It is Saturday late afternoon and we arrived safely about 7:30 am this morning. After resting today, we will connect with our special friend and partner, John Wright for dinner tonight to catch up on all the news....tomorrow we plan to visit the Chinese Church, stop in to visit our special young friends at the orphanage and begin our time here in earnest on Monday morning.
I do feel in many ways that I am home - at least in my second home. It feels good to be here and we are anticipating great things.
Circumstances are changing here, so we will be doing alot of humanitarian work and social work...much more specific work involving David's focus is taking a different and uncertain path.
Thank you for your interest and support...our next chapter begins....
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The National Media Day
Before I show you pictures of the events of this day, I want to say that I am extremely humbled by this awesome opportunity – not only to have a book translated into another language, but to have the privilege in participating in the release of it on a national level in Ukraine. The publication of the book was a joint project of the Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio and Holt International of Ukraine.
National Adoption Day
September 30 is National Adoption Day and in honor of that day, Holt International Services hosted a national media event to recognize the day. The purpose of the day was to introduce adoptive families, to recognize the national government and non-government officials working in adoption and to announce the release of Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child, the Field Guide to Child Welfare by Ron Hughes and Judy Rycus and the Step by Step Parenting Series by Lynn and Ruby Johnston and others.
Let the pictures tell the story….
Highlighting the joys of adoptive parenting and the need for adoptive families brought these two families to the event to share their beautiful stories.
This mom shared a poem she wrote to her new daughter.
This couple, having already raised biologial children, felt called to increase their family. What a awesome sight!
We arrived to the rush of setting up TV cameras for this national event.
Participanting in this event were left to right, Alonya, Director of Holt International of Ukraine, Lydmilla, Director of the National Adoption Program for Ukraine and Uri, the head of the Ministry Department of Family, Youth and Sports, like our cabinet positions.
We all shared in the excitement. Betsy Smalley, on the far right is my co-author.
Signing books after the event.
Again, we are so apprecitive to those who arranged this incredible event. Our next blog will be from Tokmok, Krygyzstan.
National Adoption Day
September 30 is National Adoption Day and in honor of that day, Holt International Services hosted a national media event to recognize the day. The purpose of the day was to introduce adoptive families, to recognize the national government and non-government officials working in adoption and to announce the release of Telling the Truth to Your Adopted Child, the Field Guide to Child Welfare by Ron Hughes and Judy Rycus and the Step by Step Parenting Series by Lynn and Ruby Johnston and others.
Let the pictures tell the story….
Highlighting the joys of adoptive parenting and the need for adoptive families brought these two families to the event to share their beautiful stories.
This mom shared a poem she wrote to her new daughter. This couple, having already raised biologial children, felt called to increase their family. What a awesome sight! We arrived to the rush of setting up TV cameras for this national event. Participanting in this event were left to right, Alonya, Director of Holt International of Ukraine, Lydmilla, Director of the National Adoption Program for Ukraine and Uri, the head of the Ministry Department of Family, Youth and Sports, like our cabinet positions. Rulsan, in the center, is the Vice President of Father's House in Kiev, one of the most effective organizations in Urkaine, finding homes for children in need of a permanent family.
Ruby shares ILDC's publications which have been in Ukraine, Russia and Kgyzstan - the Field Guide for Children Welfare and....
the Step by Step Parenting Series.
Ruby announces the release of Telling the Truth.
We all shared in the excitement. Betsy Smalley, on the far right is my co-author.
Signing books after the event.
Again, we are so apprecitive to those who arranged this incredible event. Our next blog will be from Tokmok, Krygyzstan.
Monday, September 28, 2009
A Wonderful Day of Opportunity
It was almost a year ago that this day way planned – the release of our newly Russian translated book in Kiev Ukraine– Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child. The actual work of translation took many, many months…and all that hard work paid off today. We trust it will make a contribution to the child welfare literature in this country.
Over 40 participants from some of the top nationally respected non governmental agencies and governmental agencies took part in our all day training, much of which was centered on the focus of the book. My co-author, Betsy Keefer Smalley and I are deeply indebted to the Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio, the International Leadership and Development Center of Ukraine and Holt International for guiding the translation of the book and for hosting this awesome event today.
Let the pictures tell the rest of the story….
Getting ready for the crowd - our faithful helpers at the registration table - Larisa, Luba and Vera.
Oleg, the executive director of ILDC and Ruby distribute Field Guides, Step by Step Parenting bookslets and much more.
Oleg and Ruby display the newest Field Guide to Child Welfare release.
Opening of the training day.
Betsy prepares to present.
We had the opportunity to do simultaneous translation, which means we didn't have to wait for translation - it happened as we are speaking.
The participants expressed enthusiasm over the day and were so appreciative.
These two young ladies shared in a very creative way. They are part of the growing team of national trainers being prepared by the International Leadership and Development Center.
Following the training, many asked us to sign books..we were honored to do so.
Today is Tuesday and we are preparing for a press conference related to the release of our book and other tremendous resources.
Over 40 participants from some of the top nationally respected non governmental agencies and governmental agencies took part in our all day training, much of which was centered on the focus of the book. My co-author, Betsy Keefer Smalley and I are deeply indebted to the Institute for Human Services in Columbus, Ohio, the International Leadership and Development Center of Ukraine and Holt International for guiding the translation of the book and for hosting this awesome event today.
Let the pictures tell the rest of the story….
Getting ready for the crowd - our faithful helpers at the registration table - Larisa, Luba and Vera.
Oleg, the executive director of ILDC and Ruby distribute Field Guides, Step by Step Parenting bookslets and much more.
Oleg and Ruby display the newest Field Guide to Child Welfare release.
Opening of the training day.
Betsy prepares to present.
We had the opportunity to do simultaneous translation, which means we didn't have to wait for translation - it happened as we are speaking. 
The participants expressed enthusiasm over the day and were so appreciative.
These two young ladies shared in a very creative way. They are part of the growing team of national trainers being prepared by the International Leadership and Development Center.
Following the training, many asked us to sign books..we were honored to do so.
Today is Tuesday and we are preparing for a press conference related to the release of our book and other tremendous resources.
I am excited, also, because David leaves the US today to join us. We leave for Krygyzstan on Friday morning.
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