Day for Daddies

Happy Father's Day!

Out In the West Texas Town....

We are headed to El Paso, Texas!

U.S.A.

We have arrived in the United Sates of America!

And The Date Is...

The Payne's dossier has been approved and the date of their interview is August 18, 2008.

We won't have time for the passports too cool off before it is time to travel again!

We will plan to fly to Ukraine a day or two prior this date to preclude any transportation issues, adjust to the time difference, and meet with our facilitator and translator. On the day of our appointment we will meet with the officials at the SDA to review files of children who meet our request. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to bring Ella home.

We're Leaving On a Jet Plane...

It is time for the Payne family to embark on our next adventure in Texas.

In just a few short hours, we will be departing Spain for the United States of America. We have had an incredible 3 years living in Spain, formed friendships that will survive a life time, and traveled to some far-away places we once had only dreamed of.

We will truly miss seeing all of you and feel blessed to have had each of you touch our lives and bless us with your friendships – thank you.

We promise to keep you posted as our journey into command commences and as we travel to Ukraine in August to bring our daughter home.

Love,
The Payne’s

Letting go...

In the military we sometimes find ourselves serving in a foreign country; and abiding by a whole different set of moving guidelines. One of those guidelines often only permits for the family to ship 1 vehicle to their new location. Well, if you’re the traditional 2 car family, reducing your lot to 1 can be challenging. Therefore, shortly after arriving in country, the hunt is on for the second car or as we affectionately referred to them ~ the hooptie. Now, the hooptie is basic military slang for a get around car, a point car (A to B), a disposable car; something you purchase at a really low price in case it becomes dinged, scratched, or disabled it is of no great loss; financially anyway.

My hooptie was (past tense) this beautiful little BMW that I just loved. It was a reliable good hooptie - it never left me stranded. It was your basic manual vehicle, with no electric windows, locks, or seats. It had air, heat, radio, and CD – do you need more?

Well, now my little BMW has been purchased by a new hooptie owner and we are officially vehicle-less!

Vehicle-less

Well, we are one step closer and will be taking many steps (pedestrian ones) now that we shipped our car today. It should arrive sometime in August.

Just Married...

This day eighteen years ago I married my friend, the one I have laughed with, lived for, dreamed with, and love ever so deeply.

Happy Anniversary

Love,

Sam

Blueberry Muffin Conversation...

One morning this week, I was making blueberry muffins for breakfast - Christian's favorite. He likes to sit in front of the stove and watch them rise (I think he sits there for the warmth of the oven). Anyway, as he is quietly sitting there and without any conversation leading up to this he turns to me and says, "Mom, I feel so safe with you and Daddy." My heart just felt so full that our child is so secure. So I turned to him and I said, "You should feel safe with Mommy and Daddy and it makes me happy to know you feel so safe." He just smiled at me as he still sat in front of the stove watching those blueberry muffins rise. After a brief few moments he said, "I hope you feel as safe with me when you are old and living with me, my wife, and Dmitri (his best-friend). What is a mother to say!

I just had to share that with everyone - it was a moment in life when you know everything you do impacts your child(ren); and to have a small child say something so meaningful (at 0715) and off the cuff assures me we've done something right!

Half Full

Our glass is have full!

Today is day 10 of 20!

Duty, Honor, Country...

Memorial Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Please take a moment to honor those who have given their lives for our freedom.

Out of Africa...

Girl Trip!

Adriana & I left last Tuesday from Madrid, Spain and flew to Jerez, Spain ~ tired and late, we spent the night and picked up our Morocco trip early the following morning. We spent 4 nights and 5 days in picturesque and enchanting Morocco ~ Casablanca, Marrakech Rabat, Asilah & Tanger seeing the sights of Palace Mohammed V, the old city of Casablanca, the mosque of the medina, the Hassan II mosque, the Bahia Palace, Marrakesh markets, the beaches of Tangiers, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the white city of Asilah.

