tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86998990543025503912024-03-05T05:27:54.584-05:00A life of attempted obedience and pure worshipThis is our story of 2 people, with 2 kids, a love for Jesus Christ, a heart for missions, Poland, its people, and a call to adopt.Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-72568658917105559202012-03-15T10:44:00.000-04:002012-03-15T10:44:01.476-04:002 months and 9 days laterWell it has been exactly that long since we arrived home with Victoria. After making the long trip with 3 kids under 5, we were obviously exhausted yet had a rush of energy once we arrived at our final destination and were greeting by an amazing crowd of friends and family members with signs, balloons, stuffed animals and plenty of hugs. It was truly an honor and a blessing to be loved by so many folks that they would give up their time just to see us arrive home. The following Sunday was the same scene at our home church.<br />
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Since then, we have been adapting to life as a team of 5. The girls are learning to share and have a love hate relationship, meaning they are pretty much acting like family already.<br />
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Victoria has made several trips to different doctors and specialist, getting things checked out checked on. God has moved in these visits. One concern that she had in Poland, disappeared somewhere over the ocean because when we arrived home, the doctors, based on what we had told them and they read about her, were baffled when test showed no issue with her bladder and kidneys.<br />
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Our family friends and church continue to be a source of encouragement and blessing to us. Free childcare, cards, and continued financial support are tremendous blessing as we continue to travel to doctors and therapists.<br />
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Look us up on FB if you want to see pictures or have any questions.Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-31544387205490335832011-12-30T16:48:00.000-05:002011-12-30T16:48:58.182-05:00One week to go!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it has been a few days since we last posed on here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a whole lot to share right off hand, so I’ll give it to you in a list and see what I can remember that someone, not everyone, will care about, find amusing, or maybe just tolerable.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We have moved to a new apartment in Warsaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only has one bedroom, but the overall apartment is bigger and has an elevator, washer/dryer, bathtub, microwave, and is closer to things that the kids like as well as being cheaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the group of apartments we originally asked to stay at, but that’s water under the bridge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The other day, after 4 weeks of struggle, we discovered that Victoria will ride in the stroller without dying as long as we do not strap her down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it does not come without its bumps and bruises as she flops around and occasionally will fall out while we are walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can handle a cry of pain better than a meaningless, temper tantrum cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The Hard Rock Café was the scene of the latest chicken leg massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate there for reasons such as it tastes American, they speak English, and they have free refills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh ordered 2 chicken drumsticks that we were told would come out fried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was lost somewhere in translation because what showed up was a plate full of 6 baked and BBQ’d chicken legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was thrilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She left with BBQ sauce on her mouth, her shirt, my shirt, her eye, and the booth we were sitting in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to see her with a rack of ribs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Etihad airways have THE most overplayed, annoying commercial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a strong word, but I think I am beginning to hate that airline.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Robert, the missionary, and I have been out doing some more preaching and tract distribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been able to put the Gospel into the hands of thousands of people since we have been here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe just one will be reached and seek out God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert has been in Poland preaching and teaching for 13 years and says he has seen very little fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is bold for doing what he does.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Ryleigh has been able to play several times with Robert’s boys, who are 5 and 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She calls them her “best friends in Poland.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is sweet and all, but they are her only friends, yet she means it genuinely. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>This past Saturday we were fortunate to have a big Christmas dinner with the preacher from the English speaking Baptist church we have been attending on Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was delicious and just like home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also spent the night and went to church with them the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Have you ever sat in a church service and felt like the preacher was preaching the sermon right to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I have while we have been here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past Sunday, there were only 10 people at church and we were 5 of them. The preacher and his wife and then 2 folks from the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh, the wife and our kids were upstairs, leaving 4 of us in the service, the preacher, the translator and 2 Poles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He preached in English despite being fluent in Polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sermon, in English, was just for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>To get more minutes on our Polish phone, we had to go to the Plus store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lady at the desk shook her head when I asked if she spoke English, I responded with “Oh no, I don’t speak much Polish.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then responded in Polish something about being in Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did she give me a snide remark about being in Poland and not speaking Polish, if she did not understand English?<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Mama mama mama!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody’s mama around here with Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, Leigh, and even herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We have been able to battle the loneliness here by being fortunate to Skype with the Lawrence, Bowlin, Mullett, Corbin, Hyatt, Landrum, Hombirg, Jameson, Cawley, Phillips, Slade, and Tackett families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to you all for making time to chat with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Victoria, who at times is the most loving child here, decided to give Ryleigh a kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean open mouth, several second rubbing and gnawing of the chin and cheek area. It was funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Getting from our apartment to the mall means we have to go under the highway and through the tunnels, which lead you to a whole new underground world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is well lit and clean with plenty of nice people, and some helpful scary guys, that are willing to help out a struggling American family for a small donation to the beer fund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s worth it to help get the stroller up and down stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing like you hear about the underground subways and stuff in NYC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the elevator back up to the main level, smells of a delightful Polish urine aroma. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Why is it that most every escalator in this city is out of order the day we need to use it?<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Smyk is the name of the toy store with indoor playground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is interesting that most kids, both boys and girls, come to the playground and take off their pants and play in tights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long johns, pretty sure they are tights.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Here in the apartment, we have one machine that is both a washer and a dryer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fascinating and awesome that we don’t have to wear drying rack jeans that stand on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>KFC has been a delicacy here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if we are just hungry or if the one in Cynthiana, which we hardly eat, would taste good here?<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Keeping true to our form, the National museum we went to visit was closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is 3 museums, and 2 out of 3 closed on the day we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they did have lost of military vehicles and helicopters and more outside to look at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tonight, we had Dr. Pete come over at the recommendation of Robert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Pete brought his table to the apartment and provided a massage and back crack to Leigh and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my first time so it was probably more enjoyable to someone who can relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But having foreign men rub all over me tends to make me tense up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Today, Friday, we went to an indoor Aqua Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fun time and not too crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our taxi driver took us there and went in with us to make sure we got where we needed to be despite his limited English proficiency and our even lower level of Polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a pool side for swimming laps, a kiddie pool and some other kid friendly areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 2 hot tubs, but only big enough for 3, maybe 4 if you really liked them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part was a twisting tubes slide that started upstairs, went outside and came back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had not been on a water slide for years and it was Ryleigh’s first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was excited and we went several times together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a nervous scream we set off down the tube, sitting up with her in my lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, not being in the official position on your back, riding down on heals and shoulder blades, speed was not a factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We actually went about 5 feet and stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to push my way down through it a couple times before she realized it was not too scary and she could trust me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time after time we went a little faster and faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end, you splash into some water where I would pick her up to keep her from getting a face full of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is still pretty protective of her ears since the tubes and ear issues she has had in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh decided she wanted to go down the slide with Ryleigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not knowing the routine she and I had going, Leigh gets down to the end, after screaming the whole way, while she was sitting up and holding Ryleigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of holding her up, she lets her take a face full of water, thus propelling me into the #1 fun parent position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quote from Ryleigh in a sad, crackly voice, “Momma tried to drown me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Layla and I went down the slide as well, with no tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got in the baby pool and ducked her head under the water, shook around, and popped right back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she will love the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Victoria was a little uneasy with the pool but gradually loosened up and had a good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty sure it was her first experience with a pool that did not inflate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also forgot to bring floaties, so it was pretty hard to have a whole lot of fun since we both had a child to hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>While waiting our turn to go down the water slide, we had to wait for a light to turn from red to green so that we knew the slide is clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I was waiting for Ryleigh at the bottom of the slide (she went twice by herself), a pudgy little fellow came crashing through the water and hit her from behind about 3 seconds after she arrived at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a country with so many non-practicing Catholics, what she said to me struck a chord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Daddy, I guess he didn’t know about the light.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light was there, right in front of him with a sign guiding you towards it, yet he did not pay attention to the light and ultimately make his decision based on the lights guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>The only time I see a man in water in Speedos with a swim cap on, it is because I have decided to watch swimming on TV because the Olympics are on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I had/got to see them up close and personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that swimmers who wear them in the US tend to be groomed and whatnot, not overly hairy with a done lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture Bobcat Goldthwait from the Police Academy days, in a speedo, standing in front of you, facing you, while you are about waist high to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, it was nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>As of this past Tuesday afternoon, the paperwork was competed officially changing Victoria’s name to Hombirg and thus disappearing out of the Polish system as her birth name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just wipe it clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is officially ours and we have applied for her social security number as well as passport so that we can come home on the 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> on January, at 9pm to Lexington, Ky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come on out!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.</span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-82933952608673286942011-12-20T13:53:00.000-05:002011-12-20T13:53:14.605-05:00We are back on the grid<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, it’s Tuesday night here in beautiful Warsaw Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By night time, I mean it is dark outside, which could mean it is anytime past 3:30 in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see how easily a person might go mad here before getting use to the short days, filled with maybe a spot of sunshine here or there, intermingled with a breeze that can chill your bones and gray, cloudy skies that look as if they could unapologetically spit rain or drop snow at a moment’s notice.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Tuesday, we arrived here into our apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although they have recently been renovated, it still lacks various creature comforts and kid friendly aspects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in an effort to not be whiny Americans, that are admittedly spoiled beyond measure compared to most of the rest of the world, we are “roughing” it here without the convenience of a microwave, an elevator, clean smelling air, a bathtub, reliable wireless internet, a dishwasher, and any form of enjoyable television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you in the adoption process, this is written for you for informational purposes only and not a reflection upon anyone or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just info.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had the girls eating instant oatmeal and we were all eating leftovers, heated up in a microwave so that we could conserve some money and not be broke when we arrive home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a microwave, there are no more leftovers to enjoy and yes, the oatmeal can be cooked still, but other, smaller apartments in this complex have a microwave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our next missing luxury is an elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that we are coming with 3 children, and staying here in an apartment where we have to get groceries and go out and about to stay sane, you might would think an elevator or a first floor apartment would be a possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture us, going up and down 3 flights of stairs, multiple times a day with 3 kids, a stroller, and anything we have accumulated in our journeys, such as groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this is just info.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are making it work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The aroma of whatever your neighbor is doing is not quite the equivalent of fresh air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never lived in an apartment, but smelling what the neighbor is cooking can be quite the tease or turn off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other smells we are welcomed with include the repugnant odor coming out of the toilet and sinks as well as the occasional cancer causing second hand cigarette smoke, regardless of the no smoking signs posted around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They talk, we hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They cough, they walk, tap on the wall, whatever, we hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we pay them back with the crying and sweet music of American and Polish temper tantrums.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As many of you read and had been praying for, bath time with Victoria started out as quite a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For about 2 weeks we dealt with the painful and torturous cries at bath time before finally getting her into the tub with her sisters for a fun bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left with bath time in good shape, arrived here and lost the 2 weeks of progress we had achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, we have a stand up shower, barely big enough to bend over and pick up a shampoo bottle in, in which we attempt to bathe a 5, 3, and 1 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are back to screaming and crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, then again, we are not on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reliable wireless internet is another creature comfort that we have become all too reliable on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having had free reliable internet in Katowice, we easily kept in touch with friends and family at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus relieving any homesickness we or the girls had from being gone for such a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to update our blog and Facebook pages and share what is going on in our lives 5000 miles from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, we have a stick that allows one of our 3 wireless devices to connect to the internet, sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a pay to use deal and after using it sparingly the first few days, we ran out of minutes or KB’s or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now have to take a 50zl ride to the mall to a store to get it refilled or recharged or something so that we can keep our kids from crying at night because they are homesick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now on to the dishwasher part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up without a mechanical dishwasher and the dishwasher we had at home also cooked all my meals for me growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is not here and I am equipped with 2 arms that are capable of washing the handful of dishes that we have available to us in the apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have water, soap, a tiny sink and 1 towel and that is all we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a complaint, just info.