Hit the Road Jack Dance
I Feel Good Cartwheels
For smaller version suitable for your cell phone, or larger version for download or on DVD, please contact Erick Wand, erick@graphicsbyerick.com
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Bruns in Ukraine - moving ahead & ask for continued prayers
Hi all;
Well we have been doing better with the three kids as they are actually greeting us with English greetings and asking when we will be returning to see them again! Prayers are being heard and we continue to praise God throughout the day and week!
We will have an updated info letter that we drafted up on the blog so please check it later today or the next day or so! It may surprised you when you read what we learned earlier this week!
Thanks again for your continued prayers:
1- For the children letting go of their fears and getting closer to us
2-For safe travels to those that are helping us (Leysa returns to Kiev today following five days with us teaching the kids some English and us some more Russian),
3-and for safe travels for Vova (Masha's brother who travels from Kiev to us - he arrives tomorrow to assist with more translation for all) and
4- For Max and Sasha as they go back and forth for paperwork -
God was so good to us. A front tire had damage to the side wall and we still were able to travel on it to return while in another city and we found a tire shop open at 5pm that could fix it and get us on our way the other day.
Hopefully Max got his clutch fixed on his car too! They were trying to match the right parts in Kiev when he returned via train last week, he is likely gonna drive back here when he comes to do the court paperwork...
5- For the administration, teachers, and caregivers in this orphanage that are still very hardened
6- For Erik and I to continue to be caring to one another as we live together in tight quarters in a city that we have found only one person that speaks English - we sure feel like we are outsiders
Thanks all!
-Heidi and Erik Brun
Well we have been doing better with the three kids as they are actually greeting us with English greetings and asking when we will be returning to see them again! Prayers are being heard and we continue to praise God throughout the day and week!
We will have an updated info letter that we drafted up on the blog so please check it later today or the next day or so! It may surprised you when you read what we learned earlier this week!
Thanks again for your continued prayers:
1- For the children letting go of their fears and getting closer to us
2-For safe travels to those that are helping us (Leysa returns to Kiev today following five days with us teaching the kids some English and us some more Russian),
3-and for safe travels for Vova (Masha's brother who travels from Kiev to us - he arrives tomorrow to assist with more translation for all) and
4- For Max and Sasha as they go back and forth for paperwork -
God was so good to us. A front tire had damage to the side wall and we still were able to travel on it to return while in another city and we found a tire shop open at 5pm that could fix it and get us on our way the other day.
Hopefully Max got his clutch fixed on his car too! They were trying to match the right parts in Kiev when he returned via train last week, he is likely gonna drive back here when he comes to do the court paperwork...
5- For the administration, teachers, and caregivers in this orphanage that are still very hardened
6- For Erik and I to continue to be caring to one another as we live together in tight quarters in a city that we have found only one person that speaks English - we sure feel like we are outsiders
Thanks all!
-Heidi and Erik Brun
New Year's Day Photos
The team, Big Sasha is our facilitor (his able deputy is Max who will be rejoining us on the 8th of Jan to prepare for the court appointmtents) Erik, Lesya (Ben Robinson's sister in law and a very classy lady) and Heidi after notified the younger kids about Maxim. 
Maxim and his new familyMaxim at the end of a big day
New Year's Eve Update
Severdonetsk, Ukraine
31 December 2008,
Wow, what a close to a year! You guys out there thinking and praying for us have been a great comfort to draw strength from. Your efforts have been more successful than our wildest dreams. We are spending this week in a foreign country, in a city that the language, both spoken and written are a mystery. Heidi’s cousin’s sister in law, Lesha has come to assist us with the kids and our sanity. She is a theater student in Kiev, and has had a background of working with kids in similar facilities.
We came to Ukraine as the next step on the 10-year journey to adopt two children. We had chosen this route to a family early in our marriage and have grown convicted that it is our mission to touch these children’s hearts. When you stand in a playroom surrounded by 15 young faces that are bright and energetic, it will break your heart to think about what awaits them. For those who have not been adopted, when they turn sixteen they “age out” of the system and go out on the street to survive.
As we mentioned, we went to our referral appointment on the 15th of December and received the first challenge to our hearts, a set of three siblings, two girls and an older brother. Alexandr (Sasha), Christina and Tatiana (Tanya) who had been at the Severdonesk Internat (orphanage) since being taken from their mother three years ago. But, as we found out, something had become lost in the translation.
