I spoke with Maury this morning as they drove to the US embassy. He told me that the office had approved his Visa in one day instead of two. I am not sure how he accomplished that but assume they could see the desperation in his eyes. That means, at 2:30 am in the Ukraine, they will leave for the airport. After 16 hours in the air, their flight will arrive in Shreveport at 8:47 pm tomorrow night!! Praise God!!!!
We have been in this process for so long, I can not believe the time is finally here. It is like the anticipation of delivering a child. You know what is about to happen but when it really does, it feels like a miracle.
Please continue to pray for Maury and Kol’s safe trip home. Please pray for Maury’s sanity as he tries to keep Kol entertained on an airplane for 16 hours >smile<. Pray for our family - Maury, Kim, Kyle, Karmon and Kol.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
On the way to Kiev
The day is finally here. Maury and Kol said their goodbyes to all of the children (Alousha, Dema, Anina, Natasha, etc…) and Kol’s caregivers. Maury said that Vera was sad but so excited to know that Kol was on his way to a wonderful life. Maury said he was so ready to get out of Sumy, that the good bye was short. He said Kol kept opening the door saying ‘good bye’ to all of the kids. I can not imagine what must be going through his little mind.
Soooo, on the road again…. la la la la la I can’t believe it. After waiting at the passport office for four hours, the only person in Sumy that can approve the passport finally arrived. Maury made one more quick trip to McDonalds. He said Kol could care less about the toy and went straight for the food. Can you imagine how that will change in a few months? We have decided that he will be as big as a house in a few weeks!
The driver, translator, Kol and Maury left for Kiev about 5:00 pm Sumy time. They should arrive around 10:00 or 11:00. He said Kol is looking around at everything just taking it all in. This is probably the longest he has ever been in a car. Arriving in Kiev will be like arriving in New York for him. He is from a small village and Sumy isn’t the thriving metroplex of the Ukraine. I would love to see his face when he sees the big buildings, all of the cars (machina) and the lights. I am sure he will be amazed.
I called Maury to check on the journey. In the background, I could hear Kol saying “America Mama, America”. I can not explain the joy I feel knowing he understands that he is on his way to a better life.
Tomorrow, they will visit the US embassy and try to convince them to complete all of the paper work in one day instead of two. Based on our experience, I am sure it will be a two day process if not more. Their flight is scheduled to leave Friday morning (3:30 in the morning) and arrive in Shreveport at 9:00 pm. If they can not get the paperwork completed in one day, they will have to leave Saturday (the same schedule).
Of course, we are in full Mardi Gras swing in Louisiana. Maury and I are supposed to ride in a Mardi Gras parade this Saturday. It doesn’t look like that is going to be an option for us. Karmon is a Princess, so she will ride on the King’s float. He will arrive in the US and step right into a Mardi Gras parade and festivities. We will give him a good Louisiana welcome!!!
Soooo, on the road again…. la la la la la I can’t believe it. After waiting at the passport office for four hours, the only person in Sumy that can approve the passport finally arrived. Maury made one more quick trip to McDonalds. He said Kol could care less about the toy and went straight for the food. Can you imagine how that will change in a few months? We have decided that he will be as big as a house in a few weeks!
The driver, translator, Kol and Maury left for Kiev about 5:00 pm Sumy time. They should arrive around 10:00 or 11:00. He said Kol is looking around at everything just taking it all in. This is probably the longest he has ever been in a car. Arriving in Kiev will be like arriving in New York for him. He is from a small village and Sumy isn’t the thriving metroplex of the Ukraine. I would love to see his face when he sees the big buildings, all of the cars (machina) and the lights. I am sure he will be amazed.
I called Maury to check on the journey. In the background, I could hear Kol saying “America Mama, America”. I can not explain the joy I feel knowing he understands that he is on his way to a better life.
Tomorrow, they will visit the US embassy and try to convince them to complete all of the paper work in one day instead of two. Based on our experience, I am sure it will be a two day process if not more. Their flight is scheduled to leave Friday morning (3:30 in the morning) and arrive in Shreveport at 9:00 pm. If they can not get the paperwork completed in one day, they will have to leave Saturday (the same schedule).
Of course, we are in full Mardi Gras swing in Louisiana. Maury and I are supposed to ride in a Mardi Gras parade this Saturday. It doesn’t look like that is going to be an option for us. Karmon is a Princess, so she will ride on the King’s float. He will arrive in the US and step right into a Mardi Gras parade and festivities. We will give him a good Louisiana welcome!!!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Maybe My Last Day.....
We spoke to the passport office Monday afternoon. We're looking for the passport now either this afternoon or Wednesday morning. I'm trying not to get too excited but just knowing I MAY me leaving tomorrow absolutely thills me!!! The snow is melting today and it's very pleasant outside. As you see in the pics today, there was actually a river not frozen over.....and a couple kayakers enjoying the moment.
I didn't go to the orphanage this morning. I layed in bed, drank a pot of coffee and watched the one english speaking channel I can get....BBC. I'm going to have a little "Maury" time this morning and walk around....I might even go to McDonalds (What a treat)
Later this afternoon I'll go see the kids and I'm going to have a long talk with Vera and her daughter. I'd like Vera to "lay the law down" to Kol so he won't act up on trip home. The closer I get to going home, the more worried I am about making the flight with a 6yr old that doesn't understand what I'm saying. Someone up there is getting back at me for raising all that hell when I was a kid.