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The television here, opposite of Katowice, which was satellite and fairly international, is made up of a handful of channels with CNN, international version, as the only English speaking channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as all of you were sleeping, I, for a couple hours, learned before you that Kim Jong Il had a heart attack Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know his past, his likes and dislikes, his achievements as dictator, his family, his love of fine wine, movies, and foreign prostitutes, and that his 28 year old son will now be moving into power.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On now to the non-informational parts of the update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our first full day here, we were blessed with a guided tour by the girlfriend of Magda’s son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some called her Ola, some Yola, and even one Olga.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter the name, she was great and quite the blessing to us as we explored our new home and surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went with us through the Royal Castle and the Warsaw Rising Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Cinderella was not there, Ryleigh enjoyed the castle and seeing the throne, bedrooms, ball rooms and such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, we enjoyed some traditional Polish cuisine and learned that Ola/Yola/Olga and many other Poles enjoy a nice cup of sour milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trip to the museum was about enjoyable as a trip to Auschwitz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reminder of what happened here 60 years ago is heartbreaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see what evil deeds man is capable of when absent from God is deplorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The names and faces of so many innocent people in front of us serve as a reminder to stand up for those who cannot stand themselves, speak against injustice, and love our neighbors as written in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, we often think of those immediately around us as our only neighbors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On 2 occasions we attempted to go to the Copernicus museum and had our efforts stuffed by the Polish president, whom we saw on the road 3 times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are only 2 police cars in the motorcade, one in the front and back with 2 cars between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we had to do was pull off the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were at home, the city would be shut down and security everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did make it to the Polish science and technology museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was filled with various things from old radios and computers to a space section, a coal mining section, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of our time with Leigh’s parents was spent walking around old town and just hanging out, enjoying time with Mimi and Papaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would leave us early Saturday morning and a tearful goodbye led us to a renewed spirit that our journey was now one week shorter and the blessed visit we received from them helped us feel a little more at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past Sunday, Leigh and I took an expensive taxi ride to an English speaking Baptist church we searched out on the internet prior to getting here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pastor is American and turns out the 5 of us comprised nearly half of the attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned that many people are travelling for the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to partake in their Christmas lunch afterwards and met some new folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One such fellow we met is Robert, who is a missionary here from California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been here several years and works as an ESL teacher and street preacher. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His boldness and love for the Lord exudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my prayer, that one day my faith is such that it is the very thing that makes me who I am and what I am about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took us to another English speaking church that night that was full of young and old English speakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met folks from all over who graciously mingled with us and made plans to get us out and about and not waste away here in the apartment during the upcoming holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, Tuesday, Leigh and the girls went to an indoor play place while Robert and I went to the main Subway station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there, he preached in Polish and I handed out 2 different tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to put the Gospel in the hands of many people today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some read it, others threw it away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, they had the Gospel in their hands today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert stood on the sidewalk, boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus to those that passed by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a predominantly Catholic country, home of the former pope, and over 2 million people in this city alone, it is staggering to think how many wander this city lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lost because they are trapped inside a traditional, ritualistic religion that many believe requires prayers to a man while neglecting the relationship that can lead them out of the darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other random things that we have done since we have been here:<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-On the way home the other day, we are packed in a taxi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture it: 3 kids, no car seats with a driver who speaks no English.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla and Victoria are restless, not enjoying the death grips that we have on them so that the aggressive driving, that is the norm here, does not toss them about the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They begin to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crying turns to the occasional death scream and all at once, the driver pulls over and says “here”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We look out the window and see that we are not home yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in old town, but not home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He evidently had enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the cheapest taxi ride we have had because we never finished the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Layla, who is perfectly capable of saying, “Toria” for Victoria’s name, has decided to call her “Goggi”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She responds to “Goggi” and they have on frequent occasions had conversations with one another about who knows what and seem to understand one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, they either hug or hit one another and both respond with crying in the most overly dramatic way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goggi, not Gaga as in the Lady.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Some Polish people, despite our initial response of not speaking Polish, will continue to talk to you a hundred miles an hour in Polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One lady in a restaurant told us in perfect English that she did not speak English, only Polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She turned out not to be the nicest person and had a gentleman translate our order to her through the Google translate app.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Victoria will, in a moment’s notice, take a head first dive towards you or in your direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone may have to get her a helmet for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is fearless.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Ryleigh has developed a new love for “twigs”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Translated into English, that is Twix.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Layla has started eating vegetables and drinking any kind of vegetable or fruit juice or tea in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home, not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victoria eats like my mammaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fruits and vegetables and traditional Polish cuisine are her favorite for obvious reasons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will only eat fries and ketchup at McDonalds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will probably ruin her when we get home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Just like in Katowice, we are stared at a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we look American?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it is because we have 3 kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it is because 2 of the 3 are crying when strapped into the stroller?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is probably all 3.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-I am no taxi expert, but I noticed how the fare went up the other day while we were not moving and sitting at a red light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there was some crying in the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Flush the toilet, hear the sink gurgle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-I used a toilet the other day that had a duct taped seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>101 uses, even worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Layla can open up childproof cough syrup bottles and dump them on the couch now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Pizza here is not quite like American pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is much thinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, I ate 6 pieces the other day and was stuffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh ate 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-The refrigerator has 5 temperature settings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The milk has frozen at 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Leigh’s parent’s smaller apartment had a combined washer and dryer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the bigger, more expensive apartment and have a drying rack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, the knob to the radiator in bedroom is broken, so clothes dry faster due to the unstoppable heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat in the rest of the house is off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That room heats the entire apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Wii is a life saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh is quite the sword fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her erratic style is nearly impossible to beat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-We were told Sunday that our accents remind someone of watching Hee-Haw growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took that as a compliment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-As I type this, the snow has started to fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Kielbasa tastes so much better here, whether grilled, fried, boiled, or smoked and a squirt of mustard will cost you about $.33.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is free hardly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Layla has made it an entire week without hitting her head on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knock on wood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-We have cabinets in our apartment that only Patrick could reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to jump just to touch the bottom of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, he is not here and we did not pack a ladder in our luggage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-“That man is not very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must have the devil inside him.” – Ryleigh<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-While passing out tracts today in Polish, I asked Robert what it said on the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and walked over to me and said, “The pope is a Nazi” and walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope he was joking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Please pray for us as we are dealing with some homesickness as well as some physical illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Pray that Layla and Victoria continue to bond and realize they are on the same team and do not have to be opposing forces 24/7 or at least 14/7, assuming they sleep 10 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Pray that our paperwork moves quickly and that we can afford to change our plane tickets to get home sooner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-14924503914369519072011-12-15T11:31:00.000-05:002011-12-15T11:31:08.964-05:00We made it to Warsaw<span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span>Just a quick note to update everyone on the events of the past couple days.<span> </span></span><span>Leigh parents arrived safely and have been a huge help with the girls despite the jet lag.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Ryleigh and Layla were happy to see them and Victoria did not take long to warm up to them.</span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span>On Sunday, we attended church one last time in Katowice at the Baptist church.<span> </span></span><span>This week, Dan was preaching so we were able to enjoy an English sermon.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>However, the most powerful part of the service was them music beforehand.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Last week they had a small praise band with guitars playing familiar music.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>This week they had a young lady and gentleman. She was sitting at the piano playing and singing and he was playing the violin.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>It was the most beautiful music we have ever heard.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>No idea what the songs were, though I may have recognized one of them, but the beautiful sound of worship in another language was powerful.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>I looked down at Ryleigh during one of the songs and she was just singing out loud and praising God the best a 5 year old knows how.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Little did I know that she was about to teach me something.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>I said, “Ry do you know this song?”</span><span><span> </span></span><span>She answered, “No daddy.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>I’m just singing my own words.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>It doesn’t matter.”</span><span><span> </span></span><span>What great wisdom from a little girl, who is not concerned with those around here, the fact that she does not know the song or the people singing beside her, but she does know that God doesn’t care if she knows the words.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>He cares about the heart</span><span><span> </span></span><span>and just loves the fact that she is praising Him.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Wow.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>After church we again had a quick lunch with the pastor and said our goodbyes and thanked him for his kindness in showing us around a little and taking us in while we were there.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Our next pastor to meet here in Warsaw is Paul Sock, another American.</span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span>Much of Monday was spent at the house with Leigh’s parents resting up and getting their energy back.<span> </span></span><span>Monday night Leigh and I were treated out to dinner with a couple we met at church, who also have 2 daughters, speak English, and he is a stay at home dad.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>It was the Polish version of us.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>They took us out and we had a great time with them and their daughter Sonia was great with Victoria.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>They were instant buddies.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span></span><span><span>Tuesday was the big day that many of you had been in prayer for.<span> </span></span><span>We headed out to court around 915, only to learn that court did not start officially until 1050, which, as those of you who have been here know, really does not mean it will start then.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>It starts when everyone is there and they are ready.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Joining us at court were the lawyer, Magda our translator, the legal guardian of Victoria, and Basia, our social worker and then some pretty intimidating women along with the judge and a couple other folks.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>It was quick and easy.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>All the polish folks laughed a few times while we just stared and smiled.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Hopefully my pants were zipped up.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>The hearing went well, just a few questions about us, our home, medical care, and Victoria’s needs and we were out of there.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Our driver Tom said it was the fastest hearing he has been a part of.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Thanks to Kim for scanning the paper for us again yesterday saying the US approves us to adopt.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Turns out it was pretty important today.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>At the end of court, we learned we were approved and that in 15 days, Victoria’s paperwork should be in our hands and she will be officially a Hombirg.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>This makes her middle name of Noel even more special and appropriate.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Thanks Heather!</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Our stay also was shortened by a week, meaning we should be home close to the first of the year.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>Probably the first week of January is the way it is looking.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span><span>The best quote we heard today at court, which comes from all of the prayers, was, “Leigh and Greg, God must really like you.”<span> </span></span><span>Supposedly things happened today that normally don’t.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>We don’t know what all took place, but people have talked about how weird the weather is for this time of year, things are getting done faster than normal, Victoria is doing well, and many other things.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>We learned that at this time last year there were feet of snow and below zero temperatures.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>I really believe that this trip has been and continues to be bathed in prayer and we are living out these answered prayers every day.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>We are grateful to our family and friends and church family for your love, support, and prayers.</span><span><span> </span></span><span>We could not have done this without you all.</span></span><span> Thanks to our pastor at home for lifting us up as a congregation.</span></span><br />
