Hi Again

Well I feel like a stranger here! I'm on the blog regularly to update the blogrolls but it seems like you never hear from me anymore. It's a shame because there really is stuff going on. I have finished several projects at home and at work and I really would like to get back into the blogging thing. The kids have changed a lot in the last year and half and I know that several of you would like updates.

It's not that I don't like to blog. It's just different now. The kids are all teenagers and computer savvy, sort of, with their own Facebook accounts and email addresses, and I think even shortcuts to the blog on their favorites. So as you can imagine we have to be sensitive to what is said, right?

I guess these days everyone uses FB to communicate day-to-day things. I see the blog as more of a general medium. In my opinion, blogs are superior for getting information out there, and are great for documenting life. Where would the adoption commununity be if there were only FB and email? I know I learned a lot about Ukraine and adoption through all the blogs out there and I want to help others by publicizing as many Ukraine adoption blogs as I can. Sometimes I go back and reread posts from our time over there and I still get tears in my eyes reliving the experience and reading the comments that our bloggy friends left for us. If we had used FB that stuff would be long gone.

Ukraine adoptions never lack for drama. Since we have been there, there have been volcanoes, epidemics and quarantines, a new Ukrainian president, government scandals and upheaval, war in Georgia, natural gas disputes, and the normal adoption problems. While every adoption is different, there is a surprising amount of problems they have in common. Birth certificate issues, family members that show up and interfere, property issues, kids that change their minds, bad referrals, running out of money, excessive delays, officials on long vacations, bad weather, city councils getting in the way, people wanting "gifts" to merely do their job, uncooperative directors, behavior issues of the kids, job crises, health problems, and more. It's best for everyone to go into this with eyes open.

I don't know how anyone can adopt from Ukraine without a faith in God. He is, after all, an everpresent help in a time of need:

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble.
 ² Therefore we will not fear,
         Even though the earth be removed,
         And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

(Psalm 46:1-2, New King James Version)

It's very comforting to have the King of the Universe with you when you're over there. He's like a... Superhero! Enjoy this video from Hillsong Kyiv, Иисус Мой Супергерой (Jesus My Superhero). I showed this to Valya once and she knew all of the motions. Not sure where she learned them. Must have been at the orphanage sometime. Listen for Spiderman, Superman, and Batman.

Let's stay in touch.

-- Alan