Friday September 4, 2009

Hi everyone,
Its been so long since I have been able to blog it feels weird. So I am sure most have heard by now but Jeff and Madison are leaving around 9PM ET ( 4AM Ukraine time) for the airport in Kiev to start the journey home. Finally the journey to bring our angel home has arrived. When we title the blog we probably didn't see it as a journey but gosh what a wonderful journey it has been.
Webster defines the word JOURNEY: as something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another As I reflect back to the beginning the journey symbolized the actual act of traveling to the Ukraine to get Nina. Just zoom over there meet some people, pay some money , sign some papers, make her love us and zoom home back to normal life...wow I should have really read the definiton before. Our journey has taken us to a place Jeff and I have never been before as a married couple not just in the since of to new places but as a couple who since before we were married having always had Josh we got to experience things other couples did before children, that was nice. I got use to it to tell you the truth. Even though during the day we had Madison we still had alot of time to just be a couple and talk and laugh and just be relaxed with each other. Our Journey also took us from one place in our life to another. The place we were at was lets raise these children and get one with our lives the place we are at now is lets watch our children grow up and make our life in which they always want to share it with us. Then the Madison journey...wow Jeff Gordan has taken us on so many car journey's to get this little girl. The trip to the sea to meet her, the trip to Madison's home town to seperate her from her previous family, the trip to Yalta to give her a day at the beach, the many trips to the courthouse, the trips to the orphanage and finally the trip to the airport to leave. There has been so many obstabcles that have been placed in front of us and times when we really thought our hearts were physcially breaking if we ask ourself was it worth it and would we do it again absolutely we are going to.. we have a little girl still there so our job is not done and she begged Jeff to not forget her and please come back so no matter what we will be back to get her. Jeff's heart broke as he left the orphanage for the last time saying goodbye to Tonya and watching Madison cry as she left her siblings and friends it truly was bittersweet. Jeff and I will never be the same people we were when we left and for that I am thankful. It has made us softer and more apprecitative and able to prioritized the important things in life and truly disregard the things that are trival and unimportant. So I ask for prayers for safe travel as Jeff and Madison arrive home. I also want to say thank you for your emails and comments many days it was those correspondenses that kept our heads held up. They will arrive on Sat at 5:23 pm and all is welcome to come to the airport to welcome them.

I also thought I would give a total talley of the Dziedzic's at 1011 Gagel it is
1 Dad (Papa)
1 Mom
3 Sons
2 Daughters ( 1 legal 1 pending)
1 Daughter in Law
1 Pending Daughter in Law ( just waiting on the invite from Trev)
1 Grandson ( Eli)
4 Dogs
1 Cat
2 Chincilla's
= 17
Wow.....Christmas is sounding expensive but fun this year...
Love
Jeff , Donna, Madison, Josh, Trevor, Zach, Allison, Tonya and Diane

Thursday |September 3rd

Ok dont be to judgemental Im on a computer in a internet cafe and the keyboard is in Russian and something else.We went to the poassport office on wensday and they told us it was there but we would have to come back at 5:55 and if they could get it signed we could have it if not tommorow. Well we got and it has been a mad dash ever since, finished packing run by Gargarina and tell Tonya goodbye and Madisons brother and run to the airport. Well not even the airport was without chaos, we arrived and tryed to checked in and our flight was supposed to be from Simferopol to Kiev but they had us going from kiev to Simferopol, try to explain that with a language barrier. Thank goodness for Oksana and Donna, I had to walk away it was about all I could take. We finally boarded our flight at 9:10 and arrived in Kiev safley and by the time we found our apartment and got to bed it was 12:30 and we had to meet Gayla at 7:30. We have been to the U.S Embassey and completed our paperwork and have a meeting were we should recieve the last thing we need before we can travel. So if all goes well 24 hours from now we will be booking flights for Saturday morning and we will finally be out of here. I do not have the luxury of internet in my apartment so the blog will be slow. I will be turning it over to Donna and she can keep everyone up to date on our travels. It is hard to believe that we will have Madison home in a little over 48 hours. She enjoyed the flight to kiev, she has never flown and she really likes Kiev. Well that is all I have for now I will see everyone at home soon. (I hope)
Love
Jeff and Madison

