Continued From Above....

Video #4

Video #5

The Grounds

And more continued....

Where Alex sleeps.

The grounds outside our apartment. (I'm trying to be discreet while filming as Constantine told me not to-people would think I was a spy! But anyone who knows me, knows that is a challenge not a warning! He was also alarmed that I was talking in English on my cell phone OUTSIDE the other night-to Lori Lawrence! He rushed me in and up the stairs...good gravy!)

The cafeteria and some very cute and excited children!

Post By James

I, Wendy, make no claim to the below post, this is the thoughts of my husband James and you cannot hold me responsible or liable for any of it's content! :)

My part of this post was the part where Wendy was not present. I went into the yard with the children to play whatever they wanted. The hour on the field consisted of American and Ukrainian football, 100 yard dash over and over, balance beam, throw child up in the air, flip child over doing a back flip, feeling my biceps, holding one hand and one foot airplane spins and kick the soccer ball high in the air and see who catches it or retrieves it from the neighbor’s yard.
They have invented two very interesting games. We caught Tolek (a boy we meet during the hosting program) carrying a stack of broken glass. We told him that the glass was dangerous and he quickly defended the idea of holding broken glass by putting it down on the ground, drawing a line across the sidewalk with a rock, stepping off eleven feet, drawing a circle at the end of eleven feet and putting the pile of glass in the middle of the circle. Then he took a tennis ball and threw it at the pile of stacked glass to try knocking it over. We all took turns and a few knocked the glass stack over. When someone would knock it over, everyone would clap.
The second game was set up by digging four small holes into the dirt in a line and surrounding on three sides with bricks or rocks. The person with the tennis ball would roll the ball into the opening of the bricks and if the ball rested in one of the holes, everyone around the holes would scatter; the person who rolled the ball would pick the ball up out of the hole and throw it at anyone. If the ball hit the person, the same person would roll again. If the ball missed the person, the target person would get to roll the ball next. (When I explained this to Wendy she said it sounded like Skeet Ball and Dodge Ball combined!)
Then they wanted to know how old I was. I told them and they didn’t understand. So I had to hold all ten digits up four times and then two more. They then understood that I was forty-two.
They then wanted to know what my name was. I told them. Then they started saying my name is….some Russian word that I didn’t understand. They wanted me to say it so I did a few times until I realized they were probably try to get me to say that my name is something funny like toilet head or dragon breath. I stopped playing that one pretty quickly.
They would get excited every time they saw a jet airplane flying toward Kiev. They would say Kiev and then America.
They would ask me if America was good. I would say yes. I would tell them that Ukraine was good and they would say that it was bad.
We had a few times when they would laugh so hard! I had such fun with these kids and they didn’t even care that my jokes were dry.

There were a couple reasons why I needed to go cut up so much with the children today. One was that my hip has been hurting me for some time and I needed to loosen it up. It seemed to help.

The second reason was to loosen up another place where I have been feeling a substantial amount of tension. This tension was in my chest and it got there because I am getting irritated with having to wear certain dark clothes, wonder if I was going to be noticed because I was wearing running shoes and speaking English, being worried that the security in the grocery stores watched me extra close because I forget to get my produce weighed and priced before taking it to the cashier; wondering if I would be recognized as a non-Ukraine if I smiled at an adult and because I was looking around in awe taking in everything around me, wondering if my driver would slap me because I offended him by putting on my seat belt (drivers would say to me, your life is in my hands and I will keep you alive), I call bull crap! Drivers can’t predict if someone will swerve into our lane like they swerve into other’s lanes to miss the chuck holes. So you see, especially those who know me a little know that I haven’t yet to develop a taste for following all the rules; that is why I had to cut up a little today with the children. Tomorrow I will cut up just for fun!

More Monday...

I forgot to mention that after talking with the inspector that Alex had to go write a statement about wishing to be adopted by us. He left the room to do this and was quite nervous about it. I think mostly nervous to have to write in front of grown-ups. But he did it!

We also went to lunch at a pizza place. It was not like the pizza back home but very yummy. Naydia offered to have lunch made for us again but I don't want to take advantage of her generosity and we were heading to the notary's anyway so we opted to eat out.

