I just had to share this with you. Emilie emailed her Daddy this morning as she dealt with the news that school and therefore a much awaited field trip were cancelled due to a snow storm. I think she expressed the thoughts and feelings we all experience when something goes wrong in our life. I'm following that with her daddy's reply and advice to her and then her sweet, trusting response. What a beautiful reminder of how submitting to God and trusting His work in our lives brings peace in the midst of pain. I am humbled and encouraged by her example today.
daddy today isn't any school and that really sucks because are field trip was today and another tomorrow i feel like pulling my hair out argggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!! i am so mad i am going to cry why why why did it have to snow today why not yesterday or or or saturday cause these next three days of the week were supposed to be perfect cause on friday we were having a party arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh if its no school tomorrow i wont have any hair left and my eyes will be swollen from crrryyyyyyyyyying
I knew you would not be happy. I am so sorry honey. If I could I would come home and play with you just because I knew you would be sad. But I cant come home early either. I am sorry honey. I am praying for you to have a good day anyway.
Love you baby.
Dad
thanks daddy its just hard to know i am missing a field trip but if i keep praising god and thanking him that tomorrow is the big field trip he might make it work tomorrow and on friday. i am going to make the easter crafts mom got for me but then i will play zelda . like mom said, make out what's best of it. i just wish it didn't snow today but i will have to be brave and face what might be ahead of me and trust god to do the best because maybe school was canceled today because someone could have got hurt at the srss for our electricity field trip . ok bye
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
All I Need
Contrary to the look on Ivan's face, my children really did enjoy blessing me yesterday on my birthday. It was great resting in my room and hearing the sounds of Bob and the kids working together to prepare a very nice dinner. Of course, there were varying levels of participation, but it was great to just stay home together and enjoy a special occasion.
Their ultimate gift to me was this picture, though, since my kids HATE posing for pictures (especially Ivan). They did cooperate, though, and I have this treasure to remember the day by.
It’s really that simple, isn’t it? No gift would have outweighed the blessing of having my children nearby and happy. I’m so thankful I was able to have that yesterday.
Their ultimate gift to me was this picture, though, since my kids HATE posing for pictures (especially Ivan). They did cooperate, though, and I have this treasure to remember the day by.
It’s really that simple, isn’t it? No gift would have outweighed the blessing of having my children nearby and happy. I’m so thankful I was able to have that yesterday.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Birthday Blessings
It's my birthday! I love birthdays and this one is no exception.
So, I am celebrating by:
1) eating chocolate for breakfast (some received as a gift from a friend)
2) having lunch at a cute little tea house with a dear friend
3) enjoying a special dinner planned and prepared by my 3 kids (and their Dad)
4) counting my blessings
5) wondering who cut my bangs when I was 4
So, I am celebrating by:
1) eating chocolate for breakfast (some received as a gift from a friend)
2) having lunch at a cute little tea house with a dear friend
3) enjoying a special dinner planned and prepared by my 3 kids (and their Dad)
4) counting my blessings
5) wondering who cut my bangs when I was 4
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Music Moves Me
So, Bob and I had our first dance lesson yesterday. And we survived. And so did the teachers and the onlookers.
Boy, was it intimidating. We walked in while the intermediate class was finishing their lesson. Most of them wait around and talk while we beginners have our lesson, because after that there is a time of just plain dancing and practice time. They turn down the lights and everything. This Menno girl has come a looooong way!
Anyway, knowing the intermediate class is watching is scary, especially since the teachers just launch right into the lesson and in the first lesson we learned how to dance the rumba complete with a TURN! Have mercy. Do they have any idea who they are working with? I was hoping for baby steps, but we got launched into the world of dance from a cannon. OK, not quite that bad, but it was scary. And so much fun. If it wasn't for my feet hurting from too pointy shoes, I would have danced longer. Gotta get me some better shoes. Still need to practice the turn though. I keep getting it wrong.
