He Makes all things Beautiful...

God makes all things beautiful. There is a song we sing at church like that and I need to remind myself of this when things get tough, long or frustrating. Here are some photos to help remind me.


Andri & Mama before bed. Natasha, Andri & Sophia at the Water Works.

Natasha's Girly 10year old party. Katya doing the Tarzan!

Natasha blowing out the candles on her Barbie cake.
Jaclyn with our neighbor girlfriend, Kassie.

Sophia & Katya swimming. Katya before jumping in.


Katya's beautiful artwork. Natasha with Natasha from Kiev. Bring on the tears! Some the kids are here with host families and we saw Natasha and another friend from Kiev and even though they are here for awhile, it brings tears to our eyes to say hi and good-bye. We'd like to bottle them up and pull them out ever so often when we need them, and want their sweetness and good humor. They are like family to us now after seeing them for so long in Kiev.

Jonathan taking 1st at the LumberJack Days in Chess! James played too.
Mama & Andri at the WaterWorks.


The Mother/Daughter Barbie cakes. The girls swimming after eating. A wonderful group of girls.
Chris and I managed a date to Papa Louie's on Friday night which ended in my crashing on his couch for a couple hours! I guess I am pushing the exhaustion envelope. All went well for the kids back home, no phone calls or problems.

We have had a few more problems this week, but handling them ok. There is always an "I'm sorry" after the problem, but it's hard to walk through the problems on some days.

Well, all else is well for now. We're looking forward to church, a parade at Chris' Uncle's home tomorrow, and then to church to hear about a Ukranian Mission's trip.

Love from Alesia & Chris

A good week...

Sophia burying Andri at our Church camping weekend. Sophia & I posing for a picture before leaving the park for the rest of the weekend.

Natasha & her friend Brenna. Brenna's family is hosting a little boy from Ukraine this summer also. Natasha has a knack for making friends easily. Natasha and Mama at her birthday party.

Natasha opening presents. Chris wrestling with James, Andri, and cousin Owen.

Sophia & Katya swimming at the birthday party, like sisters. It blesses my heart to see all of them loving each other. They all come and go from this moment by moment, so when I can catch it on film, it really encourages me.

Jonathan & Natasha celebrated their birthday's together. Jonathan turned 9, and Natasha is almost 10.

Here's to the Fountain of Youth!

We had a better week. A little blow out here and there. We found out that our children are basically healthy, and needed shots. Chris talked with our "parenting" doctor, and that gave us some helpful encouragement.

Now we need to start enrolling in schools for fall, signing up for soccer clinics, football, hockey, and dance for fall, and keep bonding.

We're really excited that our kid's friends are here from Ukraine, and at the same time we realize that they need to spend time with their new families, we just wish we could see them all everyday! It's like a part of home came to visit us and our children, but really they are just here on the adventure our children were on last summer.

We just want you to know that we feel as though we are going 2 steps forward 1 step back, so for the most part we're going in the right direction! Chris and I are a team, the kids are really trying their best. Alesia gets pretty exhausted by Friday. Chris is still really supportive. The weather is nice. God is good!

Love from Chris & Alesia

Happy Birthday America

Fireworks at Pioneer Park in Stillwater. Sophia lost a tooth and has one loose one on the way out.


We went to Fort Snelling to learn a little history and Natasha played some games from the past.


Here is a photo at Pioneer park waiting for the fire works. James is looking for treats.

Natasha is playing another game and Katya is trying to walk on stilts! : )

Jonathan & Chance. Andri posing at Fort Snelling, ready for work.

A little better week this week. We have made it to the eye doctor's, the dentist's, the family physician, and have had lots of shots. Everyone is sore from the shots. We are doing some math today, and plan to go to a park with our church friends who are camping.

Jonathan & Jaclyn are both in hockey camp, and with violin, voice, guitar, piano, track & field, chess clubs, doctors visits, it makes for a crazy home!!

It's hot and we are using the pool. Sophia is sore from running with Papa (Daddy). Katya went to my friend's home as a mother's helper. Natasha likes to walk the dog and swim. Jonathan was reading War of the Worlds to Andri today. James is kind of hanging off on his own too much, so that's a little problem. Jaclyn is really helpful with music and voice lessons.

I'm not as stressed as I was last week.

We are praying for our friends from Kiev to come this summer without any problems. There is now a glitch in their documents. Keep them in their prayers.

Chris is really supportive and kind. There are 12 beautiful roses on our dining room table right now. Everyone is trying their best.

Love from Alesia & Chris

July 1, 2010

Katya & Jaclyn practicing Voice lessons. Chim Chiminey, Chim Chiminey, Chim Chim Chiree...


Sophia helped Andri swim without a life jacket and he did great!

Taylor & Katya hugging at our cabin, while doing fireworks.

Jaclyn, Mama & Andri smiling at breakfast. Andri, Jonathan, & James at a chess tournament. Andri can now checkmate Mama & James so he is "qualified" to go to the chess club! Others are working on their "qualification" as well.

Jaclyn made a quiver and arm protector for their pretend archery set. It is a fun toy for the back yard.

Alesia is having a hard week, trying to understand what is normal problem words with what is serious. We have some support people lined up, and have some doctor's appointments next week to check on vaccinations and other medical questions that we have.

Chris is doing a lot of extra work this week at 3M with a government grant, and helping his office move from building to building. Despite all that extra work, he still comes home and hugs me and tells me that I'm doing a good job. Even though I wonder some days!!!

Thanks for all your prayers and support. Love Alesia & Chris