Tonight Oxana poured over our documents and notice a problem. Apparently Alex's birth mom has a mistake in her middle name on the papers removing her parental rights. She now has to go to Dnepropetrosk (luckily 40 minutes from here-where Ivan lives) tomorrow and get it straightened out with the court there. This doesn't hold us up at this point but it needs to be fixed before our court hearing. My heart sank when Oxana told me in her cute accent "We have a problem." but if this is our only problem, we are indeed blessed compared to so many others experiencing difficulties and heartache. You all know who you are and please know you are in my prayers!

We were hoping the social worker would approve our file tomorrow so Hanna can take it back to Kiev on the train tomorrow night but it sounds like the earliest will be Wednesday. Oxana assures me they "have ways" to get it Kiev, thank heavens for these facilitators, there is no way I could maneuver this system-even if I spoke the language!

The truth will be told now as to what a bad speller I am as spell check does not work here.

Anyway, that's all, it's about 1:40 in the morning and again, I cannot sleep. The computer is in Hanna's room so luckily for all of you I will have to stop typing and go try to sleep....again.

Thanks for comments and emails, it's wonderful to hear from all of you!

Added Later: While tossing and turning in bed last night I thought of two more things I wanted to add!

The assistant director told James that Alex looks like him. I always thought he looks more like me, he's more my coloring in complexion and eyes and he has freckles like I did as a little girl but that's okay, it wouldn't matter if he didn't look like us but it is nice to hear that people think he looks like one of us, it might make it easier for him to feel a part of us. Don't you think?

The other funny thing is I asked Alex if he wanted me to bring him back anything tomorrow. "Da" I said what, he looked at me slyly and asked for a "Play Boy" (in English) I was so proud of myself as I didn't allow my eyes to bulge or my eyebrows to raise and then in a flash it came to me. "Do you mean Game Boy?" "Da!" Whew! I told him that the Game Boy was Da Doma-which isn't exactly true, it's in my luggage but I'm saving it for that long airplane ride home. If I give it to him now, he'll only play with it and not interact with us and then be bored with it by the time we leave. Hey, I may be a first time adopting Mom but I am not a first time Mom by any means!

That's all.

Oh, and just in case you're thinking, what the heck? Why is Wendy writing so much and some of it is so boring? For the most part I'm not writing to entertain or guide I'm writing for me and for Alex. One day he'll want to know about his birth and this is all I'll have. This is his birth into our family. AND I want to remember every "labor" pain and part!

Have a great day!

Monday-getting down to business!

We met Oxana this morning. Unfortunately, I was standing in a towel-I had attempted to take a shower but the water would not get warm, I thought for a minute it was getting warmer until I realized it just felt warmer because my hand was numb! (Later we found out how to regenerate the water heater!)
In our apartment every room has a door, a door to the living room, a door to the kitchen, and of course doors to bedrooms and the bathroom but it’s all very tight and there are thresholds to step over between every room. Anyway, I was heading back to the bedroom in my towel when I ran into Oxana. She was in her pajama’s so I didn’t feel quite so awkward. And after getting to know her, I don’t feel awkward at all, she is a spit fire.
She has incredible hair. I LOVE it! Her English is very good but she’s not as fluent as Hanna. (Which is the correct spelling of her name by the way!)

(Hanna & Oxana reviewing our documents at the Notary office)
We ate breakfast and Constantine picked us up to take us to the inspectors. We arrived at a building that seriously, would have been condemned if in the United States. Peeling paint, old asbestos tiles, cracked tiles, missing handrails, piles of garbage in stairwells, seriously, I’ve walked through my share of HUD homes and fixer uppers and this beats everything I’ve ever seen! We climbed FIVE flights of stairs and went down a hall into a office that was miraculously nice! Pale pink wallpaper, newer officer furniture, plants in the windowsills, it was like a whole different world from the rest of the building.
Oxana talked a mile a minute to the inspector woman, they asked for our passports. Then she asked me to tell me about my other children. I whipped out my photo album and she recorded names and ages of our children. Then she asked the golden question. “Why, when you already have four children would you want another one?” Again, I told her how I had felt someone was missing in our family. That seemed to suffice.
Then we were off to the “boarding” school. We went into Naydia’s office where she showed us pictures of her trip to Salt Lake, and memorabilia. It was so funny to be half way around the world and see a Murray High coffee mug!

