Please go to this website to view the unfoldment of the rest of our story. It is our new blogsite.
http://www.gift-of-family.org/our-story/
We will post all updates on our new blogsite. Thank you for visiting.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Selected
" It makes no difference how someone enters a family, by birth or adoption. When souls are meant to be together, there is no stopping it. I am convinced of this. " my friend exclaimed to me. Divine providence. Afterwards she declared she had been adopted as an infant. No accident, no random kids with random families. Selected.
Hopeful, our host kids both expressed a strong desire to return to us for Christmas hosting. "I zdiez Merry Christmas?", Alexander would ask, while Tina stated " I Christmas here! I Christmas with you! "
How can we deny their hearts' desire? I cannot bear the idea , the thought of Alexander and Tina on the streets. Alone. Cold . Hungry. Prowlers on the lookout.
Yes,their country is filled with hundreds of thousands of orphans. Many in desperate need of a loving home. As one family, we are able to add only a few children to our family.
Often kids with physical and/or mental disabilities are viewed as special needs and far more difficult to adopt out. In my mind it takes a very special, loving family to adopt these kids. God calls everyone to various missions. To the majority of adoptive parents only children aged five and under are desirable.Hence the long waiting lists of two plus years for the precious babies.
Shocking as it may seem, human trafficking is currently thriving. After graduation,at age 16 or 17, many young girls and boys in Ukraine fall into the hands of profit-seeking predators. Tempting them with false promises, these men lure the teen kids into prostitution, nationally and internationally. In the USA the number of sex slaves is one of the highest but unknown. Re-usable resources it is called. The term slaves is correct, these kids are owned and forced into prostitution. Sometimes they are sold to others for a few hundred dollars each.
Other orphans end up on the streets and live underground without a thing.
Typically, orphans in Ukraine attend a trading school after graduation, with appalling housing,drug and alcohol abuse, lack of food, clothes and hygiene. Their schooling is incomplete, not at all to be compared to USA highschool graduation, think tenth grade or so. Consequently many are compelled to work during the day and attend evening school and unable to pursue a college education . Fifteen percent commits suicide within two years of graduation, a shocking percentage(70%) of boys turns into hardened criminals. Graduation conjures up positive images for many people. For these teenage kids it is like a terrible dream, only REAL.
Before you will be finished reading this sentence an orphan will have "aged out" of an orphanage, leaving the only world they have known for years, sometimes their entire lifetime,behind. They are literally put out on the streets with not much more than the clothes on their backs. 31 August was graduation day across Eastern Europe.
Are kids over five, over ten, special needs? Yes,they are "too old". Nobody wants to adopt them. Nobody knows about them. Nobody cares.
In the adoption arena they are labeled special needs. Their needs are real and they are URGENT.
How can we sit back and do nothing?
It is possible to adopt these kids before they "age out" of the orphanage and offer them a better future, a home, a loving family.
Thanks to hosting organizations such as Children's Cultural Connection, some of these kids are hosted in the USA, and consequently often adopted into wonderful , nurturing families.
Our hosting kids fall into this category. Yes they are both beautiful, fun, kind, good- hearted and smart.Still, they remain special needs. A small window of opportunity is still open for them.
Christmas hosting is on the horizon. Hosting fees are due soon enough . Fundraisers on the menu for us this time around.
Tina and Alexander asked to be with us for Christmas.
If you would like to contribute to their return please view our puzzle fundraiser with instructions. Or if you would like to donate with a check , please send to : Hosting funds c/o Saryon
PO Box 903
Mt. Shasta , CA 96067
The hosting deposit is due September 15th.,the remainder of $ 4300 in mid October.
For information about our local raffle please contact me at : ailita@sbcglobal.
We are so grateful for everyone's support and love for our kids.
Hopeful, our host kids both expressed a strong desire to return to us for Christmas hosting. "I zdiez Merry Christmas?", Alexander would ask, while Tina stated " I Christmas here! I Christmas with you! "
How can we deny their hearts' desire? I cannot bear the idea , the thought of Alexander and Tina on the streets. Alone. Cold . Hungry. Prowlers on the lookout.
Yes,their country is filled with hundreds of thousands of orphans. Many in desperate need of a loving home. As one family, we are able to add only a few children to our family.
