Rather than type my own update, I just copied and pasted the latest from Jessi's blog...
Our flights were just fine...and customs took no time at all...neither did passport control. Barry and I have not been able to sleep much...so pray we can tonight.
We just pulled into Vladimir and are headed to our home away from home for a while. More later when We settle.
Praise the Lord! They are one step closer to bringing Sveta home.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Today's the day
Today's the day Jessi and Barry leave for Russia. They fly out of CVG early this afternoon. Once arriving in Russia, they will get to visit with Sveta Monday through Thursday before the court date on Friday the 23rd. After the court date there is a 10 day waiting period. This waiting period is designed to give the biological parents the opportunity to change their minds. However, Sveta has already been turned over to the state, so it seems the waiting period is a legal formality at this point. But... we will keep praying until Sveta is safe at home with her Mama and Papa.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Christmas Traditions
Most families have them. Some families have more than others. Some are fun. Some are serious. Some are downright silly. I'm talking about Christmas traditions.
Growing up on Sullivan Avenue in St. Bernard, my parents had some neat things we did every year. Driving around looking at Christmas lights, the "Mystery Gift" and listening to Dad's 8 track Christmas tapes as we decorated the tree. I have nothing but fond memories of the Christmases spent with my parents and two siblings. In addition, every Christmas Eve would be spent with my Grandma and Grandpa Meyer at their house in Mt. Healthy. A few blocks up the street from their house was the manger located at the Paul R. Young funeral home. We'd visit the manger EVERY YEAR! What's the big deal you ask? Mangers are a dime a dozen at Christmas time, right? Right, but this one is special. Many years ago Paul Young created very life-like wax figures for the manger in front of the funeral home. He placed them in a barn-like structure made of wood and straw. There were live sheep and donkeys too. I'm telling you, it was something I looked forward to every year. The place was magical and it still is.
When I started dating Tami in 1989, I wanted to take her and Jessi to this magical place. We went that first year together and have not missed a Christmas since. It's one of our most special traditions. Of course, Michael and Abby have now been many times as well. I remember one year, the weather was particularly nasty. The roads were snowy, icy and treacherous. We told the kids we probably wouldn't be able to visit the manger. Michael nearly came unglued. Christmas (in his mind) could not happen without this traditional trek. Guess what we did? We packed the kids in the car and slipped and slid to the manger. Who am I to deny my children the wonder of Christmas? I don't regret it. Especially since it reinforces the true meaning of the Christmas season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus.
We have another tradition too. Every year we visit two houses that go all out with their Christmas light displays. They are within a stone's throw of each other and call themselves the North Pole and the South Pole. Both places you park the car and walk through the yards looking at the displays. The North Pole even has a garage set up as Santa's Workshop. You walk in to be greeted by electric trains and about a million christmas toys and decorations. Our kids love it to this day.
Tonight Tami and I will make this trip for the 23rd time together. Michael and Abby look forward to it every year. Jessi used to love it too, but she has a family of her own now and lives an hour away. I'm already making plans to take our Sveta to the manger, the North Pole and the South Pole next year. This tradition that began when I was a small boy will very soon be carried on with my granddaughter and hopefully many more grandchildren in the future. I can't wait for that!
Growing up on Sullivan Avenue in St. Bernard, my parents had some neat things we did every year. Driving around looking at Christmas lights, the "Mystery Gift" and listening to Dad's 8 track Christmas tapes as we decorated the tree. I have nothing but fond memories of the Christmases spent with my parents and two siblings. In addition, every Christmas Eve would be spent with my Grandma and Grandpa Meyer at their house in Mt. Healthy. A few blocks up the street from their house was the manger located at the Paul R. Young funeral home. We'd visit the manger EVERY YEAR! What's the big deal you ask? Mangers are a dime a dozen at Christmas time, right? Right, but this one is special. Many years ago Paul Young created very life-like wax figures for the manger in front of the funeral home. He placed them in a barn-like structure made of wood and straw. There were live sheep and donkeys too. I'm telling you, it was something I looked forward to every year. The place was magical and it still is.
When I started dating Tami in 1989, I wanted to take her and Jessi to this magical place. We went that first year together and have not missed a Christmas since. It's one of our most special traditions. Of course, Michael and Abby have now been many times as well. I remember one year, the weather was particularly nasty. The roads were snowy, icy and treacherous. We told the kids we probably wouldn't be able to visit the manger. Michael nearly came unglued. Christmas (in his mind) could not happen without this traditional trek. Guess what we did? We packed the kids in the car and slipped and slid to the manger. Who am I to deny my children the wonder of Christmas? I don't regret it. Especially since it reinforces the true meaning of the Christmas season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus.
