2008 Recap....

Wow! Where did the year go?
Here is a brief synopsis of each of us...
James
Got a new job as a safety technician working in the oil fields in Wyoming.
Got his first patent and will begin manufacturing in 2009
Bought a new mountain bike
Finished the Kitchen
Kambree Lee
Turned 16 & started driving
Made Murray Dance Company @ MHS
Performed in "Miracle Worker", "Romeo & Juliet" & "Footloose"
Started taking college courses in high school
Started dating
Austin James
Grew 4 inches
Learned he loves to play softball
Improved greatly at basketball
Had a great 1st term report card as a Freshman
Started cooking dinner once every other week
Devree Elle
Graduated from 6th grade
Started Junior High
Lost 10 pounds
Grew taller than Kambree
Got her first 4.0 report card
Went to girls camp for the first time
Danced with Guyz and Dollz
Rylee Anna
Turned eight and got baptized
Played soccer
Danced with Murray Community & Guyz and Dollz
Went to drama camp
Benjamin Alex
Traveled to the United States
Found our family
Learned how to ride a bike
Learned a few English words
Me/Wendy
Finally listened and found Alex
Performed in Footloose
Fell down in a commercial for X insurance
Designed my kitchen & lived through it's construction
Changed brokerages
and
collected, notarized & appostilled ALL our adoption papers!

The Boring-est Post of Blogdom!

I went to the appostille office this morning and ran into a few snags. I am blogging this for the other parents following suit. If you are not in the business of international adoption, just disregard this post as it will be pointless to all but those of us jumping through these hoops!

First off, the appostille office is in the MAIN Utah State Capitol Building on the second floor suite #220 BUT you will not be looking for the nice gold suite numbers above the door, you will need to look in the south/east corner of the building and on the glass door are some papers taped to a glass door, ONE of the papers says in rather small font "Suite 220". Note to the wise: wear gym shoes as the walk from the parking lot, through the east building, across the square, up the stairs to the second floor and all the way around the main floor squinting to look for suite #220 takes awhile!
Once I found the place I was sure I would just write my $150 dollar check for my 15 documents to be appostilled and then head jubilantly back to my car with a skip in my step knowing I had FINALLY turned in my paper work!
But, that was not the case. I ran into a few problems.
#1 Was the first question. Do all three notarized papers in the home study need an attached appostile? The answer (after calling Elliana and having her talk to the appostile guy) is YES. (So that's is $20 more to the total)
#2 I brought in two notarized certified copies of my certified marriage certificate. That doesn't work. You need two ORIGINAL certified copy marriage certificates- not copies certified by a notary. Meaning: the notary notarized that they made copies of your original certified copy marriage certificates. (So I made a quick trip to Health & Vital records and $19 dollars and an hour later had what I needed) Note: If you were married outside of Utah you will have to send off to the state you were married in to their state appostille office. Luckily we were married in Salt Lake.
#3 And the worst! The certified copy of my warranty deed could not be appostilled as there is not an original notary signature on the document. (Appostille is sort of like the notary of notaries. They are appostilling the signature of the notary on your document, nothing else!) This is a problem for everyone in Salt Lake County as I asked specifically if I could get a notarized copy of my warranty deed at the recorders office and was informed that a certified copy was best. In fact I called the recorders office while posting this and they told me they only do certified copies not notarized copies. The problem is that Salt Lake County has switched to a new certified system and the paper you pay $9 for at the recorders office has a little blurb at the top stating it is certified with no stamps, seals or original signatures. So after the appostille guy talked to the county recorder the appostille guy sends me to get my certified warranty deed copy certified. Easier said then done, I went to my credit union and they didn't want to copy certify the paper as it appears to be a copy not an original. Finally after talking with the appostille office, leaving messages for the country recorder and talking to the manager of the credit union, I convinced them if I could get someone at the recorders office to confirm via the telephone that the information on the paper is correct. (Meaning, I am the owner of record) could they certify copy it? They agreed. Whew! (I was very nice but between you and me, I wasn't leaving without that dumb piece of paper notarized.) Perhaps you will get a notary that will be less of a stickler? Let's hope!
Then after going back to the State Capital with my precious notarized, certified copied, certified copy of my warranty deed and two ORIGINAL certified copy marriage certificates the appostille guy re-counted my documents, and came up with 19 so $190, plus the $10 for the one I sent to Louisiana for appostille puts me at an even $200. At this point, I don't care, I just want it done right and done right the first time!
Anyway, that's my story. I left at 10:00 am and I got home about 1:30 pm!
And if this post puts you to sleep....I'm sorry, I need a nap myself!

2nd letter!

