The streets and sidewalks are ice covered. Would someone tell the people who drive? Geewhiz- We decide to walk,(no brainer) and set out to the orphanage. It's not far- maybe 45minutes- but our boots are not nonskid, so we do...
There is a short cut up the hill behind this big beautiful church and we take it. It turns out to skirt the crest of the bluff of Berdyansk. Awesome is the first picture word that comes to mind. It's a rare day today and for awhile the sun comes out and stays the afternoon. The ocean is smooth and placid, the town is in full view, and our girls are just a few steps away from greeting us w/their smiles and presence. My pulled muscle ache seems to fade as I take this all in.
After we round them up we head out in the prearranged taxi for a "busch gardens" drive back to the hotel. I've done wore out the pad on this guy's floor braking for him.(actually braking for me) Let' review- When you need to brake, don't- that's a sign for someone to overtake you. Instead you exercise your options, swerve or hit the gas. Well, we swerve and hit the gas all the way down the hill to town. It's 24* f. outside and I'm dripping wet. I keep turning my head, looking to see who's chasing us w/ ak47. I'm not completely helpless, I have an option too. I put Fran in the front seat and crunch in the back w/girls.
At the hotel we spend 4 hours w/girls, and discover more about them every visit. We prepare dinner in the room, picnic style, and the girls love it. Yana cannot possibly eat that much food w/o repercussions- This tiny kid eats like a horse. She's into the pickle jar like she's never seen one before. I stop her after she tips the jar and drinks down a few gulps of the pickle juice.
After dinner and clean up, it's time for Yana to "engage" papa. She is having SO much fun wrestling w/me that she temporarily loses "body control". (Did I mention she eat's like a horse?) This causes more laughfter than ever before. Yep- she truly is a Rahn...
We go downstairs to the internet and Fran links on , "interpretor.com". This is fantastic, and we get streams of questions - one after another-
It's cut off too short because of time. Their precious little hearts are just POUNDING to belong. Please do not EVER think that older kids grow out of being wanted, or somehow they only are looking for a "sugar daddy".
Tomorrow is our court date for Yana. We rejoice in her! It will be the day Heaven itself intervenes w/the works of man here on earth and blesses our hearts w/a (HIS) child.
God bless.
Rick
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Rick and Fran,
So wonderful to read of your journey and to see God's mighty hand at work in bringing together these two beautiful girls into a family filled with the love of God. Loved the blog from a Father's heart! It is early here in the US, it is your first court date, and I anxioulsy await your next blog journal of this day! Praying for you both and agreeing in prayer for your miracle for Marina!
In Christ,
Tiffany
Rick and Fran,
We enjoyed your story today. As Fran might know, we kept the same taxi driver- Volva. One day we needed two drivers as the Schweickerts were also going to the orphange and so Volva's company sent another driver. By the time we got to the orphange-way ahead of Volva, I could bearly stand. As it turned out, Volva said that driver had been a fighter pilot in WWII and relived his days re-inacting his dog fights! - I wonder if you got him?
Blessings to you and to the girls.
Love,
Beverly
Hi Guys,
You know, our girls LOVE pickle juice too! I don't get it ;(
Your descriptions are great! I can just see the places you talk about. Most of our trips to Berdyansk have been right at this time of year - cold, icy, snowy and gray, with very short days and lots of darkness. Besides the driving the other thing that is fascinating to me is how the women maneuver around in those fashionable high-heeled boots over icy, pot-holed sidewalks!
We're praying for you tomorrow, and always for a miracle for Marina.
Blessing,
Nancy & crew
Hi Fran and Rick,
You paint such vivid pictures with your words. it is so easy to imagine the girls' laughter as they 'wrestle" with Papa. Your description of Ukrainian drivers reminds me of the drivers we encountered in Israel.
It is so wonderful to hear about how God is blessing you in this wonderful adventure of parenthood. We are praying for your court date tomorrow and continue to pray for a miracle with Marina's situation.
Blessings!
Robin D.
Post a Comment