Has It Really Been Two Months?

Two months since "Gotcha Day". Wow! That is hard to believe! Don and I both feel a little guilty for not posting sooner but it has been absolutely crazy! We had two computers crash. We also lost our camera bag, camera, and (sandisks with photos) on the flight from Moscow to Atlanta. Just broke our hearts! We have prayed that whoever finds our bag would please just send us the disks - keep the camera we really don't care about it. But the photos are just not replaceable.

It seems it's always something. We have this black cloud that follows us around. Don reminds me frequently that "rain falls and the sun shines on the just and the unjust alike" I really should look up the actual scripture sometime. Anyway, we have a computer now and decided to do a quick update for those of you who have been looking for news.

First, to everyone who helped us get to Russia and back, God Bless You! We think of you all everyday and will never be able to thank you enough. Know that you are in our prayers everyday.

Second, we apologize to everyone who have been waiting to hear news about our Angel. It has just been a wild two months! Gotcha day was September 8 and we returned home September 18. I am not going to lie, the ten days after our Angel joined our family was difficult. The language barrier was a major challenge. We really worked on our Russian and felt we were prepared but it just wasn't enough. However, we have been home about 6 weeks and she is such a joy. I can't imagine our family without her. The struggle was worth it and we are sure God meant for us to be a family.

So, may I introduce our Angel to you?

We have called her our Angel since we began the adoption process. We knew she was meant to be part of our family the minute we received the referral. We had no doubts.

We promise we will post more this week. I have kept a journal of our entire trip and since we returned home and hope to blog over the next few weeks some of my thoughts during the experience.

Please scroll down for a small slide show of photos in Russia.
Blessings,
Elizabeth



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Touring Nizhny Novgorod

As we wait for Gotcha Day (9/8/09), we have been taking in some sites around Nizhny. We've enjoyed many activities as well as the wonderful weather. The Pedestrian Walk, also known as Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street, is right around the corner from our apartment. We've walked up and down many days. There are also several great cafes to sit and watch the people.

We spent an afternoon at the Kremlin. We took in the beautiful gardens, architecture, history, and views of the Volga River.

Several evenings we enjoyed free outdoor concerts in front of the Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theater not far from our apartment.

Yesterday, we walked along the Lower Volga Embankment and took a day cruise on the Volga River. It was a beautiful day and the trip only cost 200 rubles/person or $6.00/person.

This is definitely a beautiful and historical city. We have really enjoyed our time here.

The scenery and cathedrals are just breathtaking. This is a photo we took from the river of the stairs at the end of the Pedestrian Walk. This is one of the many beautiful cathedrals. We took this photo from the Kremlin on our walk back to our apartment. It was just at sunset.

Tomorrow is Gotcha Day. Hopefully, we will enjoy a few more sites with our Angel. Later today, we will prepare for her arrival. We are going to get a small cake, decorate the apartment a little, and have a celebration with our Angel and Julia. I guess one could say, "Gotcha Day is the first day of the rest of her life!"

We will try to post again before we leave Friday for Moscow. However, we have had difficulty posting on our blog at the apartment and may not make it back down to McDonalds for free wi-fi. Please check back later this week or the weekend for our updates.

Blessings,

Elizabeth

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Fun Time With Our Angel

Today we had a great time visiting with our Angel. We walked through the neighborhood by the orphanage. She played on the swings for a short time and then took us to a little toy store. She said she wanted to show us some "koo-klas" (dolls). She was especially fond of a Barbie Doll and a baby doll similar to a Cabbage Patch Doll. She told us she didn't have any dolls. That made me sad. We told her we would get her a doll when we get home.

After the toy shop, she took us to a lake. We walked across a footbridge and back. Then she decided we needed to have a throwing contest. She gathered rocks for us to throw and who ever threw the farthest won! Of course, she won every round. She laughed and giggled as we tried to throw farther than her. She also made sure she gave Don the smallest rocks. He would make faces at her and whine, "mah-lyen-kee" (small). She just laughed and giggled. I love hearing that giggle! It makes me smile.

We walked by a produce stand and she was looking at the watermelons. I asked her, "kak et ah pah RU ski?" and she answered "arBUS." My daughter taught me how to say watermelon in Russian!

