Boom-a-rang

Wow, what a whirlwind this past week has been.  I am not even completely sure what day it is today, to me it is yesterday but I am kinda thinking that yesterday didn't exist.  My body is literally buzzing and swaying from the 20+ hours of travel.  I sit here in Kiev, same chair in the corner of sweet Karen's apartment.  I hear the same, oh so familiar city sounds outside.  It is really hard for me to comprehend that in 6 days I have traveled across the Atlantic twice.  I am pretty sure this will catch up with me eventually.

For now, I thought I should lay out what the course of the next days and weeks looks like.  Right now it is about 10pm on Wednesday.  We are hoping to get a little sleep tonight before we have to catch a 7am train ride that will take us to Dnipropetrovsk.  After 5 hours on the train we then have a 2 hour bus ride that will take us to our destination of Nikopol.  Upon arrival, I am not quite sure how the sequence of things will go but, the end result is to take our soon to be daughter and go see Grandma.  


Naturally, I am a bit apprehensive about this meeting.  We have been told that Grandma has already given her consent for the adoption but how do you take a little girl to go see the last caregiver and family member she has.  How do you help both of them with the emotions and fears.  Of course this will be difficult.  But should it really be difficult for me?  No, it shouldn't.  This isn't about me but given my new emotional reality, it is gonna be hard.  So be praying for all of us tomorrow, somewhere around 8 to 10am Colorado time.  


Friday is the day...court day.  11am Friday morning we all have to report to the local judge.  Again, how can you not be a bit uneasy about that.  That's a big deal.  That is the day that we all say yes!!!  It is not just us that that has to say yes, this little 10 year old girl has to say yes, the judge has to say yes.  With expectant hearts...and then we wait.  The 10 day hold starts on Saturday.  That means on April 3rd we can pick her up and then she is truly ours.  


But, don't worry...that by no means means that the adventure is over.  From there we have to get a new birth certificate, passport, visa and medical clearance before we can leave the country to return to the U.S. That process can be relatively quick, or not.  I am preparing for the "not" option.  I figure that is the smartest thing for my mental health right now.  Especially since the calendar has been one of my biggest enemies through this process.  This time I am desperately trying to just ride out the storm.  


But honestly,  I am not looking at it as a storm right now.  Last week, yes...it was a storm.  A raging, out of control category 5 hurricane.  But now, I might spawn a few little twisters, but my goal is to keep my eyes on the prize, trust the Lord, know that His plan is perfect as is His timing.  I am trying to look through new eyes.  And to train my thoughts to be in alignment with the Word of God.  If I can do that, I think this part of the adventure will be just that, an adventure.  


We will be staying in Nikopol until probably Sunday but that will be dependent on the train schedule.  We have to be at the U.S. Embassy on Monday so that Jamie can sign a power of attorney giving me the authority to complete the process without him.  He will return home on Tuesday.  At that point, Annabelle and I are planning to jump back on a plane ourselves and head to Germany to wait out the rest of the 10 days.  


Mentally, I am in the best place I have been in weeks.  The trip home was worth every penny, just to wrap my arms around my girls, get a little sun and sleeping in my own bed.  Add to that all of the prayer, encouragement and love I received from my church family and friends was priceless.  I can't say I have it all together, but I can say I am working on it.  Good byes are never easy, and of course I was very teary eyed saying yet another good bye.  


What an amazing young lady you are Emma.  When this is all said and done you will have been without me for probably just over 9 weeks.  Your courage, your maturity, your strength and your wisdom have been very inspiring to me.  I love you!  And Lily our little world traveler.  She wanted to go with us.  She too was brave and tried very hard not to cry.  Honestly, I had a great cry with Emma who I feel closer to now than ever.  Lily just is such a trooper and gets the big picture.  All the girls have really helped me keep on keeping on.  They have never wavered in the purpose of this mission.  Thanks girls, you ROCK!


I suppose I best try to sleep, the boom-a-rang isn't quite to its destination.  Please pray for our reunion with our daughter.  She wasn't expecting us for nearly another 2 weeks.  I am praying that this is a good surprise.  Pray for out time with her, that it be a sweet, sweet sound to God's ears and to our hearts.  And as always, continue to pray for all of the tasks yet to be completed.  That I could fully submit to Gods plan and get myself out of the way.  Pray for my courage and resolve as well as continued safety for my entire family, here and at home.


The hands are still open, the story continues.  God's story!