So, if everything goes well I should be leaving Kiev to return home on Friday. Please wish me luck.
I didn't go to the orphanage this morning. I layed in bed, drank a pot of coffee and watched the one english speaking channel I can get....BBC. I'm going to have a little "Maury" time this morning and walk around....I might even go to McDonalds (What a treat)
Later this afternoon I'll go see the kids and I'm going to have a long talk with Vera and her daughter. I'd like Vera to "lay the law down" to Kol so he won't act up on trip home. The closer I get to going home, the more worried I am about making the flight with a 6yr old that doesn't understand what I'm saying. Someone up there is getting back at me for raising all that hell when I was a kid.
So, if everything goes well I should be leaving Kiev to return home on Friday. Please wish me luck.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Let The Countdown Begin
The final day is getting closer. Hopefully we'll see the passport tomorrow and if so, we'll say our goodbyes then head to Kiev. I have a feeling there will be some issue....there always seems to be, but I'll remain confident and please say a prayer that all works out fine.
There has been a lot of snow in the past couple days and the roads are not icey but slippery. Beside me here at the internet cafe the cars' tires are spinning trying to get up the hill causing a bit of a traffic jam. I hope the road from Kiev to Sumy is passable as Kol's passport has to be driven from there. The roads are bad enough when dry muchless all this snow.
At the orphanage, the kids all headed outside to play. The temperature really has dropped and along with the snow, the wind picked up. Nothing stops the kids though and they still laugh, wrestle, pull and ride sleds. It was honestly too cold for me and I tried to huddle out of the wind but still froze. A few of the women gave me a bad time but I didn't care, it was self-survival. They actually love this kind of weather.....give me the sun and palm trees any day.
I can't believe it's getting so close to us coming home. There are some things I'll always remember about Sumy. What an adventure this has been. I hope though, I can live the rest of my life and never hear russian rap music again or see a russian guy with cornrowed hair and blingbling around his neck shooting some hand signs. Trust me, the first couple times it's hilarious but they love their music videos here and it's become a nightmare!!! At least I have a new Halloween costume....
There has been a lot of snow in the past couple days and the roads are not icey but slippery. Beside me here at the internet cafe the cars' tires are spinning trying to get up the hill causing a bit of a traffic jam. I hope the road from Kiev to Sumy is passable as Kol's passport has to be driven from there. The roads are bad enough when dry muchless all this snow.
At the orphanage, the kids all headed outside to play. The temperature really has dropped and along with the snow, the wind picked up. Nothing stops the kids though and they still laugh, wrestle, pull and ride sleds. It was honestly too cold for me and I tried to huddle out of the wind but still froze. A few of the women gave me a bad time but I didn't care, it was self-survival. They actually love this kind of weather.....give me the sun and palm trees any day.
I can't believe it's getting so close to us coming home. There are some things I'll always remember about Sumy. What an adventure this has been. I hope though, I can live the rest of my life and never hear russian rap music again or see a russian guy with cornrowed hair and blingbling around his neck shooting some hand signs. Trust me, the first couple times it's hilarious but they love their music videos here and it's become a nightmare!!! At least I have a new Halloween costume....
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sunday - Bath Day!!!!
I awoke this morning to a beautiful snowfall. While there was little traffic, I walked a block away to see some of the scenery covered in snow. It's really nice because the snow covers the potholes and fith, then you get a chance to see what the city SHOULD look like. It really doesn't seem to feel as cold as yesterday and I feel like a kid running around a making a fool of myself in the snow.
As I walked up to the orphanage I see most of the kids outside playing on their sleds and continuously laughing. Of course as Papa approaches I'm pelted with snowballs!!!! I had to be the horse and pull all the sleds as fast as I could until the horse almost had a heart attack. They always have so much fun and it's great to hear the laughing.
Vera is absolutely incredible with these children, she's more than a caregiver to them as I see how the caregivers act around the kids. Vera is the mother they don't have. They also listen to everything she tells them as they know what they can get away with when someone else watches them.
So Vera rounded them all up, brushed the snow off of clothes and everyone marched upstairs and started shedding clothes......BATH TIME!!!!! It only comes once a week and trust me, when Saturday arrives they smell like little skunks. The only thing that seems to slip by is the kids brushing their teeth. You see many of the kids with filthy teeth or some with rotted baby teeth. Their breath makes you want to Yak. I can only stay on Kol to get him to brush his and I brought a battery operated Spiderman toothbrush for him when I finally get him permanately....I can't wait!!!!
As I walked up to the orphanage I see most of the kids outside playing on their sleds and continuously laughing. Of course as Papa approaches I'm pelted with snowballs!!!! I had to be the horse and pull all the sleds as fast as I could until the horse almost had a heart attack. They always have so much fun and it's great to hear the laughing.
Vera is absolutely incredible with these children, she's more than a caregiver to them as I see how the caregivers act around the kids. Vera is the mother they don't have. They also listen to everything she tells them as they know what they can get away with when someone else watches them.
So Vera rounded them all up, brushed the snow off of clothes and everyone marched upstairs and started shedding clothes......BATH TIME!!!!! It only comes once a week and trust me, when Saturday arrives they smell like little skunks. The only thing that seems to slip by is the kids brushing their teeth. You see many of the kids with filthy teeth or some with rotted baby teeth. Their breath makes you want to Yak. I can only stay on Kol to get him to brush his and I brought a battery operated Spiderman toothbrush for him when I finally get him permanately....I can't wait!!!!
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