It was fun to show Hannah the Salt Lake books and pictures Naydia had.
A different inspector showed up as well as Anya-the attorney for the orphanage. Anya looks about 20 and had on a black taffeta dress that ballooned out and the gathered up, kind of like a parachute. Something that girls back home would wear to a semi formal-only if they were brave!

(In Naydia's office, the inspector is in red, I wish I had a picture of Anya!)

Alex came in and sat between James and I. He was asked if he liked the time he spent at our home. “Da”. Did he wish to be adopted “Da” then lots more was said but what we got was that they were explaining his rights and that we will be his Mama and Papa and he will need to obey us and that he would have dual citizenship until he is 18.
Then Ivan was brought up and they’ve decided to have Ivan write and notarize a letter that he is okay with us adopting Alex and he has no way to care for him. They’ve decided that this is best in case the judge asks Alex if he has a brother. Naydia called Ivan and he agreed to write the letter.
Now, I’m sitting at the Notary’s office. There is a Notary on every corner here. I’m not sure what we’re doing but notarizing something that was signed as this last meeting. Then we’re going to lunch and from there, I really don’t know what we’re doing. I know Alex is having a medical exam as we speak. He wore the same clothes again today. When we came out of the office there were children in the hall. The only child we recognized was Luba. We told her we had a gift from her parents and would bring it tomorrow. We know that Masha and Nastia are with their grandmother for the holiday and probably won’t be back until next week. We did see Tolik and we saw Sodeberg’s Julia but we were driving by in the car as she was heading into the building.
Hopefully tomorrow we can visit with more children and take pictures and give gifts.
It’s so cold here. I have my long underwear on under my jeans and sweater. Supposedly, it’s not usually this cold in March. It’s not bitter cold but just cold and dreary. Very dreary! I hope to get some video of our apartment and the complex and buildings. I’ve always known I was blessed to be born in the US and live in Utah, I just didn’t know how blessed until now.
James is having a rough time with his back and the bed we’re sleeping on isn’t helping. My only complaint (besides the lack of a shower this morning and the feeling of missing out on conversations that I can't understand) is I have crick in my upper left shoulder blade. Probably from sleeping in the car hunched over but it’s not too bad.
So, after the notary, I’ve learned the papers go the social worker who has to approve them and then to the Mayor of the city who has to sign them and then back to Kiev where they can be for up to five days, then back here where a judge will set up a date for court! Whew!
We went back to the “boarding school” and Alex was still at the hospital so we got on the Internet (see today’s earlier post) then went down to what appears to be an exercise room with a large carpet, treadmill, elliptical, sit up bench, two children’s bikes and one of those belts that shake your fat. Alex came shortly and we had a great visit. We were served cake and herbal tea by the assistant to the director. She expressed her gratitude to us for adopting Alex and told us what a good boy he is. Her face was so full of joy and gratitude. Then I showed her pictures of my other four and her face dropped and she said “She already has four? Oh my G*d. Heroic Mother!” Hanna just laughed so hard she had a hard time translating for me!
Alex ate another banana and did 20 minutes of Rosetta Stone (thanks Paul for this!) and then watched Popeye. He sat close to us and you could tell he was enjoying being with us. I jokingly asked if we should come back tomorrow? “Da.” (Did I mention that despite his very orphan looking clothes that he is just so dang cute? Like squish the stuffing out of him cute??)
Tomorrow we’re suppose to be able to see all the other children (besides Masha and Nastia) and deliver gifts and see the other buildings.
Alex made a special point to not only sincerely hug me goodbye but hug James as well. James picked him up across his back and swung him around like a helicopter and Alex just laughed right from his belly. I think he's finally figuring out what James is about. FUN!! (I wish I had my video out!) Great visit!
We called Troy & Carlin and they were with Lori & Mike and we were able to give them Straders translators phone number, Victor who is Hanna's boyfriend. Look at all of us American's in Ukraine calling each other on our cell phones!