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<span><span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, our internet here is a little sketchy compared to our last apartment, but hopefully we can get it figured out and e-mail, FB and Skype with those who want.</span></span></span>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-41470015970687492632011-12-06T10:21:00.000-05:002011-12-06T10:21:10.601-05:00Dragging on...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it has been a few days since the last post, and not much interesting to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems we are just sitting here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No adoption business to take care of, no one checks on us or calls or really has any idea if we are alive or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, here are the past few days in a nutshell.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Friday and Saturday were spent staring at each other in cabin fever madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pretty much sleep as late as the girls will allow then head to the mall around lunch time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fresh air is nice at times, when it is not producing black lung.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Sunday was by far the best day we have had so far as a family of 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to bed Saturday night with anticipation of getting out of the apartment and going to church with our social worker Barbara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her family arrived at 10 to take us to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As earlier posts explained, we meeting Barbara and her attending the church of a pastor I had emailed before our arrival were about 1 in a million literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church has about 100 members or so, the area we are in has about a million people in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The odds of her being the social worker assigned to our adoption case is nothing short of a God thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrived at church and met the American pastor and what a joy he was to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh and I listened to the service through headphones where a local English teacher translated for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls made it through the service to the part where the guest preacher began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point we went across the hall to room with toys where a couple other children were playing and the pastor sat with us and we talked while the kids played.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been here 18 years and has a heart for Poland, its people, and for seeing the Gospel spread through the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time, he asked if we knew about Barbara’s husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than the fact that he drives very aggressively, we knew they had a BMW and a Mercedes and that they weren’t hurting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out that her husband was a heavy metal rock star here in Poland during the 80’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The preacher said his band opened for ACDC back in the day and were pretty big here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adopt a baby, meet an 80’s celebrity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After church we went with the pastor to IKEA for lunch and for the girls to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a great time eating and learning about Dan and his ministry here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out that we know a lot of the same people here in Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who have been to Poland with us, Dan is the one that organizes the English camps that all our youth workers talk about going to in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our talks, we also were invited to attend a meeting at church Tuesday night for a group that is heading to the US in a couple weeks and are taking some conversational English classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are thrilled to have another opportunity to get out in the town and help some brothers and sisters in Christ in the meantime.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday brought about our first encounter with snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After preparing for a visit from the orphanage workers, we waited in anticipation of the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had cleaned the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually Leigh cleaned while I was sick and in the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a small Polish uprising in my GI tract Sunday night and into Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s enough detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was clean, the girls were dressed in their Christmas gear, all dolled up, and there we waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waited some more and then called Magda to see what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ended up not coming and here we were with our whole day built around this meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friend Leslie had taken pictures of our house and uploaded onto FB for us to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure when they are coming but who knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday also brought about the need for a new shower hose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours broke after Leigh and the girls had gotten ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was fortunate to be able to take a bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there we were, its Monday at noon, we have nothing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am puny but pressing on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we go to the mall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stay there to dark, which is about 4pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grab some food and head home, only to be welcomed by a layer of snow and slush.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After a night’s sleep, we wake up back at full strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to leave the apartment long enough for the cleaning lady to come and tidy up the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So where do we go, the mall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After having a nice lunch at a place called Jeff’s, we walked for a while and let the girls play in the indoor playground, which has been a big blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh made a change from her usual Happy Meal request and decided to go with the KFC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t know the name of the restaurant but said she wanted to go to “the place that had the white man with the chicken leg.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can’t eat a chicken leg now without thinking of what Paul said this summer at the park to her after seeing her “destroy” a chicken leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Fun things from the last couple days:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Upon leaving the playground, they gave us a piece of chocolate and a wrapped ornament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not 2 pieces of chocolate Layla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to her credit, she tried to eat it multiple times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Victoria screams “momma” all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the smallest thing we take for granted is so exciting to her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-People at the IKEA playground did not believe Victoria was 3 because she is so petite.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-The large balloons given out at the mall sound like gunshot when they pop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making Leigh and I jump and Ryleigh cry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Polish wasabi is no joke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a tiny investigative taste gets your attention.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Not a good idea to run out of baby wipes and paper towels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, you have to take a girl with a dirty diaper all the way to mall to buy wipes and then change her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- The newly European powered Wii we brought is a life saver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh is undefeated at sword fighting.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer requests:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Our upcoming court date next week and that the judge will rule in our favor for the trip to be shortened. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Leigh is battling an approaching migraine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Ryleigh is starting to get homesick.<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Everyone seems to be sleeping well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer answered!<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> -Please pray for travelling mercies for Leigh’s parents who leave Lexington this Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is their first time overseas.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-79172436720975214222011-12-01T17:24:00.000-05:002011-12-01T17:24:10.670-05:005 weeks, 2 days 2 go!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it is Thursday in Katowice, the sun has been missing since Tuesday, the air has a hint of Christmas coal in it, the cars that sit a while have a small covering of Advent ash on them, and we are a bit cabin feverish as you can probably tell by the beginning of this update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the untimely death of our Wii power cord, our plans for passing the hours after dark, which begins daily around 4pm, are shot and we have pretty much played on the iPad, iPhone, ran wild in the house throwing a $1 ball of fabric from Wal-Mart at each other to pass the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, at this point, whatever form of enjoyment we have had inside is credited to Steve Jobs (FYI, who was adopted, </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/10/30/adoption-and-secret-steve-jobs-success/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">click here to read the article</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) and Sam Walton. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has not been an eventful 2 days, other than a few wrestling matches between Layla and Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla is bigger, but Victoria is more agile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think the Big Show versus Rey Mysterio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definite size advantage, but agility balances it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We played in the mall playground for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla has now been a bully to kids on 2 continents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is still working on the concept that she is not the center of everyone’s world. Ryleigh had a great time and seems to play well with others despite the language barrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victoria does a lot of watching at first, but does play well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For 3 years, she has hardly left the confines of the orphanage, maybe out to a doctor’s visit once and again, but for the most part, everything we do with her is the first time for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First time for her in the mall, first time to McDonald’s, first time in an elevator, and so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are working with her on some of the characteristics she has that show up often in institutionalized children, nothing major thus far, but they are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a sad sentence and phrase that I just typed; “Institutionalized children.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today we ate at home for every meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to not be in the mall food court, but a challenge to round everything up at the store without the help of translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just hope you are buying cow’s milk and not goats, the same with cheese and butter, hoping that the sausage we bought was not for a dog, because that is in the meat section as well and other minor shopping issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I praise God that we have these “problems” while many others around the world would love to have my “problems.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another thing we have noticed is that we catch a lot of looks in the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe because we have 3 kids, 1 that speaks English and uses that as her opening line to everyone she meets, 1 that screams in English, and then 1 that screams and says who knows what in Polish as we travel the mall corridors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could be screaming “These are not my parents, help!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knows?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday we had a visit from the Polish social worker, though she probably has a different title here, and it went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very laid back and we spent a great deal of time on Facebook with her and our translator, Magda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was interested in what life will be like for Victoria when we get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to see pictures of church, family, and the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then drifted into another tangent and looked at other adoptive families from Poland that we have connected with through this process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The saddest part of her visit was when she asked us if it was okay to speak with Victoria in Polish about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explained to Victoria that Leigh and I were her mommy and daddy and what our roles in her life were and would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is heart breaking to think that Victoria, and so many other children around the world, have no concept of what a mommy and a daddy are or what we will mean to her and how we can and will impact her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, many of us take this for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stats for the past few years say that only 50 or so children are adopted out of Poland to the US a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just think of all the other children that never make it out of the orphanages around the world, never know what it means to have an earthly father and, because of the unwillingness of a vast number of “Christians” to reach out to the least of these, and not defend the fatherless, many of the children will never know what it is to have a Heavenly Father as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just think, our delayed obedience, which is disobedience, could be a factor in someone else spending an eternity separated from the love of a Father, all because the love we claim to have for the Heavenly Father was not real enough in our lives to change the way we live and do something radical in our lives so that something radical can happen in someone else’s life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leigh and I were those people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more we prayed about adoption, the more real the orphan crisis became to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time, James 1:27 was real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not just words on a page in a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 68:5-6 became a real thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says God is a “father to the fatherless.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be like God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants me to live like I believe what I say I do, so…… The thought of adoption was scary at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most popular defense mechanism I used and we still hear from people <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span> “It costs too much money!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d love to adopt but we just can’t afford to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just slap God in the face why don’t you and tell Him that your obedience depends on your finances, and that your current uses of His blessings prohibits you from being obedient in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, we’d rather not have our lifestyle impacted by this issue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh and I are examples of this being a lie straight from the devil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many of you know, I lost my job in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could have quit the process or even postponed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We prayed about what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God told Leigh to press on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, I am crunching numbers in the corner thinking, I am not so sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I carried that burden for weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One weekend we travelled to Michigan and listened to Russell Moore’s “Adopted for Life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That weekend I gave that burden to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was out of my hands at that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was nothing that I could do in my own strength to fix the problem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were to continue, He would have to sustain us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would have to provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my buddy Josh says, “God’s will, God’s bill.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Monday after we returned from our weekend trip, we are working VBS at our church and we get the phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agency was offering us this precious little girl, whom we now hold in our arms, and are madly in love with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would we have been blessed with this little girl had we not released our doubt and worry and lousy excuses to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But praise God we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Victoria is blessing us daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a reminder of what the Gospel is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not what the Gospel looks like, but what the very core of it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never before has the reality of salvation, being adopted into the family of Christ, loving the “unlovable”, and my unworthiness been so real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To experience the Fathers love and then to be blessed by this little girl, it is amazing, it is humbling, and it is beyond words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is blessing us far more than we are blessing Victoria by being her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our prayer now is that through the experience of earthly love that she may one day come to desire and know a supernatural heavenly love of another adoptive father.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do you stand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you call yourself a child of God, you are adopted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as believers are called to care for orphans, no two ways about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible speaks numerous times on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you caring for the orphans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you called to adopt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foster?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To support an adoptive family?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you praying urgently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the “I’ll pray for you” prayer, <u>but the prayer that you would pray if you really and honestly believed that the only thing that could change the circumstance was <strong>your prayers</strong>.