My "American" Family by Laura T.

I came to America as an exchange student to learn about the American culture. I wanted to look behind the prejudices Germans have. I wanted to tell everybody that there are more than French Fries and Burgers and whole days in front of the computer and TV.

One day before my flight I got my host family. Family Roge. But I didn`t expect six brothers and sisters, four adopted from Ukraine. Now I have American and Russian culture. I see how American people live, how Ukrainian kids live and how Americans and Ukrainian live together. It is more than I could ever think and dream about.

Like that, my exchange year and my whole experience is becoming something really special and I enjoy it! I enjoy the family movie nights, every evening sitting together to have dinner- as a family, go up in the mountains, have picnics. And with every day, they becoming more my family, it’s becoming a home, strangers become loved ones!

I live every day, enjoy it, be happy and thankful- because I have the chance to live with a great family like this! It couldn’t be better!

Laura (age 15)
Exchange student from Munich, Germany

More on the "Big D"

The DOSSIER has been delivered! On what seemed like a tour of the world (Denver-Indianapolis-Paris-Kiev-Ukraine customs-maybe the Zoo) it was signed for and received by our facilitator "O" today. Wow, so much for three day international shipping!

Our facilitator team will be busy translating it into Ukrainian/Russian, if they haven't done so already. (Quick tip: scan all your documents and e-mail them to your facilitator in advance so that they may start the translation process early. Some facilitators will do this, others will not...all part of the hiring process and research we accomplished. "O's" team does!)

Next stop: SDA submission! We should know something in a week or two. Meanwhile, enjoy the guest bloggers!

~ Felix ~

School by Julia Rogé

In Ukraine school is really bad and the teachers are really mean. Also you need to wear 70's uniforms. You can't talk to any kids when is a free time. Also you cannot go outside after lunch. But in America the school is really nice and the teachers are sweet & cool. You don't have to wear uniforms. You can talk to your friends on free time. Also you can go outside you want. Also the principal are different. In Ukraine principals are mean and always in their offices all the time. American principals are nice and they not in their offices all the time.

Julia (age 13)

Arrived home December 24, 2008

Adoption Changed my Life by Kole Rogé

I got home on December 24, 2008. Adpption changed my life in many ways first: the food in Ukraine was terrible. The American food is awesome [in my opinion]. Second: the schools where trashed also I got easily distracted in school the good thing is American schools are not trashed or small. I have wary good grades because now I’m focused and also educated good. The schools in here are nice clean and BIG now my parents care about my grades and education. My parents care about me. Every Friday we watch a family movie those are the best. My teeth used to be rotten now their better than ever. I’m safe and secure. The best thing is they love me.

Kole (age 12)
Arrived home December 24, 2008

"The Big D" - Nope, not Dallas

We temporarily interrupt this guest blogger programming to bring you late-breaking adoption news. Can you guess what "The Big D" is?

DOSSIER!

That's right, take a gander under the 3rd adoption column over there! We sent our completed, apostilled dossier to Ukraine today!

OK, excitement over. We send you back to the guest bloggers now. I spied Kole working on a post on the downstairs computer. Hmn, he might be next!

~ Felix ~

Starting Over by Nadia Rogé

When I came home on Christmas Eve 2008 I was very happy but at the same time I was scared because not knowing any English and this family well. About 2 weeks later I went to Heritage Middle School to learn English. Heritage had this New Comer program that I went to learn English. About a month or two latter I started to speak English and understand it well that I could communicate with people and family but it was very different that I thought it would be. Now I am going to a different school by our house and not in a New Comers program any more. Not being in New Comers program seems to be very hard and different but I know that I have to go there to have a new experience and a good education to have a good life.

Now I love this family for everything that they give me and everything they do for our family I really mean it. I hope to be a better person in my life and mom and dad help me with it every time I do something wrong or say something wrong. I know that they will try to do everything they can to make me a better person. I love my family for things they do for me and for everyone else.