Often kids with physical and/or mental disabilities are viewed as special needs and far more difficult to adopt out. In my mind it takes a very special, loving family to adopt these kids. God calls everyone to various missions. To the majority of adoptive parents only children aged five and under are desirable.Hence the long waiting lists of two plus years for the precious babies.
Shocking as it may seem, human trafficking is currently thriving. After graduation,at age 16 or 17, many young girls and boys in Ukraine fall into the hands of profit-seeking predators. Tempting them with false promises, these men lure the teen kids into prostitution, nationally and internationally. In the USA the number of sex slaves is one of the highest but unknown. Re-usable resources it is called. The term slaves is correct, these kids are owned and forced into prostitution. Sometimes they are sold to others for a few hundred dollars each.
Other orphans end up on the streets and live underground without a thing.
Typically, orphans in Ukraine attend a trading school after graduation, with appalling housing,drug and alcohol abuse, lack of food, clothes and hygiene. Their schooling is incomplete, not at all to be compared to USA highschool graduation, think tenth grade or so. Consequently many are compelled to work during the day and attend evening school and unable to pursue a college education . Fifteen percent commits suicide within two years of graduation, a shocking percentage(70%) of boys turns into hardened criminals. Graduation conjures up positive images for many people. For these teenage kids it is like a terrible dream, only REAL.
Before you will be finished reading this sentence an orphan will have "aged out" of an orphanage, leaving the only world they have known for years, sometimes their entire lifetime,behind. They are literally put out on the streets with not much more than the clothes on their backs. 31 August was graduation day across Eastern Europe.
Are kids over five, over ten, special needs? Yes,they are "too old". Nobody wants to adopt them. Nobody knows about them. Nobody cares.
In the adoption arena they are labeled special needs. Their needs are real and they are URGENT.
How can we sit back and do nothing?
It is possible to adopt these kids before they "age out" of the orphanage and offer them a better future, a home, a loving family.
Thanks to hosting organizations such as Children's Cultural Connection, some of these kids are hosted in the USA, and consequently often adopted into wonderful , nurturing families.
Our hosting kids fall into this category. Yes they are both beautiful, fun, kind, good- hearted and smart.Still, they remain special needs. A small window of opportunity is still open for them.
Christmas hosting is on the horizon. Hosting fees are due soon enough . Fundraisers on the menu for us this time around.
Tina and Alexander asked to be with us for Christmas.
If you would like to contribute to their return please view our puzzle fundraiser with instructions. Or if you would like to donate with a check , please send to : Hosting funds c/o Saryon
PO Box 903
Mt. Shasta , CA 96067
The hosting deposit is due September 15th.,the remainder of $ 4300 in mid October.
For information about our local raffle please contact me at : ailita@sbcglobal.
We are so grateful for everyone's support and love for our kids.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Christmas re hosting
Our puzzle finally arrived!
Another hosting family shared this fundraiser idea with our hosting group. So we purchased a fun, Christmas themed puzzle containing 1000 pc.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!
I cannot wait to see my "brother and sister" for Christmas :)
So looking forward to baking cookies with Tina, snowball fights with my brothers, skiing together and singing Christmas carols around the tree. Being with Tina and Alexander would be the best, most amazing gift I could receive this Christmas...
Rose.
Help us assemble the puzzle!
Instructions:
For $7, a person/family purchases a piece(s) of the jigsaw puzzle. We will write the name of the person/family on the back of the purchased piece(s). As the pieces are bought, we will assemble purchased pieces when possible and take pictures of the progress. :)
Once the entire puzzle is assembled, it will be displayed in our home as a reminder of the love and support shown to our hosting kids as they are reunited with us.
Thank you for your support,
Rose.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!
I cannot wait to see my "brother and sister" for Christmas :)
So looking forward to baking cookies with Tina, snowball fights with my brothers, skiing together and singing Christmas carols around the tree. Being with Tina and Alexander would be the best, most amazing gift I could receive this Christmas...
Rose.
Help us assemble the puzzle!
Instructions:
For $7, a person/family purchases a piece(s) of the jigsaw puzzle. We will write the name of the person/family on the back of the purchased piece(s). As the pieces are bought, we will assemble purchased pieces when possible and take pictures of the progress. :)
Once the entire puzzle is assembled, it will be displayed in our home as a reminder of the love and support shown to our hosting kids as they are reunited with us.
