Today is another beautiful day in Zap. Perfect weather! We also found out that our court date is next Thursday, August 13 at 11:30 a.m. Thanks goes out to our facilators Sasha and Nina whom we have witnessed their hard work in the last couple of days to make this possible. Their are alot of documents and people to see before it is presented to the courts for an appointment. The kids are doing great and we are all looking forward to coming home. Jerry-Andy's skype name is Andrew Garver. He says congratulations on your first day of practice. It has been along day so good night to all!

Terri

It has been a very busy 2 days. We were able to get our referral early yesterday instead of waiting the whole day and we were able to leave at 2:00 p.m. to drive to Zap. Sasha drove us and those who have have had the pleasure of riding with him can understand when I say that it seemed like a flash and we were in Zap. We arrived about 8:30 p.m. to a thunderstorm. Our friend Nina took us over to our apartment and it is so nice. We met Nina at 9:00 a.m. to begin the process and what a day it has been. Now, you have to meet and be interviewed by some official, not the inspector, in which it lasted about an hour. Then he gave the approval and off we went with the inspector to the orphanage. The kids were brought back from camp to meet us at the orphanage. It has been a year since we saw them last and I tell you it was so emotional for Andy and I. After we had hugged and kissed them for awhile we all sat down in the directors office and spent about 45 minutes going through the questions and answers from the kids and finally each was asked if they wanted us as their Father and Mother and yes was the answer!!!! Our new son had his named picked out along time ago but our new daughter was not decided before we came . So we asked each of our 3 children to give us a name and middle name for her and we would present and let her choose . So from here on out our kids will be called David Joseph Garver and Ashley Lynn Garver. We have notarized all the papers today and tomorrow they will be submitted to the court for a court date. We should know something tommorrow afternoon. I have no Andy stories to tell, he was absolutely laid back and carefree. Until tomorrow-tell somebody you love them!

Terri and Andy
David and Ashley

We will not travel early in the morning-papers not ready, we will leave late afternoon to go to Zap. Spent the day with the Boycott's, Rebecca Thomas, and the Kappes. We all ate at TGI Fridays and it was good! It is great to have other families with you, helps pass the time and you just have fun together. Andy says I need to clarify to everyone that he did not pay $300 to work out- he just runs every morning which you walk so much and climb stairs that I feel like I am doing the workout that he is always trying to get me to do. No , Kim Thomas- I didn't bring my iron-didn't need to, they have a great one in our apartment and you know I am the expert in irons! If you are finding it hard to post a comment here, just email me at terrigarver@yahoo.com or the skype is under Andrew Garver.

Terri

Today we awoke to the most beautiful, sunny, cool and one of the most special days ever in our lives. My friends know that I love to iron, so this morning I set up the iron, put on a cd of 70's music on my walkman ( yes, I said walkman- I don't have an ipod and don't want one-our kids just roll theirs eyes at my and Andy's inability to catch up with all the technology) and just ironed away. My friends also tell me I must be nuts in loving to iron but I tell you it is a very calming , don't have to think about anything activity and in the end you look nice! I also enjoyed my single folgers coffee bags (like tea bags) this morning, tasted like fresh brewed! Our facilitator picked us up at 9:00 to head to the office for our first appointment that iniates the process of adoption. Of course we were nervous, after all it has taken 4 years and we just didn't want anymore delays. It took all of 10 minutes and boom, ready to go. Hopefully we will leave in the morning to head to see the kids and begin the next steps to complete the adoption. Andy is out running as I type this and I am going to put my walking sandals on and enjoy the rest of the day in beautiful Kiev and enjoy the fact that I am about to become a new mom and add to our family. Wow, mom of 5 children and grandmother of 1-I love it!

Love,
Terri

Wow-what a day! Spent all afternoon and evening with the Boycott's and Rebecca Thomas. They are back in Kiev from their adoption of Libby and Artrem. Susan and I talked by phone before they came over, we had not met before today though and it seemed like we had been friends for along time with her and Bill and Rebecca. Kiev is a beautiful place. We walked everywhere! Tomorrow morning is our appointment with the SDA . We should be leaving on Tuesday to head to Zap-can hardly wait to see the kids. Until tommorrow-as my friend Lynn says on her answering machine-"Make it a great day"

Terri and Andy

Hello from Ukraine!

We made it and I am sad to say that I don't have any Andy stories to tell. He was well behaved. We are sitting in our apartment right now watching CNN and ESPN classic. I figured we could get CNN but can't believe the ESPN one. I wonder if Andy had some part in this? The weather is beautiful today and we are about to go to TGI Friday's for dinner. We are staying right across the street from there. Andy was able to find a work out place but they wanted $300 for 10 visits. Going on our adventure now, I know about 4 Russian words as our tour guide!

Terri and Andy

It's Time to go

How many times do we use that expression "It's time to go" This whole process has been measured in time. Maybe this time next year we will have the kids, maybe we will talk to them next week, when will be the next time we see them,how much time will it take to get the next document updated and on and on. The other day, Andy and I were watching some videos of our children when they were little-Wow you realize that time has flown by and my hairstyles were really ugly and Andy actually had hair!

One of my favorite verses in the bible has everything to do with time-Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time."

And so it is our time to go now and fulfill the calling that God has given us!

Terri and Andy