One out of six

Alexandra and I have been wanting to get outside and enjoy our last days in Kyiv. The boys, however, just want to stay "home". We only went out for meals yesterday but today we are going to try and do a little souvenier shopping. I think the boys are on board because they both want a Ukrainian flag. Also today, we will start the paperwork at the Emabassy and, hopefully, pick up the passport. If Vitalik's passport is ready today as promised we will arrive in Montgomery Sunday afternoon. Will post later about that.

Have to tell this cute story about Roman Eli. Shane Duke called the other day to check on him. He said everybody missed Roman and was asking about him so I passed the message along to Roman.

"Shane called and says that everybody at camp misses you."
"At camp?"
"Yes."
"Everybody?"
"Yes, everybody."
"Everybody not miss me," he replies seriously. I can tell he is thinking hard about this. Finally, he says:
"Maybe, uh, 6 people miss me."

Well, last night we were sitting in McDonald's and Alexandra says "Oh my gosh! There is Anton!" Anton is a translator for Shane and was bringing some Americans back to Kyiv to catch their flight home. So Roman got to see one of the six people at camp that I know was missing him.

Home is getting closer

Yesterday (Monday), we submitted Vitalik's passport application. The criminal background check was supposed to be completed today at which time they would call and tell us to come down for the digital passport picture. We wanted to go visit the Radooga camp that is currently going on near Kyiv and Sasha told me if we had not heard from the passport office by 3:00, we would more than likely not go today. So sometime after 3:00, we hop on the metro; get to Nivki, get a cab and just hope we get home sometime this month. We are not 5 minutes from the metro when Sasha calls and says we need to be at the passport office. So we just have the taxi turn around and take us back to the Center. At 4:20, Sasha calls back and says we need to be at the office by 4:45. I tell him where we are and ask if we can make it. He says yes, if there is no traffic. Have you EVER been in Kyiv when there was no traffic. Well, I just prayed we'd make it. And if not, that we'd get home whenever God decided it was time. I have to say, traffic today was lighter than I have ever seen it. We made it to the passport office with time to spare, finished up and were back out to Busha in time for dinner and the worship service at the Radooga camp. The passport is SUPPOSED to be ready Thursday afternoon. If so, we will plan to come home on Saturday.

Just a word about the photograph. Vitalik was excited about going out to the camp. Roman was not. I knew that it was iffy whether or not they would be able to handle new people in a new place. We were there maybe all of 5 minutes before they were letting me know they couldn't handle it. "Posh lee, Mom." (Let's go) The picture was taken at dinner. They did not want to eat; nor did they want to attend the worship service. They weren't happy but they did OK. Other than complaining, and striking these flattering poses, they actually did pretty good. Oleg drove us back to the metro after a couple of hours; we sat down on the metro and Vitalik leans over and asks "What's for dinner?" My reply: McDonalds. Unhappiness forgotten.

A Beautiful Day in Kyiv

By majority vote today we had church at home. Vitalik chose the passage we would study and he chose Ephesians 6:1; perhaps because it is the one with which he is most familiar. We backed up a few verses and read about wives and husbands and children and parents. What a beautiful picture to both boys of what a godly family should look like. Then we continued reading about spiritual warfare. Vitalik remembered these passages from our visit to Holy Trinity Presyterian 2 weeks ago. We talked about who our enemy was and the kids drew pictures representing the armor of God.

Afterward we walked over to Kreschatik for Roman's first ride on the metro. This small town boy is unphased by the big city. You would have thought he had ridden the metro all his life. We met our friend, Zhenia, and took a river boat cruise. It was a perfect day for it.

Zhenia talked with Vitalik about some of the emotions he has been feeling lately. It was good to have someone around that he knew and trusted and could talk with openly. This was Zhenia's first time to meet Roman and he was impressed with the relationship that has already formed between the two. More and more everyday I see God's hand in the life of our growing family. After the river boat cruise we ate at McDonalds then got back on the metro and headed towards the World War II Museum.

Vitalik, Alexandra and I were able to climb Metal Mama and see Kyiv from a different perspective. Children under 14 are not allowed up so Zhenia stayed with Roman who enjoyed climbing on the tanks. I think Roman talked his ears off.

