where does time go!?

Not being rhetorical here, being serious...where does time go?

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that we've been home as long as we were in Russia. How is that possible? I mean, the 2 months we were in Russia dragged on...every day seemed like 4 days - and every week felt like a month.

Since we've been home, I've lost track of weekends. What we did 3 weeks ago seems like it was yesterday.


IN GENERAL
We've settled into a nice routine - kinda (I am still working it out - and from what I understand, by the time Anya is 18 I might have it figured out). Anya is a very happy, very good girl. We have very VERY few issues with her at all. I know this sounds like I am painting a rosy picture, but it is true (I have nothing to hide). She is loving, considerate, well behaved. She knows boundaries, and understands consequences. When she does act up, she is quick to feel bad about what she did, and say that she is sorry.

Anya's birthday was this past week - and I tell ya, she has grown up so much in the past 7 days! Things she loved to do before don't seem to be that important; and those things I wish she cared about now are a big deal. Before - she liked to dress like a boy (for those who know me, this was killing me!). She loved sports - and wanted to play football...which I was OK with, as long as she did so with a pink ribbon in her hair and a pink helmet.

Now, she wakes up and wants to wear skirts or dresses. Still loves soccer and plying ball...but understands that she needs to change clothes to do that. She told me this morning that looking like a girl is very good! ...and my heart skipped a beat.

She loves puzzles and SpongeBob. She loves to swim in the pool and has mastered going under water. It took her all of about 15 minutes to be an expert on bike riding (without training wheels).

She told me one of her favorite things to do is to "help Mommy".

Anya loves church, loves to pray. She completely understands praying and we find her praying for things she thinks are hard or that she can't control. Many times during the day, she will come to us and ask to pray...generally this is about being a good girl. She has learned to feel her emotions rather than to act on them. I am so proud of her! She will also be the first to tell you that being a good girl is hard sometimes!

EDUCATION
Her school is exceptional - I was leery of the public school thing. I was a private (elementary) school kid at first, and truly believed that the small classes and special educational experience that can be offered at a private school what was what Anya needed.

I was wrong. Yes - I WAS WRONG.

Her teacher (Miss Williams) was not only answer to prayer, but has been gifted to love children and really care about how and what they learn. In just 4 weeks, Anya's language skills quadrupled. She got perfect scores on spelling tests and homework.

Miss Williams understood that I was "that mom"...that I needed to talk through things. That I would probably email her every day and ask a question - that I didn't get it, and that I needed more hand holding than Anya did.

Anya also had a helper named Mrs. Lambert - who is as equally amazing as Miss Williams.

Both of her teachers told me things like:

• she is such a joy to have in the classroom, I will miss her
• she is such a smart girl, she has picked up on things in just 4 weeks that the other children have been working on all year

...and I agree, she is a complete joy and incredibly smart!


FRIENDS
Because I am "that mom" and we are "those parents", we are picky about who Anya hangs out with. Anya also plays rough - many girls her age don't play like that, and I don't want anyone to get hurt. But, Anya has had some really fun play dates with my friends kids.

There are things God blesses you with that you don't pray for - it just happens. Let me just tell you how blessed I am to have such incredible friends with kids all Anya's age!

One of her favorite play buddies is Dasha (who is also from Irkutsk). She asks to play with Sam ( our friend's little girl who lives close to us), and wonders when we will see Matthew again (another friend's son). She tells funny stories about her friends Belle, Maddie and Whitney...and what I think is the funniest thing is that she can never remember anyone's name - so trying to figure out who she is talking about is kinda like a game of charades.

Some of our friends was here over the weekend (the Ninmanns)with her boys, Nathan (from Irkutsk too) and JJ. Anya loves LOVES JJ! I kinda felt sorry for JJ - Anya was smothering him. We had to talk to her about how it really isn't OK for her to hug and kiss JJ all. the. time.

ON FAMILY
I can't put into words what it is like for our family to have Anya as an active part of our every day. I also can't put into words what happens to my heart when I look at her, or see her 'getting it'. Likewise, there is that "thing" that happens when I don't think she is being treated fairly or not being given enough attention to "get it" (hence the nickname...'that mom').

more good q's

I'm glad that those of you who read this blog who don't know me well feel comfortable enough to post or email me questions.

