Referral...

So, before I get to the events of today let me give a wrap on how our weekend ended.  We left our apartment in Independence Square bright and early on Sunday morning to make the trip via metro to an international church, ICA.  We were a bit uneasy about the whole process, moves are kinda stressful.  No, really stressful.  But picture this little Colorado family, 9 year old in tow, schlepping through a public plaza with wheelie suit case, back pack, Lily's hot pink, black and glitter bag, avoiding the wild dogs (who seem mostly friendly) while trying to locate the right staircase to the metro.  Making it back down the longest escalator ever seen, we actually get to the platform and figure out which direction we want to go.  Six stops later out we pop, to our surprise we made it to the right place, at the right time.

What a sweet congregation and worship service.  We met several people including one gentleman who works at one of the international schools as a counselor, he and his wife were from Colorado.  Many teachers from the two international schools or the Christian school attend here.

Afterward, we spent the afternoon with a lovely family who has three adorable little kids, including a daughter Lily's age.  This was a wonderful break for all of us, but Lily really needed it.  Poor kid, she is about "adulted" out.  We had a yummy lunch and just relaxed...thanks Tara & Phil!

We made it back to Karen's in time for dinner and got situated for the night.  Got to chat with Clarke & Kris and then Grammy and Pappy called.  Love those little touches of the familiar.

Today was appointment number two day.  Unlike the first visit, today I wasn't nervous, just lots of anticipation.  Expecting to see a few more options than the first time, but feeling like we still had the option of the girl from the first appointment.  It was kinda like groundhog day, we went in and started the process again, same workers, same books, mostly the same girls.  We asked about the little girl we saw last time, and to our surprise another family had taken a referral to see her last Thursday.  Ugh...we bounced from one book to the other, in particular order.  She asked if we wanted to see 2002 again, we say yes.  We start thumbing through, looking at the same girls once again.  But then in the middle of the book is a new face, a cute, happy, smiling face!  My heart skips a beat, then I look at the faces of those there to "help" us.  I could see on her face that she wasn't particularly favorable.  I ask, as has become normal, "what is her story?"  Funny thing here is when you ask a question, the speak at length but all we get is a very brief explanation, very brief.  Pretty sure many details are left out.  So, her story.  She will be be 10 in late February, has been available since late fall 2011, is healthy, bright, but....well, but she was hosted by a family from Spain over the holidays.  By the workers tone and implication, this must some how mean that that family wants to adopt her.  What if she is attached to that family and rejects us, what if she is waiting for them to come get her.  What if, what if, what if....my (our) head was swimming.  Feeling like we were being out played at this little game, which we didn't want to be a game at all.  We know that we are allowed three appointments and three referrals, one down with not even meeting a child.  What if this didn't go anywhere and we were forced back for a third appointment.

While it is true that she was hosted, it is also true that many kids are hosted and many are hosted by the same family multiple times without any intention to adopt them.  So, we move forward with the referral.  We go to her orphanage and meet her.  We take Lily, we play with photo booth on the computer, and play other games, show her pictures of our home, our family.  Then what, we don't know really.  Our hope, she loves us, we love her, we ask her be part of our family and we start the next step to make this happen.

Tomorrow at 4pm we will pick up our referral.  Then depending on what makes the most sense we will either travel by train or car to the region.  It is only about 250 kilometers from Kiev, by comparison a short distance.

Of course we are nervous, how could we not be.  This is a big deal, but we remain of good courage, knowing that God is in control.  Please pray for us, this little girl, our meeting with her, the inspector and the director, that our path would be made straight.

By the way, it wasn't any warmer today!  Still hoping that it will warm a bit mid week.