Life in America

Hello Everyone,

Wow, what a wild road! The past month has been amazing with Alena. I had no idea how busy having a third child would be. Even with having all teenagers life has been a wonder, to say the least. Alena is a perfect fit for our family. As time has gone on, she has had many new experiences. We are all very proud of her. Imagine coming to a place where everything is really different and new. Things that we take for granted, like water and food, are a whole new experience for her. Remember in Kazakstan, some nights, she would have a half a tomatoe and two waffer cookies for dinner. Not in our house with two teenage boys. They would never survive! Here she has had to learn not only food, but everything you can think of and things you would never even dream of.

Getting her and Joe home was, to put it bluntly, a huge hassle. After flying over 20 hours they had to endure the Los Angeles Airport- Homeland Security Department. The guys and I went to the airport at their scheduled arrival time, thinking we only had about an hour wait for them to get thru customs. Well over three and a half hours later, yes that long, here comes two very tired travelers. It was all I could do to not go over the guard rail and wag my finger at the customs agents.

Welcome to America! It was so long and so frustrating. Joe said that there was only one agent working and every person had to wait in a very long line. Can you imagine, this is how we welcome people to America. As Alena came around the corner, she saw us and ran to get a hug. To endure so much in Kazakhstan and then to leave to go with people you have only known for a month. She is braver than I can ever be.

Once we got them in the car, life was pretty wide eyed and different for our girl. Cars, buildings, and the first place we went, Whole Foods Market, was really different than the places she has seen. So much food at our markets. So much fresh produce and vegtables. She was really quiet and knowing how tired she was, we got our of there fast with the perfect international food, pizza! If she was younger, I would not have taken her. But being fourteen, and knowing that she needs to be treated like a young adult, I wanted her to be a part of everything we do. Her first decision was food. She picked Pizza. Looking back I think she picked something she knew. But to just pick was a huge thing. She never really got to pick in the orphanage.

After that we went home to see her knew house. As some of you know we are in Los Angeles. Last April our boys got asked to work in LA with a wonderful Manager, Kathy Colorado, and an amazing agency, The Osbrink Talent Agency. Joe and I decided that after the adoption and their Scotland performance we would come out to let them try acting professionally. Well nothing ever goes as planned so the Adoption was delayed and we came out temporarily off and on since September. Since we have gotten out here our boys have done really well. God has blessed them big time and they are getting some amazing auditions and call backs, and Jameson has landed a few jobs. Not bad for only being here for only a short time. Jonathan is also doing really well, although being seventeen is very hard in this business. Any fiscal producer is going to hire an eighteen year old over a seventeen year old. Eighteen year old actors do not require a on set tutor and they can work more hours. Even with that he has done well and has gotten auditions and call backs. The guys have been asked to audition for all kinds of roles and they are currently trying to break into the voice over segment of the industry. Anyone need an actor???

Anyhoo, we are renting a house in LA and with the guys being busy and Joe now working the West Coast, thank you GE, we brought this beautiful, very sheltered girl to the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles. It is soooo different than Kazakhstan. There really are some beautiful people here. Even the eighty years olds run, I swear. We are living in Santa Monica, which is amazing, right off of a street called San Vicente. Everyone runs, bikes, walks, and rollerblades down this street. I feel old and frumpy here. It is unbelievable. Here comes Alena into this area, she was really wide eyed and quiet for the first day and a half! Jet lag, right??

Not only was she here and had a new room, which she loved. She had a roomate. Yes we have had company for the past three months and thankfully Sierra was the perfect person to have share Alena's room.

I hate to do this, but it is 11pm West Coast Time, and I am tired. I will finish the rest of the story tomorrow. Think about it, all of you wonderful East Coast People have been in bed for hours! I will tell you much more tomorrow, so please check back.

Thanks for checking on us. We are blessed.

Kelly