Quarantined!

I've been in contact with Snezhana (Alex's half brother Ivan's wife-whom I really like!) and she told me that she and Ivan have Alex for the next two weeks due to a quarantine at the orphanage!? She told me Alex is well and not to worry. Quarantine? Just the word sends chills up and down my spine! So, being the overly concerned-to the point of crazy-mama bear that I am-I contacted Adpotionway for more info and here's their response.

Dear Wendy,

I will check on that, but it is a normal and usual thing to have a quarantine in the orphanage type school. It might be as simple as flue or other viral infection. If there is a number of cases in the town the orphanage is closed for visitors basically. Or if the infection is in the school, they recommend relatives to take the kid out for a short while and the others stay in with limited contact with each other.

I am sure it's not a big deal.

Whew! I guess it makes sense. Think about how the flu travels through your own family. Now multiple that by 520 children!! Oh, I feel sorry for the orphanage workers!
I'm so glad Alex has a place to go. I'm really hoping he'll work on his ENGLISH with Snezhana. (Alex is Snezhana reading this to you?)

We're off to buy Easter dresses for the girls. Wish us luck as finding dresses for Kam and Dev is an almost impossible undertaking! Yes, I realize that Easter is not for another seven weeks but I will be in the Ukraine for Easter so it's now or never for new dresses!

To Be Or Not To Be.....Private!

I've been torn about making my blog private during our upcoming adventure and I think I'm leaning towards private. I'm hearing all sorts of advice and words of warning about what to post and what not to post and you know me, I just like to tell it like it is.
So, I think being private will be the best idea while we're there. No worries though, I'll happily invite anyone along that would like to come. So email me at richharts@msn.com and I'll be sure you get an invitation!



Peace, love and privacy!

Game Night...or not!

Tonight we had our "Game Night" with a few other families heading to the Ukraine. The thought was to practice our card and dice game skills but really we just ate and talked all night. Here is a picture of my "Ukraine Lemon Poppy Seed Cake" it was good but not as good as Lori's Cinnamon Rolls.

It was great to get together with our families. Our children hit it off immediately and ran through the house playing games and the eventually ended up in front of the Wii while we parents ate more and talked more!




Thanks everyone that came and we missed those of you that couldn't make it!

For my Alex!

Привіт Алекс Бенджамін!
Я чув, ви з Іваном в ці вихідні! Я так рад. Я сподіваюся, що у вас є чудовий час з ним.
Я люблю вас, і ви пропустите! Менш ніж за три тижні тато і я буду в Україні!
Я просто не можу чекати, щоб обняти тебе!
Дивіться, якщо Сніжана або Іван займе свою фотографію та електронною поштою мені. Мені дуже хотілося б бачити Вас прямо зараз!
Вся моя любов,
Мама
PS Я буду намагатися і після деяких відео пізніше так перевірте!

Translation:
Hi Alex Benjamin!
I heard you and John this weekend! I'm so glad. I hope you have a wonderful time with him.
I love you and miss you! Less than three weeks dad and I will be in Ukraine!
I just can not wait to hug you!
See if Snezana or John will take your picture and email me. I would love to see you right now!
All my love,
mom
PS I'll try and post some video later so check!

The Best Phone Call Ever!!

I just talked to Alexey!
I don't think he could believe it! I told him we were coming for him next month and asked if he was excited? He said "Da" and then I said something about how I can't believe we leave in 19 days and then he got really excited because he thought the translator said September rather than March. Then he talked and talked. He asked about five times "When are they coming?" I asked if there was anything he wanted me to bring and he said "No, all I want is you both."
Then he got warmed up and asked what room he would have and was thrilled to hear he would have Austin's old bedroom all to himself. You could just feel the excitement.
He asked if we would visit his brother, I said of course that we plan to take him with us to visit Ivan.
He asked if he should be packed and ready when we arrive. I said no, it will take a awhile, we'll have plenty of time to pack. I told him I'd bring him a suitcase and he reminded me he has a suitcase (the old one we sent him back with) and he has a lot of socks! (I've already got his stuff packed. Last night I sorted through all the things I've bought and packed him up and YES, I bought more socks!)
He asked where we will stay in the Ukraine. I told him we'd find an apartment. You could just feel the excitement across the phone lines!
He asked when we would leave? I said I didn't know hopefully around April 20th.
He was just full of questions and unlike our last phone call he just talked and talked!
I told him we'd call when we made it to Ukraine and that I had no idea how long it would take us to get to the orphanage but we would get there as soon as we can because he's the only one we really want to see!!
I told him I love him and he says he feels the same. And I told him to save all his hugs for me!
James talked to him for a minute and asked if the wait was worth it and got a exuberant "Da!".
I spoke with the director and she had received word that we would be there on the 23rd. (She knows more than I do!) and expressed how very excited Alexey is and how long he has waited.
After we got off the phone Jordan, (our awesome translator) told me that Alexey is very polite and always asks, "May I ask a question?" before asking him anything. Sweet huh?
Anyway, just had to post it while it was fresh in my mind.
He did say he visited with his brother Ivan and looked at my blog. (I could see I was getting hits from Ukraine Valentines weekend-I just didn't know it was my boy!) He saw that I put his art work and picture on my blog and he liked that.
I've already instant messaged his sister-in-law and she is buying a paper today to help us find and apartment. We are so blessed!

Stuff I'm learning...

I have learned there is a website that will give you a 15 day forecast for any city in the Ukraine.
But everything is in Celsius and being the mathematician (not) that I am, I yelled to James "How do I figure out how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit?" He hollers back (he's in the kitchen helping Devree with HER math) "Look up the formula!" What? Hello? I'm his wife not his child. But since he's up to his eyeballs with homework and I am not willing to wait, I Google it and even I can figure this out.

Double the temperature given in Celsius.
Add 32.
The resulting number is the approximate temperature in Fahrenheit.

