Well…I was successfully chastised last night into posting an update. BUT…it will be rather short. I will be trying very hard to post daily again one day. But for now, with everything at church going on (Christmas Program preparation, fulfilling Administrator duties in the absence of a real administrator, trying to get my web design business off the ground, doing the work for clients that I already have and trying to get more…etc…), it’s been too much to even think of posting. 🙂
So here goes…
We have a whole slew of new family pictures thanks to some dear friends who hired a photographer to shoot us. I’ll post them one day soon in an album to share.
We are currently waiting on some surgeries, figuring out what we are going to take with us to Ukraine, and frankly just trying to hold on until we move…we are SO EXCITED!
Chris & Mary
We are doing well. We are trying to keep our heads above water with all that’s going on and the enormity of what is about to happen in our lives. We are trying to enjoy our last days at FBC amongst the busyness. That will be the hardest part about this move. I’ve been on staff here for so long (nearly half of my life…and I’m not a young guy). It’s mind boggling to even consider that I’m not going to be leading here anymore. Mary is locked in her schedule with the kids and the house and homeschool. As always, she’s keeping the plates spinning and is a tremendous blessing to me and to our family.
Blake
He’s doing great is school this semester. He’s in Coda Band, All State Choir, auditioning for All State Band this Saturday and is heavily involved in all things band at school. He’s filling up his senior year with all kinds of good stuff. On top of that, he helps at home so much and is really involved at church. He’s playing french horn in the Christmas program at church too. Blake is going to be staying with some dear friends (Gus & Wartha) to finish high school in May. So he’ll be here without us for a couple of months. Then I’ll come back for graduation and take him back to Ukraine with us. He’s pretty excited about life and is making plans about his future. Of course, he’s only seventeen and that’s likely to change a few times in the next few years… We’re pretty proud of our Blakey.
Hannah
Hannah is finishing up her first semester with high grades as usual. She’s doing just swell. She’s auditioning for All State Band on Saturday and she’s playing oboe in the Christmas program this year at church. We’re so proud of her. She’s going to make someone a great mate some day when she gets married (sometime after she’s 30! 🙂 ). She does so much at home to help with the little people and she’s excited (though nervous) about moving to Ukraine.
Bethany
She’s doing great with homeschooling and honestly, she’s a second mother to the little people. Not because she has to do it or is even asked to. She just really loves them and cares deeply for them. She’s got life by the horns and enjoys every minute! We’re very proud of who Bethany is and is becoming.
Seth
He’s doing very well with homeschool. His favorite past-time right now is riding his skateboard and playing with his little brothers. He and they love to wrestle! He’s also singing a solo in the Christmas program at church. He’s doing great with it and is so excited about it! This boy makes us proud. He’s got such a tender, gentle spirit.
Matthew
FINALLY…the boy is signing some. And when he signs and we understand…he is SO PROUD. He grins from ear to ear. He is advancing and growing so fast. He’s shot up and is getting so big. Still way undersized for an eight year old, but compared to where he was…wow!
Micah
Micah continues to grow and mature rapidly. He’s got some behavioral issues still but we just work through them a day at a time. He’s come from such a hard place and we try to give him grace…all the while molding and shaping. It’s a fine line that we try to walk. Sometimes we are successful…sometimes not. He’s a different boy than when we brought him home…and we are different parents.
Eli
Eli is still our slow developer…but he is advancing…be it ever so slowly. He’s still not really signing (except “eat” and “more” — which are important I guess). He still escapes into a little Eli World, and it’s still hard to get him out of it. But we still try. He’s the softest hearted of all the five littles and usually the sweetest. He can melt you with his eyes and his smile. We love that guy.
Ethan
He’s growing! He’s up to about 27 pounds and is filling out and getting taller. When he came home, he was in 12 and 18 month clothes. Now he’s in 24 month and 2T clothes. We think we’ve finally killed off the h-Pyrlori and that helps with growth. Also, he’s going to have his tonsils out on December 13 (they overlap). And on January 5, he’s having the big surgery to reverse his colostomy. I can hardly wait. Most of you can’t imagine what it’s like having a kids with a colostomy that doesn’t wear bags. And I won’t gross you out by explaining…but suffice it to say…we can’t wait to get that fixed. We are praying that all goes well and his little body, intestines and colon wake up and operate correctly. There is some risk involved, but we are trusting God. He’s always getting in to stuff…putting stuff in toilets…making huge messes… Living out the life of a toddler that he was unable to live in the orphanage. It’s pretty fun to watch him discover things — as it’s been for all the former Ukrainain orphans.
Eliana
Still not walking. Still not communicating. But progressing nonetheless. She is getting a bit bolder with taking steps…but it’s SLOW. Kind of reminds us of trying to get Eli walking. She loves school and really is doing pretty well all in all. She is a charmer and has stolen our hearts away!
Thanks for your prayers for our family. We are doing so well and are so blessed by God!
Our plans are:
Last day at FBC is the last Sunday in January. I’ll be doing a concert of sorts at 6:00 p.m. that night with the choir and orchestra.
We will go to Dallas and say goodbye to family and fly out February 14. We are SO EXCITED we can hardly stand it!!!!!!!
Bless the Name of the Lord!!!