Penthouse Suite

View from the penthouse suite after the bit of snow we had

Another view from the penthouse suite

Alla told us yesterday after our appointment that we needed to move again right after Robert pleaded with both Alla and Valentina, “Please, No more moving”. Since we will be leaving Monday instead of Sunday we needed an additional night stay and the 3rd apartment couldn’t provide that for us. So they moved us to the other side of town a bit further from Independence Square than we were. In a way after sleeping there last night we were glad to move since someone decided to practice their saxophone at 11:30pm for about 45 minutes or so. It sounded like they needed a lot of practice and less vodka.



So now we are on the top floor (5th floor) which is the penthouse suite. It’s a very spacious apartment with a nice view of the street. After checking out the apartment and putting a load of laundry in the washing machine (we’re loving the washing machines this time around) we ventured out to get some lunch and to find a toy store to purchase a couple of small toys for the boys and Andrew of course. We couldn’t find an internet café and since we didn’t have access to the internet in our 3rd apartment or in our penthouse suite we haven’t updated the blog. Sorry, I know there are many of you that are waiting to find out how our appt went. I have been typing the blog at night on our laptop after Andrew goes to bed and when we find an internet café we just cut and paste it in the blog to save on time.



There is a park about 3-4 blocks from our apartment, so tomorrow if the weather is nice we will take Andrew there to have some playtime.

Our Second Appointment at the SDA

Andrew picture taking

Sorry, we've moved a fourth time and don't have internet in our room. We just now found an internet cafe about a 40 minute walk from our apartment.

Alla stopped by our apartment around 1:30pm to meet with the apartment personnel where we are staying to help us move to an apartment upstairs. Okay we are in our 3rd apartment since we’ve been here. It’s getting a little tiring being shuffled around, but from what I understand we are not the only family that has moved 3 times since they’ve been here as well. After we moved all of our belongings upstairs to another apartment we were on our way to the SDA.

As we approached the building where the SDA is in (right next to St. Andrew’s church), we saw Valentina our facilitator for the first time since we’ve been here. She was sick last week and didn’t want to pass the cold onto us. It is so nice to see her again. We gave her a big hug and she was taken by Andrew and how he has grown and how much he has learned in the past 3 years. We shared with her our photo album and she wanted Andrew to tell her who everyone was in our family, his school and events that we took pictures of.

Our appointment started right on time, which was 3:00pm. I was happy to see that the psychologist Maria, whom we had in our first appointment was taking us into her office again. She is a friendly woman who seemed favorable towards us and Andrew.

She showed us 2 files that were just released from the ministry yesterday. One was a 5 year old boy and the other was a 3 year old boy. We didn’t realize at first that the two boys are siblings. They both have minor health issues therefore we asked Maria to call the orphanage about them to find out more details. The orphanage directors confirmed that the boys are available and their medical reports were true therefore we have accepted to visit these boys on Monday. They are in a region called Cherkasy that is a 3 hour drive South from here off of the Dnipro river from what we understand. We will travel by car early Monday morning to meet them. Please continue to keep us and these boys in prayer for all to go well on Monday. After meeting them we will make our decision from there.

Health is more important to us than gender, therefore we decided to meet these boys. We will call Dr. Yuri this weekend to see if he can either travel with us or meet us on Tuesday to give his prognosis after his exam and evaluation. Please pray and agree with us that there are no major health issues that were not listed in their files.

My Soccer shirt

After our appointment we stopped to buy Andrew a Ukrainian futbol or what we call soccer shirt in his size. I promised to get him one if he was quiet and sat still in our appointment. As we were purchasing one Valentina had Andrew pick out a Ukrainian nesting doll for himself as a gift from her. You can really tell that both Valentina and Alla have a real heart for children. They were giving him so much attention after our appointment that he was starting to get a bit silly.

Watdhing the painters from our 3rd apartment

Chilling out

Both Robert and I are praying and hoping that everything goes well on Monday, so we can move forward with this adoption and get home as soon as possible.