Ta...da!! Now I know that on March 12th (15 days from now) in the city of Dniprodzerzhinsk the high will be 56 and the low will be 40!!
I got a little panicky when the first website I read said this:
If you're heading to the Ukraine November to March then you might be in for a nasty surprise (bring your thermal underwear!).
Yikes! Thermal underwear?? But thanks to my web searching skills I have found a current prediction site that gives me hope that I will not be a mama bear Popsicle and even though the site is in Celsius, thanks to my "its better to teach the wife to fish than to give her a fish" husband I can figure it out for myself!
I have also learned that there are two school dances while I'll be away, Spring Fling (not a big deal, Kambree's going stag with Dance Company) and JUNIOR PROM. Yes, Kambree is a junior. Oh this breaks my heart. And it's April 11th, chances of me being back are slim and none!
(Note: I am not complaining, just conveying my scheduling situation.)
Of course she's not been asked yet, and she probably won't until I'm gone and then how is she going to get a dress? Get her corsage? We've never done a flower dance. And who will go and watch at the Capital? Who will take the pictures so I can blog it? Hum....the plot thickens.....
The other great thing I've learned is how many people love me, my family and Alex. I made my friend cry when she read my text "We're going to the Ukraine March 17th!" and I was showered with well wishes on my email, Facebook, text and phone. Many have offered to help and drive kids places and bring meals and stay overnight. Thanks everyone-don't be surprised if I take every single one of you up on it!!
Here's an interesting thing I learned, all day long I've tried to call my mom. (She's a flight attendant for Continental and on a trip) Although she was the first one I tried to call, she was the last one I told. (She cried too.) All day long I just wanted to tell my mom and couldn't get a hold of her. Finally, tonight she has service and she knows and life is good! So I learned no matter how old I get, I still need my mom!
Which makes me smile because I realized that-all though I missed Alex's first 10/almost 11 years of life, you need a mom for always, not just when your little!

Still haven't caught my breath!

I don't think I've been this excited since Rylee was born nine years ago! My heart isn't use to this much excitement!
So, I've made tentative travel arrangements. Flights were even less expensive than my tentative May dates. (Probably because not as many people travel in March?)
We thought James would only need to leave work a few days early and then arrive a few days late but it sounds like our court date (not to be confused with our SDA date) will not be until around April 6th-give or take-so we're looking at him being in Ukraine closer to three weeks than two.
Looking at my calendar we'll be missing and or re-scheduling:
Orthodontist appointments
Austin and Devree's choir concerts
SPRING BREAK
(and canceling our trip to Arizona-sorry Hainsworth cousins!)
Desert Star Tickets
Pioneer Memorial Tickets
General Conference Weekend
(That will be interesting. I'm guessing we can watch it online?)
WICKED TICKETS
(No, I don't need anyone volunteering to take them, my BFF Jan offered to switch us for her May tickets)
Easter
Murray Dance Company Mother Daughter Luncheon
Austins B-day
But with any luck Lex & I'll be back before Kambree's Spring Dance Concert!
It's not like there will ever be a month long period of time with nothing scheduled, so all in all I think I can get this figured out. (Everyone pray for my Mom & Dad who will be holding down the fort and running the carpools.) Many thanks to my friends and family in advance, we simply couldn't do this without you.
We have a telephone conference with Adoption Way on Monday, I'm trying hard not to pelt them with my bazillion questions right now.
We're going to call Alex tomorrow. Just tell him we're coming in late March but not give specific dates as we ourselves are not sure when we'll actually show up at the orphanage.
Here's another thing to think about. School? Lex will be back late April and school is through June 5th. I think I'll call and see if he can just go to ESL classes maybe half a day and work on learning English. It would be silly to put him into school for a month. Don't you think? I wonder if the school will let me do this. One more thing to add to my list.
I thought it was hard to breath before? I can't even hold still now!!

WE GOT OUR TRAVEL DATE!!

Oh my gosh...I can hardly type....my hands are shaking!!
We got our SDA appointment for
(drum roll please)........
MARCH 19th!
Oh, I can hardly breath, when I saw the phone call this morning was from our Adoption Agency my heart started racing and I still feel like I did when I was a little girl on Christmas Eve!
We need to be in the Ukraine on the 18th and we just couldn't have better travel dates with James work schedule. OH.....MY.....HECK!!
We're on our way!!!!

Amazing!

So at my 5:45 am spin class this morning my instructor, Carrie-whom I've know for over four years-I think-asked if I was interested in the Red Riding Hood Ride in Logan for women in June. I explained I was waiting for my travel date. "Oh, where are you going?" (I totally thought she knew about my upcoming adventure!) I guess I have never mentioned it in her class. I told her I was heading to the Ukraine to adopt a 10 year old little boy and we may (or may not) have our travel date any day now and I just can't commit to anything until I figure out when we'll be gone. "Oh", she said. "My brothers the mission president in Kiev, would you like to get in touch with him? Maybe he can help you find housing with one of the members?" I almost fell off my bike!! Would I?? Of course! So she took my email and is going to send me his contact information.
My gym friend Jan commented on the way out of class. "Wow, Someone really wants you to go get this little boy." She witnessed last weeks Pilate's class when the lady working out beside me told me she was from the Ukraine. Guess where? The same city my orphanage is in, I have her email address too as she said she had friends there that could help me find housing. Are we blessed or what?

What a pain in the.....

In an attempt to be prepared for quick travel dates I thought I should make sure James and I don't need to update any immunizations and or have additional immunizations for travel abroad. (That sounds so rich doesn't it? Travel abroad? Like we're some world travelers or something?) Anyway, I started by calling the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and after hitting a few buttons actually talked to a live person who I could tell was reading from a script. She informed me to talk with a "travel" doctor and gave me the CDC's website. Not very helpful. I wasn't asking her if my immunizations were up to date, only if there were additional immunizations I should have in order to travel to the Ukraine.
So, I went to the CDC website and clicked on the Ukraine. Hum...not very direct information there either.

"Before visiting Ukraine, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination: (Note: Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities.)"

But then, there is not a list, it goes on to say that you should see a "travel" doctor, gives me a link to find a "travel medicine clinic" which when I click on Utah, only directs me to the the Utah Department of Health-where NOTHING is said about Travel or a Travel Medicine Clinic.
So, I called my doctor. She's from "abroad" anyway. (I think Lithuania-which is not too far from Ukraine-in fact she speaks Russian so she's where I'll take Alex when we get him home.) Now I'm waiting for her to review mine and James charts and get back to me. (I asked her to review James chart as his doctor takes FOREVER! Luckily we're at the same doctors office!)
Anyone else know more?
I'll update this post later when I hear what my doc has to say.

Update!
My doc called back and said we could get an "optional" Hep A shot but she travels all the time to Lithuania and has never had one. I think we'll opt out as well.

Basement Babble...

