Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sibling Squabbles
Here's a new one for the Cameron Family of 4 kids.... After dinner tonight, the kids actually fought over who GOT to wash the dishes. Not who HAD to, but who GOT to! And... the only reward was the opportunity to play in the water while serving the family. Wow!! Will wonders never cease? As a mentor teacher of mine liked to say, "Maturation is bliss!"
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Cry of the Orphan
In our family, the title of this blog takes on many meanings. Sometimes it seems that our new family members cry more than necessary, but then again, they are no longer orphans, so technically that doesn't count! :) Really, the title refers to a fairly new organization dedicated to raising awareness of the needs of orphans around the world. Several groups, such as Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Shoahanna's Hope, to name a few, have joined hands to form this larger organization, with the combined resources of all the individual groups. The web site is http://www.cryoftheorphan.org. Check it out today. There are many, many ways to care for orphans. You don't have to adopt, or even be a foster parent, to help orphans in your own community. As Andy and I prepared for our adoption, we decided that God has lead us past simply adopting our two children, but to become involved in helping other children as well. No, we're not planning on adopting more kids, but we do want to help raise awareness and see what we can do to connect people to children in need. We don't know what that looks like just yet, but with today being Orphan Sunday, I wanted to start here. Check out the web site, and talk to God about how He can use you to bless others.
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. " James 1:27
"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. " James 1:27
Orphan Sunday
Today is Orphan Sunday. November is a month decicated to orphan awareness, with today being a day to emphasize it in places of worship as people gather together. The Cry of the Orphan is an organization comprised of many groups focused on caring for orphans and helping to make people aware of the needs of orphans here in the United States, and world wide. They are doing a live program online today at 4 pm and 6 pm central time, at http://www.cryoftheorphan.org/Display.asp?Page=splash. I have not yet seen the program, and cannot speak for it's content, except to say that I do respect the organization that is producing it. Please prayerfully consider watching this program, and how you may become involved in meeting the needs of orphans in your community. Adoption is only one way to care for orphans. There are many others. These children need to know the love of God as you and I already do.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
November Update
Wow, time is flying by so quickly. I say that so often, but rarely take time to make time slow down. Tonight is a slow-down night. Even with school tomorrow, we have denied the showers, and are enjoying making cookies with the kids. Actually, I'm listening, watching, and taking pictures as Papa is making the cookies with the crew. What fun!
I just heard Sveta, as she looked in the oven at the cookies, "Wow!" they're having fun. :O)
We have had some fun firsts this last week. Sveta got to go to a birthday party with Cara last Friday, and the boys went to grandma and grandpa's for a couple of hours. Andy and I actually got to eat dinner together, with adult conversation! Everyone had a nice night. Then, Saturday, they all got dressed up in their costumes and went "Trunk or Treating" at church (instead of Trick or Treating around the neighborhood.). I think Mesha and Sveta were amazed at all the people giving them candy, but they had fun!
We have had some fun firsts this last week. Sveta got to go to a birthday party with Cara last Friday, and the boys went to grandma and grandpa's for a couple of hours. Andy and I actually got to eat dinner together, with adult conversation! Everyone had a nice night. Then, Saturday, they all got dressed up in their costumes and went "Trunk or Treating" at church (instead of Trick or Treating around the neighborhood.). I think Mesha and Sveta were amazed at all the people giving them candy, but they had fun!
Cara and Sveta were twin butterfly farries, Mesha was a "Tiny Ninja" and Colin was a Clone Trooper from the StarWars Clone Wars.
The kids are all doing well. English is coming more and more every day. Mesha and Sveta even now speak mixed English and Russian as they talk to each other. We did get the Russian version of Rosetta Stone for them. We all want to learn Russian and have Mesha and Sveta keep their Russian, but for now, English is the main focus. Sveta is adjusting well to 3rd grade. She has a very good teacher, and the students all love to try to take care of her. Sometimes its a bit too much, I found out that she was getting away with just sitting and not doing much, but she's coming around. Mesha seems to be the star of his preschool. All the kids talk about him, and the parents make comments to Andy when he picks him up about how cute he is. So, they're both doing well, as are the rest of us. Cara moved down to the basement a couple of weeks ago, which has actually helped the girls get along better. Now, it feels like a never ending slumber party with the two nine-year old girls, and six and four year old boys. It gets noisy around here!
We're thankful for our blessings, for the joys that come with our four children. Take time to thank God for all the blessings He's given!