We enjoyed ice cream, the beautiful weather and perfect behavior. Vitalik was so protective of Roman on and around the metro. And Roman thouroughly enjoyed the sights of the city and never once complained. There are days when tension and stress rule; days when past hurts and insecurities reveal themsleves in a myriad of ways. Today was a reward for loving and pressing on through those difficult moments.

My beautiful daughter was her patient and cheerful self. I told her as we were walking back to the apartment, "this might be our last weekend in Ukraine." She sighed. As much as we miss home and can't wait to get back, especially to be with the rest of the family, we are going to miss this crazy place. There is just something about it that we love.

We stopped at the Pazata Hata for dinner before coming home then the boys zoned out with some computer games while Alexandra loaded pics on the computer and I talked with Colton and Gabe. The boys are given 2 hours of computer usage a day. When I announced the 2 hours were up, both signed off without a single question, whine, or pout. The day ended with all of us playing a game of Sorry. Hugs all around; lots of "I love you's" and then they scattered to their beds; to what I would bet is sweet, peaceful sleep. Everybody was happy. Everbody was tired. Everybody felt loved and hopeful and content. It was a beautiful day in Kyiv.

Ya gotta experience it to believe it

All I can say is I am happy that I get to run around town with Victor getting this paperwork done or else I would not believe that so little could be done in one day. Friday, with birth certificte in hand, we leave the apartment early and go to the tax office. Our goal was to finish all paperwork needed to submit the passport appllication by the end of the day. The tax office opened at 9:00 and we were there by 8:30. At about 10:00, Vitalik, the minor child, signed something that allowed us to have the new tax ID number and off we go to get to the "birth certificate legalization office" by 11:00. Good thing Vitalik was with us, by the way, even though no one thought he was needed. Birth certificate legalizaion means the certificate gets a stamp or seal of some sort. But for some reason this will take 4 hours so off we go to the orphanage to sign final papers there. We pick up the Inspector along the way; make it to the orphanage; and meet with the lawyer since the Director is on vacation. The official exchange is made; the lawyer tells Vitalik he is no longer theirs while Vitalik claps his hands with glee because he has "money, ma, money" in his bank account that he gets to withdraw when he is 18 years of age. Oh, and while sitting there during this momentous occassion, I am trying to explain to him why he cannot just make up an email address to give to his friends. Suffice it to say, this was not a sentimental moment. We are off again to pick up the now-stamped birth certificate which was to be ready by 3:00. I ask Victor to please take us home first. I was getting a cold/cough and had had enough Kyiv traffic for one day. We are dropped off with the assurance of a phone call later to confirm the passport application was submitted. At 7:00, I call Victor. Surprise. It was not submitted today. Turns out there was a mistake on the birth certificate so Victor spent the remainder of the afternoon getting a new one issued and legalized. This time a 2 day process is completed in 3 hours. So now we hope to get the application submitted on Monday. Still, the passport may be ready Wednesday, maybe Thursday. Maybe we can still leave on Friday? I hope so. I am thankful to be running around Kyiv doing the final paperwork to bring our boys home. There is no place I'd rather be; nothing I would rather be doing. But the thought of home is now being hung out there like a carrot and I am salivating for it.

Lets Hear It For the Boys

Getting to know each other




Vitalik has gained about 10 pounds since this picture was taken!


Roman healping big brother wash off the coal dust/dirt that comes from playing soccer in Beloraschensky. No running water.


Roman is appreciating food available upon demand. And I mean demand.


Taking a break after soccer. They both love the sport and are both excellent players!


Three out of five. I miss Colton and Luke!


Acting like brothers; Roman trying to smear shaving cream on Vitalik.


Gaining those pounds!


Yes, that is jealousy you see on his face.


And that is happiness.


Teaching Roman how to play a computer game


Did I mention gaining pounds?


These kids find bunny ears to be hysterical. Still missing Colton and Luke.


Vitalik telling Roman about Kyiv as we arrive back into the city by train.


We gave both boys a certificte signed by us that we called a "Family Promise". Vitalik had already received his and he was so anxious for Roman to get his.


Checking out the Harry Potter books.


Computer time.


Roman misses you, Pa.


And so does Vitalik.


Me, too.

The Son of My Heart

Okay, so we have been delayed a few days in Kyiv but its not unexpected. We knew things would take longer here; if no other reason than the fact that you have to fight traffic getting from one office to another. Hopefully, we will be coming home by the end of next week. My hope has always been that we could come home before Vitalik's birthday, Saturday, July 19th.

