I just checked the weather in Irkutsk. At leasat the lows aren't getting into the 30's. Daytime highs looks to be really nice. Glaf I am well versed in dressing in layers!
Sat Sep 1 Sunny
71°/43°
Sun Sep 2 Mostly Sunny
68°/46°
Mon Sep 3 Mostly Sunny
74°/43°
Tue Sep 4 Scattered Showers
68°/43°
Wed Sep 5 Partly Cloudy
65°/44°
Thu Sep 6 Scattered Showers
67°/44°
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
the shrinking ToDo list!
We're getting things checked off of the "to do" list. Hard to believe we're really leaving in 2 days! I feel like I have WAY too much to do - but somehow, it will all get done.
I think gadget-man (er, I mean Marty) is done EBaying, and I am confident that we have every kind of gadget we will need on the trip...if not, it'll all be on Ebay!
I've been checking the weather in Irkutsk, and looks like lows are in the high 30's, and highs are in the 70's. Ya - I know...NOT so easy to pack! Winter coat and tank top? Boots and flip flops? Arguh!
I think gadget-man (er, I mean Marty) is done EBaying, and I am confident that we have every kind of gadget we will need on the trip...if not, it'll all be on Ebay!
I've been checking the weather in Irkutsk, and looks like lows are in the high 30's, and highs are in the 70's. Ya - I know...NOT so easy to pack! Winter coat and tank top? Boots and flip flops? Arguh!
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Countdown Is On
In just one week, we'll probably be in Moscow - waiting for our flight to Irkutsk to take off. It's hard to believe that we're leaving in just one week! We won't be updating everyone via email newsletters when we're gone - so follow our journey by visiting our blog.
SUPER MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE! Was a GREAT Success!
Thank you to those who donated goods to be sold, and to those brave souls who helped us last weekend, and to those of you who stopped over to offer your support. We could not have done it without you!
Special thanks to: the Potterbaum's, Wendy, Kim, Kris, Mom and Mom, and Dan. We owe you HUGE!
We are so blesseed to have such great friends!
SUPER MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE! Was a GREAT Success!
Thank you to those who donated goods to be sold, and to those brave souls who helped us last weekend, and to those of you who stopped over to offer your support. We could not have done it without you!
Special thanks to: the Potterbaum's, Wendy, Kim, Kris, Mom and Mom, and Dan. We owe you HUGE!
We are so blesseed to have such great friends!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Church Rummage Sale
Just wanted to pass along some info about a church rummage sale. Goshen Brethren Church has a rummage sale 2x a year. We called them following our yard sale, to come and get the things that didn't sell (that aren't going to consignment or to the Junior League Thrift Shop). Within an hour and 1/2, they were in our driveway with 2 trucks to load up our junk!
If you have some things to donate - give them a call:
Carol Smith
535-3586 cell or 831-6432 home
If you have some things to donate - give them a call:
Carol Smith
535-3586 cell or 831-6432 home
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Whew!
One of my friend's just got back from a mission trip to Haiti. Some of you have heard me talk about Brenda - my friend who lives in Michigan who has adopted from Irkutsk (among other places!).
On her blog, she posted this movie. It is extremely moving. You will not be sorry you watched it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
On her blog, she posted this movie. It is extremely moving. You will not be sorry you watched it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
Friday, August 17, 2007
National Day of Procreation in Russia
from http://www.lifenews.com/int384.html
Russia Allows Citizens Time Off to Have Babies as Underpopulation Worsens
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 15, 2007
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- The Russian region of Ulyanovsk has a unique way to respond to the underpopulation crisis plaguing the nation as a result of years of unlimited abortions. It is allowing its citizens time off from work to make a baby and will award prizes to those who give birth on the nation's annual holiday next year.
The regional government has declared September 12 the Day of Conception and wants workers to go home and procreate.
Couples who then give birth on June 12 during the nation's holiday can win anything from cash prizes to cars to refrigerators.
Ulyanovsk, which is about 550 miles east of Moscow, has conducted similar contests since 2005, according to the Denver Post, and the number of participants and prizes awarded each year has risen.