When we got home Bob and I showed Emilie what we had learned and she clapped and everything. We must be good.
Boy, was it intimidating. We walked in while the intermediate class was finishing their lesson. Most of them wait around and talk while we beginners have our lesson, because after that there is a time of just plain dancing and practice time. They turn down the lights and everything. This Menno girl has come a looooong way!
Anyway, knowing the intermediate class is watching is scary, especially since the teachers just launch right into the lesson and in the first lesson we learned how to dance the rumba complete with a TURN! Have mercy. Do they have any idea who they are working with? I was hoping for baby steps, but we got launched into the world of dance from a cannon. OK, not quite that bad, but it was scary. And so much fun. If it wasn't for my feet hurting from too pointy shoes, I would have danced longer. Gotta get me some better shoes. Still need to practice the turn though. I keep getting it wrong.
When we got home Bob and I showed Emilie what we had learned and she clapped and everything. We must be good.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Finding Home Part 6
Bob left and his sister arrived, and we entered what we thought was the final stretch of our stay. At this point we had been in Romania for 7 weeks. Two weeks later S arrived one evening to tell me more “bad news”. By now we had proceeded far enough with the adoption that we had entered the waiting period- a part of every adoption. It is a buffer of time in which the birth parent has the right to change their mind. A difficult time, but necessary. I had a chart marked with the days of the waiting period and cheerfully marked the days off each night as I went to bed (whatever works to keep you going!). S’s news that day was that he had discovered my lawyer had neglected to file the papers until just then, and therefore the waiting period was only starting now. I’ll never forget that moment. All my hope for going home soon collapsed, and I was devastated. How many more delays could there be?
But, after a difficult night, we determined to go on, and made the necessary arrangements to lengthen our stay. By this time many Canadians had come and gone with their new children, leaving us behind. We were now proficient at changing our departure dates on our airline tickets and extending our visas. Because Bob’s sister needed to go home before I would be able to go, we asked our sister in law if she was interested in coming to be with me for the last short stretch. She was thrilled to come and made the arrangements. By this time it was May and we had been in Romania for 9 weeks. We had arrived in winter and were now experiencing spring.
Katy continued to grow and to claim my heart. She was the bright spot in all of the waiting and I treasure the time I had with her to spend only caring for her and getting to know her-something I may not have had in the regular busyness of life at home. I also treasure the time I had to become more than a tourist in her home country. Once you are living alongside the local people for that length of time, shopping with them in their markets, using their transportation (by this time taxis were a luxury seldom possible with our stretched farther than we could ever imagine budget), you gain a new perspective and I am thankful.
S became incredibly dear to me and took care of me in that time as a father cares for his daughter. These blessings would not have been possible if we had been able to leave Bucharest as quickly as we had wanted to, so I am thankful. I have much more perspective to offer Katy regarding her country because of the length of our stay.
Anyway, the waiting period finally ended and we were able to have our final court date and gain Katy’s passport and visa and any other paperwork we needed to bring her out of the country. We were cautiously confident we were actually nearing the end and marking off the days on my chart every evening became more and more exciting.
Preparing to leave actually became heart wrenching. Leaving S and M behind was difficult. Enduring something as painful and joyful as we had, bonds you with someone, and the thought of possibly not seeing them again was very difficult. I struggled to convey to them how thankful we were for them and how sure we were they were God’s direct and purposeful gift to us. (We have met them again since, and I am so thankful).
But we did leave. My SIL had been in Bucharest for 3 1/2 weeks by now-2 1/2 weeks longer than we had expected, but we were going home!
The entire length of our stay in Romania was 12 1/2 weeks-a full 1/2 week longer than the “record holders” up to that point. A distinction I would rather not have, but we have it nonetheless.
The day before we left, S came to our house to settle last minute things. I remember him coming to me, holding my hands, and telling me that he could now confess that he had had his fears regarding our adoption. Apparently the media had been full of stories that foreign adoption was being shut down in Romania, and he was very fearful this would happen before our adoption was final. His fears were valid– Katy and I left Romania on May 29. Adoptions in Romania were ended May 30.
