Blog Status

Hello to my now private blog world! We have decided to go private a little early for a variety of reasons... Actually, I am sorry to say that once we accept a referral in Ukraine, we will go even more private (family and friends only). We plan to make it "less private" as soon as our 10-day wait is over in Ukraine, and you'll all get to catch up. We are hearing more and more the importance of confidentiality while in Ukraine, and just can't take any chances. That's all I can say about it, but I thank you for understanding.

We just got back from Incredible Pizza Universe. Fun Fun! Garrett chose to buy a whoopie cushion with his tickets at the prize counter, so we got to hear lots of tooting and giggling all the way home. Oh...life with boys!

Pictures later...
Good night!

Weekend Plans

We are coming up on our last weekend with the boys before heading to Ukraine...actually, Lord-willing, our last weekend as a family of four! We have big plans - everyone contributed in planning the itenerary. Friday night we're heading to the Incredible Pizza Universe. It's a huge favorite for the boys - they especially love the black-light neon bowling and the bumper cars. Saturday morning, we are going to Statetown for some family skate lessons. This was Garrett's choice. He's been begging to go skating ever since Grant got to go to a birthday party at Statetown a couple of weeks ago (ist-graders only - Garrett was not happy!). After skating, we're off to the park to have a picnic lunch and ride bikes. Saturday night, we are having our indoor campout, complete with sleeping bags and smores. Sunday after church, we'll go to Garrett's basketball game. Then one of our favorite families comes over for dinner. Whew! I'm tired just typing all that...but it will be fun! All of this fun takes place in the midst of packing, trip errands, and colds we all seem to be battling! We've got plenty of time to rest on the plane, right? :)
...and that plane leaves in 10 days!

The Ukraine Adoption Lowdown

Wow - thanks for all the great emails! It's so fun to hear from all the sweet people reading our blog! I will send out the official "invitation" next week, and then you'll sign in to gain access to the blog after that (I think that's how it works). Several have asked what the process is like once we are in Ukraine, and I don't think I've blogged about that in a while... so here it is in "best case scenario" format:
Day 1 - arrive in Kiev, set settled in apartment
Day 2 - meet with facilitator about the SDA, the process, etc., sightsee
Day 3 - SDA appointment! After much prayer, we will choose a child from a handful of files shown to us. Each file will have a picture and a brief medical summary. Once we make a decision, the referral paperwork has to be processed before we can travel
Day 4 - travel to the region she lives in...could be an hour in the car, 14 hours on the train, or if we can swing it, a couple of hours on a plane
Day 4 or 5 (depending on travel distance) - obtain permission from a city official to visit the child in the orphanage, head to orphange and meet her. From this point, we will decide whether or not this child is "the one". If there are medical or mental concerns, we can hire a doctor to come examine her and give us feedback.
Day 5 or 6 - make decision, and begin paperwork to set court date. In the meantime, most orphanages have visiting hours twice a day, when we can go get to know our child. Usually court is set within a week or so.
Day 10 or 12ish - Court! This is where a judge and a jury will decide if we are granted the adoption. It almost always works out, but I hear it is sometimes quite nervewracking! After the judge's ruling, she is officially ours, BUT there is a 10-day waiting period before we can take legal custody of her. This 10 days allows time for any existing family to change their mind and contest the adoption (I have never heard of this actually happening). We can still visit her during this time, or course. At this point, Scott may decide to go home and get back to the boys. We are going to play it by ear. My mom is hoping to fly out and meet me if Scott goes home. :)
Day 20 or 22ish - Go pick her up from the orphanage! Begin paperwork required to leave the country with her (passport), and to make her a US citizen (visa, medical check).
Day 24-28ish - Fly home with our new daughter!

This schedule is not allowing for any delays, which seem to be a part of every adoption story! This is also assuming that we find our daughter at our fist SDA appointment. If another appointment is needed, this would add another week or so. Ukraine is definately a "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" adoption process! Fortunately, God sort of wired us up like that, so we will look at it as an adventure and buckle up for the ride! We are praying daily (more than daily) that the Lord will go before us and pave the way to our daughter. He led us down this road so clearly, and we are confident that he will continue to lead us. We are praying that he will move the mountains that need to be moved to find our daughter and to bring her home as quickly as possible. Our God is the defender of the orphans, and we look forward to getting to know that side of Him. Thanks for joining us on our journey and we humbly ask for your prayers - even now - for our adoption.

...the adventure begins in 11 days!