The Russian population has been shrinking since the 1990s as abortion became a means of birth control. The nation is the largest in the world but it has just 141.4 million citizens -- less than half of the United States.
President Vladimir Putin, in May, defined the crisis as the nation's biggest problem and the government is offering hefty bonuses to women who have a second child.
Putin has also focused on adoption to promote the population and foreign adoptions of Russian children are on the decline. He has asked parliament to increase to $166 per month the stipend given to families that adopt children.
The number of abortions in Russia is now about 1.5 million annually, just under the number of births there, which number 1.6 million per year.
New figures show that abortions are on the decline there, but some estimates indicate as many as 10-15 percent of all abortions aren't recorded by the government meaning abortions probably still outnumber births there.
The underpopulation crisis is producing problems such as worker shortages and an inability to support the country's elderly population.
Many European countries have long had policies and programs in place that are intended to raise the birth rate by offsetting some of the costs and consequences of childbearing.
The Russian government has been working to address the problem and has given couples a one-time bonus where it provides parents with a fixed sum of money. Each family receives a bonus of $9,600 following the birth of a second child and any subsequent children.
That's a huge sum of money in a country where the average monthly salary is $330.
Steven Mosher, the president of the Population Research Institute, says the policies have not been working, in part because the nations continue to fund and promote abortion on demand.
"Allowing women to act on their fertility preferences would further increase fertility, thus creating more vital and irreplaceable human capital," he says.
Russia's birthrate has been on the decline for decades and, in 2004, was just 1.17 babies per woman. It was twice as much in 1990, according to the Federal State Statistics Service. Population demographers say that 2.4 children born per woman is necessary for any nation to sustain its population.
The result of these dynamics put together is seen in a recent UN report that shows the Russian population shrinking by one-third by 2050.
Russia Allows Citizens Time Off to Have Babies as Underpopulation Worsens
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 15, 2007
Moscow, Russia (LifeNews.com) -- The Russian region of Ulyanovsk has a unique way to respond to the underpopulation crisis plaguing the nation as a result of years of unlimited abortions. It is allowing its citizens time off from work to make a baby and will award prizes to those who give birth on the nation's annual holiday next year.
The regional government has declared September 12 the Day of Conception and wants workers to go home and procreate.
Couples who then give birth on June 12 during the nation's holiday can win anything from cash prizes to cars to refrigerators.
Ulyanovsk, which is about 550 miles east of Moscow, has conducted similar contests since 2005, according to the Denver Post, and the number of participants and prizes awarded each year has risen.
The Russian population has been shrinking since the 1990s as abortion became a means of birth control. The nation is the largest in the world but it has just 141.4 million citizens -- less than half of the United States.
President Vladimir Putin, in May, defined the crisis as the nation's biggest problem and the government is offering hefty bonuses to women who have a second child.
Putin has also focused on adoption to promote the population and foreign adoptions of Russian children are on the decline. He has asked parliament to increase to $166 per month the stipend given to families that adopt children.
The number of abortions in Russia is now about 1.5 million annually, just under the number of births there, which number 1.6 million per year.
New figures show that abortions are on the decline there, but some estimates indicate as many as 10-15 percent of all abortions aren't recorded by the government meaning abortions probably still outnumber births there.
The underpopulation crisis is producing problems such as worker shortages and an inability to support the country's elderly population.
Many European countries have long had policies and programs in place that are intended to raise the birth rate by offsetting some of the costs and consequences of childbearing.
The Russian government has been working to address the problem and has given couples a one-time bonus where it provides parents with a fixed sum of money. Each family receives a bonus of $9,600 following the birth of a second child and any subsequent children.
That's a huge sum of money in a country where the average monthly salary is $330.
Steven Mosher, the president of the Population Research Institute, says the policies have not been working, in part because the nations continue to fund and promote abortion on demand.
"Allowing women to act on their fertility preferences would further increase fertility, thus creating more vital and irreplaceable human capital," he says.