Tuesday September 1st

WOW four days till opening of deer bow season in my great state of Kentucky. If you told me I would not be back in time for that when I was getting ready for this trip I would have laughed at you. And here it is! Well today was another eventfull day, the passport did not show up,SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!! How do you write that so it sounds like Gomer Pile? Well like I said no passpot, but they recieved something today, THE CEILING! The ceiling feel in on the passport office, can you belive that one. In all of the Crimea there is one lady, one office, and the ceiling falls on it, the computer, the desk, camera and all. I would have paid good money too see that, I have allready paid good money I just wish I got to see the show. Well I am keeping the faith because I not only have God on my side I have two women who can do anything and they are Galya and Oksana, if there is a way to deal with it they will. I dont even ask I just sit there and shut up because I know they will figure it out. When I first heard of the ceiling incedent I was on the phone with Oksana while I visited Tonya and I said how are you today and she said a little worried. Now when Oksana says a little worried I get concerned because she does not get to wound up over much but when we got done talking about the ceiling she was laughing. I dont know how this one will work out but I bet it will be good. God must have bigger and obviously longer plans on me staying in Ukraine. By staying longer I did get to see two sweet little girls leave Gargarina and we went out and had dinner to celebrate. They will be living in California. I have become freind with their new parents and they are great people, they may even be moving to Kentucky with his job. He had to go home a week ago because of work and since, he has had some health issues that are really taking a toll on him. He does not know the extent of his condition but the doctors are concerned as is his wife, who is still here in Ukraine. So if you will please say a prayer for Ron and his family, he needs it right now and so does his wife with traveling home with two new daughters and alot on there minds. I will keep you up to date about Ron and his family. I spent the better part of the morning trying to sleep in, that is hard for me to do but I made it to 7:30. Madison and I tried to stay busy and not think about the passport and we left about 1:00 and went to the market, you walk around the market by the time you fight the crowd you burn a good hour. We headed to Gargarina at 2:00 to visit with Tonya and her brother. We left there at 5:45 to go home and get ready for dinner and celebrate Sidney(Ulia) and Riley (Oksana) leaving Gargarina and their new family. We got home and that is the extent of our day I hope tommorow finds us with a passport in hand. (I just went and pryed the remote from my little girl hand and gave her a kiss on the forehead and turned off the tv, thats a first) I pray this find you all well and remember Ron in your prayers.
Love
Jeff, Madison & Tonya

Monday the last day of August

Hey everyone,
It is hard to believe as of today I have been here 55 days and looks like one or two more to go.
No passport as of yet and I have heard nothing, trying to be patient. I have waited 55 days what is a few more hours a or a day or two. We hung out at the apartment the better part of the morning trying to figure out if all this stuff will fit in two bags. Madison has no concept of how they handle your bags and it can be dificult to try and make her understand. We went to Gargarina to let her tell Yauri goodbye he was leaving for school about sixty kilometers away and I wanted her to be with him and the rest of the siblings as much as possible. I would have went sooner but they have been very strict on visitation times. I had asked the caretakers if I could take Tonya and Madisons two brothers about 100 yards down the street to a restraunt that you can see the back door to the kitchen from the front porch of the orphanage and they said absolutely not, I don't understand there thought process sometimes it is difficult to figure. So we stayed there and let everyone visit as long as they could, finally the van pulled up and about 15 boys and girls got in, all have graduated and are going on to what is equivelent to high school, so they go else where for that part of there education. So Madison told her brother good bye and that was sad and of course her other brother was sad because in a few short days he will be there by himself with one year of school before he is reunited with Yauri. We went around back to sit in the shade and visit some more and I noticed four boys I have never seen before, so I watched them and they and four others go over the back wall and come back fifteen minutes later. I watch and a small crowd starts to gather and it is the usual suspect that are allways up to no good. So ten minutes go by and the have 2 large 1.5 liters of beer and are smoking ciggaretts and I think to myself I could not take three kids 100 yards away to eat and there are 15 smoking and drinking on the property and theese people are sitting on there buts allowing it to happen. The longer I sit there mader I got and then Lanna(the Translater) shows up at the wrong time so I take her to the caretakers and ask them if they are going to get off their butts and do there jobs. That is around about what I told Lanna, but I know she would not say that, so who knows what she said but about six women get up and go around and break up the party. Of course the are apologetic because they are emmbarased that some one pointed it out, but I at that point I really did'nt care if they liked it or not. I will probably pay a price for it one day when I come back, but they seem to be as much a part of the problem some times as the ones out doing theese things. There are a lot of good caretakers here that really care about the kids that have a real intrest and will sit and spend time with the kids and then you have the ones that are putting in the time for a paycheck. Those are the ones that tend not to be in your favor because you are taking there job security. I have heard that a couple of times and its hard to keep your mouth shut when you have days like yesterday. Five years ago I would have probably gotten myself in a lot of trouble yesterday, and I may have but nothing like before. It is hard to sit and watch some of theese kids go down the same road their parents did that put them here and they have no idea or they do and dont care. I tried to talk to a handfull afterwards and several really seemed to understand and others laughed it off and walked away. I was told you cant save them all and I know that but it can be hard to watch these kids and see them struggle with the things that get thrown at them. Don't take this the wrong way all these kids are not bad , but there are some and they can drag others down with them. Well I have vented enough and I probably have said way more than I should have, but thoose of you who know me well, know sometime I just dont care and somethings need to be said. Thank you for letting me get thatoff my chest. Hopefully Tuesdays post will be a little more inspiring.
Love
Jeff, Madison & Tonya