As we walked back to the orphanage, we stopped at a market because she wanted to buy some treats for the other children at the orphanage (hmm, this is a good thing). We bought juice, pastries, and cookies. Oh, well, at least the juice was healthy!

As we approached the orphanage, several children were standing in the door waiting for us. Apparently, the caregivers told the children that our Angel was being adopted and that we were from America. As we walked up, they began saying "hello" in both English and Russian. They followed us down the hallway smiling and chattering. I recognized one of the little girls from our previous trip in January and I smiled at her. She walked with us and stuck by my side. It was time to say "goodbye" to our Angel again - I really hated that. We gave her hugs and kisses and told her we would see her again on Tuesday. She wasn't too forthcoming with her hugs - we'll work on that!

As we turned to leave, the other little girl was still by my side. She tugged at my arm and said, "I want to live in America too." Oh my goodness, I just about burst into tears. Don overheard and was touched by her as I was. This little child made an impression on us in January and here she was again tugging at our heart strings. There are so many children in the world wanting families - it makes my heart ache. Tonight, we are praying for all the orphaned children in the world - we pray that God will keep them safe and find them families.

For in this hope we were saved. But for hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8: 24-25.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

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Shopping With Our Daughter

Today, we took our Angel shopping for an outfit for Gotcha Day. We went to a large children's store with clothing, books, shoes, games, many other items. We told her she could pick out an outfit (any kind) for when we pick her up from the orphange. She picked a pretty party dress and fancy flower print shoes. She also wanted a pair of heavy weight tights. Now, I know it is typical to bundle-up children in Russia but she would die wearing those tights in Florida. It took a little doing but I managed to talk her out of them. One day, she'll thank me. While she tried on her dress, I found myself thinking, "this is a milestone, we are shopping with our daughter." There will be many more milestone shopping days in our future as we watch her grow to become a young woman. Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself here - let's get her home to the USA first!

Although she had a good time shopping, she seemed a bit distant. She didn't want us to take any photos of her, she wouldn't sit by us during lunch, and she wouldn't try to talk to us much. She may have some worries that we won't come back for her. We hope she feels more secure now that she has a "special dress" for the day we pick her up from the orphanage.

We are praying she warms to us and we can have a smooth transition.

Thanks for following our journey,

Elizabeth

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The Judge Said "YES"

We were both up this morning before the alarm went off. Although we prayed about this day, we were nervous. Other than our wedding day, this is probably the most important event in our 13 years of marriage.
Dimitri arrived about 8:15am to prep us for court. We spent about 1 1/4 hours preparing. He told us what to expect and reviewed court questions with us. We decided I would go first. There has been a lot of talk about the judges focusing on the husbands because many are not as involved in preparing the homestudy and dossier as the wives. Both Julia and Dimitri did not feel this was accurate in Nizhny.

We arrived at the court house about 9:50am and our hearing began at 10:00am. I spoke first, after I told "our story" the judge opened it up for anyone in the court room to ask me questions. No one had questions except the lady from "the administration" (I am not sure who she was and will have to get her role clarified). Regardless, her questions were the most difficult. Once the judge was satisfied with my testimony, she told me to sit down and asked Don to stand and tell "his story".

Don's testimony lasted about 30 minutes. Once he sat down, others presented information for the court and then the judge left the room to deliberate. She was gone about 5 minutes. Don and I held hands, actually squeezed hands, and quietly prayed. When she returned, we all stood and she read her ruling. Our adoption application for our Angel was approved by the Nizhny Novgorod Court! No translation needed - we knew exactly what she said!

I don't really know how to explain the emotions that washed over me hearing those words. I asked Don to explain his emotions at the moment - his response was the same. It is just difficult to put it into words. Happiness, joy, relief..........

Here is a photo of me with Julia, Dimitri, and the social worker. We are all happy because the judge said "yes!"

The bottom line, we are thrilled beyond words! Now we begin the 10-day wait. That's 10 working days by the way - we expect to have custody of our Angel September 8 or 9.

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5

So, we are here waiting again. But God is so faithful.
Elizabeth

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