Prepareing for our second appointment

Yesterday Alla came by our apartment to take us to get a new sims card for the cell phone since it hasn’t been working the last day and a half as well as to prepare us for our second appointment today. It was nice to spend the afternoon just hanging out with Alla having fun walking around town and she was enjoying playing and talking with Andrew. She was happy to see that Andrew is eating meats, fruits and vegetables and that he wanted to eat from the Ukrainian food place rather than McDonalds. Every time he put his fork down she would pick it up and pick up some pork from his dish and feed him. He has been eating real good since we’ve been here, which I’m very happy about. I was a bit worried that he would have an issue with the food being a bit different and all. But he is doing well with that. It seem like every time we turn around he wants to eat again. Maybe it’s from all of the exercise.

When we got back to the apartment yesterday, Alla sat us down to talk with us and prepare us for our second appointment. She then shared with us some pictures of many of the children that she has helped to adopt. She showed us pictures after picture and as she shared them with us, Andrew perked up and recognized a picture of himself (the picture of him on the blog holding the Ukrainian flag). Alla asked him,”Who is this?” Andrew laughed as he replied,”That’s me! How did you get a picture of me?” So I explained to him again how Alla helped us adopt him so we could be a family.

After Alla left yesterday we spent the evening after Andrew was in bed preparing for our appointment. We went through different medical conditions and researched on the internet to learn more about each medical condition that we were willing to accept, so we could ask pertinent more in depth questions to the orphanage director or orphanage doctor so we could make a decision as to whether to visit the child or not. So we didn’t have time to update they blog last night. Sorry.

Independence Square & Under Ground Mall

Under Ground Mall Stores

Today we went down to the Independence Square again today to walk around some of the stores. I am very surprised at the prices for items in the stores around here. Robert wanted to buy a pair of Levi 505 jeans since he only brought 2 pair of pants (1 pair of jeans and 1 pr of dress slacks). In the Levi store we went to find his size jeans which is 36"w x 32"l although he likes to wear them loose so he gets 38" waist. Well around here with all of the stick figures walking around in Kiev he had a hard time finding a pair of 38" waist. He looked and looked and finally said he couldn't find any fat boy jeans. Even so, he wasn't going to pay over 600 grivnas($100.00 US dollars) for a pair of Levi jeans he can get for $30.00 back home. All of the stores in the Under Ground Mall are high end stores with high end prices. Where is a Walmart when you need one. The closest store to Walmart around here is the outer mini markets on the outskirts of the under ground. They are the local merchants selling their goods, flowers and some little convenient stores with a walk up window where you tell the lady what you want and she gets it for you. Here is a picture of one of the mini marts in the under ground. Andrew is crying because I'm taking a picture instead of picking him up so he can see the lady in the window.

Under Ground Mini-Market

Since our apartment only had 2 mugs and no other glasses but wine glasses, we bought a couple of mugs (for $5.00 each)for us to use and keep for a rememberance of our journey at the under ground vendors. We also found a store in the under ground mall that had towels. Since we didn't bring any towels and have been using the ones in the apartments we bought 2 bath towels for $20.00. Those were the cheapest they had. Those prices weren't as bad as the jeans and other designer stores we went in.

When we eat at the food court in the under ground mall we have eaten at a Ukrainian cafeteria style place, a McDonalds, just like home, and a Papa Johns pizza. I took a picture of the Papa Johns sign since we noticed it's not the typical Italian face you would see on a Pizzaria back home. Check it out.

Papa Johns Pizzaria in the Under Ground Mall Food Court

Here are some other pictures we took of the buildings and stores in and around Independence Square. During the weekend the city shuts down the major road and some side streets off of the major road around Independence Square and local merchants set up their canopies to sell their goods, fruits and vegetables, clothes, fish, honey, toys, Ukrainian souveniers. It was raining last weekend, therefore we didn't take many pictures. We wanted to move through the crowds as quick as possible.

