We are Home as long as in Ukraine

51 days home.

We have reached a milestone. We have now been back in America as many days as we were in Ukraine. It sure is better here!!!!!!!

In Ukraine we encountered a lot of things good and bad. I will list a few of our most memorable encounters.

Favorite:
George and Alah and family.

Ghena the driver.

Our landlords on left bank.

Friends and children from the orphanage

Beautiful countrysides

Getting comments on the blog each morning and feeling cheered on in our journey.

Leaving Ukraine to go to Russia and even better leaving Ukraine to go HOME.



Least favorite:
Dirty bathrooms, streets, busses, cities, and apartment entryways.

Being rejected by Alina and not knowing for sure what caused the sudden switch in her desires.

Dishonesty, corruption, betrayal and Ukrainian people who will do anything for money.

Alcohol everywhere, alcoholism, cigarette smoke and used drug needles.

In the 51 days at home we have had some trials and joys in the family.
Here is a list of the ones in the forefront of our hearts.

Joys:
Seeing our children and grandchildren at home and trying to make up for all the hugs and time together that we missed.

Moments of brother and sister bonding at home.

Hot showers with clean water, fluffy towels, my washer and dryer, sinks and gardens.

Not having to share a toilet with anyone else (especially young boys who don’t know the rules of lift, aim and flush.)

The look of utter confusion on Vitaly’s face when Dave called me “Honey.” He said “Mom not honey!” We tried to explain terms of endearment but he didn’t buy it. He now calls Dave ‘Ketchup” I think that we will give all the kids condiment names and put them on the Christmas gift tags :)

Making new friends that we now have more in common with.


Trials:
Lice from the Orphanage (Spencer had it and before we realized it 2 weeks later, so did Scott and Alisa. They are gone now, after a lot of hassle. I recommend taking lice shampoo and taking care of any problems before you get back to your nice clean home.)

Trying to teach Vitaly the value of work and all that goes along with that. I keep thinking that it is getting better but then we have another meltdown when it comes time to help out.

Constantly wanting to eat, even right after a big meal and then refusal of perfectly good food because it is not familiar.

Tattling and the new boys being more interested in enforcing the family rules with others than following the rules themselves.

Overall, the adjustment at home has been easier than we anticipated. Life is good, Happiness is readily available and Family is where it is at.

Love
Christy