Dear friends, thank you so much for your comments, emails, text. Your kind words keep us going.
For those of you who don’t know, I am Ukrainian and I am currently in Western Ukraine with my family. I’ve shared an update on my Instagram yesterday, in case you are not on Instagram, here’s what it said:
This was expected (the war), but also something that you never hope to wake up to. Deep down you always believe the war would not happen.
5 am is when it officially began. My mom called to deliver the news. I woke up horrified and started reading the news. It was all real. All TOO REAL. The military state has been declared over the country. People are advised to stay in. Curfew has been imposed on the capital city, Kyiv.
We have been preparing for war, but one can never be prepared for anything like this. You see war in the movies, you read about it in books. But when it comes – there’s so much fear. You feel paralyzed.
There is a lot of news about attacks. Casualties. Bombings. There are warnings. People are very scared. I have cried too many times to count today.
You see police posts on the roads, you see military equipment and it all hits you. It is real. It is here. There’s war in my country. There is WAR.
People are scared. But at the same time we stand united. We all support each other in any way we can.
I am thankful for all of you. Your messages keep me going. They bring tears, but also smiles to my face. We will be okay 🖤.
We spent last night in a bomb shelter. An alarm sounded around midnight advising all to leave homes and hide in anticipation of the bombing. It was rough. Cold. Wet. Dark. Scary. We slept on the floor, fully dressed in our coats, hats, and gloves. We are back home at the moment as I am typing this post. We’ve made arrangements for the night ahead to stay with a friend outside of town. He has a mattress for us to sleep on and the place is warm.
I keep thinking of peaceful times. The times we all took for granted. I remember the calm evenings I was happily making cards in my craft room and recording videos. Cardmaking is my passion and it is what keeps me sane during these uncertain and scary times. I hope to be back to crafting. I have a few cards I’ve made before the war and I’ll share them soon.
Love you all!
P.S. If you’d like to help Ukraine, you can donate to fund the Ukrainian armed forces. You can donate here. Or find bank details are below:
To donate in USD:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
Account: 400807238
383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, USA
IBAN UA843000010000000047330992708
To donate in GBP:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
Bank of England, London
SWIFT Code: BKENGB2L
Account: 40000982
Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, UK
IBAN UA843000010000000047330992708
To donate in EUR:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt
SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF
Account: 5040040066
IBAN DE05504000005040040066
Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main,Germany
IBAN UA843000010000000047330992708
I’m in the USA and we’re praying for Ukraine. Not all of us agree with what is happening to your beloved country. Please be safe. You are in my thoughts and prayers ❤️
Yana, our hearts go out to everyone in Ukraine. How can this be happening, but it is!! We pray you and your family and country people stay safe, strong, and stay positive. God bless you and all of Ukraine!
I don’t think anyone in the US agrees with what is happening.
Good news, bad news. So glad to hear you’re okay, so sorry for the situation you and your fellow Ukrainians find yourself experiencing. This is surreal, its evil, and barbaric and I’m praying for you all.
Heart breaking for you and your countrymen. We are praying for you and hoping that our country and the rest of the western world steps up for your people. God bless and keep you.
Unfortunately I am unable to donate at this time. I will keep you and your country in my prayers every day. I hope you have a better night tonight and that the war ends quickly.
I’m so sorry you, your family, and your country are having to go through this in this day in age, Yana. I will continue to keep you and the Ukrainian people in my prayers. When I was a visiting RN some years ago I had several patients from Ukraine. They were the kindest and most grateful people I have ever met. We quickly became very close. I cannot imagine the fear you now live with on a daily basis. Stay safe my friend as I continue to keep all of you in my prayers. God bless you Yana. ❤️Gayle
Dear Yana… I am praying that you and your loved ones and all the wonderful people in the Ukraine will be safe! I am a child of Hungarian refugees who fled to the United States during the revolution in 1956. Please know that my heart aches for you and the Ukrainian people! And my prayers will continue for this War to end and that the Ukrainian people will have their country and freedom back. Sending love and prayers…a friend and follower.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thinking of you and your country and wishing this madness to end.
Stay safe, and know that stamping friends all over the world are thinking of you.
Stay safe Yana!! I am praying for you and your country. I had prayed and hoped that this would not happen. I will continue to pray and ask Our Lady of Peace to pray for you and your country.