Is there any doubt Katy was intended for our family? Is there any doubt God was working? Is there any doubt God had a plan? None. I am humbled and amazed at His faithfulness and can hardly wait to ask Him in heaven to show me all of the unseen protection and intervention on our behalf during the whole process.
In all of this writing I have only scratched the surface of the story. Much had been left unsaid and I am sure you have questions about aspects I have left out. Feel free to leave a question in the comments and I will gladly answer.
I fully acknowledge that this has not been written perfectly. These posts always been written in snatches of time stolen at work or at home, so I have been unable to edit like I might normally. But at the same time I know God has been a part of the writing and I trust that He will work through my humble attempt's at telling this story and to glorify Him. I still dream that at some point I will be able to write the whole story, perhaps in a book.
Katy is 18 today. Eighteen years have passed since she was born and almost that many since we landed in Winnipeg airport and were greeted by her Daddy, family, and friends. God’s faithfulness has continued, and praise the Lord, will continue. I praise Him for what He did in our life and for what He will do in the future.
He has a plan. He will be working.
But, after a difficult night, we determined to go on, and made the necessary arrangements to lengthen our stay. By this time many Canadians had come and gone with their new children, leaving us behind. We were now proficient at changing our departure dates on our airline tickets and extending our visas. Because Bob’s sister needed to go home before I would be able to go, we asked our sister in law if she was interested in coming to be with me for the last short stretch. She was thrilled to come and made the arrangements. By this time it was May and we had been in Romania for 9 weeks. We had arrived in winter and were now experiencing spring.
Katy continued to grow and to claim my heart. She was the bright spot in all of the waiting and I treasure the time I had with her to spend only caring for her and getting to know her-something I may not have had in the regular busyness of life at home. I also treasure the time I had to become more than a tourist in her home country. Once you are living alongside the local people for that length of time, shopping with them in their markets, using their transportation (by this time taxis were a luxury seldom possible with our stretched farther than we could ever imagine budget), you gain a new perspective and I am thankful.
S became incredibly dear to me and took care of me in that time as a father cares for his daughter. These blessings would not have been possible if we had been able to leave Bucharest as quickly as we had wanted to, so I am thankful. I have much more perspective to offer Katy regarding her country because of the length of our stay.
Anyway, the waiting period finally ended and we were able to have our final court date and gain Katy’s passport and visa and any other paperwork we needed to bring her out of the country. We were cautiously confident we were actually nearing the end and marking off the days on my chart every evening became more and more exciting.
Preparing to leave actually became heart wrenching. Leaving S and M behind was difficult. Enduring something as painful and joyful as we had, bonds you with someone, and the thought of possibly not seeing them again was very difficult. I struggled to convey to them how thankful we were for them and how sure we were they were God’s direct and purposeful gift to us. (We have met them again since, and I am so thankful).
But we did leave. My SIL had been in Bucharest for 3 1/2 weeks by now-2 1/2 weeks longer than we had expected, but we were going home!
The entire length of our stay in Romania was 12 1/2 weeks-a full 1/2 week longer than the “record holders” up to that point. A distinction I would rather not have, but we have it nonetheless.
The day before we left, S came to our house to settle last minute things. I remember him coming to me, holding my hands, and telling me that he could now confess that he had had his fears regarding our adoption. Apparently the media had been full of stories that foreign adoption was being shut down in Romania, and he was very fearful this would happen before our adoption was final. His fears were valid– Katy and I left Romania on May 29. Adoptions in Romania were ended May 30.
Is there any doubt Katy was intended for our family? Is there any doubt God was working? Is there any doubt God had a plan? None. I am humbled and amazed at His faithfulness and can hardly wait to ask Him in heaven to show me all of the unseen protection and intervention on our behalf during the whole process.