As we moved down the steps and onto the overnight train to Lugansk, that we came to understand we indeed had two separate referrals. One for the three children here at the Internat in Severdonesk, but also a separate referral for an older brother, age 10, at a Special Internat at the hometown, Teplogorsk, where the children came from.
From the records, the ten year old was listed (or interpreted from the brief official jargon) as severely disabled. The SDA had suggested that he could be “separated” from his siblings for cause. In Ukraine, the urban family size we have seen is one child, the domestic adoption rates are low and the rule is a sibling should not be separated from the group. This situation will doom most larger sibling groups to a life in the institution and eventually the streets.
We have been struggling with the management of this Internat for the referral of the three younger children for 10 days. It was only on Monday, the 29th did we travel the 45 min to an hour drive, (stopping for directions no less than 10 times (gals, you would be so proud of our driver) to find the office of the inspector for the area.
Still in shock from the referral for three, and not in our hearts, minds or the pit of our stomach, knowing what to do. With our nice little urban life, carefully prepared for two healthy children, already stretched to the limit with 3 (it’s a two plus-bedroom house you must know) the inspector showed us a photo on her computer of the ten year older brother.
He appeared to be standing there near his bed in a dormitory room with four or five other beds in the background. He had that puppy look too him, big dark eyes, and I knew this was not going to be as simple as it had been stated. This boy was looking at us, and there appeared to be nothing wrong with him from the photo. Our facilitator/translator asked the Inspector, what is wrong with him, and she said, I don’t think anything. She also said, I think he is normal. By no means, did we wish anything wrong with this young boy, but we were shocked to see him looking out at us from the computer screen. We were speechless, and walked out to the hallway to think and pray. Lesya joined us there and asked the $1,000,000 question, “ what would you like to do?”
So we met Maxim about two hours later. A very shy (and overwhelmed) young man. This Internat turned out being about the same age but situated in a much smaller town. The walls are brighter and warmer, the director warm and engaging. The kids where away at the moment, but the photos on the wall gave no indication of any of the children being neither physically nor mentally disabled as most were classified.
Ironically, that day happened to be the one day out of the year that all the 2nd grade and above kids from area orphanages go to a circus in Lugansk and it seemed that Christina and Sasha where there too. As we were waiting for Maxim to return from the same circus it was interesting to wonder if they would see one another there.
When we met Maxim, within a few minutes we found out that he had in fact seen and talked to Christina and Sasha. It was also told to us that Maxim had heard from the children’s caregiver that the three younger kids were going to be adopted and going to America.
We were so amazed at the situation (imagining what Maxim went through that day, as he no doubt wondered, “what about me”, throughout watching the circus and on the bus ride back to his orphanage). Maxim had been taken to the special needs orphanage three years ago and his siblings remained together and taken to Serverdonentz Internat. For Maxim to then return to the orphanage at five p.m. and have several people waiting for him in the director’s office to be asked do you want to be adopted and go to America?
What was so amazing was to see him standing in the doorway, walk in and begin to introduce himself. It was then so profound to see his expression when he was asked to be adopted and to go to America! He began to smile so big that he was caught up with so much emotion and was so overwhelmed that he began to cover his smile and his face with his arm, and he lowered his head to his chest. He soon began to respond with a head nod and later with words of agreement to be adopted and go to America.
When we showed Maxim the photos we had taken and developed in the last two weeks he really enjoyed the photos. We soon learned through translation that he wanted to be in the photo (that is why he is holding the photo of the three kids and Erik and I and he is photographed in it too).
The next day we returned to the orphanage where Maxim was and the Inspector joined us as she wanted to hear Maxim agree to go to America. A long conversation began and from it we learned that Maxim did in fact want to go to America and be a part of our family. We also observed Maxim as he was required to write a statement to the Director that he wanted to be adopted and travel to America. He told the Inspector that he could not write the statement himself so it was agreed that she would write the statement and Maxim would copy it on another piece of paper. We then watched Maxim struggle through all the words (including both Erik and my full names) as he wrote out the statement two times (to have two original copies) that were signed, and stamped accordingly by the Inspector and Director.