Russia's birthrate has been on the decline for decades and, in 2004, was just 1.17 babies per woman. It was twice as much in 1990, according to the Federal State Statistics Service. Population demographers say that 2.4 children born per woman is necessary for any nation to sustain its population.
The result of these dynamics put together is seen in a recent UN report that shows the Russian population shrinking by one-third by 2050.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
We heard from our friend in Moscow!
I think all of Russia has been on vacation the past few weeks. We've been trying to get in touch with our friend in Moscow and in Irkutsk - and haven't been able to get in touch with anyone.
FINALLY today, we heard from our friend in Moscow - and he is going to be able to help us with some things we need done there on our trip. I hope this is a good sign - and we hear from everyone else soon!
FINALLY today, we heard from our friend in Moscow - and he is going to be able to help us with some things we need done there on our trip. I hope this is a good sign - and we hear from everyone else soon!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
document are in Irkutsk!
I think it is a miracle! Our documents have arrived in Irkutsk! This is the shortest time in transit for anything we've ever sent over there...and we always send things the same way.
8/11/2007 9:55 am Arrived at DHL facility. Irkutsk, Russian Federation, The
It looks like the Adoption Center will receive our documents on Monday. The last time we sent our documents, they got hung up in customs in Belgium. I know - makes no sense! This time - everything happened perfectly!
Thanks for praying!
8/11/2007 9:55 am Arrived at DHL facility. Irkutsk, Russian Federation, The
It looks like the Adoption Center will receive our documents on Monday. The last time we sent our documents, they got hung up in customs in Belgium. I know - makes no sense! This time - everything happened perfectly!
Thanks for praying!
Friday, August 10, 2007
SUPER MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE!
SUPER MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE!
Be a part of our yard sale!
On Saturday August 18th, we will be having a huge yard sale.
TELL EVERYONE!
We will be posting signs all over this side of town, and submitting an ad in the Elkhart Truth.
DON'T WANT TO STICK AROUND AND SELL YOUR STUFF?
We will gladly accept anything you would like to donate to the sale. Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow you to drop off your things for sale, and pay you for what sold at the end of the day. Keeping track of everyone's items would be a nightmare!
FOR SALE
We have:
Lots of size 3T little girls clothes - brand new with tags. Gymboree outfits, Old Navy, Ralph Lauren etc.
Pots and Pans
Beautiful area rug (cream colored with purple, green, pink flowers)
LOTS of random electronic equipment (computer stuff and stereo stuff)
Furniture - a nice chair, sofa, TV/Microwave table, dressing table, lights/lamps, barstool, retro (antique) red/stainless kitchen table (really neat), office-style desk, office-style desk chair.
Housewares: pictures for walls, curtain rods, window treatments, misc. decor items
Luggage
Womans clothing - all designer brands size 2-4-6
Men's clothing - sweaters etc. size med
Craft stuff - scrapbook paper, glue, stationary, floral stuff, crayons
Ping Pong table
and tons more!
Event Info
55754 CR 19
Bristol, Indiana 46507
Saturday, August 18th
8:00AM-2:00pm (or until we sell everything!)
Be a part of our yard sale!
On Saturday August 18th, we will be having a huge yard sale.
TELL EVERYONE!
We will be posting signs all over this side of town, and submitting an ad in the Elkhart Truth.
DON'T WANT TO STICK AROUND AND SELL YOUR STUFF?
We will gladly accept anything you would like to donate to the sale. Unfortunately, we will not be able to allow you to drop off your things for sale, and pay you for what sold at the end of the day. Keeping track of everyone's items would be a nightmare!
FOR SALE
We have:
Lots of size 3T little girls clothes - brand new with tags. Gymboree outfits, Old Navy, Ralph Lauren etc.
Pots and Pans
Beautiful area rug (cream colored with purple, green, pink flowers)
LOTS of random electronic equipment (computer stuff and stereo stuff)
Furniture - a nice chair, sofa, TV/Microwave table, dressing table, lights/lamps, barstool, retro (antique) red/stainless kitchen table (really neat), office-style desk, office-style desk chair.