Our 10-day waiting period was over on Monday but due to a few mistakes, the decree did not become final until Tuesday, July 9th. So he becomes officially ours on my Mom's birthday. Now both dates will be easy to remember: Independence Day and my Mom's birthday. (By the way, we called my Mom on her birthday and the kids sang Happy Birthday to her in English. Too cute!) We could not pick up the decree until the end of the day Tuesday so we could not start our next round of paperwork until today, Wednesday. And, boy, was it a long day. We left the apartment at 8:00 to go get the birth certificate over on the Left Bank where Vitalik was born. We got right in but she tells us she will not have it ready until Saturday. Our facilitator, Victor, convinces her that we need it today so she promises it at 6:00. So while we have some free time we decide to go to the technical school where Vitalik has already enrolled to get his Certificate of Graduation plus some other records they were in possession of. We get there only to find out that an orphanage representative has to come in person to retrieve these documents. So we drive an hour to the orphanage to pick up the lawyer; another hour back to the technical school; another hour back to the orphanage to return the lawyer; another hour to the apartment to drop off Vitalik while he is still being calm and patient; another hour back to the Office of Vital Statistics to retrieve the coveted birth certificate; and another hour home. Tomorrow we will leave again at 8:00 to get the new tax number; legalize the birth certificate; do the official exchange with the lawyer from the orphanage; and apply for the passport either tomorrow or Saturday. A criminal background check must be done before the passport is issued but we have been "promised" it in three business days. If we can get it Wednesday we can do the medical exam and get the visa and, hopefully, be outa here Friday. Thats my no-delays-scenario. Gabe is on his way back to the goood ole USA, by the way. (We miss you, Pa!)

Although it was a busy day, it was a very enlightening day. First, although Vitalik has his moments, I must say that he was good as gold today driving around town. I was more stressed than he. He is not happy about having to go again tomorrow but you gotta do what you gotta do. Alexandra is staying with Roman while Vitalik and I run around and he has been very patient as well. He does call often to find out what I am doing and when I will be home but he is easily entertained and is a reading machine! I bought the Harry Potter series in Russian and he is flying through them. Also, today, I met the director of the technical school who was good friends with Vitalik's father before he died. He really did not provide a whole lot of helpful information but he helped open a dialogue between Vitalik and I that was enlightening. It was also good to be able to see the neighborhood where Vitalik grew up. It is so hard for him still to share things of his past so it is good when we have these small opportunities to connect with those memories.

It was July 14, 2007, when I stood in the Hall's kitchen in Birmingham; looked across the room at this young man whom I had just met; and heard a voice in my heart that said "that is your son". For close to a year, I agonized over my son's future. No one knows the hours I spent on my knees pleading with God to not let him graduate without a family. I know there will be difficult days ahead. In case I doubted that, Vitalik has made sure to remind me. But God has chosen us to go through difficult times for the sake of a lost and wounded sheep. And so it is with great rejoicing that we begin the journey home.

Destiny

Some stories you don't feel comfortable telling until its all said and done. This is one of those stories. Last year we first became involved with Reach Orphans with Hope, an organization that brings children from Ukraine to the United States on a hosting program each summer. Roman was one of the children expected to come. When we first saw his picture early in the summer, our whole family remarked how much he looked like Gabe. Imagine our disappointment when we heard that Roman would not be coming because a family from America was adopting him. Then imagaine our surprise when he showed up! Apparently, it had not worked out with the other family.

People often ask how you choose a child to adopt. I always say "You don't choose a child. God chooses you to parent a particular child." Anyone who saw Gabe and Roman together last summer can attest to this. God's plan was simply unfolding.

We began the process to adopt Roman and Vitalik. We knew our dossier was to be submitted in April when we heard that Roman was about to go live with a foster family---the next day. Shane Duke just "happened" to be at Roman's internat the day the paperwork was being finalized. I just "happened" to be in Ukraine and was able to fly out to Lugansk. God's plan continued to unfold.

This week we met the potential foster mother. We had heard that she had been calling weekly to see if the adoption had happened. We also met a woman who has known Roman since he was taken to the orphanage at the age of 4 1/2. She has visited him regularly and taken him to her home for holidays. She obviously loved him but it was not in God's plans for her to adopt him.

God saved Roman for us. One, two, three times. Now he is our son. And that, my friends, is destiny.