Please pray for safe travels for Ted and the girls. They leave around 4 p.m. Our time on Friday. They take a train then a few planes....arriving in Norfolk Saturday night.
Please pray for me, my dad, and Valera as we settle into a new "norm" without them here. Valera will miss their company.
As for our day, we visited Valera's orphanage. We got to see where he slept and played. In the picture attached Delaney is laying on the bed where Valera slept. His friend Vatalik slept above him.
I asked Anya to have Valera tell us about the orphanage as we walked around outside. Less than enthusiastically he said, "there's an apple tree, another apple tree, and another apple tree" with the tone of "blah blah blah". To brighten the moment I asked, "what is your favorite thing about the orphanage?" He replied, "nothing".
He couldn't have gotten back out of there any quicker. Despite the agony it caused him, we were glad to visualize where he lived and to deliver school supplies, bananas and clementines.
I am including a picture of the 3 kids watching Tangled. Valera thinks it's hysterical.
I am also including a picture that Valera took of my dad. It is my mom and dad's 43rd wedding anniversary today. Not everyone gets to be in Ukraine to celebrate that....oceans apart from their bride. We are appreciative of the sacrifice.
Good night.
Hello Millers,
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a google account so I couldn't figure out how to post a comment. But today I created an account for the Kellam PTSA and figured I might be able to use it to blog as well!
You have been on our minds and in our prayers. In our house and throughout the neighborhood. Your honest posts are inspiring. And we feel like we are getting to know Valera.
Katie and Hannah are upstairs right now and they asked for suggestions on what to do. I said "Let's play Uno in honor of Valera". But I'm not really sure where the Uno cards are!! So they are playing connect 4 instead. but still thinking of you...and your improvising spirits.
XO
Melissa
Hi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI know this is all hard right now. I know that you are wishing you could be home and have this behind you so you can "get on with life." I, like Viktor am not surprised ... Ukraine has its own schedule! Sometimes God gives us times in our lives where he just wants us to slooow down and listen to Him. It is times such as this that we learn so much about how much God loves us. I think it is the "teacher" in us that makes us want to micro-manage all the dates, times, situations but ... when we were going through this same thing I clung, really clung to ... "Blessed are those who keep on going when times are hard. After they have come through them, they will receive a crown. The crown is life itself. God has promised it to those who love Him." James 1:12 God is preparing you for your crown ... When you get home you will see that you and Ted truly did save a life. It was hard work, but you did it...and Valera was worth the hard work, he is an awesome boy.
By the way Pa, Happy Anniversary! 43, WOW ~ God bless you and the Mrs.
Praying,
karol
Dearest Lisa, Ted, Delaney, Mary Kate, Valera and Uncle Jim,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that I am reading 10 posts in one day! I have loved reading all of them, although the pictures of Valera's orphanage and your comments made me cry...so many kids to be loved...and to think that God chose you and Ted, the Miller Family, to accept one into your own family! How amazing is our God?! So many of us reading can readily see how many prayers have been already been answered. So when things don't seem to be going quite right, remember to keep looking up and rest in the sovereignty of our great God. "I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me, Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:7-8 Love, love, love all of you!!!!!!
In Christ,
Er :0)
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!! "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." It will be a long few weeks, but in one month you will look up and you will be home, with your son. And in one year this time in Ukraine will be the blink of an eye. And then when you get to watch Valera graduate and find a job and a wife and have a family of his own, you can remember when you went to get your family. You are one heck of a woman and you Millers are one heck of a family. See you soon :) Robyn