Stores off of the main street near Independence Square

Street Near Our First Apartment

Every day I think we shed about a couple of pounds a day just walking up and down the stairs to go in and out of the under ground to cross the street or go to the mall/food court. You certainly don't have to pay for a gym membership around here. Thats probably why the people are so skinny here. I don't know how the women do it here with their spiked 4-5 inch heels/boots. I've noticed each day Andrew's legs are getting stronger because of all of the walking and climbing stairs. He tries to get us to carry him but it is getting less and less. He is getting more and more used to walking everywhere instead of being escorted by car everywhere back home. Here is a picture of him passed out in our apartment after our venture out walking around Kiev today.

Our Sweetie. So peaceful.

Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!

Daddy abd Andrew in Independence Square

Today we moved to another apartment. I guess they had rented this apartment to someone for this upcoming week, therefore, Alla and Sasha came by to help us move and take us to the next one. The new apartment is a little smaller, but is a bit cheaper and has all the amenities as we had in the first apartment(microwave & washer) as well as it has free internet access and we are closer to the SDA and Independence Square. Fancy that. Now we don't have to be jammed into a bathroom size stall to do blog updates and check email, we can have bathroom access with a western style toilet (LOL) close by as I update our blog and catch up on emails.

Mom and Andrew standing on the street of our 2nd apartment

Sorry we haven't been able to respond to some of your emails, but that is why. Along with having our little wiggly son that is anxiously waiting for me to finish what I'm doing on the computer. Now that we have access to the internet in our apartment it makes it much easier to answer your emails.

I thank God for our families, friends and our Ukrainian Angel families whom all have been so kind and gracious with sharing your support, prayers, wisdom, and experiences. It has help us stay strong and be confident that the Lord will provide and give us the desires of our hearts exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think.

I was reading this morning in Psalms 107 which really ministered unto me. I noticed as I read a few chapters in Psalms that many of the chapters started out Praising and thanking the Lord and telling us to give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endureth forever. In Psalms 107 verse 2 it goes on to say that,"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." The chapter goes on to talk about how when the Isrealites were in the wilderness, in need of food, drink, habitation etc. that WHEN they cried out unto the Lord he provided for them and delivered them out of all of their distresses.(Psalm 107:20) The Lord sent His word and healed them and delivered them from all of their distructions.

I have also have found strength in His word in Mark chapter 11:22-26. Jesus is telling us in verse 22 "To have faith in God".23-"Whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain be thou removed and cast unto the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVE those things which he SAYS shall come to pass; he Shall (Not might but SHALL) have whatever he SAYS. 24 Jesus tells us that "What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them." Then in verse 25 Jesus tells us to forgive anyone that we might have ought against them. If we can't forgive those we have ought against, why should he forgive us of our sins?

I remember Kenneth Hagin Sr. ministering on Mark 11:22-26 which was very powerful. In one of his preachings he talked and revealed that it says in Mark 11:23 that it says to first believe what things in which you SAY and it shall come to pass. In verse 23 Jesus says to SAY (verbally speak to your mountain or obstackle,challenge) and tell it to be removed and cast into the sea. Then he tells us to Not doubt in your heart but BELIEVE those things which he SAYS shall come to pass, then he shall have whatever he SAYS. The verse says the word believe once, where it has the word SAY 3 times in the same scripture. We need to speak forth what we believe which is the answer and result instead of speaking forth our obstacle/problem/
challenge/mountain. Just like back in Psalms 107 it says,"Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO! Therefore, I've been speaking forth and thanking the Lord for our daughter. I've been casting forth the voice of the enemy and I open my ears unto the Spirit of God to hear and be led by him to reveal to us our daughter in Jesus name.


What are your challenges, have you been speaking the problem or the answer lately? Cast your mountain into the sea and believe those things you desire when you pray and you shall have them. Let the redeemed of the Lord SAY SO!! SAY IT and don't stop SAYING IT until it comes into existance.

We were also blessed and thank God for our church, Victory Christian Fellowship in New Castle, Delaware www.gwwm.com to be able to listen to the Sunday morning service Live over the internet in our apt today. Thanks Pastor Gary, Pastor Faye and for your sermon today Pastor Gregory. It made us feel right at home.