Early Training

All sorts of training is going on at the Passanita household. Most of which is quite enjoyable and often times quite humorous as well. The first picture is the boys first day at church (probably ever!) and they were real troopers. THey got introduced at the first service and stood up in front of everyone and didn't even bat an eye. I'm quite sure they wouldn't have said anything even if asked but they seemed to have no problem at all looking out at everyone. I think we will have a bunch of hams on our hands as soon as they get confortable with everyone. They got a chance to peek in at the childrens church and weren't real sure about that since they didn't know anyone but I'm sure they will take to that soon too. They are pretty good at saying "amen" at the end of our nightly prayers so I know they will catch on quickly to the other things at church too.
The other training that we didn't think we would be doing is not quite as humorous (OK only someitmes is it humorous). Vanya is getting all new potty training. Thank goodness for friends of our who brought a potty chair on the airplane home. The whole tiolet thing seems to be very suspicious to him and he makes sure to say "paka" when he flushes even when he hasn't made any deposits. Perhaps we should try a plastic pot instead of the potty chair. Anything that works would be fine with us. We are hoping this will be a short lived retraining process. Perhaps simply putting him on the pot at the same time every day will be the next thing to try.
Visiting the pool amost every day offers a new trianing of some sort each time as well. The whole "it's OK to splash your brother nicely but it's not OK to splash the other mama sitting next to him" has been a difficult one to explain. We aren't very popular there. They at least know there is to be no going to the bathroom in the pool. They do have that one down pat thank goodness.
They learn a little and pick up new things every day. We are looking forward to them learning more English and being able to explain things better to them so they don't get as frustrated.
We would like to thank all our frineds and neighbors who have been great at providing many things for the boys. Everyone has been so giving adn we appreciate all of it. Our older kids have been a big help as well. They enjoy the boys for short periods and also enjoy their freedom from them as well.
We are anxiously looking all the time to see the work God has started in them and love to see them starting to really see what being a brother means and what that looks like. Well this busy mama needs to go get 3 outfits ready for church tomorrow.
Blessings to all,
Laura

Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy

The title of this post is appropriately named from one of the cards we have received since being home. My 3 little boys are ALL boy and have now explored ever square inch of the house and yard. They have found things we never even knew we had (lost football in back yard, vase from under the deck, ponytail holders from under our dresser) They have been quite a handful but very busy but all in all the laughter throughout the house just brings joy to my heart. Don't get me wrong, there has been a lot of screaming and crying as well. I think keeping in mind that we have taken them from the only life they have known and put them in new situations meeting new people every day keeps the perspective correct.
They each have their own way of adjusting and an extra dose of patience has been required on many an occasion. Things that seems to be sooooo important to them are sometimes hard for us to understand in our adult minds. Not wanting to put socks on with our shoes would not ordinarily cause any of us too much anxiety but to a 5 year old that is a huge big deal not that he knows he has a choice about a few things here and there.
Since the boys had never actually been together and are used to having mama and papa all to themselves the whole sharing thing has been a bit of a challenge. They all want us to themselves so mama mama mama mama is a frequent sound by 3 little voices all day long. I think they have decided that who ever says it the loudest will get the attention. Good thing we have done this before or this mama would be frazzled. It's amazing the strength you can draw from the Lord when you feel you are at the end of your own. Throughout this journey we have been able to see God's hand in sooo many things and feel Him right beside us and now that we are home He gives us the strength each day to guide these little guys in the way they should go. Of course that doesn't mean that it is easy and it doesn't mean we aren't exhausted at the end of the day, but knowing that at least these kids will hear the Word and be trained as best we can in the way they should go is very comforting.
All our friends and family have been great and we have been extremely blessed. We have had a welcome home party and many visits and gifts from friends as well as a big box of clothes from my cousin and a big castle slide that one of our neighbors was getting ready to get rid of. All of those things came in so handy and at the right time. BIG thanks you's all the way around. I think I have gotten a few notes written but even as I write this the kids are eating their cereal with their fingers instead of their spoon and probably putting a few things on the floor and in their lap as well. I think that is my cue to go. I'll try to post some pictures as soon as time allows.