August 30 Day at the beach

We got out at 8:30 and picked up Tonya and made the 60KM drive to Sevastopol to the beach. The girls had a great time they would get in the water for an hour and a half at atime. Madison got a little to much sun and Tonya cant get enough. That girl get darker by the min, it is unreal the change in 5-6 hours. I of course got to much myself but that is normal. They had a sunscreen battle. Madison asked Tonya to put some on her back and she squirted a line of cold sunscreen on her and it was on. Before it was over they both were covered and Tonya rolled Madison in the sand and she was as mad as a wet hen. They get along great and I have never seen or heard a cross words, but if it was going to happen I figured this was it. To my suprise she gave her a funny look at headed for the water to rinse off. She came back and they went on with their normal way of giggling and laughing. We had lunch at the beach and left for home at 4:45, we had to get Tonya back at 6:00. Madison and i have a lot to do the next couple days. The new passport should be here Tuesday or Wensday so we have to be ready to get a flight from here to Kiev so we can finish paperwork at the US Embassey and then find a flight home. So we are in the hurry up and wait mode, I am getting good at it. Two month oo it is starting to make me a little crazy. well like I said, it will be shaort and the water and sun has drained me I've got to get to bed.
Love
Jeff ,Madison and Tonya

August 28-2009- Yurai, Madisons Brother

Well it is Friday night once again and as you know I will be missing another game. We play Central Hardin who is a 6A team and we are a 2A we are a 3 point favorite acording to the goofball at CJ. Its a guessing game for thoose guys. GO COLTS.....Well we had another great day, the one and only showed up for work today and did her job so we will have a passport in a few days.(one and only- read yesterdays post) We left out of the passport office and went back to the apartment and made lunch and studyied English, Madison learned a few new words and so did I. I told her what a frown was and she told me alot of words I will never learn. She is all girl no doubt. We really had a good day, we went to Gargarina at 1:00 so I could look at two wash machines that were broke and visit with Tonya. The wash machines were the easy part it was crawling with kids today, I dont know where they are coming from. I have seen in the last 3 days 60 plus kids I have never seen before. School starts next Tuesday . Madison, Tonya and I are sitting there and a group of boys I have never seen walk by and go in and Madison says that is my Brother and I look and he is not the same kid from before, I say that was not Alex and she says no that is Yurai. When I got here we had a referal for Madison and Alex but he is 14 and ran away from school the week before summer break, and from what I hear he does it once or twice a year. Yurai is 16 and he apears to be a good kid, he graduated in May and will be going to State school next Tuesday. When he graduated they would not let him out and made him go to summer camp so he ran away from there 3 or 4 days before we got here. He went to his brothers house who is 19 and stayed with him until it was time to go back to school. These kids have sibling that are in the same home with them and they know they are family but they dont seem to look out for each other like most kids do, Madison knew her brothers were out on the streets the whole time we were here and she never mentioned it or talked about it and if you ask they are not really concerned. If you find a sibling group that has a child that is 3-4 years older than the others it tends to be diffrent but if they are seperated by 1-2 years between each they dont take care of each other as much. It is a diffrent world when you are struggling to survive and exist in a world that is not very Loving or caring. Well I got Lanna the translater and Madison and went and found both brothers because I wanted to meet Yurai and talk to him and Alex, they did not realize Madison was leaving in 4-5 days and I wanted to let them have a chance to talk to her before she is gone. We had a good conversation, Alex and I talk almost daily so it was mostly Yurai and I and he had alot of questions and I asked about a way Madison could communicate with him and he didnt want any part of that at first and by the end of our conversation he gave me his address and seemed eager to hear from us and Madison. It is hard to understand what theese kids feel and go through and what is going on in their minds. After you talk and find out each situation you start understanding why they act the way they do some times. It is a very diffrent world for them and for most the future looks bleak. When I arrived there was a couple sitting on the bench and I did not stop and talk I needed to get to the washing machine before they closed the building. So when I got back and met them I found out they were from Italy, Scicily to be exact and they had a referal for two sisters that didnt really want much to do with them. So I asked the two girls why and they said they are not American, i told them Italy was a great place and a family was the most important thing not where they were going. I stopped and thought abot it and ther has been 5 familys there in the last two months and all were from the U.S. so I guess they thought they needed to go to America. Everyday is a new experience some good some not so good, it has been a long two months and it will take a lot longer to digest all of this. Tomorrow the girls and I are going to act like it vacation time we all need a break so off to the beach, and like I said yesterday the blog will be short and to the point from here till monday.
Love
Jeff , Madison & Tonya