Time to Make your Presence Known!

After much thought and research, we have come to the decision to make our blog private while in Ukraine (beginning March 6). Since we use all of our real names, and want to post pictures while there, we are choosing the "better safe than sorry" route. I talked with another pre-adoptive parent and she told me that her agency advised against keeping a public blog because in the past, Ukraine officials had read it and didn't like something on it...it ended up nearly costing them their adoption in court. Although this is not very likely, we'd rather not take the chance, no matter how small.

So...if you read our blog, and would like to follow along on our adventure in Ukraine, just send me your email address and I'll send you an invitation to my blog. Don't be shy - we love sharing our journey and would love to take everyone along (friends, family, blog friends, pre and post adoptive parents, lurkers...)!
Just email me at julie.hinshaw@sbcglobal.net, subj: blog access

Happy Monday!

Yep, Peanut Butter is a Liquid

It's official. We cannot take peanut butter in our carry-on luggage. Scott looked it up online, and was happy to point out his victory in this ongoing debate. Oh well... the peanut butter was really for him anyway. I'm actually happy to have a PB-free month!I'd rather have Nutella anyday (Europe's much more delicous attempt at nut-butter - surely they'll have that!) Mmmmmm.

Let the Packing Begin!!!

We started PACKING today! How fun it that? I love to pack...it just makes the trip finally seem real. We're at T-14days now, and we don't want to forget anything. So we figure if we start now, we'll have time to remember it all! I very carefully chose a few top layers, 3 pairs of pants, underwear, socks, 3 pairs of shoes (I know 3 is a lot, but I AM wearing my boots on the plane), medicine/1st aid stuff, documents we'll need while there, books, small gifts, thank you cards, misc. tavel items, a little backpack with a blankie and small toys for our little one. I'll wait (obviously) to pack makeup and such, as well as electronics. We still need to buy a couple of things, but not much! Our goal is to carry on. I know it's optimistic, but we're going to give it our best shot!
By the way...our current debate is whether or not peanut butter counts as a liquid/gel. Anyone know? :)

A Good Day!

Thanks for all the helpful comments about yesterdays post! I went to another bank (where we have an account) yesterday, and they were GREAT! Katelyn at Frost Bank bent over backwards for us. They had about half of what we needed in 50s, and was able to track down most of the rest from other branches in 100s (arriving on Monday).

In other news, I have a double eye-infection this week (SUPER fun, by the way), so I didn't feel like I could go to my ladies prayer group yesterday. No one should have to look at these lovely eyes up close. However, I decided to use the day to get other errands run. My mom called and asked if she could join me! So we trecked out to Grapevine Mills mall to shop for Spring clothes for the boys. We hit Gap, Gymboree, Nautica, and OshKosh (all outlets :), and they are set for Spring (and Easter, too!). We had lunch at Chili's and then I picked up a couple of things for Ukraine (for me!). Thanks for a great day, Mom!

I got a call last night from another adopting mom whose appointment is the day after ours. It was so great getting to chat with her about packing and getting ready for this crazy thing called Ukrainian adoption! We look forward to meeting up in Kiev. :)

...and our plane leaves in 15 days!

Money Money Money

Scott picked up the cash yesterday for our trip. He said that the bank had no way of ordering "new" bills and we were just going to have to go through the bills and pick out the "new-looking" ones. Yeah. I did that, and found 8 that were acceptable! 8! If everyone out there would stop FOLDING their bills in half, we'd be in much better shape here! :) I don't think Scott realized how important it is that they be new or like-new. I tried to explain that that's just what everyone says online. He says, I'm sure it will be fine. Then I pull out the Ukraine guidebook, and there it is in black and white, "most money exchangers will only accept bills in mind condition with no signs of use". He believes me now.

So, I'm heading to the bank today to see what I can come up with. Scott reminded me this morning of the scene from "It's a Wonderful Life" where the uncle is taking the cash to the bank and loses it. It does feel a little wierd. But if I can go 7 years now without losing our children, surely I can keep up with this cash for one trip to the bank? :)