Our time with the three kids continue and yesterday we were greeted by the two older ones with Good Morning, “My name is _____” in English and we were pleasantly surprised. The two girls later went through an English/Russian Mickey Mouse book and Tania was writing the words in English and Christina was writing the answers in Russian. They both were saying the words in English too which was pretty neat to see considering that both of them were very resistant to learning English two weeks ago.
So the story continues!
Erik and Heidi
31 December 2008,
Wow, what a close to a year! You guys out there thinking and praying for us have been a great comfort to draw strength from. Your efforts have been more successful than our wildest dreams. We are spending this week in a foreign country, in a city that the language, both spoken and written are a mystery. Heidi’s cousin’s sister in law, Lesha has come to assist us with the kids and our sanity. She is a theater student in Kiev, and has had a background of working with kids in similar facilities.
We came to Ukraine as the next step on the 10-year journey to adopt two children. We had chosen this route to a family early in our marriage and have grown convicted that it is our mission to touch these children’s hearts. When you stand in a playroom surrounded by 15 young faces that are bright and energetic, it will break your heart to think about what awaits them. For those who have not been adopted, when they turn sixteen they “age out” of the system and go out on the street to survive.
As we mentioned, we went to our referral appointment on the 15th of December and received the first challenge to our hearts, a set of three siblings, two girls and an older brother. Alexandr (Sasha), Christina and Tatiana (Tanya) who had been at the Severdonesk Internat (orphanage) since being taken from their mother three years ago. But, as we found out, something had become lost in the translation.
As we moved down the steps and onto the overnight train to Lugansk, that we came to understand we indeed had two separate referrals. One for the three children here at the Internat in Severdonesk, but also a separate referral for an older brother, age 10, at a Special Internat at the hometown, Teplogorsk, where the children came from.
From the records, the ten year old was listed (or interpreted from the brief official jargon) as severely disabled. The SDA had suggested that he could be “separated” from his siblings for cause. In Ukraine, the urban family size we have seen is one child, the domestic adoption rates are low and the rule is a sibling should not be separated from the group. This situation will doom most larger sibling groups to a life in the institution and eventually the streets.
We have been struggling with the management of this Internat for the referral of the three younger children for 10 days. It was only on Monday, the 29th did we travel the 45 min to an hour drive, (stopping for directions no less than 10 times (gals, you would be so proud of our driver) to find the office of the inspector for the area.
Still in shock from the referral for three, and not in our hearts, minds or the pit of our stomach, knowing what to do. With our nice little urban life, carefully prepared for two healthy children, already stretched to the limit with 3 (it’s a two plus-bedroom house you must know) the inspector showed us a photo on her computer of the ten year older brother.
He appeared to be standing there near his bed in a dormitory room with four or five other beds in the background. He had that puppy look too him, big dark eyes, and I knew this was not going to be as simple as it had been stated. This boy was looking at us, and there appeared to be nothing wrong with him from the photo. Our facilitator/translator asked the Inspector, what is wrong with him, and she said, I don’t think anything. She also said, I think he is normal. By no means, did we wish anything wrong with this young boy, but we were shocked to see him looking out at us from the computer screen. We were speechless, and walked out to the hallway to think and pray. Lesya joined us there and asked the $1,000,000 question, “ what would you like to do?”
So we met Maxim about two hours later. A very shy (and overwhelmed) young man. This Internat turned out being about the same age but situated in a much smaller town. The walls are brighter and warmer, the director warm and engaging. The kids where away at the moment, but the photos on the wall gave no indication of any of the children being neither physically nor mentally disabled as most were classified.
Ironically, that day happened to be the one day out of the year that all the 2nd grade and above kids from area orphanages go to a circus in Lugansk and it seemed that Christina and Sasha where there too. As we were waiting for Maxim to return from the same circus it was interesting to wonder if they would see one another there.
When we met Maxim, within a few minutes we found out that he had in fact seen and talked to Christina and Sasha. It was also told to us that Maxim had heard from the children’s caregiver that the three younger kids were going to be adopted and going to America.
We were so amazed at the situation (imagining what Maxim went through that day, as he no doubt wondered, “what about me”, throughout watching the circus and on the bus ride back to his orphanage). Maxim had been taken to the special needs orphanage three years ago and his siblings remained together and taken to Serverdonentz Internat. For Maxim to then return to the orphanage at five p.m. and have several people waiting for him in the director’s office to be asked do you want to be adopted and go to America?