Housewares: pictures for walls, curtain rods, window treatments, misc. decor items
Luggage
Womans clothing - all designer brands size 2-4-6
Men's clothing - sweaters etc. size med
Craft stuff - scrapbook paper, glue, stationary, floral stuff, crayons
Ping Pong table
and tons more!
Event Info
55754 CR 19
Bristol, Indiana 46507
Saturday, August 18th
8:00AM-2:00pm (or until we sell everything!)
Adoption Update August 10, 2007
DOCUMENTS ARE EN ROUTE!
Without too much drama, we were able to get our documents to Indianapolis and have them correctly apostilled by the Secretary of State. Our dossier is now on the way to Irkutsk! Stay tuned for shipping updates!
Without too much drama, we were able to get our documents to Indianapolis and have them correctly apostilled by the Secretary of State. Our dossier is now on the way to Irkutsk! Stay tuned for shipping updates!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
stop the insanity!
I just don't understand why every time we plan a trip to Russia - random stuff starts to happen. I'm not kidding - this will be our 4th trip to Siberia, and I hve NEVER had so much random crap happen (that's right, I said crap!).
In the past week alone, our dishwasher broke, the over broke, a CD got stuck in the change in my car (which means a trip to the garage), Marty's Mom had surgery, my laptop battery died, Marty's big studio computer's hard drive pooped out - not to mention the typical stresses that come with a trip to Russia (finances, business issues, paperwork stuff).
I need a day off!
In the past week alone, our dishwasher broke, the over broke, a CD got stuck in the change in my car (which means a trip to the garage), Marty's Mom had surgery, my laptop battery died, Marty's big studio computer's hard drive pooped out - not to mention the typical stresses that come with a trip to Russia (finances, business issues, paperwork stuff).
I need a day off!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Adoption Newsletter August 2
All is well that ends well
Thanks to so many of you for your encouragement last week. Everything has worked out perfectly - with no loss of life or limb! We pick up the last (I think) of our documents for the dossier tomorrow afternoon, so all that will need to be done is massive photocopying. Watch out Copy Max, here I come!
We will be traveling to Hammond early Friday morning to be fingerprinted. We hope to go to Indianapolis on Monday or Wednesday next week to get everything apostilled. We're waiting to hear back from the powers that be in Indy as to what day is best for them.
I can't believe that 1 month from today, we will be in Irkutsk! We have a VERY busy August. Lots of CAbi shows, traveling, projects, deadlines. We keep remembering that God is in control, and He knows that we will need the fruit from our labor for our Russia trip. We'll have 3 days of traveling to sleep and catch our breath before hitting the ground in Irkutsk.
We're both pre-planning our trip. Of course, Marty is already looking into what he can EBay, so that he can get the latest greatest video camera. And, I am hunting for the perfect comfortable walking shoe.
Thanks to so many of you for your encouragement last week. Everything has worked out perfectly - with no loss of life or limb! We pick up the last (I think) of our documents for the dossier tomorrow afternoon, so all that will need to be done is massive photocopying. Watch out Copy Max, here I come!
We will be traveling to Hammond early Friday morning to be fingerprinted. We hope to go to Indianapolis on Monday or Wednesday next week to get everything apostilled. We're waiting to hear back from the powers that be in Indy as to what day is best for them.
I can't believe that 1 month from today, we will be in Irkutsk! We have a VERY busy August. Lots of CAbi shows, traveling, projects, deadlines. We keep remembering that God is in control, and He knows that we will need the fruit from our labor for our Russia trip. We'll have 3 days of traveling to sleep and catch our breath before hitting the ground in Irkutsk.
We're both pre-planning our trip. Of course, Marty is already looking into what he can EBay, so that he can get the latest greatest video camera. And, I am hunting for the perfect comfortable walking shoe.
What will she know - and not know?
