Merry Christmas

Ok... so it's not so Merry if there are no pictures of Isabella.

But give us a break... we've been in an Internet desert here, limited access and certainly to ability to download... or Skype... so we miss ya'll. And lose not your heart, there shall be pictures soon... yes, there will be.

the Whites in Ukraine

Back in Ukraine

We successfully made it back to Kiev today. Isabella did wonderful on the plane rides thanks to prayer. She basically slept or ate the 8 1/2 hour flight.

We were picked up by Volodia at the airport; we've used him in the past to move.
He brought us to Howard's apt who is the director at the language school we attended. We are very grateful to him for having in his home and setting up the driver. He was also able to tell us of a moving truck that will be headed from Kiev to Sumy tomorrow which we will take advantage of.
Everything is falling into place for us; Praise God!

We love everyone and hope to post new pics soon.

Brett, Alicia, Bella

Home Stretch

Brett and I are in the home stretch. We are headed back to Ukraine with our new family member in 2 weeks.

We've been doing last minute things here in GA to get ready. One of those things involves shipping some of Bella's things on ahead to Ukraine.

She is doing well; growing fast like everyone said she would. She's not talking yet, but we know she's sooo smart. She is also of course beautiful.

We are prayerful of our return and about what God wants us doing to serve Him and those in Ukraine. We have enjoyed our time here in the States in WV with my family and friends and now here in GA with Brett's family and friends.

Here are some of our latest pics.

The latest Bella Pictures

More Pictures

This is a link for more Bella Pictures

Isabella Grace

Isabella Grace was FINALLY born after a long day on September 11, at 10:56pm. She weighed in at 8lbs, 4 oz., length of 20-1/2".

Mother and baby are both healthy and getting used to new life

This is her "going home" dress she wore on Sunday.

Pawpaw and Meme, Isabella, Mama and Daddy, Nana- and Doug is waiting on Grace (he calls her) to decide what she wants to call him. In the meantime, I think we'll call him "Dedushka"

Here's the latest picture from last night-- this is Bella in burping position.

Waiting for the baby

Whenever someone asks, just tell them we're just waiting for the baby.

Here's some photos to share, thanks for keeping up with us.

We went to Huntington's flower garden where we had special "pregnant pictures" taken.

Thanks Karen, SaraBeth, Abbie, and Katie!

Carrie and Alicia-- a nice mom and daughter photo. Alicia wouldn't have wanted to be without her mom for when Bella is born. Doug and Carrie have been wonderful to us, and it's been fun hanging out with brother, Clinton.


Before we left Valdosta, these girls threw Isabella a shower! This is Kassie, Lora, and Sarah. Thanks so much for those who came and who gave presents.

It was really overwhelming to me the love that people from Valdosta showed us. Thanks so much, we are blessed!

This is Leesh standing in front of the camper we're staying in beside the Shrewsbury home. It's like a dream for me to be living in a camper. Seriously... and you won't believe how many jokes I've heard for saying that! Portable, compact, what more do you need? It's nice to have our own space, even though we spend meals and time over in the house with the family.

June-July 08

Preparing to empty our apt and fly home. Lilly was confused:)

We made it on the plane after deciding our standby tickets were too iffy and buying an extra flight out of Kiev to Vienna

Our friends Ollie and Cristy Horne. We flew from Kiev to Atlanta with Cristy.

Celebrating Michael's (our nephew) and Brett's Birthday

Brett, Kelley(sister), Mom(Yvonne), Chuck(brother)



Good Friends:Geannie and Jerry


Their son Jerry and his wife Lora



Opening some gifts for Isabella


In Ft. Worth,Texas with some board members and their family



Visiting supporting churches around Texas


Jacob's ladder at ACU campus



Visiting in Abilene, Texas with Tom and Sherla Winter



Celebrating the 4th at Lake Nasworthy



Picnic at Max and Juan's(where we stayed)
Grady and Roma Bryan with Brett


Board Members:Max and Juan Pratt, Morris and Beverly McFadden


Brett speaking at San Angelo Church of Christ

We're back!

Praise God, we're here safe and healthy and timely!

Our faith is increased in the God who can do anything and always works through people. The full story of our trip back to the US is full of adventure, prayers, providence-- and just like it is with the greatness, glory, fullness, majesty, goodness, and love of God-- if I began to tell of it, it would take all day and I still wouldn't finish. So as you read this, there is something that you're wondering whether you should trust God about-- and I can assure you that He delivers. It might not be like you want it but He's always on time! (just like our life adventure. So be blessed dear readers... thank you for keeping up with the Whites through this blog. Please keep us covered in prayer and we hope we can see you soon.

Our tentative plan is to be in Valdosta a few weeks, then to Texas to visit supporters and our board, then to West Virginia for the birth of our girl, all this if God wills it that way.

Serenity

Leesh and me.

I took a walk today and guess what I saw?

Waterfowl:

A mallard with a blue head. I always thought they were green.

Nice lines in this picture.
I want to thank Dave Brubacher for my tutorial in camera operations.


Our class took a field trip to the Botanical Gardens in Kyiv last week.
Max Pratt was with us, fourth from left.

This is a Tulip Tree.

Pretty

Me and my friend Jason Han


I just wanted to share some photos. We're staying healthy and getting ready for our return trip home for baby leave. We need your prayers, as always. We will miss our life and work here. We are entering a new phase, indeed.
Love.

Spring walk

We took a walk in the beautiful spring weather of Ukraine

Here is a billboard (reklama) of an Easter Message from the President of Ukraine. The egg is a traditional pysanky.

Lilly and the tulips

Two cool kids on a walk in the spring sunshine.
(note the little Orthodox church in the background... they were getting it ready for Easter Sunday... which by the way was almost a month after the observed Easter for "the West")

Leesh and Lilly at a lake
pregnancy and Poznyaky

We visited with Andrew and Jenny Kelly, a spontaneous trip up to Ivankiv. They've been really busy, but we took advantage of visiting a for a day after the Shevchenko Church of Christ blessed the ministry God has opened up in this community. This is their house.

School Play

Every couple months at school, we have a meeting where everyone gets together and shares something in either Ukrainian or Russian. This time, one person shared child's story she wrote, a couple of people sang songs, some new students just told us a little about themselves, and a group of us decided to do a play. We just finished reading Little Red Riding Hood, "Красная Шапочка. "

Brett was the woodsmen who saves Little Red and her Grandma from the Wolf