We are Home!

We are home!

Our Grandchildren who we were able to spend a week with in Chicago have explained, to me, the girls are PERFECT! Madylyn says; “they like to talk to them and do the things they like to do.”

Well we did have a great time.

We walked from 22ed street to Down Town, We rode bikes, we skateboarded, played catch, ate, went to the park, toured a college, went to the zoo, visited the lake front, saw our daughter graduate Nursing School, Saw old friends, And had a great time. I watched my grandson, who is seven, jump back in the car just to give Alessia a great big, tight as you can, hug. And I saw my grand daughter's face light up as she told me how wonderful our girls are and how they are the best. Seeing my family bond together is the whole world to me.

The flight back to Florida was only two short hours. Friends met us at the airport and drove us the last few (seventy) miles. Neighbors have cut our grass, Brandon has taken care of the pool, Friends have stocked the frig and shelves, Susan's father has kept up with the bills, Our neighbor, and Susan's parents have picked up the mail and watched the house.

We are home! And we are so great full. I see friends all around us. Your arms are holding our arms, your hands, holding our hands, your prayers, holding us up.

Yesterday while Ashley was at her school, I took the girls down to the Venice jetty and beach. This is the place we had taken Alessia when she first visited, Were the picture of her holding the bag of Doritos with that great big smile, was taken. The waves were coming in so beautiful; Now she was able to share this together with her sister, They walked down by the water, Alina kicked water at Alissa who splashed her back, who splashed her more who... to all of our amazement dove in and swam. They both were in, laughing and calling to each other, with the surf at times knocking them over and down, carrying them along. Shouts and laughter blending with the roar of wind and breaking waves. Later they told me it was har-di-show(good) and class-na(cool)!

It is now ten months since the beginning of our journey of adoption.

We are home!

Getting to Know

We are watching each other. We have a lot to laugh about. A lot to learn.

Staying by our oldest daughter who lives in Chicago our days are spent getting to know each other. Coffee? at home no, out? sometimes yes.

Meat? Chicken yes, Beef no.

Oranges, Bananas, Apples? Yes. Watermelon, Cantaloupe? No.

Vegetables? No

They love dogs. Our adult daughter has both a Great Dane and a little “weaner dog”. Love at first sight Instant photo opt. The Great Dane is all you can wrap your arms around and the Weaner"s little wiggling body can be picked up and cuddled as his tong seeks to slap you across the nose.

We are walking through the neighborhood to meet Maxwell our grandson when he is dismissed from school; wieaner dog at the end of his long leash is pulling like a small sled dog. He switches from the sidewalk to the grass for better purchase as he pulls with all his might against his collar; a balance for him of not being able to breath and showing us the way. Our adult daughter has the little plastic bag with her for the doggy business which happens when “weaner dog” pauses for just a moment for his duty as he leads us to school.

I can see this coming, our new daughter has not seen this neighborly tradition before and right on Que she is stunned. Her mouth drops open and everything in her body language says “what are you doing? you must be crazy!” Just one more American tradition to learn. As we again walk down the sidewalk with Herrely pulling noblely I run up behind her and pretend to stuff a plastic bad into her back pocket. She scoots away shouting Het! Het!! (No No)

Later, after Herrely has led us back home. We again walk over a block to greet Madelyn at her bus stop. Alina is eating a golden delicious apple which she has all to herself and is enjoying. She eats the apple entirely, then the core, until the ends are gone and there are only four seeds and a couple of the hard casings; then stands holding the tiny remnants in her hand. Susan motions for her to throw them away on the nearby grass and Alina's look is questioning? After all we collect and save after the dog. Why should she think this can just be thrown down?

Remembering

Today we will be headed back to the states.

Yesterday was cold and rainy with wind blowing to match Chicago. Today as we use up the time change we will fly to Chicago; Some twelve hours of travel and layover but only five hours with the clock. Board the first flight at two pm. in Kiev Ukraine, Exit the second flight at seven thirty pm. in Chicago USA.

While it was cold and rainy the girls took a rest day and stayed at the apartment, Sleeping in, watching movies, doing nails, social net “working”, relaxing. Susan and I did go out for a short time but when we asked them if they wanted to go is was, No. Great having older girls!

To be fair to you as a reader of this blog there needs to be a disclaimer. This has not been a “tell all” blog. We are real people and we are at times messy, but this is part of growing together as a family and as individual people. At some point in their lives our girls will realize they are loved for their good and their bad, Just as I know Susan does me and I do her. Then they will know they are family. Also as a family I hope never to betray their trust or confidence so they can be free to be themselves. While in some instances this does skew the blog it is both how we would like to be remembered and it is how we DO remember our experiences as family members.

As a young child I was in a car my Grandfather was backing up. Going backwards he dropped one wheel in a ditch. There were seven of us in his Oldsmobile and we all went OOUGH! We were probably the reason Grandpa went in that ditch. There was no damage but the car did tip. Through life Grandma would, just occasionally, reference this almost none event. I became aware that each time Grandmother did this, Grandfather would deflate a little. That “mistake” probably caused by seven people in his car, hurt him every time it was spoken. So in my family, and in yours, Let us remember the Good Stuff.

Becoming US Citizens

Paper Work

We go to our appointment for immigration. It is ten thirty am, cars parked each side of the street, a line of people outside,close to one hundred. We walk to the head of the line, no waiting. We have an appointment and we are American citizens. In our hands are eight sets of documents along with pass port photos for each of the girls. Leaving our facilitator, who cannot enter, we pass through security and a somewhat long path to the correct office where a very helpful, English speaking, officer helps us submit our documents for the girls to immigrate. They will now become US citizens. Our English speaking clerk has the approach of how can we make this work. The feeling I get is I am already approved, now lets just get this paperwork filed so you can receive your needed documents.

