WE ARE CRASHING THE SALT LAKE AIRPORT

Attention all people who love Becky and Kevin! Becky and Kev have graciously invited all of us to be at the airport when Max and Sergei arrive home. We are excited to have a BIG crowd. I am sure Kevin and the boys will be exhausted but this is a great chance for us to see the big homecoming before Becky and Kevin head home with their little family to get settled in.

I have a big suprise for the boys and Kevin so if you will send me an email at dana@equityutah.com, or comment here and let me know that you are coming to the airport and HOW YOU ARE RELATED TO MAX AND SERGEI (friend, aunt, cousin, etc.) that would be great.

It looks like they will be arriving some time on Saturday - when we have more details I will let you know. Can't wait!

UPDATE: It is looking like it may be Monday before Kevin and the boys make it home. The homecoming date is a moving target but we will keep you posted. If you think you may make send me an email or comment here. . .

Kevin...don't scream

Dramamine: check.
Medical Exams: check.
US Embassy Appointment: tomorrow.
Rearrange flights: Booked, as in SOOOO booked but we don't have seats.  Might have to wait to leave Ukraine until Monday JUNE 4th.
Arrival day: Good question!

Puke is lame...

The boys are OUT of the orphanage....FOREVER!!!! That is the good news...the bad news: Sergei puke the two hour drive to the airport, puke for the entire 90 min flight to Kiev and puke on the drive from the airport to the apartment in Kiev. They haven't even left Ukraine yet....poor Sergei...poor Kevin. Maksym is doing good but it sounds like they not be here on June 1st, maybe the 2nd. I will let you know as soon as I know more!

Official Day: 34 , Kevin gone 37 days

Memorial Day...yes, of course I cried...did you even need to ask? As we sat around the graves of those we loved and miss and gave thanks for all the US soldiers and their families, I was overwhelmed with emotion. We live in a country where we have freedoms and rights, were you really can make it. Men and women serve and sacrifice so our families and children are safe, so we remain free. I looked at my cute brother RJ and his beautiful wife (my super-sis Lisa) and family and am so grateful for all they have given. Grateful to my sister in law Alane, who has served our country with her whole heart since she was just 18. Gregory, who serves with so much honor, I am honored just to know him. A good boy who has grown to be a great man. To my Grandpas and Grandma Merry who served our country and who are in heaven now, still watching over and protecting my family. To all the soldiers who served, left their families, have broken hearts and whose families have suffered because of your service, thank you. It is your sacrifices that make this country great. It is your service that gives me the freedom and power to adopt these sons of mine. Sergei and Maksym become official citizens of the United States of America as soon as their feet touch US soil this Friday. I could not be more excited or more proud for them to be citizen of this great nation. My grandpa Bud Sobieski was on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He saw the thousands of dead “boys”, our US soldiers, on the sand and in the water, who gave everything they had for this country. My grandpa told my mom he was an “undecorated, unrecognized solider, just a regular solider.” To all the “boys”, men and women who serve our our great Nation....you are not just a soldier, you are our heroes.

Kevin and the boys leave the orphanage today, finally. Get birthcertificates and passport and stay overnight in Doneske. Tomorrow they complete medical exams and go to the US Embassy to complete more paperwork. Sleep in Kiev that night and wake at 4AM on the 31st to take the four airplane rides and one overnight stop in MN before they make it home to Utah, USA on June 1st , home of the brave and land of the free!

One last night...

I have some shopping to complete today.  The last of the gifts and their gift bags must be ready for tomorrow morning when we say dahs-day-vhan-YA to well – everyone.  I find everything on the list but when I get back home to set the clock on the desk pen set I discover that the battery is dead.  I go back to the store but they don’t sell batteries just pen sets with clocks in them that need batteries.  I try four other stores (two in the big four story mall) but no luck.  Giving a gift that isn’t working seems lame so I call up Alice for some advice on where the battery might be found.  Turns out I’ve been walking past a watch shop for four weeks that is right next to Natalka (okay pizza GREAT WiFi) and that watch shop has the battery – thank you Alice.

Gifts are go

So it seems that everyone is getting a gift of thanks from us as we all finally leave Ukraine except nothing for Alice.  So I gave her the bike.  I am a little sad about losing the bike but not knowing that I even had a bike Alice had mentioned that she really wanted to get one someday.  I can’t pack the thing and it is too big for most of the kids at the orphanage so it seemed fitting.  Please be safe!

I brought everything to the orphanage for the last visit just in case there was anything that Sergei or Maksym really wanted to do.  I was hoping that we could just kick the ball around and do some flips with as many kids as possible.  Last day that they will be about to do any of that with these kids.  Thankfully that is exactly what Sergei (and Maksym after his nap) had in mind.  Great day.

It is hard these last days to see Big Volva – there are not words.


