We had to say good-bye on Good Friday which really hit home with us. We were leaving our son, but knew that we would one day be back. We felt so much pain and sadness. Leaving him on Good Friday made us appreciate God sending his son to die for us even more.
We celebrated Easter with Evan that morning. We dressed him in his cute little blue bunny suit, we gave him his Easter Basket with his new Easter toys in it and then played with those. We read books together, he loved "Counting Kisses." every time we read it, he just laughed and laughed.
When we got to the baby home everyone was so excited to see us. Everyone came running over to us and talking to us, of course we didn't have a clue what they were saying. Evan would not go to any of his caretakers or to the doctor, he kept holding on to his Mommy. Finally, he went to one of his caretakers, but immediately reached back for his Mommy.
Mommy and Daddy were both in tears. The caretakers were so sweet to us. They would point to us and say, "Mama and Papa." The kept telling us that it would be okay, and not to cry. One of the caretakers patted me on the head and said (in Russian of course) "Don't cry Mama, he will wait for you." They were so nice, they kept telling us that it was okay, but it wasn't okay to us.
During the next couple of days that it took us to get home, we just cried and held each other tight. We had been together as a family of three, and now just two...it felt like something was missing, like we were empty inside. But we knew then (and now) that God has a plan, He had carried us this far and He will continue to carry us as we bring Evan Denis home to America.
Showing posts with label 1st trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1st trip. Show all posts
Friday, April 09, 2004
Monday, April 05, 2004
Meeting Our Son
We arrived at the baby home and met with Dr. Vladimir, the director of the baby home. We talked with him for a bit while Andrew translated for us. He told us that he wanted us to bring him a back a CD of "Georgia On My Mind" How funny! We told him that we would and plan to do so whenever that maybe. He then took us to meet Denis, he was sleeping so we waited for a minute while one of the caretakers went to get him. We were very nervous because we were told that he did not like new people very well and that he liked his caretakers very much. They brought him out and started dressing him in the clothes we had given them that we brought with us.
As they dressed him, I leaded over and touched his hand and began talking to him. He immediately smiled so big! What JOY! It was like God had told him all about his Mommy and Daddy, what we looked like, what we sounded like. It was as if he thought, "There you are Mommy, I've been waiting to me you."
They led us into a room full of toys that they call, "The Parent's Room." We played for a while and he studied us as we studied him, we smiled, laughed, and had a great time. The doctor came in and told us everything that she wanted us to know about his schedule. What he ate, when he ate, when he slept, etc. She also told us that he was her favorite! This made us feel like such proud parents, it is obvious that she will miss him very much when he comes home.
We loved tickling him! It is so much fun to see him cackle the way that he does. Our favorite thing to do was play the "Bump" game. We played all week. He would pull himself up with our fingers and let go. When his bottom would hit the floor he would so hard, of course we made it silly too! He loved it so much, by the end of the week we could say "Wanta bump?" and he would reach out to take our fingers.
On Wednesday, Andrew picked us up and took us into town to have some papers notarized. Alex met us there. We were the first family in our agency to find out about the long wait. We had been told that our second trip would be around 90 days. While we waited in the office, Alex told us that it was going to be a much longer wait and that he was sorry but nothing could be done about it. He also told us that our agency did not even know about the long wait yet. I think it was the shock that hit us so hard, but we both broke down in tears right there. I know the people in that office must have been wondering what those "Americans" were so upset about. We couldn't bear the idea of having to say good-bye to him for so long.
We enjoyed our week with Denis and loved being with him. It was wonderful! We would not change a minute of it, well, if we could...the wait of course. We got to see him do so many things that parents enjoy seeing their children do. We can't wait to experience all new things with him again.
As they dressed him, I leaded over and touched his hand and began talking to him. He immediately smiled so big! What JOY! It was like God had told him all about his Mommy and Daddy, what we looked like, what we sounded like. It was as if he thought, "There you are Mommy, I've been waiting to me you."
They led us into a room full of toys that they call, "The Parent's Room." We played for a while and he studied us as we studied him, we smiled, laughed, and had a great time. The doctor came in and told us everything that she wanted us to know about his schedule. What he ate, when he ate, when he slept, etc. She also told us that he was her favorite! This made us feel like such proud parents, it is obvious that she will miss him very much when he comes home.
We loved tickling him! It is so much fun to see him cackle the way that he does. Our favorite thing to do was play the "Bump" game. We played all week. He would pull himself up with our fingers and let go. When his bottom would hit the floor he would so hard, of course we made it silly too! He loved it so much, by the end of the week we could say "Wanta bump?" and he would reach out to take our fingers.
