We have the Visa!!!

The overwhelming sense of relief, thankfulness, and joy I feel as I write this is much like I felt after giving birth to my four biological children. Getting this visa was the very last thing that we needed to complete our adoption of Alona. Yes, she has officially been ours for 10 days now, but we could not leave Ukraine and start her new life with our family without this little piece of paper. I guess you could liken it to getting your discharge papers at the hospital and being able to take your baby home for the first time. I plan to write a blog post about my overall feelings and thoughts on our adoption process when I am able to get home and process it all for a bit. 

We woke up this morning to a bright, sunny day...the first time this has happened since arriving in Kiev last week-end! We headed straight to the medical exam to have Alona's chest x-ray taken. We sat in a crowded hallway for about 1 1/2 hours while waiting to get the final health report. 

Thankfully, everything looked perfectly healthy and clear, so we decided to head to the embassy early in hopes of being seen sooner. We were admitted to the embassy, and were quickly seen. We had all of the necessary documents required for the visa application, and everything was submitted successfully! We waited for 45 minutes, and then they called us to the window to receive Alona's visa!! It took every ounce of self control not to break out into a happy dance right there in the lobby. I tried to take a picture of Alona with her new visa in front of the embassy, but was quickly told that was not aloud. So instead, I snapped a couple of pictures of the embassy from the car, and took a picture of Alona with her visa at lunch:) While eating, the rain returned, and we were caught without an umbrella. We ran home in the pouring rain, and I was worried that her documents were going to be drenched. Thankfully, they were dry and intact.

We are now holed up in our hotel room, drying out and resting. We have to leave the hotel at 3 am to head to the airport to fly home!!!! Please pray that we have safe travels. I cannot wait to see Alona meet her little sisters for the first time. Please continue to pray for Alona as she adjusts to her new life. Pray that she has peace and feels "at home" quickly. Pray that the Lord calms her fears and sadness about leaving Ukraine behind. Thank you all for following along with us throughout our adoption. We will continue to need your prayers and support as we navigate through the adjustment period, and I will continue to blog frequently to share the ups and downs of our family life.

"The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made"

Psalm 145:13

Zoo, Ballet, Visit From a friend, and Passport!

Yesterday was a free day for us. We were anxiously awaiting news of Alona's passport. It needed to arrive in her hometown so that it could be sent to us here in Kiev. We were praying and hoping that it would arrive early enough in the day yesterday, so that it could be sent to us here in time to complete her medical and visa application today. Of course, that did not happen:( By 4 pm yesterday afternoon there was still no sign of the passport. We were told there would be one more delivery at 6 pm yesterday, so we did what any normal person does in the land of social media, and jumped on facebook to beg and plead with our friends to pray that the passport would arrive in that last delivery. 

At 6:10 pm we got the call...the passport had arrived!!!! It was too late to get the stamps and signatures needed in order to send it to us, but at least it was accounted for! Praise the Lord.

So, to rewind a bit...earlier in the day, Alona wanted to go to the zoo. Me....not so much. It was 45 degrees and raining and Alona and I do not have coats with us. Not to mention, I had already visited one pitiful zoo in Ukraine. I wasn't really chomping at the bits to go to another one. I tried to convince Alona to visit a museum...inside...where it is warm and no rain...but she wanted to go to the zoo. So, to the zoo we went! From the outside, the zoo looked more promising than the one we went to in Alona's hometown. On the inside, well, take a look at the pics and you be the judge!!

Deer

American Bison

Hand sculptures holding ladybugs

Little Ducks were just wondering free all over the place

Stairs leading up to bird houses

Bird houses

Petting zoo...hello lil Donkey!

I'm sure this was once really great...

