Something about that smile ...

I came into work this morning and had a wonderful suprise in my e-mail. Boris saw Almira yesterday and took her a copy of our court papers and her new birth certificate. He said she seemed very excited. She was wondering if her last day at the orphanage would still be May 28th and he told her he thought it would be.

As my grandmother used to say "If the Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise" honey, that will be your last day at the orphanage. Of course you have to consider the era. They used to cross the creeks in horse and buggies when she was a little girl and to come into town, they lived in the country, they would put the horse and wagon on a ferry and cross the big rivers.

Well I digress. Anyway, I wanted to share my newest photo of our beautiful new daughter. I love to see her smile. She is sharing her good news with her friends. Or the real truth is the kids see Boris and mob him because they love him and he brings them suprises from their sponsors in America.

That's all for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Kathy B.

Almira is now officially our daughter!!

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

Counting the days ...

Even though last week seemed to speed by, it still seems much too long until we can return to pick up Almira. The appeal period ends tomorrow and I will be holding my breath on Wednesday as we find out if everything is final. I was quite happy to get a picture this weekend from the DeBolt's who are there now adopting. Dale snapped this picture of Almira with Masha in the hallway at the orphanage. Almira is still in her school uniform, so it must have been right when she got through with school. I think Masha told me that Dale is a professional photographer. You can tell it is definitely a better picture than anything we took. Thanks again for sending me a picture of Almira, Dale and Bonnie. We offered to adopt Masha while we were there as well and bring her to the U.S. She is just darling. We are hoping she can come for a visit. She just turned 24 and is a sweetheart.

At the Regional Orphanage the children have school 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday. I believe they start at 8AM and then go until 1:30 or 2:00. Then the children have lunch at 2:30 in the afternoon. We would arrive every day at 3:00 p.m. for our visits with Almira and she would be out of her school uniform and into her regular clothes. We would then stay until 4:30 when the kids would have a snack. We usually left at this time. Then I think the kids had supper at 7:30. Almira was thrilled she didn't have school on Saturdays.

Just 2 weeks from today, Sarah will meet Almira for the first time. Please pray that nothing will get in the way of our return trip for Sarah, Almira and I and that we have an uneventful return. I don't think that Almira can leave the airport in Amsterdam, so I am hopeful we won't have any delays or missed flights.

Enjoy.

Kathy B.