Home!

We are home! It was a long journey home, but we made it safely and we are grateful. As you know we weren't able to get on the flight sat as planned, but we made the next possible flight on Monday. We had to wait for over 2 hours in the plane though, because they had to fix a leak they found as we were taxing out. So, the allowed us to go into the cockpit and take pictures with the pilot's hats. Once in N.Y.C. took a taxi from J.F.K. to La Guardia where we missed a couple flights and got on the last one of the day, which got into Atlanta at about 11:45. I didn't set foot on "Atlantan" soil until about 1245 and got home really late, or early depending on how you look at it. At that point I was wide awake because it was morning where i was used to. I fell asleep around 245 and slept for over 11 hours. I'm still a little jet-lagged, as I woke up wide awake at 6 this morning, but its good to be in my own bed, in my own house, eating familiar foods. I think I might have reverse culture shock as I come home. Its very funny the little things you come to appreciate, like milk, and precious clean tap water, and shower curtains, and red meat, and so much more. Thank you all for helping make this trip possible through prayers and support. I will try and get pictures from the second week of camp and more thoughts soon.

Still On Our Way Home

We have come to embrace the fact that there is always a plan B... Our original plan was to arrive home in Atlanta on Saturday the 14th, but obviously that was not what God had in mind. We are so grateful to be flying on buddy passes, but this also means that we must remain very flexible. Because there is only one flight to NYC every 2 days here, our next opportunity to catch a flight is Monday. It has been nice to have a few extra days to be with our sister, but we do have responsibilities to return to at home. So pray for seats to open on the next flight, but mostly that God will give us grace to deal with whatever He wills. I look forward to seeing you all and sharing what God has done!! Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers!

Heading to Camp, Week 2

I am heading out again today to camp. This week the children will actually be staying with us in the same building, so it takes a lot more time, energy and responsibility to make sure this camp experiance is fun, safe and significant. Please pray for all the children, that God will open their hearts and prepare them to hear God's word. Also pray for the staff, Ukrainian, American, and British, that we would bond and work together. Please pray specifically for my health too! Thank you!

Stuck!!!

Well we've had some beautiful days to take the kids to the park and play. But you learn when you are in Ukraine that you can't take ANYTHING for granted, even something so seemingly simple as an elevator ride. Not as dependable as you would think! On the way home the other day Katherine, Tristan, Abi, Britain, and I all got stuck in the elevator for 20 minutes. Thankfully the mechanic got their pretty fast and we had gum to keep the children busy while we were waiting. Heres an image of us acting panicky in the elevator: ;)

Fourth of July

Missed celebrating the Fourth of July at home with all our traditions and festivities. We had our own rendition of our family's typical Red, White and Blue Fourth of July Brunch. One bummer, or benefit, depending on how you view running, was that we did not have to run the 10k Peachtree Road Race before our brunch! (still had 5 family members running it at home). We had our usual breakfast pizza, monkey bread and fruit around the table. What we planned to be an outdoor evening picnic turned into an indoor party, as the thunder clouds started rolling in at about 5 o'clock. Some American friends of Mandy and Chad's came over, and brought chips, drinks, etc. to make a party here. The children were occupied and fascinated with their glow bracelets from Grandmoni and Grandenny, and they looked so cute in their matching Old Navy flag tee's!! We played cards and topped of the evening with beautiful, fresh, patriotic pies that Mandy made. Heres some pictures of our day!

Life in Kyiv

Its been fun to just be family together these past few days. Yesterday we took all 4 children to the beach and met up with so me of their friends from church. We have figured out that a morning at the beach makes for good naps, so we are praying for nice weather this week, so we can try that routine again.

Well this morning rolled around and our plan didn't work too well. It was cloudy and overcast... Zucchini is in season, so Tristan, Mandy and I worked together to make our Grandma's famous Zucchini Bread recipe, to which Britain replied, "I want to help make bikini bread!"

pictures