We are back in Kirovograd and have just finished visiting Nykolas. Chad has a cell phone that plays music and you should see Nykolas rock back and forth to the music...so cute!!!

Several of you have asked for our address when we return to the states....here is my mom and dad's address where we will be staying for several weeks....

935 Loganville Road
Loganville, GA 30052
(770) 466-1364

Nykolas is 15 months old but quite small. I am trying to figure out his size at the moment. I put some jeans on him that were 12 - 15months old size and they were too big. The clothes he has on say 6-9 months....but I believe he is somewhere in between....maybe 9 - 12 months......

Heading back to Kirovograd tomorrow....

….to our Nykolas! God has been gracious and this time away hasn’t seemed too long. We’ve spent a lot of our time sleeping in as we know those days are coming to a close! We also took in a violin concert at the Philharmonic Hall downtown. It was a bit intimidating for me as we went by ourselves with no translator…I always have this fear of being yelled at and not understanding why a spectacle is being made of me….but you know my husband…boldly going where angels fear to tread…and it was delightful. We would love it if our son had the propensity for the arts that many Ukrainians seem to possess.

Last evening we went out for Chinese food with friends here who are facilitating interdenominational church planting efforts throughout Ukraine….Mandy and Chad Smith. I knew Mandy slightly from our church in Atlanta. Wonderful to get to know them better and meet one of their three (yes, three) little ones! Mandy is my hero!

Today we spent all afternoon walking and exploring Kiev. The sun was tonic for the soul….we ate at a wonderful little restaurant on Independence Square, discovered a French kid’s shop and found Nykolas a sweet fuzzy blanket with a bear on it, bought pampers (I told Chad it seemed more real as we purchased pampers but he thought it will really become real when we have to CHANGE the diapers!), and of course, stopped for cappuccino. I really love Kiev…..maybe someday God will bring us here for a season.

Chad and I have both been reading all the comments everyone has been leaving. It really lifts our spirits to know of all the prayers, love and support pouring our way. Family and friends are the greatest treasures God has granted in this life. A glimpse of eternity in our hearts!

I’ve added a few more pictures to the slideshow….I know everyone wants more but at the moment we only have dial-up and just adding six pics at a time takes forever! Just click on the "pictures" link on the post below…..

New Mommy ~ first day we met

New Mommy first day we met
Originally uploaded by Silverbrae.

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It's a boy!!!!!!

Nykolas was born December 22, 2003 and will be our son by April 6th. All that we are waiting for is the court system to grant us full custody.

We met him on Wednesday, March 23 and he is absolutely beautiful! Chad told me later when the nurse brought him in that "he took his breath away"! Of course that confession made me cry. He is about 20lbs, with ash brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes and the longest eyelashes you have ever seen. We are so in love....when we aren't with him, we are flipping through the millions of pictures we have already taken....our thoughts constantly on Nykolas!

I haven't been able to upload any pics yet but will work on it as soon as I can. We have traveled to Kirovograd (in the middle of Ukraine- about 4 hours south of Kiev) to meet him and have only just been able to get to an internet cafe.

We are able to visit him every day from 1:00-3:00 in the afternoons. He has responded so well....even the first day we met he didn't cry except for a wee bit then he was happy as could be laughing at his daddy and Uncle Yuri making funny faces at him and playing with matchbox cars. He enjoys cuddling and leans forward to touch faces. We know this next ten days or so are probably the best for Nykolas to get used to us and the big change that is coming but we cannot wait to have him as ours FOREVER!!

Please keep praying that all the paperwork goes through flawlessly. We have been absolutely in awe of this process. Yuri is an angel straight from heaven....he loves the Lord and has guided us beautifully. As we left the NAC on Monday we realized that our case number was 13675 and everyone else's that day was about 12,000....we jumped over 1000 couples in the line up. I also saw many mothers-to-be crying as they left unable to find even semi-healthy children to visit....and God gave us the perfect boy on our first visit! I don't feel deserving of this gift but with many grateful tears I am embracing it!

Peace that passes understanding....

We arrived Sunday afternoon and our facilitator, Yuri, collected us from the airport.  He took us on a tour of Kiev.  Beautiful city…..old architecture and lots of trees.  It feels a lot more European and less Russian than I expected.  People are friendly and patient with our lack of language skills.  Our apartment is warm and cozy…small but perfect!  Yuri owns the flat and his wife is an artist…..so she has lovely taste with loads of bright colors, which you all know I love.  Chad and I are really enjoying being together….tea, coffee and chatting time…not something we have very often.  We are within walking distance of a mall, a market, a grocery store, Independence Square (where the revolution took place not too long ago) and several restaurants.  Great location….we both really love the feel here.

 

Our appointment went well.  I am still in awe of the peace I feel….must be all your prayers!  We were at the NAC (National Adoption Center) for three or fours hours….mostly waiting with lots of Germans and Italians here to pick their children as well….exchanging smiles in a shared journey.  Amazing that I had no tingle of adrenaline as we waited…I am so sure God will orchestrate all….no worry or control I posses will change this process and all that is already planned out.  We are off to visit with a child this Wednesday…please pray for God’s wisdom!  Our first town is only about a four hour drive south from Kiev….a chance to see the countryside.

On our way....

H & C
Originally uploaded by Silverbrae.

It has all started feeling more real as I cleaned out our closets and drawers….a semi-vacant house makes things seem more temporary. I have a feeling our life will be ‘temporary’ for a while. I think it will be good…..life is what you make of it, eh?! I cannot believe that very soon Chad and I will be parents!!! So exciting and scary! Carl Whittaker said "It is in families that we are broken and it is in families that we are healed." Here is to brokeness and healing.

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At the Taj

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India! Amazing trip....
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