One of the biggest projects we have to get ready for Lex is finish a bedroom. The plan is to finish Austin a bedroom downstairs, move him down and give Lex his old bedroom. Easier said then done as we sort of gutted the basement prior to our kitchen remodel. Our basement has always had a very non-functional, dungeon like, outdated theme going on. We expanded the postage stamp bedroom a few years ago and it's now Kambree's lair. Then right before starting our kitchen addition fall of 2007 we ripped out the funky L shaped family room, moving the hall and removed the four in a row closets, framed in a large walk in "toy" closet for all the toys and a room for Austin. Why we did this then is a mystery to both James and I as the kitchen was an all consuming six month project and totally burned us out and we've done nothing to improve our basement situation since we started on the kitchen.

So the plan was to rock the toy closet so the toys that are piled in the family room can be stored out of the way making room for James to "kick out"Austin's new room in a timely-incredibly fast-manner!
I went down Friday and cleaned out the Christmas storage. Christmas was spewing from it's under the stair designated spot. Mostly because I bought a bunch of stuff after Christmas on clearance (one of my favorite things to do) and our new tree was sitting out in the hall because there was no room for it! Buried in the Christmas stash were two other tree's. I pulled out the "pre-lite but doesn't work" tree and threw it and everything in our DI pile in our front yard. Took a picture of it all and put it on KSL on the FREE STUFF section and people came and took most of our crap! Including an old large, beastly TV that hardly works (that we red-neck-ishly was using as a TV stand for the TV that does work)! It was great!

Then as I've been scouring the KSL ads for a bedroom set for Austin-as he told me he's tired of the "forestry" theme he has going on (The boy has a log bed set!)-I found the perfect solution to one of our many basement issues! It is very difficult to get box springs or full size couches downstairs. Don't know who designed our staircase to end with two feet of turning radius but someone did. It's true we got a queen size box springs down once but I commonly refer to it as our "Christmas miracle" as Kambree's room was a Christmas surprise and after an hour of trying to get it to go around the corner.....it just magically did! (I did hear cracking sounds...)
So I found a bedroom set (queen bed, headboard, mattress, dresser and night stand) that has a European designed bed that does not need a box springs! It was in good shape, the people were very clean and nice and the price was right. We arrived Friday night, the night before their king size bedroom set was set to arrive and we bought it. Leaving them bed-less for the night!



So, now in addition to toys, family room furniture, Sheetrock, doors and tools, we have part of a bedroom set in the downstairs family room. It's crazy! We actually have to finish the toy closet to move enough toys to move down the dresser and nightstand sitting in our upstairs family room!
With any luck James (aka Mr. Incredible) will have the new room rocked, mudded and painted before heading back to work and I can do what I do best, buy the carpet and have it installed. (When I refer to "we" in all home remodel/updating saga, the part I do is purchase; furniture, comforter sets, carpet, paint etc. and keep James feed and distract the children from pulling his focus and attention. He does all the rest!)
So that's been our weekend and will obviously be our upcoming week as well!

Hopefully sometime soon I'll be posting our travel date! I left a rambling message on my adoption coordinators phone Friday and she emailed back telling me:

Dear Wendy,
I got the message. You are always sound so cute in your messages, so you make me smile. Nope, no news yet. But it will be soon, certainly. I will call you . So take a deep breath, relax (while you still can) and have a great weekend.

How did she know I was having a hard time breathing??

It makes me angry...

I ran into a previous client/friend of my parents today. We hugged and caught up and she asked me what I was up to. I of course excitedly tell her about our upcoming adoption and she pats my shoulder and looks at me shaking her head and says "I sure hope that works out for you. I hope you know what you're doing. We've heard such terrible stories about orphan adoptions." You would have think I told her I was diagnosed with cancer with her tone and sympathetic pat on my shoulder. How rude! Why are people like that? I mean even if she feels this way or has heard a bazillion horror stories, its not like we're so close or that great of friends that she should share them with me or give me advice!?
Why do some people love to rain on other people's parades?
I mean when you see someone having their eighth baby and they not exactly stellar parents of their other seven do you say things like "I hope you know what your doing?" or "What are you thinking?" No, you smile, congratulate and keep your negative/pessimistic thoughts to yourself!
And when you meet someone in passing that you may or may not think is making a bad decision you don't just blurt it out in the middle of Costco! Good grief!
I felt like I needed to justify my decision to adopt and then I thought, "Hey, this lady doesn't know my Alex, doesn't know how many major and minor miracles has got us to this point and she doesn't know me well enough to even say such a thing!!" Then of course I see her about five more times in the same story and I'm trying not to glare and I just want to run her over with my shopping cart!
I too have heard (and read on other blogs) of scary stories about adoptions gone bad, don't think it hasn't crossed my mind, and I know we'll have struggles and adjustments. But I KNOW this is what we're suppose to do, I know Lex is suppose to be with us, and don't think for a minute that this woman's opinion made me second guess my decision, cause it didn't. It just made me angry and defensive but I suppressed my inner mother bear and smiled politely, thanked her for her concern and moved on.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Love & peace to all!

Preparing for our adventure!

I found a blog with tips for international adoption and wanted to share this tip! It sounds like a good idea and gives me something to work on while I'm waiting for my travel date!!

picture perfect

The idea is to give everyone you come into contact with, a better idea of the home your child will be living in, making everything more personal.

One of the latest trends in international adoption, is taking a small scrapbook with you on your trip to your child's country.

The idea is to give everyone you come into contact with, a better idea of the home your child will be living in, making everything more personal.
Here are some things you may want to include in a small photo album...

1. Cover page - Include a shot of your current immediate family. It can be relaxed snapshot or a formal portrait, it doesn't matter as long as it reflects your family's personality.

2. Family, family, family - Include a page for each person. Possibly a portrait shot and then candids. Shots of you at the ballgame, your kids at the park, your spouse at a family reunion. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Every little shot gives the viewer a feel for what your family life is like. For our scrapbook I took the kids out by a tree, snapped a portrait-style picture...and then added pics from throughout the year.

3. Home Sweet Home - You don't have to show everything, but you may want to include the main living areas and outside shots of your home. The new child's bedroom is also a good idea.

4. Your hometown - Include some shots around town of kid-friendly attractions. The school your new child will be attending, your church, city park, library, favorite restaurant...just to name a few.

5. Pet purrrrfect - Include shots of your pets. Showing the animals with people proves to officials how friendly your pets are and eases any concerns they may have about your new child's safety.

6. Vacations - Whether its camping in the north woods, snorkeling in the Caribbean or touring historical sites, show officials how you spend your spare time.

A nice touch is to also include translations of any text in your album. And if you aren't into cutting and pasting pictures and journals into your album, try an e-version. Sites like scrapblog.com and freedigitalscrapbooking.com offer online software that you can load your photos and text into and print off great looking pages.

