Anticipation

August is fast coming to a close. In less than a week, the kids and I will be headed home to Michigan. We are enjoying the time here in Washington State with my parents and siblings, but know that there's a lot to look forward to when we're home.

The day after we return, Maxim has his first appointment with his specialist since July 14. He has had such terrific freedom outside any casts since then, but according to the plan, he will again be casted from just over the knee to his toes starting September 1. Then they will do the surgery to correct his feet on the September 11. I will definitely take more pictures of his feet just before that so we can make good comparisons later. After the surgery, the doctor has said we should anticipate between 8 and 10 weeks in casts of some sort, so it will be awhile before we can see the results.

Please pray about Maxim's range of motion specifically. During these pasts many weeks outside casts, he has been able to regain strength in his abs which was lost during his recovery from hip surgery in May, and range of motion in his knees and hips has really improved with the physical therapy and just ability to move more anyway. Once he goes into the casts again in September, his knees will suffer from being locked up for a while. His future walking is not just dependent on correcting his feet; the strength/flexibility of his hips and knees are also crucial.

We are also anticipating a really challenging but exciting school year. Cyan has asked for more challenge in her academics which I'm so glad she is feeling driven toward. It will be a test for all of us, because certain things are really tough for her without extra effort anyway; physically and academically. So this year we'll be starting earlier each day and likely going later into the afternoon so that she can take in more subjects and really be stretched as she desires. One of her greatest obstacles to academics is that she reads extremely slowly for her age (17).
I'm interested in any input in resources that will allow her to listen to text rather than having to read the typical textbook for every subject. She loves to read but it takes so long that it is not a practical approach for all of her schooling. Can any of you suggest resources that are appropriate for middle school/high school level learning but based on audio?

Brina is looking forward to orchestra once again. She will not hear until after August 26th whether or not she made it into symphony orchestra or not, since some students will not have auditioned until then. Hard to wait. We're excited to see what she'll do. She is also taking the fiddle class again. One exciting sideline is that she and I have been able to work on some my own compositions together lately. I arranged a part for her so we can play together (me on piano) and present a particular piece at Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles - see Leviticus 23 and Galatians 3:26-29).

Joel is also preparing for band this year. In addition to concert band, which he thoroughly enjoyed last year, he will also be participating in brass choir again and is hoping to be included in the Big Band ensemble as well. In the latter, he will attend the first couple of weeks of class and that will be considered his audition. After that the director will consider each players skill and decide who will continue. This will be a great challenge and privilege for Joel to even be considered. Even if Joel is chosen based on his musical skill, we will still have to find out when the outside commitments are scheduled (such as festivals and competiitons) since we will not want to compromise on our commitment to Sabbath. We always trust that if God has given us any talent at all, in any area of our life, He will also provide a way/place to use it for His glory without compromising any other area that He has commanded us in. We have been convicted on the issue of the seventh day being the Sabbath, set aside and holy and not to be blurred with other things in life. A day of delight, no doubt, but not one to purposely pursue things for our own gain. Soooooo, may Joel and all of our kids have many wonderful and rich opportunities to grow in their God-given abilities, and may God give us wisdom to see which opportunities will truly allow us to honor Him more fully.

I am still a little up in the air as far as how to approach Maxim's schooling this year. His comprehensive skills in English are amazing after being home for almost eight month now, and expressive has come a long way as well. Being in a very structured group setting even a couple of times a week would be really good for him socially and academically but I haven't found the right place yet. There is an excellent program that our other kids participated in a few years back; a co-op school, just on Thursdays. Homeschool moms, who also happen to be certified teachers, lead classes for kids K-8, all day, and then assign homework for the week. It's really a neat program and I think Maxim would do very well except for the fact that this program uses space at a church which is quite old and the classrooms are not handicap accessible. I would have to stay there all day on Thursday to remain available for getting Maxim from one class/activity to another since he does not yet have a wheelchair to take himself and it's not accessible anyway. Sooooo, I want him to have that group opportunity but can't commit an entire day of the week of my own time comfortably. Maybe there is a way to accomplish it that I'm just not recognizing at this point. Anyway, the challenge in homeschooling is to make sure each student is adequately stretched in their learning (actually developing a love of learning hopefully) while maintaining the strength and integrity and peace of the family. Again, I have to trust God to lead.