About Apopting in Ukraine

It has been a crazy week in Ukraine for families trying to find children to adopt. Some families have found the child they hoped for...young, healthy, and meant-to-be-theirs (check out the Bethea's blog!). Others have only been shown very sick, special needs, will-never-be-independent children. Something has changed in Ukrainian adoption. And though we felt led to Ukraine from the beginning and believe with all of our hearts that our daughter is there, I would have a hard time recommending Ukraine to someone hoping to adopt a young, relatively healthy child. There just seems to be more families waiting for young children than there are young children in the system. Why is that? I don't think anyone knows for sure. It is my (very limited) understanding, that not all orphanages actually get all of their children registered in the system for adoption. That could be a factor. Ukraine recently began a program where families who will foster or adopt a child are given a stipend. That could be a factor as well. Many orphans still have family what visits once in a while, but haven't given up their rights, so these children are not adoptable. In a nutshell, adopting from Ukraine is a risk and it is a leap of faith, more so now than when we began our journey. There are no guarantees. My two cents on the subject: if you want to adopt from Ukraine, be sure that God is leading you there. Do LOTS of RECENT research on your facilitator. If you want to use an agency, find our who their facilitators are and research them (because it's all about the facilitator, not the agency). Ask families who have used them personally about their experiences. There are lots of facilitators in Ukraine, and it DOES matter which one you get! Then, pray, pray, pray. Every day and all the time. As we are doing now...because we leave in 17 days!

Whirlwind Weekend

Once again, the weekend is over and I don't know where it went! From Friday to Sunday, we had 3 birthday parties, church, basketball practice and a basketball game. It is now 19 days until we leave for Ukraine, and I am really getting serious about my list now! The procrastination time is over.
Goals this week:
1) Figure out how to translate our DVDs into iPod movies (someone told me about software you can download online that will do this I think)
2) Order the books I want to bring with me...
Russian/English Dictionary,
The Blood and the Glory
Pride and Prejudice (I watched the movie again this weekend, and I think I could watch it every day. I also love the Katherine Hepburn version. But I've never read the book! There is no better time, I think. :)
The Connected Child (thanks for the recommendation, Kathy!)
3) Make my Costco list and plan a few meals to put in the freezer for my sister-in-law and the boys while we are gone
4) Scott will go to the bank to discuss getting our cash - Ukraine only accepts clean, crisp bills!
5) Head to Grapevine Mills mall to buy spring clothes that the boys will need while we are gone...oh - and Easter basket stuff too!

Tomorrow I'm flying to Charlotte for the day to hang out with my friend, Renee. I can't wait! We are going to the smocking store to get all of my projects together for the trip. I finished smocking Zoey's (ny niece) Easter dress over the weekend, and it needs a little help. I'm hoping Renee can help me fix it up a couple of details!

19 Days until we'll be "Leavin' on a Jet Plane"! Don't you just love John Denver?

Flight to Ukraine

I know I change my blog header all the time... But I couldn't leave up the Valentine one, now could I? As usual, these things happen in the wee hours of the morning.

We have figured out what flight we are taking to Ukraine! Since Scott works for an airline, we have several options. We are choosing the flight that is most open (most seats available!), which is from here to Chicago, then on to London (leaving on the 8th of March, arriving in London the morning of the 9th). The only snag is that our flight arrives just AFTER the flight to Kiev, which means we will have the whole day and night in London. Did I describe that as a snag? That's not the right word at all - it's acually a brilliant plan! I am excited about a whole day in London -it's one of my very favorite cities. We will then leave for Kiev the morning of the 10th, arriving in the early afternoon. Yeay!

We leave in 22 days!

Happy Love Day!

What a day! Holidays with kids in school are just a whole different ballgame. I woke up early, had my breakfast of Godiva chocolate (than you, Honey!!!), loaded up the cupcakes for Garrett's party and headed to preschool. After that, I squeezed in a quick trip to the store, then off to my ladies lifegroup. From there, it was back home to pick up the cupcakes for Grant's party and up to school to set up for the party, and then basically run it as I am the room mom. Whew! Now I have a few minutes before I need to clean up the kitchen from the 40 cupcakes I made last night, and start on dinner! :)
Last year we had fondue for our family valentine's dinner. The boys loved it and requested to make it a family tradition! So, we're having cheese fondue with all kinds of things to dip in it - bread, asparagus, apples, broccoli. We're also having steak, followed by chocolate fondue, with strawberries, cookies, bananas, and marshmellows. Yummy!
No matter how crazy the day is, I am reminded of all the love I have in my life. The Lord has blessed me greatly. I am in love with my husband and my children, and I am loved by my Heavenly Father. How great to set aside a whole day every year to celebrate the ones we love!