Alona checking out the bears

After the zoo, Alona and I grabbed lunch at a little bakery near our apartment. I ordered a yummy tomato based soup that was served in a bread bowl. Alona thought it was hilarious....she had never seen soup served that way. She thought it was so funny when some of the bread would come off in my spoon and I would eat it:)

We spent the afternoon inside our non heated apartment (the apartment has old school radiators and the heat for the whole building has to be turned on for them to work...which hasn't happened). Since our apartment is right behind the opera house, I decided to check out what events were going on this week. I found out that a ballet performance of Swan Lake was going on last night, and bought us tickets to go see it. I was super excited, and you can't beat spending only $5 total for tickets to a fabulous ballet! The opera house is gorgeous, and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Alona on the other hand, was not a fan of the ballet. Oh well, I guess it was payback for making me go to the zoo;)

Alona inside the Opera House

Waiting for Swan Lake to start!

Today, we had a wonderful surprise!! Our dear Angelina had to conduct some business at a bank here in Kiev, so she came early this morning, and we got to spend the afternoon with her! We ate lunch at a sushi restaurant and then spent the afternoon window shopping. We bought Alona a beautiful scarf for the grand price of $10, and I decided to buy some shoes that are very popular here. I'm sure most people back home will think I have lost my mind for purchasing them, but they are really comfortable, and I think they are cute:) It was such a joy to get to spend some "bonus" time with Angelina before we leave Ukraine. We were too busy having fun, that we forgot to take pics!

While we were with Angelina, we found out that the passport had been stamped and signed, and is currently on its way to us in Kiev!! Tomorrow we go back to finish up the medical exam, and then will go immediately to the embassy to finish up the visa application, and have the visa issued!! Please pray that there are no complications tomorrow, and that we will have the visa in hand by tomorrow afternoon so that we can fly home Friday!!! We are so ready to get home. Hopefully this time tomorrow I will be writing my last blog post from Ukraine!

Embassy/Medical Exam Part 1

Today Alona and I woke up to another cold, rainy day. Our first order of business was to go to the embassy to turn in some paperwork necessary for her Visa. We turned in her picture, got her fingerprinted, paid, and turned in as much of the paperwork as we could without having her passport. Everything went very smoothly...hooray! Up next was the medical exam.

The medical exam did not go as smoothly as the embassy. We were hoping to get everything done and over with today, so that as soon as we receive her passport, we can finish up at the embassy, get her visa, and head home. Apparently they are doing the x-rays a bit differently know, and are labeling them with the passport number. Not the birth certificate number, name, birthdate...all of which have...but the passport number...the ONE thing we don't have yet!!! Boo. 

At first we thought that we would not be able to do any parts of the medical exam, but thankfully, we completed everything except the x-ray, and will go back for the x-ray as soon as we get the passport. The passport is our biggest dilemma right now, and we desperately want to get it asap so that we can finish up and head home!! 

After the medical exam, Alona and I grabbed lunch at a little restaurant Ryan and I discovered earlier this month...Limonade. I was needing a little pick me up, and thankfully they had a very American dish on the menu...chicken sandwich and french fries. Yummy!!

After lunch we came home to rest since it was still cold and rainy. I took a little nap while Alona watched "A Walk to Remember" in Russian. When I woke up, I called home to check on my girls. I found out while at the medical exam that my 5 year old and 1 year old are both sick with pretty high fevers. It was my turn today to have a little breakdown. I HATE having sick babies at home and not being there to take care of them. I have been gone now for 3 1/2 weeks and I am beyond ready to kiss my girls sweet little faces and give them big hugs. I know my Mom and Ryan are doing an amazing job taking care of them in my absence, but children just need their Mama's when they are sick, and I am ready to be there with them again. 

After my little cry fest, Alona and I got back out to go buy a few little presents for our family back home. We visited St. Andrews Church which is totally breathtaking, and then I took her through the park with all of the crazy sculptures. We walked through St. Michael's Cathedral, and then grabbed dinner at the pizza place right up the street. 