Thursady August 27th waiting and more waiting

This place cracks me up, I thought things at home were crazy but this place has one person and one person only who can process paperwork for a new passport and they sent them out on an errand at 9:00 am and their car broke down so they never made it back to the office. And what makes it all a little crazier is I will apply for the new passport and they send it to Kiev and Kiev will mail it back so I can take it back to Kiev and apply for a visa, See a trend here? There are a half million people or better in Simferopol and they have one person. Well my plans are to head to Keiv early next week and get home by kick off for the rival game against Holy Cross (your heart they dont fire their coach again for a butt kickin ) Cougars. Not to mention it is a home game and that makes it even better, I wil get to see a lot of my freinds and the game, what more could one ask for. Well we have had a good time today, we hung out at the market waiting on one and only passport lady and had lunch out with Tonya and took her back and waited some more and finally said to heck with it and walked back to Gargarina to see Tonya and let Madison visit with some of her friends. They treat her like a movie star or something when we arrive I guess its because they know sooner or later we will show up for the last time and that will be it, and I dont even know when thats going to happen. They gather around her and greet her and finally they spread out and it gets back to normal. I took pictures of Tonya and her sisters today and they are cute little girls they were born 1 year and 4 days apart, last week they both had birthdays, eleven and ten if anyone wants two beautiful girls that need a family. They had a family wanting them and found out there were three and some thing happened. We will adopt Tonya and that should really help their chances. Some people just dont want a older child. Tonya and Madison are inseprable they hang out together all day. This will be our last weekend in the Crimea and we are going to Bakhchysarai(Bachsary) Saturday and the beach in Yevpatoriya(upitoria) Sunday. Saturday will be filled with Castles and a lot of history and a little hikeing from one place to another in the hills.
Sunday will be a lot of fun, I have not told the girls yet or I would never get them to go Saturday.
Monday I will do a little packing to make sure all the stuff will fit in the bags.(this is the part where I need more prayers) My wife likes to shop and so does Madison, enough said. I should have a lot of pictures by Monday and will send them out first of the week, I will update the blog over the weekend but it will be short and to the point because we hope to stay busy so the time will pass.
Love
Jeff, Madison & Tonya

Madison has left Gargarina!

Today was the day, I got up early and Jeff Gordon picked me up, we went to the court house and got the paperwork at headed toward Upitoria. When we got there we sat down with a lady who found her original birth certificate in the register and proceded to change it well about an hour into the process she made a new one and we proofed it and she had the birth month as July and not June, I was about to lose it. Its not that its abig deal for most people but the way thing are here that can be a deal breaker. When I got there they were making a big deal out of the fact that Donna and my marriage license has October 28 as the wedding but it was not registered until November 7 a whole 9 days later. So the had to look at the master book and make phone calls because if that was right and our court papers were wrong......you got it, we go back to court and get all the document changed and that would take at least a week or better. Well they made the mistake and the master had June, so I could start breathing again. I wont sleep good till I get her home and lock the doors. We finally got out at 2:00 and raced back to Simferopol so the minister of law could sign the birth certificate and we could make the changes to her passport.

We finally made it to Gargarina at 5:00, I had not seen the girls all day, I had told them I would be late, but I would be there. When I got there they both were waiting for me with my usual big hugs. We had Madison going away party and she was very happy, they sang and danced and I bought two cakes and juice and they had a good time. Well about 7:30 I said lets go home and she gathered her stuff and was ready in no time, we were out of there. It was sad leaving Tonya but we will be back there in the morning to closeout her file at the orphanage. I will go to Gargarina every day to visit with Tonya so Madison will still see her friends. We came back to the apartment made some dinner checked e-mail and she wanted to watch her tv show and I am beat. This has been one of the greatest experinces of our lives, it can be trying at times but very well worth it when things start coming together and now we are going to do it again with Tonya. We must be crazy, we are crazy, crazy about these kids. I cant wait to get both of them home and get back to a normal life, as normal as it can be with five kids and a grandson on the way.
Madison and I have a lot to do tomorrow so we better cut it short.
Love
Jeff, Madison & Tonya

Tuesday August 25-2009 Glorious Day

Well folk's the MADNESSis over, as of 5:00pm Simferopol time(10:00 am est) no one contested our adoption and we are headed to Eupitoria to get our new birth certificate.......WOW WOW and....WOW... I dont really know what to say. I talked to Oksanna at 4:57 and she had just talked to the judges clerk and all was good and I told Madison to make sure she told all her friends that tonight would be her last night there and she had the biggest and most beautiful smile I have ever seen on her face. Tonya was sitting next to her and they gave each other a big hug. We will be having a PARTY at 5:30 Wensday at Gargarina and then we wil get all her things and off to the apartment. We will apply for a passport and a visa and then we head home. This has been the longest journey Donna and I have ever experienced outside of the normal thing family's do (wedding, pregnancy and anniversaries) in 10 years when Donna and I look back and this time it will seem like 10 minute in comparison to all the memories we will have and the changes that will take place from now till then, but we will never forget the children we met and the lives that have changed. I wish I knew the words that would describe the experince we have had, to spend time with these kid everyday and talk and play,andto see their everyday life, I pray they all end up with a family that will love them, but I know a lot of them wont. Well I have to cut it short I'm back on the road again to Upitoria and lots to do, this time will be more enjoyable than before, I will have more later and I will have some help writing this tommorow night, I can't wait.
Love Jeff, Madison & Tonya