In all of this writing I have only scratched the surface of the story. Much had been left unsaid and I am sure you have questions about aspects I have left out. Feel free to leave a question in the comments and I will gladly answer.
I fully acknowledge that this has not been written perfectly. These posts always been written in snatches of time stolen at work or at home, so I have been unable to edit like I might normally. But at the same time I know God has been a part of the writing and I trust that He will work through my humble attempt's at telling this story and to glorify Him. I still dream that at some point I will be able to write the whole story, perhaps in a book.
Katy is 18 today. Eighteen years have passed since she was born and almost that many since we landed in Winnipeg airport and were greeted by her Daddy, family, and friends. God’s faithfulness has continued, and praise the Lord, will continue. I praise Him for what He did in our life and for what He will do in the future.
He has a plan. He will be working.
Finding Home Part 5
The following weeks were spent having documents translated, court dates, long line ups and our first real experience with bureaucracy. Court appointments for adoptions in the district of Ploiesti were only available on every 2nd Friday, and if that Friday happened to be some sort of holiday (there were many), you had to wait another two weeks. For every day we felt we were getting somewhere in the adoption, we had many in which we were merely waiting. We hears stories of parents who were in and out of Romania within 3 weeks, going home with their new son or daughter. For a while we had hopes that we would be among those, seeing as how we had a child to adopt the moment we landed. We were wrong.
At about 4 weeks into our stay S determined that it would be best after all to have Katy come and stay with us. The adoption was taking longer than he had anticipated and he wasn’t able to pull strings anymore to keep Katy in the hospital. We were thrilled, but he was scared. S, our “father away from home” was not at all sure that these young Canadians could possibly know how to care for a baby. He was right of course, but really-what parent does at the beginning? S arranged for a nurse to arrive every evening to show us how to bathe Katy and to care for her. A week into the visits I thought I had successfully communicated to her through gestures and a few words that we no longer needed her services. Her arrival the next evening at the regular time proved I was wrong. We had to communicate the fact through S, who did it hesitatingly.
I will never forget the day we brought Katy home from the hospital. S went in with gifts for the nurses as thank yous for their care of Katy and came out with this huge bundle of blankets. I remember that it felt like my arms couldn't even reach around it all, but I held on tight. We got into S’s car and I dared to peak into the bundle, seeing those gorgeous brown eyes blinking up at me from her little cocoon. Our girl was coming home and we were so happy!
The following days were spent in learning to care for our daughter and getting to know who she was. It was stressful and wonderful at the same time, just like it is with the arrival of any baby. Our longing at this point was to take her home to Canada. We wanted so badly to be done with the uncertainty and feeling of displacement and the hidden, but very real fear that things would continue to go slowly and badly.
At about 5 weeks into our time in Bucharest, S and M dropped by with what he called “bad news”. He informed us that evening that the adoption was going to take much longer than he had anticipated and that we would need to stay longer. He did not know how long, but we should be prepared. Bob and I had both taken 6 week leaves from our jobs, so this was an issue. We needed those jobs! Bob arranged for an additional week and we asked his sister if she would be willing to fly out to be with me once he went home. His sister took a 3 week leave from her job and excitedly made plans to join me half way around the world.
Letting Bob go home was incredibly difficult. I can’t explain how far from home we felt in a country in which only one short year before had undergone a revolution to overthrow communism. The country was still reeling, and even though democracy is desirable, the transition for a country is very difficult and we were in the middle o f this. Markets selling only potatoes and onions were the norm when we arrived. Empty stores and long lineups for eggs or milk were normal.
There was no such thing as hopping into my car if I needed groceries or something for my baby. We used taxis (something we don’t use much here in the country) subways (even less), and did a lot of walking. We learned to make do with what we could find and relied heavily on the instant chicken noodle soup we had been advised to bring along from home. I still can not cheerfully eat that kind of soup, since we ate it daily for many, many weeks. As spring arrived in Romania the choice of produce in the markets greatly improved and we began to eat better.