Thanks Straders for bringing my surprise for Hanna. She will love it!
I’m hoping I can post this later today. If you’re reading this today, then we’ve had success!

Here's a sweet hello from Alex....

Quick Update....

Well, I am AT the orphanage on the Internet! It is so slow I could read a page of my book or run a lap in between loading pages. I have written everyday and saved it on Word but that is on the laptop and there isn't a wireless option here. The computers are rather nice but the connection is terrible!
I spoke with Straders this morning, they're in Kiev. They'll probably be here next week.
We had Internet connected at our apartment today and I bought a flash drive (apparently I need this to connect?) and I'm hoping I can post everything later today with pictures and video.
My Alex is at the hospital having a physical as part of this adoption process so we asked if we could get on line while we wait.
Check back later and I'll post the previous post I wrote. I'll be posting under the correct date so be sure to scroll down.
There is so much to tell but I don't want to tell it out of order. But we are safe and we have seen Alex and he is healthy and happy and very excited that we are here. (And we have not seen hardly any other children so we have not been able to hand out gifts or hugs yet!)
All is well....

Meeting Ivan & Snezhanna

We made it to the orphanage around eleven am before Ivan and Snezhanna arrived.

We took a few photo's...

James, Alex, Wendy & Hanna

Us with our Alex!

Overall our meeting went great! You can tell that Ivan & Snezhanna love and care about Alex. We’ve been quarantined to our room but we were told we could walk around upstairs if we wanted. The orphanage served us a nice lunch (again!) and then we played the longest UNO game ever-as we were playing by Lex’s rules and finally we switched to a Russian card game that James and I still have not figured out.

We talked and visited and saw pictures of Ivan & Snezhanan’s house they’re building. We talked about Alex’s life as a child but learned nothing more than his mother drank a lot and that he was picked up on the street and then put in the orphanage. Alex’s mother was married to Ivan’s Dad but never married Alex’s dad but lived with him for a few years. Poor Hannah had to translate and translate until she got a headache.
We talked about possibly visiting Ivan & Snezhanna next Sunday in Dnipropetrovsk. Alex told me with a big grin that I need to learn how to make Borscht from Snezhanna. If the weather is good we will try to go. I’m not sure how we’ll get there. I believe it’s about 40 minutes away by car and we’ll not have a translator by then but Snezhana’s English is pretty good. It certainly is better than my Russian. Even Ivan can speak a little English.
We haven’t seen any other children. The building we’re in has offices and class rooms but there isn’t any school on the weekends or for the whole next week as the orphanage has a holiday. We’re hoping we can see other children and deliver gifts this upcoming week. I know that some of the underwear we brought was delivered to Alex’s class as a gift from us. (Wow! I bet they were impressed with that!) The rest is being put away for other children. I told Naydia that more was coming with the Benson’s.
The apartment is starting to grow on me. It’s warm, it’s clean and for now, it’s home.
Alex spent time with our laptop and the Rosetta Stone CD. He mostly guessed but at least he tried. He also listened to my Ipod, ate the banana’s we brought and played cards with us. He has worn the same clothes each day. I just can’t wait to take him, get him showered and dressed in his new clothes. He is in good spirits, you can tell he’s uncomfortable being in the spotlight so much, but ever so often he’ll come lay his head on my shoulder, or give me a quick hug. I just want to pull him on to my lap and hold him but with so many people around I’m sure he would be very uncomfortable so I’m exercising my self control and just winking at him now and again.
We went back to the apartment and had a light dinner and ate cookies…again! So far we’ve done that each night, the milk here is very sweet and thick-of course I’m use to skim milk but this is supposedly 2.5% and James LOVES it! I love the yogurt, it’s very creamy and I’m sure full of fat but since I can’t read it, I don’t feel guilty.
We gave Hannah the Ukraine book of Mormon we brought but learned we should have brought a Russian one as everyone is speaking and reading and talking Russian. At her request, we talked for a few hours about the Church and James gave her the 1st discussion. She was very receptive and we told her we’d arrange for the missionary’s to visit her. She was so surprised that Mormon missionaries are here, in Ukraine. It was a sweet evening. Our Hanna is a very special girl.
We had made the couch into a bed for Oxana (our facilitator) who is arriving late tonight on the train and tomorrow we head to the city inspectors and then back to the “boarding” school (apparently it’s not called an orphanage?) where Alex will need to write down his desire to be adopted. I’m hoping for Internet access sometime tomorrow. Cross your fingers. I hope all is going well at home, I miAless my home grown children, my house, and my clothes dryer!