Inside of St. Andrews

Gorgeous view outside of St. Andrews with the Dneiper River in the distance

Little Chapel with St. Andrews in the background

Alona hanging out with the silly cat

Interesting Playground!

 Do't worry..that is not a real blanket and pillow, although it is pretty convincing, isn't it?!?

Loved this view of the multicolored roofs below

Water faucet swings:)

Alona with St. Sophia's behind her

St. Michaels is beautiful at every angle

Alona taking in the views of the left bank

Delicious Pizza to end the evening

Tomorrow, we have a free day while we await the passport. Since we are right next to the Opera House, I decided to see what they had going on this week, and found out that Swan Lake Ballet was going to performed tomorrow night, so I bought us tickets! I am looking forward to seeing this with Alona.

Please pray that her passport will be on its way to us tomorrow. Please also pray that her x-ray will be perfectly clear so that we won't be held up at all on that end. Please also say a pray for my sick babies, and my Mom and Ryan as they take care of them. 

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him"

Psalm 62:5

Sightseeing in Kiev

Alona and I had a fun day of sightseeing in Kiev. It was pretty chilly and rainy this morning, but that did not stop us from visiting the Lavra. Ryan and I went when we were here in July, and you can read more about the Lavra in my post here. I learned a few more facts about the Lavra. It was started in 1051 by monks Theodosius and Antony. It is still an active monastery with monks currently living deep inside the caves. The number of monks who live down there is unknown.

 Church of the Nativity of Mary behind us

Head piece worn by the highest ranking monk

The Great Lavra Bell Tower...stands 316 feet tall

Back of the Church of the Nativity of Mary

Beautiful View of the Dneiper River and the Lavra compound

Alona checking out the statues of the founders of the Lavra...Theodosius and Antony

  View of the WWII monument through the a slit in the wall surrounding a cemetery at the Lavra

The Great Lavra Bell Tower and Church of the Nativity of Mary

After touring the Lavra, we stopped by a Ukrainian buffet for lunch, and then went home to rest. 

Making our selections at the buffet

This evening, the rain and clouds cleared away, and it was a gorgeous evening, so we got back out and headed to Independence Square. On Sundays, the main street that runs through Independence Square, Kereshatyk Street, is blocked off and people wander through the street checking out the street performers.

We climbed up the steps to October Palace to get some great views of downtown Kiev. October Palace was built in the early 1900's and is officially known as the International Center of Culture and Arts since Ukraine gained its Independence in 1991. 

Just sipping some coffee while sitting in a coffee cup

Stopped by a candy store where they make their own candy on sight. Alona chose a big ole lolly pop

Beautiful view of Independence Square with October Palace in the background

Fancy Clock!

October Palace

Sun setting over downtown Kiev

My pretty girl with a pretty view

After walking around Independence Square, we walked through the underground mall and found the girls some fun little presents. After that, we were hungry! We stopped by the restaurant that Ryan and I both love...Krym. Last time we ate there, they brought us a small glass of house made Kvass that was really yummy, so I told Alona she should order it. She got a little more than she bargained for!!

Not quite the small glass of Kvass I thought she would be getting! 

(In case you have missed my last posts mentioning Kvass, I promise it's non alcholic!!)

On our walk home after dinner, we passed the snail near the Golden Gates and figured out what it is for...coffee!! Who would have guessed? ( See picture of Alona with it on my post yesterday)

The girls new stuffed animals along with a few of Alona's old friends:)

I am happy to say that today was a tear free day! I know that we will experience good days and bad days throughout this transitional and adjustment phase, and feel thankful for the good day that we had. Thank you to each of you for all of the encouraging words and prayers you have given us over these last couple of days.

Tomorrow we will go to the embassy to turn in some paperwork for her Visa, and go for the medical exam. Please pray that there are no issues with the paperwork, and that her medical exam goes very well! Please also pray that her international passport gets delivered tomorrow! It is hard to believe that we could be on our way home in a few short days!!

