Monday, December 29, 2008

The weekend after christmas

We petitioned to have the girls out for the weekend and also petitioned for two of the girls that there new parants were not going to be in town. So me and chris had four girls in a very small apartment. I would sujjest to all the men out there not to do this!

The court went very smooth it was on chris's birthday. The apointment was at 2pm. The judge was late he had a meeting at the other court. The room was about as big as are living room three benches on each side. There was a steel cage on the left and three big chairs were the judge sat in the middle chair. The recorder was the judges secretary taking notes on a pad? They did have microphones but didn't know if they were on. You could still see the hammer and sickle on two of the judges chairs were it was removed. court only lasted about 40 min.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve

Today the sun finally came out. This is the first time we have seen it in two weeks. What a blessing. Guess What! The electricity and water did not go off today either. WWWOOOOHHHOO!! I (Chris) have the wonderful opportunity of experiencing travelers diarrhea so as I a typing I pray that I don't explode.:)

Only two more days and we will be proud parents of two beautiful girls. I frequently ask Bruce if he realized what he was getting into when he married me. A total of 4 kids in 2 1/2 years!! What a man!

We visited the orphanage today and was verbally assulted by the bad boys. I am having a hard time controlling myself. I just want to put them over my leg and spank them. They attempt to pick your pockets and ask for money money money. I told them to go back to class so they could get a job and make their own money. The Burrits said this was the worst they have seen them. I do not tolerate this treatment very well. Please pray these boys leave us and our children alone.

For those of you who have ever thought about adoption we have also met some wonderful children that would love to come to America. If I could they would be coming home with us. I will of course be bringing pictures to tug at your heart strings. Basically all we have been tolerating and experiencing is worth it all to get our girls and bring them home!

Now off to the toy/clothing store to get Ukrainian Barbie's. They have short skirts and black thigh high boots with 4 inch heals. :) Lydia you know what I am speaking of.:):)

Marti just wanted to tell you that Svetia has a pic of you on her bed. You are going to have to help me with them when we get back.
Sue Sue just wanted to let you know that Ira wanted her name to be Susie after you but we had already choosen their names so we can call her Susie for short nickname.

I hope we can bring back some interesting things from our experiences(except the travellers diarrhea). Until later.

Love everyone!!!!!
Give the boys a big hug and kiss from mom and dad and thanks to Doug, Amy and Aubrey for taking the boys to church for us. You are awesome and we love you very much.
Chris and Bruce Kochanek

Monday, December 22, 2008

UPDATES

WEll we finally have some limited access to the computer. We have been so busy! We were able to meet Iryna and Svieta's 3 sisters. That was an experience I will never forget. They were very nice but cried that we were not able to adopt them. I cried as well. We have court on Dec 26th (which is my birthday). What a great present!! The girls are so happy to come home to America.

Oh we also told the two middle girls Tanya and Ulia that we would bring the girls by their orphanage to say good bye. If we could afford the other children we would adopt them but we just cant do it. This makes me sad but yet we have to think of Iryna and Svieta now. People here can't understand why we want to adopt children when we can have them and already have two at home. I guess we will be asked this question in court.

Yesterday we were able to see where they sleep. The room was dark and cold and the bed was had basically a thin blanket as a matress. When we sat down on the bed we could feel the support boards. I am so ready to get them out!!

The girls love Bruce and always try to tickle him or play with his beard. Svieta showed me her sketch book and I was amazed!! She can look at a picture and then draw it very very well. I hope to get her in some art classes in America.

We did not see the girls today because we went at a bad time and we had to get out of there. We were called the B word multiple times and asked for money and candy. The boys at the orphanage are rough and mean!

We pray that we can have them at the flat this weekend and for their Christmas break. We technically have to wait 10 days after the court date until we have them in our custody but we might have them sooner with the petition. I believe their break starts on Friday and they go back around the 13th of Jan.

The weather is comparable to Indiana. We walk everywhere which provides good exercise but I miss my van and having the convenience of getting in and going where I want. Chris got a Ukrainian hair cut because the water has caused damage. It only costed me about $2.50. I said SSSWWEEEETTTT!!!! The people are nice at times but they cheat you on change. I find the corruption and cheating interesting. I guess they think we do not notice. They must think we are stupid Americans!!

Please keep praying for us that we just get through this process quickly with few complications. Pray that God opens the needed doors and Chris does not have a nervous breakdown!!!!! We appreciate everyones comments and support. Just getting online to see responses puts a smile on her face. Until the next internet cafe.

Chris and Bruce Kochanek

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunday

Well it is Sunday about 2:11 pm here so that makes it 7 am in the US. We miss everyone so much. We just got done discussing how everyone is probably waking up and getting ready for church. Well I (chris) almost got us kicked out of our apartment (according to Bruce). After our SDA appoinment an old lady came to the door asking to see the apt. We did not want to let her in but Olef called and said it was ok to let her in. I guess she wanted to rent it next week and wanted to see what it looked like. Well me being the honest and to the point person I am told her we had no hot water and the bed was hard (the matress is box springs). Then later on that night we have a call from our translator Jenya saying we need to move to a different apt. (We both were secretly excited about the move as to give us something to do on Saturday :)!) In the end we ended up staying in our current apt. And praise the Lord we have hot water now. They have a heater in the bathroom that warms the water if the hot gets shut off. What we discovered was that the Mayor turned off the hot water because of the company not paying the gas bill. Everyone in the city was without water. This morning he must have turned it back on!! I guess a hot shower once a weeks is good. So keep praying guys. It is working.

