct to hold him because Adeye was advocating and we were sure we could find a family for him.  They agreed if we could hurry.  Obviously, if the government stopped accepting petitions for adoptions for months, that's not "hurrying" and there is little chance they would/could hold him.  We know where he would be transferred and he would become unreachable at that point.  We couldn't let that happen!  So we put out the word that we needed a family with PAPERS READY.  On Tuesday, we worked with a family all day to verify they had what they needed and could get the certain documents updated quickly.  They did and they can.  Their initial paperwork will be arriving in Ukraine on Monday morning.  Our team in Vanya's country will be meeting with the proper authorities to get things underway and the rest of their documents will be mailed soon.

For this we are praising God!  He has provided for Vanya in so many ways and we know that He is not finished yet!!  Some of you were already feeling that Vanya was "your" son.  We understand that and we know the emotional roller coaster you have been on.  We too have been in the same situation and know that it is not an easy journey.  But be encouraged that GOD is in control and HE is the one Who opened your hearts to this little boy.

But let me assert this...perhaps Vanya is a face that you were able to put on the call that God is placing on your family.  Maybe He plans to lead you on a journey to rescue one of the MANY other children just as desperate as Vanya.  As special as Vanya is, he is one of so many.  

So you might think there are not enough Vanya's to go around...but THERE ARE.  Each one of you could rescue a child just like Vanya and we have still only begun to meet this desperate need!

What are the next steps for you?  If you want to be READY, get your passports, get a home study started that is general when it comes to special needs of a child, include HIV in the list of special needs you are willing to accept and include it in the recommendation.  Contact us if you are interested and we'll walk you through the initial steps and provide you with LOTS of kids for God to open your heart and family to.

Below is a letter from some friends in Vanya's country who know him well and work with many other precious children like him...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your interest in Vanya. His dream is now coming true...he will soon be living as a loved son in a family that hand-picked him. It seems the whole world was praying for this boy and God has certainly answered. I can't wait to see his face when he learns the news!   Vanya is not just a face of adoption: He is a real boy with real desires for real love and a real family. And though he is not simply a face of adoption, his story has stirred the hearts of so many. Honestly, we could take down Vanya's picture and put up another picture every hour on the hour and not run out of pictures worldwide for years. My prayer is that many of you who were touched by Vanya's story would remain open to adopt another of these precious children. I pray that all of you would share what you have learned about the status of HIV+ so that we can finally reduce the stigma associated with this diagnosis. I thank God upon every remembrance of you.

  

Perfect Moment #1

Chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven to prepare us for tea time this afternoon with our neighbour friends, all four kids traipsing around the yard with the neighbour kids, searching for bugs, avoiding puddles, and calling to each other happily as they explore, cool breeze coming in from the open front door, puffy clouds drifty by.

Lovely Little Neighbors

Have I ever mentioned how much I love having our neighbors just two doors down, with kids the same ages as our older three kids? They are all great friends (well, most of the time) and they are so very comfortable with each other, it's almost like having an extra set of siblings - or maybe cousins - just two doors down. So it was a very long three weeks that we waited for their return while they visited family in Germany. They only got back a few days ago, and within minutes of them being home, they were at our door looking for their friends. We were so happy to see them back again!! 

Yesterday Collin had been outside for about 1/2 hour when it started snowing. I went outside to call him out of the snowstorm, and quickly I realized he wasn't outside. I started to panic. I hopped in the car to canvas the neighborhood, but first stopped at the neighbors' house to check if they'd seen him. Of course he answered the door with their older daughter! What was I thinking? They looked at me like, "Where did you  think  he was?" It's true: I should have known. Silly me. :) 

This afternoon the girls came over (their older brother was visiting someone else) and it was so cute to hear them all squealing, playing, and even arguing together in the basement. The oldest girl holds nothing back when she laughs, and it's the cutest thing! You almost have to laugh with her, no matter if you know what she's laughing at! And the younger girl is so cute - so small, but actually older than Claire; and she's got such perfect pronunciation. She talks just like a small adult. She just came to tattle to me, "Carmen! Lizzie is licking the sooofaaaa!" It's hard for me not to laugh. We really missed them!! I just heard the house go quiet, with six kidlets all indoors. I went to see what they were doing. This is what I found: 

How cute is that?!

