JD (Jeremiah), Matthew, Rebekah, Tracy, and Tim (Back row) and Pasha, Andrew, Galia and Lyonya (Front Row)
MARC ANTHONY,CONNOR, SAMUEL HOLDING CALEB, AARON HOLDING CAITLIN, AND JOSIAH
Open Arms
...caring for orphans and adoptive families...
Saturday, January 23, 2010
January BBQ
Today we had a barbeque to celebrate the marriage of JD and Meg. So with all 9 kids and all 7 grandkids in one room I had to have a picture. Someone said that Caitlin our granddaughter was crying in the photo...I said it didn't matter....she was in the picture!
JD (Jeremiah), Matthew, Rebekah, Tracy, and Tim (Back row) and Pasha, Andrew, Galia and Lyonya (Front Row)
MARC ANTHONY,CONNOR, SAMUEL HOLDING CALEB, AARON HOLDING CAITLIN, AND JOSIAH
JD (Jeremiah), Matthew, Rebekah, Tracy, and Tim (Back row) and Pasha, Andrew, Galia and Lyonya (Front Row)
MARC ANTHONY,CONNOR, SAMUEL HOLDING CALEB, AARON HOLDING CAITLIN, AND JOSIAH
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Great is Thy Faithfulness
THE ELLISOR FAMILY
What a season of change it's been. Only God's faithfulness could have brought us thru into 2010. It's been challenging, at times frustrating, painful, and scary. It's also been exhilarating, happy, joyful and exciting. Most often the problem was going from extreme to extreme with very little notice.
Since returning home with 4 new children, we have celebrated 6 birthdays, 2 weddings, the birth of a new grandchild, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Add to the transition that Carol is no longer working outside the home and we are now homeschooling again. Any way you slice that's just a lot of emotions to squeeze into two months.
Andrei who wants to be called Andrew- asked us the night after JD's wedding, What you gonna do with Lyonya's room when he meets a girl, gets married and moves out?" Guess he figures we always move this fast in life around here. We told him we would cross that bridge in a few years since Lyonya is only 15 right now.
All in all, everyone is doing remarkably well.
Tim and Emily (Aaron 5 and Caitlin 7 mo.) are living in Aiken and Tim has gone back to school.
Some of the boys in the family...
Tracy and Ja' (Marc Anthony 2 and Connor 1) are still thriving in Orangeburg.
Matthew married his long time sweetheart Becky on November 21st and they are living down the street from us here in Columbia.
Rebekah and Tim along with Samuel 3 and Josiah 20 mo. welcomed Caleb Simon Cook to their family on December 30th. He weighed 7lbs 14 oz.
Then for a grand finale Jeremiah (JD) married Margaret (Meg) Nelson on January 2nd. They are off on their honeymoon right now.
Lyonya and Pasha are taking English I and Biology, thru a home school co-op, and making friends in church youth group and Sunday School. Lyonya is hoping to sign up for soccer next month and he has a new favorite recording artist, Kim Walker. So glad she is one of our favorites too.
Pasha plays the French Horn with Ben Lippen's high school band and both of the boys enjoy riding bikes all over the neighborhood.
Galia starts piano lessons next week with a sweet lady from our church. She also loved dressing up and being a Jr. bridesmaid in JD's wedding.
We are so thankful to the Lord for His provision of family and for our family being where we are today. There are still many hurdles to cross in this journey in 2010...but we know He is faithful. Please pray for the Lords continued provision as we are still working through some of the property issues in Odessa and we still have the re-adoption process here in the states...(this will provide the children with a SC birth certificate). All of this takes time and money. Then there's the day to day matter of life and loving and learning and living as a family. So this year, just as Kim Walker sings about, we offer all that we have to Him in order to be one with Him. He is so amazing....just look what what He brought us this past year.
Happy New Year Everyone. May He bless you beyond all that you could hope or imagine.
YOU WON'T RELENT
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love
Waters cannot quench this love,
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
Waters cannot quench this love
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
Come be the fire inside of me, Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me, Until You and I are one
Check out the video on You Tube....link below....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQxp0YhRuM&feature=related
What a season of change it's been. Only God's faithfulness could have brought us thru into 2010. It's been challenging, at times frustrating, painful, and scary. It's also been exhilarating, happy, joyful and exciting. Most often the problem was going from extreme to extreme with very little notice.
Since returning home with 4 new children, we have celebrated 6 birthdays, 2 weddings, the birth of a new grandchild, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Add to the transition that Carol is no longer working outside the home and we are now homeschooling again. Any way you slice that's just a lot of emotions to squeeze into two months.
Andrei who wants to be called Andrew- asked us the night after JD's wedding, What you gonna do with Lyonya's room when he meets a girl, gets married and moves out?" Guess he figures we always move this fast in life around here. We told him we would cross that bridge in a few years since Lyonya is only 15 right now.
All in all, everyone is doing remarkably well.
