The Day really got interesting

In my last post, I was boarding my flight to go to Cincinnati. I got to Cinci and a slight delay was posted. I went to my gate and waited. And waited. And waited. My goal was to get to JFK
before our kids arrived from Kiev. They got in at 5:19 and were boarded on their flight to Cinci at 6:30. My flight had still not left Cinci at that time so I made the decision to stay and wait right where I was. I stayed in constant contact with the other host families and my sweet sister Cynthia who was giving me regular updates of what Delta was posting about flight from JFK.
We contimued to get notices of delay from JFK. These poor travel weary kids who had traveled
5 hours to get to the airport in Kiev. Got there almost 6 hours early (they started calling me at
1:30 AM and we talked off and in until they were boarded at 6AM our time.) Flew 10 hours across the world, arrived in New York and were boarded in a flight for Cinci at 6:30 .
I had hardly eaten all day, was exhausted and not leaning on the Lord. None of these are a great
place to be in. I finally decided to try to find something to eat. Not long after I sat down, I got
a call from the person who put this trip together. She asked..are you sitting down. Those words
never sit well. No pun intended. She said, Denis is not on the flight. My heart sank, Where was he? What happened? She said he thought I would be at JFK and a gaurdian allowed him to leave the gate and secured area. Through a long series of phone calls, rude airline employees and
hard things, the Lord worked it all out. The workers in Cincinnati were delightful and so on my team. The Lord provided. Some nut at JFK would not give Denis a boarding pass to go back through security because he could not tell the desk idiot who his gaurdian was. (that is me), She
was asking in English and said he could not answer because he did not speak English and she
could not reissue a boarding pass. HELLO....we know he doesn't speak English. JUST GET HIM ON THAT FLIGHT. We finally got someone after calling the control tower at JFK and said we had an emergency situation to make contact with the gate agent at JFK. Again, the Lord provided. So now I try to calm down and settle in a bit with the 100.s of other people whom I had seen pass through while I was waiting. Time was ticking, apart from Denis there were 12 other people who had to get to Birmingham and their flight was to leave Cinci at 10:10. Well, 10:10 cane and went and our kids were still sitting on an airplane at JFK. Shift into plan B mode.
We had to reschedule 12 people to Birmingham the next day and they all had to travel together.
Wasn't going to happen. We were able however to get them all out of Lexington together
on Sunday at 3:10. I got all of that rescheduled. The Lord continued to provide. 11PM...plane with kids still at JFK. 12..still there...1 AM still here....airport in Cinci was all closed except for
the gate waiting t0 receive this flight. 12 hours was a long wait. While I was sitting on the
floor in the airport, 2 precious women who work for the airline came by and offered blankets and water. The Lord provided. Still no confirmation of takeoff. Before long, these sweet ladies offered
to take me to the employee lounge. They made me hot chocolate and put me in a recliner. The Lord provided. Then the news,,,the flight was in the air. I had to then contact a van service
to get all 14 of us to my home in Lexington, I found a place who was right on time and waiting
when the flight landed at 3:19 AM. The Lord provided. When we got to my home, the children
ages 6-14, were wound up and hungry. I had anticipated Denis but not the extra 12. These precious orphans went through every room in my house. They especially liked the Christmas tree! They looked at every present under the tree. In the 7 hours there were here, we made candy, they ate a loaf of bread, almost 3 pounds of cheese, a whole package of capri sun, 3 containers of juice, sprite, a 12 pack of diet sprite,hot dogs and buns, 3 large bags of barbq chips,
all the plane chips I had, every piece of fruit in my fruit bowl including the tomotoes, cold cuts from the Russian store, candy and snacks from the Russian store, unfrozen freezer pops, bacon...
and anythiing else that was hanging around, including unshelled peanuts. I let thrm rollerblade
, ride bikes and run around mt yard before daylight, they also played ping pong, video games,
chased each other through the house, showered, warched TV, habd washed their socks, washed hair, ate some more, piled up in my bed and the lost goes on. I never slept. Way too long to be awake. I loved it. I never dreamed the Lord would have these kids in my home. What a blessing.
This is s but a part of the sroty. I a, exhausted yet my heart is full. My boy is here, now long asleep on the couch with the fire roaring in the fireplace. Much more to share about the past fre days, I will post later. Love, Cathy

Like a scene from a movie!!!!

I am now sitting in the Lexington Airport Waiting to fly to Cinci and on to JFK.
The flight from Kiev is 1 hour late which would make them miss connection. Big problem.
Please be prayng that we can get the kids here and through custome in time to get them
with theiri families tonight. Plan B is spend the night in NY!!!

Have to go and board!!!!