Monday August 24

Today was an ordinary day, walked to Gargarina and got the girls and called a cab because Madison did not want to walk so I gave in and got us a ride. We went to the apartment and droped off the back pack and went to the market and gathered things for lunch and dinner.
We came back and made lunch and the girls ate and went to watch tv while I cleaned up the kitchen. After watching tv for an hour I told them it was time to shower and study English, well the shower was no problem but English is starting to be a little bit of a challenge. Madison is very persnickity (I love that word) about being clean, she never get dirty. Her feet do sometimes but she will stop and wash them, so a shower is no problem. Tonya gives me no problem about the shower either. I finally sat them down to study English and they sat and giggled at each other for a minute or two and for part of the English lesson we called Donna and they talked to her so that works and they dont even realize it. They went back to giggling and watching tv. We ate dinner and got an early start on our walk back to Gargarina and took our time getting there. The girls had ice cream and listened to music on my I-phone on the way. If you would have asked me six months ago if I thought I would ever have little chick music on my I-pod I would have laughed at you. I guess I'm a push over. My boy's are gonna have my butt when I get home! I can hear it now, you were so tough on us and look at you with these girls. That's OK I was raising men not young women so they can handle it, or they better get used to it. Well that's about it for today, twenty four hours from now we will be in the clear, pray the prosecutors don't do anything crazy and 6:00 pm Tuesday comes and goes uneventfully for us and we will be home soon.
Love
Jeff, Madison & Tonya

Idependence Day in Ukraine Aug 23

Well it,s been another WILD weekend in Simpferopol!....HA HA Went to Gargarina this morning at 9:45 marched upstairs and asked the care takers for the girls and said I,d like to bring them back at 6:00 and they looked at each other and said DAH(yes) and looked at me and said DAH(yes). I thought to my self that was to easy I should of said 8:00. Well we headed out for the market, we got invited to a cookout and we needed some things to take. We had a good day, played outside, Tonya helped me with some of the cooking and prep of the food. The girls had a blast, they played all day and should sleep good tonight. Three days from this hour I will be leaving Gargarina with Miss Madison in tow after her going away party with her friends and that will be the last time she ever spends a night or another day there. They have been good to her and I apreciate that, but I just wish there was no need for such a place. I am counting the hours and minutes, the only down side is the limited time we will see Tonya. If all goes well we should be leaving Simpferopol by next Tuesday or Wensday a week the 2nd or 3rd and headed for Kiev and getting our visa to go home. That about does it for today.
Love
Jeff & Madison

Saturday August 22

Walked into Gargarina today at 10:00 am located the girls and walk into the assistant directors office asked if I could have them all day and she said no problem. There is no ryme or reason on how they do things, it is day to day on what they might say. Yesterday I was told one hour a day of visitation and only with a translator present and at 3:00 pm we walked out of there with 3 hours to go to the park with their permission and on our own. It's real easy to get frustrated sometimes but you have to remember when you come here, you play by their rules and they can change them when they want. What they do not realize is their day's to play are getting very limited. Tuesday of next week is just around the corner. Well we stoped to get something to eat and went to the apartment and they watched tv and I started cleaning. I have not been here much since Donna went home I spend my time at Gargarina or walking around sight seeing. It was getting a little rough and I was mopping the floor and Tonya comes in and try's to take my mop and I say neit(no) and she get,s real demanding about the mop. So I sit down and start typing on the translator and ask her about cleaning and cooking. Cleaning is not her favorite but does not mind it, cooking is some thing she really like to do, so I told her she could help me cook lunch tomorow and she liked that. They are getting ready for a big election in the Ukraine and the politicians are running around Simpferopol today campaigning and it nothing like at home. We walked by the Parliment Building on the way home and they were holding a rally, then they get in 20 cars or so with huge flags and play loud music and cause traffic jams everywhere. I'm on the nineth floor and can see a large intersection out the window and they have gone through it at least four times. People blowing horn in approval and others screaming the unthinkable. Sunday is Independence Day in Ukraine a big three day weekend, the holiday is observed on Monday, all it means to me is one more day with no Independence and 11 day wait instead of 10. I sit here and type and then look at it and say to myself, man thats not nice and remove it and turn around and do it again two minutes later. I think some of being here with nothing to do or not being constructive everyday and doing the same thing is starting to get to me. I,m really missing my kids and Allison, Diane, my dogs and my life in general. I cant wait to get home and see how big Allison is, and by the way the newest addition to the Dziedzic family after Madison of course will be a BOY, Mr.Elisha Nash Dziedzic. Oh and I,m missing Donna to!HAHA..... Madison and Tonya had a huge pillow fight today and when they got done thier hair was sticking up every where, no sheets blankets or pillows were left on the bed, they had a blast. I have three son,s and not having any girls these two play pretty rough and dirty, hair pulling, slapping and so on it was wild but all fun. Well its 11:05 here and 4:05 at home three and half hours before the drop of the green flag at the Bristol night race I sure hope my wife or friends read this and DVR it for me. HINT HINT