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you using the excuse of money as your reason not to adopt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray about your role in the lives of orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are 163 million strong worldwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could change a life, and possibly an eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus gave the command, the response is yours.<o:p></o:p></span>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-22214471253433597962011-11-29T14:29:00.002-05:002011-11-29T14:29:28.178-05:00Day 2 of a fam of 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's note will be much shorter than the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not much going on today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We awoke several times to a crying baby last night; however, it was the one we brought with us from Ky and not the one from here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla is having a rough time adjusting still, some sharing probs, which we already knew and a little jealous at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, Victoria had a great day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She slept through the night and put up very little fight in going to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today began with a visit from Magda, who told us about our schedule and travel plans and lodging plans while in Warsaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then took a taxi ride to the mall, which we have walked to several times already. While hanging in the mall for a while we learned that our camera can’t withstand 2 toddlers, Victoria loves McDonalds French fries and strawberry ice cream, Ryleigh will approach the record for most Happy Meals consumed in a week, Layla would rather break a cone into hundreds of pieces than eat it, Victoria fell victim to negative sibling peer pressure and decided to break her cone too, you can drop your kid off at the supervised play place for cheap and leave, and our first attempt at cooking proved to be filling, yet not real appetizing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The burnt coal smell in air smells good in a weird campfire way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the best things that happened today was strictly because of the iPhone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At nap time, Victoria was unhappy and not wanting to go down easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cried for a few minutes before my light bulb came on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered I have the Google translate app on my phone, which can translate English to polish and then say it audibly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I typed in, “Victoria, it is time for a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more crying.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played it a couple times standing above the crib and nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then hid where she could not see me and played it just inside the door of her room, where she could hear it but not see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not another peep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Went to sleep and had a good nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the app voice sounds like a lady from the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever it was, we are grateful for the iPhone and that app.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we have our first visit from the adoption officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully all goes well and there are no Lay vs Vic battles between now and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our court date as of now has been pushed back to the 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh’s parents are planning to arrive the Sunday before court to help with the kids while we are gone and to help us transition to Warsaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This evening we talked with Kim and Camden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always nice to see a face from home and keep plugged in to all the happenings in Cynthiana, which apparently in almost under water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Specific prayer request(s) are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Please pray for Layla and her adjustment and sleeping habits as well as Victoria.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Pray that the judge decides to shorten our bonding period, which brings us home sooner.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Pray that Victoria does better with bath time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-91669414054509923452011-11-28T17:09:00.000-05:002011-11-28T17:09:53.706-05:00One less<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today was an eventful day in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to the telling of events from today, I’ll update you on the action between Cincinnati and Katowice, Poland. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many of you know we left out Saturday evening with a quick trip to Chicago before heading to Frankfurt and then into Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our good friends Jimmy and Heather met us at the airport to see us off, which was nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a little bit of an issue checking in with our tickets because Layla was not an actual ticket but on one of our tickets as an infant/lap ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is neither an infant or lap kinda child, as she would prove, but the price was a fraction of a ticketed seat, so we were going to make the best of it. The mix up ended up working out with us on an earlier flight to Chicago and not being charged for our extra bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessing #1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our oldest, Ryleigh (5) was, and still is, pumped that she is in Poland, 49% because of Victoria and 51% because she does not have to go to school for a few weeks, though she loves her teacher Mrs. Jones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon arriving to the Chicago area, Ryleigh looks out the window and says, “Daddy, the lights are so beautiful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not Christmas lights, but street lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stewardess on the plane called us out over the intercom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were taxing upon arriving and Layla (18months) had had enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walked across the aisle to me for a minute and then back to Leigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we hear, “All passengers need to remain seated with their seatbelts on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No incidents to report on the first flight or time in the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We boarded the 777 to Germany and prayed for weeks that the plane would not be full and that Layla would have some room to move so that we all, and everyone around us, would have a great flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon checking in at the gate, an older lady told us that she could not get us in the front of the common folk section where the bassinets are because they were already taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We explained our situation and she saw Layla running crazy and then said she would make sure that nobody was issued the seat beside us in our row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla had her own seat for about $1000 less than everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little old Asian lady, blessing #2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ryleigh sat beside a German gentleman living in NM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had on military pants and had a camo backpack carry-on, though he never said if he was in the military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took right to Ryleigh and helped her all through the flight from picking up stuff she dropped to helping her eat, get buckled, and figure out the TV screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant that Leigh and I could focus on Layla, who did fairly well, with minimal crying on the flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>German guy, blessing #3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon arrival in Frankfurt, we quickly found our gate and waited almost an hour for our final flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all tired, except Layla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made the quick flight into Katowice, as did all our luggage and stroller, and walked out to find our driver Tom, standing there with a smile and eager to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We headed to our apartment across from the large, Fayette Mall size mall with the Polish version of Wal-mart attached to it, which is open 24hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick supper and a few items from the store, we quickly headed to bed at 7pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, 7pm local time. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With Saturday and Sunday behind us, we eagerly awoke today for an 825 trip to the orphanage for a 9am meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not know with who or about what, what to wear, or anything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girls were tired but in good shape from the days travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh and Layla both took to playing in the orphanage room where they would soon be meeting their new little and big sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several minutes of our translator speaking with the directors and the lady from the adoption official office place, or something like that, we sat anxiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we know is that she is the one writing the report about us and she was watching us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment came when they asked if we were ready for Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh’s eyes grew big, Layla was content to be eating and playing, and in came Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh absolutely loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Ahh, she is so precious.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They played so well together and Victoria took right to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed for a couple hours just playing while the Polish girls talked about whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did hear Americanski a time or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fed her lunch, took some pictures of the facility and watched as all the ladys from caregivers to cooks came and loved on Victoria one last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and Ryleigh held hands as we prepared to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were fortunate to see the other kids before we left, though they were preparing to nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We really think that Victoria knew what was happening to an extent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our first trip we left a photo album behind of us and we were told that they had been going over it with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before leaving, Victoria called Leigh “mama” a couple times and several times tonight she yelled out “mama” to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To our surprise, Barbara, the report writer, followed us back to our apartment and came in for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uneasy and unsure, we were still on our toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, however, proved to be blessing #4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While sitting and looking at FB pictures of the family and our lives back in KY, home of the #1 ranked wildcats, we looked at some pictures of our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They noticed and she asked if we were Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a couple weeks now, I have been emailing an American pastor over here about visiting his church while we were here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we would get there I don’t know, but God did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barbara says she is Baptist and attends church here in Katowice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, any chance your pastors last name is Hash and wouldn’t you know, she attends that church and called the pastor for me to speak with about our journey thus far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She even said she would come by and get us Sunday to take us to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we learned that Victoria is definitely Layla’s sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both love to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layla is having a bit of a hard time sharing and being a little jealous when I hold Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is like a little hamster (Jenny Hyatt shoutout) and stores food in her cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also observed some rocking at naptime, though she went down without a fight tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hates bath time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crocodile tears, but she cried and was cleaned, so that is something to work on.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tonight we skyped with the Cawley’s in Africa which is always nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then skyped with my mom, which went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victoria is pretty aggressive with the computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like Ryleigh, she thinks that the harder you hit the key, the better it works.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leigh and I are both on skype if you want to talk to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Search Hombirg and you will find us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have a Polish phone number if you don’t skype and would rather call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number is 0 11 48 725015831.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will cost you a little but free to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are 6 hours ahead in time, so please remember that when calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a side note, the exchange rate is great, almost 3.40 something to 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lastly, today was a great day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day for remembering and reflecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day where:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I killed my first Wii.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lady’s at the orphanage really appreciated the gifts we took them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pasta with strawberry sauce is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The girls love off brand Nutella.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone stares at us while we are in the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have been to the mall twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twice Ryleigh has danced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in something resembling a flash mob and second with a girl demonstrating the XBOX Kinect.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have about 1000 channels or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5 English speaking ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to push a lot of buttons to find them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leigh did not lock the mall bathroom door and surprise, cleaning lady!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh also has another bathroom funny, best told in person, just ask her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is an empty bed in the orphanage tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A family of 4 turned in to 5<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the first three years of her life, Victoria had nothing that was her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No toys, no clothes, no family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today that all changed, forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5NpvtILkz9PqGHtAPDD3klks4RJ66yp25VULgRu_DnKdEaffN5Kn0GS4O3V9teciGY52aUo97Boh8ULjJFBuJxXHkC9zEnrE7EA-iitC5-4Ft0wvq5J_hSBL-n7M84eRYU-xH0ShoCcD/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5NpvtILkz9PqGHtAPDD3klks4RJ66yp25VULgRu_DnKdEaffN5Kn0GS4O3V9teciGY52aUo97Boh8ULjJFBuJxXHkC9zEnrE7EA-iitC5-4Ft0wvq5J_hSBL-n7M84eRYU-xH0ShoCcD/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-83708289741799070112011-11-20T13:28:00.000-05:002011-11-20T13:28:18.618-05:00The waiting game ends saturdayJust a quick note to say that we have received our travel dates. We are scheduled to leave for Poland this saturday and will remain there until January 12th. We are still gathering plans and info, so more to come later. We covet your prayers and thanks to those of you who have been praying and supporting us through this first part of our adoption journey. More news coming as we get closer to bringing Victoria home to her forever family.<br />
ghGreg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-71050333579834100642011-09-12T14:08:00.000-04:002011-09-12T14:08:46.955-04:00Back to the waiting game<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well we are nearly two weeks removed from the last time we were with Wiktoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left Poland dark and early on September 1, with no return date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such an odd feeling to leave your child behind and say, I hope to come back and get you one day, but I don’t know when, or how, or where the money will come from, but I’ll be back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really did not say this because she would not have understood a single word of it and it is a scary reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we left her in good hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ladies at the orphanage take good care of her and she enjoys being there, it is all she has ever known.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wiktoria has only known orphanage life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does not have any idea if there is something better out there waiting for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is comfortable where she is, ignorant to the fact that life is about to change for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that the orphanage does not have its good points for her, but there is so much more out there that she has never experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is so true in our lives today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Christians are going about our lives, calling ourselves Christians, going to church, praying, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what we grew up doing and we believe that we are doing the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is so much more out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus never commanded us to go to segregated churches for 1 hour a week, robotically sing, sit and listen to a guy preach, say man that was good for me, and go home, only to do it all over again next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This type of Christianity gets our foot in the Heavenly door, but there is so much more out there that most of us have never experienced or imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if we all were so broken that we had to pray so fervently and passionately because we really and truly believed that the only way our situation was going to improve was due to our prayers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How would my life change if my father, who is on dialysis and battling diabetes, would only get better if I prayed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No medicine, no doctors, no technology, no money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just imagine we believe that what we are praying is really going to happen or really could happen, depending on the depth, or the sincerity of our prayers and belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if we received the word of God from our pastors Sunday and believed that they were giving the word to us so that we could then give it to someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if we thought that Sunday mornings were not a time for us to be fed by our pastor but a time for us to gather the spiritual food needed to go and feed others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Thank you David Platt.