Love,

Cathy

Great Anticipation!!!

It is almost 5 AM. I usually get up and go to the gym on Fridays at 6AM. I woke up at 1:30
this morning. Wes was not home and it startled me. I called and he was at the UK library cramming for a final. He is officially moving out this Saturday, the same day Denis arrives.
He has waited all semester to get into his own place and I remember being his age and
wanting to be on my own. I a happy for him because he is really ready to go.
I am sad because I am not sure what to expect with him gone. I know it is the normal course
of events that he would be on his own, but honestly, I want him here, with me. My heart
aches this morning. My baby...who is now 19, is about to spread his wings. He will have
the opportunity to practice (or not), all of the things he has been taught. My prayer is that
he will run to the Lord. I know,he is not dead, just moving across town. It's just sad.

Then, the joy of having Denis with me. I believe that it is all God's perfect timing and wonderful
provision for both Denis and me. He has been unusually silent. I normally get a lot of phone calls.
I am anxious to get him here and see what is stirring in that little heart of his.

I have decided to fly to New York to meet his plane on Saturday. I leave Lexington
at 11:45 on Saturday morning. My plan is to meet his plane when it arrives from Ukraine.
His connection is so short, I want to insure that he and his group make it by rushing them
to where they need to go. Please pray for our reunion. I especially desire that he know the true
meaning of Christmas. What a wonderful time to have him here!!!! Thanks for praying and I will
do my best to post while he is here.

Love,

Cathy

Christmas Visa

I am on my way to work but wanted to make a quick post for those of you praying with me...
WE GOT THE VISAS for Christmas.

Love,

Cathy

Pleasant Surprise

You never know when and how the Lord will send a blessing. I have to tell you that tonight
was quite the surprise. My 19 year old son called me at work to tell me that he was cooking dinner. It was so sweet. He bought fresh flowers (pink roses) for the table.
He made me a great big salad with everything I love in a salad in it. Then he sauteed
vegetables. It is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.
Oh..and to top it off, he even did the dishes. A few things that make this so special
are the fact that he knows how tired I am, he knows what some of my favorite flowers
are, he knew exactly what I would like to eat...and he thought of it all on his own.
What love!!!!!

On another front, please remember to pray for our Christmas hosting. We go for the visa tomorrow.
Hopefully we will hear the result tomorrow. All of the kids (5) coming in the group that are over
12 are on their way to Kiev already to answer questions at the embassy.

I will keep you posted.

Love,

Cathy

Good News!

Last Sunday morning, I received a call from Denis and his birth mother...4:30 AM.
A call that was heart wrenching for us all.
On Monday, his mothers rights were officially terminated in the court.
He is now on his way to being officially registered for adoption. In his country
you must be on the registry for one year before you are available for adoption
internationally. We have a long journey ahead but have made great strides.
For Denis Ukraine holds a very dark and depressing future if we are not
able to get him out. Please continue to pray that the Lord will open the doors
to bring him here.
A few hours after our intense conversation Denis called back. We had an interpreter
on the phone. I asked if he had any questions, he said yes, " could you please send
me some gum?". He had enough of that intense stuff.
I know that I am jumping around a lot, one thing that his mother did tell me was
that she knows Denis loves me and he wants to live with me. It was bittersweet.

Here we are, 17 months down the road, and finally..the doors have started to open.
Glory be to God.

Continue to remember us in prayer for this Friday which is when we have our visa appointment
for Christmas.

And about my company, it is going well. A lot of work, but fruitful. Yesterday I went in and
worked 12 1/2 hours. Today, Saturday, I worked until almost 6:30. I am tired but most
thankful for thr Lords provision.

Wes is in Tennessee for the UK football game. He spent Thanksgiving in St. Louis with his father.
I can't wait for him to get home tomorrow. I made a pot of chilli for him! When he goes away, I always have a special something that he likes and have it waiting for him.

I love being a mother.

I will post again as soon as I know about visa.

Love,

Cathy

It's getting closer!!

I am still praying about our visas for Christmas. If they work out, I will have Denis here in
a little over a month. I went ahead and ordered a stocking with his name embroidered on it.
It came on Thursday, I almost cried when I opened the box!!!!! How silly of me. You would
think that I was pregnant. A lot of little things like that are making me teary these days!!!!!

We are hopefully moving closer to getting Denis on the official adoption registry. That is a good
thing.

Wes is still home with me. Another blessing.

Denis called me at 3:30 this morning to say hello. I am always glad to hear from him no matter
the time. His voice is so sweet!!!

The Lord is so good!!!!! If I hear any news before December 5th, I will let you know.

Love, Cathy