Read more...

Lunch-James B-day-Valentines!

Two lunches in one week! Just what I needed!!
I've been on pins and needles all day hoping that we might get our travel date. So far...nothing. I did hear that there was an emergency at the SDA and they shut down yesterday, that might be why I don't have an answer or it might be that watching your in-box for news from your adoption coordinator is like watching water boil! I just need to walk away and think about something else!
As always it was great to visit at lunch and especially exciting as one of our families is leaving for the Ukraine the first part of March to get three children. They're not going to my orphanage or I would have sent a package for Lex but I'm hoping that we'll be there soon and I'm thinking he'd like that better than anything I could send.
I mentioned how amazing the parents are that I lunched with on Tuesday-the group that has already adopted-are? Today's group is just as amazing! We have parents there that have brand new babies, grown kids starting over with their Ukraine kids, parents with no children taking on three, parents that have waited almost a year and a half to complete their adoption, parents willing to blindly adopt even more children when they get there and parents that have adopted and are doing it again! Each of them have their trials and miracles that have lead them to this point, just amazing fantastic people! I'm just happy to rub shoulders with them!
James is home and last night we celebrated his birthday and Valentines with a home cooked steak and lobster dinner. Hence, the reason my house smells like Red Lobster today. I also bought him a Leatherby's ice cream cake and unlike last year, my sweet Dev put it in the freezer instead of the fridge. (Way to go girl!)
Although we had a special celebration last night, it's always a celebration when James gets home! We don't always have lobster but we have some sort of special home cooked dinner. The kids from the youngest to the oldest squeal with delight and yell "Dad's home!" and run and hug him. It's especially nice when they all see him at different times and gets four separate, exuberant welcome homes! (Five if you count mine!)

Packing up Lex...

While writing up the packing suggestion list yesterday, I remembered some of the odd things Lex asked to take back with him. Besides a large Ziploc of Halloween candy, I packed all his clothes, (shirts, pants, pj's, underwear, socks) a fleece blanket, shoes, his little am/fm headset that was free with one of the shirts he picked out (apparently this is WHY he picked this shirt), baseball hat, Batman notebook, pens, paper and envelopes with our address on them, 3-4 match box cars, new tooth brush, a few toothpaste, floss, child's English dictionary/picture book, 2 small photo albums full of pictures of his stay with us and of course his beeping on the hour watch which was proudly strapped to his wrist. In addition he asked for and took:
A role of clear tape (like the kind you put in an office dispenser)
Rylee's OLD soccer cleats (that he could barely get on his feet)
double A batteries (which he didn't have anything that used them)
playing cards (I'm not even sure all the cards were in this deck!)
and a roll of Costco Kirkland Brand TOILET PAPER!
I thought the TP was so strange until one of the parents yesterday suggested bringing your own....
I've had a couple more comments/suggestions for traveling that I thought I'd pass on:
#1 Bring a portable water boiler to boil water for cooking? I'm sure where we stay with full apartments this would not be necessary but if you were in a hotel and wanting to make instant oatmeal?
#2 You can purchase a high-capacity replacement battery for your camcorder that lasts anywhere from 3 to 10+ times the capacity of the battery that comes with the camcorder. Amazon.com sells them for just about every make and model.
Note to self: Pack antibiotic ointment for Lex. When he arrived he had such chappy lips and a sore, I tried a number of things but a few doses of antibiotic ointment and waalaa it was gone.
I'm also going to pack Mountain House freeze dried meals. They've actually for hiking and a great source of protein and they've pretty dang good. I can't imagine keeping James happy on Mac & Cheese and Top Roman for any extended period of time!
Attention Parents Heading to the Ukraine:
I'm thinking of planning a game night to brush up on our card and dice game skills. I think it will be not this weekend but the next, let me know if you'd like to come. Bring your home grown children (as we need to practice with children-right?) AND I'm going to try and serve some samples of these Mountain House meals. If you'd like to come, comment or email me (richharts@msn.com) for an exact date, time and address. Bring a treat to share and any card and dice games to teach us!

Major Miracle!

For those of you following my blog you know I post my "mini" miracles and my "major" miracles in this adoption journey and today's was MAJOR!
All along this road to bringing Alex home was the huge, looming question. "How are we going to pay for this?" As mentioned, about three months ago the answer (for a large chunk) was to refinance our house, rolling our first and 2nd together and getting cash out. I work as a real estate agent and deal with loans, underwriters and appraisers on a daily bases, so this should have been a piece of cake. But it wasn't. First I needed to find a rate to justify refinancing our 5.75% first mortgage as there's no way James was going to go for this unless we were lowering our overall payment so getting a killer rate was paramount!
Toward the end of November I locked in at rate that lowered our total house payment (with the cash out) by about $150 a month with my credit union. My fabulous loan officer (that I use for almost every deal and who I not only love because she is incredible at her job but also because I consider her one of my very good friends) couldn't find this rate and because one of her best traits is objective honesty she told me to "go for it" with my credit union.
After eight weeks stuck in underwriting, appraisal issues, switching to another lender and then employment verification issues, switching back to the original lender and still having appraisal issues, (which is bizarre because we have a very solid file!) I humbly called my fabulous loan officer/friend whom I will call Corbie Coy-cause that's her name-with Academy Mortgage and told her my plight. She worked her magic and not only beat my original rate (thus lowering my already lower payment-rates are even better now than the were end of November!) she got me a few thousand extra than anticipated towards our adoption. Within 10 days, we were through underwriting, signed, (Shout out to my fabulous title officer Jolyn Brown at Highland title who came in on Presidents Day to settle my loan!) loan done, funds in the bank!
So this is a blatant/UN-apologizing/thoroughly deserving plug:
If you are in need of working with the best loan officer and nicest person around, you should get Corbie's contact info from me! You will love her just as much as I do!
Now we're just waiting for our tax returns and we should have all our funds. (Sounds of angels singing should be inserted here!)
Had you asked me how I was going to come up with the money for this adventure the day I put Alex on the plane to go back to the orphanage, I would have have shrugged my shoulders and said "I have no idea!"
The Lord truly works in mysterious ways, and today, he worked through and angel on earth named Corbie!

Travel tips....

