A Good Night’s Sleep and only Two Days Left…

This morning we all woke up around 7:45 am. We all woke up with smiles and felt refreshed. Yesterday was a rough day, the two nights on the train, and the stress of getting to embassy the day before seemed to catch up with us. Yesterday we were out of sorts, and our behavior reflected it.

Even though we were out of sorts we had a nice visit at the orphanage. We started out by meeting with the Director of the Orphanage. We formally thanked her for allowing us the privilege of bringing our daughter into our family. We told her we thought she was doing an amazing job, the kids were so loved and we were so impressed with her program, we meant every word of it. She was very kind, and told us she had been to the United States, and was very impressed with the positive atmosphere of our country and she was certain our daughter would have a healthy and happy life. We then presented her with a gift, a watch that she thanked us for. We then asked, “What can we do for the orphanage?” Rick and Pam had already given a large donation of clothes. She told us she would like some cameras and microphones. This sounds funny, but the kids like to put on shows and events. The cameras are for the kids for memories, fun events and adoption registry. Not a problem. We’re going today to purchase these items. We’ll still spend the rest of donation fund to get extra clothes, like underwear, stockings/socks and anything else we find at the bazaar that looks good. I think we’ll buy some soccer balls as well. These kids are often using bottles and rocks to play with.

The Director talked about how she really wants the playground rebuilt, since it is totally falling apart. She told us that when the group from our church visited last month they spoke about getting this done. This is a huge undertaking that will require a lot of donations. I think that www.hadassahshope.org is a great place to contribute if you would like to help with this project. We told her that we would do everything possible that we could to make that happen. I will keep you updated on the blog if you would like to contribute. I’m sure I’ll make you feel guilty enough at some point.

After our meeting with the Director we went into our daughter’s group or “Family” room. We presented gifts to the “mama’s” who take such wonderful care of the kids. They were so grateful, and were so happy for our daughter. They especially thanked us for the pictures we had taken and developed. Amazing, they were more excited for the pictures of the kids then the gifts for themselves. These women truly love these kids, and probably don’t even know what a special job they do.

As all of the niceties were going on, our daughter was listening in, and it struck her that Mama, Papa and Brat Jacob were leaving in two days. She didn’t have to say anything, she was crushed. It took us a minute to understand. Fortunately, we had brought the shoes we bought in Almaty for her, to wear on her trip home to California. When Vera explained this to her, she tried them on, and I liken it Cinderella and her slippers. Our daughter began to smile and know she would be coming home to our dom (house) meaning Mama, Papa, Brat Mitchell, Jacob, Sistra Amber and her home. That was enough, she began smiling, and we had a great day of play. She called to Kim, Mama and me, Papa. It’s a little hard to take it all in sometimes. I hate that I cannot take her home on Monday.

It is getting a little hard to play at the orphanage. As I’ve said, most of the kids are respectful of our time with our daughter, but there’s a few that won’t take “Nyet” for an answer. Our daughter gets very annoyed. She no longer wishes to share her family with kids at the orphanage. As much as we try and do for the kids, it’s often never enough. It really becomes emotionally draining.

We left the orphanage tired and a little cranky as the lack of sleep was really catching up with us. We stopped at the Gros, to pick up a new phone card, some juice boxes and more candy. We returned to the hotel to have dinner with Marcia, her daughter Sara-Marina, Sherrie and we met a new mother from Argentina named Jutka. Jutka had gone through the bonding process in July and returned for her final court date this week. We are very lucky, as the judge for the older kids has been very good about expedient court dates. I say this even though our court date will be five days longer then we had expected. Our new friends are all adopting toddlers to infants. They have a different judge who has been difficult in scheduling court dates. Most of the adopting families will have to wait at anywhere from two to four weeks after their initial 14 day bonding period. It really is a shame. These families have to decide if they can wait it out here in country or go home and return for their court date. We feel terrible for these families, as either option is difficult. When you consider these families are doing such an amazing deed, it really seems unfair to put them through such hardships. If you can make room, please pray for these families in their endeavors.

We have been so blessed to work with our adoption agency, as they have held the highest level of integrity, we’ve not had any surprises and even though we’re here a little longer then we had hoped, everything has been done very ethically. Unfortunately, that can’t be said for all of the families here. There are some agencies that have done some pretty unscrupulous things, such as demand thousands of dollars more than originally agreed upon while the families are here in country. The living arrangements are not what the families expected and the coordinators don’t speak English. Kim has told me I cannot mention the name of the guy that runs the agency, but I told her slander is only slander when you’re not telling the truth. So, I will comprise and think about the Old Testament, and what’s the guy’s name who parted the Red Sea????? And then what is the first name of the guy that wrote “War of the Worlds”???? If you are considering adopting, please do as much due diligence as you can and get referrals. We were very lucky with our adoption agency and I think the Lord every day for this.

Okay, I’m off the podium, time to go shopping see our daughter, and start packing up. Kim has already begun packing. Can you tell we’re ready to go home and see the rest of our family? I’ll be giving our daughter the key today, please pray that she will understand. Pray that she is able to get through the next few weeks and arrive safely at our Dom. Please pray that In & Out Burger is still open for business when we get home, and Starbuck’s as well….Okay, you don’t have to pray for those things, but know that we are.