And, last but not least, another one of Claire's strange sleeping spots. Evidently she'd been lying on Vlad's desk, perusing pokemons on the computer with Spencer, when she got a little sleepy.....

Yes, that is my daughter absolutely nose-down on the desk, fast asleep with her legs hanging off the side. And Spencer didn't miss a beat....even when I came in for a photo op!

Vanya in Ukraine

For an update to this post, please click here.

From No greater Joy Mom:
We desperately need a family for Vanya as soon as possible. Many people have inquired about adopting him. But things have changed and we URGENTLY need a family who is paperwork ready--one who has already done their home study and has USCIS approval. We need a family who can get to him quickly.



While I am not at liberty to give any details, I can tell you that Vanya's situation has turned into a critical need for prayer. He needs a paperwork-ready family to commit to him in the next few days...before it is too late.

Time is running out. 

Do you know of a family who is already adopting a child from Ukr*ine? Do you know of someone who is traveling to adopt a child from there soon and may consider adding this precious boy to their adoption? Either a family who is already adopting, or a family who has all their paperwork ready and has been waiting on the Lord to show them the right child. 

Friends, we urgently need your help....PLEASE spread Vanya's story on blogs, social networks, and adoption discussion groups. We absolutely have to find his family soon. The finances are not an issue--God has provided them. Now all we need is the right family--one who will say, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"

With all my heart I believe that Vanya's family is out there. Why? Because I believe that God has provided in a miraculous way for this boy to come home. I believe in miracles in 2011! I do.

Please stand with us in prayer over the next few days...trusting that Vanya's family will come forward. How desperately he needs them now.

Pray, body of Christ! Pray without ceasing. Pray until Vanya is rescued and safely in the arms of those who love him.

Thank you for helping us today. Thank you for praying and bringing this boy before the Father. Thank you for trusting with us. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matt 17:20.

"MOUNTAIN BE MOVED!"

Any family who thinks they may be able to get to Vanya quickly, and would like more information, please contact Chris Malone at the Eli Project as soon as possible.

You can read Vanya's full story right here.

April Showers

It’s Friday night. I’m sitting on the couch with Claire, Spencer, and Collin. We sit here amid puzzles, pokemon cards, videos on the floor, and school books on the table. It’s really a sight! No one would ever believe that I was literally cleaning up all day long to the point that everyone, including myself, is sick of hearing the “let’s clean up” mantra coming from my throat. So I’ve given up and I’m telling myself tomorrow is another day….

Collin is still undressed from his shower, and no matter how many times I repeat myself to go get his pajamas on, he can’t be pulled away from the “Princess Bride,” which is our “family night movie” tonight. The fact of the matter is, that Collin feels 100% entitled to a family night movie every night. Evidently family night movies are not movies that you watch on a designated “family night” but are movies that you watch as a family in the nighttime…every nigttime. He told me on the way home this evening that he was very upset that I’ve been leaving the movie time in the evenings to go and do my stuff on the computer. It’s true, I must admit. The past few times they’ve watched a movie I’ve stolen those moment for my own endeavors. It has something to do with Vlad being gone, I think,.. The days are much fuller when he isn’t here and it’s harder to catch moments for myself. So in order to make my little boy feel like I’m participating in Family Night Movie, I’m typing with my remote keyboard, with the computer in the other room., pretending to watch the movie, while I’m actually punching out this post. Haha. Multitasking. I’ll edit my typos later.

Vlad left one week ago for Rome where he attended a conference before going to his mom’s house yesterday. He’ll be gone another 9 days. So I’ve been flying “solo” this week. In so many ways, it’s gone much better than I expected. In other ways I see all the more how much I rely on him for music, laughter, encouragement, and hominess. Skype is now on my 1000 Gifts list.

There are so many thoughts that have been going through my mind lately. So many that it’s hard for me to catch them all, and even harder to articulate them here.  The first that comes to mind right now is that someone has opened the floodgastes. A couple of months ago I wrote about being lonely here in Winnipeg. It’s been a long, hard road. Honestly, I think it’s been an experience that has left me forever changed, this loneliness so deep it has at times seemed to make spider cracks on the smooth surface of my mind. So long and at times achingly vacant has been this path I’ve travelled in the past five years. It’s left my perspective altered, but I think for the better. It’s taught me a lot about my own nature, human nature in general, and has made me think a lot more deeply about what I’m doing to meet the needs of others who are around me and might not be at a place of reaching out for themselves.

