Sunday, September 19, 2010

Hedge Trimming

One of Aaron's favorite games...  He could do this for hours!!

Trimming the hedges...







     Tomorrow we should officially become Aaron’s parents. Our facilitator Luda is supposed to pick up the court decree that makes him our son on her way to our village tomorrow. We still cannot take custody of him until we have traveled to his home village and obtained a new birth certificate for him, one that lists us as his parents and gives his new name. We are hoping to accomplish that on Tuesday and apply for his passport on Wednesday. We don’t know yet when we’ll break him out for good, because it depends on the details of the paper chase. Since nothing else has been easy, we won’t be surprised if we have more delays with this bureaucratic mess. But we’re hoping we won’t.



      We are bone-weary of being here. We know that our boys at home reached their limit a long time ago. When all is said and done we will have spent 6 weeks in this village, and close to 8 weeks in this country. We are done. We want to come home. The next week or so will be a whirlwind as we run from place to place to get the documents required to bring Aaron out of the country. We expect over 25 hours of car rides over roads that look like they’ve taken artillery fire. We may be popping a good bit of Tylenol. At least we have a good driver in our friend Slava. He still plays “dodge the pothole,” which makes for a sick feeling in the back seat, but at least he doesn’t drive at break-neck speed.

 
     We covet prayers for this last leg of our journey. We may have to leave Aaron for several days as we chase papers. We have come so far with him, and it concerns us to leave him for any length of time. Even though he laughs a lot, there is still a frailty about him that has kept both of us by his side these last two weeks when we could have gone home. It pains us both to leave him, even for a day.

     We also ask for prayers for something that could affect hundreds of other families who are trying to adopt children from this country. On Tuesday, this country’s Parliament is scheduled to consider a bill that would ban international adoptions. This is not the first time this bill has come up. It failed the last time, but it was not without support. If it passes, adoptions end. Depending on its terms, adoptions already well on their way to completion may end. I can’t even bear think what that would mean for the many children who are stuck behind the walls of institutions across this land. Please pray that this bill will again be defeated.

     Thank you for your continued comments and support for us. We are so grateful each time we open our computer and find messages from home. God has been good to us. He has been faithful in our weakness, has carried us in our distress, has encouraged us in our sadness and has lifted us up when we felt we couldn’t go another step. In just a week, or a little bit more, we will be home. Praise God. He is Good.

13 comments:

  1. I have been following your family's journey for some time and wish you well ...

    I was internationally adopted in the 1980s so I have a good understanding of the questions your son will probably have as he gets older. I know nothing about my home village or country. I see you've been taking pictures and blogging during your time there but I think you have an awesome opportunity to learn about the area where Aaron was born. As busy and stressful as travel will be, I feel it's critical that you make as many notes and take as many pictures as possible when you go to Aaron's village. That way you'll have more answers to questions he may ask than my own parents did.

    Take care.

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  2. Praying for your boys at home. We were only gone 2 weeks and it was so hard for them! I can't imagine how tough it is. Prayers.

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  3. Why would anyone ban adoptions? That whole concept makes no sense to me...but that's just me. We continue praying for you, and there are LOTS of prayers being offered up for Elijah and Ben. I can't even imagine how tough this is on them.

    Also, I'm sure you know this, but UVA has a pediatric program for children of foreign adoptions. Helps with everything from making sure kids have the right vaccinations, to helping to deal with adjustment, communication and other problems. It was started by physicians who had adopted from out of the country, and is an excellent resource.

    Sandy

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  4. I sent you a message on the RR group. Our family is praying for yours!
    Kym Thurman

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  5. Am praying for you all for the next few days as Aaron's adoption is finalised. Thank you for letting us know about the proposed Parliamentary Bill, I will definitely pray about that too.

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  6. Still praying Julia!! Sending hugs too!!

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  7. Oh Julia!! You're almost there!! Hang in there! God is good and he will get you through the home stretch! Praying for you as you paperchase, for Aaron as you have to leave him, and for the boys at home.
    Love and Prayers,
    Sarah

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  8. Julia, I have been thinking of you all morning and I have a verse for you.

    Exodus 14: 13, 14
    Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

    You are leading Aaron out of bondage and you have been up against some very large obstacles. Be still and be confident that the Lord will be doing the fighting for you!!! Love you!!

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  9. Congratulations on the official first day! If I calculate correctly it is after midnight over there (after 1:30 A.M. actually). So it is officially the 20th!. I'm praying that the paperwork goes smoothly with no glitches or setbacks! I'm also praying that Aaron will be able to handle any necessary separations during the proscess (and that the separations will be few and as short as possible!). Keep up your courage -- you're almost done! Soon you will all be home together!

    God Bless,

    Pam K
    California

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  10. Prayers being said for you. I think that it really is super-human for anyone to have as long an adoption journey as you guys have (as well as others adopting from the Ukraine). May God reward you with many blessings!

    It looks like Aaron is benefiting from your steady visits. Lots of smiles, bonding, and physical therapy, too! I can't wait to see how family life and medical care well help Aaron to blossom at home!

    With prayers,
    Lori

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  11. Sending prayers ... for the orphans, for the bill to not pass, for the paper chase to go quickly for you and not hit any snafus, for Aaron to join your family ASAP, and for it not to be hard on Aaron while you're gone on the paper chase. Can a translator explain to him why you might be gone for a few days so he doesn't think you just left?

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  12. We live in Charlottesville, and adopted a toddler from Russia two years ago. We have a couple of mutual friends. Anxiously awaiting, we hope, a smooth final few days of your journey, and an easy trip home. Reading your blog brings back memories of our own trips. Hoping to meet handsome Aaron one of these days. Julia, friend of Margie and Melody

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  13. I love it. You both always look so happy in your pictures. I am praying with you for the day you can step off the plane at home and have your whole family together. Soon!

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Loving words from kind people make our hearts glad!