On Wednesday, Andrew picked us up and took us into town to have some papers notarized. Alex met us there. We were the first family in our agency to find out about the long wait. We had been told that our second trip would be around 90 days. While we waited in the office, Alex told us that it was going to be a much longer wait and that he was sorry but nothing could be done about it. He also told us that our agency did not even know about the long wait yet. I think it was the shock that hit us so hard, but we both broke down in tears right there. I know the people in that office must have been wondering what those "Americans" were so upset about. We couldn't bear the idea of having to say good-bye to him for so long.
We enjoyed our week with Denis and loved being with him. It was wonderful! We would not change a minute of it, well, if we could...the wait of course. We got to see him do so many things that parents enjoy seeing their children do. We can't wait to experience all new things with him again.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Our First Trip
We headed to the Atlanta Airport on the morning of April 2nd along with both of our Moms.
After 5 airports, 3 airplanes and 2 days later, we arrived safe and sound with all luggage in tacked on Sunday in Russia. When we got off the plane we had no idea where to do or what to do. We saw a woman holding a sign that said "Hodles." Could that be us?, we thought. We didn't really know what to do. Then she spotted us and recognized us from our pictures. She took us to get our bags and then took us to the apartment that we would be spending the week in. She walked us to the market and to the internet cafe so that we would know how to walk there. We did the best to understand her as she explained everything, including how to use the washing machine in Russian. It was the beginning of an awesome adventure!
Since it was Sunday when we arrived we could not go to the baby home so we rested. The rest was wonderful considering we had been awake for so long.
The next morning Andrew picked us up and took us to the Adoption Center to fill out some papers granting us permission to visit him. After we left the Adoption Center, we headed for the Baby Home. It was about a 45 minute ride. The ride was terrible every time. The roads are so bumpy and so very different from any of the roads we have ever seen in the States. The drivers don't really use the lanes, they just drive and blow their horns!
After 5 airports, 3 airplanes and 2 days later, we arrived safe and sound with all luggage in tacked on Sunday in Russia. When we got off the plane we had no idea where to do or what to do. We saw a woman holding a sign that said "Hodles." Could that be us?, we thought. We didn't really know what to do. Then she spotted us and recognized us from our pictures. She took us to get our bags and then took us to the apartment that we would be spending the week in. She walked us to the market and to the internet cafe so that we would know how to walk there. We did the best to understand her as she explained everything, including how to use the washing machine in Russian. It was the beginning of an awesome adventure!
Since it was Sunday when we arrived we could not go to the baby home so we rested. The rest was wonderful considering we had been awake for so long.
The next morning Andrew picked us up and took us to the Adoption Center to fill out some papers granting us permission to visit him. After we left the Adoption Center, we headed for the Baby Home. It was about a 45 minute ride. The ride was terrible every time. The roads are so bumpy and so very different from any of the roads we have ever seen in the States. The drivers don't really use the lanes, they just drive and blow their horns!
Monday, February 23, 2004
Waiting to Travel
On February 23, 2004 we received our travel packet, which told us what to take and how to prepare for the trip. Boy, was that overwhelming at first! We had no idea when we would travel only that we would have about two weeks to get out of the country once we received it. We used this time to finish up on some of the last minute paperwork that had to be done before we left.
Our travel packet had a list of "recommended" donations, things for the baby home, gifts for the translators, facilitators, etc. A friend of ours had a "Donations Shower" for us on March 6, 2004 so that we could get items for the baby home. Everyone was so generous, we were given so much stuff to take to the baby home that they needed, vitamins, rattles, bibs, etc. It was wonderful!
We became very impatient waiting on "the call" for travel dates. We had no idea that this wait time would later seem like such a breeze. On March 15, 2004 our SW called Clay at work and told him that we had to be in Russia on April 4th, which meant that we would have to leave Atlanta on
April 2nd. Clay showed up at school and knocked on my classroom door while I was teaching to tell me the good news. I was so excited and my students were too! They jumped and yelled along with me!
Being a first year teacher, I didn't have many paid days to take, but God had that worked out for us as well. We traveled during the week that we were out for Spring Break, I only missed one day of school.
Our travel packet had a list of "recommended" donations, things for the baby home, gifts for the translators, facilitators, etc. A friend of ours had a "Donations Shower" for us on March 6, 2004 so that we could get items for the baby home. Everyone was so generous, we were given so much stuff to take to the baby home that they needed, vitamins, rattles, bibs, etc. It was wonderful!
We became very impatient waiting on "the call" for travel dates. We had no idea that this wait time would later seem like such a breeze. On March 15, 2004 our SW called Clay at work and told him that we had to be in Russia on April 4th, which meant that we would have to leave Atlanta on
April 2nd. Clay showed up at school and knocked on my classroom door while I was teaching to tell me the good news. I was so excited and my students were too! They jumped and yelled along with me!