The kids are all doing well. English is coming more and more every day. Mesha and Sveta even now speak mixed English and Russian as they talk to each other. We did get the Russian version of Rosetta Stone for them. We all want to learn Russian and have Mesha and Sveta keep their Russian, but for now, English is the main focus. Sveta is adjusting well to 3rd grade. She has a very good teacher, and the students all love to try to take care of her. Sometimes its a bit too much, I found out that she was getting away with just sitting and not doing much, but she's coming around. Mesha seems to be the star of his preschool. All the kids talk about him, and the parents make comments to Andy when he picks him up about how cute he is. So, they're both doing well, as are the rest of us. Cara moved down to the basement a couple of weeks ago, which has actually helped the girls get along better. Now, it feels like a never ending slumber party with the two nine-year old girls, and six and four year old boys. It gets noisy around here!
We're thankful for our blessings, for the joys that come with our four children. Take time to thank God for all the blessings He's given!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Update!
Okay, so I'm not good at keeping my blog updated. I'm sorry! We are home now, in fact, we arrived home around midnight on Sept. 10, with 4 kids in tow. It was a long day of travel, that stretched into nearly 28 hours from beginning in Kiev to home in Clarksville, but we made it. Mesha did not appreciate having to sit in an airplane seat with a seat belt on, but one of the other passengers was kind enough to tell him, gently, to stop whining, in Russian. It helped a little.
So, now we're home!
All 4 kids are in school, Cara in 4th grade, Sveta in 3rd grade, Colin in 1st grade, and Mesha in a 4 year old class at a day care in the same building where Andy teaches middle school. They're all doing great, except Colin has now missed 3 days of school with some sort of virus that has given him a fever. Out of my 10 days at work, I've missed 3, one for an appointment for Mesha, 1/2 for an appointment for me, and 1 1/2 days with Colin's fever. Fun.
The kids are really doing well. Having two 9-year-old girls is challenging, but it's coming along. Cara's space has been invaded, and she's let us know that, Sveta loves all of Cara's neat stuff, so Cara is needing to learn how to share her things. Sveta is challenging our authority as her parents, which is expected, and is finally slowing down. She's becoming more and more comfortable with us, talking more, playing more, interacting more, and digging through stuff less. Mesha is also improving. He's learning to use at least one new English word every day, and how to play with the other kids nicely. Bedtime is even getting easier. Sveta does not like to go to sleep right now, but Mesha and the others are doing well with going to bed. So, as I reflect on the three weeks we've been home, things are gradually getting better. Parenting is never easy, but the first two weeks were incredibly tough. Now, we're able to step back and enjoy our family. Yeah!
I still don't have any great pictures to post, we've jumped right in to school, and so are all very busy just getting through each day. I'm hoping to take some family pictures in the next week or so.
So, we're doing well, settling in nicely, and enjoying our expanded family. Thank you for all of the prayers, we do appreciate them, God has blessed us so richly!
So, now we're home!
All 4 kids are in school, Cara in 4th grade, Sveta in 3rd grade, Colin in 1st grade, and Mesha in a 4 year old class at a day care in the same building where Andy teaches middle school. They're all doing great, except Colin has now missed 3 days of school with some sort of virus that has given him a fever. Out of my 10 days at work, I've missed 3, one for an appointment for Mesha, 1/2 for an appointment for me, and 1 1/2 days with Colin's fever. Fun.
The kids are really doing well. Having two 9-year-old girls is challenging, but it's coming along. Cara's space has been invaded, and she's let us know that, Sveta loves all of Cara's neat stuff, so Cara is needing to learn how to share her things. Sveta is challenging our authority as her parents, which is expected, and is finally slowing down. She's becoming more and more comfortable with us, talking more, playing more, interacting more, and digging through stuff less. Mesha is also improving. He's learning to use at least one new English word every day, and how to play with the other kids nicely. Bedtime is even getting easier. Sveta does not like to go to sleep right now, but Mesha and the others are doing well with going to bed. So, as I reflect on the three weeks we've been home, things are gradually getting better. Parenting is never easy, but the first two weeks were incredibly tough. Now, we're able to step back and enjoy our family. Yeah!
I still don't have any great pictures to post, we've jumped right in to school, and so are all very busy just getting through each day. I'm hoping to take some family pictures in the next week or so.
So, we're doing well, settling in nicely, and enjoying our expanded family. Thank you for all of the prayers, we do appreciate them, God has blessed us so richly!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
We're still in Ukraine!
"But I will sing of Your strength
And will joyfully proclaim Your faithful love in the morning.
For You have been a stronghold for me,
A refuge in my day of trouble.
To You, my strength, I sing praises,
Because God is my stronghold-
My faithful God."
- Psalm 59:16-17
This verse was ver comforting this morning. We're still here in Ukraine, held up by, yes, paperwork. We were hoping to be in Kiev this morning, preparing to leave for home by the end of this week. Instead, we're still here in southern Ukraine, waiting for Sveta and Mesha's tax numbers to be changed.
