Back in Commission

Hi Everyone!! Sorry we've been out of touch for a while -- we've been waiting for some interesting news. It was confirmed to us that Court Date with the Judge is definitely on Monday, June 19th, at 4 or 5 pm, so please think positive thoughts on that day (it would be about 3 or 4 am for you, but any help with small prayers before and after would help!!). We will find out on the spot about becoming the legal parents of our baby Sofia. Most couples are awarded immediate custody of their children, but there have been cases (the exception!) in which couples were turned down for whatever reason the Judge deemed important enough and they then had to leave the country without the baby -- for good.

When we meet the Judge and the Counselor, the Social Worker, etc., we are asked many questions about our reasons for wanting to adopt, why from Kazakhstan, why this child, why not America or any other country, etc. etc. etc. Soon after the interrogatory, the Judge retreats into her Chamber for a meeting with the panel and makes a decision on whether we are qualified or not to adopt this child. Minutes later we are told of her decision. We will of course be saying some prayers as well, because not being awarded parental custody of Sofia would be a devastating blow. We are feeling pretty good about everything, though, and we don't think there will be any issues to worry about!!

Meanwhile, our visits to the Baby House continue. Today is our 15th visit, and legally the last. The rule here is that we visit the Baby House 15 times in 15 days to be awarded a visit with the Judge. So, that's done, but we will continue going to the Baby House for visits through Saturday. Today we also had a chance to visit with the Director of the Baby House, Director Rheema, for some questions and answers on basic things we wanted to know about our babies, their backgrounds etc. Stuff that they someday would want to know. It was a very good meeting with the Director, and we are so grateful for her. She runs a wonderful House, and those babies are so well-cared for!

On Monday we will not go to the Baby House, but Tuesday we go to Rudniy for photos of the orphanage, upstairs and everywhere, for presenting cakes to the caregivers, for papersigning, and for picking up the babies. They will strip the babies down and change them into clothing we provide. The babies leave with nothing from the Baby House. We then come home that afternoon and spend the last night in Kostanai with our baby in our room at the Hotel Tselinnaya. The next morning, Wednesday, we take a 4-hour flight to Almaty, and that's where I'll be with our baby for at least another 3 weeks, at the Hotel Razzhol.

Meanwhile I'm busy after Baby House visits collecting items of clothing for baby, bottles, baby bag, pacifiers, formula, changing pad (of course they have no idea what that is!), etc. etc. Yesterday we went to the Green Market, which is a giant outdoor flea market to purchase some items at good prices. On our way there with Sandy and Helen, we walked by the Russian Orthodox Church and it's absolutely lovely. They were having a celebration of the Trinity, and the beautiful marble floor was covered with grass, with flowers everywhere. Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf and wrap an apron or a scarf around their hips if they are wearing pants. So Sandy and Helen and I did that (there is a pile of scarves provided by the entrance), but we took a VERY quick look around and immediately took off our scarves. We were fearing lice, especially after Sandy and Helen's experience with bed bugs in their king-sized bed. We were not taking a chance, thank you!!

The weather has changed dramatically. It has gone down to the upper 60s, at least for now. Isn't that crazy?? A forty-degree difference in weather in just a couple of days. But I found out today that Almaty, which is southeast of here, actually had two days of 110-degree weather!! And by the way, the hotel in Almaty has air-conditioning (yeah!!), and an elevator (yeah!!). For those of us who have been climbing 4 flights of stairs every time we go out, it will be a relief to have an elevator, especially because my Achilles tendon is still really sore. In Kostanai, by the way, apartment buildings only have elevators if there are more than 7 floors. So, it would be VERY unwise to purchase an apartment on a 7th floor if that's the top one!!! But of course there are those who do, and for that I hope they get a huge reduction in the cost of purchase!!

We will talk more tomorrow . . . good night!!