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we just receivers or reproducers of the word of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about your church, but the ones I have been in are not being flooded by lost people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So maybe we should do something different than hide behind the walls hoping that the enemy’s troops will come to our side and join our army.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here we are, waiting once again for a phone call to tell us it is time to go get our girl and take her from what she knows, what she is comfortable with, what she thinks is good, and into a whole new lifestyle, a new outlook, new beginnings and a new future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know when we will be called, who will get the call, who will support our calling and who will pray for us while we wait and while we are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the, “Oh, I’m praying for you” prayer, but the “I am in this with you”, “I get it” kind of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am looking in the mirror as I write this, not as “look at us and what we are doing”, but as a “this is what we are doing, come join us”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prayer life is broken and my daily walk but a limp, but I am hungry for more, ready to go deeper, with humble obedience, striving for a life of pure worship.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7WRhEbANYppBvrWhShB_ibxC2RK6Rc5q73i3EYIB0WqUp7o1PyxKkcQSw-M7uI-HrW0trtrhrNh3ed-O6tk-JBwtF1y7HfIh8uMpUOJKRremV68-7WXrPfPldpUa_3NqqNAQop6oRbNC/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7WRhEbANYppBvrWhShB_ibxC2RK6Rc5q73i3EYIB0WqUp7o1PyxKkcQSw-M7uI-HrW0trtrhrNh3ed-O6tk-JBwtF1y7HfIh8uMpUOJKRremV68-7WXrPfPldpUa_3NqqNAQop6oRbNC/s320/IMG_0987.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-90013390867175358982011-08-31T15:15:00.000-04:002011-08-31T15:15:59.142-04:00Haunted<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is our final full day in Poland and our last chance to spend time with Wiktoria for several weeks, maybe months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there are a variety of emotions, different than what we expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today she even called Leigh mama 2 times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We played this morning at the park, we each talked to the adoption official again through broken English, and even had a chance to take Wiktoria to the zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great day overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the zoo, we had to take her back to the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is so happy there because it is all she ever knew and knows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does not know what a mama really is and what a dad or a family is or is supposed to look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t know what it means to be tucked in bed at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now she is in a room with about a dozen cribs and it is hard to imagine that the caregivers, who do a great job, are able to give individualized attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did not cry today when we left her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She happily went to the lady working and began to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She doesn’t know that she is about to have a family, a big and little sister, and a forever mom and a forever dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, all she knows are women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is reasonable to believe that one day she will grow up and come to learn about a Heavenly Father when she has never experienced an earthly father?<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we fly out at 625am, having to be at the airport around 5 and getting up at 4am, making this a shorter post tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We leave here knowing that Polish people do not adopt kids that are not labeled as 100% healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are healthy, they do not stay long at the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow we leave this beautiful country, forever having the little faces we met burned in our memory with the realization that many of them will never have a forever family, never have the same opportunities my kids will have, or your kids will have, and grow up with all the percentages against them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are more likely to have addictions, be incarcerated, become a prostitute, or commit suicide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look in the mirror and ask that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to your church body and ask that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just for the children of Poland but for the millions of children that are orphaned both at home and abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it’s expensive, and God has not “called” you do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t imagine standing face to face with God at judgment day and he asks, “Greg, what did you to defend the fatherless?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I have the gumption to say, “Uh, you did not call me to do anything, so I didn’t do anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did go to church every Sunday and pray and………”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So as we transition home, back to life in Cynthiana, please pray for us, for our continued efforts to raise funds, raise awareness, and for our friends and family to accept Wiktoria regardless of what they expect from her or expected her to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is beautiful and looks no different in the eyes of a holy and merciful and just God than you or I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ died for every orphan, physically and spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are striving to live as Christ, the Jesus of the Bible and not the American church Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are haunted.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-49003702977670076912011-08-30T17:05:00.001-04:002011-08-30T17:16:05.712-04:002 down, 1 to go<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day two was a long walk around and finally in the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met downstairs at the hotel for breakfast at 8 planned on arriving at the orphanage at 9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon our arrival, we took a walk with Wiktoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no idea where the park was, if there was one, and followed Magda around while she was on the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>30 minutes later, she asked directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once there, we discovered Wiktoria likes to swing and eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will fit in well with the ladies I live with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After playing for about an hour we returned to the orphanage and went out to join the other kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my favorite part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all want to play with me and talk to me, yet I have no idea what they are saying and vice versa, yet we both keep on talking to one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One little fellow, Dawid, looks like a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure there is a story behind him, but he looks like a rascal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see something in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked him up and he was attached to me like a little Polish spider monkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled and held on to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would try to sit him down and he refused to put his feet down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiktoria, took offense to this and ran over to me with her arms up grunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I guess there is some bonding going on with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other children there are just precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see that some have issues, like we all do, and others look “normal” and you have to wonder why they are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not want to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids just liked playing and being silly, language was no barrier for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love does not have to speak a language.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After leaving the orphanage, we headed to the apartment where we will be staying when we return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is near a large mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magda says it is the largest in Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have street signs in the mall to help navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The apartment facilities were nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all furnished, have tv’s, wifi, playgrounds, and a guarded entry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told that there are some celebrities that live there so it is guarded and well maintained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards, a tour of the mall was in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick trip through the Polish version of Wal-Mart showed us that everything we would need would be right there, from soup in a box, to clothes, to diapers, to a whole frozen catfish, whiskers and all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunch was in the food court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choices range from Thai to McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Kebabs and traditional dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leigh went with the traditional foods and I had a kebab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is lody everywhere in the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it will be a great, potentially fattening place to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we have to walk to the mall to get it, so it will be our reward for the exercise of walking to the mall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then took the train back to the hotel to rest and freshen up before returning to see Wiktoria and the other children at 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This afternoon we stayed and played around the orphanage and played bubbles, in the ball pit and with the other kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiktoria seems to be getting closer to both of us, yet we have to leave her in a couple days and return weeks, maybe months later and do the whole thing over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Random things from today:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the movie theatre here, you get to pick your seat when you buy a ticket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When in the WC, and there is any question, always use the big button on the toilet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leigh had a boneless chicken leg for supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knew?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do they walk?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mountain Dew here tastes more like Kroger Dew Drop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Taxi driver per day = about $85.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding the train = $1 per trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mall is ridiculously big and most young folks that work there let you struggle with communicating with them a little before they respond to you in perfect English.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A whole catfish, skin and all, stares at you as you pass by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also buy a frozen chunk of cut fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bait is what I say.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My wife bumps into someone tonight and responds in Polish with “Good morning!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is great.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The orphanage does not use baby wipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, you get in the sink and get hosed off and sponged down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My quote to Leigh, ”I thought we bought that chocolate candy for the kids and that candy bar for Freida.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says, “We can buy more!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a precious girl and little brother sibling group in the orphanage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who will rescue them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who will show them the greatest example of God’s love and how will they learn and understand and a Father’s love and the family of God if they have no father and no family?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are here now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are getting only one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who will go next?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-68871525138267216462011-08-29T17:05:00.000-04:002011-08-29T17:05:44.803-04:00"I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!" Random movie quote from.....?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s august 29<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, do you know where your adopting friends are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well they are in Katowice trying to figure out how we were chosen to be blessed by a petite little blonde chick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was our big day, we thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did get to meet our daughter, but the day was not as big dramatically or emotionally as we thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day started with an 8am meeting with Polish officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get that mental image in your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought we'd be in a big room, lots of old ladies in nun outfits staring at us, looking for something wrong with us, speaking all fast and genuinely being scary and intimidating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we got instead were two young folks, in a meeting room with a kitchenette and a flat screen tv who looked just like we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both spoke English and were very welcoming and accommodating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting went well and we just reviewed Wiktoria’s file and talked about our family, childcare, and casually chatted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the talking was in Polish so we just sat there and smiled and hoped it was something good. It must have been good because after about 25 minutes or so, they decided to let us go to the orphanage and meet her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon arrival at the orphanage, it was nothing like the horror stories you hear about or the old school orphanages you see in the movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very modern with lots of toys, books, flat screen tv and looked just like an American day care and actually better than one I have been in most Sundays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the toys, shoes, clothes, jackets and whatnot were organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought this may have just been because we were coming, but later, as we were playing with Wiktoria, we saw that after she played with each toy, she put it back where she found it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So anyway, back to the story…..we were waiting in a therapy room with a plastic ball pit, which I loved, talking to the social worker and psychologist about ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, a lot of conversation in Polish between the ladies there and the lady that is representing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They must have bought everything because they brought Wiktoria in for us a few minutes after talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was all dolled up in a little dress and had her hair fixed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was/is a doll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were prepared for screaming, gnashing of teeth, and the worst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God could not have answered prayers any better or ordained a better child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was very content to play by herself, with us, whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was laid back, never cried, and soon began to open up to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a couple guys who work in and around the orphanage so she has some contact with males thankfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long, we were playing with a ball, blowing bubbles, and hammering stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked like she was checking for studs or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would walk over to a table, hit it two or three times, make a noise and walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then to a door, then a wall, and then to Leigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took up with Leigh first, as expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We later joined the other kids outside after seeing the room where the kids slept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She played well with the other kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were precious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all are up for adoption as some have been taken away temporarily by the state for various reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While playing outside, Wiktoria ran up to Leigh, made a babble sound similar to Jake Lawrence, reached up for her and after being picked up, gave Leigh a hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The workers enjoyed seeing this and seeing that there weregoing to be any attachment concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After being outside for a while, we went back in and prepared to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After lunch, we would return and spend another couple hours with her, playing and bonding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon our return, I knew I had some ground to gain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with most small children, you can throw them up gently in the air and they either respond with a smile or a look of terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my chances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting by the ball pit, I lured her over (sounds creepy) and we played with a toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did this a couple more times and she loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, she would run over to me from across the room and put her arms up which eventually led to a hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would come and spread her arms out and lay her head against mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you, like the SNL church lady are probably saying, “Well, isn’t that special.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiktoria had taken to both of us on the first day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The orphanage ladies liked seeing this and upon our departure this evening, she even appeared sad that we had to give her back, or she did not like what was on her supper plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All in all, I would say that day 1 with her was a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seemed to make a positive impression with the workers there and our representative said they liked what they saw out of everyone and that there is a chance that things can move quickly after we leave as far as the return bonding time is concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Random things from today:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dirty diapers stink worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It cost 100zl to get a boot off of your car for parking illegally over here<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cry of an orphan is a terrible sound, but one that has a remedy if Christians stepped up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned that my aunt Shirley borrows Facebook accounts</span>, like Paul used to.