Sending prayers your way for safety and a short war!
We send our love dear Yanna, and prayers, this is terrible.
Tears are burning my eyes as I read this. Hugs to you and your country for safety, strength and courage.
Oh Yana! My heart is breaking for you and your country. You do not deserve this. Be stay safe. We in the states are standing together with you. I am praying for your safety and for peace❤️
As I read this I have tears in my eyes. This is so unbelievable and very heartbreaking. I am praying for you and your family, friends, everyone in Ukraine that this madness comes to an end. Love to you, stay safe
Yana, I have been praying for all of you & for this war to end. Please stay safe. Do know there are a lot of people praying for you.
I have and will continue to pray for you and all the people of Ukraine. I pray for all the people involved in the war. May peace be restored soon. Love your posts and videos. Stay safe and know you are loved by all your fans in the craft community.
I have been so concerned for you, your loved ones and your beloved country. With all that is going on I am thankful for your post. I continue to pray for all of you. As I read your post tears came to my eyes. I have loved the joy and peace you bring to me all the time and pray God to restore your peace and joy. I am with you and your country. Know there are many many others praying for you and standing with you. May you find strength in every challenge you may face. Sending all my love and holding you all in my heart.
We are so extremely sad about what you and your country are dealing with. I can’t imagine. Continued prayers from us in the US
I can’t begin to imagine either the physical or emotional duress this must cause. I continue to pray for your safety as well as for your family and friends and for a swift resolution. You have much love and support coming to you from around the world.
This is so awful. I am sending love to you and yours. Thank you for posting this, and providing ways that we can help. It is all so wrong!! Be safe Yana!!
Dear Yana, so good to hear from you but so sad you, your family and country are in this awful war. Praying for an end to this madness and your safety. Stay strong, be safe and continued support from the US.
Scary indeed, glad you have friends outside of city who willing to have you stay, please know my thoughts are with you. Please take care!
You and all Ukrainians are in our prayers.
So very sorry that you and your family are experiencing this horrific event first hand. Sending prayers to you and your countrymen.
Yana, I am Canadian. I couldn’t sleep all night cause I was thinking of you. War is hideous and I am worried about you!
PLEASE stay safe. I will be praying for you and your family and indeed every one. Happy to hear you will have a warm place to stay tonight. I pray it will be over very soon.
War is Hell! I’m old enough to have seen a lot of them and remember when my dad was in VietNam. It’s a travesty that your people who want freedom and democracy get caught up in a political tug of war with a counteractive type like Putin. Perhaps describing him akin to Hitler isn’t too far from the truth. Many of us are praying and sending blessings for you and your family and your people’s safety. God be with you and give your strength.
Oh Yana, you and your family have been on my mind and in my heart and prayers. I pray for all of Ukraine and will do so daily until there is resolution and peace again. I pray daily for your safety and health and the same for your family! May God bless and keep you all. We must have faith that God is in control and we must pray that His glory will be made manifest by good overcoming the evil that has been unleashed on the innocent. Our God is a mighty God!!!! Teri in Texas.
We have ties to the Ukraine thru our church here in the US. We held a special prayer meeting to intercede for Ukraine. And will continue to pray for you, your family and your nation. I’ve thought of you often in the days and weeks leading up to war and will continue to do so.
Sending prayers to you and your country Yana. I was really hoping and praying that we were all wrong and that this couldn’t happen. Please stay safe and may God help in ending this quickly.
Teri
It’s good to hear you’re doing okay right now. You’re in our thoughts and I hope you and your family continue to be safe.
Oh my goodness….I had no idea you are in Ukraine…I am supporting Ukraine anyway but now that I know that you are actually in that country I am going to worry so much more now…Please remain safe….prayers being sent your way.
I can’t believe this actually happened – what the hell is Putin doing?? Thinking of you
Your words hurt my heart but make the war so much more personal for me. Hearing how bravely your countrymen are fighting to remain independent impresses me but makes me so sad. No country should be put in this situation. Stay safe, Yana. You are not alone.
I hope you stay safe. All those in Ukraine are in my prayers .
Praying for you all. Stay safe!
