Home Sweet Home

WE ARE ON OUR WAY HOME!!! The only thing that is standing between Rita and I being in America on Thursday is a U.S. Holiday. I have not run into one Ukrainian Holiday and now I sit waiting for an American holiday to pass. I am not all that sure that things would be different if the holiday were not there. I think we would still get out papers too late on Thursday to get the flight home. We left Berdyansk on Tuesday morning around 10:20. That was a very sad good-bye. Lots of tears were shed. Saying good bye to her friend, roommate, for 10 plus years was the hardest thing to do. I was very proud of Rita. For many teenagers the opportunity opens to leave and they can’t do it. I understand why. Everything you know and trust is left behind.
We arrived in Zaporizhya are 12:30. The birth certificate was changed in record time. We drove over to the passport office and within 2 hours we picked up the passport and were headed for the train. We arrived in Kiev in the early morning. We got an apartment, a pretty nice one at that. We arrived at the Embassy by 9:40, by 10:20 we were leaving the office and headed out for the physical. Backwards from the norm, but the embassy accepted that since it was a holiday on Thursday. We took off from there for the Medical Building for Rita’s physical. The last two days we did all the hurry up and waiting that my patients can take. All I wanted to do is fall a sleep this afternoon in the Medical Building.
Rita and I both agreed to hang-out in the apartment tonight. We are watching TV (all blah, blah, blah to me, but a nice picture and I don’t have to move). Tomorrow we will walk around Kiev and pick up a few last minute things. Then Friday we are off and ready to see America. I hope it is as beautiful weather wise as it has been the last few days in Ukraine. A big bonus for the last minute details that take place during an adoption.
See America soon. I am ready to prepare for the Holidays!

Rick and Koyla have left and MaMa is soooo sad. It was hard enough missing Yana, but now I have 3 to miss. I am not alone though. Heather and Dave are staying at the apartment, as well as Victor, who is facilitator for everyone’s adoption. Since the ruling is so strict about children leaving the orphanage , there is little to do while I sit and wait. A week from today Rita will leave the orphanage for good. In the mean time, I have to be creative with my time. I have gotten to know the markets pretty well. I have ventured into new parts of the city I have never seen. I make up lessons in English for Rita, so that when I visit we can study a little. Then I go visit and spend time with my new daughter.
Rita was ready for my visit with 4 of her friends. I brought her a suitcase for her trip to America. I had gone to the market and purchased a sweater for her, so that the suitcase wasn’t completely empty. I am not sure what kind of clothes she will take with her, or any other belongings. I am hoping on Saturday we will be able to venture to the market together to purchase some clothes. The 10 day waiting period will not be over so I am not sure that I will be able to. Rita’s friends were witness to me preparing for Rita’s exit. Rita is sensitive and down plays all of it. Her friend Yulia asked if she could come to America for a visit. I asked her how long the two girls shared the same room. I wrote 2010, 2009, 2008, down to 2005. Rita took the pen and wrote 2001. For 9 years these girls have traveled their orphan journey of life together. Rita has been at the orphanage better than 10 years and Yulia moved in with her when she came 9 years ago! Oh no, my heart…..I have to fight the tears. The girls are so strong, they are rejoicing for Rita. I cannot ask the question, “What can I do?”, I have to ask the question, “Lord, what can You do, even if it is through me?”. I pretended to be ironing and packing the suitcase. I pointed at Natasha and pretended to be folding her and ironing her and put her in the suitcase. Then I did the same for Yulia, Tanya, and Aliona. Once I had them all packed I shut the suitcase and pretended to leave for America with all of them in it. We laughed and the girls agreed it would be good. Then I told the girls that my heart takes them home. I have their pictures. I made a picture of my prayer board that is in my bedroom and I put their pictures on it. I pray for them every day. Aliona asked why. I told them I am asking God to give you a good life. A life that includes knowing God loves them and has a plan for them. It sounds like an easy conversation, but with the language difference we had to play act, draw pictures, look in the dictionary and books for the right pictures. In the end I believe they got it. I told them how much I loved them all and they were so important to me and Rick. Yulia is the only girl that has not aged out. She is the only one who has a glimmer of hope to be adopted. She will turn 16 in March and then that hope will be gone. She has witnessed Rita’s adoption though. Rita has witnessed many friends be adopted in the last 10 years. Some have gone to Italy, Germany, Spain and of course America. She is 3 months away from aging out and God sent her a family. Yulia has that glimmer of hope to hang on to as she sees her best friend (sister) walk out the door.
I have to say I hate this part of the adoptions. Walking away, it is so hard. I pray that God will give me the strength to be a comfort to Rita as she makes that exit next Tuesday. Pray for the girls and especially for Yulia. Pray that her glimmer of hope will become a dream come true!