We will travel on Monday evening to the orphanage but we are missing everyone so much that we found an internet cafe and payed for an hour to just check email and communicate with everyone. When we get to Kotovsk on Monday it will be late so we will touch base with everyone on Tuesday probably.

I just have to remember that God is working. It may not be in my time but we have seen miricles thus far. It is sad how much I have taken for granted in my life. I will surely have more patience and enjoy our hot water oh and they have MCDonalds. WWOOOOHHOO!!!

Blessing
Chris and Bruce Kochanek

Friday, December 12, 2008

SDA appointment

We had our SDA appointment today and we will get our referral on Monday. After the referral we will be traveling about 6 hours to Kotovsk to see the girls. Our next date to tackle is the court date. We are praying that we get a quick date since we do have to wait 10 days after the date to actually get the girls then we will rush rush rush to get appoinments with the embassy to get visas etc... I am beginning to feel better about things. Thanks to everyone who is praying for us it helps.

This morning praise the Lord we had water but not to our surprise it was ice cold! So we improvised again on the showers. We take so much for granted!! It is even interesting when it comes to service in restaraunts. They do not check on you throughout the meal and you have to flag someone down to put your order in and even get your check. Then again maybe they are ignoring us since we are Americans. I stick out like a sore thumb. Oh well we have come for a reason (to get our girls).

For any of you who see our boys tell them mommy and daddy love them and can't wait to get home with the rest of our family.

I will probably not post anything until Monday or Tuesday. Blessings to all.

Chris

Thursday, December 11, 2008

We Have Made It

Well we finally arrived in Ukraine Yesterday. It has been an adventure. First I would like to say on our way from Indy to Chicago we met a gentleman named Noah who is also a nurse working in Indy who might be able to connect us with a plastic surgeon at Riley for Iryna's eye. God is working and that is what I have to keep reminding myself. Even when in Germany people at the airport started going through my things and make me take my concelled money pouch off to go through xray.

Lastnight in Ukraine was a real eyeopener for me! Girlscouts did not prepare me for this! We are staying in a 3 room apartment. At least we have our own private bathroom. This afternoon I woke up desiring a nice warm shower to begin our day fresh. Well that did not happen. As I attempted to turn on the water I realized it is not running. So thankfully we bought a big bottle of water lastnight and Bruce used some of that to sponge bathe and I washed up with some baby wipes. I will be brining pix back of the inside. You will be amazed at the living conditions.

There is an issue we need everyone to get on their knees and pray for. Lastnight we found out that we may be here longer than five weeks. I guess the judge in Kotovsk is behind on cases and we may not have our court date until after the first of the year. This is a problem because I will have to return in 6 weeks to maintain my new position at MGH which will leave Bruce by himself. Please join our family in prayer about this situation.

The girls know we are in country and are excited from what we hear. Pray that we travel to Kotovsk on Friday after our SDA appoinment and that God goes before us and prepares our way, opens doors, and calms my nerves. Until the next WiFi I find.

God Bless and Thanks to everyone keeping us on their prayer list.
Chris and Bruce.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The Indy Airport

We are sitting at the Indy airport waiting on our flight to Chicago. The new airport is awesome. The boys came to see us off. I think they were excited about spending time with grandma for Christmas.

We are so blessed to have so many people helping us fulfill this chapter in our lives as well as Iryna and Svitlana's lives. All of our friends and family are priceless. This will be an experience that will last a lifetime.
Thank you to those that have helped get us this far and those that are lifting us up in prayer.

The Lord works in an awesome way. This week has been overwhelming yet exciting to see how much he is working. Not only are we on the way to get the girls about 4 months earlier than expected but we also could have our second house sold soon, which is a huge blessing and financial relief. The Lord never stops amazing me!!!

We will attempt to access internet in Germany and post again. It will be midnight our time when we arrive. Can anyone say jet lag??? :)

Chis

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Ukraine Here We Come

We will be heading to Ukraine soon adding two more children to our family. I have always known that I would adopt and have biological children but did not realize God would work so quickly. The Lord is truly teaching me how much he is in control of our lives. As I reflect on the events of the last 4 months I see His hand throughout the whole process from orchestrating my change to a different master's program to the short wait for our appointment with adoption officials in Ukraine. People ask how were we able to get through the process quickly because some wait months to years to adopt internationally. All I can say is that OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

This week we will be gathering and packing clothes and supplies for our trip. If our Internet connection works in Ukraine I will be updating this blog on a regular basis so please follow us on our adoption journey. Please pray for our family staying here as well as our girls we will bringing home. Pray that the Lord opens doors for us in Ukraine and that we embrace our trip the good and bad.

May God Bless and Keep You
Chris K