Thank you for your support,
Rose.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Socks 'n things
Socks pop up everywhere. Alexander's. Did he forget to pack all of his socks? His two favorite shirts still peek out from the shelf. When I least expect it, an abandoned item appears.
Visions of Tina in her bright pink dress dance in my mind. Purchased for her by Rose. Real sisters. Her most cherished piece of clothing. Very still now, the dress dances not, on the shelf. Shelves filled with a summer of sweet, golden memories, with the anticipation of winter adventures.
Raspberry jam in a cup of tea? Must be a Russian habit...
At last, alas, bedsheets returned to the linen closet. The existence of our two new children, washed away. Clean. Folded.
Returning to reality? Was it all a dream? One day everyone is one, here, together. The next day two are not. For the past week and a half, my life and world occurred mostly "in a dream". After ten days I have re-landed in my body. In the physical octave. Back on track. Mountains will be moved.
Grateful. Hopeful. Expectant.
At the orphanage, Tina and Alexander are served food several times per day and they own a few donated clothes. The orphanage director seems kind and generous.My heart and mind are at ease, knowing they will not be hungry and cold. Knowing two more orphans have a family who loves them. Knowing they will soon land in our arms again.
Protected from canyons of grief and depression, I am cradled in the hands of Christ. Surprisingly, to me , it is now not pain of loss I experience, but gratitude, joy and expectation of reuniting with our children, with our entire family, for Christmas. Each day one day closer to our reunion. So much happiness when we are all together. Panic and fear do not present themselves to me, full trust and faith in God do. It eases my body and soothes my soul. A dance of life. A sense of peace pervades my entire being.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Week 2 Summer Hosting
Week 2 :
After Tina's recovery from motion sickness, she warmed up to us more and more each day. Slowly but surely. Our Russian friends O. and V. delivered a few traditional Russian dishes for Tina and Alexander. Russian crepes were on the menu, as well as meat dumplings, real borsht,.... Each day T&A joined our children for their Taekwondo practices in town. During these times, especially Tina enjoyed many conversations in Russian with O. and V. Consequently, the transition to US became more graceful for them. Gradually they began to remove their walls and relax. The teenagers need more time to adjust than younger hosting kids, understandably.
Immersion in English was complemented by Pimsleur English for Russian speakers. Thrilled and excited, Alexander joined in on fishing day and caught a few trout at the local fish hatchery. However, Tina was appalled by the fishhooks attached to the trout mouths of caught fish , she decided to assist our kids with the concession stand. Despite her Eastern European background, Tina dislikes meat. Occasionally she will consume a small morsel of chicken or so. She commented the fish (trout) in America is "No good" , " In my country : Good".
During one afternoon early in the week, Tina discovered a bicycle in the garage : "Whose bike is this?", she asked. "Yours", I answered. "Mine?" Tina looked at me in disbelief. Moments later she was trying out her bike and loved it. Evidently she had never owned a bike and her biking skills proved to be those of a beginner. She was delighted with her own bike! On their second weekend here,the majority of our family toured around our lake, a 7-mile loop. Although Tina's biking abilities were basic, she absolutely loved it and only took a few minor falls. On the other hand, Alexander is a "professional" biker, no hands, tatataaa, you get the picture. Thrilled about their biking tour around the lake, they shared their experience with O. and V.
Finally, Tina was also settling in. Alexander was on California time schedule from day one, he settled in immediately and enjoyed himself every day.
After Tina's recovery from motion sickness, she warmed up to us more and more each day. Slowly but surely. Our Russian friends O. and V. delivered a few traditional Russian dishes for Tina and Alexander. Russian crepes were on the menu, as well as meat dumplings, real borsht,.... Each day T&A joined our children for their Taekwondo practices in town. During these times, especially Tina enjoyed many conversations in Russian with O. and V. Consequently, the transition to US became more graceful for them. Gradually they began to remove their walls and relax. The teenagers need more time to adjust than younger hosting kids, understandably.
