Tuesday May 10, 2011 (100th Child Adopted)

                                 Announcing a milestone at
         Cradle of Children's Hope Orphanage

                The 100th Child adopted is:

                        Jason Sasha Ritzman

There was a lot of excitement when Igor, Tatiana and Natasha delivered the news. We rejoice with them and for all of the lives this number represents: the amazing children and the inspiring families that adopted them.

May 9, 2011

Back to the 'hood' for Jason.

Between not enough Ukrainian/Russian spoken in the apartment and the fact that 2 doesn't make a crowd (at least when you're used to an orphanage-type crowd) it seemed like a good idea to visit to the orphanage. The first visiting since Emancipation Day last Wednesday.

We took advantage of the Victory Day (for WWII) holiday and visited the kids yesterday and today.

Today we went with the Boehr's and on the way back we landed in Independence Square to catch some of Victory Day.

At first I thought this was the old guard doing security detail.....

It became apparent this was part of the celebration's photo opportunity:

We all are impressed that Independence Square in Maiden is utilized every weekend for some kind of gathering, competition or celebration. This stage has been up and used since we arrived March 16. Today the traditional dances, songs and celebrations took front and center.

Huge crowds on a gorgeous day proud of their contribution to winning the war.

Sunday, May 8, 2011 (Mother's Day)

The most frequent question I'm asked over the past week is, "How are you and Lucas doing?" There are several ways I could answer from the obligatory "good" to a thoughtful and TMI response that causes the listener to glaze over.  But every time, from my heart I say, "I always appreciated Jeanne but I now appreciate her so much more." 

As a man, stereotypically speaking, I'm not expected to multi-task.  And in business I do a fair job of it and at home I never thought much about it...'til this week.  Whoa!  There's, of course, just getting me ready...then, the dog, then Lucas (not necessarily in that order depending on the day).  There's household duties, school and homework activities, scouts, church, life group, and other activities, volunteer responsibilities, communicating with my wife and son in another country and time zone as well as communication/play with my son here and a business to run.  Don't get me wrong...I'm not whining or wallowing in self-pity...in fact, far from it...I'm enjoying the challenge and grateful that my wife loves and trusts me to handle it.  I'm also very humbled by it and amazed by her who does this day in and day out quite naturally.  I am also grateful that she's in Ukraine taking care of business and our son Jason.  And all my gratefulness is to the Lord.

In fact, I truly appreciate Jeanne more than I ever had.  I don't know if I took her for granted...I sure I do...I also think I just don't truly realize what it takes spiritually, emotionally and physically to do it all.  And she does.  I hope my empathy will go to a new level and I'll be an even better dad and husband when we're all together again.

More than that, Jeanne is the Best Mom in the World for Lucas and Jason! And you know what, these boys know it.  I knew Jeanne would be a great mom soon after we first met.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman (read it) and God has blessed me with a wonderful best friend and lover as well as mom to our boys.  One here who really misses her.  During a heart-to-heart at bedtime, Lucas says he misses being told by mom that she loves him, laughing, playing games, making cookies and snuggle.  Jason is discovering too what a great mom Jeanne is in this special and short time they have together in Kyiv. 

She provides them love, guidance, encouragement and support...all a mother could be. 

What a difference a week can make since we said goodbye at the airport. 

How I thank God for you...2 Timothy 1:3 (TLB).  We miss you and love you, Sweetie.

Have a blessed and happy Mothers Day!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Enjoying every day............celebrating the productive ones!

• Appointment #1 Update and issue of Jason's birth certificate
• Appointment #2 Application of Jason's new passport
• Jason's first playdate post emancipation
• Accessing a supermarket (equally nice: no driver needed)
• UNO

Appointments #1 and #2. Both appointments were complete and successful while traveling to two separate offices by noon today. These documents are part of the several needed to legally remove Jason from Ukraine to the U.S. We still need appointments for other documents such as a new government number, a post-adoption/pre-travel medical exam and U.S. State department filings with the U.S. Embassy (a 2-day appointment process).

Ukraine has a National holiday on Monday - Victory Day - as in WWII. The process could go quicker, possibly, without this coming and last week's holidays. As we drove to the first appointment we saw huge floats being moved to a parade route. - should be fascinating to witness another country's perspective of the war.

First Playdate. A boy from Jason's orphanage and his adoptive dad are staying across the street while they do the same appointment/document circuit. Over notary signings today we decided on a playdate. Ilya's(now Nathan's) new family is wonderful as God has blessed him with a mom, dad and 4 siblings right in Blaine, MN. The two boys were good buds at Cradle of Children's Hope and today they talked non-stop Ukrainian with lots of giggling (yes, giggling) the hour or so they were at our apartment and, I am sure, the other hour at the Boehr's dwelling. It must have felt great to speak their native tongue basically uninterrupted.


Jason and Nathan back in their orphanage days.