Tim and Emily (Aaron 5 and Caitlin 7 mo.) are living in Aiken and Tim has gone back to school.
Some of the boys in the family...
Tracy and Ja' (Marc Anthony 2 and Connor 1) are still thriving in Orangeburg.
Matthew married his long time sweetheart Becky on November 21st and they are living down the street from us here in Columbia.
Rebekah and Tim along with Samuel 3 and Josiah 20 mo. welcomed Caleb Simon Cook to their family on December 30th. He weighed 7lbs 14 oz.
Then for a grand finale Jeremiah (JD) married Margaret (Meg) Nelson on January 2nd. They are off on their honeymoon right now.
Lyonya and Pasha are taking English I and Biology, thru a home school co-op, and making friends in church youth group and Sunday School. Lyonya is hoping to sign up for soccer next month and he has a new favorite recording artist, Kim Walker. So glad she is one of our favorites too.
Pasha plays the French Horn with Ben Lippen's high school band and both of the boys enjoy riding bikes all over the neighborhood.
Galia starts piano lessons next week with a sweet lady from our church. She also loved dressing up and being a Jr. bridesmaid in JD's wedding.
We are so thankful to the Lord for His provision of family and for our family being where we are today. There are still many hurdles to cross in this journey in 2010...but we know He is faithful. Please pray for the Lords continued provision as we are still working through some of the property issues in Odessa and we still have the re-adoption process here in the states...(this will provide the children with a SC birth certificate). All of this takes time and money. Then there's the day to day matter of life and loving and learning and living as a family. So this year, just as Kim Walker sings about, we offer all that we have to Him in order to be one with Him. He is so amazing....just look what what He brought us this past year.
Happy New Year Everyone. May He bless you beyond all that you could hope or imagine.
YOU WON'T RELENT
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
I'll set You as a seal upon my heart, As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death, Jealousy, demanding as the grave
Many waters cannot quench this love
Waters cannot quench this love,
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
Waters cannot quench this love
You won't relent until You have it all, My heart is Yours
Come be the fire inside of me, Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me, Until You and I are one
Check out the video on You Tube....link below....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UQxp0YhRuM&feature=related
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas? Already??
Yep, Christmas is tomorrow morning. The kids are EXCITED, to say the least!
We will take many photos and post some after Christmas.
Since we arrived from Ukraine, the kids have done odd jobs for friends and earned some spending money. They had us take them to the "magazine" (store) to buy gifts. They had so much fun buying gifts for each other and others in their new family.
Tonight, we went to Christmas Eve service at church and had 10 or 12 extra friends and family over for supper. It was a nice service and evening with the family and friends. The kids are in bed now and I don't know how much sleep they will get tonight!
Well, I will get a post as soon after Christmas as possible, complete with pictures.
Until then, the Ellisor family wishes all who visit this blog a very Merry Christmas.
Remember Who we worship on this day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!
Steve and Carol
We will take many photos and post some after Christmas.
Since we arrived from Ukraine, the kids have done odd jobs for friends and earned some spending money. They had us take them to the "magazine" (store) to buy gifts. They had so much fun buying gifts for each other and others in their new family.
Tonight, we went to Christmas Eve service at church and had 10 or 12 extra friends and family over for supper. It was a nice service and evening with the family and friends. The kids are in bed now and I don't know how much sleep they will get tonight!
Well, I will get a post as soon after Christmas as possible, complete with pictures.
Until then, the Ellisor family wishes all who visit this blog a very Merry Christmas.
Remember Who we worship on this day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!
Steve and Carol
Saturday, November 28, 2009
a few photos
ON THE STEPS OF THE STATEHOUSE
THE COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART
RUNNING DOWN THE STEPS OF THE STATEHOUSE (DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA)
HANGING OUT IN GRANDMA'S
MATTHEW AND BECKY GET MARRIED
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The "typical" day
Hi there, everyone!! I know it has been a long time since our last post but here we are. We've been home for 5 weeks and all are adjusting pretty well with a few hiccups along the way. The children are being schooled, they are playing soccer, basketball, and riding their bicycles (our thanks to Keith and Randy). Pasha is playing French Horn with the Ben Lippen High School band. Lots of new and "new" clothes (thanks to Lyudmyla, Candy, Kathy, Pat, Jenny and others).
The children have settled into the daily routine of waking, dressing, breakfast, chores and school in the morning. Moving on to lunch, PE-in-the-Park, play time, music lessons, errands and chores in the afternoon. Then it's Dad getting home from work, suppertime, more play time and getting ready for bed in the evening. Throw in bible reading, prayer time, making the beds, showers, getting dirty clothes to the laundry room and maybe some TV or a movie here and there, you have our "typical" day... and don't forget going to church on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Pasha had his 14th birthday Nov. 12th. Another son, Matthew married his longtime sweetie, Rebekah Shrum yesterday, the 21st. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Grandma Polly's birthday this week and Andrei's birthday on the 6th of December. Now just to add to the excitement of the holidays, our son JD announced that he and his girlfriend Margaret (Meg) are engaged and plan to be married in late December. Our daughter, Rebekah, and her husband, Tim, are expecting their third child the end of December or the first of January. Don't know what we are going to do if life gets any busier!