What was so amazing was to see him standing in the doorway, walk in and begin to introduce himself. It was then so profound to see his expression when he was asked to be adopted and to go to America! He began to smile so big that he was caught up with so much emotion and was so overwhelmed that he began to cover his smile and his face with his arm, and he lowered his head to his chest. He soon began to respond with a head nod and later with words of agreement to be adopted and go to America.
When we showed Maxim the photos we had taken and developed in the last two weeks he really enjoyed the photos. We soon learned through translation that he wanted to be in the photo (that is why he is holding the photo of the three kids and Erik and I and he is photographed in it too).
The next day we returned to the orphanage where Maxim was and the Inspector joined us as she wanted to hear Maxim agree to go to America. A long conversation began and from it we learned that Maxim did in fact want to go to America and be a part of our family. We also observed Maxim as he was required to write a statement to the Director that he wanted to be adopted and travel to America. He told the Inspector that he could not write the statement himself so it was agreed that she would write the statement and Maxim would copy it on another piece of paper. We then watched Maxim struggle through all the words (including both Erik and my full names) as he wrote out the statement two times (to have two original copies) that were signed, and stamped accordingly by the Inspector and Director.
Our time with the three kids continue and yesterday we were greeted by the two older ones with Good Morning, “My name is _____” in English and we were pleasantly surprised. The two girls later went through an English/Russian Mickey Mouse book and Tania was writing the words in English and Christina was writing the answers in Russian. They both were saying the words in English too which was pretty neat to see considering that both of them were very resistant to learning English two weeks ago.
So the story continues!
Erik and Heidi
Prayers & Miracles
A little word about prayer and miracles:
Before we left on this adventure to the Ukraine, we reached out to our network of friends and acquaintances for help, and we got in touch with a fantastic young lady we had met at our church, Masha, who is from the Ukraine and who was able to join us as our aupair. she has been covering the home front and been assisting us with translations, photos to show the kids, room planning, researching schools and mental heath calls for us. She is a grat blessing to us.
Now we are here, and after a bunch of battles with the leadership at the Internaut, we all; the kids, Max (our facilitator) and us were dazed and confused. the kids acting out and resisted English, doubting our intentions and had heard bad things from some of the older kids and caregivers about going to the states. We needed help beyond just meeting with and bonding with the kids. Again a call went out for help, (keep in mind, we have found one native of this fair city who speaks English).
we have had two folks respond immediately come to our aid; Lesya, Heidi's cousin Ben's sister in law, who took the 15 hour train ride to the east to spend her new-years holiday week with us and create peace and love in the kids hearts. She is a theater student in Kiev and fluent in English and has worked with kids in a center near Kiev. I have heard of the concept of "ministry of Presence", she worked quiet miracles with all of us. She has really got us back on the right track.
The next is Vova, Masha's brother, who has also put his life on hold for us and is on a 20hr overnight train ride now from Izmail (SW corner on Ukraine on the Romanian Border) to Kharkov and a 5 hr bus trip to join us tomorrow. He has worked as a translator on tour ships and currently translates for a Media outlet on-line.
Wile Big Sasha, the Senior facilitator and Max, his point man on this adoption (he rejoins u son the 8th when the courts reopen from new-years holiday) work the hoops to jump through, Lesya and Vova have and are going to help us spend quality time with the kids.
This morning, Little Sasha and Cristina came to Heidi saying " Good Morning my name is Christina and "Good morning my name is Sasha!" IN ENGLISH and gave Heidi a hug. Last week they had gotten to the point of ignoring us and ransacking our bags for gifts (and anything else they could find).
Our prayers for help have been answered by two people of faith, Now with two Internats to shuttle between, we are going to need all the help we can get.
Keep us in your thoghts and prayers
Erik
Before we left on this adventure to the Ukraine, we reached out to our network of friends and acquaintances for help, and we got in touch with a fantastic young lady we had met at our church, Masha, who is from the Ukraine and who was able to join us as our aupair. she has been covering the home front and been assisting us with translations, photos to show the kids, room planning, researching schools and mental heath calls for us. She is a grat blessing to us.
