+ACM
Greetings to you all!
Well, this email (long awaited) brings great news... We have a daughter! Svitlana Maria Theresa Poole will enter the United States of America on Saturday the 17th of November, thanks to all of your prayers and God's great goodness!
Last you heard we were trying to get our papers and leave Kyiv. After waiting two and a half hours in the freezing cold (thankfully we had a car to wait in), they gave us the awaited documents and we fled to get our things, eat and get on that night train. The next day at court was a true miracle. After all the proceedings were done, our good judge (without our asking), waived our ten day waiting period! This means we are coming home at least 10 days sooner! He was being kind beacuse of the baby, Joseph and how long we have already been here. We were the first International adoption in that region, so it is amazing that he was brave enough to do that. Then there were still more hoops to jump through, but every time after being told no or something being closed, it all worked out. It was amazing! We all know it is due to the prayers of so many. Thank you!
Last Sunday we had Svitlana Maria Theresa conditionally baptized (meaning that she was baptized -and confirmed as the custom is here- to generate documents since her baptism is only by hearsay). It was very very beautiful, we have it on video. Svitlana wore the traditional Ukrainian clothing and was very attentive to what was happening. She is such a good sweet girl. The priest was impressed with her when he questioned her, he said she was So cute and funny.
Anyway, there are many stories to tell… but this gang must get ready for bed and hop on an international flight in the morning. Again, we thank you for all of your suppport and prayers! Can't wait for you to meet our little “Sveetie”!
Much love and prayers,
Andrew, Mara, Svitlana, Joseph and Louie
PS. Oh yeah, did we tell you that she got chicken pox the day after court? Ha! Thankfully it has been okay and Joseph and Louie have yet to develop it. Time will tell…
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
New Videos
Hey Y'all!
New videos of the family (mainly Henry) on youtube.
Check 'em out!
http://youtube.com/profile?user=audsbodkins
PS Does the shirt Henry's wearing look familiar?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Bella
http://www.bellathemovie.com/
Karl and I went on a movie date night this evening.
The movie that we chose has been in all the rage in the prolife and homeschool circles that we frequent the last few months, so we were excited to check it out for ourselves.
We got in on a special promotion night too, so our $5 ticket was also redeemable for $5 in concessions!!!
With our jumbo popcorn and extra large cherry Coke, we sat down to watch the 8:45 showing of Bella.
What a great movie!!! The characters were so pleasant and believable. No gratuitous anything--you know? Just wholesome, genuine relationships--real life at its best.
A conversation Karl and I had the previous evening came to mind...Karl had asked me as I watched "The Notebook," why movies like that appeal to women. I thought about it a while, and finally responded that I, at least, like 'chick flicks' because it's fun to picture yourself as a character totally unlike yourself and live vicariously.
One of the main reasons that I liked Bella so much, was not wholly different. Although the situation that the lead actress finds herself in is not attractive--the people who surround her in her time of need are. I want a friend like Jose! And who wouldn't love to be invited in to share a meal with a close knit family like his?
Bella is the kind of movie that makes you want to emulate the characters--not just fantasize an unrealistic, irresponsible dream.
FOR THE GENTS who may read: this is not just a Chick Flick! It's an excellently woven tale of nobility, courage, and virtue. Karl enjoyed Bella thoroughly and will be recommending it to others.
PS Being eight months pregnant and drinking an extra large cherry Coke during a movie is not a good idea! I left to use the restroom, and came back in the middle of the climax of the movie--DOH! Next time, I'll push pause :)
Karl and I went on a movie date night this evening.
The movie that we chose has been in all the rage in the prolife and homeschool circles that we frequent the last few months, so we were excited to check it out for ourselves.
We got in on a special promotion night too, so our $5 ticket was also redeemable for $5 in concessions!!!
With our jumbo popcorn and extra large cherry Coke, we sat down to watch the 8:45 showing of Bella.
What a great movie!!! The characters were so pleasant and believable. No gratuitous anything--you know? Just wholesome, genuine relationships--real life at its best.
A conversation Karl and I had the previous evening came to mind...Karl had asked me as I watched "The Notebook," why movies like that appeal to women. I thought about it a while, and finally responded that I, at least, like 'chick flicks' because it's fun to picture yourself as a character totally unlike yourself and live vicariously.
One of the main reasons that I liked Bella so much, was not wholly different. Although the situation that the lead actress finds herself in is not attractive--the people who surround her in her time of need are. I want a friend like Jose! And who wouldn't love to be invited in to share a meal with a close knit family like his?