Wow! Look at me, I haven't posted for TWO days!
Mostly, because there's nothing new going on! After two weeks of theater performances, its been nice to just stay home, hang out and do nothing!
Today I went to lunch with the group of parents that have ALREADY adopted from Ukraine. I went with the intent to pick their brains about traveling. We were there for over FOUR hours! It was so great to talk to these parents who made it!! (And a few are returning this spring to bring home more children!)
Everyone has a story. Miracles, struggles, heartache, happiness. Amazing people!
Here are a few of the tips:
(Email or comment with your email and I'll forward you a complete list!)

#1 Take a good sedative for the long flight and train rides
#2 Pack antacid’s, cold medicine, ibuprofen etc.
#3 Bring fresh, crisp money for exchange. They won’t take dirty, crinkled money
#4. Keep you passport with you ALWAYS
#5 Make sure you bring your adoption decree WITH you to the airport and not check it in your luggage.
#6 Wear layers
#7 Bring treats for the orphans. Some bought big Costco bags of candy to share, others bought things in the Ukraine.
#8 Bring playing cards and dice
#9 You might want to bring your own toilet paper.
#10 Buy a hair dryer/curling iron when you get there-the adapters tend to make our appliances short out.
#11. Bring a surge protector for your computer
#12 Bring your video camera and digital camera
#13 Write in your journal
#14 Bring things to do, movies, books scriptures etc.
#15 Bring good walking shoes!

Traveling This Road...

I can't believe how connected I've become to the other parents going through this same experience. I've spent countless hours on the phone/email with others who, until we started this adventure, I didn't know at all.
Sometimes they're calling or emailing with questions like "How do we get to the appostille office?' or "I heard you have a secret about getting your fingerprints done faster?" and they're always so grateful for my directions and tips but really they're doing me the favor. You see, our adoption is the first and foremost thing I like to talk about! (And I worry that I talk about it too much to my friends and family and that they're going to start avoiding having conversations with me!) I love the opportunity to talk with these fellow parents and if I can help them in some small way, then that's great! I am by no means an expert, I can only share what has worked for me and my experience. I'm just so happy when I get a call and a chance to share stories and concerns, pass on tips and directions, and mostly just know that there is someone traveling this road with us!
As we've all gotten closer to submitting and getting everything done on our end, I've been on pins and needles not only for myself but for other parents as well. I worry when I haven't heard they have a submission date that something has gone terribly wrong. (Not all keep such a rambling blog and put it all out there for the world to see!) I know, you probably think I'm just being nosy. (Which is true to some extent but nosy in a concerned/caring way!?) And these parents (I say parents as some are Dad's not just Mom's) have become my friends-I think you could compare it to the bond a soldier gets with his fellow soldiers-we're all fighting for the same cause and in the same trench and side by side. (That's probably a little dramatic but then-you know me!)
I've shared heartache on the phone regarding health problems, doubts about if adoption is right for them, money concerns, communication concerns, sibling worries, family support issues, and of course paper chase worries. I don't have all the answers, and sometimes it's me with the worries and concerns but overall our chats are positive and I feel buoyed up after talking to them.
But yesterday, I called on a Mom who was just delivered a heart wrenching delay that even if you ask me, I won't go into it, as it's her story to share if she chooses to or not and right now there are still a lot of unanswered questions and answers needed.
So today, I can't help but think of her and my heart hurts for her, her family and her children half a world away.
A wise fellow blogger & parent put out a call for prayers and fasting and I'd like to do the same on my little blog. Please pray for ALL of us to have success in our efforts to bring our children home. Please pray that those with roadblocks/delays will find comfort and the answers they're looking for. And above all, please pray that our children are safe, cared for and have hope that we will come.
Thank you to all who check on my blog and send your sweet comments and even those that don't comment but let me know they've been reading.
Love to all!

Follow this story if you can!

While taking Devree's friend home after Rylee's play we drove by one of Kambree's friends house and out on the porch were four darling boys/friends of Kambree's in thier choir suits singing and giving flowers to Kambree's friend. (I thought maybe she was getting asked to a dance?)

Devree's friend just happens to live next door so Kambree and Brad (Kambree's friend she brought to Rylee's play and friend to the four boys as well) jumped out and met the boys while they were heading back to their car. The boys apparently sing and give flowers out every Valentines day-calling themselves the V-boys-to their friends that are girls. (Not to be mistaken with girlfriends!) They had been trying to call on our home phone to arrange a surprise with me for Kambree but we were at Rylee's play. So right there and then she got a serenade and flower.
Luckily for me, I had my camera!

"Addicted To Love!"

Rylee performed with her Guyz-n-Dollz group Thursday & Friday.
She played the part of Unloveable, a cupid that had lost her wings.
She stole the show-and I'm not the only one that thought so!
Here are a few pics and a video clip!

Letter #3!!

Woohoo! Just in time for Valentines Day, I got a letter from my Alex!!

AND
It's in English! Don't know how that happened, I take it he has someone helping him as I'm sure this is not his actually typing and English but I'm thrilled!!
I didn't want to lose anything in the translation so here's the unaltered, scanned version. I hope you can read it.



I do remember asking him a bunch of questions, I think a little was lost in translation but they're great questions all the same. A taxi driver? Oh, my. That's okay. Austin wanted to work in a junk yard and crush cars when he was slightly younger than Alex. The color red is good info, as I haven't decorated his room yet. I knew about the eggs and hash browns. Good thing I shop at Costco.
Then of course, he sent some original artwork. I don't know what it says yet. I'm working on getting it translated!

Note from translator: Alexiy is quite something! He writes often (which is very unusual for kids) and he draws for you. Nice.
He said on the top. "Hello from wintery Ukraine". (if there is such a word in English or I made it up? - he means Ukraine in winter, almost like snowy) And then "I love you very much. Alexiy."

What a sweet boy. I asked my children if we should call and tell him when we're coming or just show up and surprise him. Rylee said to call so he can tell all his friends and be excited. Austin said to ask him if he wants us to tell him or just surprise him. Devree all for surprising him. My mom said I have to tell him, that it will drive me crazy not to tell him. I'm leaning towards telling him especially if we're going sooner as opposed to later. What do you all think? Tell him or surprise him?
I can't help but get excited to think we might be going next month but I'm trying really hard not to get my hopes up.
Anyway, just had to share my letter!

Ten Things Tag...

(I swear I don't make these tags up!)

10 Things I Love:
1. Obedient children-especially when they're mine!
2. Buying clothes in a smaller size
3. Great bargains....and I mean great!!
4. My family-of course!
5. Hearing my husband hammer and drill on home improvement projects!
6. Listening to my children laugh and play together.
7. Bedtime-after a productive busy day.
8. Going to lunch/scrapbook/pedicures with my girlfriends
9. Money in the bank!
10. Getting the house contract and delivering the good news!