Love
Jeff & Madison

Friday Night Football GO COLTS

GO COLTS BEAT WESTERN
Good luck Zach I'm proud of you.
Love Dad

Friday August 21 Another great Day w/ Madison

Hey everyone

I walked by the river today, nothing out of the ordinay to report there. I arrived at Gargarina at 9:00 and there were kids every where, I seen 7-8 boys 3 blocks before I got there and of course they recognized me and started waving, and all the locals at the bus stop look at you like you have two heads it's funny to watch there reactions. For some crazy reason they would not let me take Madison until 3:00 today so I said ok and I will just hang out and play with the kids. I wish I could still hang with the kids I'm sore as can be. They had rope for jump rope and a couple blow up beach balls and the jump ropes wooped my backside BIGTIME. It has been years since I used one. I have been taking a girl named Tonya when I get Madison to go with us, and her and Madison get along great, Tonya's English is either a little better than her's or she is not as shy using it as Madison.
We have had a lot of fun and it make's it a little easyier for Madison to express herself because Tonya does'nt feel akward using English and she's more willing to try. I recieved a e-mail from a couple we now that are working on an adoption here and I told them if they wanted I would be honored to convey any thing they wanted and they composed a beautiful letter to her and I took it today and read it to her and the translator and to be able to read each line and listen and see the response was one of the most incredible things to see. This girl has a beatiful smile and to see her light up at each high point and know she is truely happy and the look of relief of knowing someone will be there and love her and care for her is amazing to see. I can't wait till the day I see her walk off the plane when she gets home to Kentucky. I finally got Madison and Tonya and we headded for the park and they rode a couple rides and we got a paddle boat that hold 5-6 people and paddled our backsides off for an hour. We took a bunch of pictures and sat in the shade and talked some. I told them tommorow was English day and of course they looked at each other and laughed. I have made it a point to learn one or two Russian words every couple days, so I can point out that if I can learn and put up the effort they can and it is working but I'll be the first to say Russian is not easy. Tonya has two younger sisters who are being adopted next month, but they can only take two and they want younger children so Tonya is giving her consent because she knows that is best for them. I wish I could bring her and about 10 others home with me. Well I don't know what the holiday is but Monday is one here so it's a three day weekend and the down side to that is it adds one more day to my waiting period. We did go by the courthouse and proof read the document that will go to the town Madison was born in to get her new birth certificate. I will probably have to change the name of this blog to the Madison (Nina) Tonya blog soon she is with us so much anymore and you will hear a lot more about her. I have a list of people who have reqested I send them pictures and that I dont post on here, if anyone wants to be on the list send me a e-mail and I will add you to the list.
jeffdziedzic@yahoo.com
Love
Jeff, Madison and Tonya

August 20 Great Day with Madison

Woke up this morning earlyier than my normal early, got ready and headed out. I have been changing my route to the orphanage every other day for diffrent scenery and today was beautiful, sun comes up at 5:00 and the temperature until 11:00 or 12:00 is perfect even on the hot days.
Took pictures of a WW2 memorial, along with a tank that no denying had been in the war, it had bullet marks all over it. The last two days I have run into someone I know, well let me clarify that, they are people that I met here but when I thought about it I realized I have been here way to long. When I finally leave I will have logged about 60 plus days here and as frustrating as some of those days may have sounded here on the blog it really has been a great time and an experience of a lifetime. I got to Gargarina(orphanage) at 8:00 this morning which is really early but I sat outside and watched the staff change and the older kids come out first and then younger and so on, and you think of going to work some days and its the same old thing and you some times get in a rut, and these kids do the same thing all day long sun up to sun down. They don't really have a lot to do, toys don't exist, they throw rocks, play in the dirt. They have a play ground that is fairly well maintained . Its just sad to look at them and see this child who we would normally look at back at home and think grade school, high school, college and wife, family and all the things that lay ahead in life and these little people just keep doing the same thing everyday hoping some one will give them a chance at a family. Finally my Madison comes out and I feel a little guilty because I,m only taking one and if I could I would take 10, but I get my big hug from her and she is happy to see me. We sit in the shade and watch everything and wait for the director to get there so we can get permission to leave. We walk back by the river and stop and ate lunch and went to the apartment to study English and Madison takes a shower and we have a good Russian/English debate on whether we are going to have a Russian speaking day or English speaking day.
I lost again, she does good with English but she does not want to use it here, she say's when she gets home then she will speak English. So my Russian is getting better by the day. We headed out at 5:15 to walk back to Gargarina and get there by 6:00 and I sit there until 7:30, play with the kids and head back to the apartment. We have 5 days and we should have the new birth certificate and then apply for a passport and on to Kiev for a visa. Well that's enough for today and tomorrow is looking about the same, maybe ill change my route again and there will be something new to tell or maybe some one new to run into. HA HA
Love
Jeff & Madison

