Throughout the week, I received "Slovak" language lessons from one of the sweetest little girls, Tamara... she was my "Opica", which means "Monkey" in Slovak. She would climb on me and try and tackle me any chance she had.... and I let her... it warmed my heart. While the hubby was helping out with the construction side of this service project, the kids in the school would sweetly stick their heads out of the window, and want to say "hello" to him and everyone else who was helping out with the construction. Everyday, little heads would stick out the windows and would want my hubby's "autograph"... they would hand little pictures they drew specifically for him, and just shower him with smiles. Later (as documented by the picture below), I figured out, it's because he won over their hearts when he showed up at the windows with a big bag of lolipops to hand out to the little ones.
Friends... this was a very special time for the hubby and I. I loved on those little ones like I have never loved on a little one before... and as the bus pulled away (with all the kids surrounding the bus, including my little "monkey" waving goodbye) my heart BROKE. I felt like my time there wasn't finished... like I needed to stay longer. I felt like a piece of myself was left behind. And that's when I knew, I knew that I could be a mom for a child that wasn't "mine" biologically... I knew that I had to come back to Eastern Europe for a child... and this is how the "serious" ideas of adoption (the hubby and I have always thought it would be "neat" to adopt and have an international family but never put it in the forefront of our lives) came about. So why Ukraine? Well, it's one of the only Eastern European countries where adoption is still "open"... most of the other countries have closed up shop. Everyday my heart yearns to be back there, in Eastern Europe, and I have NO doubt, that God has someone(s) special waiting for us there. I'm almost positive that my heart will feel "at rest" when the time comes that we finally meet our little one(s)... and if not, maybe we need to start round two (wink wink)!









what beautiful photos and what a wonderful story! a couple from our church is adopting an older boy from ukraine right now. i'll pray for you guys on this journey!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and thank you for sharing your story, Karen! I'm excited for this opportunity and pray you'll soon have your little one(s)!
ReplyDeleteSo amazing! Don't you LOVE that God has a plan for it all?! He is so good to us and I can't wait to see your family finally come together. I'm praying for you both and your little one(s) afar, that your waiting will soon be over!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being willing to share this chapter of your family's story with us! I can't wait to hear how God moves when you and Jason meet Eastern Europe for next chapter!!! :)
ReplyDeleteKaren Davis! i love this sweet reminder of how intricately God has designed your story and your family!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I have two kids and their families who live in Ukraine now. They're currently visiting here, but I'd love to put you in touch with them. They're in Kyiv. Trevor and Caci can be found on their blog at http://jtrevorchapman.com/blog/
ReplyDeleteand Brooke and Steven can be found on their blog at
http://stevenandbrooke.blogspot.com/
I'm very happy for you!
REALLY enjoyed seeing this and reading about how this all started Karen. You are a special lady and that hubby of yours is pretty amazing too. I am sad that I will not be here to finally meet your little one/s. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteKathee
Yayyy.. I remember those wonderful times!!!
ReplyDeletewhat beautiful photos! the location and the people look wonderful : ) thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletecute blog - i'm your newest follower.
til next time,
cailen
www.cailenascher.blogspot.com
hmmm I love Eastern Europe too....funny that! :) hope to meet you SOON! :)
ReplyDeleteGod has great plans for the {growing} Davis family, I can feel it!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I know God has put orphans on my heart also, just not sure what the means yet! So glad for you! I hope that you get your travel date soon!
ReplyDeletewow, that´s wonderful! I didn´t know that. It´s a shame I didn´t get to participate in Service Project in Slovakia. Everyboty told me that it was awesome. I found out about that later. Not that SP in Turnov wasn´t awesome but I think it was a little bit different there. But it´s a shame that it´s not happening in Turnov anymore eventhough they are having other little projects and that´s good - new things are coming... ;)
ReplyDelete(I am secretly hoping that you get two children;) :D I don´t know what do you wish. You are maybe more prepared for one but when you did a lot of work with those papers it would be fun to have two children ;) )