Major events of the day: Countdown to Court 2 of 7, Shopping and Missing the Kids
More rain overnight and temperatures have dropped. It was so nice to fall asleep to the rustling sound the raindrops make in the fallen leaves outside our bedroom window. There’s a definite chill in the air today. In a few more days all the leaves will have fallen from the trees.
One down note for the day is that our court date has shifted back to the 24th. With all of the waiting periods, we’re going to be on some tight timelines. Keep us in your prayers that the roadblocks are moved and the process goes quickly.
This morning’s adventure was a shopping trip to search for the last of the personal gifts. As we were headed out the door Masha asked if we had hats. This was her subtle way of suggesting that we pull out the warmer accessories, or at least start considering them. Cathe’s brought a very warm, but utilitarian, plain black fleece hat, which will be fine for Bill according to our fashion observations on the street, but not for a woman. It’s just another way we less fashion-conscious Americans stand out! The ladies hats are form fitting but they sure are just as stylish as the boots. Once it gets a little cooler, the real high fashion fur hats will start appearing. Bill wants one of the Russian fur hats men wear in the movies (we’ve seen them at the flea market too). There won’t be many occasions to wear it back home, our part of Tennessee just doesn’t get that cold… but it will be a nice souvenir.
Before leaving the apartment, we felt like Santa’s Elves, checking our shopping list twice. Although we brought some gifts with us, there were a few “adjustments” to make. We had gotten some info about the Judge and Prosecutor in Airtau, so we brought some man-type gifts. Turns out that the Judge and Prosecutor in Petro are of the female persuasion… As our good friend Paul would say in his best Homer Simpson impersonation, “Doh!” Fortunately, those gifts won’t go to waste since our list has grown each day as we met and got to know more of the orphanage staff! It is easy to see how much they all genuinely care for the children.
At this point, we really have to pay another compliment to Masha, our translator, cruise activities director, and shopping coordinator extraordinaire. She took us to a great shop where we found very appropriate, stylish, and very well priced thank-you gifts. Cathe observation is that Masha knows the local shops inside and out and knows where to find quality at low prices.
We concluded our shopping venture with a trip to the small indoor marketplace next to the Iceberg. Bill found another souvenir to add to our growing collection: Kazakhstan Chocolate Bars. The Kazakhstan Chocolate Bars come in a turquoise blue wrapper with gold lettering, like their flag. He’ll put them in his suitcase right next to the “For Men Only” chocolate bars.
Today is the first day we have not gone to visit the kids since meeting them 15 days ago. Thankfully, today was one of only a very few days we will not see them before we all go home together. It was hard watching 2:30 come and go without hearing the buzz of the doorbell to let us know our ride was here to take us to the RBS. Although not easy, today really confirmed our feelings for these two children and consider it an important part of our growing and bonding. In just two short weeks we have meshed together in a most amazing way. The emptiness we feel today in missing the children makes it all so clear that we really have found our children. We hope that all is well for them today, can hardly wait for 2:30 to arrive tomorrow so we can see them again.
Today was a good day to review all the pictures we have taken and to reflect on just how lucky we have been to find the right children.
More rain overnight and temperatures have dropped. It was so nice to fall asleep to the rustling sound the raindrops make in the fallen leaves outside our bedroom window. There’s a definite chill in the air today. In a few more days all the leaves will have fallen from the trees.
One down note for the day is that our court date has shifted back to the 24th. With all of the waiting periods, we’re going to be on some tight timelines. Keep us in your prayers that the roadblocks are moved and the process goes quickly.
This morning’s adventure was a shopping trip to search for the last of the personal gifts. As we were headed out the door Masha asked if we had hats. This was her subtle way of suggesting that we pull out the warmer accessories, or at least start considering them. Cathe’s brought a very warm, but utilitarian, plain black fleece hat, which will be fine for Bill according to our fashion observations on the street, but not for a woman. It’s just another way we less fashion-conscious Americans stand out! The ladies hats are form fitting but they sure are just as stylish as the boots. Once it gets a little cooler, the real high fashion fur hats will start appearing. Bill wants one of the Russian fur hats men wear in the movies (we’ve seen them at the flea market too). There won’t be many occasions to wear it back home, our part of Tennessee just doesn’t get that cold… but it will be a nice souvenir.
Before leaving the apartment, we felt like Santa’s Elves, checking our shopping list twice. Although we brought some gifts with us, there were a few “adjustments” to make. We had gotten some info about the Judge and Prosecutor in Airtau, so we brought some man-type gifts. Turns out that the Judge and Prosecutor in Petro are of the female persuasion… As our good friend Paul would say in his best Homer Simpson impersonation, “Doh!” Fortunately, those gifts won’t go to waste since our list has grown each day as we met and got to know more of the orphanage staff! It is easy to see how much they all genuinely care for the children.
At this point, we really have to pay another compliment to Masha, our translator, cruise activities director, and shopping coordinator extraordinaire. She took us to a great shop where we found very appropriate, stylish, and very well priced thank-you gifts. Cathe observation is that Masha knows the local shops inside and out and knows where to find quality at low prices.
We concluded our shopping venture with a trip to the small indoor marketplace next to the Iceberg. Bill found another souvenir to add to our growing collection: Kazakhstan Chocolate Bars. The Kazakhstan Chocolate Bars come in a turquoise blue wrapper with gold lettering, like their flag. He’ll put them in his suitcase right next to the “For Men Only” chocolate bars.Today is the first day we have not gone to visit the kids since meeting them 15 days ago. Thankfully, today was one of only a very few days we will not see them before we all go home together. It was hard watching 2:30 come and go without hearing the buzz of the doorbell to let us know our ride was here to take us to the RBS. Although not easy, today really confirmed our feelings for these two children and consider it an important part of our growing and bonding. In just two short weeks we have meshed together in a most amazing way. The emptiness we feel today in missing the children makes it all so clear that we really have found our children. We hope that all is well for them today, can hardly wait for 2:30 to arrive tomorrow so we can see them again.
Today was a good day to review all the pictures we have taken and to reflect on just how lucky we have been to find the right children.
1 comment:
You guys are great! Everyone who reads your blog can see that you are going to be superior parents! I will be praying that your court date comes quickly, and goes very well. Good Luck,
Kaz Grama/Joyce
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