Wensday August 19th

Hey Everyone

I am finally back on line, the computer guy came today and I have a new hard drive and this thing is like a Cadillac again. Sorry it has been so long since the last post, I have been to one internet cafe and it was misreable hot and all I did was check e-mail to make sure ther was nothing important and got out. As most know Donna went home Saturday morning (your friday night) and the first day or two was kind of a bummer being alone, I know I had Madison but her English is not the best and she will clam up and you start to feel alone. The time Donna and I had here was great, we have never been able to spend time together like we did here in twenty years of marriage, it was really nice. Since she has been gone I have been walking to the orphange instead of a cab, anybody that knows Donna know's she does not like to walk and not the 3 mile from here and back. I have been taking a lot of pictures along the way, whole lot more to see walking than riding. Madison has been great, with Donna gone it makes her interact with me more which has been a very positive thing. She has never know a father or a man for that matter in her entire life, she does'nt even remember her mother. Some where some one has put in her head that men are not good, men in this country are looked at diffrrently than in the U.S. or most other place's in the world. The women her are very strong and work hard and tend to take on the role that most men at home do in the family. I'm not saying all family's here but it seems like alot. She has really opened up and we are having a ball at the park and studying English. We have spent a litlle more time at the orphange lately because she was with us for eight day's straight from Sunday the 8th to Sunday the 15th and we had a good time. Well this Friday night will be the first football game I have missed in a long time. If anyone needs something to do go out to Western H.S. and root for the Colts for me. GO COLTS Well I have alot to catch up on and I promise to get back in the routine of doing the post, Thank all of you who read it and for all the prayers.
Love
Jeff & Madison

Sunday August 16...We have a daughter...

Hi everyone,
Sorry for the delay in posting. Jeff's computer crashed on Thursday. So we have been without any computer or internet...We had court on Friday and it went great...They granted us the adoption and now we have to wait until the 25th to pick up her new birth certificate and then apply for the passport. That will take around 7 days and then 2 day in Kiev and home.. Hopefully by the 1st of Sept. I had to come home. So many things going on and I felt as though I needed to get back to work..I hated leaving..it was awful on me and them..I spoke to Jeff and he sounds downs because he is alone as Madison had to go back to the orphanage today. I am looking for volunteers to go be with him...ha..actually he has plenty of room. I would love to go back with him but I was afraid to push my luck with work..Anyway we will post and Jeff will give you details if he gets his computer fixed but for now just know we are in the home stretch.
Love
Donna and Jeff

Wednesday August 8, 2009 Court Cancelled Again

Hi,
I was always taught if you don't have anything nice to say dont say anything at all. So I guess the title is as much as you get. We are supposed to go Friday at 4pm we are now hearing so we will be ready to be there. Madison and her friend are doing great. They are a joy to have around though I suspect we will be having to take her friend back soon. Madison was dispappointed about court as we all were...I guess it like the old saying goes...good things come to those who wait...well we are waiting....and trying to smile..honestly if she wasnt with us we would probaby be so stressed and depressed right now it would be hard to carry on..but watching her sleep and knowing she is safe and happy is keeping us going and Jeff and I are pulling off of each others strengths and somehow we are coping...I can remember a time when this sort of thing would have pushed us to our brink....but now we just shake our heads and try not to question. A funny story we decided to take the girls for lunch since we were all down and so we have been letting Madison just order and then we do ( it embarrasses her if she has to help us Americans) in public. So we got to the restaurant and the girls ordered and the little one was saying a whole lot but it seems like it takes alot of Russian words to make up ours so we werent concered...then Jeff and I ordered...well here comes the waiter and he sits down a huge plate in front of the little girl and it was pancakes with caviar...I thought Jeff and I was going to have a stroke..then Madison saw our faces and she started fussing..well then Oksanna took a bite and guess what??? Didnt like it so she attempted to scrape it off and only eat the pancakes...well we told her no she ordered it and so she had to eat it....it was funny...she is so cute...you cant even get mad at her...she and Madison tried to eat it but I was scared it was going to make them sick so we told them they didnt have to...then french fries and then a large pizza....I tell you we have been feeding teenage boys forever and this little girl can eat just like them...if her metabolism ever slows down she will weigh 300lbs...ha...Thats really all I have to say today or atleast right now..we will post later.
Love
Donna & Jeff