10 Things I Dislike:
1. Cleaning bathrooms
2. The smell of fish or bacon in my house/hair.
3. Gaining weight.
4. Arguing children (either with me or with each other!)
5. The first day of James 2 weeks back to work.
6. Feeling left out
7. Confrontation
8. Dishonest people
9. Putting gas in my car
10. When expensive boring but necessary things break, like cars, water heaters, etc.
(I seriously could go on and on in this category!)

10 Random Things About Me:
1. I could go on and on about what I love and dislike!
2. My mom named me after Wendy in Peter Pan.
3. I LOVE to clean out closets and drawers
4. Hate to wash walls and windows
5. I'm attempting to learn how to play the guitar and I'm terrible!
6. I've actually worked as a paid actor on TV
7. I hit the gym 5-6 times a week but only because I have a faithful gym buddy.
8. I've had braces THREE times.
9. I have tested for and passed the Vegas "playground installation" contractors exam.
10. I won State my senior year in persuasive speech. (This may explain why I can talk so many people into seeing things my way!)

I am tagging: Michelle, Jen, Amy, Corbie, Deedee, Carlin, Heidi, Sara, Angie, Wendy, Lindsay and LindsEy, Katie, Kristy, Kym, Shannon, Traci, Jennifer, Natalie, Stefani, Carol, and anyone else that wants to play! (See #6 on my dislikes for the reason my tag list is so long!)

Oh my heck!

I know I've already posted today and I know this has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I know it's not even my news BUT I had to share that one of the family's that submitted EIGHT days ago got their travel date and it's in THREE WEEKS!!! Oh my heck!! Can you believe it? Three weeks??!!
We're exactly a week behind them and I know it doesn't mean a thing for us, nor should I even think it might.....
but you all know me too well to think that the thought hasn't crossed my mind that we may be in Ukraine NEXT MONTH!!
Just breath.....deep breaths....

Today's Motto:

'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'

Words to live by when working on an international adoption!

Rec Basketball!

Austin and Devree are playing Murray City Recreational Basketball this year. So each Saturday we have two games and each week we have four practices! Whew!

Austin #13 Team: Hornets (buzz-buzz!)

Devree #44 Team: Comets

Today's the day...

..that our papers are submitted!
What does that mean exactly? Well, that the Ukraine government now has our adoption dossier in hand and will be reviewing it and with any luck approving it and confirming that Alex is eligible to be adopted. We're told it's roughly 20 working days until we'll have an answer from the SDA (State Department of Adoption) and then extended an invitation to travel to the Ukraine to meet with them and begin the legal adoption process. So not counting today (and if there aren't any Ukrainian holidays that I'm unaware of) 20 working days should give us a response by, March 4th? Oh, my goodness, I get butterflies just thinking about it!! Estimated time of travel is usually 6 week to 10 weeks after SDA response.
This morning on the way to school, Rylee (who's been home sick for two days with the stomach flu) was complaining how she will only have two days to study her spelling and how she knows she won't do well on her test Friday. I gave her the "is the glass half full or half empty" lecture/pep talk. So often we only look at the negative and then of course negative things usually happen. If you can just change your thinking, and look at the positive, like "Wow! I'm so glad I'm going back to school today, I'll have two whole days to study for my spelling test!" and then of course think positive thoughts that you'll do well on you spelling test....you're more likely to have a positive outcome! She laughed when I told her to have a "half full" day!
So, with that mentality in mind! Here are my positive "half full" thoughts:
I am so glad our papers are being submitted today!! Who knows, maybe they'll sail through the SDA and we'll have our travel date even early than March 4th but even so, March 4th is just one turn on the calendar and will be here before I know it! I'm sure whoever reviews our papers will work quickly and efficiently! I know that He has a hand in this, and knows more than me so I'm going to leave it up to Him to get us the best date to travel, and to watch over Lex until we're there.

Happy Birthday James!

Today is James Birthday! He's hard at work, out of town and 42 ! I'm dedicating this post to him so just stop reading now if you don't like sappy posts 'cause I guarantee that this one is going to be sticky....

THE 42 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT JAMES:

1. He has one blue eye and one hazel so I never get tired of looking in them!
2. He has very large biceps.
3. He's clean and tidy.
4. He takes really good care of our cars. (In fact one of the first things that impressed me about James was that when we first met, he wanted to put some kind of gasoline treatment in my car to help it run better.)
5. He has cute, tiny ears.
6. He will eat just about anything I make with little or no complaint.
7. He's physically fit.
8. He's adventurous.
9. He helps stranded people on the side of the road with broken down cars.
10. He LOVES his children.
11. He's kind to animals.
12. He does not watch sports or TV regularly.
13. He's always working on projects around the house.
14. He's creative and artistic.
15. He's an entrepreneur and someday will patten something that will make us ton's of money. (Despite my pessimism.)
16. He has very nice hand writing.
17. When I ask him, he'll yell at companies/people for me.
18. He's a very good kisser.
19. He's a good son.
20. He likes my parents.
21. He gives me wings to do and be what I want. From being into community theater to running my own business.
22. He can dig with a shovel 5 times faster than I can.
23. He is a "jack of all trades" and can fix just about anything.
24. He made me a beautiful kitchen
25. He doesn't mind that I'm sort of bossy.
26. He's very protective of his daughters.
27. He doesn't care if I wear heels and I'm taller than him.
28. He works very hard to provide for us.
29. He lets me be in charge of the money.
30. He's very honest.
31. He's spiritual.
32. He has a quirky sense of humor that catches me off guard all the time.
33. He's a boy at heart and loves to play and have fun.
34. He can clean up gross things without barfing.
35. He's tough as nails but cries at chick flicks or horse shows.
36. He always blesses "the hands that prepared this meal".
37. He's a good example to our children.
38. He's easy to talk to.
39. He's my best friend.
40. He's always learning and striving to improve.
41. He smells good.
42. He loves me!

How...