Bye for now from mama mama mama mama

Dom sweet dom

(Laura)
Well we finally made it home and have had a few days to start learning all kinds of new things. The flight was long and I felt really sorry for all those on the flight with us; particularly the stewardesses. Another couple we met who adopted a 2 1/2 year old girl had the seats right in front of ours so I know the people around us probably did not find all of their little squeals and tantrums as amusing as we did. Mine wore everything that was served to them and also confiscated anything that they felt anyone around us wasn't going to have. Victor made friend with the man across the isle as well as the one behind us and when ever there was anything he felt needed to be thrown away he simply pushed the help button on the seat arm. I wasn't very popular with them. Other than that and being very loud they did OK. On the last leg of the flight they made Vanya (3yr old) sit in a seat by himself and that was not a fun take off or landing for anyone. Having to sit across the isle form him with his arms in the air screaming "Mama, Mamaaaaa" was heartbreaking but I know it was for safety reasons so we endured.
We were extremely blessed to have friends of ours meet us at the airport along with Rob and Mayra. It was great to see them and be home again on American soil my 3 little miracles.

Since we have been home we have given them baths and scrubbed them down, visited the pool several times, gone ot Papa's office, and just hang out at the house exploring. The boys are adjusting OK and we have only had a few bumps in the road. Even with out knowing what it is they have discovered sibling rivalry. They have each been used to having us all to themselves and now that Rob is back at work there is only one of me and three little people wanting my constant attention.. Unfortunately the middle one seems to the one getting left out most of the time. Goes with the territory I suppose.

They boys are very busy and at time quite stubborn but all in all I am amazed, delighted and extremely grateful to have these little guys. We did find out they have another sibling younger than Vanya but we don't know anything more about what gender age etc.. We have officially closed the family circle however but we thought it would be nice to simply find out about the child in case any of the boys ever wanted to know. And if it was a girl hmmmmmmm. (Just kidding honey :))

I do miss all the people we met and the slower pace of life there but I'm sooooo happy to just be home and sleep in my own bed and take a shower where I don't have to hold onto the water source.

God knew what He was doing when He hose these guys for us. Way to go God! I am feeling so blessed and even though I don't get much sleep it's all worth it to see the smiles on the boys faces and to hear their laughter throughout the house.

More updates late on. Thanks to everyone who has made comments and such. Keep them coming, Even though we are now home doesn't mean we don't appreciate the blog comments (Hint Hint)

Many blessings to all!

COULD THEY REALLY COME HOME?

It's amazing, it's incredible, Laura, June, Yuri, Victor, and Vanya will actually be home tomorrow night. They will fly into Richmond @ 9:40pm Saturday. After a short 20hrs. of traveling the amazing 5 will home.

I am planning on letting Laura and June sleep in on Sunday. I will be showing the boys my breakfast culinary skills, instructing them on what not to touch, and then we will go to the pool. That should be pretty interesting. Anyone who wants to call, please wait until Sunday evening or at least late afternoon. Hopefully by Monday we will post some more picture of the last few days, and I know Laura has a great picture of all 3 boys all asleep.

Stay tuned,

Rob

Yuri has been freed!

(Laura)
Happy DAy! Yuri is sittingon my lap as I type this! Yep he has been freed from orphanage life for good! We are going to go take him to meet his youngest brother in about an hour. That should be really exciting. He ate at his first restaurant today and we have alreadyhad ice cream and he is now listening to Klove as I type. I'm starting him right away on hearing from teh Lord. He are a few shots of todays events. Enjyo Papa. Wish you were here.
Short post no corrections. Very busy but extrememly happy!
Mama and Yuri :)

Day of rest

Unfortunately we were unable to find the church to go to this morning so instead I settled for listen to KLOVE at the internet cafe for a while. We have taken a few pictures of some of the monuments here since the city itself isn't that interesting and mostly there are smokestacks and industrial places. We will walk around and do some window shopping adn such and jsut enjoy the day.

Last night we went to a restaurant by the water that we had been to before. It was nice and had music and such. THe sunset was really pretty too. We went with a couple form Atlanta and a couple from Florida. I miss Rob being here but know he can picture what I'm talking about.

Igor is back from Crimea with a better suntan and a new tatoo (drawn on, not real). He cracks me up. Oooohh to be 22 again. He has more energy than anyone I know. As soonas he got home he went back out to the internet cafe and then I think on a date or something. Glad he is back though. Trying to communicate with our driver, Roman, is pretty comical and half way through we just all laugh and then move on to somehting else we won't understand.

I'm lloking forward to getting rid of a whole bunch of stuff before we actualloy get packed up and get ready to head for Kyiv on Wednesday. The life here is so much more simple and I like that part of it. You don'thave to have lots of stuff and you learn to do without without really realizing you are missing anything. That part I will miss.

Babushka is ready to go home as well. I think it has been a hard trip for her but I feel extremely fortunate to be able to have her with me. Not sure how fortunate she feels to be here though. It isn't a whole lot of fun to be the keeper of the stuff and not being able to communicate very well with those around you. She has been able to find the good in many things and continues to have fun regardless of what or where we happen to be going. Thanks mom!

That's all for now. No humor today; too tired.

Laura