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having friends at home that take time out of their lunch break to ask if they can pray for you is wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mushroom lasagna is not very tasty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My wife apparently requires one Bounty candy bar a day to function properly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Driving 100+mph on the highway is okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bums don’t stop asking even if you say in English, you don’t speak Polish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Churches here and at home struggle with politics in the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The imagery of spiritual adoption and physical adoption is humbling, incredible, and amazing. The God that brought us here wants Polish, Russian, and all orphans to grow up and love him just as he wants our middle class biological American kids to. But how will they ever hear?</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have to have a major stuff reduction sale when we get home so we can come back here and bring this little girl home with us. Adoption fees are bad and unexpected costs stink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-4135229848972515222011-08-28T14:54:00.001-04:002011-08-28T16:08:55.877-04:00It's sunday August 28th. Tomorrow, it goes down.<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is going to be the first of many posts to come in the next days with a plethora of information, mainly for those who are looking at our blog for information on the Polish adoption process, so those of you who are not, you will have to skim through these randomly detailed sentences in search of something you may consider interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I write this from 26 floors high at the </span><a href="http://www.qubushotel.com/hotele.php?lang=2&id_h=10"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Qubus Hotel in Katowice, Poland</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, with the dual sound of English and Polish Billy Madison playing on the tv behind me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our journey began Friday morning after dropping the kids off at their respective places, kindergarten and the tire shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh spent the day at school and Layla spent the day with Freida and Danny learning to rotate and balance tires and do payroll and whatnot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After driving the roughly 5.5 hours to beautiful Detroit, we boarded the Lufthansa plane, bound for Frankfurt, Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some random things from the plane are:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lady beside Leigh slept through roughly 95% of the flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I mean mouth open sleeping. </span>She was amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I sat on the aisle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man kept getting in and out of his luggage which was stored right above my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He touched my body several times with his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My shoulder did not like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lady of larger proportions than I sat across the aisle from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood up about halfway through the flight and proceeded to exercise her hips back and forth in almost a hula hoop fashion for several minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes did not like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once arriving in Germany, we were greeted with some rain and delayed about 25 minutes, after waiting about 2 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Security guards looked at me crazy when I removed my shoes to go through security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around, I was the only one with no shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While waiting for our flight, people watching was a joy, as always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we boarded the 1.25 hours flight to Katowice, Poland, the exhaustion was beginning to fade and the excitement of what was really about to happen began to creep back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realizing that we were about to reach the city were our daughter lives continues to be overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat at the baggage claim, praying that Leigh’s bag showed up because the airport called my cell phone while in Michigan saying that our bag came off the conveyor belt but had no travel information on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, Leigh had put our home address and my cell number on our bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It showed up as did the other two and we then moved on to the realization that we were about to walk out of an airport in a city we had never been, into a language we know enough of to sound American and stupid, look for a young guy we had never met, hope that he takes us somewhere that a lady we have never met arranged, all because we were adopting through an agency of people we have never seen, yet sent thousands of dollars to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That in itself sounds a little crazy, but thanks to Allison who provided a pep talk on the way to the airport, we accept it as crazy and do it anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stepping out of the tunnel with our bags in tow, we saw a young man named Tom who held a little sign with my misspelled name on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom had a nice Audi with some Soulja Boy, some Polish music, and classic 90’s hits on the radio to make us feel welcomed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He zipped in and out of traffic all the way to the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke enough English to have a conversation and make for a comfortable, pleasant ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave us a rough, muddy idea of what our schedule would be and said see you later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hoped the hotel staff spoke English because we had no idea if the hotel was in our name of that of the adoption liaison we had never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So fast forward to early evening Saturday, we were tired, hungry, nervous, excited and various emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Pizza Hut was next door and the quest for supper was short lived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner, it was almost 7pm, we went to bed exhausted and full, though not as full as a supper at Leonos.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday morning came 14 hours later for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh and Layla make sure that sleeping anything close to that long never happens at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the thumping speakers of techno music at the bar on the hotel roof could not keep us up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast was in the hotel restaurant and was included in the rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a good spread of hot and cold foods, juices, coffee, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good mix of traditional polish breakfast foods and some western foods like bacon and potato cubes made us content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was now 1030, we had no church to go to, 1.5 English channels on tv, and no idea of what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked around town some and not much is open on a Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After learning where some things were, Leigh made a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For quite a while I have been crafty at developing ideas to avoid going to the IKEA store just above Cincinnati.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh but guess what, there is an IKEA here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucky me! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we take a taxi ride there and leanred that it is internationally true that IKEA is not really a store men want to go to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like I imagined, women running everywhere with their man following just behind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other random notes for those interested:</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exchange rates are better when you use your debit card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were 2.48 at the exchange place and we got 2.7 something by paying with the card.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our hotel elevator moves so quickly it makes your ears pop going up and down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">140 kilometers per hour feels pretty fast, because after conversion, it is fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Katowice has less of an old town feel than other places we have visited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More western with regard to dress, music, restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Less of a traditional feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our guy at the front desk works a fireman’s shift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>24 on and 48 off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will miss him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery stores only take cash, no credit cards and bags cost additional money.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are 230 volts coming out of the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch out for sparks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deciding where to eat on a Sunday is as hard here as it is at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s gross both here and at home to pull a hair out of a freshly opened bag of trail mix.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reading “The Hole in our Gospel” makes my toes hurt, just like “Radical” by David Platt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lody (ice cream) is delicious over here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you visit the “Patio” restaurant and ask for an English menu, you have to sit outside on the patio and not in the restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marek, my newest crazy guy friend speaks no English, is persistent, yells loudly, smells slightly of alcohol, is in need of money and gives decent directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a magnet.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a good chance that in roughly 12 hours from now, we will be face to face with our new middle daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-51768543480074755622011-08-19T11:59:00.001-04:002011-08-19T13:36:26.325-04:00August Adoption update<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time last month we were writing to inform everyone of the latest update in the saga that had become our adoption journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What started out as a night of VBS quickly turned into an emotional night with tears of joy spread over the faces of a circle of prayer in the church office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love and support we have received from our church has been incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kind words when you need them, prayers, financial support and more keep us going still today. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What we learned from that night and the week that followed is that the Army of God is undefeated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that week, the army was praying for a specific need we had within our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A need that Satan had his manipulative hands on and was trying to use to rob us of our joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never before had the words of Matthew 10:34-36 been real in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never before have we been so in tune with the will of God that Satan rears his ugly head and is obviously trying to impact what we are doing because of a conviction, a calling, a stirring, a whatever you call it, from God to adopt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know we are not all “called” to adopt a child, but we are all called to look after and take care of the orphan (James 1:27).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This need was met on the following Saturday we thought and we rejoiced that we had new support from a much needed area in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No names to be used to protect the various misinformed, out of touch, and non-supportive people in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are multiple “christians” unfortunately in this category.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a scary feeling for us to be in the center of Gods will and see the work that Satan is doing to oppose it, but we are right where we need to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scariest thing is when we think we are doing all this Godly stuff and we don’t see Satan at work opposing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes you wonder who we are working for, God or ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pray that we get to the place in our Christian walks that the devil dreads every day that we wake up and head out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes I saw it on a bumper sticker, t-shirt, etc…<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that brings us here to the third week in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still unemployed officially, though staying at home with a child is much more like a job than I imagined it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryleigh is loving kindergarten and her teacher and the whole experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She became famous by having her picture on the cover of the back to school edition of our local paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our adjustments to our new roles in life seem to be going smoothly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done more laundry in the month of August than I have done in my whole life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brother always said I would make a good wife one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as I sat down to take a break after putting Layla down for a nap, the phone rings and it is our agency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This being the second phone call within a week’s time.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first they needed a letter talking about various things such as the existence of Layla, who was not in our original paperwork, what we planned to do as far as travel and whatnot once we were able to retrieve Wiktoria and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured this was another one of those phone calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully it wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said they had exciting news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Polish authorities had approved us to adopt Wiktoria!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the missing piece in our journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We accepted her, they accepted us, and now we have travel dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>In order to be home in time for a wedding, we are looking at travelling to Katowice, Poland on the 26<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> of this month (1 week from today!), arriving on the 27<sup>th</sup> and meetings with authorities on the 29th-31<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time we will also be visiting the orphanage and spending time with our newest child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray this goes well as it will be a scary time for her wondering why these weird people are looking at her crying, taking pictures and snotting all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember our girls we leave behind for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray for our travelling safety and health and that things with us and our new child go well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Pray for how you can be part of ending the global orphan crisis. </span></span></span><br />
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</div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-25508955419987301872011-07-28T01:01:00.003-04:002011-08-01T15:52:15.322-04:00July adoption update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">July 2011 comes and goes and we are left with a full plate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like the previous month, Leigh and I fielded questions about my lack of job and about the adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have prayed over this situation for months, even before I officially lost my job because I knew it was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For months we sensed a stirring towards something different, something greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not discounting the greatness and importance of being a teacher, but a desire for something more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spiritual unrest as one friend and mentor put it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I blame most of the stirring on David Platt and his book Radical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never had more of a spiritual eye opening experience until reading through his book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bluntness and boldness of his words struck a chord in many of the hearts within the Sunday school class that read and those of us that bought into the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, not everyone read it or took it serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for those of us who did, our lives will never be the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our spiritual blinders have been removed and it is for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many times we just go to church and play, go through the motions and pat ourselves on the back because we made it months in a row and never missed a Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sit in the same pew, mouth the same words to the same songs and turn our act or worship to a holy, pure, and righteous God into a mundane, ho-hum, robotic trance that we get into and then think we are doing God a favor by being there and following the routine set forth by generations of spiritually hollow robots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dangerous! How prideful and how shameful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The God of this universe has been condensed down to an hour of our life on Sunday morning and we call ourselves Christian because we go to church, don’t drink, don’t cuss and are “good”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shame on me for being that guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shame on the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sit in the segregated communities we call church, generally hoping that the lost of our community will come waltzing through our door, preferably in a shirt, tie or dress, smell nice and be groomed to become church folk already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ridiculous!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of people are dying lost every day and going to hell because they don’t come to us, and better yet, because, “I’m just not called to missions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give me a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please do not call yourself a Christian and ever let those words come out of your mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Great Commission is written in red in my Bible, probably important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not an option given to us by Jesus, but rather a command for all his people to follow. 