How do you write a letter to a little boy in a country half a world a way in a language you cannot speak let alone write? How do you send hope and promise and love through the mail?
Every Monday (except the weeks I've called) I send my Alex a letter. I started sending letters before he left so he would have a letter soon after he got back.
So, this week is about my 14th weekly letter (This total is not the total amount of letters, as many weeks I have written two or three letters but how many Monday's I've sent them off.)
Tonight, I have writers block. I just don't have any news or exciting things to tell him. Our papers are being submitted on Wednesday but he knows this and by the time my letter gets there (takes about two weeks) it will be old news anyway. So nothing to write about in the way of how the adoptions going.
He knows about the girls plays, basketball season, Rylee's birthday, and I guess it's just that bleak boring time of year when not a whole lot is going on. Or more so that bleak, boring time of the adoption process when all we're doing is waiting.
I do translate my letters back into English to make sure I haven't said something so awful or bizarre that he'll question his decision to join our family. I find that most my heart warming letters translate into weird sentences that make even I question my sanity. So what to write...
During our phone call last week James asked him how things were in the Ukraine. His response was "Normal". So despite my many, many questions I've asked through letters about him, life there, his thoughts, his dreams and ideas, what answers I do get back are vague and at the most like his answer to James, "Normal".
Don't get me wrong, I don't blame Lex. I mean our conversations on the phone cannot be easy. I can hear people in the background, phones ringing and I picture him standing with his back to the bustle of people trying to listen to me, then the translator, then answer and wait for his words to be translated back to me. Our conversations are awkward at best.
Last week, when I'm sure he was crying on the phone, had to be hard for him with all those people around and I'm sure part of his emotion was due to the fact he probably thought we'd forgotten him, as it took six days to get through from the date I told him I'd call. So it's not like I expect him to go on and on and have a stimulating two way conversation.
His letters (the two I've had in almost three months) are somewhat the same, sweet and short and leave little left to build a continuing conversation on. I've asked him all sorts of questions in my letters that go unanswered. (Literally unanswered as I haven't had a letter since the first of December?)
And so I sit before my computer on Sunday night, trying to dig deep for words of encouragement that will lift his spirits, give him hope and courage and convey how much we love and miss him.
I asked the kids if they'd like to write a letter and Kambree said it best, "I just keep saying the same things. I don't know what else to say."
I've resorted to sending a page of pictures of what we've been doing that week, but then I wonder if that's worse as it shows the fun things we're doing and the life we have here. Something I know he so desperately wants to be a part of.
Saying "We miss you." in letters translates into "We lack". Oh, that's sweet. We lack. "We really miss you." translates into "We want you." Which is true but not exactly what I'm trying to say. See my dilemma?
Someday when he's been here for awhile, settled in and speaking English, I think it will be interesting to get his take on this. I'm going to ask him about my letters. Did they confuse him? Did he wonder what kind of crazy mother I might be? Did they make him smile? Did he share them with his friends and laugh at my crazy sentences?
I do hope that somehow he can feel the spirit and love that I write these letters with and despite the crude translation, he feels loved, missed and knows that "we wanted" him.

Seusical

Devree was in Riverview's production of "Seusical The Musical" February, 5th, 6th & 7th.
Devree was an animal and on stage for the entire show. She did a great job and had a lot of fun!
Pictures and video's were not allowed so afterwards we went on set and snapped a few:

I've been tagged!

Instructions: Go to your picture file, go to your 6th folder and post the 6th picture and explain!

Johnson Christmas Party 2005
This is Austin who was eleven at the time with Mr. & Mrs. Clause.
(Oh....look how little he is! Now he's five foot nine!)
I'm tagging: Michelle, Amy, Corbie, Stacy, Shannon, Wendy & Lindsay & LindsEy!

Family Update

Kambree last night was frantically looking for a square head shovel. Why, you may ask would a sixteen year old girl be in need of such an item? For one of her dances. Get this. They're doing a "grave digger" dance with SQUARE HEAD shovels? Can you think of anything more dangerous to dance with? Is it just me or can you see someone getting hit in the face and consequently needing stitches (as in a plastic surgeon putting her face back together)? What the heck? Why in the world would the instructor allow them to dance with shovels? Kambree assures me there is only 5 girls and they are spaced far apart when they SWING the shovels around but this brings me no comfort. I must be getting old. I'm all for artistic but first and foremost I'm for stitches prevention!
Austin received his letter for remediation for his World Geography class. It will cost $35 (Which he has to earn-anyone need to hire an able bodied 14 year old?) When he learned that it takes 15 hours to re-mediate a class he said, "I should just fail all my classes. 15 hours is a lot less than going through the whole class." Welcome to my world and living with the mentality of a 14 going on 15 year old boy. Good grief!
Devree has been at rehearsals every night until after 8pm. Seusical opens tonight. She's excited. I'm excited for her. (Note to self: Don't forget flowers!) She informed me last night that I cannot video tape it for James as it's forbidden. (Something to do with copyright? Royalties? I don't know.)
Rylee is working on six times tables. We've almost got them down. She loves her DS so much and with it being American Idol season and being in rehearsals for her play (Opening next weekend 12th & 13th at the Main Street Theater "All You Need Is Love" Tickets $10 adult $8 children $35 family includes drink and dessert!) it's hard for her to focus on get her spelling & reading done each night. I need to be more diligent in helping her set her priorities. It would help if we could get into a routine but every night seems to be crazy busy with different rehearsal schedules, practices, church activity's etc.
Alex has not sent me a letter (unless someone stole it out of my mailbox!) and so consequently I cannot write anything about him except that I miss him and worry about how sad he was during our last phone call.
James is at work. He and I are having a biggest loser two week contest. (He'll probably win as I ate half the cookies I made for the Murray City guys yesterday!) I went to a spin class this morning. I think I'm going to add this into my work out schedule. I don't love this class-time seems to stand still while I'm in it-but I love how I feel afterwards!
I had my 2008 blog published into a book. It's pretty cool. I went to this website Blog2print and they pulled all my info off my blog and printed it into a book. This year I'm trying to do two books. One like a scrapbook and the other like a journal. Each of my post are labeled so for those of you following our adoption story, I'm sorry. You'll probably see boring updates like this from time to time and know way more about our family than you'd like! But this way I can rationalize blogging as keeping a journal.
Peace, love and re-mediation to all!

Ugh!!