I drop off a gift for the couple that I've been buying ice cream from in the park - they've been very nice.  On the way back Daniel from the AK-47 pellet shooting tent stops me on his BMX bike to say good bye.  That was nice of him - I ask him why he isn't manning the tent today and he says there is a holiday.  Now if I knew any Russian I could say what the holiday is.

Our remaining schedule now that the waiting period and holiday are both over looks like this:  Birth certificates then to Donest’k for the one day RED passports for Sergei and Maksym.  Then Wednesday to Kyiv with the possibility of an embassy appointment same day (maybe) – work that magic Sasha.  We also have a doctor’s visit but we could be done and ready for a plane home by Friday or Thursday if all of the above goes really fast like it did for the Gardiners.  Saturday day is our boys and girls Mama’s birthday so let’s shoot for that!

If I don’t post for a bit know that it is because we are getting it DONE.

Triple post! (три в одном)

May 25^th – Mud soccer

A front has moved through Mariupol and so the heat and sun has been replaced with cool (almost cold) and clouds.  I get a late start to the orphanage – I seem to procrastinate the start of the days few events.  Waiting too long to go to bed then waking up later then I could and then rolling down the hill late.  This also means that I’m leaving the orphanage later than five.  Once I get there and we start playing it makes it easy to want to stay.

Just before landing

We start today in the bird room to give the other family some time together in the book room.  Even with the cold and the staff warning Maksym of the cold he convinces Sergei to get him some pants and a long sleeve shirt so that we can go outside and try out some more time with the soccer ball.  Denis and Luca join us as does Big Volva.  We kick the ball around and Luca plays keep away from all of us – he is very good a juggling the ball and moving one way while getting the ball past you in another direction.  Volva (not big but Miller) gives Maksym a ride on the back of the bike using the bike rack for a seat.

Soccer field and basketball court
(I made Denis get in a photo)

All too soon it is time to go plus it has started to rain again.  Back at home I go for a walk in the rain to try out the pizza place’s WiFi next to the town McDonalds.  Verdict – it is slow.  I do find the local UPS partner in town.

A shot from overnight

May 26^th суббота

I had big plans the other day about going on the Bike Day ride this morning in Mariupol.  I guess I should start by going to bed early.  It was that or the cold or the low online turnout (three people) but I missed the ride.  Next year for sure.  I do make it to the orphanage so bonus points for managing that.

Today is the day of the computer – online games and saying hi to friends who come in to visit.

Kindle has worked with with Maksym and friends (Luca here)

On the ride home I take Lenin all the way down the hill and riding back up on a parallel street I find the city museum.  It is right around the corner from the hotel (the new hotel across from the apartment, the hotel whose name I don’t remember and I refuse to walk to the window right know to find the name out).  Just know at this point that there is a museum and that it closes at four.

May 27^th Destroy after reading

Pentecost Sunday – up early for the bike ride to Mass at Mary Mother of God across town.  Midpoint of the ride I get a flat tire.  Go home or go forward?  Go forward!  I start by walking because I have a lot of time still before nine o’clock.  So east I walk and walk and walk and then walk some more.  Blisters on my heels so no more walking.  I am now riding my bike around Eastern Europe with a flat rear tire and making an incredible racket because of the back rack is jumping all over the place.  I get lost, almost leave Mariupol, and get chased by at least three packs of wild dogs.  I feel like I am finally Ukrainian.  I’m late for church but in time to stay.  The babushkas can sing.  I know Alleluia and Peace by with you and it is enough.

The road to Ahrobaza from the other day

Now back outside on the east side of town I should just call a cab or better yet Sasha – the man needs a day off for once and besides I’m soooo Ukrainian right now (or so I think).  Ride the bike home.  So I’m riding home (and remember I’m a bit east of my home street) when somebody yells my name twice.  Well once is just your imagination but twice well I had to look.  It is Luca one of the older boys from the orphanage!  He’s the one with the sweet soccer moves.  Anyway I say hi and show him my awesome rear tire and then back down the street rattling along the way.  That is one tough tire – 30km on just the rim and the tire and the sidewall still looks brand new.  Can I just say that I was happy to be home in the apartment – thank you Lord!

Off to the motorcycle shop where I bought the bike last week to have the flat fixed.  I should have the tools to do this myself but I don’t have the patch kit and there are no quick releases on the Azimut.  Constantine is there again (he put my pedals on the bike last time and knows a little English).  So this place doesn't have spare tubes, just bikes (and motorcycles and tillers).  No problem as my new friend Motorcycle Sasha (also from the shop and not to be confused with Driver Sasha or Kiev\Facilitator Sasha) knows where another bike shop is in Mariupol that carries tubes.  Why do I call this Sasha Motorcycle Sasha?  That’s right because he has a motorcycle.  And because he and Constantine aren’t sure that I’ll find the place on mine own.  The right solution – get on the back and let Motorcycle Sasha take you there.  Heez YEAH!

