Our Russian Adoptions...Life Before and After: 2009

23 December 2009

Humanitarian Trip 2009- Sovietsk Russia

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

23 September 2009

IN LOVE WITH RUSSIA

I NOW HAVE A NEW FOUND LOVE FOR RUSSIA, THE PEOPLE, THE HOSPITALITY...BASICALLY EVERYTHING!
DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LOVE MY SPOILED LIFE HERE, BUT THE TRIP/ADVENTURE THAT I JUST TOOK...THERE ARE JUST NO WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW IT COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE!

I'M STILL ABOUT 50% STILL IN SOVIETSK AND 50% HERE.

IT HELPS MY LITTLE ONES ARE HERE! I MISSED THEM SOOOOO MUCH.
A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FROM SARAH AND BEN TO TRANSLATORS TO THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, TO KATHERINE...MY TRAVEL BFF. ;-)

I WILL POST SOON WITH SPECIFIC DETAILS AND LOTS OF PICS, BUT UNTIL THEN, JUST KNOW THAT I AM REALLY AT PEACE WITH LIFE...THANKS TO THIS EXPERIENCE.

JEN

07 September 2009

Russia Bound

Yep, that's right! Russia bound in T-4 days...ahhhhh! I'm so nervous to leave the kiddos, but know that this humanitarian trip that i am taking will be well worth it.
I will post on this blog and update as much as possible.
;-) Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!

Jen

23 February 2009

Way Too Long- updated June '09

SO MANY NEW THINGS!

1st we have a new dog in the family...Snips. She's a Cairen Terrier and very energetic! The kids have a love/hate relationship with her. Mostly due to the fact that they continue to tease her and she "Snips" at them. I am hoping that our Chihuahua's relationship with Snips changes. They DO NOT get along at all!

2nd, SCHOOL IS OUT. And believe you me it's just as exciting for a teacher! BUT...after over 10 years of teaching, I've decided to go part-time for next school year. I am job-sharing with another teacher in ESL (English as a second language). It's a "regular" teaching position, but we will pull-out students and pre-teach lessons, vocabulary, etc...
I am soooo excited about this. I will be teaching 2.5 days a week and GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS? 2.5 days with the kiddos. I will be home with CQ for 1 of the days, and be able to volunteer in Buddah's classroom regularly! Yeah!!!

3rd, we've been "Regulars" at the ortho and dentist offices lately.
Buddah has an expander in his mouth now, and has been a real Trooper about the whole thing. We have been visiting once a week for the past month. I have had 3 root canals, 2 on-lays, 2 fillings, and 2 crowns. Jason still needs 6 fillings. We are kind of falling apart in the teeth department.

4th, My baby, CQ, turned 4. I just can't believe it!

5th, We are continuing to grow as a family. These last few months have been hard, but we are getting through. Family means everything to me!

6th, I AM GOING BACK TO RUSSIA! No, not to adopt, boo hoo, but on a Mission Trip to Kirov. You can go to the site: http://sovietsksupporters.blogspot.com/
to see the orphanage that I will be working in. I cannot wait. I am leaving Sept. 10 and will return home on the 19th.
I'm sure that I will be blogging the entire trip!

7th, I hope that everyone is loving life! I still visit blogs, the old ones AND some new, just to see the kiddos. I hope that you'll continue to check us out too! I still enjoy the "every now and then" comments from some of the "old gang".