Brina and Joel will have the added challenge this year of a program called College Plus. It is available to anyone, but a wonderful tool in the home school community for sure. Basically, it allows students, starting at as young as 13, to thoroughly prepare for and then test out as many college level courses as possible. There are certain colleges and universities that will accept any of these positive test scores as credit for those particular courses. By reading all of the required texts and then testing out our courses, rather than actually enrolling in college on a campus and sitting through classes, students can save a great deal of time and money while pursuing college degrees. By the time they are finishing high school, they will also be finishing an Associates Degree. At that point, they can continue to complete their Bachelors through College Plus, enroll directly to certain colleges/universities as distance learning students, or apply to finish their schooling on campus somewhere, with their completed course credits transferred there.
It will add some great incentive this year to be especially structured and wise in how we use our time and help each other stay balanced.

Once we are home from Michigan, it will be just a month until Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). It is such a special time of year for us. We enjoy traveling to different places and renewing acquaintances from past years as we celebrate. It is eight days of studying the scriptures, singing, dancing in worship, teaching the children, and just enjoying the company of others who desire to celebrate these times set aside by the Heavenly Father. We see each of the holy days (Sabbaths) set aside in the scriptures, as gifts from Him so that we are continually reminded, all through the year of Who we belong to and that He has an amazing plan for His children. The Sabbaths are simply weekly and annual markers for His people as we wait for Christ's return. Sukkot is the joyful culmination of the year's holy times, set at a harvest time so we see all around us the evidence of crops sowed and now reaped, and pictures the time when Christ completes the ultimate harvest which we want to be included in, along with those we cherish. It is a time to look forward to finally being in complete reconciled fellowship with the Heavenly Father and Christ our King. No more tears. No more dying. No more mourning. A time when full healing has taken place for all and we are rejoicing with Him. Isn't it amazing to confidently look forward to that, even with all the craziness of our present world. We are His, so there is hope.

Anyway, this is our upcoming year in a very large nutshell. May you blessed as you plan ahead for your households too. May His peace, wisdom, strength, and clear leading be evident to you and your families as we all press on.

More Travel Pics

Browsing At the Poulsbo Arts Festival - Lots of Local Craftsmen Exhibited Their Wares - Maxim Does Not Like Shopping
Cousins Galore at Dungeness Spit - Olympic Peninsula
Maxim's First Ride In A Kayak
A Meal With G'mo and Bubeleh

Family Reunion Photos

Family Portrait at Dungeness Spit - Olympic Peninsula

Daniel - Ever the Creative Engineer, Even on Vacation
Wheelies in the Waves with Cousin Kirk

We are really enjoying our time here on Bainbridge Island, in Washington State. We packed for hot weather, remembering the reports we had heard of record high tempuratures and were surprised during our first week with some unexpectedly cool days. Lets just say the heat is back. It feels good to keep the doors open for the breeze off Puget Sound and to get out on the water.

Yesterday, we went kayaking with G'mo (my dad). First, Joel, Brina, Maxim and I headed up the bay with G'mo, passing several spots where I remember such things as the site of my first successful waterski attempt, a dock where I remember jumping into the water with cousins at night and seeing the phosphorescence from the plankton, and just generally beautiful scenery. Dad and I were in the double with Maxim in an extra middle seat. I occasionally passed my paddle back to him so he good try paddling as well (fortunately the paddles float so if he dropped it we could easily retrieve it). After we came back to the beach in front of the house, Brina and Joel took their kayaks back to the house, along with Maxim, and Cyan got in the boat with Dad and I. Heading north this time, we enjoyed seeing three otters playing in the water a little ways further out.

The only thing that would make it better would be if Daniel were still here. He had to fly back home on Sunday morning to be ready for a business trip into Canada this week. What was supposed to be a 5:55 a.m. flight to Denver, followed by others to Chicago and Grand Rapids, turned into four hours sitting on the tarmac in Seattle because of mechanical issues with the plane, and not getting home until 12:40 a.m. Tuesday. Yuck.

The girls are over at my sister Heidi's place tonight for suspense movies and a sleepover. Joel spent part of this afternoon with his cousin Geordie and G'mo picking up firewood for G'mo and Bubeleh about a half hour south of the island. Geordie will spend the night here at my parents'. Maxim and I enjoyed stretching out on the living room playing his favorite games (Match Game, Bingo, and Go Fish). This morning, some of us helped Bubeleh pick fresh plums and blackberries.

Time flies too fast out here, but it is a treasure to have time with family.

Latest Journey

What a joy to see O again, recently adopted from same orphanage Maxim came from. Her brother Z was adopted two years ago, also from Tsyurupinsk. So neat to meet their Mom who encouraged and mentored us even before we went to Ukraine.