I got a letter and a picture from (Benjamin) Alex today!

Front

Back
Here is what he had to say:

Hello my dear Mama, Papa, Kambree, Austin, Devree & Rylee,
I received your letter. I love you all and I miss you and I want to see you all as soon as possible. I received pictures and photo and I liked them very much. I haven’t received the package yet. I am well, healthy, studying and playing with kids. They feed us well. I like the name Benjamin Alex Richhart. I am not afraid to fly and live in America because I feel good with you. I love you all.
Give big hi to Tyler & Brach. Hi to Grandma. I am trying to be a good student.
Again we went to the theater on our free time we watch tv and play games, draw pictures and sing.
Love you all and hug you all. See you and kiss you.
Your son,
Alex

Sweet huh? It's been so great to talk with him via the computer. We talked yesterday but I missed him today. He asked about Ella and his bike. I posted video's on my blog for him and he loved them. He told Snezhana when he saw Ella "That's our dog!"
He's so much an Alex to me that I don't know if I can start calling him Benjamin. Maybe he'll go by Alex Benjamin? I guess we'll figure that out when we fill out his birth certificate.
I am DONE collecting my paper work and tomorrow I head to the appostille! Then I wait to get everything back from the Utah & Louisiana appostille, send it to Adoptionway for translation, then it goes to the Ukraine. At that point, we wait in line for a date for court! Hurray!

Richhart Christmas Party!

Monday the 29th we had the annual Richhart Christmas party with the Richhart relatives that live in Utah. (We miss all you Alaskan, Arizona and Washington dwellers!)

We are please to introduce the newest member of our family, Donette (I'm sorry if I spelled your name wrong) Donette is a cousin that until recently, most of us knew nothing about. But we're glad she found us and we think she is just lovely. Here is Donette with her new found cousins. Just wait until she gets the chance to meet ALL the cousins!

Standing: Sara, Rhett, Donette, Austin
Sitting: Rylee w/Bowden, Kambree w/Hallie, Devree

Алексей-Такі двоюрідні брати ви ще не зустрічалися!

Sara & Shelly


James, Matt (Donette's friend), Donnette, Donette's Grandma Barbara

Devree & Rhett

Kambree & Hallie

Bowden with Hallie's skirt on his head!

The Richhart Men! (Minus our Trebyn and our future Alex!)

Dad Richhart, Lindsay, Jake

More Instant Messaging & Journals....

Today was a great instant messaging day with Alexey, Ivan & Snezhana. I learned that Ivan joined the army when Alex was three. I knew Alex was picked up in a street sweep when he was four and his mother was warned if it happened again they would take him away. It happened again when he was six, he was put in the orphanage and his mother's parental rights were terminated 10 months later. Snezhana also told me Alex's father has died. She didn't know what from.
After me pelting her with questions about Alex's past I asked her if there was anything she wanted to ask me. Here is our conversation...

Why do you decided on such step - adoption?
Wendy ‎(12:31 PM):
I felt as if someone was missing in our family.
Wendy ‎(12:32 PM):
I felt this feeling for a couple of years. I would try to ignore it but it kept coming back.
Snegок ‎(12:32 PM):
I see you are very good mother
Wendy ‎(12:32 PM):
I am a religious person and I finally decided that if God wanted us to have another child, he would help us find him.
Thank you. I love my children. They are my life.
Wendy ‎(12:33 PM):
I felt that this child did not live in the United States but I didn't know how to find him.
It was like God had a hand in it and directed us to find Alex.
Wendy ‎(12:34 PM):
Alex looks like my son Austin when he was little.
Many miracles have happened to get us to this point and we feel strongly that this is God's will.
Wendy ‎(12:35 PM):
I hope that doesn't sound too crazy to you.
Snegок ‎(12:35 PM):
No we know that you are religious person
Snegок ‎(12:36 PM):
Mormons?
Wendy ‎(12:36 PM):
Good. I was afraid you would think I was a little crazy.
Yes, we're Mormons. We belong to The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Have you heard of our church before?
Snegок ‎(12:38 PM):
no, we heard about Mormons recently
Wendy ‎(12:38 PM):
Do you belong to a church?
Snegок ‎(12:38 PM):
no
Wendy ‎(12:39 PM):
Well, if you ever want to hear more about our church. Just let me know.
We have missionary's all over the world. Even in  Ukraine.
But no pressure, you just tell me if you'd like to know more.
Wendy ‎(12:40 PM):
In fact, just think about it.
Alex went to church with us when he was here. I'm sure it was very boring for him.
(It has to be hard to sit through a church meeting you cannot even understand!)
Wendy ‎(12:42 PM):
Anyway, you just let me know if you would like any more information. I could even just send some information if you would rather not talk to anyone. Just so you can check it out.
Did Alex mention our religion?
Wendy ‎(12:43 PM):
Does he go to church at the orphanage?
Snegок ‎(12:46 PM):
He said us that he went with you to a church
Wendy ‎(12:46 PM):
Did he say it was boring? Because I'm sure it was for him!
Snegок ‎(12:46 PM):
no, at the orphanage they don't go to church
Snegок ‎(12:47 PM):
no he didnt say such
Wendy ‎(12:47 PM):
Here is the Russian LDS website if you want to check it out. http://www.latter-daysaints.ru/
Wendy ‎(12:48 PM):
I of course can't read it but if you have questions about our religion or just want to check it out, hopefully it will help.

