I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

In case you haven’t heard…we are hosting three Ukrainian children…. all brothers and sisters….for the summer.

That is one reason I haven’t written in a while….WHEW….it’s been a while since we had three children in the house 24/7.

We picked up our extended family last Monday at the airport.  They were very tired….it had been a 30+ hour trip.

As you can see the little one on the far left…doesn’t look happy…..

Her little eyes filled with tears and she stayed close to the interpreter she traveled with.  She didn’t know us at all.  My heart hurt for her.  It hurt for all of them.  I could not imagine my own grandchildren going around the world.

They are brave….they are sweet….they are smart…they are well mannered.  We are blessed.

Once the interpreter introduced us to them we hugged the children.  They were a like little statues.  Not many kids want big people hugging them that they do not know.

Ahhhhh…..but it didn’t take long.  I told the interpreter to let them know we were going to the beach.  They would meet some of our grandchildren that were close in age.  SMILES….SMILES…..SMILES.

We headed to the escalator to go to the car…..the little girl slipped her hand in mine.   HEART MELTDOWN!!!!!!!

We loaded up……

Billy and I took a peek into the back seat…..What a picture…. They didn’t look tired at all.

But….within minutes…..they were gone.

We drove a short distance and decided not to add anymore miles to their tired little bodies.  So we stopped at a hotel for the night.

The next morning everyone was bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Off we went.

The kids were bubbling with excitement.  They talked to one another.

Billy and I….well we talked with one another….

Do you remember the Bible story of the tower of Babel?  Well it is found in Genesis 11:4-9.

Well we were hearing a lot of Babbling……

And THEY were hearing US Babble.

I couldn’t help but instantly think of that Bible story.  It does truly sound like Babble when it isn’t a language you understand.

We tried different words with one another and we did a lot of hand motions.  I was surprised at how well that works.

YET….when there is really something important to explain or tell one another we all struggle with finding words.

Thankfully there is now google translate….that helps.  But even then….there are times that you just can’t understand totally what the other one says or wants from you.

If you aren’t familiar with the Tower of Babel story….I encourage you to read it.  It is very interesting.

I imagine the next time you are around another language you too will reflect on it.

Because of the language difference that was brought on the people….I can totally understand how …even today….with all our technology….it hinders us from becoming too big for our britches.

It surely is frustrating…..yet humbling.

We had a great time at the beach, but the kids were excited to learn they were headed to a farm.

You know…….love doesn’t need translating…with people or animals.

Meet Artur…..

Vlad…..

and Vika.

Let the fun begin!