Being a first year teacher, I didn't have many paid days to take, but God had that worked out for us as well. We traveled during the week that we were out for Spring Break, I only missed one day of school.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Our Child Has a Face
We met our social worker the next day, February 18th at the Bethany office at 1:00. We were so excited on the way to the office, to think that we might be seeing a picture of our child. She gave us some information about him, his name, birthdate, weight, etc. and then showed us four really cute pictures. We watched a video of him that was about 10 minutes long. She could not believe how healthy he looked and how wonderful the orphanage looked. On the email that came from Russia was written, "he is a very healthy child." As soon as the video started to play tears came to my eyes. I think we both knew that at that very second that he was going to be our child forever and in that second he became just that.
We watched him drink his bottle, play with toys, roll over both ways, smile, talk, react to noises, sneeze, and cry. It was wonderful! I remember Clay saying to our social worker, "We want him, he's ours" and I looked at Clay and said, "That's our baby, that's our son!" We just feel in love with him and God spoke loud and clear to our hearts, telling us that he was meant to be our son and we know he will keep his promise to us.
We left the office and called everyone in our family from our cell phones to tell them the good news, we have a son! We told them that we would pick up pizza and for them to come over for dinner. Everyone came over and we enjoyed a fun pizza party as we watched his video. We think everyone in our family fell in love as fast as we did.
We must have made 15 copies of the pictures and of the video tape and I am sure we must have watched the tape at least 100 times that week.
You've led us through this journey, from beginning up till now. We believed that you would lead us right, though we never knew how. We prayed and dreamed our child, from some far away place. But now we have a picture, and our baby has a face. Eyes as blue as sapphire, a smile to bring us joy. Your gifts are always special but none like this small boy.
We watched him drink his bottle, play with toys, roll over both ways, smile, talk, react to noises, sneeze, and cry. It was wonderful! I remember Clay saying to our social worker, "We want him, he's ours" and I looked at Clay and said, "That's our baby, that's our son!" We just feel in love with him and God spoke loud and clear to our hearts, telling us that he was meant to be our son and we know he will keep his promise to us.
We left the office and called everyone in our family from our cell phones to tell them the good news, we have a son! We told them that we would pick up pizza and for them to come over for dinner. Everyone came over and we enjoyed a fun pizza party as we watched his video. We think everyone in our family fell in love as fast as we did.
We must have made 15 copies of the pictures and of the video tape and I am sure we must have watched the tape at least 100 times that week.
You've led us through this journey, from beginning up till now. We believed that you would lead us right, though we never knew how. We prayed and dreamed our child, from some far away place. But now we have a picture, and our baby has a face. Eyes as blue as sapphire, a smile to bring us joy. Your gifts are always special but none like this small boy.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
The Phone Call...
On February 17th, we were standing in Pottery Barn Kids looking at Baby Furniture when our cell phone rang. It was our social worker telling us that she "may" have some news for us. She told us about a little baby boy who was listed with Bethany. You see we never should have known about this child, he was listed under a different agency and was also listed in an age category that we had not selected, nor should our social worker have looked where she found him, but God saw to it that we did find out about him. She wanted to know if we would be interested and of course we were. She told us to meet her at the Bethany office the next day to look over his information.
Sunday, September 28, 2003
The Journey Begins
The journey to Evan first began in September of 2003. After much praying about our dream to become parents we finally knew that we wanted to adopt. It began with many hours on the internet researching different agencies. We then, attended an Informational Meeting on International Adoption at Bethany Christian Services on September 27th. The seminar was lead by who would later become our very loving social worker. During the seminar we became so excited and could hardly wait to get started. We began the mounds of paperwork that day by filling out the preliminary application before we even left.
The next couple of months our time was very limited as we worked on our paperwork. Chasing this paper and that paper, careful to dot every i and cross every t...Everything had to be just perfect before we could submit it.
For those of you who have never been through an adoption, you would laugh at all that adoptive families are required to do. It really is funny, now that most of the paperwork is over!
Our dossier (the paperwork for Russia) was submitted to Russia and the waiting game began (or so we thought.. LOL) While we waited it became completely clear to us why we were never able to have a baby. Our child would be birthed in our hearts and in Russia. God knew that if we had a child before we began our journey we probably would not have continued.
We were waiting to be matched with a child from Amrex. We would be using Amrex, an agency through Bethany or so we thought...but God had a different plan in mind.
The next couple of months our time was very limited as we worked on our paperwork. Chasing this paper and that paper, careful to dot every i and cross every t...Everything had to be just perfect before we could submit it.
For those of you who have never been through an adoption, you would laugh at all that adoptive families are required to do. It really is funny, now that most of the paperwork is over!
Our dossier (the paperwork for Russia) was submitted to Russia and the waiting game began (or so we thought.. LOL) While we waited it became completely clear to us why we were never able to have a baby. Our child would be birthed in our hearts and in Russia. God knew that if we had a child before we began our journey we probably would not have continued.
We were waiting to be matched with a child from Amrex. We would be using Amrex, an agency through Bethany or so we thought...but God had a different plan in mind.
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