A Tough Couple of Days

Yesterday was our last day in Alona's home town and it was a very bittersweet day. We started the day by finishing up the last bit of paperwork at the passport office. We then went to get her pictures taken for her visa. After that, we swung by McDonald's where the number of chicken nuggets I wanted got lost in translation...I ended up with 20!!!

After lunch, we headed to the park to meet up with our dear friend Natalya. Natalya has been such a wonderful friend to Alona, and the other children at her orphanage. She has done more than I could possibly write down for us and other adoptive families. She translates emails and phone calls, delivers packages, adds money to cell phones for the kids, tutors them in English....and on and on. Natalya has been a great comfort and confidante for Alona for many years, and I knew that saying good bye would be extremely difficult. 

We had a second lunch of sorts with Natalya at a very fancy restaurant in the park, and then met up with another friend of Alona's that she wanted to visit with. We ended up going to the zoo, and the girls enjoyed feeding the animals. I have to say, the zoo was pitiful! I felt so sorry for the animals. Their cages were tiny and there was nothing but hard concrete, and maybe a tree branch in there. Poor things! The donkey cracked me up...he was SOOO loud, and if you dared walk by without giving him some food, he certainly let you know about it!

So fancy!!

Feeding the hungry animals!!

The zoo...

Alona and her friend Nastya

Had to stop by a little bakery I have had my eye on since being there in July...it did not disappoint!

Last night, we went to an English speakers service at Natalya's church. It was an amazing time of fellowship with other believers from the US, India, Ukraine, and China. We sang How Great is our God, and it was impossible to keep tears from flowing. If you have not watched the world version of this song, it is a must! I cannot watch it without crying. 

Natalya, Alona, and L at the worship service

After church, Natalya, L, Alona and I went to dinner and then Alona had to say good bye to Natalya. It was such a hard thing to do! Words cannot express my gratitude for her friendship and care. I know that we will see her again! L came home with us to spend the night with Alona on her last night. I knew Alona needed a pick me up, and so my sweet friend Shelly who adopted 2 of Alona's friends 2 1/2 years ago, arranged for the kids to skype. It was such an encouragement for Alona to hear from them and to know that she WILL get through this transitional time.

Early this morning, we flew to Kiev. Alona was extremely nervous about flying, but she did great!! We arrived safely, and were brought straight to our new apartment. It is right behind the Opera House, and it is very nice!! Not crazy about the hint of smoke smell, or the brown tiles in the bathroom, but overall, it is very nice and clean. We went to lunch where our driver and his friend met us for lunch. They had just returned from Alona's region, and were talking about how much they loved it...which set off another big round of tears. We came back to the apartment after lunch, and spent the afternoon crying :( The grieving process is something that I fully expected, and I am thankful that she is comfortable enough to let it out. At the same time, it is so awful to watch your child suffering. I know that just as it says in Psalms 30:5, "weeping remains for a night, but joy comes in the morning". Alona has to go through this grieving process to get to her bright new future that awaits her. 

 First plane ride!!

First row...plenty of leg room..yay!!

New Bedroom

Spacious living room

Our neighborhood for the next few days

View from our balcony

Kitchen

Entry way

Bathroom

The Golden Gates are on our street...these were on of 3 gates erected by Yuroslav the Wise around the same time that St. Sophia's Cathedral was built. They served as an entry to the old fortified city.

HUGE gates

Inside the Golden Gates

Random pink snail by the Golden Gates

I finally got her off of the couch to go to dinner at a pizza place up the street. Her sweet bff Liza called her during dinner to give her some more words of encouragement, and that was such a blessing. That phone call did wonders for her mood. I know that she will be needing many more pep talks from her friends who have gone through this before her, and I am SO thankful that she has a great support network! 

Talking to sweet Liza

Please continue to pray for us as we go through this transitional time. Please pray that Alona's medical exam goes well, and that her new passport gets printed on Monday. We are ready to get home!!