Beautiful Day in Florida

Beautiful day in Florida....started out by taking Steve to get his braces adjusted.  Across the street from the dentist is a health food store, a real food store like Whole Foods just smaller.  I did some shopping and really enjoyed looking around.  We are trying our best to eat healthy, not just low fat but more organic, no preservative type things.  I do my best to but things that I can read the ingredients of the foods we eat.  It's harder because I have to cook more but it is worth it.  I was really happy they had chips with only olive oil and rosemary, dear Lord they were SO good!  I read a book that talked about how vegetable oils like canola, soybean etc are bad for your body.  They are made in high heat that activates something bad....LOL  I really paid attention, I just can't remember all the details now.  But I had heard all that before so I cleaned out our kitchen.  The only time it is healthy to eat things with that is when it is Ex   oil.  You can buy vegetable oil like that in health food stores.  I use alot of olive oil which is very good for you but even then you should get Extra Virgin Olive Oil, according to the book.  Anyhow we are trying to be as healthy as possible and as natural as possible!

Selah is doing great, her nurse has had her up and outside alot today.  She is very content and calm.  It's so wonderful to see her feeling good. 

Today has been a bit of a free day for my kids.  No therapy for the little ones and I let the boys take off from homeschooling.  I've been really strict about their schoolwork as they were behind with us being gone, so they've even done schoolwork on Saturdays poor boys!  The boys did mow the yards and do some weeding but that didn't take too long.  Shad is almost done with 3rd grade work and I may have to order some 4th grade work for him.  It's better he stay ahead.  Steve is doing ok but he is in 11th so the work is a bit harder!  They use the same curriculum their school uses that allows them to work at their own pace.  It's somewhat a self taught curriculum.  When we moved here 7 years ago and Steve changed schools and curriculum I wasn't too thrilled with it.  But I have seen that he has amazing reading comprehension and I think that comes from doing so much reading.  Every curriculum has it's pro's and con's. 

Sarah got to play in her new pool today.  At first she seemed shocked but then she remembered it from last year and was busy splashing.  April in Florida is GREAT!

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So I promised alot of great pictures today!  The first picture is from the bowling alley across the street.  Please look at what is outlawed in there.....the last one cracked me up....NO ONE spoke English around there...doubt they read it either hahahaha!

 

This fellow was on our kitchen floor, wasn't sure what he was but he went out the kitchen window...

 

Look at Selah smiling, she loves swings

 

 

 

See the kitty on the gas pipe?

 

 

this picture takes my heart...

 

 

 

Little V who is home and loved now!

 

 

 

Max who is Cephes and has left the orphanage by now....Thank you Lord!

 

Two little ones who still wait.....

 

Jon with Selah, Sarah and V

 

 

 

Max and me!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Sarah

 

 

 

she was smiling and eating her hand.  I'm glad to say she doesn't eat her hand now unless she is really upset!

 

 

 

 

 

Now Jon has Selah, N and V with him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sweetie needs a home....he loved Jon!

 

Some of the older girls/ladies called to me to take their picture

 

L is one of the girls we are raising money for this month!  Soon she will have a family!

 

After we spent a morning pouring love into all the kids they brought out to us to play with, we went back to our apartment and got the boys and went downtown.

 

this is the dirt path to the church

 

this is a food place across from the police station, we got rice there a few times

 

 

LOL  Steve wanted me to take this picture of him by the motorcycle with a side car

 

The bus station, very busy

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of shops and the place with a green roof had good food

 

we ate here

 

are these flowers beautiful or what?  I love how the whole town was planting bulbs and flowers were blooming!

 

Awwwww

 

I love this picture with my sweet Sam!!!!

 

 

 

Even Lenin got some flowers....

 

 

We went to the park

 

 

 

Fun times:)

 

this was some sort of school or political awards for the youth...not sure ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loved seeing the kids out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a typical Ukraine house in the area

 

Ok you can't really tell but looking back and down (where you can't see) is the steepest hill I have ever climbed.  I was pretty sure I was going to die coming up it, trying to push Sam in his wheelchair.  Jon and I both turned that over to Steve LOL! 

 

 

 

I love the comments I get about my pictures and time in Ukraine.  I truly love that country, especially the area we were in.  I've never had any place grab my heart like it did.

 

So we have $400 raised for our orphan/adoption ministry!  You can give to the girls from now till the end of May!  My goal is to give them $1000! 

 

My goal is to raise $1000 for this family by the end of May! You can give in two ways. First you can send a check to Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills Fl 33540 attn: Orphan fund and I will send one check to Grace Haven Ministries or you can click here,

http://gracehavenhome.com/?page_id=4

and give on Grace Haven's GIVE page. Just please write it is for Patricia and the family will be able to use it for both girls.

Also please write in there that you are my friend and giving in honor of Selah & Sarah! I just want to know if we meet our goal of $1000 for these girls!