Anyway, because of all of this, being alone in a strange country was overwhelming. I cannot begin to put into words both how much I struggled with my faith in God nor how faithful He was to meet me in that struggle. I remember times sitting on our front step, battling moment by moment to trust Him in a situation that felt so out of control. Would we ever go home with our daughter? Leaving without her was not an option. How long could this all possibly take? Could I handle another set back or delay with the adoption? Would things get worse before they got better? Would I be safe without Bob to protect me? Had we been naïve to think we could do this? Were the prayers people were praying for us actually making a difference? And the biggest question of all-why? Why was He not moving faster? Why did we have to suffer?
At about 4 weeks into our stay S determined that it would be best after all to have Katy come and stay with us. The adoption was taking longer than he had anticipated and he wasn’t able to pull strings anymore to keep Katy in the hospital. We were thrilled, but he was scared. S, our “father away from home” was not at all sure that these young Canadians could possibly know how to care for a baby. He was right of course, but really-what parent does at the beginning? S arranged for a nurse to arrive every evening to show us how to bathe Katy and to care for her. A week into the visits I thought I had successfully communicated to her through gestures and a few words that we no longer needed her services. Her arrival the next evening at the regular time proved I was wrong. We had to communicate the fact through S, who did it hesitatingly.
I will never forget the day we brought Katy home from the hospital. S went in with gifts for the nurses as thank yous for their care of Katy and came out with this huge bundle of blankets. I remember that it felt like my arms couldn't even reach around it all, but I held on tight. We got into S’s car and I dared to peak into the bundle, seeing those gorgeous brown eyes blinking up at me from her little cocoon. Our girl was coming home and we were so happy!
The following days were spent in learning to care for our daughter and getting to know who she was. It was stressful and wonderful at the same time, just like it is with the arrival of any baby. Our longing at this point was to take her home to Canada. We wanted so badly to be done with the uncertainty and feeling of displacement and the hidden, but very real fear that things would continue to go slowly and badly.
At about 5 weeks into our time in Bucharest, S and M dropped by with what he called “bad news”. He informed us that evening that the adoption was going to take much longer than he had anticipated and that we would need to stay longer. He did not know how long, but we should be prepared. Bob and I had both taken 6 week leaves from our jobs, so this was an issue. We needed those jobs! Bob arranged for an additional week and we asked his sister if she would be willing to fly out to be with me once he went home. His sister took a 3 week leave from her job and excitedly made plans to join me half way around the world.
Letting Bob go home was incredibly difficult. I can’t explain how far from home we felt in a country in which only one short year before had undergone a revolution to overthrow communism. The country was still reeling, and even though democracy is desirable, the transition for a country is very difficult and we were in the middle o f this. Markets selling only potatoes and onions were the norm when we arrived. Empty stores and long lineups for eggs or milk were normal.
There was no such thing as hopping into my car if I needed groceries or something for my baby. We used taxis (something we don’t use much here in the country) subways (even less), and did a lot of walking. We learned to make do with what we could find and relied heavily on the instant chicken noodle soup we had been advised to bring along from home. I still can not cheerfully eat that kind of soup, since we ate it daily for many, many weeks. As spring arrived in Romania the choice of produce in the markets greatly improved and we began to eat better.
Anyway, because of all of this, being alone in a strange country was overwhelming. I cannot begin to put into words both how much I struggled with my faith in God nor how faithful He was to meet me in that struggle. I remember times sitting on our front step, battling moment by moment to trust Him in a situation that felt so out of control. Would we ever go home with our daughter? Leaving without her was not an option. How long could this all possibly take? Could I handle another set back or delay with the adoption? Would things get worse before they got better? Would I be safe without Bob to protect me? Had we been naïve to think we could do this? Were the prayers people were praying for us actually making a difference? And the biggest question of all-why? Why was He not moving faster? Why did we have to suffer?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Finding Home Part 4
Our first night in Bucharest included being shown to our beautiful, very old, home. We would be sharing it with other adoptive parents from Manitoba, but each couple would only pay $25 a night to stay. A significant saving over the $100+ charged at any of the hotels and a much better place (cockroach free, I might add) than many of the other options for rent. A blessing we didn’t understand until we saw some of the living conditions other Canadians were in while staying in Bucharest.