We are in Washington State now, on a long overdue visit to my home area. Maxim has been able to meet many more relatives from my side of the family. We are staying at G'mo and Bubeleh's house (grandparents) and Maxim has really enjoyed being with so many others. He is such a people person anyway, and eats up the attention. We have played Jenga and Apples to Apples at Uncle Bruce and Aunt Kadi's house, looked at crabs on the beach, picked a few blackberries and enjoyed a hike out on the Dungeness Spit, up toward the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Such a beautiful area. Yesterday, Daniel and I drove down to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma to meet up with the Walker family. When they went to Ukraine two years ago to adopt their son Ty, they took pictures of other children at the orphanage and shared them with the adoption agency later. It was one of those photos that I later saw, launching us on the journey to adopt Maxim. That little face just grabbed us. So of course, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet the Walkers face to face. It was a really nice day to be outside. Along with Ty, we also met the Walkers other son and their adopted daughter, who also came from the same orphanage. We had met their daughter O during our time in Ukraine, knowing that they were trying to get back there to adopt her yet not having the prerogative to tell her. It is so neat now to see her with her new family, really thriving.

The Walkers live in an area where there are quite a few Russian speaking immigrants, so Debbie was able to stop at a couple of Russian grocers on her way to the zoo to pick up some candy, chocolate and eggplant paste (very yummy) from Ukraine that she knew Maxim would enjoy. Thank you Debbie for your thoughtfulness.

With all of the things to see at the zoo, the three children from Ukraine didn't really connect right away. By the time we went for ice cream later, however, Ty was wanting to make sure Maxim sat by him.

Another thing I thought was really special was seeing how our daughter Cyan connected with their new daughter O. O was in her wheelchair for the day and when she noticed how tired Cyan was toward the end of our visit, she let Cyan sit on her lap so they could share the benefit of the wheelchair. O said Cyan reminds her of her friend Sveta back in Ukraine, who has similar disabilities.

Tonight, after returning from our beach hike, the day was topped off by witnessing the baptism of a new friend, Christy, in Puget Sound. She has been a friend of my Aunt Vivian's for about twenty years and has been intently seeking God's leading in her life. She also happens to be boldly fighting cancer right now, so it was an extra privilege to get to meet her and share in such a special occasion. Maxim watched the whole process of Christy walking out into the water as my dad supported her. He saw Dad dip Christy under the water and then help her up again and wondered what this was all about. As he sat there on Aunt Heidi's lap, Uncle Dean explained in very simple words how this is part of new life in Christ. I'm sure it will be a while before Maxim understands the depth of what he saw today, but I'm glad he could be there anyway. It's another seed planted in his mind of coming to Christ for the washing away of sin and being a new creation.

By the way, our flight out to Washington involved two layovers; one in Chicago for two hours and one in Phoenix for an hour. I wondered how Maxim would do with flying in the first place since the journey home from Ukraine wasn't without great drama, and I knew it would be confusing to him getting off one plane after another and having to be told the trip wasn't complete yet. I needn't have worried. He did beautifully. He ate every bit of the lunch we bought (gone are the days of complimentary meals and entertainment) and was content to stay in his seat and draw or just observe things around him. The older kids and I explained to him that we would go on three different planes and after plane #3, we would see G'mo and Bubeleh. He was content with that and the journey really went smoothly.

Jumping the Gun and Backtracking

The English language is full of such interesting expressions. I've often thought these must be such a challenge for those who come to the States and must learn the language relatively late in life. Where did these expressions come from?

Anyway, I have been jumping the gun and we have been backtracking as a result. Out of fear I have wanted to bring the scheduled surgery (September 11) to a screeching halt. Usually when I am stressed out about something, I stuff it and process it privately and then make some kind of choice. Daniel and I are very similar this way and it gets us in trouble because we don't always communicate our concerns as clearly as we should.

I made phone calls to consult with different professionals regarding Rolfing (a type of very specific intense massage) and acupuncture, and then proceeded to make appointments for Maxim. It has not been unusual as we've dealt with Cyan's special needs over the years for me to get information about different approaches and then press forward. Daniel has trusted me to make good decisions and we both realize that because of his responsibilities as the soul breadwinner in our household, I need to be willing to carry the job of making appointments and getting each child to whatever appointment is necessary for him/her. However, this scenario combined with Daniel's fairly frequent travel and such, can lead to him being clueless as to what exactly has been scheduled for the kids.