Valentine Projects

We had fun this afternoon making all kinds of goodies! Grant made his Valentine mailbox for his class party and Garrett helped me make these chocolate-covered peanuts (thanks for the yummy recipe, Traci!) for teachers and friends. They are cooking in the croc-pot, and the house smells like a big chocolate valentine! :)


We did homemade valentines for Grant's class this year (I know, I don't know what came over me). They weren't the quickest, but so cute and fun to make! We melted broken pieces of crayon into little heart shapes, then attached them to our card. We also attached a piece of Laffy Taffy, and wrote "You color me happpy!" Get it? hehe! I love word-play on Valentine's Day!

Traci's Chocolate-Covered Peanuts
1 16-oz pkg. white chocolate (almond bark from baking aisle)
1 bag chocolate chips
1 6-oz bar of Bakers "German" chocolate
1 lb jar dry roasted peanuts
1 lb jar unsalted dry roasted peanuts (I could only find Lighty Salted, and they worked great!)
Dump all the chocolate in your croc-pot, then dump in the peanuts. Set it on low and cook for 2 hours. Drop in little piles onto wax paper to cool (we're dropping ours in mini-muffin papers). Eat and share - yumm!

Blog Injury

Last night I was reading Kelly's blog - she and her husband are in Ukraine adopting 2 little boys, and it's such a great story. Anyway, I guess I was sitting with my legs under me. When I stood up to go to bed, the whole bottom of my left leg was asleep. I started to walk, and my leg just gave out and I fell! This morning I woke up with a sore ankle and a carpet burn on my knee. So I've had my first blog injury. Can anyone relate? :)

Our Family Book

I have been a busy bee working on the family book we will take to Ukraine with us. This is how we will introduce our daughter to our world - a world that will be so foreign and strange to her. We have heard that these photo books give the adopted child an idea of what to expect, as well as give them people and places to recongize when they get home. There are still a few pages missing (out of town relatives we need to send us pictures...hint hint). Other than that, I think this is pretty much it! We plan to order the book in a 5x7 size from Snapfish. We can't wait to share it with our daughter!

Vote!

You Texans, and those who haven't had primaries yet, make the effort and VOTE! Yes, I know that is so preachy of me, but it IS MY blog you know. :) You just never know what can happen. There's a great site where you can read a list of issues, check the ones you agree with, and then it tells you which candidate you agree with the most. Of course I can't remember the name of the sight...anyone know? It's great! The site also has places to click and find out more about each specific issue (if you're like me and usually more up-to-date on the kids in the neighborhood than world issues). In case you are wondering, I matched the closest with Romney, followed by Huckabee. Which one am I voting for? Still researching, but most likely, the one that has the best chance of beating McCain for the nomination. Yes, I can say that. It's my blog! :)
Texans, our primary is March 4!

Fun Family Night

We took the boys to a Hibachi grill tonight (you know, the Japanese restraurants where the chef cooks at your table, juggles knives, sets fires, etc.). They LOVED it! It was their first time (except when they were babies, and obviously don't remember). Grant was his usual chatty self - talking with the chef, the other people at our table, cracking jokes, etc. Garrett just took it all in, with a huge grin on his face the whole time. Garrett is my "laugh in the face of danger" kind of kid, so this was right up his ally. I could just see the wheels turning in his head...Garrett, please do NOT try any of this at home! On the way out of the restaurant, a girl stopped me to say hello. It turns out she was one of my students from North Oaks Middle School! I taught her in 6th and again in 7th grade English. Well, now she is 21 years old and is getting married. OH MY GOODNESS - HOW OLD AM I??? Nothing makes you feel older than running into previous students that are now GROWN-UPS!
Anyway, after dinner it was off to Best Buy - a true guy's paradise. Being as I am the only girl in the family (for now!) I find myself in stores like this quite often. We needed another controller for the Wii. Boy, you gotta hand it to the folks at Nintendo. They really get ya on those things! The evening ended with me dragging the boys (Scott is included in this) off of the in-store video games, saying, "Don't we have this game at home?" Anyone want to guess the response? "Yes, but not on a Playstation" Ha!
Now my 3 boys, with their now 3 controllers, are happily playing Cowboys vs. Patriots on Madden '08 and all is right with the world! :)

By the way, at dinner we discussed the family activities we want to plan before we leave for Ukraine. Grant suggested everyone pick one for all of us to do. Grant chose the Incredible Pizza Universe. Garrett chose rollerskating at Statetown. I chose a "pretend camp-out" at home. In true Scott fashion, he chose sky-diving. "Get serious" as Grant told him!