I liken it to a drought, causing me to search deeper, as the shallow roots dry up but the tap root digs deeper and deeper to find the Living Water that is the only answer to continuing with life. When I’m at a place where I’m alone with God, it has a way of making me think about my relationship, what it looks like to keep my relationship with Him alive, living it out day by day. You would think this means I’m becoming a more spiritually adept person, a more God-honoring person in my daily walk. I can’t honestly say it is so. I feel like I fail at even showing Jesus to my own family 23 out of 24 hours each day. But I’m trying. Someday maybe I’ll be able to sigh at the end of the day with the feeling that I got it mostly right. For now, that’s not the case, but at least I’m more aware of my own faults now, so that I can work on them.

Back to the point: the reason I’m writing this about my loneliness issues is that in the past few weeks it’s like someone has opened the floodgates. It started with my librarian friend, Nanda (Hi, Nanda!) who introduced me to another American named Angela (Hi, Angela!), who reached out to befriend me “just because.” That kind a touching gesture from both ladies was very encouraging. Then this week has been the week fullest of people that we’ve ever had. I’ve so often felt like a young plant, weak, limp, and pale, thirsting for the water of human contact. But this week there have been showers of blessings, and I’m drinking it in! On Monday I enjoyed a long chat with Nanda when I went to pick up some gardening stuff. On Tuesday another home school mom named Barb who has six kids invited us to Oak Hammock Marsh where we spent most of Tuesday enjoying a wonderful outing with her and her family, watching birds, having a picnic lunch, and enjoying the weather. 

Oak Hammock Marsh

Spying on the wildlife

The kids discover a nest at lunchtime

Always an educational opportunity. Barb explaining the weather machine to her daughter.

How many kinds of birds can you find? 

How the kids spent most of the lunch break!

Spencer was VERY proud of his face painting of the horned owl.

Up close and personal with the water fowl. 

Inside the interpretive center - everywhere you turn there are things to do!!

Spencer enjoying an educational game. 

Was that the first time we’ve been together with another family for an outing/playdate since we’ve arrived to back to Winnipeg? I’m wracking my brain to think…and, aside from our lovely neighbors, and other activities such as YMCA, Scouts, VBS, etc., the answer is “yes.” And Barb is such a real and warm person, and her kids are so calm, that it was delightful. (Can’t say the same “calm” for my kids! lol) Then Wednesday I went back to Mom’s Group at church, which I had almost nearly decided to quit for various reasons including child care (provided at church for young kids, but not for the boys) and school schedule. But it was such a great time together with other women who only seem to get deeper and more real each time we’re together  – I like it more each session. Even the boys had a good time playing with another friend’s little boy in the church gym! So glad we went! And while we were there another mom invited our family to join their small group. Woo-hoo!! Then Wednesday night I decided to do something wild and crazy….I hired a babysitter from down the street to watch the kids while I went to a book club for Ann Voskamps “1000 Gifts.” I almost think this book is too deep for a book club – maybe it needs a seminar. J Friday we had yet another play date planned, but we rescheduled because it was just a bit too cold to enjoy the park. So last night I took the kids out to the Salvation Army to put together sandwiches for the flood relief workers with the boys’ scouting group. Another huge group from the Lutheran Church was there, and together we pumped out 1000 sandwiches for flood workers in about and hour! Today we’re cleaning up, because tomorrow – on a Sunday!! – we actually have some new friends coming over for lunch. Imagine! On a Sunday! That, to me, goes beyond showers of blessings, right to a huge hug from the Lord!! Monday we have another playdate scheduled with a lovely friend from the Czech republic who also attends our Moms Group at church.

All that to say – this week has been incredible! A rare but beautiful gift. It seems someone has opened the floodgates; I don’t understand it, but I’m so very  grateful for it! 

Book Worm

This morning we woke up to fog. Fog is always the most beautiful weather to me. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I were a sailor, but as I'm sitting here in my cozy house, I can't resist photographing the melted word cloaked in a blanket of misty gray. 