One of your questions I thought blog-worthy...here is the Q: Why are you allowing so much press coverage of your family?

Good question!

There are several reasons...

First, the media is my friend. Some people see the media as an enemy - but I don't. Maybe because I've worked in and with media my entire adult life - I feel very comfortable sharing information.

I have nothing to hide.

There is a lot of negative information out there about international adoption. A lot of misinformation and a lot of horrible stereotypes. If there is anything we can do to put a positive spin on that, I feel that is what I/we have to do.

And no - our home phone number and/or address are not published anywhere.

I stopped reading the negative comments on the news stories. I have no time for the idiotic thoughts of those who have nothing better to do than to slam us. I dare those people to come up to me on the street and say something to my face...they won't. These people hide behind that anonymity of the internet. They are cowards who don't have all the facts.

let the birthday parties begin

So, Anya got invited to her first birthday party. The invitation was in her school bag, with her name (kinda) on the envelope - so I know it was intended for her.

But, I don't know who this child is who is having this party...and neither does Anya (not so surprising, she still can't remember most of the kids names in her class). I want her to have friends, and get invited to parties, but for some reason I don't feel OK about this. I am not at the point yet where I would just drop her off at a party and leave her there. Um, NO!

I hope something comes up so that we can't go...does that make me a horrible mother?

Speaking of school - you've asked me a few q's about school, I'll try to answer them here:

• No, we are not homeschooling.
• She started school on May 5th - 9 weeks after we "got" her
• She is in a public school - but I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised by how attentive they are and how well she is doing. We are fortunate in that we are in a small school system.
  
• Proof that I should not homeschool is in how well Anya is doing in school...in the 9 weeks she was with us, she learned English; but in the 12 days she's been in school - her vocabulary and communication has grown and flourished in ways that astound me!
• Summer school is till up in the air - in this school system, you apply and then are accepted into summer school. We are still waiting to see if she is accepted into summer school. We're looking into a language program that one of the local colleges has for kids her age, as well as a day-camp at our church and some other day-camp type things.

Hope that answers your questions...if you have more - ask away!

I think I forgot...

As if we haven't been in the news enough, on Mother's Day a story ran in the Elkhart Truth. It was on the front page that Sunday morning (and for all you news junkies...yes, it was above the fold).

Funny thing about the headline - they left off a zero (you'll see when you go to this link).

http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?id=512693

(Photos from Elkhart Truth, Photographer: Jay Seawell)









This is another story that ran on WSBT - this was a while ago, right after the news broke that Russia may close adoptions to American citizens.




I think I forgot to post this too. This is a story that ran on Fox28 WSJV a while ago as well. I think this was the Friday after we came home.

oh, really?

Yesterday, this came in the mail.

and this was inside...


This is Anya's Certificate of Citizenship. Every child who is adopted in Russia and brought into the United States gets one of these. The officials in Tennessee who WRONGFULLY believe that the child Torry Hansen sent back to Russia was not an American citizen need to carefully read this document. It says that pursuant to Section 341 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she is a citizen of the United States. That is pretty clear.

I rest my case.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day. I still don't even know what to say about this first Mother's Day. Like so many "firsts", I don't know what I expected.

The best part of Mother's Day was picking up Anya from school on Friday. She was SO EXCITED to show me the present she had made for me.

It came gift wrapped in this bag:


Basically, it says:
Mommy, I love you so much
You help my ouchies
Mommy I love you so much so much so much so much
(sounds so much better when she reads it to me)

I love how she wrote this in what appears to be Russian, but it actually phonetic Russian characters (in English)...I think.

Inside this jewel of a gift bag was this flower:

I don't know if you can see in this picture, but she painted grass, butterflies and flowers all around the pot, and wrote ANYA on it. It is precious, and will always sit in my office window.

I had to work on Saturday, and was NOT looking forward to coming home from work and cleaning the house. We hosted Mother's Day at our house this year. When I got home, my hubby was cleaning the house, there were cards and flowers waiting for me in the kitchen.

HUSBAND OF THE YEAR!!! The award goes to my hubby!!

On Mother's Day, everyone came over to our house for a cookout.

...this is where the "first Mother's Day" story gets juicy.

