We are REALLY HERE!!!

I don't know if other people have those moments where you don't really feel like you are doing what you are actually doing.  I get them a lot with my kids - I look at them and wonder where they come from and who they are - since I usually still feel like I am in high school, not the MOM of a high schooler!!!  Anyway, this is DEFINITELY one of those times!!! I cannot believe I am typing on my computer in this gorgeous room, with the full-length balcony doors open, listening to the many sounds coming in from the main street below.  We are right in the heart of the city - we can stand on our balcony and look down and the see the barricades that were built just a few months ago!  We heard many warnings of what life could be/would be like here, but apparently God wants to just keep blessing us because we have had nothing but WONDERFUL!!!  (I do realize that we have not even been here 24 hours yet and lots of things could still be hard, but I just want to celebrate this for right now!!)

The view out of our kitchen and living room windows

We left on Tuesday afternoon, flew to Atlanta (fairly quick layover), then to Paris (5 hour layover!) , and then to Kiev.  We have decided that WHENEVER possible we will be traveling Air France - we had the most delicious meal, the folks taking care of us were so nice, and there was FREE BEER and WINE!!!  Could hardly believe I was eating penne with salmon and a creamed leek sauce, with a fresh roll, a quinoa salad, and my own little bottle of red wine, while watching a movie with Clint, while I was ON A PLANE!!!  We did have some pretty bad turbulence later on in the trip, but Air France can't control that :-).

We arrived yesterday at what was 3:30 pm local time.  One of the folks who works with our agency here, a delightful young Ukranian man named Alex, came and picked us up.  He drove us to our apartment, walked us to the grocery store, and showed us a place we could go for dinner.  The apartment is INCREDIBLE - so so beautiful, huge, and lovely.  Our whole family could easily stay here - I am so sad they are not with us :-(.

After settling in a bit, we ventured out for dinner, and went to a restaurant recommended by our friends who were here a while ago, when they were adopting Igor (from Sergey's same orphanage).  It was a little Mexican restaurant that had English as well as Ukranian on the menu, had a waitress who spoke a little English and smiled more than anyone I've ever met (she was SOOO sweet), and had $1 beers.  It. Was. Awesome.

By the time we got back to our apartment it was getting late, so we did a few emails, talked to the kids again, and then headed to bed.  Keeping in touch with them has been fantastic - we talked to them from each airport, and then again last night when we were at dinner. The time difference (6 hours) makes it a bit of a challenge, but we are going to keep trying to chat a bit each morning before they go to school, and then again after they get home from school, before we head to bed.  They all seem to be doing fine - in the middle of dinner last night Sam sent me a message asking where his jacket was.  That was hilarious to both of us - we are on the other side of the world and Sam is still wanting me to find his stuff.  Whoever marries Sam one day - you have been warned.

I guess we were tired enough from all of the travel (I didn't really sleep at all the whole way, and Clint just got in a few quick naps here and there) that we EASILY fell asleep and slept all the way through the night. Alex said he would pick us up at 10:30, and I thought we would definitely be ready way before that, but when our alarm went off to get up this morning, I was SOUND asleep and could easily have slept for much, much longer!!!

A view of our apartment building from the street

Alex drove us to the SDA office, where we waited around for a bit, and then were shown in for our appointment.  Everyone was very friendly, so that was nice :-).  We had a few minutes of worry, when they couldn't find his documents. Thankfully, they did eventually find them, we signed a few things, and then headed home.  Today we basically requested to get the form that we will pick up tomorrow, and then at some point this weekend we will take the overnight train to Odessa, where Sergey is.

We are not sure yet whether or not we will be staying in Odessa, or for how long.  Some other folks have taken the overnight train there, done their business, and then taken it back. We are hoping we will get to stay longer there, since we heard it is so beautiful as well.  We are basically just going where they tell us to go, so we'll find out later :-).

Today we spent some time just walking around the whole area where all of the violence occurred just weeks ago.  It was super interesting and pictures can't really do it justice.  There are still folks living in the tents, and there were people everywhere.  Obviously, there was no violence at this point, but there was so much evidence of it that it was easy to imagine what it had been like.

Tonight we had another LOVELY dinner in a place we just stumbled across as we were walking around.  They actually had English written underneath most of the Ukranian, and all of the folks that worked there spoke a bit of English and were happy to try to talk to us.  I am amazed at how kind everyone is here and how helpful they are - I didn't know what the general sentiment towards Americans would be at this point, but so far we have only encountered super friendly people.

The bar at the restaurant where we ate

One of the beautiful chandeliers they had hanging

Salmon cakes and mashed potatoes, and apple strudel for dessert :-).

One more thing before I head out - folks have been asking about the process from this point out, so for those of you who don't know, here it is:
     We will return to the US the night of April 3rd.  We will wait to be given our official court date, which is usually 3-5 weeks after you have filed your form.  As soon as we get that date, we will book tickets for Clint and I to fly back for court, at which point Sergey will officially become our son.  That trip should only be about a week or 10 days, I think.  Once we have our court appointment, we have to wait 10 days before we can pick him up from his orphanage, so we will both fly home.  At the end of the waiting period, my aunt Jeannie will go with me to pick up Sergey and then bring him to Kiev to do a few more things, like a TB test and pick up passport, etc.  When we leave after finishing all of that, we will be bringing him home!!!!

I know many of you don't really want/need to know all of these details, but I LOVE reading updates from others who are adopting, and we truly feel like all of you are in this with us, so we want to keep you up with what is happening :-). Please pray that when we travel to Odessa that Sergey would remain firm in his decision to be adopted.  Our agency has figured in an extra day or two in his region in case he changes his mind, to give us a chance to talk to him.  I am praying that will NOT be necessary - please pray for courage for him. I can't even imagine how scary this is - pray that God would give him peace and allow him to say yes!!!!! Thank you!!!!