June 19, 2011 Prayer for Jason's Friends

From the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine: June 15, 2011, alert: Ukrainian Family Code Amendments and temporary suspension on adoptions to take effect on July 11, 2011

The Ukrainian State Department on Adoptions (SDA) informed the US Embassy this morning that beginning July 11 SDA will no longer have the authority to process adoption cases. This will likely result in a temporary suspension of adoptions from Ukraine. The Ministry of Social Policy will take over as the new adoption authority in Ukraine, but does not yet have Cabinet approval to create a staff and begin processing cases. The Ministry does not yet know when they will be able to resume adoption processing. The amendments to the Ukrainian Family Code mentioned in the previous adoption alert will also go into effect on July 11.

We will ask the Ukrainian government to resume adoptions as quickly as possible. We will also continue to encourage the Ministry of Social Policy to protect adoptions where U.S. prospective
adoptive parents have already been approved by the SDA to adopt a particular child.

If you are so inclined please pray. This immediately effects 3 children in Jason's orphanage and already in the process of adoption, plus at least 4 in other orphanages already intended for adoption - all by MN families. In addition, 7 more children were to be hosted this summer.

Every child needs to be adopted.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ten days since we last blogged. School was out Thursday.  Visit to Ritzmans-St. Louis Park last weekend...we'll highlight in a family edition blog with highlights of tomorrow's wedding reception on Jeanne's side of the family.  The past two weeks both boys had track 'n' field day, talent shows and other school ending events.  Lots of bike riding and some skate boarding too. They both loved school.
Now summer...ahhh! A transition in a transition...whoo-hoo!

All good...just like going to Cafe Raisa's tonight with cousin Rachael who's staying the night with us.  For two days Jason says, "Ded, we go to Russian cafe...pleeeeease?"  I say let me talk to mom (thinkin' why not).  So, on a lunch time walk with the dog, our neighbor Julie Bergom gives us a beautiful card from her, her husband Jeff and family. They really encouraged and blessed us.  And...inside was a gift card from...Cafe Raisa!!!

We took Jason last summer and last winter and the food is good and the service is excellent.  We were greeted by a young woman as American as can be...and Jason starts speaking to her in Russian.  She was blown away and took interest in our family right away. She is Victoria  aka Tori.  Her parents are Russian and she came here when she was 5 y/o...now going off to college next year.  A great server helping all of us through the menu.

We learned that her mom heads a language school for children wanting to learn Russian at Apple Valley Baptist Church. And then learn her father is Pastor of a Russian congregation...and they have a summer camp.  Very cool! It's so nice to have this support so close to home.

Another photo of the boys, Tori and the owner Raisa. 

The meals come and we all ate well...even Jeanne and her non-Russian meal...a Reuben...however, I believe it does have Russian dressing.  Jason had a huge bowl of Bortsch which we all sampled...very good and 2 huge cabbage rolls.  He ate a lot but we did bring a roll home as did Rachael and Lucas bring home some of there dumplings. Jeanne and I took no prisoners...sorry Sadie...not that you get any people food anyways.

We all came home (full) and the boys biked and skateboarded in the rain for awhile before coming in for snack and bed. "Great day in the 'hood!"