BUSY BUSY BUSY

It's been ENTIRELY too long since my last post. I'm actually a bit embarrassed about it.

In my defense, however, there's been a lot going on.
And most of what's been going on wouldn't be of any interest to you.

There- how's that for rationalization. :-)

Truthfully though, there's been a lot going on in the New Horizons side of my life.

Hosting sign-ups have ended, families have been going to training and rooms and homes are being prepared.
We've had a few kids whose host families backed out (for a number of reasons) and we've had to scramble to find them new host families.
We've had a few families who "lost" their host kids- through no fault of their own- because paperwork on the UKR or LAT end of things fell through.
We've had to call at least one family and tell them they couldn't host because of comments that were made on a blog.
There are several families who are still raising funds to pay their hosting fees.
We still need host families for chaperones in several areas of the US.
I've led or helped with 3 host parent trainings in the last 2 weeks. One of which was in Texas.
I'm also the airport coordinator for the Akron/Canton airport where our kids (as well as a few others) will be arriving.

And speaking of our kids... I don't have much ready for them. I mean I have a few clothes, and their dental and eye exams scheduled... but thats about it. OH-- I do have their welcome signs made. (But only because I wanted to have them finished to show at training.)

(I'd post photos of my welcome signs, but I can't figure out how to get them here. Our pc melted a couple of weeks ago and we took the plunge and got a mac. I can see the pics on iPhoto, but I can't get them here on the blog...??!!)

Oddly enough, I'm not really stressed about it-- the lack of preparation, I mean. I AM a little stressed about my photos not showing up! :-)

Sure, there's quite a bit I'd like to get done before D&D arrive... but they're not going to care if I cleaned up the laundry room or scrubbed the microwave. When they arrive, they're going to want a shower and a bed.

As a matter of fact, their flight gets in so late, I may even let them skip a shower and just go straight to bed. Cleaning up and a tour of the house can wait until the next morning.

We don't have a whole lot of activities "officially" planned. We're meeting up with a few other host families at the Cleveland Zoo mid-month... and of course there's Balloon-fest, and fireworks, and maybe a trip to the water park at Coshocton. I haven't decided for sure- but I think the day we host the chaperone, we'll head over by (Belleville? Bellevue? I always get those two confused) and tour the caverns. You know stalactites, stalagmites, and all that stuff.  OR, we may go to Amish country to the Rolling Acres Animal Park in Berlin... Millersburg... Walnut Creek?? I don't remember where it is down there.

I think that their church experience will be interesting for me to observe. We're attending a different church now than what we did when we hosted Vladik and Mareks. It's a much larger church with a much different feel. ***
Vladik was bored to tears at our old church and went only because he had to.
I'm hoping- that even with the language barrier- D&D don't feel the same.
Diana is old enough to go to youth, but we'll gauge her comfort level and see what she wants to do. I may go to youth with her. It's a large, active youth group and I'm hoping she has the personality that will allow her to just jump right in.
Daniels and Joe will probably stick together even though Daniels is a couple of years older.

So, I guess that's my update. Not terribly entertaining or informative, but an update nonetheless.

D&D arrive in less that a week.

I suppose I should at LEAST get sheets on their beds. :-)

***For those who know us, the story and timeline of our switching churches is a LONG one. Suffice it to say, it was not a decision Rick came to easily or quickly. I'm proud of him for making a difficult choice despite knowing there would be MANY who wouldn't understand.