Now we are here, and after a bunch of battles with the leadership at the Internaut, we all; the kids, Max (our facilitator) and us were dazed and confused. the kids acting out and resisted English, doubting our intentions and had heard bad things from some of the older kids and caregivers about going to the states. We needed help beyond just meeting with and bonding with the kids. Again a call went out for help, (keep in mind, we have found one native of this fair city who speaks English).
we have had two folks respond immediately come to our aid; Lesya, Heidi's cousin Ben's sister in law, who took the 15 hour train ride to the east to spend her new-years holiday week with us and create peace and love in the kids hearts. She is a theater student in Kiev and fluent in English and has worked with kids in a center near Kiev. I have heard of the concept of "ministry of Presence", she worked quiet miracles with all of us. She has really got us back on the right track.
The next is Vova, Masha's brother, who has also put his life on hold for us and is on a 20hr overnight train ride now from Izmail (SW corner on Ukraine on the Romanian Border) to Kharkov and a 5 hr bus trip to join us tomorrow. He has worked as a translator on tour ships and currently translates for a Media outlet on-line.
Wile Big Sasha, the Senior facilitator and Max, his point man on this adoption (he rejoins u son the 8th when the courts reopen from new-years holiday) work the hoops to jump through, Lesya and Vova have and are going to help us spend quality time with the kids.
This morning, Little Sasha and Cristina came to Heidi saying " Good Morning my name is Christina and "Good morning my name is Sasha!" IN ENGLISH and gave Heidi a hug. Last week they had gotten to the point of ignoring us and ransacking our bags for gifts (and anything else they could find).
Our prayers for help have been answered by two people of faith, Now with two Internats to shuttle between, we are going to need all the help we can get.
Keep us in your thoghts and prayers
Erik
Brun Reply to Amy - Reader Assistance Request
Thanks Amy!
Sorry for the delay! We have not looked at email since the morning we went looking to separate from Maxim...
So Maxim is ten years old and does not have any issues - he is healthy - he sees fine, he thinks, breathes, walks etc. fine. He can read, speak etc. Apparently when the children got taken from their mother -three years ago - she was not feeding them and they were left at home alone to care for themselves. The father was in jail and the mom was drinking. So Maxim was almost 7 at the time, Sasha would have been 5, Christina 4, and Tania 3...
The three younger kids were moved to the orphanage in Severdonetsk and Maxim was brought to the local orphange in Teplogorsk. We beleive that Maxim was kept in the local orphanage as they needed the numbers.
The orphanage that Max is in is a special needs facility - although the photos on the wall of the place do not show anything of this nature. It was told to us by the SDA that this fourth child had mental retardation and would be no problem to separate. They had no photo attached to the referral and no further info. The inspector of Severdonesk thought he might have cerebral palsy so we expected a child drooling in a bed in a room with others. The Inspector of Teplogorsk (well actually she is in another city - don't ask me to name it - it is certainly Russian to me, ha!) anyway the new Inspector showed us a picture of the fourth child and we had to ask, what is wrong with him? She said, I think he is normal!
So here is what the medical doc told us when we visited Max the second time... he had like a T70 (something like that, Sasha the facilitator might remember better) which means some technical mental slowness.. but he is quiet and when the Doc explained that Maxim is emotional, Sasha asked "is he aggressive," and she answered "no, he turns in."
So what we can figure from what we have seen, and heard from him as well as the caregivers and director is that Maxim is a quiet and shy boy that when he gets overwhelmed - he shuts down and goes inside himself and can't express his feelings well so he shuts up/down.
Our thought too on Maxim is that he was overwhelmed with the conditions of things with the three other kids when their mother was drinking and not caring for them so he was left in charge. He might have shown fear and scareness differently so they thought their was something wrong with him. He is a very small child, I think he is smaller than Sasha who is 2 years younger than Maxim. But Maxim appears to be fine!
So hope that brings you up to speed!
Erik and I have an Au Pair from Ukraine that is currently at our house in WDC. Her name is Mariya (she goes by Masha) and she is on the cc line. Also Clinton Blair and Jennifer Bindhammer are dear friends in the DC area. Clinton was involved with getting the paperwork picked up from DATZ and getting it to apostilled and fed exed to Kiev. He communicates with Jana well. He may be able to assist again (I thank you Clinton for putting you involved again!)
Masha is Russian and a Ukraine speaker, and this is her fourth family she has been with. She will be with us til the summer. She is currently working to fit two bunk beds in one room at the house.
Our house is a three level house (but we separated the lower level from the top two to accomodate a half bath so it took the place of the stairs) so you have to go thru a separate entrance to get to the lower level. The lower level is rented to a dear gal named Tammy.