I'm not sure I will publish this post right now, I don't want to make Snezhana feel uncomfortable and I was very nervous and hope I didn't say too much or too little. I think I'll just save this post as a draft and publish it a few days from now when it will get lost in all my other posts.
I also decided to read my patriarchal blessing today. It's interesting as parts I've read before jumped out like never before. I keep my blessing in my journal and started reading entries to my children of funny things they did when they were young. James got his out too-he's a much better journal keeper than I am. And then Kambree and Devree got out there's and we spent the evening sharing funny and interesting entries. Kambree wrote about the day I came home from church in August of 2006 and felt impressed that we were suppose to adopt another child and here we are over two years later...
After reading my journal entries (that sometimes skip years and years between entries) I've decided this blogging thing just may be the answer to journal-ing and I've decided to make a more conscientious effort to write not just about our adoption but about our family life. I know there is a way to publish your blog into a bound book at the end of the year, so that is my plan...

Це повідомлення, якщо для Олексія! (For Alexey)

Алексей, ми зробили кілька відео для вас. Вони роду божевільні, але все ми хотіли б сказати "привіт", і ми любимо вас. Це перший із сніжних штормів кілька днів тому:
( Alex, we made some videos for you. They are kind of crazy, but we would like to say "hello" and we love you. This is the first snow storm a few days ago.)

В наступному відео все говорят Здравствуйте після церкви і сьогодні. Елла буде робити деякі трюки для вас.
( The next video is all they say hello after church today. Ella will do some tricks for you.)

Це останнє відео батько зробив для вас. Він хотів би показати вам проект ви допомогли йому було зроблено! Він був настільки вражений вас допомогти йому. Я думаю, ви і тато мають багато спільного. У всякому разі, ось його відео ...
( This latest video father has done for you. He would like to show you a project you helped he was done! He was so impressed by you to help him. I think you and Dad have a lot in common. Anyway, here's his video ...)


Ми любимо Вас і молимося за вас, і не можуть чекати вас приєднатися до нас в Америку!
( We love you and pray for you and can not wait for you to join us in America!)

2nd Package....

Our first package was well received roughly 3-4 weeks after I sent it. The only request Lex made was "to send more cars".

So, I put together a New Years package (It won't get there on time but sometime in January.) with a letter talking about goals for the New Year and telling him our goal was to come get him and his goal should be to learn English in 2009!

I sent the requested cars, a few treats, magic tricks, a Rubik cube AND what I'm sure Lex will love....
BOOKS TO LEARN ENGLISH!
I figured it couldn't hurt! I found a dual Ukrainian to English & English to Ukrainian Dictionary, (which I told him to take good care of as I'm sure we'll need it when we get there!) another picture dictionary for children (I sent one back with him when he left but this one has lots more words and pictures) and a book with a CD geared to teaching children English. (I found all these items on amazon.com.) I'm not sure if he can play CD's in the orphanage but I ripped it to my Ipod so when we get there he can hear it and practice. (It's a very long plane ride home, you know?)

It's sort of a bizarre CD-I listened to a few tracks as I was loading it onto my Ipod-it shows pictures of a room of stuff like the bathroom or the kitchen then the recording makes the sound of the object, states the name of the object then repeats and you follow along in the book looking at the pictures. Exciting huh? I'm sure he is going to be so thrilled to get these books....or not. (I really need a font for sarcasm.)
I suggested he start a study group with the other children being adopted. Even if he only learns a few words, it's a few less words that he has to learn here, right?




Anyway, I plan to mail it on Monday with my certified letter to the Louisiana appostille. Which I finally got today! All I need is James doctor to finish putting the lab results on his medical exam and get everything to the appostille and then to the adoption coordinator and then....
WE WAIT!
We missed each other instant messaging today. (There is a nine hour time difference.) Hopefully, tomorrow we'll be more in sync.