Take a step back in time…look left to see a donkey pulling a cart loaded with wares, cactus used as enclosures to keep livestock in boundaries, sheep crossing the road, water peddlers selling water (not bottled!), and snake charmers; or maybe you prefer the Jaguar which pulls up next to the donkey?

Hope you enjoy….

Dossier Submission

WE ARE SUBMITTED!

On May 13th, our dossier was accepted by the SDA in Ukraine!

What does this mean?
It means our dossier was handed in at the SDA and they will now take approximately 20 Ukrainian working days ~ although, it can be longer ~ to process our dossier and designate an appointment date for us.

What’s an appointment date?

The appointment date is the day the SDA has set aside for us to meet with them and review files of children who meet our request.

Click on the above picture to see where we are in our journey.

Celebrating Mothers

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.

~Mildred B. Vermont~

Congratulations

Congratulations to my sister Carla who graduated today with her teaching degree!

Way to go!

Enroute to Texas

Its Friday night 2144 ~ 16 crates of HHG (House Hold Goods & Professional Gear) plus 1 crate for the Harley Davidson ~ we are packed & crated!

26 hours 14 minutes of packing, wrapping, carrying, loading, and documenting!

Thank you to Ferris Moving Team: Manolo, Jose, Rafael, Enrique, Juan, Ramon and Eduardo for taking care of our possessions ~ everything from computers, dishes, clothes, and antiques. Your time and hard work are very much appreciated!

Let the urban camping begin!

Packed!

Day one began at 0730. The movers wanted to be here at 0700 but I negotiated for 0730 as the boys are preparing for school.

So our moving day began with coffee & blueberry pancakes. Then, it was off to packing! They packed until 1330 or lunch time. For lunch, we had bocadillas with cheese, chips, and a variety of drinks to include cerveza (beer). Then, more packing followed by more packing!

Finally, we are finished packing at 1930.

The moving team will arrive again tomorrow morning (0730) to a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, biscuits, coffee & juice. Gotta feed 'em good - they are taking care of our stuff!

Tomorrow the team will move everything into crates....I wonder how many? Check back tomorrow for the final count!

Packing Out...

Bring on the bubble wrap, boxes, tape, and crates we're ready! In just 7 hours the movers will be at our door…0700 argh! I will just have gotten the boys out of bed for school! In about 48 hours it will be crated, sealed and off to begin the journey to Texas!


Off to bed now…tomorrow is going to be a VERY long day!

May Happenings

Can you believe May is already here?

I love May. It definitely begins to feel like spring this month with all the beautiful greens of the trees and grass, flowers budding and filling the air with their fragrant scents, and the fruit trees are beginning to show signs of the sweet nectar they will produce in the months ahead.

More reasons to love May: Mother’s Day ~ A day set aside to celebrate Mom’s. I am overjoyed I will celebrate Mother’s Day twice this month! Once on our traditional American Mother’s day on May 11th and then again, on Ukrainian Mother’s Day, May 13th, the day we submit our dossier to The State Department on Adoption and Children’s Rights (SDA). It’s only 1 week and 1 day away!

Also honoring in May ~ Military Spouses, The Armed Forces, DOD Teachers, and Memorial Day a day to honor those who have served our country all the way back to the Civil War. Take a moment to say thank-you to these amazing people.

Other happenings in May…the packers and movers arrive to pack up our home and tuck them into crates for shipping to the U.S.; my sister graduates college with her teaching degree; my sweet niece Alex has her birthday; three of my friends have birthdays; I’m taking a girl trip to Africa; and finally my Jim/Daddy arrives home! Yipee!

Have a great week everyone! We look forward to reading the comments/ideas/prayers you leave on our blog!

Tooth Fairy

Carson has lost another tooth! Will the tooth fairy come tonight? Carson says, "Tooth fairy, this is a really shinny, clean, and cavity free tooth; please remember how well I have taken care of my teeth when you visit me tonight."