We also met our interpreter and his wife that evening-lovely people who became very dear to us over the course of the adoption and our stay in Romania. In fact, Katy’s middle name is the name of our interpreter’s wife. The story behind this is that when she made the trip in to the maternity hospital in Ploiesti (the city in which Katy was born, about ¾ of an hour from Bucharest), the birth mother indicated that she did not want to name the baby and that our interpreter’s wife should. So our wonderful, spunky friend named Katy after herself! I love that. We would have likely named her that anyway, but I think it delightful that she made sure it happened! M, our interpreter’s wife (initial to maintain privacy) had been told about a baby born to a young, single girl who didn’t want her baby to go to an orphanage, and had asked the nurse if they knew of anyone who might adopt her. One of the nurses knew that M had helped with foreign adoption in the past, so contacted M to see if she knew of someone. M answered that, yes, she had a couple from Canada coming in just a few days. She took a day off of work to go to the hospital and make arrangements with the birth mother and grandmother and convince the hospital staff to not let our baby go to anyone else (a real possibility). So that’s how we came to hear about our baby girl as soon as we arrived in Bucharest.
It is important for me to note here that just shortly before Bob and I arrived in Romania, the Romanian Government made it impossible to adopt from orphanages, due to an outcry from the Romanian public. Apparently many stories were floating around that the Americans were adopting babies and taking them back to America for scientific experiments, and the people in Romania understandably reacted to that news, true or not.
So the miracle of having a child to adopt so soon was huge, sicne many other couples coming from Canada had to spend much time searching for children “up for adoption” that were not in the orphanages yet. Many, many sad stories of children sold are the result of this situation. Bob and I are so thankful that we did not have to consider the moral implications of these situations.
I should also note here that given the situation with the orphanages, Bob and I chose not to pursue adoption of any other children at this point.
Our next day in Bucharest was spent checking in at the Canadian Embassy. We spent much time in line, and while there overheard a couple talking about their experiences while adopting. They went on and on about all of the frustrations they were encountering because they were adopting from a certain district, in which, they assured all those listening, “every jerk in the world” lived. I remember thinking I was glad we weren’t adopting a child from that district, until I heard the district they were referring to and with a sinking, even queasy feeling, realized they were using the name “Ploiesti”, which sounded just a little too familiar. More on this to come as I continue with our story.
The following days were partly spent going to Ploiesti with our interpreter to meet the birth mom and grandmother (the mom was a minor so therefore needed a parent to sign for her) and to begin the legal process of adoption. Very interesting meeting your child’s birth mom but not being able to communicate other than through gestures, eye contact, and through an interpreter. It was a moving and humbling experience to pick her up at the maternity hospital at which she had given birth and to know that she was leaving it without her baby. I am so thankful we had the opportunity meet the both of them and hopefully show them that her baby’s new parents were honest, loving people.
Katy stayed in the hospital and through some connections of our interpreter (S), was transferred to a pediatric hospital in Bucharest. S felt it was best she stay there while we worked on the adoption, so we were free to do what we needed. This was at the point where we all still believed that the adoption would be processed at a reasonable rate, so the decision made some sense at the time. Looking back, I would give anything to have brought Katy home with us right away. It would have been best, from this perspective anyway, but I have to trust that there are things I didn’t see or know, or that God’s grace will cover this as well.
Our first meeting with Katy took place a couple of days after we arrived in Bucharest. I remember walking into her room and seeing this absolutely gorgeous baby girl with a MOP of black hair and amazing dark eyes blinking up at us. Was this going to be our daughter? More grace and blessing than I could ever have imagined. How incredible. I also remember holding her and promptly being peed on, but we just laughed out of the sheer joy of meeting our girl. What an experience.