So that morning, I was taking my own sweet time getting ready. Darling husband has gone to the grocery store, planned out what we were going to eat, cleaned the house. Everything seemed to be ready for company. He even decided to mow the lawn that morning. As I stood at the kitchen sink, I realized he probably hadn't thought about where the 10ish people (that were going to be at our home to eat) were going to sit.

I decided to pull out the linens, dishes, silverware - set the big table...get the little table up from the basement. Made both tables look pretty...

I decided to start getting ready - again, taking my own sweet time. I was finishing my hair, when I heard my mother-in-law come in..then everyone else showed up. We were all in the Kitchen when I noticed that the oven wasn't on. I knew one of the things we were going to eat was mac-n-cheese (which takes an hour to bake). Then I took note that none of the snacks were out on the table. Oops!

This is where communication in a marriage is key. Now, Marty and I are really good at this communication thing. We don't put unrealistic expectations on one another, therefore we don't have disappointments in our marriage.

Unless it was Mother's Day.

I guess I thought since he went to the store and everything, that he was going to cook. I saw the chicken thawing in the sink, and assumed that everything else was in-process too.

He assumed I would handle the food...since I always do...and given the fact I had set the tables, got out the serving dishes and so on - why would he think any different?

Oi!

After I asked him about the Mac-n-cheese, and had a moment of freak out when he said "oh, I thought you were cooking" followed by my comment "um, no - I thought YOU were cooking"..it all came together and had a very nice Mother's Day dinner.

My sincere apologies to my family who saw my freak out.

Hoping your Mother's Day was as memorable as mine!

What did we do on Friday?

There are things that I think are funny. One being "what do you do all day, since Anya isn't in school yet?"

Here is what we did yesterday:

First, we "played" on the computer. Anya is learning how to sound out words to spell.





Then we had a picnic lunch. It was really windy outside - so the picnic came inside. Meet the giant "Anya doll". She had to eat too.



Then we went outside to plant some seeds.




Then we had a snack, played on the scooter, hunted groundhogs, tried to read a book to the kitties, and did a lot of other really fun things that weren't so photo worthy!

At Home...

Thanks Cathy Dietz for the great pics!

don't ya hate it when...

When we were in Russia, we came up with the best 'new name' for the blog. Since we're not really 'bringing Anya home' anymore...I remember it was still 'Bring Anya Home' - then a word that started with a 'C'. I can not remember what that very special, very appropriate word is! And, it is killing me!

So - give me your best "c" words...maybe it will spark some memory!

'C'

Moscow - and then HOME!

After an almost 9 hour delay, we FINALLY lifted off, and the heck outta Irkutsk!

Good bye Irkutsk!

In Moscow, one of the first things we did was head to Mc Donald's. I don't know why. We don't eat there EVER at home...but it seemed familiar - so to McD's we went. Anya DID NOT like the hamburgers. But thought the nuggets were OK.
She was particularly fond of the orange drink (which was orange juice)
The inside of the McD's in Moscow doesn't exactly look like the McD's around our home.
And then, after a few days of running, exhaustion, tension and then relief...we're headed HOME!

I have more pics of our time in Moscow, but they are on another camera that I'm not allowed to mess with (haha!)...those are coming, I promise!

..and then

After we got home from the Jackson's home on our final day in Irkutsk, we continued to finish packing - and Alex stopped by to drop some things off, and wish us well.

Honestly, I cried when he left. Alex and I have talked at least every few weeks since 2005. We have had a lot of candid discussions about adoption, Irkutsk etc. I have the utmost respect for his heart and what he his work ethic. Time and time again, he did the right thing for us. We hope to see him again.

final hours in Irktusk

Of course, it was important during our final hours in Irkutsk to have pretty toes (Anya's purple, mine red)

And finish up the last bits of laundry...
And check the "closet" to make plans what we will be wearing in Moscow.

Me and Tami

The kids made Easter cookies (Anya had never decorated cookies before)
And colored and decorated Easter Eggs (again, Anya had never done this before)
The whole group coloring eggs.

the last supper

I'm trying to get caught up on posts here from our final days in Irkutsk - and first 2 weeks home.

Thought I would post a pic of our last meal at the apartment. Truth is, on our last LAST day - we ate at the Jackson's - which was a HUGE relief! But, here was the last thing that I cooked - and I'll call it Mexican Fiesta...Russian style!