I will get Carol to add some pictures soon because I don't know how. Besides, she picks out better pictures.
Please keep all of us in your prayers.
Until next time,
Steve
The children have settled into the daily routine of waking, dressing, breakfast, chores and school in the morning. Moving on to lunch, PE-in-the-Park, play time, music lessons, errands and chores in the afternoon. Then it's Dad getting home from work, suppertime, more play time and getting ready for bed in the evening. Throw in bible reading, prayer time, making the beds, showers, getting dirty clothes to the laundry room and maybe some TV or a movie here and there, you have our "typical" day... and don't forget going to church on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Pasha had his 14th birthday Nov. 12th. Another son, Matthew married his longtime sweetie, Rebekah Shrum yesterday, the 21st. We are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Grandma Polly's birthday this week and Andrei's birthday on the 6th of December. Now just to add to the excitement of the holidays, our son JD announced that he and his girlfriend Margaret (Meg) are engaged and plan to be married in late December. Our daughter, Rebekah, and her husband, Tim, are expecting their third child the end of December or the first of January. Don't know what we are going to do if life gets any busier!
I will get Carol to add some pictures soon because I don't know how. Besides, she picks out better pictures.
Please keep all of us in your prayers.
Until next time,
Steve
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Settling In
We've been home a week now and are finally back on the current time zone! that took a few days longer than we anticipated.
The kids are enjoying all the new sights and sounds. Several people gave us bags of clothing to go through, but most of it was way to big so last week we made a trip to Old Navy. Each of the children have a new pair of jeans and a couple of long sleeve shirts. It's a nice start and they were thrilled to shop.
A lot of our time this week was spent visiting with family and friends and just hanging out. Over the weekend our close friends the Clinebelle's invited us out for a cookout complete with S'mores. On Sunday we went to church and introduced them to a lot of people. The attention was a little overwhelming, but they were all troopers. The Pastor's daughters made each of the kids a blanket. That was such a special surprise for the kids. They were a little shy to receive the gift, but have sure enjoyed them these last few chilly mornings.
Monday we started school lessons, with lots of English practice and math drills. We attended "PE in the park" too. The boys were particularly excited to meet some kids and have a chance to play soccer. Each of them are so positive about their schoolwork and all the English practice. They all have sweet spirits and a quick wit. We've had a lot of fun learning and laughing.
We all miss Odessa and our friends there, but for this time, we are thankful to be home. Below are some photos of the kids here at home.
Thank You all for your prayers and support. We couldn't have made it this far without you. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Praising Him,
Steve and Carol
BACK YARD COOKOUT AT THE CLINEBELLE'S HOUSE
.jpg)
MATTHEW AND PASHA IN THE PUMPKIN PATCH
NEW BLANKETS
MEETING UNCLE DOUG
LYONYA ON THE STAIRS
SCHOOL WORK
GALIA LIKES WORD PUZZLES
PLAYING WITH JOSIAH AND SAMUEL
ANDREI ON THE TRICYCLE
The kids are enjoying all the new sights and sounds. Several people gave us bags of clothing to go through, but most of it was way to big so last week we made a trip to Old Navy. Each of the children have a new pair of jeans and a couple of long sleeve shirts. It's a nice start and they were thrilled to shop.
A lot of our time this week was spent visiting with family and friends and just hanging out. Over the weekend our close friends the Clinebelle's invited us out for a cookout complete with S'mores. On Sunday we went to church and introduced them to a lot of people. The attention was a little overwhelming, but they were all troopers. The Pastor's daughters made each of the kids a blanket. That was such a special surprise for the kids. They were a little shy to receive the gift, but have sure enjoyed them these last few chilly mornings.
Monday we started school lessons, with lots of English practice and math drills. We attended "PE in the park" too. The boys were particularly excited to meet some kids and have a chance to play soccer. Each of them are so positive about their schoolwork and all the English practice. They all have sweet spirits and a quick wit. We've had a lot of fun learning and laughing.
We all miss Odessa and our friends there, but for this time, we are thankful to be home. Below are some photos of the kids here at home.
Thank You all for your prayers and support. We couldn't have made it this far without you. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Praising Him,
Steve and Carol
BACK YARD COOKOUT AT THE CLINEBELLE'S HOUSE
.jpg)
MATTHEW AND PASHA IN THE PUMPKIN PATCH
NEW BLANKETS
MEETING UNCLE DOUG
LYONYA ON THE STAIRS
SCHOOL WORK
GALIA LIKES WORD PUZZLES
PLAYING WITH JOSIAH AND SAMUEL
ANDREI ON THE TRICYCLE
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