4 parts people, 1. Go to all nations, 2. Make disciples (have to be one to make one) 3. Baptize them, 4. Teach them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not a spiritual gift we are given, not something we hope to acquire one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for me and you to go and do, not to sit back and study and talk about doing it, or watch others do, or hope that someone is doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We individually are responsible for doing it in some form or fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my prayer that we are not taking it and changing it to fit our lives so that we remain comfortable and use the calling excuse to excuse ourselves from this calling and then someday stand before the almighty judge and have the audacity to say that we did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare we live a life pretending to follow a watered down gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last 2 weeks have continued to be right on par with the pressures of being jobless, having bills and a family, and in the process of adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of which are cheap and easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even had the experience of strangers that know I am jobless ask how things are going and even so far as to ask if my knee surgery that I had has anything to do with why I don’t have a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It amazes me that very few people even have an ounce of curiosity about the adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we are in the middle of changing the life of a fatherless, loveless child for likely an eternity, and hardly anyone is curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You care enough about my electric bill to ask about my job but not about the millions of children that are orphaned and the privilege that Leigh and I, and you too, have the opportunity and responsibility of changing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While wading through the mounds of paperwork involved in updating our home study and other adoption related paperwork, a few verses have popped into our head as we continue to receive the moans and groans of those that just don’t get it, those that think that having 2 biological kids is enough and want to pretend the orphan crisis is not real and pretend that when we die and stand in judgment that the defender of the fatherless is not going to ask us what we did about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we ignore it, does it really go away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shudder at the thought of having to answer, nothing, “I didn’t know.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some verses are:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deuteronomy 10: 17-20<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">17</span></sup> For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">18</span></sup> He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">19</span></sup><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">20</span></sup> Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 68: 5-6<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">5</span></sup> A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span></sup> God sets the lonely in families<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just 2 examples of what God has been saying to us over the past two years since we have officially been in the adoption process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the first, God shows no partiality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sees me no different than the orphan that is awaiting us in Poland or the one that is awaiting you, whether you have accepted the call to adopt or maybe you don’t even know it’s there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, those of us in Christ have been adopted into His holy family, the royal priesthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm 68:5, a father to the fatherless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we are for hours upon end hearing from the pulpit to be more Christ like and be like Jesus, yet Christians across America are not responding to this verse and to the adoption crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If American Christians stepped up to the plate and got our version of Jesus out of the way of the Jesus of the Bible, lives would be changed, families restored, nations healed, and Christ would be exalted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks to authors David Platt and Russell D. Moore, we have been spiritually slapped across the face and kicked in the gut by reading their books, Radical and Adopted for Life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were riding to from a wedding shower in Michigan this past weekend, my wife and I decided to finally look Russell Moore up on the iPod.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been there for months; I only downloaded the book because it was free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could not find KLOVE anymore, so we gave it a listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is good at what he does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not need to hear the book months ago, we needed it then, on I-75, those moments, in that van.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was Sunday, July 24<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast forward to Monday night the 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only are we celebrating the birthday of my best man and cousin, but starting our churches version of VBS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fought with the decision to participate; after all, I did not want to miss my usual Monday night volleyball ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave in and volunteered to teach the pre-school age class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, what was I going to say, my kid does not have a teacher because I chose to go play volleyball instead?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where were my priorities?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids learning about Christ or hitting a leather ball for 2 hours in the heat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there we are, VBS in full motion, 30+ preschool aged kids in the parking lot running wild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When all the sudden, my wife Leigh comes busting out of the building, hands in the air, talking about something I couldn’t even make out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went on with the hot potato game for a moment until I could take the curiosity no longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her expressions suggested someone had called with bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had someone passed away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she allowed for oxygen to seep back into her mouth, she said our agency had called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with many waiting families, I automatically assumed it was a paperwork need or possibly they needed more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am on the verge of selling plasma already to fund this thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, with tears welling up in her eyes she says we have just received a referral for a little 2 year old girl in Poland!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take the cool dad road and say that’s cool, while on the inside the flood gates were preparing to burst open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rushed to a computer to view the medical records and pictures we were sent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, it did not matter what they said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had prayed faithfully for nearly two years that God would send us the child. It was 7:30 pm and our minds were set at 7:31. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For two days we met with medical personnel to review the file, 2 doctors, 3 nurses, and 1 pharmacist later, we decided that there was nothing there we could not handle with Gods strenth and provision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In another example of how God’s timing and plans are perfect, He blesses us with a little girl that might have a learning disability and needs speech therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know us, that is funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both work with special needs children already, me with a special ed degree and my wife as a speech therapist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We prayed, cried and snotted all over this little girls pictures with our friends and spiritual advisors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had people praying on 3 different continents for this girl, this process, and this decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after all this for two days, we called and accepted the referral for Wiktoria (Victoria).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She is 2 years old, which fits nicely between our 5 and 1 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has rosy little tater cheeks and likes bikes, babies, stuffed animals, and strollers, just like Ryleigh, our 5 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with this, we will be getting travelling dates for our first trip to meet her soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We covet your prayers and know that we serve a good God who is faithful and just and will continue to lead us on this journey of adoption. We don't know how we are going to complete the process financially, but if we did, there would be no faith involved.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had never hit me until today that the adoption that has taken place between Christ and us is just like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we were, fatherless, unloved and deemed unlovable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have issues, we are dirty, undeserving at times too, but Christ does not see through man’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He takes us in, cleans us up, loves, and we now have someone to cry to, to cry out Abba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in near tears as I picture this little girl tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another night alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another night with no one to tell her they love her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one to tuck her in at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another night of desperation and hopelessness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does not know it, but we are coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question remains for the millions of other orphans, will you come?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-42693461655511805182011-07-14T23:59:00.000-04:002011-07-14T23:59:55.617-04:00Another month has passed, no newsThe month of June has come and gone and nothing to report on the adoption side of life. We are beginning to update paperwork, which will cost nearly $1000! It is the most expensive waiting game we have played. Our prayer is that this is our first and last update. We rejoice with the other families that are getting calls and going to see their child(ren). But man, why not us? When is it our turn?<br />
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One the life side, June brought about minor ear surgery for our daughter Ryleigh. She had an ear tube replaced and patched a hole in her ear drum from a previous tube surgery. <br />
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I wish I had something more exciting to report, but we wait and wait and wait for that phone call when/if it ever comes.Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-39460835071283492092011-05-25T12:46:00.000-04:002011-05-25T12:46:27.234-04:00Good news if you stretch far enoughWe recently spoke with our agency and received news that both excites and frustrates us. They said that some referrals had recently come in from Poland and that we had been considered for them, however, they came with requirements that we did not meet, such as Polish heritage. I have a slightly German last name, so no getting around that.<br />
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However, we are telling ourselves this. If <a href="http://www.saintmaryadoption.com/">SMIA</a> works with about 20 couples a year, and 2-3 families recently received and accepted a referral, that means that if we were #20, we have moved up the list and are closer to receiving a child. If we were anywhere in the line, we are moving up. So that's good news. If this line really exist somewhere, this is good news. Not sure it does exist though. We are excited for these families, but it just makes us want our referral even more. <br />
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We know that God's timing is best and our plans do not always match up with His, but we are ready.<br />
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On the family side of things, our oldest daughter just graduated from pre-school and our youngest recently turned 1. Our oldest still thinks she is from Poland and asks questions about when we went and got her. She is excited to go over there and see the face of this new brother/sister we have been telling her about for over a year.Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-82472989648441976652011-04-15T12:39:00.000-04:002011-04-15T12:39:19.850-04:00An update...still nothing<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, it’s been quite some time since the last posting on here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that we have been super busy finalizing an adoption, making travel plans or really anything adoption related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this time, we have seen another couple receive a referral, accept it, and get tentative travel dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as for us, nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything that we have control over, is complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we just wait to be matched up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One can’t help but wonder about our papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they just laying on someone’s desk in Poland?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have they been opened up and looked at?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they know that we are longing to see our child for the first time?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The month of February saw the one year anniversary of my knee being reconstructed after tearing lots of stuff in a church league basketball game the previous season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow and cold weather came and went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To celebrate her first Valentine’s Day, we were able to get Layla ear tubes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great gift!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">March showed promise of spring weather one day and then snow the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kentucky weather is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The madness that is college basketball proved to be exciting for our beloved Kentucky Wildcats who made it all the way to the Final 4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kentucky basketball is a religion in this state for those of you outside of Ky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>March brought 4 teeth for our youngest daughter Layla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Battling teething pains, ear infections, and pierced ears made for a fun month at our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our other daughter, Ryleigh, also had her ears pierced for spring break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the sounds she made afterwards, she did not die from the piercing or the splinter she got weeks later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would have thought we were amputating her finger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now post- piercing, post-splinter, and enjoying an ear infection and strep throat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the church side of things, our pastor Patrick Whyte is delivering God’s word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a gifted speaker and has preached challenging and thought provoking messages one after the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is currently preaching through the book of Acts, as we are making the journey to look more like a New Testament church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Sunday school class has been reading the book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Radical</i>, by David Platt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To quote a guy in our class, “It will change your life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been a great book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s God inspired and opens your eyes to the way we do church and God versus the church and God of the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are meeting in small groups to dig deeper into the book to examine what it says, what the scripture says, and then what we are going to do about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fear when presenting this book to the class was that we would read it and then not act upon it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having your eyes opened to what God wants us to do and then not acting upon it could be devastating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many challenges and new perspectives on what the American God is like, but compared to the God and Jesus of the Bible, we have molded them to look like us instead of us being molded to their image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best sections in the book talks about people who think they are not “called” to missions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus did not call us, he commanded us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a command to all, not a calling for some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we really think that God is only calling a few to do the work and that the great reward of Heaven would be for everyone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I understand that not all are called to go to Poland, Africa, or wherever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we are however, all responsible for getting the Gospel to these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-64921194751037522512011-01-28T13:26:00.001-05:002011-01-29T08:45:55.913-05:00Looking back and aheadThis week brings a lot to mixed emotions to our lives. Looking back, today is the anniversary of the Challenger disaster. I remember 25 years ago, watching the news and seeing the explosion. I was only 7 when it happened, but things like that stick in your mind. Another anniversary happened this week. It's been 66 years since the liberation of the German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz. Having visited Poland several times and going to both Auschwitz camps, it sticks with you. The museum is horrible, terrible, frightening, and intriguing. It’s horrible to see the death and destruction that happened there by the millions. It’s terrible to see the lack of value placed on human life. Frightening to see what humanity is capable of when God is removed. It’s intriguing to see the stories of people that never lost hope, pressed on, and sought change.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Looking ahead, we have a chance to experience change in our church, our church future, our community and in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After over 2 years without a full time pastor, our pastor search committee is presenting a man of God for our vote this Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our interim pastor has been preparing our church, our hearts, and our church body for this change, though he has had no hand in the committee’s decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">We have very little color in our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tradition tradition tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cynthiana Baptist Church history talks about our members having servants and people of color belonging to members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BELONGING TO MEMBERS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our pastor candidate is going to bring change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a black man from Nigeria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is 7 feet tall in shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is married to a white girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the deceased church members roll over in their graves, we (most of us under 50 years old and a few over) are excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man of God, who happens to be black, is awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves missions, is led by the Spirit, and seems to have no flaws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wonder if we bring in a pool, can he walk across it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Several people have said they don’t see him as black, emphasizing they fact that they are not racist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling the need to tell people you are not racist, in my mind, seems odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People, he is 7 feet tall and black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t help but notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have said they just don’t think it’s right that he’s married to a white girl and he is black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can’t give an answer other than, “I just don’t think it’s right.