Wet day

Hello everyone, today David and I went to an out door market. It was a semi warm day, the snow turned into packed ice and water puddles. Big water puddles! Here in Ukraine there isn't much on the way of drainage systems, and the pot holes are huge pot holes. If your not careful when walking through a water puddle you might have it come up to your calf. They are deep! We managed through the slush and water to the out door market. They sell everything from food to clothes to house hold items well you get the point it was big! We walked for a while and enjoyed the time out of the apartment. We went into an indoor market which sold a lot of different meats, eggs and cheeses. I personally didn't like the smells. Piles of liver, hearts, pig feet etc. Not my thing but it was interesting non the less! We had a good time. Well we are back in the apartment watching TV nothing else going on. We appreciate the phone calls we are getting on our Ukraine number and the e-mails. For those of you who want our Ukraine number ask any of the family we would love to here from you and my e-mail is the same if you would like to e-mail! God Bless
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Normal life

Hello! I have not posted any comment lately probably because I have became a custom to life here so all the different things are now normal plus I can not remember what all I have wrote about before and don't want to bore you with repeat info. The day we went to court for alena was a big holiday here it was mans day or I think formerly military day it is a day when all males are celebrated they had a special program at alena orphanage that we got to watch. Unfortunately freda did not show me the special attention I deserved as a male and said maybe on fathers day in america now that I am a father. Went shopping today and I find that there is a lot of selection at the shopping centers here aspecialy clothing. We had Olga with us today but yesterday me and freda explored a little bit on our own and it is very difficult to find interesting shops on your own when you can not read most of the signs. Went into an appliance shop, unfortunately we can not fit a refrigerator on the airplane because some of the fridges had a lot of "bling". Most of the stores her have heavy store security so their is some one watching your every move and with the prices being lower than the US I almost feel like I am stealing.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Shopping day

Hello friends, today we went shopping! Yeah! After being on our own for the last 5 days not including court or the couple of days Alina was with us, we were ready for a day out. We went to what Olga called a department store, it sold a little of everything. We told her we were looking for gifts made in Ukraine to take back for our family members! We found some but its hard finding souvenirs believe it or not! She told us this sunday she will take us to a shop that sells nothing but souvenirs. Hopefully we can finish up then. Of course there were a couple of things still on my list of things I wanted for myself that I was able to find today a BIG purse made in Ukraine and a cool hat! Yes love it and they were cheap! Here the women wear nice hats and carry large leather hand bags. Now I look like a Ukrainian woman! Not really but I don't stick out as much! When we were in Novamirgrad David asked about some sandwiches that street vendors were selling, Olga said her grandmother made really good ones and she would have her make some for us. Yes today she brought us 2 bags full! They are stuffed with potatoes and another kind with cabbage. They are really good, but so many! We did go see Alina today the social worker talked to Olga she told her she was worried about Alina. Alina is not acting like herself and she wanted Olga to make sure Alina wasn't changing her mind about leaving. She said Alina needed to be with us we are good for her. While Olga was in with the social worker Dave and I were in a room visiting with Alina. I was unaware of the social and Olga's conversation but I knew something was a wrong with Alina so being me I asked her do you want to go home with us? Do you want us as parents? I told her she didn't have to be with us if she didn't want to, and we would leave. The choice is hers! Well holding my breath she said yes she wants to be with us and yes she wants to go home with us and she has not changed her mind. Good glad that's all clear! Before this was a dream she wanted to come true and now it is and now she just wants to spend her last days with her friends. Its sad for her to never see them again. I completely understand but Dave on the other hand still wants to go see her. Daddy's! So she gave us a time frame that we can visit. I say let her be alone with her friends, but we will probably be going to see her during the time she gave for David's sake. Olga came in to the room and told me of the conversation with the social worker I told her that I already asked Alina questions about what she wants but, so there's no confusion please ask her again. She did and the answers were the same, she just needs time with her friends. We will be leaving on Monday to pick up Tanya who is waiting for us. I had Olga to call and check on her. She said she is waiting patiently but hurry up! How funny! Well nothing left to report on so until tomorrow have a good day and God Bless!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

