Day 28 & 29 - The "Little Things"...

Hello to everyone who continues following our visit to Ukraine to adopt our children.  We are so grateful for the encouragement, prayers and support we continue to receive through this long process to bring our children home.  Thanks for all that you do to hang in there with us.

My last blogging entry occurred yesterday (Sunday) morning at about 5:00 a.m. Yesterday was kind of a slow day and there wasn't much to write about.  But, I will certainly share the events that have occurred since my last entry.

On Sunday, we were excited to be able to attend church services again at our friend Dima's church.  It is great to be able to attend worship with a body of believers.  It is a different experience to attend church with children.  I mean, to get up, get everyone ready and be at church by 10:00 is no easy task - especially when you are catching a cab to get there.  And, I had my first experience with having to take Tolya out of the room (before service) for being ugly to someone else and me.  I corrected this by letting him stand in a corner and face the wall for 5 minutes.  When discipline is necessary in the apartment, Tolya usually has to sit in a chair in a room all by himself but the new surroundings presented a challenge.  I know he doesn't like the chair.  Having to stand in a corner facing the wall is much, much less tasteful to him.  :-) 

The pastor preached a message from the book of Nehemiah focusing on following God's will.  The message focused on the fact that when God reveals to us to do something, we should pursue it to completion; even if it is uncomfortable or difficult to do so.  The message described that many people only want to serve God as long as it fits into their own schedules, involves their own hobbies, or as long as it doesn't prevent them from doing something they enjoy doing more.   The Pastor shared that he has had people come to him and convey that God has put it on their heart that the church needs a bible study here or a misson outreach there.  When the Pastor replied "that's great, you should begin that right away", the person who brought it up would respond something like "I could never do that" or "I'm not able to speak in front of people" and so on and so on.  I am sure I've heard my own Pastor preach a message on this very subject.  It's also worth mentioning that God equips and prepares His people to accomplish the tasks He sets before us.  I don't need to look any further than my own life to faithfully believe this but there are surely more and better examples all around us everyday that testify to this truth.  Also, the message also described that people (and churches) need to realize that if the resources and tools aren't there to accomplish something then they need to prayerfully consider "Is this God's will or is just me (or us) wanting something".  Tonight I just ask a simple prayer that is taken from the words of Colossians 1:9-10.  Heavenly Father, I ask tonight that you would fill me with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that I may live a life that is worthy of You, that pleases You in every way, and that I might grow in my knowlege of You.

After church we walked down the mountain to eat lunch at the Kiev Morrison's / Piccadily.  :-)  After lunch, we took off on a trek to find clippers to allow me to cut my hair.  Yes, what little hair I have still needs to be cut back from time to time.  :-)  In Kiev, there are many places underground near subway stations and street crossings that have little kiosks that sell various items.  I walk into a particular one of these area every time I go to the grocery store / bank.  I have always noticed store entrance that is a little bigger than the norm but have never walked into it - so off we went.  Turns out, this was the entrance to a huge underground mall.  Jewelry stores, clothing, furniture, all sorts of stuff.  I mean, it's the underground Brookwood Village.  I walked not 50 yards and there was kiosk selling hair trimmers for men.  We were so taken with the mall that we wandered around for a while and low and behold... we spotted something that we didn't know existed here.  Something that Angelia just had to have.  Wash cloths.  They were only $8 hyrivna (pronounced "greevna") each which is equal to one U.S. dollar.  Throwing any concern for our financial well being out the window, Angelia instructed me to purchase four.  I immediatly asked her "why are you only getting four?  Shouldn't we get more so everyone can use them?"  to which she replied "You don't use one at home, the kids have never seen one, so four will be plenty for ME!"  Being in the store with the kids and others present, I chose not to push the issue and quickly dug out some play money.  Being "Rough Talked" breaks language barriers every time. 

So, we finished walking through the mall and headed back to the apartment.  After dinner, I had the task of using my new clippers to cut Charlie's hair.  He and I both need a haircut and it seemed more wise to try them out on him first.  I did such a great job that Anna decided she wanted me to trim her bangs.  (Insert panic look from Angelia here!)  Now, it's not a contest but I would venture to say I am not the first dad who has ever cut their son's hair.  However, I imagine I am the first dad to ever cut the hair of his 14 year old daughter.  Yes... 14 year old daughter.  Dad's in America... don't try this.  I mean, one slip of the scissors, one gap, one perfectly straight line (ie; bowl look) and you could spark an emotional outburst that would last until they're 28 years old.  Thankfully, I was able to do this but I have extremely stable hands borne from the thousands of fish hooks I have tied over the years. 

After the excitement of last night, we slept in a bit and the day was primarily low key family time but it wasn't without it's wonderful blessings.  Last night I asked Anna if she knew how to make "Borsch".  Borsch is a Ukrainian soup.  I've had it a couple of times since being here and thought we might try to make it at the apartment.  Anna told me that she knew how to make it.  Earlier today, I brought it back up and asked if she knew the ingredients, and she said yes.  Off we go to the grocery store to get the items needed.  When we returned, the four of us spent the afternoon in the kitchen with Anna giving us each different tasks to help make the Borsch.  Anna told us that her "Babuska" (grandmother) taught her how to make it when she was only 5 years old.  Anna also told me, in English, that she "loves to cook".  When the Borsch was finished cooking, I told Angelia that "I don't care if this tastes like a horse's hoof, I am going to eat it up".  But, Anna's Borsch was truly wonderful and each of us had several bowls.  When I gave thanks to God for the food, I made it a point to thank God for Anna's "Babushka" who taught her how to make the Borsch, and that I was thankful that it now would become part of the Taylor family recipe's.

Taylor family cooking Anna's Grandmother's "Borsch" recipe

The finished "Borsch" - Very, very tasty!

So ends another day in Kiev, Ukraine.  Truly, the "little things" you find yourself doing with your kids, like buying wash cloths, cutting hair, cooking, laughing and spending time together is a great blessing.  I encourage all of you fellow parents out there to spend some quality time with your kids.  You never know what you might cook up. 

Thanks for all the love, prayers and encouragment as we continue participating in this beautiful tapestry that God is weaving from four lives.