The main level of the upper two level (our part of the house) has a half bathroom, a front room, dining room, kitchen and family room with front and back porch and a back enclosed yard. The upper level has 2 bathrroms, and 2 full bedrooms and a small third bedroom. Currently Masha, the Au Pair, is in the third bedroom.
Erik had more time off than I do and will likely be staying home a bit when we return home. We will have the Au Pair helping with getting a routine down as well as continuing with the language transition.
Erik and I started looking into schools for the children before we left and Masha has gone to a few of them to observe and see what is offered to the kids.
Masha has a teaching education and is planning to help teach the kids English and get them more accustomed to the culture change.
Masha is 25 years old and is a very responsible lady! She has been translating things for us from both Russian to English and vice versa in order to communicate with the orphange staff here as well as with the kids and the caregivers.
We have had Ben Robinson's sister in law with us at the orphanages this past five days and she opened up conversation with the kids and the English/Russian language lessons have begun. This is a great change as two weeks ago the three kids were not interested in learning English. We have three workbooks and they have gone thru one of them so far.
Erik and I are learning and picking up some Russian language as well. It is showing that we are becoming more credible with the kids as we learn more words! The concern from Christina (the 7 year old) two weeks ago was that Mom and Dad may not understand what toy she is asking for.
I think that answers your questions.
****** If everyone on the cc line (Masha, Clinton, and Jennifer) contact Amy that would be great! I appreciate all your assistance on this.
Amy - I sent photos of Maxim and I think you should have others from the email/s sent. So you know who we are with out here.
All - please check out the blog... and if you could sign up/sign on - whichever is the option than you will get updates emailed to you when their are updates. A dear friend Erick Wand is updating the blog as he can.
Thanks all!
-Heidi and Erik Brun
Sorry for the delay! We have not looked at email since the morning we went looking to separate from Maxim...
So Maxim is ten years old and does not have any issues - he is healthy - he sees fine, he thinks, breathes, walks etc. fine. He can read, speak etc. Apparently when the children got taken from their mother -three years ago - she was not feeding them and they were left at home alone to care for themselves. The father was in jail and the mom was drinking. So Maxim was almost 7 at the time, Sasha would have been 5, Christina 4, and Tania 3...
The three younger kids were moved to the orphanage in Severdonetsk and Maxim was brought to the local orphange in Teplogorsk. We beleive that Maxim was kept in the local orphanage as they needed the numbers.
The orphanage that Max is in is a special needs facility - although the photos on the wall of the place do not show anything of this nature. It was told to us by the SDA that this fourth child had mental retardation and would be no problem to separate. They had no photo attached to the referral and no further info. The inspector of Severdonesk thought he might have cerebral palsy so we expected a child drooling in a bed in a room with others. The Inspector of Teplogorsk (well actually she is in another city - don't ask me to name it - it is certainly Russian to me, ha!) anyway the new Inspector showed us a picture of the fourth child and we had to ask, what is wrong with him? She said, I think he is normal!
So here is what the medical doc told us when we visited Max the second time... he had like a T70 (something like that, Sasha the facilitator might remember better) which means some technical mental slowness.. but he is quiet and when the Doc explained that Maxim is emotional, Sasha asked "is he aggressive," and she answered "no, he turns in."
So what we can figure from what we have seen, and heard from him as well as the caregivers and director is that Maxim is a quiet and shy boy that when he gets overwhelmed - he shuts down and goes inside himself and can't express his feelings well so he shuts up/down.
Our thought too on Maxim is that he was overwhelmed with the conditions of things with the three other kids when their mother was drinking and not caring for them so he was left in charge. He might have shown fear and scareness differently so they thought their was something wrong with him. He is a very small child, I think he is smaller than Sasha who is 2 years younger than Maxim. But Maxim appears to be fine!
So hope that brings you up to speed!
Erik and I have an Au Pair from Ukraine that is currently at our house in WDC. Her name is Mariya (she goes by Masha) and she is on the cc line. Also Clinton Blair and Jennifer Bindhammer are dear friends in the DC area. Clinton was involved with getting the paperwork picked up from DATZ and getting it to apostilled and fed exed to Kiev. He communicates with Jana well. He may be able to assist again (I thank you Clinton for putting you involved again!)