Okay, this post is to vent about the crime that was committed today in broad daylight in my front yard! It was about 1:30, I had just gone out to pick up my mail and send a bill. I went back in my house, sat in my office located in the front of my house with the shutters OPEN (not open like the slats open but wide open!) and I had managed to open one or maybe two pieces of mail before I see a dark car pull up to my mailbox. I'm staring straight at it and I'm thinking "Hum, who is this? I wonder what they're putting in my mailbox?" Thinking it's an invitation or solicitation or something. But then they make a U-turn and drive quickly away. I decide to go see what they left and my mailbox is EMPTY! They stole my mail!! Can you believe it?? I run inside and call my credit union and put a stop payment on my check. Then I call my neighbor, Aleyce (because her husband is a police officer) to see if she has the non-emergency number for Murray Police. She offers to let me call her husband but I don't want to be "that crazy neighbor" that calls him at work so she says call 911. (Keep in mind it's now been 10 minutes or so since this has happened with the call to the credit union and honestly, calling the police didn't occur to me right off, until I really thought about it. Mostly I felt really dumb that this happened but then I thought, "Hey, this is a Federal offense...tampering with mail!") I called 911 they sent TWO officers over within 10-15 minutes.
Meanwhile I asked the neighbor across the street if she had seen the car and perhaps remembered the make and model. (Because I, unlike my husband and son never pay attention to makes and models...only color!) She mentions she's had her mail stolen TWICE! Then I go so far as to ask the Murray City tree trimmers down the street. (They like me because I made them cookies this morning because they're going to take my tree stump out!) They didn't see the car either.
Of course the police are very nice but make me feel stupid for putting a check in my outgoing mail. (Hello, it's only 1:30 in the afternoon!) They're turning my case over to the postmaster. And they tell me, "Do more than stop payment, go cancel your account, these people have your routing number and account number and can print up checks and reek all kinds of havoc!"
So I call and have a freeze put on my account. Reconcile it, call Jen and tell her to let me replace the check for our FedEx package as this one will not cash now and realize I have three outstanding checks that must clear! The IRS, State of Utah and Workers Comp. (4th quarter taxes just came due!) So, I'm off to my credit union after an hour, they figure out a way to open a new account and re-route these checks through my new account but they can't do it until there's been no activity on my account and the stop payment shows up as activity. Good grief!
Then I have to order new debit cards, new checks and now I get to contact ALL the companies that I have direct deposit and with drawls with. Keep in mind this is my BUSINESS account so all my real estate stuff (signs, fax line, Internet, domain name, etc) go through this account. BUT now I have to wait until I have new debit cards!!! Next week!!
I keep trying to console myself with "At least I saw them and got everything canceled quickly!" but good gravy....what a pain!!
Thanks for letting me vent!!!

Three months!

Three months ago today we said goodbye to our Alex and put him on a plane to go back to the Ukraine. Wow, three months! It seems much longer. The good part is that although we only have three months under our belt, we're approaching our third trimester! (Thank goodness!! When you consider I've know about Alex since early spring, didn't meet him until October, sent him back in November and won't be able to bring him home until May/June....it has been a long time! Although not as long as some stalwart families and for this I am very grateful!)
Today James was talking about our "team" (our family) and what great team members we have (our children) and he commented on how he feels we have recruited another great team mate (Alex) and how much he'll add to our team. I just felt such peace and happiness.
We reminisced about the night before James went in for his "surgery" eight years ago. I told James I was sure I was done having babies but I wasn't sure we were done adding to our family, that maybe we would adopt or something. At the time I had a 8 year old, 6 year old, 4 year old and 6 month old. Although the words came out of my mouth I'm not sure I believed it at the time. But somewhere deep inside me I must have known that there was someone else. I told James, "I feel like Alex was always ours, we just had to find him."
Here is a video I finally got off my camcorder of when we first met our little boy. It's shot by my eight year old daughter so you might get motion sick. Keep in mind she doesn't know who she's looking for and also remember these children have traveled for over 30+ hours and are not only tired but going home with strangers. What brave children!
(I was going to wait and post this on the 18th when it's four months from the date the children came but-despite that I hate seeing myself on video-I was too excited to share it. Many of you will recognize these sweet, tired faces!)

2nd Phone Call!

Finally I got through this morning!! I've been trying since last Tuesday but the phone would just ring and ring.
So, my Alex Benjamin (that's what his name will be, he decided today so in the event I need to book his airline ticket before we leave, I have his official name!) said in perfect English. "How are you?" (Do you think he's using my English books?) He did get my second package but told me he broke his airplane. (I don't remember an airplane unless he's referring to the one in the first package?) I asked if he had been waiting for my call since the 27th and he said he had. (So maybe my vision of him out in a dark hall waiting for his Mom to call wasn't so far off?) I explained what a hard time I had trying to get through. His only question was, "When are you coming?" I told him the good news and explained about our submission date, our hope to have approval in March and that we're expecting a travel date sometime in May. (I didn't want to be to exact, as who knows right now?) Then I'm pretty sure he just cried through the rest of our phone call. I know he was trying to be very brave but I could hear the emotion in his "da" each time he answered my questions. I even had the translator ask if he was sad. He said he had good feelings but was a little sad. Poor little guy. May probably feels like forever. My eyes welled up while talking to him and then I decided it wouldn't do either of us any good for us both to be crying and I tried to be cheerful and positive. I told him I loved him and missed him and he said he feels the same in this little sad voice. I told him to pray that we can get there quickly and to be happy and be a good boy. He actually said very little, just sad "da's" and that was it.
The translator told me he doesn't often hear that kind of emotion with orphans. That he certainly wants to be here, there is no doubt about that.
Oh....I feel so sad and yet so happy....
James talked to him briefly and afterwards he told me he thought it was great he was sad, he wants him to want this as much as we do. I on the other hand just want to go get him right now and forget all this nonsense! Good grief!!
We went to the Draper Temple open house this weekend and it was beautiful. It was so fun and funny to hear what my children asked. Kambree wanted to know "which room they tell you all the secrets in?" I tried to explain, it's not secrets, it's sacred covenants but I don't know if she understood.
Rylee when seeing a picture of the alter in the sealing room asked "Is this where the lay the dead bodies?" I almost burst out laughing until I realized that she was serious. I explained that there are no dead bodies in the temple. We do work for the dead but we don't actually bring dead people into the temple. When you think about it, that's not such a silly assumption.
It was also so neat to think that sometime, hopefully soon, we'll be able to return to a sealing room with all our children and make Alex part of our family forever.
My parents are leaving for Nauvoo this week. I'm excited for them to go. Nauvoo is such a neat place, especially this time of year. I went two years ago at the same time. It's the re-enactment of the exodus and it's freezing!! I hope my parents love it.
Well, I think this will be a long week. Devree has tech rehearsals and performances this weekend, James goes back to work, besides ball practices, dance classes, relief society and work I've got a very sad little boy on my mind. Sometimes, I feel just like he does. May just seems too far away!
(Note to the good karma of the universe, this is not me complaining about my submission date, I am thrilled to be this far along and grateful to even hope for a May travel date. I am just having empathy for my Lex.)