August 11 The day before the BIG DAY 2

Well here we are again with all the excitement and anxiety of what kind of craziness can they come up with next. We go back to court tomorrow and we are as ready as we can be, we have clearance from everyone but the Pope.... HAHA The judge has looked at all the paperwork yesterday and was pleased but she will have time to sleep on it and who know's the mood tomorrow. We have had a blast with the girls the last two days, we went to the park and they rode about every ride they had. They are averaging 2 baths a day and 6 meals, Oksanna's weight is about fifty pounds and eats about that a day also. Madison will eat whatever is on her plate and dont ask for much more but she is a hardy eater, she does like her snack food. They got up this morning made their beds, cleaned, swept and mopped the floor in Madison's room all before 9:00. I told Donna she could learn a thing or two from them......HAHA I can't publish her response but I will post the pictures of my black eye and her bruised knuckles....HAHA... If you don't have a sense of humor on week five you wont make it through this adventure. Thats what we keep telling ourselves anyway. Zach has his first football game in a week and a half and I know I wont be home for it. It will be the first in 5 years or better that I have missed, but he and I know its worth it in the end. It's hard to believe he only has two more years till graduation. Allison and Josh have a big day of there own coming up next week, we will find out if the next new member of the Dziedzic family is a Mr. or Miss Dziedzic. Then there is Trevor who all on his own registered for his freshman year of college and then on top of all 12 credit hours he is taking, he has a new job. We are very proud of them all. Then we can't leave out all the OLD peoples contribution, without them none of this would work. We have so many people that have helped us one way or another I dont know how we would ever think of trying this without them, so to all of you who are sending e-mails, comments on the blog and all the prayer keep it up it is working and it means alot to us.
Love
Jeff & Donna

Monday August 10 Second straight day with the girls.

Hello,
So we are now finishing are 2nd straight day of having Madison and her friend...Wow that little girl I thought was so quiet and shy...not....she has come to life...they have laughed, played, bathed, ate, watched tv, played cards with us, ate, listen to IPODS, shopped, ate and read...oh and bathed some more...ha...oh and ATE...I honestly dont know where it is going...Jeff said Madison is going to come home 40 lbs heavier than we met her...but thats not true..she always eats everything you put on her plate..and snacks in between...Jeff has a new little friend...I think it is funny...she watches everything he does...right now she is watching him cook...he calls her peppy le pew...it was an elevator incident...lol...she tried to blame him...he blamed her...Madison and I suffered....they cheated us in cards...ha...we were playing go fish and they were saying half in English the other in Russian ...guess who won??? They asked for macaroni for dinner tonight so Jeff is happily making it....We found out from Oksanna that we got all of our paperwork that the judge requested and she went to the judge and she agreed to see us Wed morning...yeah..so that means our 10 day wait should be up on Aug 24...weekends dont count...so by the last of Aug she should be hitting US soil...yeah.....We took them to the book store today and they bought birthday cards for a friend and 2 books and monopoly( which now they refuse to play with us) so Jeff and I are making up our own names of properties and railroads as we cant read and there is no JAIL...They slept till 9 this morning which is a real treat for them because they have to be up at 7am every morning even in the summer....they also had cold cereal Cocoa Puffs this morning and loved it...I gave them friut also.....Madison wants no part of the kitchen which I totally understand...ha...but her friend is interested...so that makes Jeff happy that he has company in there...I did start the laundry this morning and they were both watching every move I make they were amazed...I just heard Jeff say NEET...to many cooks spoil the stew and she just stormed out of the kitchen...ha...We have decided that our daughter can very much take care of herself...she is tough if she has to be and wow the temper...I have heard Russians have bad tempers but let me tell you...she will be fine around her brothers....I asked her if she missed school and she said no....she dont want to go back but I am afraid she will have to tomorrow...atleast her friend will...so we will see...Its been wonderful weather and the dogs must be on vacation because I have only had to contend with 300am phone calls and not the 517 dog fight...so thats nice...today at 1030 Jeff said "hey its time to call some people and wake them up,,who do you want to start with? We tried Zach but he didnt answer and neither did Josh". Jeff did wow the locals with their own recipe of stuffed peppers...he put his own touch on it and they were impressed...they wouldnt leave...ha..just kidding we love Oksanna and Jeff Gordan they are great....I do want to request that a few prayers are said for Dasha (oksanna's daughter) she is having some sores and swollen lymph nodes and 2 surgeons in the last 2 days dont know the problem so I am trying to research it myself and I gave her a name to ask the doctor to culture and see but she is very worried and Dasha is feeling bad..so just some prayers they figure out what is wrong and fix it because her mama is worrying and not sleeping and that worries me...Well thats all...except we again want to say a big thank you to Galya and Oksanna we could have never done this without them..they truly have a place in heaven..and they are wonderful to have working for you they do such a great job....we could not ask for better people...So I will close now and get back to the girls and see what they are into ...it has made the days go faster having them here all the time.
Love
Donna and Jeff