We've survived a whole 24 hours in Kiev

Not only have we survived, but we've thrived (that's for you, Tammy :))! We spent the day with Kim. Actually David says we didn't spend the whole day because I didn't wake up until 11!:) Igor, the head facilitator guy picked us up and took us to Kim's. He was really nice. He seems like a very capable man. We hung out at her apartment for a lot of the day. Then went on a walk. Even found a nice park with lots of tulip trees. There was a playground there with many children. One interesting thing: it was like 70 degrees today and really sunny but the children were dressed in winter clothes with tights and jackets and even a few with toboggans! Other difference was lots of people walking around with big beer bottles and wine. We ate at a really pretty and yummy Italian restaurant. The price was really reasonable too! It means SO much having Kim here for a few days. It just helps the day go by quick. Otherwise, we've heard and can already imagine the days get long and lonely. BTW, thanks for the comments and emails--they help ALOT!
Tomorrow morning at 9am our time (2am Monday morning Eastern time) we have our SDA appoiment. Igor will take us and he said it should all go well and be done by 9:30. We hope to have the referral they will give from this appt Monday evening. If that's the case, we'll head out of Kiev Tuesday morning and head to the region where the kids are. We will be there for the remainder of the time. We have to leave Kim, but hopefully (and please pray for her as she is here by herself) that she will not be here very much longer! Love you all! Jenny & David

Sunday, the Lord's Day! 4/26

Good Morning, or good night Cinci time! This time difference is wierd. I've done some traveling, but always west where I was at an earlier time zone. Being ahead of those at home sort of makes me fell like I'm in the future. Like I said, wierd for me. I didn't sleep much on the plane over, so I laid down around 10:00pm last night and went right to sleep. Jenny went to bed around mid-night. I woke up around 6:30 and knew that was way to early, rolled over and went back to sleep until 9:30ish. Jenny is still asleep! Kim spoke to Igor, our Team leader last night and he told her he would call early and let us know what time we would meet today. Kim also told us that early would be around 11:00am. I guess she knows, cause he hasn't called yet and I'm glad cause Jenny is still asleep.

We are so glad to have Kim here to help us get settled in! After we meet Igor, we are planning on spending the day with her and Sasha, the Botto's new family member. It will make time go much faster being able to get out and about. The weather here is very nice!! Our apartment is clean and comfortable. Well, the bed isn't exactly comfortable, but like I told myself last night...it's better than the floor!

If you know me very well, I don't read much and I don't journal even less. Before I left, I challanged myself to do more of both. So on the plane ride, after finishing watching a movie, I opened a book called Reckless Faith that Jenny started reading and in the introduction, I found these verses that spoke to me.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt. 5:16 NASB
In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is, destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have iy forever, real and eternal. John 12:25 MSG

My prayer today is ... Father help me and encourage me to be a light for you and love you recklessly! Amen.

Today is the Lord's Day, and I am going to try and take every opportunity to worship Him. I woke up this morning and in my first prayers, I praised Him for who He is! I can't wait to see what he has in store for me today.

Thank you all for your prayers and following our journey to resue Natasha, Alona, and Makc. Please don't be afraid to post a comment. We love hearing from you!

Blessings,

David

We're in Kiev.

Well our first apartment guests just left. We hosted Kim and her new daughter Sashsa Botto! Actually we weren't such great hosts as they brought us pizza, toilet paper, cups and even a little chocolate for our bed pillows! Oh, I can't tell you how great it was to have them here. We were able to chat about life here (hoping it will be quick), cry a little and laugh a lot. Our driver, whose wife will be our facilitator was very nice. After a 17 hour flight, we were tired and a little overwhelmed, so hopefully we'll sleep well tonight. We talked to the kids (in KY) over Skype and actually got to see their beautiful faces. We love you three and miss you already!! Know we're sleeping under the same stars tonight (even though on different time zones). Kim and our head-dude facilitator guy are planning our day tomorrow. Not sure what it will be, but I can guarantee you we are happy to have them looking after us and Kim entertaining us. The work starts Monday. We'll have our SDA appt and then have to wait until evening to hopefully get our referral. Once we have the referral, we can travel to Khelmenitsky, the region where the kids are. We hope to be able to see them on Tuesday.

We're here!

Well not exactly here as in Ukraine, but we are here at Cinci airport. Thank you for all the prayers, well wishes, snacks, notes (which I'm saving for the airplane), dvds (Sarah & Bryan). A big shout-out to Sam for driving us to the airport and seeking to make it as pleasant as possible. We know so many of you were praying for us this morning. The kids gave us a big hug and headed to school with a smile on their face. I thought of the verse about carrying one another's burdens. I know many of you said you had on your heart to pray for the kids at home and the goodbye and it was obvious that you were carrying our burdens for us and the kids. Thank you for your faithful prayer!! Please continue to pray for strength, peace and joy for all of us. For those many who are loving on, caring for, and protecting our little ones at home, it means more than you could ever know. Thank you! Love, Jenny & David

Only 27 hours until we hit Cinci Aiport for Kiev

Does AAAACCKK properly describe the emotions right now?! :) Actually, everything is coming together, the kids are doing great with us leaving (Max is actually excited for us to go. HHMM...what does that mean?!), and God is giving me peace moment by moment the way it was intended.
I actually woke up with butterflies in my stomach. I was praying and the phone rings at like 6 this morning. It's Mark Botto whose wife is over in the Ukraine right now finishing up their adoption of a 16-yr-old gal. They are a great couple and Mark is so nice. He just wanted me to know that Kim is going to have to stay through the weekend, so the good news is that she will be there to greet us when we get to Kiev. What a blessing! To travel 17 hours and be greeted by a familiar face from KY??!! It's just too much. Thank you God! So, Kim is going to help us exchange money, get settled in, take us to a good restaurant, even maybe shop on Sunday.
Our appointment is Monday morning at 9am. Ukraine is 7 hours ahead of us on Eastern time. So, if you're up praying on Monday morning at 2am, we'd love for you to pray for our appointment :)! Until then, please join us in thanking the Lord for being so close to us (to us all) and for providing all we need and more. Please pray for tomorrow morning as we say goodbye to our babies here for a little while. Love, Jenny

Not a lot to tell,

but we do have our plane tickets. We are officially headed to the Ukraine on Friday, April 24th. Wow! God is continuing to take care of every single detail. Our van sold on Friday, so now we are in the search for a vehicle for 8. Our kids here are excited that their gym teacher is going to be staying with them and caring for them while we're gone. On her own, our oldest daughter, sweet Keely, is planning how take care of her sister and brother and the house while we're gone. Please pray that I won't have to be gone long. I want to be excited about the trip, but am letting fear of being away from my kids for ??? weeks, take away from this praise of the court date. Please also pray for our kids in the Ukraine. I called to tell them this week that we had a date and would be there soon. They were in tears because a month seems like forever to them. They kept asking, "but what is the date that we will be home with you in America?" Makc did tell me 2 or 3 times that he "would wait for us." Such the little man. I can't wait to get him home so that he can be a little boy!
We treasure your prayers and support. Love, Jenny

WE HAVE A TRAVEL DATE

I've dreamed of typing this post, and can't believe it's finally here. We have an appointment date in Ukraine for Monday, April 27th. Woo-hoo praise the Lord!!!! Thank you for your prayers and support. Please be praying for our children "here and there" as this all approaches. We love you, Jenny

Psalm 145:3 "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."