I was recently reminded of the Book Worm program, which is a motivational goal-oriented tool to get kids reading and excited about reading. I've decided to give my kids a small reward and a circle to add to their Book Worm every time they read one book. When the worm reaches all the way round the room, they get a bigger reward and start the worm over. They each have their own Book Worm. I really aimed the program at Spencer, who technically can read and can sound out everything he needs, but who so far hasn't really developed a love for reading. He does just fine with his daily reading lessons, but rarely picks up a book for himself. To make matters worse, I noticed that when I would require him to read, it was like spraying reading repellant on the kid! But when I left him alone to do it on his own, he would develop more interest and pride. This week we seemed to have taken a turn around a corner in his reading journey - he is owning his reading finally......finally!!  By "owning" his reading, I mean that he is finally taking pride in reading, is really trying to sound out more things, is trying to "help" by reading things for me, and wants me to add minimal input into his reading lessons. He wants to do it on his own. Yesterday when he was doing his reading lesson with his book on his lap, I helped him out by reading a more difficult word that he was stumbling over. He gave me a look and said, "Hey! It's not yours! It's mine!" I was never so happy to hear a kid be sassy in all my life. So in order to earn coins and, ultimately, his coveted Bionicle, he has been reading several books a day. Of course, they're smaller books, not chapter books. But we'll incorporate chapter books soon enough into the program as soon as he has established himself in this program. At this rate, I'll go broke! But I couldn't be happier that he's finally catching on.

This is Spencer's book worm.

 We just put Collin's and Claire's up this morning. They can't let Spencer have all the fun!!

 Claire.....well, Claire, has a worm head. That's all. But she's eager to start trying to add to it. I'm giving her circles for time spent on the Bob Books program on the iPod.

21st Century Home Schooling - reading on the iPod.

 Katya is itching to enjoy the beautiful weather. So right after she got up the other morning, she donned Claire's boots and my hat, and tried to take off for an outside adventure, mis-matched tights and all! I had to take a photo, even if I didn't have time to get it in focus. She was coming at me fast!! :)

"Daddy's Here"

This morning at 4:30am we got the kids out of bed and drove to the airport. Each kid had a blanket, and I was still in my pajamas. Vlad was the only one that looked smashing in his white shirt, jeans, and a new suede coat, ready to meet the world. *insert whoo-whoo whistle*. It's travel season around here - the time of year that Vlad takes off for conferences, and usually stops off to see his mom on the way. I usually go with him, but this year I just wanted to stay put. Besides, travel is expensive, even (or especially) when you leave all four kids at home. So we dropped Vlad off at five and came right home. The older three kids went to bed right away, but Katya and I couldn't fall back asleep. She had dozed off right when Vlad was leavning, and had missed the part where he kissed her good-bye. So when we got home she started asking for her Daddy. She kept saying, "Daddy home, Daddy home." I told her, "No, Daddy went away. Daddy went bye-bye. Daddy's not here. He went to see Grandma Tanya, far away." She kept insisting, and calling, "Daaaddyyyyyy! Daaaddyyy!" I consoled her with breakfasting on strawberry crisp left over from the going-away party we had last night (just our family). As soon as she was done, she climbed up on my lap. That's when I opened the blog to write down Spencer's quote, and she saw the picture of Daddy. She pointed to it, and said, "Daddy's here!" Then she burst into tears and buried her face on my chest. I know how you feel, Baby Girl. Life is sweeter, calmer, saner, and lovelier with Daddy here, strawberry crisp or not! We're going to miss our "Daddy" these few weeks.  Have a safe trip, honey, and come back soon. Blow kisses to Rome and Mama Tanya from us! We love you!

Voovies

Katya just came in to the kitchen where I was cooking, pointing to the office and saying something very excitedly with a huge smile. I went to where she was pointing, only to find that she had managed to click enough right places on my computer desktop to get a children's cartoon to play. I went to turn it off (because computer cartoons are not allowed), but she got very frustrated with me, and complained, "Mommy!! Voovie no' done!"

This girl is already giving me a run for my money!