After Immigration we go to the American health examinations where the wait is somewhat longer. We are done and at lunch by two pm. The girls are tired and ask to go home instead of staying out. They catch a two hour nap as Susan and I visit. Tomorrow at two we will be back with our completed health exams to pick up their American passports.

Later in the day while playing Uno I tell Alina that tomorrow she will be an American citizen just like Mama and Papa. The conversation goes like this.

“Mama and Papa.... American citizens

Alina Yes. I understand

Tomorrow; You, American citizen. Same as (Sze) Mama and Papa

Alina OH! Y---e--- SSSSS!!!!!!

I think back to the girl in the bowling alley in Zeporozia who said to me over and over. “Oh this is my dream, Oh this is my dream, to return to America. She had been to Orlando and worked for Disney for a summer. She would be one of those people outside the embassy asking for an appointment to apply for a visa. For just a temporary visa extensive work history must be shown with financial means to support yourself or a company willing to employ you. This is very difficult to receive.

Now, through adoption, Alina and Alessia will instantly become American citizens.

Going

We are now in Kiev.

The good byes were painful. The girls hold their friends. They join in a circle at times and put their heads all together. There are tears. We can only stand back and observe. This is a choice they are making, we do not hurry them.

Finally they are in the van. Both of them in the last row; with two friends; their arms around each other. We will drive a short distance down the road to see a favorite teacher who is not at school today. The two friends say their goodbyes there and walk arm and arm back down the street to the orphanage. I film them until my camera is out of range, the telephoto not able to stay on their image.

Later at the train station there are friends and the girls God Mother has come. This is the first time to meet this woman. She is older and you can tell she loves the girls and wants to stay in touch. We trade information,We learn about what Alessia has told her after her home stay program ten months back. The Godmother begs us to love them and educate them so they can have a better life than the grief and hardness they have had so far.

Susan tells one of the friends, who is to old to adopt, that if she can ever get a visa she is welcome to come stay/live with us. I will pray she succeeds, I also view it as a miracle if she can.

On the train later the older Alina is on her phone as we travel through the night. When we stop at the larger towns there will be a signal she can pick up. She steps from the cu-pay and out by the windows. I clearly hear her say in Russian “I am going to America”.

Royal Day

Today is the Royal Wedding in England, but in the Ukraine we are having our own Royal Day!!!  We leave shortly to go to the orpanage for the very last time.  We will miss all the children that run up and give us hugs everyday or wait at the gate waving goodbye to us hoping maybe we would take them with us.  I wish we could take more, they are such wonderful children.  Yes, we will miss the wedding on T.V. but our celebration today will begin a lifetime of great memories for 2 special girls.  Our girls. We have their bags packed with clothes we have brought from America. I have tears in my eyes as I think, we don't have to take them back on Sunday this week.  That will be different.  We instead will be boarding a train Sat. night for an 11 hour ride to Kiev.  One week in Kiev to get passports and visas for the U.S. and on May 7 we will fly to Chicago to attend another daughters special day as she graduates from nursing school.  We are so proud of her, she has studied so hard and managed to keep her family in order while she has done so.  Quite an accomplishment.  So, our royal day today will be spent doing documents all day to take the girls home.  We will have a party for all their friends to say goodbye.  I'm sure many tears will be shed, they have many great friends here.  We are thankful for that, but sad we cannot take them all with us.  Off for our Royal Day, Thank You Lord for allowing us to be used of you to help a couple of orphans, who will no longer after 4p.m. today be orphans, but daughters, just like we are God's children. I am blessed.  Susan

Relief!

Relief

Just a few days back

Tickets

We are starting to think about tickets. We will need to purchase them at least a week in advance of leaving. Keiv, and the journey there, then paperwork at the American Embassy will take at least three days. Right now we are at the point where (follow this) the application--- for the application is being made for changes in the birth certificates. The real application can not be made until the....

Yesterday, behind the scenes.

The Pass Ports are done in Kiev, or so I was told today. Although the photos and application are done here in Zaporosia, the printing of the passport is carried out in the capital city. Tomorrow someone is going to hand carry our two girl's passports four hundred kilometers so we can give them to the girls. Official documents in hand the government official will then award the girls to Susan and my custody and we can “begin” to take them home.

Yesterday at the Orphanage

How did it look where we were standing?

We were visiting and everyone was outside. We had talked with the girls but they were not right with us when THE! call came. “passports will be here at three o'clock Friday”

I call Alessia over and tell her. She was just relieved. We tell her again. Yes we will get pass ports on Friday “Tomorrow”. Alessia gets her sister over and we tell them again. The pass ports will come tomorrow. They are happy. But the word relief keeps coming back to me. I think they are both saying, “this is really going to happen!”

We miss the next two buses as we make plans for tomorrow. It is going to be a full day starting with an eight thirty AM pick up and going (and waiting) all day. If all goes well, around four PM, the girls will walk out of their orphanage for the final time. When we board the van and are driven away, they will not ever have to return.

Overview

I thank you to all the people at the orphanage. They have kept our girls safe for the last three almost four years since the passing of their mother. I can not praise them enough. The girls have told us of teachers who care for them and the Baptist missionaries (different than in the states) who I see every day spending time with the children. I watch the Director and I am convinced she knows not only the name, but also the strengths and faults of each of her children. Today I watched her as she spoke in a “scold” to one of the teen boys. I can see and am convinced behind her words he knows she cares about him.

What is it that even in the environment where children receive care and love they still long for someone they can call their own Mom and Dad? I do not know and I do not think the answer can be found but I can see in the eyes of each of the children. They are looking for their Mom and Dad to come through the gate.