Alex wanted to take a picture of us....

We finally get to see Alex....

(Saturday the 21st)

Naydia, the orphanage directors husband met us in his car on the outskirts of town and lead us to the orphanage. Which was great because I doubt we would have ever found it!
The building we went in was large and red and rather clean and nice.

Naydia had prepared a nice spread for us of soup, meat over mashed potatoes, cucumbers with sour cream, pickles with onions, cheese and salami, bread, oranges slices, juice and water. It was set so nicely on China. She insisted we seat to eat and just as we did, in walked Alex! I had so wanted to video our meeting but we were not prepared. I didn’t even get to see his face when he first saw us but as soon as I realized he was in the room I jumped up and he ran towards me and threw his arms around my waist and I threw my arms around his head! So the pictures we have are posed but then James started videoing when I was hugging him for the second time-but I didn’t know it. Of course then we had to sit down and eat, Alex had already eaten so he sat on the couch and I just couldn’t eat anything, I just wanted to hold him and sit by him. I whispered to James he’d have to eat a lot to make up for my not eating. Finally, I felt I had eaten enough and went and sat with Lex! His director said he’s been asking everyday “When are my parents coming?” and that he was very excited.

You can tell I was a little excited can't you?


We visited for awhile and we’re told we could visit all weekend in this room but couldn’t visit outside of it as “technically” we were not suppose to see him until Monday. Something about the social worker witnessing the first visit?



We then had to go drop our luggage at our new apartment and so I told Alex we’d be back.
Dniprozerszhynk is it’s most positive light is….depressing. I will post video and you will see for yourself. (So far I have been unsuccessful in getting video!)
Our apartment belongs to Naydia’s daughter and son-in-law, Constantine. I feel like we’ve displaced them. They’ve just remodeled the bathroom and looks like they have new appliances in the kitchen too. It’s small and cramped and we feel a little weird with all their things here. They've cleaned out a closet for us and you can tell they've really tried to make it inviting and accommodating. I’ll just post video and let you see if for yourself.

(Constantine, Natasha & Alina)
Alec went home and we’re now being chauffeured by Constantine, Naydia’s son-in-law. He talks to us like we can understand him, but we can’t. He especially likes to talk to James and James just nods his head like he can understand. It's hilarious! (He's continually saying da,da,da and bobbing his head up and down-and we just keep nodding right along!)
I cannot say enough good things about Naydia’s hospitality as well as Natasha and Constantine. They are very kind and thoughtful. We are blessed to have such accommodating directors and staff.
We went to the grocery store which was about a 10 minute drive and bought a few staples and then found my curling iron upstairs in an appliance store!!
We came back, put the groceries away and went back to the orphanage despite the fact we were so very tired. I told Alex we were coming back and didn’t want to disappoint him. We brought the laptop but couldn’t get Internet so we just showed him pictures of our time in Kiev.
Then we played a few hands of UNO. I was able to ask a few questions about school, life at the orphanage but it was awkward with Constantine there and you could tell Lex was so excited but felt intimidated by all the adults in the room observing him. If it had been just James and I it would have been nicer but then we wouldn’t be able to communicate much.
Ivan and Snezhana are meeting us tomorrow at the orphanage. I’m nervous to meet them. I hope they like us and I hope my translator will keep us in the loop. I told Lex I got them a web cam but that we’d give it to them later when we visit at their house. He seemed pleased to give them a present. Oh….I hope this visit goes well.
Well, we’re back in our apartment, James is snoring on the bed next to me and I can barely keep my eyes open and it’s only 9pm. I’m hoping tonight we sleep through the night.
I’ve been told we’ll have Internet access on Monday so I’ll post all these entires in chronological order.