My no-meat version

Anya gave it a "thumbs up"...which for this picky eater - that is a big deal!

And here is the meat version (with chicken).

I'm not dead

Not dead, just busy. Nothing like coming home from being in Russia for 2 months, and hitting the ground running! I will say, however, this is a great cure for jet lag. We haven't had to deal with ANY jet lag!

I have a huge project next week, once I get through that - I promise I will give you all some pics and updates!

With all the news coming out of Russia, we've been on the news (what seems like) every night since we got home.

Here is a news story from the station I do some work with:

latest news out of Russia

I guess I should say something about the latest scandal involving an American family and a Russian adopted child. If you don't know what I am talking about, look HERE or HERE or Google 'Russian adoption Tennessee woman'.

It is horrible. I don't know what kind of irresponsible adult would think it is OK to put your child on an airplane with a note, and send him back to his birth country.

How option blind do you need to be to think THAT is the only option?

Unbelievable.

My initial reaction to this news feels as extreme as are things in Russia. This happened about 24 hours after we got home with Anya. I am blessed and have seen the hand of God in my life, in Anya's life, in our families life in such a big way. We are grateful, and recognize the window God opened for us to bring Anya home. The prayers we had from all of you, from all over the world, are the reason we have Anya home...

Along with feeling blessed and grateful for God's timing - I am also concerned, worried, gobsmacked and mad. I am concerned for friends who leave tomorrow for Irkutsk. They will go to court next week to try to bring their little girl home. I am worried for all of the other families who have yet to receive a court date in Irkutsk. There is so much going on with adoptions in that region, so much anti-American sentiment....all I can do is pray. I'm gobsmacked at the utter stupidity of people who live in this country; and I am mad. Mad that this seems to be happening all over again. Mad because I am ashamed at what American people have done to make the world think we're all crazy. I am mad because I fear this is the final straw (as President Medvedev said).

best diet plan ever

Looking for a good diet plan?

Go to Siberia for 2 months. If I could bottle it, I'd sell it and be a bazillionairre!

...and WNDU followed up with us

WNDU was also at the airport Wednesday night, but they couldn't wait for our late flight. We agreed to let them stop by on Thursday afternoon and talk to us about being home.

WSBT was at the airport...

Anya's broadcasting career

My brother took Anya to WSBT on Friday while I was getting my hair cut. He used to be a producer at WSBT, and this is the station where I have been doing segments for about 3 years. Good people. Looks like Anya fit right in, and took her position at the anchor desk!

more questions answered part 7

What other vocab do you wish you'd learned?
Every now and again, I think it might have been helpful to learn more of the Russian alphabet – but really, it is very much like the Greek alphabet (so, all those years in a sorority HAVE paid off!). But really, that wouldn’t be that helpful. Most signs etc. here have Roman and Cyrillic lettering now days.


WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT HOME?
Now that we’re on our way home, I will tell you that what I’ve missed most has changed. It seems every day, every week I missed something different.

Aside from the obvious (I miss my house, my cats, my stuff, my friends, my family bla bla bla) The things I missed most:
1. Convenience and ease of things. Everything in Russia is hard. It is the way of life, and is ingrained into the very being of who Russia is and what makes up the Russian people. Or rather, my perception of things in Russia is hard. It is hard to do a load of laundry. Hard to get anything done (you can’t just go to an office and have something done in one day). In Russia, we had to shop for our food every day. Nothing in the stores (generally) is prepackaged for convenience like at home – everything (again, generally) is made from scratch. We had to walk everywhere, therefore our “community” was as far-reaching as we could walk. If we needed something, we had to figure out a way to ask for it, using the limited vocabulary we know – or, use sign language.

2. Church. I miss out church and the people there. I miss the freedom to worship as we do at home. I miss the teaching at our church; understanding what is being said in church.

3. My attitude. Me in Russia isn’t really ‘me’. I am cynical. I walk down the street with a hard edge about me. I try to not smile. Smiling in Russia can be seen as a sign of ignorance. I felt like I always had to have my guard up…always had to be looking for people that were trying to take advantage of us. Lack of sleep (good sleep), lack of meals and food that we are used to, and a complete change of the way we go about our day takes a took on me.

4. Manners. I miss manners as we know them at home. Russian culture is very different than ours, therefore the things we might see as rude is as it is in Russia.