I was reading in FRUA tonight, and came across this post. It is about what a little girl did and didn't know when she finally came home. I thought I would pass it along:
My daughter peeled the batter off chicken nuggets. She wanted a big bowl to help wash her hair. No problem with the toilet or paper. Did not like pizza, peanut butter ( also make sure no allergies to peanuts or don't serve if you don't know), any soup that wasn't chicken stock based or light in color. She loved breakfast sausages even more than bananas. Opened every drawer in sight but didn't touch anything inside. Had to be taught how to cross a street or be careful in a parking lot....hold hands even for older children. Sprayed a whole can of air freshner in her bedroom all at onece because it smelled so good...ugh!
One of the hardest things for me was that she didn't understand food preparation. She was used to the food appearing and being ready to eat. So when I would start getting things out to cook, she got very frustrated seeing food but not being able to eat it yet. More so when it was something she really liked. She pretty much wanted to go inside the refrigerator and hang out and eat. Didn't understand why she couldn't do that. Didn't seem to understand that the food would be there later and we could get more when that was gone. Hot stoves were not something she knew about.
She had never touched or smelled a real flower growing in the ground.
She loved jumping on the trampoline
She was not very happy about seat belts but complied after I would pull over and just wait for it to go back on.
She didn't like TV because she couldn't understand it...exception was young childrens cartoons ( Teletubbies, Dora, Dragon Tales, stuff like that. She liked cooking shows after she figured out what cooking was. She loved listening to music. We used only on CD of childrens songs over and over so she eventually got some of the lyrics and could sing along.
She got frustrated when we went to the park. She perceived every child was playing with each other but not with her. I solved this by arranging for a younger child to go with us and they played together. Language wasn't needed and she was very good with little one.
She did not like the feel of socks and shoes. Mostly they wore thread bare socks with sandals. We went with crocs because flip flops hurt her toes.
She could use a knife by herself but not a steak knife ( 4 1/2 years old).
My daughter peeled the batter off chicken nuggets. She wanted a big bowl to help wash her hair. No problem with the toilet or paper. Did not like pizza, peanut butter ( also make sure no allergies to peanuts or don't serve if you don't know), any soup that wasn't chicken stock based or light in color. She loved breakfast sausages even more than bananas. Opened every drawer in sight but didn't touch anything inside. Had to be taught how to cross a street or be careful in a parking lot....hold hands even for older children. Sprayed a whole can of air freshner in her bedroom all at onece because it smelled so good...ugh!
One of the hardest things for me was that she didn't understand food preparation. She was used to the food appearing and being ready to eat. So when I would start getting things out to cook, she got very frustrated seeing food but not being able to eat it yet. More so when it was something she really liked. She pretty much wanted to go inside the refrigerator and hang out and eat. Didn't understand why she couldn't do that. Didn't seem to understand that the food would be there later and we could get more when that was gone. Hot stoves were not something she knew about.
She had never touched or smelled a real flower growing in the ground.
She loved jumping on the trampoline
She was not very happy about seat belts but complied after I would pull over and just wait for it to go back on.
She didn't like TV because she couldn't understand it...exception was young childrens cartoons ( Teletubbies, Dora, Dragon Tales, stuff like that. She liked cooking shows after she figured out what cooking was. She loved listening to music. We used only on CD of childrens songs over and over so she eventually got some of the lyrics and could sing along.
She got frustrated when we went to the park. She perceived every child was playing with each other but not with her. I solved this by arranging for a younger child to go with us and they played together. Language wasn't needed and she was very good with little one.
She did not like the feel of socks and shoes. Mostly they wore thread bare socks with sandals. We went with crocs because flip flops hurt her toes.
She could use a knife by herself but not a steak knife ( 4 1/2 years old).
Thursday, August 02, 2007
worth seeing
I was looking at one of the blogs a pastor at our church has. He has a link fro today on his blog with a video that was shown in our church's mid-week service. We've been exploring worship - what is it, how do you do it etc.
Watch this video...if you don't get a chill or a tear in your eye - SOMETHING IS WRONG! Even Chandler on Friends would need a kleenex after this (Stef is probably the only one who will know what that means!)
http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/
Watch this video...if you don't get a chill or a tear in your eye - SOMETHING IS WRONG! Even Chandler on Friends would need a kleenex after this (Stef is probably the only one who will know what that means!)
http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/
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