These are our official documents that we received.
I received an e-mail yesterday afternoon from Masha's dad, Sasha. It was a scanned official looking document ... completely in Russian. I could pick out enough to see that it had Almira's birth date, the date we went to court and yesterday's date. I also figured out where it said father it was Jon's name and under it I recognized the same last name and saw a K. I guess that was me. I forwarded it to Boris yesterday and he confirmed that it was a new birth certificate for Almira and our final adoption papers. We are waiting on an English translation so I can get Almira on my insurance here at work and everything.
We are so excited. I booked our travel and Sarah and I will leave Monroe on Saturday, May 26th at 4:30 in the afternoon and fly to Memphis. Then from Memphis into Amsterdam on Sunday morning. I am still considering whether I want to take Sarah out and about around Amsterdam. I hate for her to miss seeing the Rembrant museum. We do have about a 7 hour layover and Jon and I didn't have any problems last time we went there.
We will then continue on Sunday evening and land in Almaty at 5AM on Monday morning. Then Masha and Almira will arrive on Monday afternoon or evening. I'm not sure of the schedule for the week, but now I've heard we might be finished up in 3 days. If that is the case and I can get seats on the plane, I hope to fly us home on Friday, June 1st. My tickets right now are return on Monday, June 4th, but it would be great to get home on Friday and have the weekend to battle the jet lag.
I spoke with my friend Apryl yesterday and it was strange but I found myself missing Petro. When I was there I couldn't wait to get home and now I can't wait to get back. Even though we're not going back to Petro, we will be in Almaty. I don't miss the mud or the crazy driving, but I miss the laid back days, walking the streets, our daily trips to the orphanage or weekends spending them with Boris and Almira. There is a different pace of life there. Besides Almira, there are several girls that we met there that I am missing too. Now that we're home I can't stop thinking about the little girls there like Vika, Roza, Katya and so many others. I wish we could have brought more of them home. Now I understand more of my friends that tell me "Adoption is addictive, especially international. Once you come and see these precious children, you just can't forget about them." How can anyone with a heart ever forget these children? Even though the orphanages are clean, the children have food and clothes, they just need a family. Their needs are being met in the most basic of ways, but there is still an empytiness there. The Antares Foundation helps a lot with doing outings with the kids, helping the ones that have sponsors celebrate their birthdays, getting them glasses, dental work, but there is so much more.
I couldn't imagine being a kid and not having someone waiting for me at home, to give me a hug or a kiss when you've had a bad day. Someone to tell you "Good job" or "It will get better". Someone to cheer for you in the stands or standing in the audience at the awards day snapping pictures and bursting with pride for your achievements, always there to support you, to love you ... That is the most heart breaking part of this entire process, the ones that you must leave behind. I'm not sure I'll ever stop thinking about them.
But Almira is almost home and she was the one we were sent to bring home. I'm so glad I listened to God when he was continously pointing me back to her. She is truly a gift from God. I'll keep everyone posted, but like Boris said "It's 90% over with now." Yeah!!!
Hope everyone has a good day,
Kathy
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