Nadia (age 14)

Arrived home December 24, 2008

Wonderful Present by Rimma Rogé

Family it's a wonderful present that God gave me! Two years ago I couldn't even imagine about this special present! I always wanted someone who would love and taking a good care of me, who supported me in difficult moments. For me love, hope and trust are the most important things you need for family. I am so happy that I could have all of those!

Rimma (age 14)

Arrived home March 3, 2010

Acceptance by Jessica Rogé

When I first heard that my parents were adopting, I was kinda shell-shocked. At the time, my life was at rock-bottom. I was in the middle of an abusive marriage. I had no friends and a new “family” (my in-laws) that hated me. Most importantly, I had no hope.

My first reaction to the adoption news was purely selfish. I felt a sense of abandonment. My husband used these feelings to further alienate me from my dad. It took me a few months to get off of my high horse. I was in a communications class at the time. So I decided to do a speech on orphans, Ukraine, adoption, and all that good stuff. It was supposed to be a 3 minute speech. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop! I talked with a fiery passion for about 15 minutes. I got an A!!

It took me about another year to get my head on straight. I left my husband on January 3rd of this year. I bounced around from home to home for about 6 months after that, including a battered women's shelter.

I first met my new brother and sisters, when I came to Colorado on a one week visit this summer. The acceptance I felt when I walked through the front door was overwhelming. I was first approached by Julia. She eyed me over and asked, “Jessica, are you my sister too?” I told her I was. She thought about this for a moment, grinned big, and asked “Ok, can I paint your nails?” I wanted to cry.

I realize now that this was God’s plan. These kids were delivered from awful conditions and so was I. I accepted God into my heart, and he gave me a new family and new friends.

~ Jessica, age 22 ~

Serenity Prayer (my favorite)
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Golden Ticket!

Had to post one more time before the guest bloggers arrive. We received our 171h today! The Golden ticket has arrived! Yeah! The Dossier only needs to be apostilled now and then it's off to Ukraine!

~ Felix ~

Guest Bloggers

I’m busy at work and Heidi and I are working on finishing up the Dossier that will eventually bring Lizzie home. Therefore, stay tuned for some guest bloggers over the next few weeks...our kids! If anything exciting happens, I will be sure to post, too!

I asked our kids to write about something, anything that they would like to put here on our family blog. I told them it could be about whatever they would like to share with you, our readers and followers. Most, if not all, of their writing will be unedited and cut and pasted just as they wrote it.

I got some enthusiastic responses, some eye rolling (to which I said, “don’t look at me with that tone of voice!”) and some excuses for not attempting the effort. It will be interesting to see what topics they choose, who will be first, and who will ditch the assignment.

To the whiners, I told them that one day when we make this blog a book, they will be in it. That kinda got them motivated. Hey, it isn’t everyday that you get published :-)

Editor-in-Chief
Felix

Wishing for "Old Man Winter"

We are in the final stages of our dossier and we will send it to our facilitator next week! We are only waiting on the 171h. The USCIS e-mailed us that our case was approved and that the "golden ticket" is on it's way! I'll run down to Denver at the beginning of the week to get everything apostilled and then, we will overnight it to Ukraine...Whoo-hoo!


Lizzie knows it's getting close too. I got the following Facebook message from our sweetie today...

hi Tet'ka!!!
how are you????
I'm fine!!!soon I 'll have holidays!!!
i miss you!!!
i'm waiting for winter!!!!cause in winter you'll come!!!
i love you!!!!

Lizzie could speak a little English before she came here for 10 weeks this past summer. However, in past years she would inevitably ask for a translator after we spoke on the phone for only a minute or two. Nowadays, she carries on for long lengths of time when we call. Sometimes we have to tell her that we have to go and that we will speak again soon. Boy did that 10 weeks with us do wonders for her English skills! (Note the I'm, I'll and 'cause word use).

Yep, we both can't wait 'till Old Man Winter arrives this year!

~ Tet'ka Felix ~