3 Weeks Home

Time is going by quickly, and we are settling in together as a family more every day. Life continues to be pretty exciting for Ashley and Joshua. Tatum and I often comment to each other how we so easily look over the little things, but having these two around reminds us to enjoy life more. The Longmont Times-Call ran a story this week on the Roge's and our adoptions. Check out the links on the left hand side of the page to the audio slide show and newspaper article. We have noticed a few patterns with the kids. Joshua does not like it when we are in a hurry. I think probably our tone of voice and actions worry him, so we try our best to give him plenty of advance notice of things, but sometimes we have to go now. Both kids get frightened at the last minute before trying something new. For example, Ashley has been looking forward to joining her school soccer team. Today was the first meeting after school, and yesterday she started saying she didn't want to play soccer anymore, she wasn't going to the meeting and was taking the bus home after school. After seeing this pattern many times we now know it is the fear of the unknown that makes them want to back out, so we gently tell her yes, you are playing soccer. It will be okay. Mom will go to the meeting with you and type out what the coach said on the computer afterwards so you will know what is going on, etc. I remember Twyla telling me last summer that "No" often means, "I am not sure what to expect" or "I am scared" or "I have never done this before." With prodding and encouragement they keep trying new things and usually end up very happy with the outcome. Today I took her shopping. She picked out black and pink soccer cleats, pink shin guards and pink soccer shorts. She told me last week that one time in Ukraine she was able to play soccer in cleats, and she always hoped she would get to play again in cleats. Another dream realized for her. Every few days Joshua gets into his "mood." Like Jim told me once, it doesn't matter if you are offering him ice cream, if he is in his mood, he will say no. We are still looking for the right method to help him learn how to change his attitude. Once something sets him off, he has a hard time shaking it off. Overall they still continue to amaze us with how well they are doing. Joshua's teachers have noticed him saying more words in English, as have we at home. He is even trying to sound out words he doesn't know. They both still get a kick out of us trying to say things in Russian, and Ashley especially likes to have us try and read a book in Russian. I think we are at about a 50/50 balance of yes's and no's now, which is a big improvement. Joshua likes to pose and tell me to take his picture. Here are some fun ones of him in the fridge and pretending to drive the car.

Yesterday he saw me cleaning the bathroom and wanted to scrub the toilet. He asked me to take a picture, but I declined that one. Ashley is so much fun. She just can't help herself, she always needs to be talking, making noises, bouncing, dancing and engaging with people. She is happy 99% of the time. I am so thankful she came home! Today Ashley's bus driver pulled up next to Jim just to tell him how happy Ashley seemed to be, and that she had read the article in the Sunday paper.

Both Ashley and Joshua love to help around the house. Tatum tried to convince me that it was okay for them to do her jobs, too, since it brings them such joy, and she is really busy-nice try! Austin spent five days in Disney World this past week with the Niwot High School band. Ashley and Joshua counted the days until he got home. It is nice to see how much the kids all care for each other. I was surprised at how much paperwork we still have to complete after arriving home. I sent the kids' Ukrainian passports off this week to register them at the Ukraine Embassy in the US. It's a little scary mailing their passports! We have a long list of documents to gather to readopt the kids in the US. They are legally ours, but supposedly there are good reasons for this other than keeping more people employed. Okay, that's a little sarcasm still hanging on from the loads of paperwork we had to do in Ukraine that kept many officials, notaries, etc., employed. They LOVE their official documents over there. We will apply for US passports and Social Security numbers-and hopefully that will be the end of the paperwork. Even though we are super busy right now, I have an amazing sense of peace and joy that I have never experienced before. The verse I clung to through our entire adoption was Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Every day we trust in Him to provide us the wisdom to parent all of our kids, we can't do it on our own.

One more story - Tatum had Allie over for a sleepover, and Ashley and Joshua quickly crashed the party. Ashley helped Tatum and Allie make a video, and Joshua just enjoyed the party and the popcorn and the movie.

Stay tuned for next week's episode, "Ukrainian Girls Gone Wild, aka Ashley's 13th Birthday Party." We have our ear plugs ready and exit strategy planned for the boys...