River of Thoughts

 Exactly five years ago, we were in Ukraine, just two weeks 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… Saturday, 26 May, 2007 – Fireworks Everything was totally back to normal today… After lunch, we headed to the park by the sea, now known as “Crocodile Park.” This park is full of rides and attractions, and the vendors were ready for a busy Saturday at the […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More

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). […]

Read More

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, […]

Read More

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 […]

Read More