Then and Now

These are pics we took last year on Christmas Day at the detsky dom.

I was so happy to have this "forbidden" picture, because I thought that would be the last time I saw Matthew and would only have the memories of our time with him.

And here we are a year later celebrating Christmas with both of our kiddos. So fun!!

I actually am thankful that we didn't have a white Christmas this year. Think they are too???

Matthew was "over the moon" to have a tractor like Grandpa Jerry's!!

365 days and 2011 years - Two gifts from God!

Three hundred and sixty five days ago (Christmas Day 2011), almost to the minute as I type this, we left the orphanage in Sevastopol with our beautiful daughter. I have to say that it was a little overwhelming to realize that we were now parents and responsible for this child. She has been a blessing in our lives and a Christmas gift from God.

Two thousand and eleven years ago, that same loving heavenly father gave us all the most amazing Christmas gift of all - His only son Jesus. May you be blessed by the love of Christ today and always!

Matthew

Matthew is doing just fine. He is a little grouchy at times but that is all. His eyes look awful, but the surgery went well. He may be able to ditch the glasses soon.

Mark

Thank you Jane and prayer request for Wednesday

First, I want to say thank you to one of our blog followers, Jane! Your comment about my last post was so appreciated. Many days, I feel pretty alone in the parenting thing. Most of our friends are long past the toddler stage with their kids and between work and family, I just don't have much time to make new connections with other moms for support and encouragement. Jane, thank you for sharing your day with me and reminding me that I'm not the only one who has days like that.

Next, we just ask for your prayers for Matthew on Wednesday. He will be having eye surgery. We hadn't anticipated this since he'd already had corrective surgery in Ukraine back in January. Although you wouldn't suspect anything if you look at Matthew, he does have some difficulty when he looks up/sideways or down. So, we report to the hospital tomorrow morning at 7:30am. Given how traumatized he was last time we were there, I don't anticipate that he will be happy when he sees where we are going. Please pray for peace for our little guy as well as compassion for all those caring for him, wisdom and discernment for the doctors. And would you include a little prayer for mom's peace as well? :-)  Maia will be spending the day with Nana and Papa and she's looking forward to that!

Today we were "those" parents

You know the ones...

Their kids are running wild.  You wonder why they don't keep them under better control. Don't they believe in discipling their children, setting boundaries, teaching them respect? Really, those parents shouldn't take their kids out in public if they can't behave. Don't they realize how disrespectful it is to others?

Yep, I've had those thoughts about other people's kids. But today, it was time to eat my words. Because it was MY kids who were doing the acting up. And I just could not seem to get a handle on them.

Our Sunday school Christmas program was today. Maia wasn't feeling great (another cold) so she was cranky. When she doesn't feel good, she likes to just lie down on the floor. So, that's what she did. Took off her shoes and laid down by the Christmas tree in the front of the church. Matthew?  Well, he could not sit/stand still. He was all over the place, trying to stick his finger in the burning Advent candles, fighting with other kids - oh, it was a beautiful sight! Finally, one of his SS teachers had to pull him onto her lap and hold him there as he argued with her. So nice! I had the absolute WORST headache by the time we left church.

I know that our kids are not going to be perfect. But, I'd prefer not to be the one that everyone is saying "Thank goodness that's not my kid" about. My only consolation? Maia was not the little girl who was standing in front lifting her skirt up and looking through the see-through/tulle part of it while she was singing.

Cookie Monsters

Last week, I had baked some molasses cookies and they were on a cooling rack on the kitchen table. I left the kids with Mark while I ran an errand. Was gone maybe 30 minutes. Entered the house to find two smiling kids waiting for me at the top of the stairs - cookie crumbs all over their faces. Dad was on the phone in the living room. I asked the kids "Did you eat some cookies?" All innocence, they shook their heads "no." Mark hung up the phone and went into the kitchen (I was still in the entry). He asked, "How many cookies were on the table?" I answered "At least a dozen - how many are there now?" Any guesses what the answer was?

ZERO!

Yep, the kids had been busy. We did find three half-eaten cookies hidden in a toy car. There were some very sugared up kids that evening. They could hardly sit still to eat dinner. And all that molasses? Dad enjoyed the laxative effects the following day. :-)

I was wrong

I wrote this Dec. 18th 2010 as a comment to one of our blogs.

Mark and Melanie said...

Today it was hard to leave after seeing Maia. When we where leaving we helped Maia take off her coat and boots. All the other kids in her group were coming in from outside at the same time. Some of them wanted us to help take off their coat and boots too. They waited for one to get the coat off and when they left to put it away the next one came for help. They were all smiles when we helped them. At the end Melanie was holding Mathew and he had a great big smile on his face. Melanie did not have such a nice smile, she had tears in her eyes because we can't take him home too. We just don't have the resorces to take care of two kids who need extra attention and medical care to grow up to be their best. This is hard on Melanie, she wants to help these kids so much.
 

Bad Bloggers

We have been doing a lot the past few weeks. we need to blog more and keep everyone up to date. So this is an update for you..
It looks like Maia will need some work done on her eye again. The left eye is not staying corrected like we had hoped. Matthew will need the same thing done too. That is the bad news. The good news is Matthew is getting a power wheels tractor for christmas and Maia is getting a kitchen with a stove and microwave. Then they will be getting lots of small gifts too.


mark

Happy Adoption Day!!

One year ago today, we sat in a court room in Sevastopol asking a very kind woman judge and two "jurors" to approve our petition to adopt a little girl named Anastasia. And our family of two became a family of three. This was the first picture we shared with you of Maia Anastacia Hansen.

It has been such a joy to see our sweet girl grow and blossom over the past year! So many changes... from a child who really didn't like to be held or touched to a little snuggle bug. From saying just a few words to singing the ABCs (ok, she skips a few letters but I don't mind). From being an orphan to having a forever family who treasures her beyond compare!! We love you Miss Maia and are truly blessed to call you our daughter!!!  Happy Adoption Day!

Finally back on line and one year ago

Gosh... we've been without internet access for about three weeks now. It's good to be back online. I'll try to get caught up in the next few days. I may back date a few entries from last month, not sure yet. But, just want to remember for right now.

This is Mark's post from one year ago today. We had been in Sevastopol for a few days already and were getting to know our sweet girl.

Saturday - December 4, 2010

Well we had a good visit today. It was about an hour and 15 minutes. When we saw her she was outside playing with her group, she saw Melanie and came to her for a big hug. We walked and played on the swing, her best toy was a tape mesure Melanie brought to find her size. It was a sewing tape that has a spring loaded retract feature that she loved.

After that we went to the market for a good suply of food for the week.
I understand it is snowing back home, it is about 55 here, neeener neeener neeener.

Mark

 

And here's a pic from that day.

 

 

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What a difference a year makes! Love that sweet girl of ours and am so glad she's home. Although I have to say, I wouldn't mind if the weather was nice enough that we could be dressed the way we were one year ago today - lol!!