Random Ukraine Thoughts....

(Back side of "Mama Russia" when leaving Kiev!)

We are driving and driving and still driving so I thought I’d pull out the laptop and record some of our thoughts and experiences about this adventure. (Note: later that night I added more to this post!) Typing is difficult with all these pot holes and swerving but I will persist!

Mormons:

Right off Hannah brought up religion as she is very religious person and I told her we are members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Later James said something about Mormon’s and she asked with wide eyes, “Are you Mormons?” “Yes” “But you don’t dress like Mormons with long dresses and braids?” Ha! She thought all Mormon’s were polygamists! Half way around the world and that’s what comes to mind when people hear about Mormons? We did some explaining…

This morning at breakfast, (we ate at this really cool place that reminded me of Gaston's house from Beauty and The Beast) on our way to Dniproderzhinsk. Alec, our driver and an attorney explained that when the director of our orphanage (Naydia) set up her children to be hosted someone asked her what State they were going to, when she told them Utah this person became very alarmed and told her, "Only Mormon’s live there and they are strange and awful people!" The facilitators had to calm the director down and talked her into just coming and seeing and making a judgment for herself as Mormons are just like any other people. She did and she came back with “two thumbs up” for Mormons. (Thank goodness!)
No church in Dniproderzhinsk. I guess it’s about a 30 minute drive? That’s okay, we’ll probably try to make it next week but tomorrow we’re just going to spend time at the orphanage with our little boy!
Cars:
As mentioned prior, James pointed out the tire low on air when we were picked up at the airport and Hanna dryly said “Welcome to Ukraine.”
There are many small cars here and some are very old but some are very nice and ALL are compact. In fact James continues to point out (with some contempt mind you) car models that are not even offered in the states. (I don’t really pay attention to makes and models.) We actually saw a car pulling a boat on our long drive here.
The driving here is CRAZY! No lines on the streets on double or triple lanes, no stop lights, parking on the sidewalks, going both ways on alleys that only accommodate one car width, the potholes are tremendous and today we were driving 160 kilometers an hour which is roughly 100 miles per hour! We were fortunate to have seat belts on our 5+ hour drive today but later when we were being chauffeured around Dniproderzhinsk James went to put on his seat belt and the director of the orphanage scoffed and told him he didn’t need to worry about it, like it was an offense to the driver to wear a seat belt. My seat belt in the back was tucked in so it was inoperable. Note to self: Pray for safety while driving….especially when not wearing our seat belts in order not to offend.
More about Bathrooms:
It seems I’m always writing about bathrooms but today we stopped for gas and to use the restroom and I’m happy to say there was a toilet with a seat AND toilet paper but the toilet paper would best be described as crepe paper. There is no perforation and it’s the same stretchy texture. Very interesting.
Language:
It’s a little disturbing that people talk for 10-15 sentences and you only get five in the translated version. AND Ukraine’s can talk for 5+ hours and never stop! Or meet people they’ve never met before and talk non-stop. Laughing and talking and you just sitting there, not understanding a thing. Tomorrow we’re meeting with Ivan & Snezhana and I asked my translator to please translate everything it drives me crazy to not know what is going on!
The Orphanage:
Is very clean and cheerful. (But does have a funny smell and Alex told me there’s mice!) Overall it is MUCH nicer than I had envisioned in my mind. We've only been in the main building but the grounds are relatively nice (compared to the surrounding neighborhood) and there are four other buildings where the children live, eat and attend school.
And last but not least:
I finally found a curling iron! There was only one option and I paid around $50 for it but I’m on day four without one and I really don’t care what it cost. It was funny as I did find one with separate attachments that looked sort of like a curling iron but sort of plastic like and I was informed it would only work for a few weeks. Well, I only need it for a few weeks! But I adopted for the better one, I’ll be happy to pass it on with the cell phone and hair dryer to those coming later.

Heading To Dniprozerzynsk...

We have had a rough time adjusting to the time change and woke up around 2:30 am and decided to watch a movie and then went back to sleep at 5:00 am.