Technology is AMAZING!

I have been instant messaging with Ivan & Snezhana and.....

ALEXEY all morning!

Can you believe it?!
Then to make it even better, they sent pictures! Here's my boy, Alexy instant messaging me.

And here are pictures of everyone:




Isn't Snezhana pretty? And look how happy Lex looks! He has on one of the shirts we sent and his pajama pants.
We talked about us adopting Alexey and their concern is what is best for Alexey. They cannot get him out of the orphanage until they have their own place. They're building a home but it may not be complete for years. If I understand correctly, they think it best for Alexey to be adopted by us! I am so excited, I feel like my family just grew not only to add Alexey but his brother and sweet sister in law. I look forward to meeting them and staying in touch with them always. Look at Lex's smile. What a fabulous day!
FYI, I did ask if I could post their pictures and I gave them my blog address. I can see that they've found it and are looking at it right now. Isn't technology simply AMAZING??

Ivan & Snezhanan

On the 24th I received another email from Ivan asking me if I have an ICQ account and giving me his wife (Snezhana's) account number. I quickly figured out that an ICQ account is an instant messaging program, signed up and contacted them via this program. Now, I know this will sound crazy to those of you that instant message on a daily bases and are perhaps much younger than I, but I was in awe! I was communicating within seconds with people half way around the world! It was AMAZING!!

Ivan & Snezhana have been married for a year. Alexy and Ivan have different fathers and they don't know if their mother is still living as they have no communication with her. This is the two wedding pictures they sent.

Of course, I figure out this ICQ stuff late in the afternoon on the 24th and my father in law had just arrived and I had so much to do and had to excuse myself from our instant messaging conversation to wrap up Christmas preparations. The great thing is they asked me to write in English and they will write to me in Englis.  For the most part, I think they do a great job! I really thing they are just concerned and want the best for Alexey. They're going to pick him up on Friday (I'm not sure if that is today or next Friday) and keep him for a week. They said they'll have him write me (I hope on this instant message thing!) which is great because we were unable to get anyone to answer at the orphanage the morning of the 24th.

I can't imagine how hard it must be to have your little brother in an orphanage. I know that they're technically half brothers but you can tell through the pictures that Ivan looks like he looks out for Alexey. It's also nice to see smiling faces and happiness. It's good to know that he has that in his life.
Do I worry that they don't want Alexey to come to America? Of course. That maybe they're trying to get him out of the orphanage? Yes. But the important thing here is what is best for Alexey. Obviously getting out of the orphanage is the best thing. If its with us or with his brother.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things....

The day Alexey left I put a picture of him in a heart shaped locket and I have worn it everyday since. (I told him, even though he will be far away, he will be close to my heart!)

However, the locket I had was not high quality (crappy would be the correct word for it) and although I made a point to never shower in it, (which would not only guarantee to turn my neck green, it was also cause grief to my precious picture inside) it was not holding up well. The chain broke a few weeks ago, and I switched the slightly tarnished locket to another. Knowing how much I wanted (with a few not so subtle hints) a new locket, James got me a much nicer, new one for Christmas.

And just so my other children don't feel left out, I added their pictures to the other side. This way when I'm in the Ukraine, they can be close to my heart too!

Then my Mom & Aunt Debbie made my sister and me a personalized quilts. I got weepy when I opened this. This picture does not do it justice.

But each square is personalized and all about me. There is a square of houses (for real estate), barns (I live in a barn shaped house and I love barns), chocolate, little dogs, kittens, school (for my substituting) music notes and piano keys (for my love of musical theater and singing) cooking , gardening, high heeled shoes and purses, and my favorite aprons! (I'm always wearing an apron!) It touched my heart and I just cried. 2nd time today, as my sister gave me a little plate with this cute sister saying. Normally, I am not a weepy person and I don't cry pretty so you won't see any of those pics on this blog!


Kambree and her haul...

Austin and his stash....

Dev and her gifts....

Ry and her booty.....

Christmas Day!

Santa came!

Waiting patiently at the top of the stairs....

Austin sharing his new toys with Dad
We had a great morning opening gifts, eating breakfast and visiting with Dad Richhart. James ran Dad to Jakes house just as the snow storm started.

Then we went to my sisters for yet more food, and cousin and sibling gift exchange...

Then to Grandma Lee's for a little lunch and visiting...

Then back home for a little Wii play and more food & family....

Waiting for her turn....

Playing her new D.S. (ALL DAY LONG!)

Opening Grandma's Gifts....

Grandkids (minus Zach) with new monogrammed towels from Grandma & Grandpa

All in all a great day!