Step 1 OVER !!!

We had the meeting this morning with SDA. We PASSED !!! Sooooo,,

now we get on a train this evening to head toward Donetsk. Then tomorrow we meet with the orphanage's social worker AND Katya ! ! ! There will be more paperwork to do in Donetsk. Once that is done, we will be allowed to take Katya with us to Sevastopol for a few days until it is time to go to court.

Everything is going really well so far. Our adoption facilitator, Yuri, has done a great job for us. He would like for us to be done with adoption by the last week in August. That would be very cool. Maybe Beverly and Katya would be home before September 1. Yea ! ! !

Beverly says hi to everyone ! ! !

More in the next day or so.........(picture from our apartment balcony)

We're HERE !!!!

Yes, we arrived today around 9:30am Ukraine time. That's around 2:30am EST.
We are in our apartment and have an appointment at SDA at 11:30 tomorrow. We won't know until tomorrow if we will leave Kyiv tomorrow or the next day. Hopefully it is tomorrow.

We came all the way around the world to have lunch at McDonald's. And I NEVER eat at McD's.
This comupter is really bad. The space bar doesn't work.

There were a bunch ofUkrainian orphans on the plane from NY. They were cute and stayed up almost all night.

I want to post a picture, but I'm not familiar with the Russian language commands on this computers or how to upload the files.

By for now....

Katya, ...ready or not here we come ! ! !

Well, we leave tomorrow morning at 10:30am ! ! ! I can hardly believe it.
We still have to pack! Yes, we wait until the last minute. Actually, we have most everything laid out so we know what we're taking. I haven't gotten my normal rest at night, because I wake up thinking, thinking, thinking.... and more thinking. Thinking about the process in Ukraine. Thinking about bringing Katya home. Thinking about what it is going to be like for her and for us.
I'm excited ! ! ! For us and for her ! ! !
Poor Beverly has been working like crazy since she came back from the Ukraine two weeks ago. All her customers know that she is leaving for a month, and they all want to be "fit in". We know the upcoming time in Ukraine won't be any "walk in the park", but she is actually looking forward to leaving so she can rest.
My daughter, Casey has only two more weeks to her due date for delivery of our new granddaughter. As I mentioned before, I'm am not very happy about having to leave the country this close to her time. She says she doing really well (or good, which ever is correct), but is ready for the pregancy to be OVER ! ! !
As far as Ukraine is concerned, everything is "GO", so hopefully there won't be any new government laws or changes in existing ones. New parliamentary elections are schedule for the end of September, so the politicians will be too busy trying to get reelected.
One thing we are certain about is how much time we are going to be able to spend with Katya before the court date, because she is at camp with other kids from the orphanage. We have been told that she will be allowed to leave camp to come see us as long is we pay for her transportation. We hope she can also come with us to Sevastopol for a few days before the court date.
Well if I have learned anything from other adopting parents who went through the process, we must be prepared to be flexible and expect changes.
I'll be updating this blog while in Ukraine. My apologies to those who I gave the wrong URL to. I kept telling people it was mikebevadoption@blogspot.com that is wrong. The "@" should have been a period.
Hopefully, the next blog post you read will be news from Ukraine.
Out for now...

10 More Days Until We Leave for Ukraine

Wow, the time for us to leave is rapidly approaching ! ! !
It almost seems like a dream in many ways. We have been planning for and looking forward to finalizing the adoption for what seems like forever, and it is almost too hard to believe it is so close to a reality ! ! !

Beverly brought back a "bunch" of pictures from her trip a week ago. Many of them were taken by Katya of her friends. I have enjoyed so much looking at them and trying to get a sense of who she is and what she is like. That is like so impossible to do, but I can't help trying.

This is going to be such a huge thing for her, us and our extended family. I hope and pray we are successful in providing a loving home AND family for her, and that she grows to love us. I thought it was cute that my sweet 87 year old mother went to the library to check on tapes to learn how to speak Russian. She said to make sure I told her when she was officially going to be a grandmother again. She is such an awesome woman and mother ! ! !

Well, g2g...........

Beverly's on Her Way Home ! ! !

Beverly is taking a train from Donetsk to Kyiv, and should arrive around the time I'm writing this post. She said they had a good visit with Avie and Pastor Igor in Sevastopol. She also said she is tired and ready to be home. I know I will be glad when she is back. It has been lonesome here without her.

Before she left Ooglegorsk today she had a chance to see Katya. She was touch by what she did. Katya gathered up what few personal belongings she has (small stuffed animal and a few photos) and asked that Beverly bring them to VA and put them in HER ROOM ! ! ! It sounds like to me that she has really committed to the adoption. That is so.... good. We would hate it if she became reluctant or refused to let us be her parents.

Beverly should be home Friday afternoon. Maybe I can get some new photos posted before we go to NC with Beverly's sister and her husband for a few days. I am anxious to see new pictures of Katya.

Out for now....

Katya Turned 14 on July 6 ! ! !

Beverly traveled with three other church members to Sevastopol on Thursday, so she missed being with Katya on her birthday. Actually, it was okay because it is difficult to celebrate one orphan's birthday without singling them out and making the others feel less fortunate; even if we did a party for all her classmates. Beverly did leave a birthday card and a few small gifts (hair stuff like barrettes, a brush, etc., which is exactly what she wanted). We also told her that the 3 of us would celebrate her birthday away from the orphanage when we return in August for the adoption. I made the B-day card that Beverly left for her (something I like doing). It was kinda goofy so she may not understand it. I took a picture of a few figurines from my office shelf, and added a cartoon cloud that said "с днем рождения, Катуа", which is "Happy Birthday Katya" in Russian. On the inside and on the back it had pictures of the rest of our family (soon to be her family too) ! ! !