We met the Kellers for a late breakfast/lunch around 11:30 and returned their adapter-we learned that we actually have an adapter here that will work-good grief!
Then we met Hannah and Irina at one. Irina took us in the car to the Lavra which is a very old church and underground caves were monks lived. I think my Dad would have had claustrophobia, the caves are just barely taller than me and maybe two people wide? (Depending on the size of the person!) We had to light candles although there were other candles lit and in-scents it was still very dark and a little spooky. We were forbidden to enter parts of the caves as Hannah and I did not have a skirt on. It's a sacred place of worship. It's a good thing they had exit signs or we would still be there!
All along the caves were little coffins with the remains of monks. They were very tiny men. I think they largest coffin was no more than 4 foot 5 inches. Their remains are preserved and covered with cloths so-no Austin-we didn't see any dead people.
We toured the beautiful church and really got our legs worked out on what I call "The Ukraine Stair Stepper" which was very steep cobblestone roads.
The biggest adventure was finding a WC (water closet) and James took video of me in the mud trying to cross the road. I wish however that I had the camera in the bathroom (but it was on the other side of the muddy road) as this was one of the toilets where you stand on either side of a hole in the floor. I'm pleased to say I made it through the experience but I hope to not experience it again!
Then we walked to an underground mall where I found Alex a Ukraine book of fables and one in English for Rylee. I also bought a Ukraine cookbook. I'm hoping I can figure out how to make these wonderful pancakes!
Irinia picked us up and we went to the SDA at 4:00. This time there were many more parents and facilitators there. We waited for about a 1/2 hour, were called into a room where a stack of papers were prepared for us and were asked to show our passports and sign and sent on our way. So we have our referral and tomorrow we're on our way to Alex!
Then we shopped....I won't tell what we bought as to keep it a surprise for our children but we had a lot of fun. It's colder today and we were shopping at these stalls outside the SDA on yet another "Ukraine Stair Stepper" road. I really hope I'm getting toned with all this up hill and down hill walking!
We had thought we had figured out the washing machine and put in a load of laundry before we left but when we came home it was dripping wet. We set it to spin again left for dinner.
We went with Hannah to dinner at the same yummy place she took us to yesterday only we let her pick out all our food. She did a good job. James and I had some kind of yummy chicken/turkey meatball, salmon, chicken, borscht (we've had it everyday so far) and of course my favorite...apple pancakes with sour cream and jam.
Our Hannah is a doll. She's traveling with us tomorrow but will be leaving and then coming back for court. We've had some great spiritual discussions with her-instigated by her-and she has asked for one of our Ukraine BofM's. Were hoping we can find a church on Sunday and that she'll come with us.
When we got back we couldn't get the lid to open to the washer and once James pushed enough buttons and unplugged and re-plugged it in, the clothes were just as wet as they were before. So, I rung them out by hand and now all our whites are dripping in the bathroom. I think we'll throw them in a plastic bag and try again in Dnipro, hopefully we can find some bleach because although they smell cleaner, the don't look any cleaner!
So tomorrow we say goodbye to Kiev and our little apartment with Internet access. We're told it will be harder to get online in Dnipro. and that we'll have to use an Internet cafe. So, don't be surprised if we don't post very often.
James had the camera today, so lot's of scenery pictures. But the Lavra is truly magnificent!



The sign below is important to understand....it says "Toilet".

This was me walking to the bathroom, the road was a muddy mess and obviously under construction. I didn't post the video of me trudging through the muck and the mud as it's just taking too long to download.
(Notice my hair....no curling iron!)

This is James entertaining us while shopping.

At one point I turned to ask James a question to who I thought was my husband in a black beany hat, but it was an Ukraine young man in a very similar black beany hat. He was very entertained at my mistaking him for my husband. (Good thing I didn't goose him or anything!) As soon as we walked off, he ran to tell his friends about it. I'm glad I'm bringing joy and laughter to at least one Ukraine today!
Our drive tomorrow is about 6-7 hours and I don't know if I'll get to see my Lex or not but I'm hoping so! Wish us luck!