Some interesting things have happened lately to turn the tide in all of this. God has been teaching me some things through the writings of two women in particular who have the courage to teach others about proper man/woman roles in a family. So I have been more alert to my own need to look for God's leading of me through Daniel. At the same time, Daniel has been reading a very loving but "in-your-face" book called Sons of Abraham, which helps today's men get an accurate Biblical picture of their responsibilities to their families. As a result of all this, I had not truly been at peace with making the appointments without Daniel's input so I told him all about it and asked for his take on the idea; I also told him about all my fears about the upcoming surgery and how much I hate the idea that the best option for Maxim at this point really does mean removing certain bones entirely. Over the same weekend, Daniel brought us all together for a family meeting and openly confessed that he has been weak as a leader in our household and that sometimes when I make decisions he hasn't been pleased with, it's because he didn't address it himself in the first place, so I kind of had to make the choice on my own. Daniel apologized and asked our forgiveness and encouraged all of us to be more open when we need help with anything or have something bothering us. This was such a powerful thing for him to do. After that, we were able to talk about everything together, look at the results of various longterm studies of patients who've already experienced the particular surgery Maxim will have, etc. Together, we decided to go ahead with the surgery as planned, and cancel the alternative treatments for the time being. After exploring those more fully, we agree that the Rolfing and acupuncture will probably have greater benefit for Maxim during his rehabilitation after surgery. I can't tell you what a relief it is to work as a team. Just imagine a really long sigh of peace.

On a different note, Belinda came to see us yesterday. She is our adoption caseworker and it was time for her second follow-up visit since Maxim has been home. It has now been almost seven months. Hard to believe. Belinda asked us questions, observed Maxim, played with him, and asked him lots of questions. She also asked the kids and I what have been the greatest things as well as the most difficult in our adjustment since the adoption. Frankly, it has been easier to answer the second part of that question lately since Maxim's strong will has been openly expressed more frequently. We are very much dealing with the effects of Maxim spending his early years in an orphanage where there were few caretakers in ratio to children and although they were cared for and there was some definite discipline/order maintained, no doubt, certain issues that an parent would surely have corrected were let go because there wasn't the time or energy to address them. For example, if a child didn't feel like staying in class during school time, they were allowed to leave and do their own thing. As I juggle the needs of each child, I'm trying to recognize that Maxim will not always understand the decisions/disciplines/boundaries we make for him right now and we must be patient with him while also teaching him he is not the center of our household and rules/obedience do matter. I am simultaneously trying to balance my occasional anxiety about how much catching up he has to do with the fact that the most important thing is to nurture in him a confidence in God, in our love for him, and a love of learning. No matter what he's already missed, there is no way we can backtrack and do those days over. We have to pray for the wisdom to start with today, and make the most of the days ahead. Was it Paul or Peter who wrote "forgetting what is passed, I press forward"? Yes, I know we cannot forget what Maxim's early life was like; it will always be a part of him and we don't pretend something different. However, in God's graceful hands, we won't dwell on the past or let it excuse pursuing less than the best from today on.

A LITTLE HUMOR - Last night I had a funny dream that was strangely encouraging. We had just moved into a house at the top of a hill with a curving road descending into the neighborhood. As I was putting things away, I glanced outside, I saw Maxim exploring the neighborhood on his belly ( his occasional mode in real life, although he is primarily up on all fours these days). I was at ease with this as he appeared safe and I was glad he wasn't afraid to explore a new place. A little while later, I glanced out again just in time to see an amazing spectacle. Remember the old style double wide garage doors that were just one big panel you had to raise up? Well, I saw Maxim just as he crawled smoothly onto the end of one of those down the street and rode on it as it raised up. He then crawled smoothly off onto the roof and place a big load of laundry on the steep roof, which already had a lot of clothing on it. Then, to my horror, Maxim lost his balance and fell off the roof. I needn't have worried, though, because he landed in a nice soft pile of laundry that had not yet been delivered to the roof. Too funny. Don't even ask me about the significance of a dream involving a lot of laundry. I was just smiling when I woke up because the whole scenario summarized the best and the most difficult things in loving Maxim. He is very inquisitive, stubborn, brave, persistent, confident, naive, smart, funny. As with any child, the things you love most can also irritate the most depending on the context at the moment. May God continue to give me and all moms (dads too) the patience and perspective to bring out the best in our kids and direct their strengths and weaknesses to good end.

Here is an excerpt from Maxim's bedtime prayer this evening: "...thank you Sydney lady dog, thank you Sydney good dog dog, thank you dog food....." One of the very best things about being a parent is getting to hear kids pray. It's a happy treasure to tuck away at the end of the day.