Spending time with our new family members!!

Greetings!
We are working into getting into a rhythm and spending about 2 hours a day with Katarina and Nathaniel. Today Katarina told each us "I love you" in English. She is very smart and independent. Nathaniel is just adorable, with his big brown eyes and smile. He adores his sister but he is truly warming up to his new brothers and sister.
We are enduring and God has brought His people into our life here to encourage us.
We are learning life on the Odessa metro system for 2 hours a day. But it is worth it.
The kids are picking up so much of the culture and language it is fun to watch and listen to them.
Tonight we ate varenyky--kinda like a ravioli without the sauce.

Blessings to all!
Mark

Meet our new children

Greetings all!
We have got to spend 2 days with our new children. They are calling us "poppa" and "momma". They are healthy, beautiful, and so bright. We hoping to see them tomorrow or Monday at the latest. What a joy to get to know them. Everything is moving ahead on the paperwork. We even filled our their official paperwork for their passport. It was strange seeing their name written out and then signing them.
We have settled into an apartment that is great for the kids and us to get some normalcy.

In Odessa,
Mark and Diane

Ukraine... 9 days and waiting.

Greetings!
Still waiting.... We had a glimmer of hope today but no word yet. Elton John got turned down from Ukraine today...We haven't yet. Maybe they spent all their time crafting their denial for him and now they can help us out with a girl :). We visited an Orthodox church complex today including a catacombs filled with dead Orthodox priests and icons...very interesting. And then went to the Russian/German war of 1941-1945 monuments (seems like someone is missing, wonder what Gen. Patton would think of that)
We saw up close the 'mother motherland' statue, very cool. The kids are doing so good and willing to try new things (there are lots of new things to experience). We tried the metro system by ourselves today which we did well. Nothing is in English here so it hard to decipher. Though I learned from my friend Robert that the language is based on Greek so now I look at it differently and i am now picking it up much quicker at least in written form like the metro. The kids are picking up words as well.
Waiting...waiting. We did some school today so it was good to have some normal time.
Hope all is well...
Mark

Waiting...sightseeing....

Greetings all!

The weather has been awesome here so we have been able to venture out a little each day. Usually to the market. Yesterday we went to see Saint Sophia Orthodox church, St. Andrews Orthodox, and an Orthodox monastery. We also got to climb a bell tower and ran into a couple from New Orleans (currently in Germany). So few people speak English is was good to converse in our own language. We went to a different Mcdonalds and also got ice cream (try ordering a Mcflurry to a Ukrainain). We have been a here a week and feels like we are burning time. We are learning patience unpatiently.
We are praying for good news on Monday.
mark

Ukraine for Katarina

Greetings!
We continue to be in wait mode. We ventured out some today and saw a couple of sights and then visited a friend who lives in Kiev. We had dinner, wonderful conversation, and the kids got to play. A big first for the kids, their first taxi ride (2X) and a Ukrainian taxi at that...driving here is more like the Indy 500 and demolition derby (with horns) mixed together. They have more than their quota of Lexus's, benz, and beemers. Thankful we have internet now and are able to feel more connected. Thanks Jason! We are hoping to hear soon.
Mark

Safely in Ukraine...waiting

Greetings all!

We made it safe in Ukraine. Most of you get our e-mail so I won't be redundant. We are anxious yet cautious. We probably have never felt more out of control in our life.
SDA, language, culture, and no child the first day....
It is very humbling...
I will try to upload a picture or two...
Mark