One Week Down…

It’s hard to believe we left one week ago. It feels like a month ago. We’ve seen so much in a pretty short period of time. Our Coordinator took us on a site seeing tour yesterday. This city just celebrated its 2000 year anniversary last year. Of course, it’s been conquered, destroyed and rebuilt many times. Every one from The Hun’s to Khan to Muslims to the Soviets. The city of Taraz is right along the Silk Trail, so trade has passed through this city for a long time, which also means a lot of people wanted to control it. It really makes us realize what a young country we live in. We also realize how fortunate we are to live in such a great country, the United States. We take so much for granted and forget how blessed we are to live is such a great country.

I’ll get off my soap box now. I wanted to thank you all for your emails and comments left on the blog. If you would like to leave a comment, just click on the comment section. We love to read them. If you have any questions, we will try and answer them. We have not posted pictures of our daughter yet. We will as soon as we confident that the adoption process will not be disrupted. We want to protect the children at the orphanage and our child. It’s difficult to understand, but sometimes the government takes offense and often competing adoption agencies will try and disrupt the adoption to take your business. Pretty slimy. I’m so happy to work with our agency and coordinators, as they have operated with such a high level of integrity.

We had a great day with our Daughter yesterday. The rain stopped so we were able to spend the day outside. That gives us time alone with her. We arrived a few minutes late to the orphanage, as soon as we walked into her group room she ran over to us, and gave Kim a huge hug. The smile was so genuine and happy that made us so happy. As we walked the grounds, she allowed me to hold her hand. This is huge as she has had minimal experience with men. I’ve tried not to overwhelm her, so my day was made. We played outside with Polly Pockets. She loved them, and methodically played with them. The cool thing was she allowed Jacob to share with her. That sounds silly, but normally, these kids will not allow other children in the space. By letting Jacob into her space meant that she’s okay with him. I had the translator ask her if she liked her “Brat” or brother. She gave us the firm yes nod.

She still only nods to us. I’ve tried to bribe her. I told her (through the translator), what would you like us to bring you? I’ll bring you anything you want….No answer. One of her friends said she wanted an umbrella. She nodded yes to this. The kids walk to school, and the day before they probably got soaked in the rain. How strange, I would have asked for a new surfboard or a pony…All she asked for (sort of) was an umbrella. I would have been happy to buy the pony, just one word.

It was a great day, and as usual we were all emotionally exhausted. Watching the kids is heart breaking. These kids are great. Most of them can’t be adopted as their biological or birth families haven’t given them up, but the kids remain in the orphanage. Or if a child has a sibling, you must adopt all siblings. Many of the children have older teenage kids, and adoptions are rare at that age. Our child does not have any siblings, and the state finally put her on the registry as no word from her birth family has come. We try and bring the kids treats, and they are so grateful. Of course, they want as much as we’ll give them. The little hands never reach out to take, but only to receive. Every day, I wish I had more to give them.

We need to get them clothes the kids only have two changes. I think they share shoes. We were told the kids have never had pizza, there is pizza here at the Turkish restaurants, I’m not sure how that makes sense, but the bottom line is every kid should have Pizza!
We will try and supply all we can while we’re here, but it’s a daunting task.

We are all doing well. A little tired, but up for whatever our purpose here is. We know we have found our daughter, and that gives us the strength to keep pace. Again, we love to read your emails and comments. Please keep them coming it really uplifts us.