“I have a few cards I’ve made before the war” Yana I think of you ever day and have done since you moved back. This line In your post hit me so hard I can’t imagine how you are feeling. Surreal. unreal… you’ve had some tough stuff of late and this. I can’t imagine. We are all holding you in our hearts and looking forward to the day you’re back to cardmaking and back to peace. I hope it is very soon. Xxx
Yana, I can’t even fathom what you and your family are experiencing. My heart aches for you and the people of the Ukraine. Please stay safe, you are in my prayers. Sending love from Canada.
Dearest Yana. Your email broke my heart. I am horrified that war has begun in Ukraine and have been following the news until the early hours of the morning because I’m struggling to sleep. I am in the UK and I’m ashamed of the UK government, for very many reasons, but right now, the small sanctions against a select few Russian oligarchs and a couple of banks and not much else. Know that it is my government’s lacklustre response – not my people’s. And I say this for governments all over the world. They may decide one thing and the people truly believe in the other. We are fully behind the people of Ukraine. Putin is a monster. The hope I have is in the wonderful people that make Ukraine. You will never be broken, nor accept anything less than freedom. And we are all with you.
I fell in love with card making because of you. I left an abusive relationship which had reduced me to a hollowed out shell of my former self. The colour had gone from my world entirely. After a year of living back with my parents, I moved into my new home with renewed hope, and still some fear. I was watching videos on YouTube and I came across a video of yours for making a beautiful navy blue and gold card. It was so beautiful and creative that I dug out my craft supplies again, which had all been hidden in boxes for several years, and I began to create. Little by little, the colour returned. I became me again. I now have my own crafty corner and I find so much joy in creating cards to make someone else’s day a little brighter. To let them know the sun will shine again. I have you to thank and I wanted you to know that. Today more than ever.
Sending so much love and hugs to you, lovely Yana. Suzy xx
I am so very sorry sorry for you and your country, and my heart and my prayers are with you. In hopes of bringing a smile to your face at a sad, awful time, have you ever seen the movie The Italian Job? This is a quote from it: If there’s one thing I know, it’s never to mess with mother nature, mother in-laws and, mother freaking Ukrainians. I pray for you strength, hope, safety, and that you feel so much love.
I had also been thinking of that exact quote from the Italian Job today! I pray it is verified with Ukraine’s victory over darkness!
The LORD is with you, Yana! He is in control no matter what it looks like. “DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU. I AM YOUR GOD, LET NOTHING TERRIFY YOU. ” Isaiah 46:10 Many are praying for you and your family. Hold tight to the Lord. TEARS MAY FLOW AT NIGHT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
I have followed your blog for years and it is so heartbreaking what is happening to your country. You and your family, all of Ukraine, are in my prayers!
Dear Yana, I have had my eyes glued to the news following what has been happening in your country. I am horrified at what I am seeing and my deepest concern for you and the citizens of Ukraine. I am praying every night that this madness will end with peace. This is truly madness on Russia. God bless you and keep you safe.
Love, hugs and prayers to you and your people.
Dear Yana, please know that you, your family and your country are in my heart and my prayers. Thank you for the donation information. You are all so brave and we are so proud of you. Stay safe and know that so much love and support is being sent your way. Stay safe.
Oh Yana, our hearts go out to you, your family, friends and all Ukrainians. I hope you stay safe and this war will be ended soon.
My thoughts and that of the Greek people are with you all during this barbaric attack on your country
We in Australia stand behind the people of Ukraine. Art and beauty will prevail, stay strong. You inspire so many people, keep us updated when you can. We are thinking of you.
Sending my love and prayers for the safety of you, your family and all of the families in Ukraine. News reports in the UK are saying that all Ukranian men aged between 18 -60 are being asked to go and fight – it’s heartbreaking. Do whatever you have to do to stay safe, even if it means leaving the country you love for now. I’m in Scotland and I’m sincerely hoping that our government will welcome families escaping this senseless and unjustified war xxx
Thinking of you and your family Yama and hoping you and your family stay safe. Hugs
As your country has united, your stamping community has united to keep you, your family, friends and country in our hearts and prayers. We stand with you! Be safe! ❤️
Oh Yana I’m so so so sorry for you and your country! Please stay safe. I know you don’t know me, but I am praying for your safety, and for the safety of all others