Dino Statues

Yesterday the name of the game was paper mache! The kids have been begging to make "dinosaur statues." I let them, even though I actually really dislike paper mache, on the condition that they do layered diagrams of the dinosaur's anatomy after the statues are finished. We do have a dinosaur anatomy book that we got from the library, and I have to say it is probably the coolest dinosaur book out there that we've ever seen. (And we've seen a lot!) Spencer crafted himself an ankylosaurus. He is proving to be a fantastic sculptor - especially of dinosaur shapes. He doesn't even use the book - just does it from memory with surprising accuracy. Sculpting is definitely his artistic forte. Collin is also quite good at making dinosaur shapes, but with this little dreamer-boy of mine, his dinosaurs are half-realistic, half-imaginary. :) What better creature to bring to "life" than one you made up yourself?

So, anyway, here are the kids diving into the paper mache paste. It's Claire's first time. She made a "sharptooth," which is actually a T-Rex. I helped her quite a bit, but the boys did everything mostly on their own.  

With the paper mache project, and the garden project, the house is starting to look.....well.....lived in. 

Spencer's ankylosaurus. 

Katya was none too thrilled to be left out of the paper mache fun!

 The first beautiful sunset of the wam season. I loved how the sunset reflected in the pools of melted snow in our yard.

That's all for now!

The Wasp Nest

We discovered a big wasps' hive in the eave of our house the other day. We were pretty freaked out about it, as the world is just about to thaw, and we didn't want to have to deal with a swarming hive in a matter of weeks. We did have an issue with wasps last year - lots in the house. I could easily kill 10 wasps each day in the kitchen, but I could never figure out where they were coming from!.I don't know how we didn't see this before this week! So we did a bit of reading and found out that wasps can't fly in temperatures below 50F. Great news! Still, we wanted to be safe. So me and the kids got in the van and pulled into the driveway where we could watch Vlad knock down the hive from inside the van where it was safe - just in case. :) Vlad bravely went to the front lines armed with a hoe, and knocked most of it  down. It was immediately evident that the nest wasn't going to swarm, so we hopped out and took a look. 

It was fascinating, built in at least two tiers of comb clusters that were mostly empty....

but some weren't. See those combs that are covered over with white paper? Those are the larval combs, each one with a new little wasp who was closed in by careful parents, and who is waiting to hatch and wreak havoc on our summer fun. 

This is what they looked like when Vlad pulled them out - slimy, squishy, but fully formed little wasps in a little cocoon.  

It was a very interesting and educational experience. And I'm so very glad we caught it before the warm weather set in! The combs were duly destroyed and disposed of. No swarming pests this summer, please!

Mommy, Do I Look Like A Granny?

Restaurant Dinner

Last night around 7:00 Collin came and asked me if we could go out to a restaurant. He wanted to go out to eat, and most importantly - wanted dessert. Collin and I both have that going-out itch. We both like going to stores - just to go. We both like going to restaurants, or just going somewhere.  So I very much sympathized with his request. Problem was, I wasn't going to spend $50 to take the family out at last-minute notice. Vlad was still on the way home. So I decided that we'd make a restaurant right here in our house. I hung a "Welcome to Mama's Cafe" sign on the dining room door, covered the table with brown paper (for drawing while they waited for food), called Vlad to bring dessert, and enlisted Spencer's help to make some menus. What was on the menu? Pancakes and eggs, spaghetti, red beans and rice casserole, ham, and a  side of zucchini & onions. Lovely. But it's what I had, and what I thought I could pull off in a maximum 15-minute wait. When Vlad got home, I seated everyone at the table (minus Katya, who was already in bed), and my five years of restaurant service finally came in handy. I played the part, served drinks, took orders, and otherwise gave them a restaurant-type experience. They had a great time! Spencer wanted to help cook, but it was against health regulations to let kids cook in the restaurant kitchen. Collin and Claire kept trying to steal ice cream cones from the box Vlad had brought home, but I told them guests weren't allowed in the kitchen, and they'd have to pay for food they stole. :) After a busy night in the restaurant, the kitchen help (me) went on strike and refused to clean up the kitchen until morning. So we went to bed with a dirty kitchen, but happy hearts.

Blog Dynamic View

I have added a link up top called "Blog Dynamic View." That's because I thought the dynamic view option for the blog was so cool, that I should make it easy just in case someone might prefer looking at it that way instead. It gives a good overview of the blog and entries at one quick glance. And when you go to the page, there is a blue tab thingy up in the top right corner that lets you choose different view options. Since I'm very much an overview type person, This looks like a great option!