 Accessing a supermarket. The giggling continued on the subway. We navigated Heath Ewing's recommendation for the international adoptive parent's dream: a large market with easy access to the subway and no need for a bus or any other kind of driver. We had grown accustomed to shopping the Mi-size market by the orphanage and enjoyed the convenience. That's not a viable option when visiting the orphanage is no longer part of the daily routine. The smaller markets around the apartment easily run out of things like bread and butter plus they charge more for the same products. Truly, the market at Lybids'ka is a great resource.

UNO. When Jason was getting ready to move out of the orphanage he showed us his keepsake box: a Target shoe box filled with his only worldly treasures. A gift from a relative, a photo album of us and orphanage friends, a soccer medal and a journal of his drawings, soccer player cards and other memorabilia. One of the journal pages has 3 UNO playing cards pasted on. Don't know whose game is missing those cards! UNO was the game tonight on Mother's Day Eve:  Jason: 5   Mom: 4.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Some photos of the apartment for archiving's sake:

The kitchen - love the windows!! (Oven -nonworking, washing machine, refrigerator - huge and new, sans microwave, toaster and dishwasher.)

Speaking of kitchen - breakfast this morning for Jason was spaghetti with ketchup. He picked out both at the market yesterday not realizing he chose a spicy ketchup - thank goodness we had some mayo to tone it down. He ate two big bowls of "spa -hetti 'n kechp".

 

Living room doubles as Jason's bedroom - love the windows.

The other side of the living room - parquet floors throughout the apartment.

Bedroom - love the windows.

And the storage is great here and in every room.

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Good news: Two, count them: 1, 2 - appointments tomorrow! On a Saturday! Yay! The team is working hard! Lord Bless them!

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From AM devotions: For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15



Entranceway with door on left (taken while standing in the kitchen). Classic european WC and seperate tub and sink on left, doorway to living room on right.

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

We spent over 7 weeks with Jason last year. The joy continues in discovering more about him. On the long drive south and around town yesterday he pointed to several places that he remembered before he moved to the orphanage. The hospital for instance, where he told about having his appendix removed. Another building was where he had lived with his grandmother. Then a store where he had been with school friends. The circus for a field trip.

Today he enjoyed drawing in a sketch pad:

Don't know what we'll do with two sons that enjoy performing:

We had the privilege of hosting Matthias while his parents adopted Anya and Samuel today. 

To make a good day great, Jason insisted on cooking dinner.

Sometimes it becomes a challenge to wait for the phone to ring linking us to the next appointment and then the next document. When that happens these reminders linger:

• The days in Kiev are precious, without duplication.
• Simple living as experienced here is a true blessing - with great value.
• The real parenting has yet to begin.

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Rain is coming down at this very moment (11:15 PM) in Kiev, Ukraine. I pray (earnestly) that it does not come down in Eagan, Minnesota today. It's Spring Arts Night at Lucas'(and Jason's) school. My co-chair is now the 'chair'. With mega-help from Dave and a bunch of others. If any body can continue the success of this event it's Stacey!

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

He is not an orphan anymore!



The official court decree

 As unimpressive as it is, this document carries all the authority it needs to declare that Sasha is now Jason and a member of the Ritzman family forever. (It's written in Ukrainian so there's a lot of trust in our attorney going on here! At least until we can Google Translate....)



If we ever wondered what one might do on their Emancipation Day it took shape as he entered the apartment. (The noun 'apartment' became his keyword for the concept of being released to our custody as in "When me go to your apartment?" and "We go to you apartment today - pleeeease!")




First up: Skyping with Dad and Lucas

What a thrill that moments after entering the apartment Dave and Lucas call us to skype. Jason kept saying "Wow!" Both Lucas and Jason were fascinated watching themselves live. Plus Lucas wanted to show him everything from Sadie to how his front teeth are coming in. Dave wanted details on the day but the boys were having too much fun and suddenly it was time for breakfast in Minnesota and for Lucas to head to school.



Next up: calling the orphanage and talking to the gang

This was a hoot to listen to. He talked to each one and told them the same story - how cool apartment life was, about his new clothes, that we were going to McDonald's for dinner (his choice - big surprise!). He told some of them how he went with Igor and I to meet Viktor (who had retrieved the decree earlier). He didn't communicate this (I don't think he did anyway) that the purpose of the meeting was to get an adminstrator in the region of the orphanage to sign a document. The one is necessary to obtain the updated birth certificate. 





Next up: trying out the new clothes and Mom's hair goo

There was  a little apprehension on the parental end when we approached the apartment.  One of the things he really wanted to do was see his 'cool' new clothes. There was no promise on the parental end about 'cool' clothes (that's not our mode). Still curious where that came from. Evidently the clothes rated pretty well because he let out a "Yyyyes!" when he opened the closet. While it was only half a suitcase full he kept saying "Thank you, Mom, thank you!"

How about, instead, Thank you, Lord, thank you!!!!