We have another tradition too. Every year we visit two houses that go all out with their Christmas light displays. They are within a stone's throw of each other and call themselves the North Pole and the South Pole. Both places you park the car and walk through the yards looking at the displays. The North Pole even has a garage set up as Santa's Workshop. You walk in to be greeted by electric trains and about a million christmas toys and decorations. Our kids love it to this day.
Tonight Tami and I will make this trip for the 23rd time together. Michael and Abby look forward to it every year. Jessi used to love it too, but she has a family of her own now and lives an hour away. I'm already making plans to take our Sveta to the manger, the North Pole and the South Pole next year. This tradition that began when I was a small boy will very soon be carried on with my granddaughter and hopefully many more grandchildren in the future. I can't wait for that!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
A Happy Goodbye
Today we said our goodbyes to Jessi and Barry. It was the last time we'd see them before they fly to Russia. They fly out Saturday afternoon and will get to visit with Sveta for several days before the court date. The court date is scheduled for December 23rd at 10:00 A.M. (That will be 1 A.M. here at home. Basically that's late Thursday night, into Friday morning for us.)
I never thought I'd say I was happy to say goodbye to my daughter and son-in-law. Especially knowing I will not see them for Christmas or The New Year. Knowing I may not see them until February. But I was thrilled to see them go. Thrilled because I know when they get home, they will have my granddaughter in tow. It blows my mind to think I'm going to be somebody's Grandpa. Sveta and I are going to have such grand times together. Swimming, fishing, picking flowers, shopping for toys or any number of other fun things. Whatever she wants to do, we'll do it. It's going to be a long wait, but I'm guessing the time will go quickly. As my Grandma Meyer used to say, "It won't be as long as it has been". That saying never made complete sense to me, but now it does. It's been a long wait, but now that wait is almost over.
Sveta, your Dadushka is at home waiting for you. I can't wait to meet you and wrap my arms around you.
I never thought I'd say I was happy to say goodbye to my daughter and son-in-law. Especially knowing I will not see them for Christmas or The New Year. Knowing I may not see them until February. But I was thrilled to see them go. Thrilled because I know when they get home, they will have my granddaughter in tow. It blows my mind to think I'm going to be somebody's Grandpa. Sveta and I are going to have such grand times together. Swimming, fishing, picking flowers, shopping for toys or any number of other fun things. Whatever she wants to do, we'll do it. It's going to be a long wait, but I'm guessing the time will go quickly. As my Grandma Meyer used to say, "It won't be as long as it has been". That saying never made complete sense to me, but now it does. It's been a long wait, but now that wait is almost over.
Sveta, your Dadushka is at home waiting for you. I can't wait to meet you and wrap my arms around you.
Friday, December 9, 2011
I'm not jealous
A professional baseball player just signed a 10 year, 250 million dollar contract. That's 25 million bucks a year for the next 10 years. Albert Pujols, arguably one of the best players to come along in a very long time will make $68k per day for the next ten years. That's per day, folks. Not per week, not per month... per DAY. Even when he is not playing, he makes $68,000 in a days time. Breaking down the baseball season, he will make $154,000 per game. That's approximately $50,000 an hour for a game that lasts approximately 3 hours. Taking it even further, that's approximately $10,000 every time he comes to bat. He makes the money whether he hits a home run or strikes out. Even the best hitters only get a hit 30%-40% of the time.
Am I the only one who thinks this is totally ridiculous? Believe me, I'm not speaking out of jealousy. I am content. I am more than satisfied with what The Lord has graciously provided for me and my family. I am simply marveling at the absurdity of all this. The world is so out of whack, I don't even know what to say...
As I read somewhere this week... "Money can't buy you happiness, but you can rent a smile for a very long time." I don't quote this because I think it's true. I quote this because I found it humorous. Money won't fulfill us. We think it will, but it won't. If I had an extra $10,000 this year, would I do something honorable with it? Honestly, probably not. I'd most likely fritter it away on something I didn't need. The point being... there is only One who can fulfill. Jesus is the constant. Everything else is just stuff.
Mr. Pujols, congratulations on landing the second largest contract in baseball history. I have no idea how many gazillion dollar houses you will buy with all that cash. However, as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord. Joshua 24:15
Am I the only one who thinks this is totally ridiculous? Believe me, I'm not speaking out of jealousy. I am content. I am more than satisfied with what The Lord has graciously provided for me and my family. I am simply marveling at the absurdity of all this. The world is so out of whack, I don't even know what to say...