Bella is the kind of movie that makes you want to emulate the characters--not just fantasize an unrealistic, irresponsible dream.
FOR THE GENTS who may read: this is not just a Chick Flick! It's an excellently woven tale of nobility, courage, and virtue. Karl enjoyed Bella thoroughly and will be recommending it to others.
PS Being eight months pregnant and drinking an extra large cherry Coke during a movie is not a good idea! I left to use the restroom, and came back in the middle of the climax of the movie--DOH! Next time, I'll push pause :)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Svitlana's Adoption Update--Keep praying!
25 October 2007
Kiev Ukraine
Dearest Family and friends,
I am sorry that this must be so short, we would like to share so many things with you but the access is limited here. Anyway, above all thank you for your prayers! I was a bit nervous before our interview today, but it went fine, they accepted us and will give us our referral, thanks be to God! Joseph is a great trooper and did everything with us today so well, all day out in the city here and there, wow! And of course Louie is a sweetie.
Tomorrow (FRI) our papers will be ready at the office (4-5:00), these are the papers we must bring to the office in Lviv. Only, it is not Lviv now, but some little town called Yavoriv (sp?). We have NO IDEA where we will stay while we are there! Please pray for that. Now we are staying with the director of all pro-life work in Ukraine, she and her husband are very wonderful people!!!
We are 8 hours ahead of the States.
We will take a train at 5:00pm on Saturday and arrive in Lviv at 11:00pm. We hope we will have a place to stay for that night. Then on Sunday (Joseph's birthday) we will try and make our way to Yavoriv and find someplace to rent.
Whew!
There is so much to say, it is a crazy place. Anyway, we are well, thanks be to God!
Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for the many steps yet to come, especially the people in Yavoriv, for so much will depend on their work.
Much love,
Mara and family
Kiev Ukraine
Dearest Family and friends,
I am sorry that this must be so short, we would like to share so many things with you but the access is limited here. Anyway, above all thank you for your prayers! I was a bit nervous before our interview today, but it went fine, they accepted us and will give us our referral, thanks be to God! Joseph is a great trooper and did everything with us today so well, all day out in the city here and there, wow! And of course Louie is a sweetie.
Tomorrow (FRI) our papers will be ready at the office (4-5:00), these are the papers we must bring to the office in Lviv. Only, it is not Lviv now, but some little town called Yavoriv (sp?). We have NO IDEA where we will stay while we are there! Please pray for that. Now we are staying with the director of all pro-life work in Ukraine, she and her husband are very wonderful people!!!
We are 8 hours ahead of the States.
We will take a train at 5:00pm on Saturday and arrive in Lviv at 11:00pm. We hope we will have a place to stay for that night. Then on Sunday (Joseph's birthday) we will try and make our way to Yavoriv and find someplace to rent.
Whew!
There is so much to say, it is a crazy place. Anyway, we are well, thanks be to God!
Thank you for your prayers, please continue to pray for the many steps yet to come, especially the people in Yavoriv, for so much will depend on their work.
Much love,
Mara and family
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Bring out the sweaters!
The current temperature is....drumroll please...
47 degrees!!!
See ya--I'd better enjoy it while it's here :)
47 degrees!!!
See ya--I'd better enjoy it while it's here :)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
29 Week Checkup
29 weeks and counting down!
Today was my 1 hour glucose test--forced to drink orange pop :) My kind of force-feeding!
I have never brought Henry along to an prenatal appointment, and today wasn't going to be an exception, EXCEPT that factors out of our hands rendered my friend unable to watch him. Even then, I was on my way to drop Henry with Karl during his lunch break, when the Little Man fell asleep. I was running behind, so the prospect of shaving a few minutes off the trip by keeping the slumbering son with me won out over the possibility that he may wake up.
Well, sure enough he woke up as soon as we arrived at the office, and being Henry, wanted to run free. Ugh. We had to literally baracade the door to keep him from wandering through the building. Thankfully, the nurses were as eager to get us moving as Henry was, and we were in and out in little more than an hour--including the Glucose test.
Henry made friends with the birds and all the Hospital staff on their lunch breaks. And won a rubber bug and bubbles from the lab technician for being patiant while mommy had her blood drawn.
We'll get check-ups every two weeks now. Tick, Tock!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Mr Mischief!
As I was pulling apart the computer to retrieve a cd that had been pushed BETWEEN two drives, I was missing the real fun in the bathroom! Henry, you make me laugh :)
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