Immersion in English was complemented by Pimsleur English for Russian speakers. Thrilled and excited, Alexander joined in on fishing day and caught a few trout at the local fish hatchery. However, Tina was appalled by the fishhooks attached to the trout mouths of caught fish , she decided to assist our kids with the concession stand. Despite her Eastern European background, Tina dislikes meat. Occasionally she will consume a small morsel of chicken or so. She commented the fish (trout) in America is "No good" , " In my country : Good".During one afternoon early in the week, Tina discovered a bicycle in the garage : "Whose bike is this?", she asked. "Yours", I answered. "Mine?" Tina looked at me in disbelief. Moments later she was trying out her bike and loved it. Evidently she had never owned a bike and her biking skills proved to be those of a beginner. She was delighted with her own bike! On their second weekend here,the majority of our family toured around our lake, a 7-mile loop. Although Tina's biking abilities were basic, she absolutely loved it and only took a few minor falls. On the other hand, Alexander is a "professional" biker, no hands, tatataaa, you get the picture. Thrilled about their biking tour around the lake, they shared their experience with O. and V.
Finally, Tina was also settling in. Alexander was on California time schedule from day one, he settled in immediately and enjoyed himself every day.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
We are family
Everyone is disoriented at my house. Breakfast at 10.30hr ??? Unheard of. Most of us are early birds. Even our 12-yr-old ate late. His hosting brother : on the other side of the world now. Sister too. We all feel it. It hurts. Alot. Shocking to the system, saying byes and s.y.soons.
Our SF group was the last one to depart. Sad faces, tears, hopes.
For some of the hosting children we, as hosting families, are the only ones on this earth who love them,the only ones who care enough. I cannot imagine what they are feeling. To have to return to an empty world, with no one who cares. Pretty rough rides for some of these precious ones. All of the USA hosting kids hosted through Heart for Hosting are blessed to visit another country, to experience another culture. To know they are LOVED by us and by God. Even if they never return, their hearts are fuller. Their flames rekindled.
Some people claim it is cruel to host and not adopt. Is it? When I put myself in those kids' shoes, as much as possible, I know what I would choose. Who would choose not to be loved for six weeks over being loved by a family in the USA? For the rest of their lives, they know someone , somewhere cares about them. Undoubtedly this could save them.
As a teenager, a grownup man I never met, I believe he was a fairly young pastor, saved my life, my soul. For a while,1-2 years, he was my anchor. I believed what he told me and this pulled me through. I will probably never be able to really thank him. It is truly astounding how one person's words and presence can literally save someone's life in every way. I was in touch with this man only once a week or every few weeks, by mail. Imagine what effects six weeks will generate . To know a person who believes in us transforms us.
Our SF group was the last one to depart. Sad faces, tears, hopes.
For some of the hosting children we, as hosting families, are the only ones on this earth who love them,the only ones who care enough. I cannot imagine what they are feeling. To have to return to an empty world, with no one who cares. Pretty rough rides for some of these precious ones. All of the USA hosting kids hosted through Heart for Hosting are blessed to visit another country, to experience another culture. To know they are LOVED by us and by God. Even if they never return, their hearts are fuller. Their flames rekindled.
Some people claim it is cruel to host and not adopt. Is it? When I put myself in those kids' shoes, as much as possible, I know what I would choose. Who would choose not to be loved for six weeks over being loved by a family in the USA? For the rest of their lives, they know someone , somewhere cares about them. Undoubtedly this could save them.
As a teenager, a grownup man I never met, I believe he was a fairly young pastor, saved my life, my soul. For a while,1-2 years, he was my anchor. I believed what he told me and this pulled me through. I will probably never be able to really thank him. It is truly astounding how one person's words and presence can literally save someone's life in every way. I was in touch with this man only once a week or every few weeks, by mail. Imagine what effects six weeks will generate . To know a person who believes in us transforms us.
Friday, August 16, 2013
After departure, day 2
Blah is not a feeling. Or is it? How about emptiness? Some-one, or some-two I could say, missing parts of our family feels, well.... empty. Only one day and two nights ago they were in my arms. The house is so quiet without them. Two pieces of my heart I will not see for another 41/2 months for certain. Forgive me if I seem incoherent.
Alexander tried so hard to hide his tears. He kept his distance from us after hugs and see-you-soons at the airport. "A. is a big strong U.", my husband would say.
Both are such amazing kids. Unexpectedly (to me) our bio kids became instant best buddies with them. Surprised at their similarities with our bio kids, I was and still am.