Come back tomorrow for more of the story!
We also met our interpreter and his wife that evening-lovely people who became very dear to us over the course of the adoption and our stay in Romania. In fact, Katy’s middle name is the name of our interpreter’s wife. The story behind this is that when she made the trip in to the maternity hospital in Ploiesti (the city in which Katy was born, about ¾ of an hour from Bucharest), the birth mother indicated that she did not want to name the baby and that our interpreter’s wife should. So our wonderful, spunky friend named Katy after herself! I love that. We would have likely named her that anyway, but I think it delightful that she made sure it happened! M, our interpreter’s wife (initial to maintain privacy) had been told about a baby born to a young, single girl who didn’t want her baby to go to an orphanage, and had asked the nurse if they knew of anyone who might adopt her. One of the nurses knew that M had helped with foreign adoption in the past, so contacted M to see if she knew of someone. M answered that, yes, she had a couple from Canada coming in just a few days. She took a day off of work to go to the hospital and make arrangements with the birth mother and grandmother and convince the hospital staff to not let our baby go to anyone else (a real possibility). So that’s how we came to hear about our baby girl as soon as we arrived in Bucharest.
It is important for me to note here that just shortly before Bob and I arrived in Romania, the Romanian Government made it impossible to adopt from orphanages, due to an outcry from the Romanian public. Apparently many stories were floating around that the Americans were adopting babies and taking them back to America for scientific experiments, and the people in Romania understandably reacted to that news, true or not.
So the miracle of having a child to adopt so soon was huge, sicne many other couples coming from Canada had to spend much time searching for children “up for adoption” that were not in the orphanages yet. Many, many sad stories of children sold are the result of this situation. Bob and I are so thankful that we did not have to consider the moral implications of these situations.
I should also note here that given the situation with the orphanages, Bob and I chose not to pursue adoption of any other children at this point.
Our next day in Bucharest was spent checking in at the Canadian Embassy. We spent much time in line, and while there overheard a couple talking about their experiences while adopting. They went on and on about all of the frustrations they were encountering because they were adopting from a certain district, in which, they assured all those listening, “every jerk in the world” lived. I remember thinking I was glad we weren’t adopting a child from that district, until I heard the district they were referring to and with a sinking, even queasy feeling, realized they were using the name “Ploiesti”, which sounded just a little too familiar. More on this to come as I continue with our story.
The following days were partly spent going to Ploiesti with our interpreter to meet the birth mom and grandmother (the mom was a minor so therefore needed a parent to sign for her) and to begin the legal process of adoption. Very interesting meeting your child’s birth mom but not being able to communicate other than through gestures, eye contact, and through an interpreter. It was a moving and humbling experience to pick her up at the maternity hospital at which she had given birth and to know that she was leaving it without her baby. I am so thankful we had the opportunity meet the both of them and hopefully show them that her baby’s new parents were honest, loving people.
Katy stayed in the hospital and through some connections of our interpreter (S), was transferred to a pediatric hospital in Bucharest. S felt it was best she stay there while we worked on the adoption, so we were free to do what we needed. This was at the point where we all still believed that the adoption would be processed at a reasonable rate, so the decision made some sense at the time. Looking back, I would give anything to have brought Katy home with us right away. It would have been best, from this perspective anyway, but I have to trust that there are things I didn’t see or know, or that God’s grace will cover this as well.
Our first meeting with Katy took place a couple of days after we arrived in Bucharest. I remember walking into her room and seeing this absolutely gorgeous baby girl with a MOP of black hair and amazing dark eyes blinking up at us. Was this going to be our daughter? More grace and blessing than I could ever have imagined. How incredible. I also remember holding her and promptly being peed on, but we just laughed out of the sheer joy of meeting our girl. What an experience.
Come back tomorrow for more of the story!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