Mariupol at 65kph is so choice.  The kph makes it sound even faster.

All of this cost me two Cokes and a beer.  I’ll pay that every time.

I guess I should say something about the day’s orphanage visit since that is the whole reason I am here.  No fear I did make it down the hill.  Things were quiet today for the most part – most of the time it was just the three of us out back kicking the ball around.  Sergei and I got in a good game of one on one on the ‘basketball court’ with a little help for Sergei from Maksym.  Sergei won both games – the first 8 to 11 and the second something like 20 to null (see above dude I am starting to get a little tired).

I didn’t take any pictures today.  I just wanted a day where we could hang out and kick that ball around like it was just any other normal day so it was nice to take a little break from the moment capturing.

Alright I hear the Hare Krishna band coming up Lenin – time to head to the park for a tiramisu ice-cream bar from the Ukrainian\Polish couple in the blue tent on the left.

Sweetest couple in town are at the blue tent

(Happy late Mothers Day MOM)

Day 30 of adoption, Day 34 of Kevin being gone...

Don't let me buy a vinyl machine...

This is a post I should have commissioned Katherine Ward to write for me. She is a true poet and could bring my emotions to paper, evoke tears and she is an editor so my Mom would not shake her head at my grammar and spelling. Katherine has a real job, so hold on, because I am just going to go for it on my own...

I landed in Salt Lake Monday, exhausted but so happy to have my feet on US soil and to be in the same country as my girls. My stomach was in knots making the drive home to where Suzy, Pearl and Charlotte were waiting for me. A huge banner hung across my front door to welcome me home, which my mom painstakingly had the world, my plane and my travel route marked out. (Mom, you rule and OCD is a gift.) I walked in and held my beautiful daughters, smelled their hair and touched my face to their soft skin...it had been so long. They held me tight and held no grudges for me leaving...their sweet hearts just wanted to know where their Daddy and brothers were.

(Birthday envelope invite...yep, I cried. My sweet neighbors love us)

My house was clean... NO...sparkling! I had no idea my floors and windows could ever look like that! My lawn mowed and edged, my fridge and pantry stocked. My sisters, Mom and Grammy Pammy had organized every cupboard, installed every target closet shelving system you could buy and loved my baby girls each and everyday with their whole hearts and then a little more. I was speechless, touched, overwhelmed. Every piece of laundry was clean and put away...not even one dirty sock...if that doesn't make a girl cry with joy, nothing will. We skyped with Kevin and I know his heart was heavy not being there with his girls. He swallowed his tears and gave the girl “googley eyes” on the TV to make them laugh.

I am so grateful, so grateful for all that we have, so grateful we have you in our lives. Our parents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Friends...dear friends, old and new, neighbors and all the strangers we have not met, who are not considered strangers in our hearts. If I could wrap my arms around you all, I would. I cried as I hugged Suzy's Pre-K teachers, Mrs. Knudsen and Mrs. Tatum on the last day of school, they have touched our lives just as each and everyone of you has. You love us, all seven of us, unconditionally, with your whole selves, with your open checkbooks, with your open arms with your prayerful hearts, with your words, spoken and written, of encouragement and love. You love us and I cannot write the the words; love, gratitude, thanks, touched, moved, overwhelmed, enough to convey the feelings in my heart. My heart is so full, my chest literally aches. (No Dana...it is not a medical thing...)

(Charlotte getting ready for her two brothers...Bring it!)

I cannot read a quote or a sappy saying without thinking of all you who have literally changed seven lives. CHANGED, you have changed our lives. You have brought children into our arms that have always belonged... from an ocean away. Our daughters have been protected both physically and spiritually, by host of angels in heaven and on earth during all of this. Thank you, with no other words and tears running down my cheeks, thank you.

As I read quotes pasted on Facebook pages and slapped on every little decorative board from Harmons to Target, I stand there, read it, cry a bit (no matter where I am) and think.... “Wow, that is a good one, I should have that laminated for the house.”

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”

“In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”

and the list goes on and on....don't let me buy a vinyl machine.

I read these and I think of all of you. I wish I could list you each by name but the list is too long. From Grandpa John who maintained the yard and picked up the groceries, Aunt Robynne who empied Costco and hand delivered it to my door, to all my neighbors who brought flower, desserts (Emily...never make me those cupcakes again, I ate all 6) clothes and toys. To all of you and all thoses in-between, thank you.  Thank you for changing our lives, loving us and praying for our family, thank you for making this dream come true. Six more days until we are all together. Please pray and then pray some more for completed paperwork, safe and calm travels. (Max is 6 and has never been in a car before...four plane rides might be a little rough) Love you all!