Masha is Russian and a Ukraine speaker, and this is her fourth family she has been with. She will be with us til the summer. She is currently working to fit two bunk beds in one room at the house.
Our house is a three level house (but we separated the lower level from the top two to accomodate a half bath so it took the place of the stairs) so you have to go thru a separate entrance to get to the lower level. The lower level is rented to a dear gal named Tammy.
The main level of the upper two level (our part of the house) has a half bathroom, a front room, dining room, kitchen and family room with front and back porch and a back enclosed yard. The upper level has 2 bathrroms, and 2 full bedrooms and a small third bedroom. Currently Masha, the Au Pair, is in the third bedroom.
Erik had more time off than I do and will likely be staying home a bit when we return home. We will have the Au Pair helping with getting a routine down as well as continuing with the language transition.
Erik and I started looking into schools for the children before we left and Masha has gone to a few of them to observe and see what is offered to the kids.
Masha has a teaching education and is planning to help teach the kids English and get them more accustomed to the culture change.
Masha is 25 years old and is a very responsible lady! She has been translating things for us from both Russian to English and vice versa in order to communicate with the orphange staff here as well as with the kids and the caregivers.
We have had Ben Robinson's sister in law with us at the orphanages this past five days and she opened up conversation with the kids and the English/Russian language lessons have begun. This is a great change as two weeks ago the three kids were not interested in learning English. We have three workbooks and they have gone thru one of them so far.
Erik and I are learning and picking up some Russian language as well. It is showing that we are becoming more credible with the kids as we learn more words! The concern from Christina (the 7 year old) two weeks ago was that Mom and Dad may not understand what toy she is asking for.
I think that answers your questions.
****** If everyone on the cc line (Masha, Clinton, and Jennifer) contact Amy that would be great! I appreciate all your assistance on this.
Amy - I sent photos of Maxim and I think you should have others from the email/s sent. So you know who we are with out here.
All - please check out the blog... and if you could sign up/sign on - whichever is the option than you will get updates emailed to you when their are updates. A dear friend Erick Wand is updating the blog as he can.
Thanks all!
-Heidi and Erik Brun
Monday, December 29, 2008
A Late Merry Christmas From Amy
A late Merry Christmas to you two....
Jana is out of the country on a mission trip so I am helping out for a few days. It is my honor to be part of this adoption process and watching the miracle unfold. I am back at work after our adoption of Emerson this summer. I have been praying for you daily and think of you often.
I got word this morning from Sasha that there was a fourth child that you guys are wanting to adopt as well so we will need to get immigration approval for 4 children in total. Before I go back to Datz and ask for the home study to be amended again, can you give me a little information.
Please forgive me if you have already discussed some of this with Jana. She is a wonderful social worker and I think the world of her.
Can you tell me a little about the fourth child. How old he is and his special needs status. Was he in a separate orphanage? Please also let me know your plans when you get home for childcare, time off work and transitioning from a family of two to a family of six. I would like to tell Datz "the plan" if you will for when you get home.
Blessings to you and your little ones!
Amy Dummier,LBSW
International Social Worker
Lifeline Children's Services, Inc
205-967-0811
giving children a hope and a future
Jana is out of the country on a mission trip so I am helping out for a few days. It is my honor to be part of this adoption process and watching the miracle unfold. I am back at work after our adoption of Emerson this summer. I have been praying for you daily and think of you often.
I got word this morning from Sasha that there was a fourth child that you guys are wanting to adopt as well so we will need to get immigration approval for 4 children in total. Before I go back to Datz and ask for the home study to be amended again, can you give me a little information.
Please forgive me if you have already discussed some of this with Jana. She is a wonderful social worker and I think the world of her.
Can you tell me a little about the fourth child. How old he is and his special needs status. Was he in a separate orphanage? Please also let me know your plans when you get home for childcare, time off work and transitioning from a family of two to a family of six. I would like to tell Datz "the plan" if you will for when you get home.
Blessings to you and your little ones!
Amy Dummier,LBSW
International Social Worker
Lifeline Children's Services, Inc
205-967-0811
giving children a hope and a future
12/29 Photos
Here's two more photos:
These imges are also posted in the "Brun Family Photos" album at http://www.costophotocenter.com
Please let Erick Wand (Erick@graphicsbyerick.com) know if you need/want access to the photos to order prints and he'll "share" that album with you.
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