River of Thoughts

Christine Royse Niles — Changing the world one word at a time

The Day Lena Stole My Heart

Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just a week into our five-week adventure for Masha’s adoption.  For the next few weeks, I’m posting excerpts and a photo or two from each day.  Sometimes funny, and sometimes proof of how naive we were, I hope you’ll enjoy our little trip down memory lane… Friday, 25 May, 2007 – Culture Clash It was bound to happen at some point…we experienced our first real challenge related to culture and tradition today. In the end it will all be OK, but the day was not one of our better ones. … [When we […]

Endings

I wrote this to mark the beginning of the 2011-12 school year: …for this school year, for this day, my prayer is for two scared and excited girls to experience the amazing plans God has crafted just for them, to learn and grow into the amazing women God has formed them to be, and to rise above the distractions and temptations of culture to focus on God’s instruction for us…to love as Jesus loved, to give as Jesus gave, and to serve as Jesus served. Guess that’s my prayer for all of us… Today marks the end (for us anyway). […]

Mullets and Squatty Potties

Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just a week into our five-week adventure for Masha’s adoption.  For the next few weeks, I’m posting excerpts and a photo or two from each day.  Sometimes funny, and sometimes proof of how naive we were, I hope you’ll enjoy our little trip down memory lane… Thursday, 24 May 2007 – Ukrainian Mullet … We spent a little time [this afternoon] on the playground, but Masha was getting into a bit of a funk. Sveta came over and announced that Masha needed to use the bathroom, and offered to take her. Mark followed along, […]

Surreality

Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just a week into our five-week adventure for Masha’s adoption.  For the next few weeks, I’m posting excerpts and a photo or two from each day.  Sometimes funny, and sometimes proof of how naive we were, I hope you’ll enjoy our little trip down memory lane… Wednesday, 23 May 2007 – Surreality …although we’re settling into a routine, I’m having a little trouble adjusting to not having control over what’s going on. Add to that the anxiety of becoming a new parent, but not really being able to start parenting for real yet…I feel […]

Crocodiles and Chicken Chips

Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just a week into our five-week adventure for Masha’s adoption.  For the next few weeks, I’m posting excerpts and a photo or two from each day.  Sometimes funny, and sometimes proof of how naive we were, I hope you’ll enjoy our little trip down memory lane… Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 – Banana Split … things don’t always go as planned around here! Just as we were wrapping up at the internet café, we received a call from Sveta, our facilitator, telling us that a driver was waiting for us outside, and we needed […]