Worries Never End

Chilly here today and windy -- it’s one of those days I’m sorry I’m a contact wearer -- constantly battling what feels like a brick in my eye! I know what you’re going to say Linda -- I should switch to soft lenses ……… and I wish I had.

Today has been a mix of emotions again.

We had a very short visit - there is a water problem around the orphanage and school so when we were there they had no running water. Because of this the school decided to run a shortened schedule. How they can decide to do that on the spur of the moment boggles my mind, I can’t imagine the parents in our district just saying “okay, that’s fine” but that’s what happens here. So, Vika had to leave for school at noon instead of 1:30. This meant lunch was earlier, which meant our arrival at 11 meant we only had about 40 minutes with her. Ugh!

Vika and her caretaker had created some lists for us -- one was her schedule which is pretty interesting. The kids get up at 6:30, have morning exercise, breakfast, than preparing for school time (homework), than outside exercise time, lunch, school, tea time when they return, than free time, dinner, homework and bed at 10 p.m. Whew! Vika also wanted to prepare a list of things she likes to eat -- Luba will translate tonight and give it to us tomorrow -- we‘re excited to hear what‘s on her list -- we‘ll have to do some shopping. It was pretty long -- one of the things she really likes is borscht (otherwise known as beet soup - the one soup we didn’t like when we tried it) and, guess what, she knows how to make it too -- Jack is hoping he’s on a fishing trip when she feels like cooking. :0)

Again hugs & kisses hello & goodbye for Hailee and I -- Jack got his normal handshake/hug ---- he’ll have to demonstrate how she does that for you -- it’s pretty cute!

Luba worked another one of her little miracles for us -- she asked if we could take Vika out tomorrow -- they said yes! So, we get to have her for two hours -- we are heading to the new mall to let her pick out some cd’s so we can download on the MP3 player for her, a few books for her and maybe a movie or two. The added bonus is we get to take her to lunch! That means pictures you guys!!!

When the visit was done we headed to the Atrium for phone/internet cards and wandered around a bit - during our wanderings Jack asked Hailee what she wanted to remember Kazakhstan by -- she thought a ring. We checked out a few at the jewelry store and she found one that she loved. Lisa, we think she’s going to be a jewelry lover like you! She couldn’t decide which one was just perfect and would have bought three or four if we would have let her.

It was after we’d been home awhile that the call came that we would be picked up in 10 minutes to head to the office ………… we hoped it was only to collect our extra money for rent, drivers, translators, fees, etc. It was, but, we were also told that there is paperwork that isn’t here. All papers must be current and correct for the courts -- Vika is missing two documents. One is the court paper from the original parent rights termination and the other one states that no relative can or wishes to care for her. Both are critical documents to allow our adoption. Nastya will travel to the town where Vika was born tomorrow and work on getting these papers re-created ……….we are once again very worried. The termination paper will be fairly easy they think and we shouldn’t worry about that - it’s the other paper that causes worry. There is an aunt who signed earlier that she could not care for Vika but it has to be done again. What if her circumstances have changed? What if she regretted signing the paper earlier? What if ……????? It’s going to be a sleepless night ……….who wouldn’t want this kind and beautiful child?
Yulia has promised that she will call as soon as they know -- she says probably around 5 tomorrow evening.

Once again we ask for your prayers ……………..