SDA Appointment

Well we made it through our interview this morning all went very good , just waiting to hear when we will get our paperwork to travel south. I have adjusted to the time change so far but Donna still struggles a little. The weather is very nice, the city of Kiev is beautiful! The subway is quite a experience. For those of you who know Galya she is doing fine and we are really enjoying our time with her. We will try to update later today on our travels.

Love Jeff & Donna

Arrival in Ukraine

Hi everyone,
Well its been a long 2 days...We finally got our bags at the right weight limit in Louisville and the rest of the trip went very smoothly. No delays or missed flights. We sat together on all legs except the last where we were seperated from Paris to Kiev. Wow the airport in Kiev was not what I expected and the passport line took right about 1 hour but Galya was waiting for us as soon as we got our bags. We have a very nice flat close to the market and today we have found a mall that has a very nice coffee shop that we can use the internet and eat Cheesecake... We have found the people to be nice and very helpful as we try to speak their language. I think it is the uncertainy of punciation that makes it awkward to try. We slept alot today to try to get caught up and we are going to church tomorrow and sight seeing. It is very different to not be able to speak on the phone. We have watched to movies and the only English on TV in BBC and Discovery channel..which Jeff enjoys..I fell (imagine that) very typical of me on vacation I must always injure myself this time it was my buttocks. ha. We went to market and managed to buy fruits, beef, veggies and coke. We will post again tomorrow now that we have found internet.
Love
Jeff and Donna

Travel Day

Hi everyone,
Well we had planned on sleeping in and then just having a nice restful, relaxing day..ha...now let me tell you how it is really going to go...We finally went to sleep around 3:30 and up at 7. Jeff and the boys have some last minute yard and honey do's, I will be getting our sheets changed and bathroom clean for its new tendants, then it is off to the bank to sign Zach over to a few people (LOL), lunch with the kids downtown, see a couple of friends, hopefully my nails, back to the house to meet my parents to go with us to the airport, first flight at 548 into Atlanta, 840 PM into Paris at 1130 am...long night, then arrive in Kiev at 440 pm!!! We will be exhausted and stinky...Ok so thanks for the prayers and continue for us, Nina and the ones we are leaving here. I will post when we can
Love
Jeff and Donna

Need to Pack

Hi all,
Well I guess we should pack..........LOL...honestly it is like I have writers block..only travelers block..I pack every week and it takes me about 3.6 sec..now I just stare at the 2 huge bags and think I need to fit everything we own in here...then I also have to pack for alittle girl...thats a challenge in its self...with boys as long as they have underwear, t-shirts and shorts they are happy...I want to make sure I take her anything that she might need also...Jeff has is list looking good....he has to go to the dr today, bank and pay the rest of the bills. We have confinded the kids to us for the next 36 hours and they are good with that...My stomach feels upset this morning just nerves I guess....We plan on getting everything done today so we can just relax tomorrow. Josh and Allison got the results from all the tests on the baby and it is perfectly healthy so thats wonderful to hear....I find myself praying everytime I turn around I find/remember something/someone else that I need to ask God to take in his hands and give me peace..Will post again soon.

Donna

2 Days before departure

It is early Tuesday morning and I didn't sleep well it seems like as soon as you get quiet your mind starts racing of the million things that need to be done or just the unknowns of the trip. I am struggling with leaving the kids even though I know between all our parents and Josh/Allison they will be probably better taken care of it is so hard to walk away from those you spend their whole life caring, nuturing, laughing, yelling and loving for. Anyway that is constantly in your thoughts. As far as packing...I am in Il so poor Jeff is running around like a chicken with his head cutoff trying to tie up the loose ends. But if you know my husband he will get his "honey do" list complete.
Love
Jeff and Donna

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3 Days and Counting

OK,
So last night we had my parents, Joann and the kids over for dinner and to have a pow wow. I feel alot better about the plan...Josh and Allie will be at the house pretty much full time as Josh works at night and will be there in the day and Allie works during the day. Between mom, Joann and Karlen there is going to be atleast 5 dinners each evening for them. Thats more than they are used to now. The boys are so excited for us to get her they are finally full of questions now that we are leaving. When they seen her room after the shower Trevor said " this is so weird and exciting all this pink stuff it just isnt normal we have never had pink stuff", but they all went through everything she got and really took it all in...Jeff and I arent sleeping great as there are so many loose ends to tie up but we will get it done and then be able to relax and just enjoy this special time in our marriage and family. We want to focus everything on getting this done as fast as possible and getting home to our love ones and friends. Again thanks to everyone who joined us on Friday night it was truly a wonderful suprise and we wouldnt have missed it for the world.

Love to all
Jeff and Donna

Well 4 days and counting until we leave!! We had a GREAT time at our surprise party Friday night , we really were surprised. Thank You MJ(mama Jo) & Marie for the party and everyone who worked on it, it was a blast. We will keep the blog updated as often as we can while gone.
Our biggest concern is leaving the boys and Allison behind, we have never been away from them
this long.Well I guess our next update will be Thursday before we leave.