As I read somewhere this week... "Money can't buy you happiness, but you can rent a smile for a very long time." I don't quote this because I think it's true. I quote this because I found it humorous. Money won't fulfill us. We think it will, but it won't. If I had an extra $10,000 this year, would I do something honorable with it? Honestly, probably not. I'd most likely fritter it away on something I didn't need. The point being... there is only One who can fulfill. Jesus is the constant. Everything else is just stuff.
Mr. Pujols, congratulations on landing the second largest contract in baseball history. I have no idea how many gazillion dollar houses you will buy with all that cash. However, as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord. Joshua 24:15
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Court Date GRANTED!
It's always darkest before the dawn. Just when I thought the Russian adoption process would never move forward, God decided to show me how wrong I was and how great He is. On Wednesday morning, Jessi called and uttered the words I have yearned to hear for ever so long. "We have a court date!". I was at school at the time and I nearly broke down into tears of joy right there. However, I held it together and just said how happy I was. I felt like the expectant grandfather whose pregnant daughter had just gone into labor. All I could think was, "This is REALLY going to happen!".
At this point it looks as if Jessi and Barry will fly on December 17th or 18th. They will stand before the Russian judge on the 22nd or 23rd. What incredible news! Just in time for Christmas.
Just when my sweet Sveta will get home is difficult to say. Jessi and Barry will be in Russia for 4-6 weeks. I'm very eager for Sveta to get here, but now that I know something I feel like I can wait for that incredible day when I first get to meet my granddaughter.
This is proof positive... prayer works. God deserves all the glory in this adoption and He shall have it. Praise the Lord for what he has done so far and praise be to God for what He will do on the final leg of this long journey. Thank you to all who prayed with us during this time.
At this point it looks as if Jessi and Barry will fly on December 17th or 18th. They will stand before the Russian judge on the 22nd or 23rd. What incredible news! Just in time for Christmas.
Just when my sweet Sveta will get home is difficult to say. Jessi and Barry will be in Russia for 4-6 weeks. I'm very eager for Sveta to get here, but now that I know something I feel like I can wait for that incredible day when I first get to meet my granddaughter.
This is proof positive... prayer works. God deserves all the glory in this adoption and He shall have it. Praise the Lord for what he has done so far and praise be to God for what He will do on the final leg of this long journey. Thank you to all who prayed with us during this time.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
No news is...
As the saying goes... No news is good news. This is not the case today. Jessi reports that she has heard absolutely nothing from Russia and isn't even sure the judge granted "V" an appointment to see him. We know just as much today as we knew yesterday, last week and last month... NOTHING! If you think my words sound impatient, you're correct. It's difficult to wait. It's difficult thinking we may finally move forward and then nothing happens. Here's a snippet from Jessi's blog that may give you some insight...
Every day I wake up, I realize that my little girl is waking from a nap, and preparing to eat dinner…a dinner that probably won’t fill her completely as is eerily similar to the lunch she ate earlier. Then she will play alone, or with children that are younger than her, and she will go to bed: without a bedtime story, without a kiss on the forehead, without a prayer, without being tucked in by a loving parent.
This is why I want Sveta to come home so badly. I know what her life is like in a Russian orphanage, and I know what her life will be like here. My heart breaks for the wait Jessi and Barry are enduring. It breaks for Sveta who is missing another day of unconditional love.
As is always the case, you look for something positive when things seem bleak. Jessi also reports that a team from the Boaz Project is planning a trip to Gus Khrystalny later in the month and will be able to check on Sveta. It's not the same as having her home, but at least they can have a first hand account of her well being. We have to latch onto these nuggets and keep praying. Praying continually for my granddaughter, for the judge, for Jessi and Barry. I love you, Sveta. I've never met you, but I love you more than I ever felt possible.
Every day I wake up, I realize that my little girl is waking from a nap, and preparing to eat dinner…a dinner that probably won’t fill her completely as is eerily similar to the lunch she ate earlier. Then she will play alone, or with children that are younger than her, and she will go to bed: without a bedtime story, without a kiss on the forehead, without a prayer, without being tucked in by a loving parent.
This is why I want Sveta to come home so badly. I know what her life is like in a Russian orphanage, and I know what her life will be like here. My heart breaks for the wait Jessi and Barry are enduring. It breaks for Sveta who is missing another day of unconditional love.
