Thursday, November 22, 2007 (Thanksgiving Day)

It seemed like I had just drifted off for a nap when I heard our alarm go off at 4:15 a.m. The first words I spoke – still half asleep – were “Cheryl, let’s get up and go to America”. I was still tired, like the feeling you have after being up all night ‘doing Christmas’, and your kids come in and wake you up at dark o-clock to open presents. Like Christmas morning, I was excited – with that happy feeling you get when you see your kids reaction to what Santa had left the night before. We were going home! Home to the United States of America!

Vladimir was on time with our driver, Vacilli, who had a van large enough to hold our luggage (seven pieces), plus seven people (four Wendelboes, Natalie, our translator, Vladimir, our facilitator and our driver Vacilli). We had to purchase an additional bag while over in Ukraine to hall home all the gifts that were given to us from the children at the orphanage. Many of them (about 45) had just got back from the US a couple weeks ago, and wanted to send their host families a gift. In addition, a couple other children waiting for their families to come and adopt them sent home gifts. You just couldn’t say no to these children at the time, realizing that in the back of your mind there is no way this will fit in our luggage or due to its fragile nature, it could break in transit.

We arrived at the Kiev airport just after 6:00 a.m. It was still dark outside. We packed up our luggage on luggage carts and made our way into the airport. We got through the first line of security, which inspected our passports and the children’s visas. I had to dig out the original court order for the adoption and give it to the authorities. We waited about 10 minutes while our documents were routed to a supervisor who had to review them. After going through security, we were able to wait in the common waiting area for our flight to board. While waiting, Roman, Nadia and I were feeding in 2 Ugr bills into a vending machine to drink hot chocolate. Roman ordered hot tea. When he had me smell it, I could tell it was black tea. I didn’t think this was the place or time to have a ‘teaching moment’ about the aspects of the word of wisdom, especially when we had no translator and the fact we drank herbal teas at dinner with some of our hosts. There would be plenty of time for that. Half surprised at my own reaction, I just nodded and said “yes”.


Unloading At The Airport, Kiev, Ukraine


Enjoying Hot Chocolate At The Airport, Kiev, Ukraine

Finally, when the call came to board our plane, we went through another line of security – primarily for the detection of metal and liquids, etc. I made a last minute call on our cell phone to Cami, our daughter, to confirm we were boarding the plane and coming home!

Our flights home were really non-eventful. We had a two hour flight from Kiev to Vienna Austria and passed through one time zone. From Austria to Chicago we had a 10 ½ hour flight and passed through six time zones. I was able to watch three movies and work on my computer until the battery went out. We videotaped Nadia and Roman as we touched down at Chicago, O’Hare airport. Apparently at the moment we landed in Chicago, Roman and Nadia officially became US Citizens. We went through customs where we had to surrender five nice salamis we had purchased as stocking stuffers for the children. Cheryl also had to surrender her cucumber seeds she had purchased at the open-air market in Sumy.

After going through customs, we had to go through the immigration section where we presented both Roman and Nadia’s Ukrainian passports, and the sealed envelopes we had obtained for each of them at the US embassy/consulate the previous day. The lady at the immigration area, who inspected our documents, had a slight accent. I stroke up an conversation with her and learned she immigrated from Iraq and was in the process of trying to get her father over on a temporary visa so he could see his grandchildren. Her son was currently serving our country in Afghanistan. She commented on how so many people in the United States take for granted their freedoms and the bounteous life we enjoy in America. After spending the past three weeks in Ukraine, I was an easy sell on her speech about the advantages of living in the US.


Deplaning, Vienna, Austria



Shuttle, Vienna, Austria



Our Kiev To Vienna Jet


Waiting To Board Austrian Airlines - Vienna To Chicago



Roman and Nadia - Minutes Before Becomming US Citizens


After clearing through customs and immigration, we had to change terminals where we once again had to go through security. Once in our terminal, we had about 1 hour before our flight departed to Salt Lake City. We sat down at a little airport grille and enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner. Roman and Nadia ordered hamburgers and fries and Cheryl and I each opted for a Greek gyro. It was one tasty Thanksgiving dinner! No turkey or stuffing, but it tasted American.

Upon our arrival in Salt Lake, were greeted by our three children (Cami, Calvin Jr., and Christian) and three families who had previously adopted children with whom Roman was friends. It was truly a joyous occasion to be united with the rest of our family. On the way home, we stopped by Cheryl’s sister’s (Sharron Cowan) home to pick up Cami’s car – and introduce Nadia and Roman to some of their new cousins. And yes, Calvin was able to have a piece of turkey and pumpkin pie.


Salt Lake Airport



Christian And Cami With Their New Sister, Nadia



Roman With His Old Friends, All Adopted Into Utah Families


We have so much to be grateful for. We are so blessed to live in the United States of America, where opportunities and blessings abound. We are blessed immensely in a greater measure to have the gospel of Jesus Christ taught to us by living prophets. I hope that all my children – both our biological and adopted children - will one day be filled with gratitude for all of the blessings at their hand. This has been a wonderful journey to travel to Ukraine and adopt these beautiful children. However, where all journeys end, another one just begins.


Our Family


For those who have traveled with us through this blog, thanks for the encouraging emails and comments. May you have a wonderful Christmas season and my the Lord bless you in all your endeavors.