Oh, just realized, it's been a while sine I posted. August 26 was our "Gotcha Day" for Sveta! Again, we had a paperwork delay, we thought it would be the 25th, but ended up being the next day. Sveta was not happy at first, in fact, she cried that she didn't want to go. She didn't talk to us, tried not to look at us, and didn't eat for the first full day. But, at the end of her second day with us, we were able to pick up Mesha, and her mood changed considerably. With a few days, she has smiled, talked and even giggled some. We can't understand most of what she says, but she's coming around! Mesha is delightful. Nothing stops him. He babbles non stop, not caring that we don't understand him. He's funny, doing things that make us all laugh. He doesn't like to go to sleep, and wants what he wants, when he wants it, so we've had some crocodile tears, but that's what comes with a preschooler!
So, here we are, all six of us in our small, maybe 10x20 room, learning to live together. Please continue to pray for us, as we endure delay after delay, and adjust to having not two, but four children, two of whom don't speak English.
And will joyfully proclaim Your faithful love in the morning.
For You have been a stronghold for me,
A refuge in my day of trouble.
To You, my strength, I sing praises,
Because God is my stronghold-
My faithful God."
- Psalm 59:16-17
This verse was ver comforting this morning. We're still here in Ukraine, held up by, yes, paperwork. We were hoping to be in Kiev this morning, preparing to leave for home by the end of this week. Instead, we're still here in southern Ukraine, waiting for Sveta and Mesha's tax numbers to be changed.
Oh, just realized, it's been a while sine I posted. August 26 was our "Gotcha Day" for Sveta! Again, we had a paperwork delay, we thought it would be the 25th, but ended up being the next day. Sveta was not happy at first, in fact, she cried that she didn't want to go. She didn't talk to us, tried not to look at us, and didn't eat for the first full day. But, at the end of her second day with us, we were able to pick up Mesha, and her mood changed considerably. With a few days, she has smiled, talked and even giggled some. We can't understand most of what she says, but she's coming around! Mesha is delightful. Nothing stops him. He babbles non stop, not caring that we don't understand him. He's funny, doing things that make us all laugh. He doesn't like to go to sleep, and wants what he wants, when he wants it, so we've had some crocodile tears, but that's what comes with a preschooler!
So, here we are, all six of us in our small, maybe 10x20 room, learning to live together. Please continue to pray for us, as we endure delay after delay, and adjust to having not two, but four children, two of whom don't speak English.
All six of us are crowded in the back of a Taxi, our first ride all together!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Ukraine - It's been a long time!
Hello! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! We're still here in Ukraine, and have now met our two new children. Mesha is a precious little 4 year old, with a ton of energy. Sveta is a quiet 9
year old girl. It will take a little while to break through her shell, but we're prepared for that!
We went to court Friday, and were given a 10 day waiting period before we will get our court decree to legally be their parents. There's a weekend and holiday at the end of the 10 days, so it will be August 25th that we get to pick them up! Sveta will be back at her Internot (sort of like a boarding school for orphans) on the 19th, which we're glad about. It's a lot nicer than the camp she's at right now. Mesha will still be at his camp, but it's a very nice camp, so that's okay. From there we still have a paper trail:birth certificates, tax id numbers, passports, visas, then we're home. We should be home before Labor day. yeah!!
I've inserted two videos of the children playing together. Have some tissues handy. Andy takes the credit for the videos.
We're staying in a nice place, it's a clinic run by a church and they rent out some rooms to help with the income. We have access to bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, and a washer, so it's a pretty nice place. Andy bought a little grill today, designed to be a little disposable thing for picnicing. We tried making hamburgers on it, but even Vanya couldn't get it to work out right. They burned before they cooked, so we brought the burgers inside to finish out. It was pretty good!
So, life in Ukraine is quickly coming to an end. We'll be home soon, with two new Camerons. Thank you for your continued prayers, they are appreciated!
year old girl. It will take a little while to break through her shell, but we're prepared for that!
We went to court Friday, and were given a 10 day waiting period before we will get our court decree to legally be their parents. There's a weekend and holiday at the end of the 10 days, so it will be August 25th that we get to pick them up! Sveta will be back at her Internot (sort of like a boarding school for orphans) on the 19th, which we're glad about. It's a lot nicer than the camp she's at right now. Mesha will still be at his camp, but it's a very nice camp, so that's okay. From there we still have a paper trail:birth certificates, tax id numbers, passports, visas, then we're home. We should be home before Labor day. yeah!!
I've inserted two videos of the children playing together. Have some tissues handy. Andy takes the credit for the videos.
We're staying in a nice place, it's a clinic run by a church and they rent out some rooms to help with the income. We have access to bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, and a washer, so it's a pretty nice place. Andy bought a little grill today, designed to be a little disposable thing for picnicing. We tried making hamburgers on it, but even Vanya couldn't get it to work out right. They burned before they cooked, so we brought the burgers inside to finish out. It was pretty good!
So, life in Ukraine is quickly coming to an end. We'll be home soon, with two new Camerons. Thank you for your continued prayers, they are appreciated!
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