All is well

Hello everyone, yesterday and today are down days. Yesterday Alina was with us but all she wanted to do was stay at the apartment and watch TV. So we did, although I read a book instead. Today it has just been Dave and I alone! This morning we cleaned the apartment which was fun for me. That's what I do when I am bored. I looked for laundry to do but we didn't have much. David and I then decided to go out. It is snowing again and cold but we have cabin fever! We walked around a little not to much to see where we are, but we went into a store that sold washers, refrigerators, hair dryers etc. It was a nice store but nothing we needed. We found a park that had a tank in it, so Dave climbed the hill and I took a picture. There is also a statue of a man who Gorlovka was named after so being tourists I took David's picture by it too. Alina wanted to go to school and hang out with her friends so we backed off. Dave and I understand she probably will never see her friends again and that reality has set in for her. David is having a tougher time with this then me. He misses her so much and thought once we got here they would always be together and she would show him around town. He has dreamed of this happening for a year now. Me well she is pre teen now I expect her not to want to constantly hang out with her old folks! Out of all seriousness I think this is hard for her, this is something she wants very much, but she will miss her friends. You all know she is a social butterfly! I hope we can go get Tanya soon we know she is counting down the days, she on the other hand could care less about friends, she just wants to go home! Olga is going to take us shopping tomorrow, yeah! So hopefully we will have something neat to talk about. Hope all is well with everyone and we hope to be home soon. Time goes by slowly when you not busy! I miss my little Basil very much! God Bless
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Alina

Hello everyone, well today was the last of our court trials. Yes we do have 2 daughters now! After court we went out for a celebration lunch. Afterwards we rushed off to the orphanage because Alina was in a play. Today is Man's day! All men and boys of all ages are honored. So the concert/play was in honor of the men. We took pictures and short video clips. Everyone had a great time including Dave and I. The director got up and danced with the children, this is a cute side of her! Andre was the man of honor, he too was very funny. The play was over at 4:00 so we thought we would go ahead and leave. Alina was gonna watch a video that we bought her with her friends and we know her days are numbered with her friends. So we came back to the apartment so I could change, then walked to the grocery store for some drinks and snacks. Now we are in the apartment resting. I will start some laundry though. Have a good night the worry is over (sort of) and the wait begins. God Bless
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Cold and White

Good evening everyone, Dave and I slept late this morning. We were very tired for some reason. We went and picked up Alina brought her back to the apartment for awhile. We had lunch then went out for a walk through town. Alina wanted to go into a clothing store so we did. This store had very good prices! We bought Alina a shirt and jacket, I got a warm dress coat and David got a pair of pants, shirt and a nice warm coat. All for 400 greivnas or 50. American dollars. Very cheap! My coat from home is a waist coat with NO hood. My Ukraine coat goes to the middle of my legs and has a hood, and yes has fur! Not real fur but nice none the less. We then took our findings back to the apartment and went back to the grocery store for some groceries. Then we came back to the apartment and I prepared dinner. We took Alina back to the orphanage at 5:30 so she would be back at a good time. We have court at 10:00am in the morning. We will be picked up at 9:20 then go pick up Alina and meet Angelina at the court house. Hopefully things will happen quickly! We don't know yet what we will be doing about the children. At some point we need to decide rather to split up or wait out Alina's 10 days then travel as a family to Novamirgrade. We will let you know at a later time. God Bless
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Snow day

Hello friends, we had a good nights sleep. We got up had coffee ate breakfast and then got ready to go see Alina. We went to the orphanage about 10am David stayed in the cab while I ran in to get her. Then hurried up and when we got to the guard shack he won't allow Alina to leave without a note. So Alina runs back up to the orphanage to get a note! She comes back and we're off! It is snowing here and has been since yesterday, everything is covered. The roads are slippery but our driver didn't mind, he still drove fast! Once back to the apartment we went inside for Alina to look around, then we bundled up and headed out to explore. Its very cold and white but we went out anyway. We found the fun center where I took Alina the very first time I was in Gorlovka. This time they had more arcade equipment, many are the same as JayDees. We spent some time there played and had lunch. Then headed back out into the blizzard. We stopped at a store that was like our dollar store, but much smaller. Then we stopped at the grocery stop for a couple of things. Here you go to the store just about everyday. You can only get what you can carry, its only a couple blocks walk, but when you are carrying big bottles of water it gets heavy. We had help today so the bags were light! We will take Alina back about 7:30 tonight. Hopefully the cabs can drive in the snow! Alina says Hi to everyone and wants to go home as quickly as possible! Me too. Have a great day. God Bless!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T