Speaking of adoption, I have been laying awake at night thinking how really CLOSE our appointment date is (just 3 weeks!!!). There is much to be done and I know we won't get it all done. But that's okay, because what matters is providing a family for Katya.

No, the picture above is not our family, it is the figurines!

She called Beverly Mama Today ! ! !

Beverly and I spoke on the phone today. Things are going well with her and Katya. Katya followed her around as she did her work. Beverly describes her as a "real sweetie" and very cute. She started calling Beverly Mama today!!! This is turning out to be the opposite of what we were expecting. Two months ago we were expecting her to reject being adopted. Now Beverly says she is really excited about having us as parents (at least Beverly anyway; she hasn't met me yet). We aren't sure about her change of heart, but we are happy; really happy ! ! !

When the church team left the orphanage today, Katya had gone off for a few minutes. But Beverly said Katya chased behind the van to wave good bye to her!!!
Katya asked the director if she could stay overnight with Beverly in her hotel. The director said yes, but Beverly is concerned about the "mixing" of the adoption with the church's trip. She is going to discuss it with our church's team leader. It would be very cool if they could have the one on one time.
While Beverly is in Ukraine, I am busy here in the US making airline reservations for our adoption trip on July 29. It seems really close now. I'm also getting Katya's room ready. We are going to do much if any "decorating", because we want her to help with that.
August 2007 is going to be an August for us to remember. Not only will we be "in the process" of adopting Katya, but we will become new grandparents. My wonderful daughter, Casey, and her super husband, Drew, are expecting the delivery of their baby girl on or around August 10. I am bummed that I will be in Ukraine when she has my new granddaughter, but it can't be helped. With the way the Ukraine government has been trying to "monkey" with the adoption laws, we are afraid to ask SDA to change the appointment date. I am excited about being a grandad, and wish we weren't in VA and them in Denver. We'll just have to do a lot of flying; I guess.
I forgot to mention that the other day when Beverly called, she put Katya on the phone, and that was a hoot. All the Russian I have been trying to learn went right out of my head, except "dobre den" (good afternoon). Oh well, it was fun at least hearing her on the other end of the phone.
"Paka paka" (bye bye) for now.

Adoption Schedule While in Ukraine

Some of our friends have asked about the adoption process while in the Ukraine. The following is a schedule posted on our adoption service's website. We can't rely on things working out exactly as indicated, but it will give an idea of what happens and how long it MIGHT take.
Day 1- Arrive Kyiv airport. Driver & facilitator meet you at airport. Check into a hotel. Facilitator gives you short orientation tour
Day 2- Visit Adoption Center with facilitator. Look at files, select child/ren to visit.
Day 3- Travel by train overnight to orphanage city with facilitator
Day 4- Visit orphanage, select child/ren (or return to Adoption Center if you prefer to visit other children, wait 3-10 days for new appointment)
Day 5-8- Prepare paperwork for court hearing, set court date (Local permission to adopt child may take 3-5 days)
Day 16- Receive approval papers for court (may take 5-10 days to get permission for court)
Day 17- Court Hearing
Days 18-30- 10-day waiting period (may be slightly longer depending on weekends and holidays)
Day 31- Apply for new birth certificate, and receive same day or next day
Day 32- Apply for new passport. Pick up child/ren!
Day 33- Pick up new passport Return to Kyiv by overnight train with facilitator
Day 34- Visit medical center, (legalize documents)
Day 35- Visit American Embassy
Day 36- Fly back to US

First Day at Ooglegorsk Orphanage

Beverly was able to call today. Katya came looking for her when she first arrived at the orphanage. She didn't get to spend but just a few minutes with her however. Someone came to get Katya and Beverly didn't see her the remainder of the day. She is going to try to seek out Katya tomorrow and get her to help with some of the work they are doing. I think is sorting clothes and other stuff the team brought with them.
Beverly did say that Katya was all smiles, so that is a good sign. We are still concerned that she won't want to be adopted. There is another couple from our church there now to adopt a brother and sister. The mother has seen these two kids on numerous trips and they were excited about being adopted; UNTIL NOW. The girl is evidentially very afraid and is resisting the idea of going to the United States. It would be a shame for these two kids to miss this opportunity. The boy wants to be adopted and come to the US, and he is mad at his sister. Please pray for them.

Grace Bible Church's Team Arrived Safely!!!

Matt (second from right) with the team sent the email below. I also got a short one from Beverly. She hasn't been to the orphanage to see Katya yet. The whole team is going tomorrow. The word is "anxious". I'm anxious to see how Beverly's and Katya's time together goes. The church's trip isn't supposed to be "about adoption", so Beverly will have to be somewhat subtle about her time with Katya.







From: Matt


Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 7:13 AM


To: Mike


Subject: We're Here And Safe

Hey Friends, We're all here and safe, we arrived yesterday and wanted ya'll to know that we are excited about all that God has before us. We'd love your prayers that God would continue to lead and guide us. We praise Him for bringing us here safely with great flights. We love you all and will be in touch with our specific prayer requests later. As for now it would be great if you could aid us in our prayers for unity, patience and getting over jetlag. Tomorrow we will be meeting with the director at the orphanage and discussing the plans for the projects we will be doing. Also we will be shopping for all the necessary materials for the week. Please pray for us and that all this goes smoothly. Finally we ask that you pray with us that we would be able to impact the lives of those around us, the kids at the orphanage and the people we meet on our day to day basis. We really appreciate your involvement in this mission through your prayers. In Him, The Team