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Our church is going to change this Sunday, one way or another, for the better or for the worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A no vote is going to upset the younger generation (the church future) and a yes vote may upset the older folks (the church money) for whatever reasons, right or wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that there is going to be some “weeding” out within the church body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sad, but it’s probably going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been praying for the Spirit of God to speak to us Sunday morning and that His will is done, regardless of ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something that will be interesting is to see how members, who have not darkened the door for months or years, show up to vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Christians” are hard to figure out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.h2vministries.org/who.html">Here is a website with some information on our candidate, Patrick Whyte.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">On the adoption side of things, no news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are looking for some fundraising ideas though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need about $10,000 more and we’ll be about where we need to be financially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have any ideas, please let us know. In the mean time, pray and smile!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC-z9vUOJ70QUWJ_tsovvSKQkYa6t9AYU7N7Za_d_mKOnOmSKRzyWlq69PYenMP-u9-75JIkEI8_i0tGMUD3FSOewphBXbt7Zx0PUI-p_VoCL-GkrxX6rQK1ipPkPRrFxii7qKxAZuKRn/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC-z9vUOJ70QUWJ_tsovvSKQkYa6t9AYU7N7Za_d_mKOnOmSKRzyWlq69PYenMP-u9-75JIkEI8_i0tGMUD3FSOewphBXbt7Zx0PUI-p_VoCL-GkrxX6rQK1ipPkPRrFxii7qKxAZuKRn/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-3352993643474869192011-01-06T11:26:00.001-05:002011-01-06T14:56:40.922-05:00It's a girl + more!<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-U9ifK-vgFbIUGNO8BwubHTuIzyAf8VVJnZElS-r8lWIHeaNkwmy71AuawdPIKHMaGhln_avi9PuVLysOUUYhIdUdwH7092UkSn12SrdIGIOKiYDCgOSrOOpk5-9iFdD7jfAkgP8Seum/s1600/its-a-girl.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-U9ifK-vgFbIUGNO8BwubHTuIzyAf8VVJnZElS-r8lWIHeaNkwmy71AuawdPIKHMaGhln_avi9PuVLysOUUYhIdUdwH7092UkSn12SrdIGIOKiYDCgOSrOOpk5-9iFdD7jfAkgP8Seum/s200/its-a-girl.gif" width="200" /></a></div>Now that I have your attention in a somewhat mean and funny way, it is a girl. It's not a girl from Poland, not a referral, and probably not that funny to most of you. We finally sat down at the computer as a family and looked through the list of children on the <a href="http://www.worldvision.org/">World Vision website</a> and let Ryleigh pick a child. She decided that she wanted us to sponsor a little girl. We found a little girl named Lindsay who lives in Bolivia and shares the same birthday as Ryleigh, July 7th of 2006.</div><div></div><div>Just think for $35 a month, we can give this little girl and her family clean water, medical supplies, school supplies, and exposure to the Gospel. All that for the amount of money we spend to go out to dinner at a decent restaurant.</div><div></div><div>On the adoption side of life, nothing happening. We are just waiting. The last time we heard from our agency, they guessed May or June. So, here we sit. We did receive an ornament this year as a gift in the shape of Poland and we hung a stocking up for them this Christmas as well. So our child does already have a few gifts waiting for them. It's hard to explain loving someone you have never met, never seen, don't know their name, gender or anything, yet we do.</div><div></div><div>On a side note, we have been having some great Sunday's at <a href="http://www.cynthianabaptistchurch.org/">Cynthiana Baptist</a>. We have been challenged to get out of the church, be the church, and take the church to people. You can't help but feel a little guilty when we look at all we have and how little most of the rest of the world has. I pray that our church develops a heart for missions and not just a head. We can talk a good game, but when you look at our church history, our members lives, and our checkbook, are we really committed?</div><div></div><div>We have been established as CBC for going on 144 years. I wonder, in that time, how many people have we sent to the mission field? What kind of global impact have we made?&nbsp; We have done well in our "Jerusalem", but what about our Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth? Have we been, and are we being an outreach church? Are we committed to reaching lost people? Based off the popularity and attendance of our Sunday nights and visitation programs, I'd say we are not committed as a church body. Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:8 were not given to us by Jesus himself as options, but commands. It's time that we as Christians and as a church open up our lives, our hearts, and our check books to do whatever it takes to see lost people come to Christ. Lost people can't come Christ unless they hear about Him. It is reported that about 1.6 billion people have never heard the name of Jesus and that 95% of the worlds population lives outside America. When we are broken and our eyes truly opened to the vastness and lostness of the the world around us, only then will we stop playing "church games" and get serious about missions.</div><div></div><div>John Piper said, "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever."</div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-52283995160923343612010-11-22T12:04:00.000-05:002010-11-22T12:04:12.761-05:00Thankfulness should equal actionAs we approach the upcoming holiday, I eagerly look forward to spending time with (most) family members and look forward to all the good food that will be laid out in front of us. You can scan the Internet and see all the stuff that others are thankful for then scan the black Friday ads to see where all the best sales and utter chaos will be. You can save lots of money if you spend lots of money on more stuff. All this stuff is good and all, but it makes my wife and I feel so empty, shallow, and full of questions when we look around our house. Sure we want to raise our daughters to be thankful for what we have and appreciate what God has blessed us with, but it's just stuff. We don't want to seem ungrateful for Christmas presents, big meals, and family gatherings, but that is not why we are here. <br />
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Just last night our church had our annual Thanksgiving meal as a church body. As I stood in the door and looked around, sadly I knew most everyone there. There were a few guests, but not many. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good meal and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, but that meal last night could have been so much more. Instead of eating last night, 6 of us packed up about 24 boxes of food to take and deliver to needy families in the community. I am not patting us on the back for doing that, but it felt great to go out to these houses and bless them with food and a offer prayer for the family. Each house we went to, and it only took 4 before we were out of boxes, was so welcoming and appreciative. Three words kept popping into my head all weekend, "The least, the last and the lost." It is what my preacher says and then I heard it in a podcast from Kay Warren. I have written before about the least, the last and the lost with regards to orphans and adoption, but these folks are all around us. One family we visited lived in a rough house in a rough area of town. There were 4 adults and 9 children living there and a lady is having a baby in 2 weeks. This family, who does not have much, took in another family who needed help. They don't have much by our standards, but they were willing to give what they had to help others in need. <br />
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What are we doing? My wife and I both work in the school system and make good money for what we do. We live in a house full of stuff we don't really need. We tithe, give an offering, support a few good causes here and there, but what are we doing to help our neighbor? Not enough. Again, I am not blowing my horn, but take this as a challenge to the way we Christians do things. This year for Christmas, we are not spending a bunch of money to go out and buy more stuff for each other. We have decided to sit in front of the computer as a family on the Compassion website (<a href="http://www.compassion.com/">http://www.compassion.com/</a>) and let Ryleigh, our oldest daughter, go through the pictures and select a child to sponsor. We want this to become real to her, not just a monthly check we send. We want her to see the child's face and feel their hurts and know their struggles. We want her to know just how blessed by God she is and see that there is something that we can do about the least, the last and the lost. We will buy some presents for people, but it won't be the focus of Christmas.<br />
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Mother Teresa said, "When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed." She also said, "It's the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." <br />
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Wow.<br />
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Imagine what Cynthiana, and Kentucky, and the world would be like if we had the eyes of Jesus and saw the world the way He does. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>I challenge you to do something different this holiday season.</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="176" data-width="287" height="176" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXFlSW-3TITF2N9FrUrP4xCLzGeQOCxMSPl_vnpeRu_ZlFVFRK" style="height: 176px; width: 287px;" width="287" /></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-23360165168572321062010-11-08T10:07:00.000-05:002010-11-08T10:07:36.763-05:00What a week!<span>Early last week we spoke with St. Mary's about the status of our dossier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are chomping at the bit to get a referral and go get our child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After speaking with them, they informed us that based on where we are in the process and the number of waiting families ahead of us, we probably would not be getting a referral until May or June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not what we wanted to hear, but we are reminded of the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to be patient and know that God is working all of this out in His perfect timing and thankfully not in what we thought would be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this time frame, we both will have to miss fewer days of school and have more time to save money and build our adoption fund up a little higher before heading over to Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were a little saddened by the time, but God is in control.</span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The other day my wife was on her way home with both girls asleep in the back of the van.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She decided to pull into McDonald's to get a tea and while ordering, Ryleigh sits up in her car seat and randomly says "cheeseburger" and immediately falls back to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe she has some built in radar that goes off when there is happy meal potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>On Sunday, our church celebrated and recognized Orphan Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We worked with another couple to come up with a service geared to inform and challenge the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friends Dan and Stacy interviewed folks who had been touched by adoption and took their interviews and made a great video that was personal, had real people, and a real message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked professional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also had a lady come and share her testimony of being a foster parent and mother of two adoptive girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was awesome to hear how God put their family together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She even wrote and sang a song about her experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then came the sermon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our interim pastor would later admit that he forgot about Orphan Sunday until the service began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he delivered one of his best sermons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenge to the congregation to reach out to the "least, the last, the lost, the poor, the broken, the vulnerable, and the marginalized" was moving,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared personal stories from both he and his wife and how they had been raised by people other than their parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the conclusion of both services, he invited folks up who had been adopted, who adopted, and who were adopting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to see some of our older members that were connected to adoption get up and come forward to support those of us in the process or some that had recently adopted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our second service, an older gentleman shared his testimony of adopting a child and years later losing him in a vehicle accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God moved in our church yesterday and is touching the hearts of many concerning adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span>The entire month of November is about adoption and orphan awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's stand up and make a difference one child and one widow at a time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span></span><span><em>Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exodus 22:22-23</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><em>Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 68:5-6</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span></span><span><em>Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah 1:17</em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK5W3AwReSSYrp8e0j34layUEVGjfVBGq-WI9BuKH6aUDxHXGjdEYaXNdOVUBthJRhpSP-pVUL907wlRJlUghiMClSdiTKgap65wYodrDX8icDT1wLS5I9PnRvwNipqSRShawJPqHftpj/s1600/logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMK5W3AwReSSYrp8e0j34layUEVGjfVBGq-WI9BuKH6aUDxHXGjdEYaXNdOVUBthJRhpSP-pVUL907wlRJlUghiMClSdiTKgap65wYodrDX8icDT1wLS5I9PnRvwNipqSRShawJPqHftpj/s320/logo.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-34586537323219950912010-10-26T10:44:00.003-04:002010-11-03T09:18:32.592-04:00Are we getting it?Well it has been a little more than a month since our last post and not much has changed in regards to our adoption plans. Last time we spoke with St. Mary's, we were told we should hear something around the end of the month in regards to being on the official waiting list. That news will hopefully arrive within the next couple of weeks. The next step for us will be to update our home study to include our 5 month old daughter. This should not be a lengthy process like the original home study by any means.<br />
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Since writing last, a lot has happened in our church body with adoptions. We have friends that returned from adopting their second child from down south. They have adopted both locally and internationally. We got news that another couple from our church is in the process of adopting a child from Kentucky and that another family in our Sunday school class is adopting a child from Korea. They are completing their basketball team. They have 4 biological kids already and are adopting now to complete the team as well as to fill every seat belt in their van. <br />
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As a church body, are we beginning to get it?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoH6sB8GOf_e8PMjzVVF2FJxnkxtpf0P4MnfXi_duFx5qv4SMUGjPNl1Ob3kDVU4ilkFph1X7mdPkhMVVo5XuY1jaeXRZ-SBKxPy3kqW1IftqmpMiQJQOUHBcn5gN3soycJ8-FT7rbqZ4/s1600/webButton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoH6sB8GOf_e8PMjzVVF2FJxnkxtpf0P4MnfXi_duFx5qv4SMUGjPNl1Ob3kDVU4ilkFph1X7mdPkhMVVo5XuY1jaeXRZ-SBKxPy3kqW1IftqmpMiQJQOUHBcn5gN3soycJ8-FT7rbqZ4/s1600/webButton.jpg" /></a></div>Orphan Sunday is coming up on the 7th of November. A few families touched by adoption are making a presentation to the church. When the adoptions first began to happen a couple years ago, there was some resistance from some church members. Unbelievable, but true. It was the same resistance we get when we have done foreign mission work. As more and more adoptions have started to occur, there is less and less resistance. The church is offering financial support to families. People are bonding together to help out expecting families with gifts and baby showers. Even some of the members that offered their resistance vocally have now offered their financial support individually.<br />
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What has changed? We are still the same body of believers. There has been an awesome series of challenges from our interim pastor. He gets it. He has said that one of his regrets is that he and his wife did not have more kids. He would tell you that he is not living for God, but with God daily. He preaches all the time about the rules, regulations, rituals, and requirements that Christians get so hung up on that we miss out on the blessings waiting for us by simply being with Jesus daily. <br />
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Are we as a church body moving away from our traditional way of thinking? Are we understanding that Jesus was not a southern Baptist, was not a white guy, didn't speak English, and that's okay? Are we understanding that Jesus did not spend a lot of time in the church building, but he was the church and went out to the people and spent time with the sinners. He did not just sit in church and wonder how he could get lost people to come in and get saved. Our church is slowly moving in that direction. We are building small groups, getting out of the building and taking the church to people in the community. We are being the church instead of going to the church. <br />
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Are we all realizing that if we call ourselves a Christian that we have been adopted into the family of God. We were once an orphan, hopeless, destitute, without a forever family, without a bright future. God takes us into his family, cleans us up, gives us hope, a family and changes our eternal future.<br />
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<blockquote>And anyone who <u>welcomes</u> a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. Matthew 18:5</blockquote><blockquote>Learn to do good. <u>Seek</u> justice. <u>Help</u> the oppressed. <u>Defend</u> the cause of orphans. <u>Fight</u> for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17</blockquote>Do you welcome? Seek? Help? Defend? Fight? What are you doing? What will you do?Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699899054302550391.post-58078129698577776012010-09-17T17:30:00.003-04:002010-09-20T13:18:29.971-04:00What do dinosaurs have to do with adoption?Out of all the mindless shows that are on TV, many of which I am guilty to watching, one that has quickly become one of our family favorites is Dinosaur Train on PBS. This is one of my daughters favorite shows and being that it was on PBS, we trusted it was okay for her to watch and never really paid too much attention to it until here recently.<br />
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As we have been moving through the adoption paperwork and process, we have been trying to talk to her about what is going on and what to expect. We have told her that the new baby may look different, and depending on age, talk different. We think she is getting it a little, but she is 4 and I could convince her of most anything. And then one day, we sat down to watch TV with her and let her choose whatever she wanted us to watch, and she chose Dinosaur Train. I was a little boy once, dinosaurs + trains sounded bearable to me. It is better than watching the Barbie Nutcracker movie for the hundredth time.<br />
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We sat down and immediately were captivated by the introduction. The show begins with Mrs. Pteranodon watching her eggs hatch in the nest. Three Pteranodon eggs hatch (Tiny, Shiny and Don) and then a 4th egg hatches a different dinosaur named Buddy. This mother dinosaur gives a great response to the other kids and the adventure begins. Here is the clip below to check it out. What a great lesson about adoption for kids. <object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bwzJPmGup0Y?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bwzJPmGup0Y?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object>Greg and Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01925370012003040824noreply@blogger.com0