As is always the case, you look for something positive when things seem bleak. Jessi also reports that a team from the Boaz Project is planning a trip to Gus Khrystalny later in the month and will be able to check on Sveta. It's not the same as having her home, but at least they can have a first hand account of her well being. We have to latch onto these nuggets and keep praying. Praying continually for my granddaughter, for the judge, for Jessi and Barry. I love you, Sveta. I've never met you, but I love you more than I ever felt possible.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Keep Praying!
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the day, "V", the in-country liason travels to Vladimir to request a court date for Jessi and Barry. Please pray that "V" is able to speak with the judge and he allows Jessi and Barry to have a court date very soon. The quicker they have a court date, the quicker our dear Sveta can come home where she belongs. This has been a very long, drawn out process. There has been one stumbling block after another. But we know it will all be worth it when she gets here. I know I sound like an expectant grandfather (that's because I am!), but I am growing more and more eager with anticipation as I await her arrival. Please everyone, keep praying.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
We'll leave the "Lights" on for you
Today was the day I put up all the exterior Christmas lights. I got a late start, had multiple interruptions and encountered many more difficulties than usual when nearly half my strands didn't work. I strongly considered just giving up and not decorating outside this year. After all, my kids are now in high school and don't seem to mind if the lights go up or not. They both refused my requests for help with the project anyway. However, I decided to press on.
Things progressed very slowly as I encountered problem after problem. I was about to throw in the towel again when my neighbor came over to chat and check out my work. I mentioned my shortage of working strands of lights. She said she had two brand new strands that she didn't want and asked if I wanted them. As it turned out, it was exactly what I needed to successfully complete the project. 7 hours later, the house was glowing with several thousand twinkling lights.
As we have decorated our home to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, our family has decided to leave the christmas tree and lights up until Sveta gets home from Russia. We hope and pray the decorations aren't up for too long after the new year, but we are committed to leaving them up for as long as it takes. I really don't want to take the lights down in the warmth of spring or the heat of summer... but I will if it takes that long for her to get home.
As I was hanging the lights on the gutter and draping the bushes with sparkling strands, all I could think of was seeing Sveta's face filled with wonder as she sees Grandma and Grandpa's house for the first time. That will make every bit of my troubles worth it.
So, Sveta, my love, hurry home to see grandma and grandpa's Christmas tree and pretty decorations. We'll leave the "Lights" on for you.
Things progressed very slowly as I encountered problem after problem. I was about to throw in the towel again when my neighbor came over to chat and check out my work. I mentioned my shortage of working strands of lights. She said she had two brand new strands that she didn't want and asked if I wanted them. As it turned out, it was exactly what I needed to successfully complete the project. 7 hours later, the house was glowing with several thousand twinkling lights.
As we have decorated our home to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, our family has decided to leave the christmas tree and lights up until Sveta gets home from Russia. We hope and pray the decorations aren't up for too long after the new year, but we are committed to leaving them up for as long as it takes. I really don't want to take the lights down in the warmth of spring or the heat of summer... but I will if it takes that long for her to get home.
As I was hanging the lights on the gutter and draping the bushes with sparkling strands, all I could think of was seeing Sveta's face filled with wonder as she sees Grandma and Grandpa's house for the first time. That will make every bit of my troubles worth it.
So, Sveta, my love, hurry home to see grandma and grandpa's Christmas tree and pretty decorations. We'll leave the "Lights" on for you.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Ballerinas, tutus and men in tights
Our school took the students on a field trip to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. This is not the Cincinnati Ballet Company at Music Hall, but it featured some really talented kids. I must confess I was very skeptical going in. Ballerinas in tutus, men in tights showing way more than I care to see, sugar plum fairies prancing and twirling around the stage. It was 2 hours long and I was dreading trying to keep my wild savages from bouncing off the walls. Much to my pleasant surprise it was actually a very good show. It kept the attention of my students and it kept my attention too. Cool costumes, some neat dancing, pretty scenery and some wonderful music. I'm not saying I'm buying season tickets to the ballet, but I consider myself a little more cultured today.
I'm sure you've all heard portions of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Parts of this very famous piece of music are heard in many movies, TV shows, commercials and practically every shopping mall in the world at Christmas time.
We had a good time, but I really could have done without seeing guys in tights. That's just gross!
I'm sure you've all heard portions of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Parts of this very famous piece of music are heard in many movies, TV shows, commercials and practically every shopping mall in the world at Christmas time.
We had a good time, but I really could have done without seeing guys in tights. That's just gross!
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