I am in awe of God, the orchestration of all this has been miraculous to say the least. Last year, Alexander was on the summer hosting list. When he was one of three unpicked from the photolisting , I was baffled. How could no one pick this sweet boy with the most beautiful eyes and a splendid bio, who was additionally recommended by the director? For winter hosting, he remained on the list again. Finally this past winter/spring the summer hosting list showed him again. I kept my eyes on him. His lovely sister was added to the list this time. At some point she was on hold, alone. A few weeks later, she was available again, because she only wanted to be hosted with her brother. The rest is history.
Wondering whether I would ever be able to feel the same for non-bio children as for our bios, my heart opened fully and embraced these two precious ones as our own. Instantly. God's divine plan evidently varies for all the hosting kids who visit the USA. Who am I to say what is right for any of them? Who is anyone to say?
All I can do is follow God's will . Follow my heart.
Week two coming up soon.
Alexander tried so hard to hide his tears. He kept his distance from us after hugs and see-you-soons at the airport. "A. is a big strong U.", my husband would say.
Both are such amazing kids. Unexpectedly (to me) our bio kids became instant best buddies with them. Surprised at their similarities with our bio kids, I was and still am.
I am in awe of God, the orchestration of all this has been miraculous to say the least. Last year, Alexander was on the summer hosting list. When he was one of three unpicked from the photolisting , I was baffled. How could no one pick this sweet boy with the most beautiful eyes and a splendid bio, who was additionally recommended by the director? For winter hosting, he remained on the list again. Finally this past winter/spring the summer hosting list showed him again. I kept my eyes on him. His lovely sister was added to the list this time. At some point she was on hold, alone. A few weeks later, she was available again, because she only wanted to be hosted with her brother. The rest is history.
Wondering whether I would ever be able to feel the same for non-bio children as for our bios, my heart opened fully and embraced these two precious ones as our own. Instantly. God's divine plan evidently varies for all the hosting kids who visit the USA. Who am I to say what is right for any of them? Who is anyone to say?
All I can do is follow God's will . Follow my heart.
Week two coming up soon.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Summer hosting 2013
Racing all day and driving 5-6 hours to greet our hosting kids at SF airport , held an entirely different outcome than expected. No one in our family wanted to host this summer, except me. I knew we had to. It was in my heart. I had already set up a meeting with a local journalist to advocate for a forever family for the kids, plus connections with others to proceed along these lines. Several people were planning on assisting with this.
The preparations had been many and the help with items etc. , what can I say, everything was provided for by God's grace. Thank you Irma, Mary Linda, Lisa, and all others who opened their hearts to our summer hosting children.
People donated bikes, sleeping bags, clothes, food!! yes food!, a season pass to the lake, free eye exams for both by Dr. Larsen , plus a pair of reading glasses for A , free dental exams plus a few fillings by Dr. Mc.Gaughy, free haircuts by L. from "The Look", etc. ...
The very moment I laid my eyes on Tina and Alexander, I felt I was greeting our son and daughter!
A week later my husband admitted to similar thoughts on our drive back home from the airport.
Week one : Our eldest met A. , thoughts of " Oh he seems really nice, things will go well this summer" popped up. Upon seeing T. she exclaimed: " Oh I love her, we are going to be best friends forever, she is my sister. " Not out loud.
Both T. and A. kept their distance while everyone got to know each other. Alexander was on California time schedule from day one. So resilient ! For the first three days, Tina had terrible jetlag and was still puking occasionally! Massaging essential oils on her neck and back eased her nausea. Bed is where she remained and took some time to recover, while A immediately started to learn more English . Thanks Jeff ! Alexander and our bio son, Michael, hit it off immediately. We noticed the boys had common interests and even enjoyed similar humor, which is quite unique to say he least :). Needless to say, the boys were often heard laughing. Alexander 's English changed from extremely limited to basic and not-so-basic in a matter of days. Bonding happened fast with Alexander during our first week with him. We swam in the lake , rode bikes, walked and kept quite low key.
In the late afternoon, our bio daughter Rose and Tina finished their fourth of July creation in the kitchen. Tina and Alexander enjoyed their first Independence Day dinner and the fireworks over the lake with us and another family.
It had only been a few days and people were already commenting on how much T&A looked like they belonged with us, they resembled us, they appeared to have always been with us, etc. ...
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