For those of you who are interested, the Hilt case sentencing was announced a few hours ago. Below is a link to the news story I could find.
The last woman to kill her Russian adopted child only got 12 years, so this is a much stiffer sentence in comparison. It was reported on the website for the local Manassas tv station that Peggy was sentenced to 35 years and the Judge made it mandatory that she will serve 25 of that time. So obviously everyone’s letters did make an impact - YEAH! The max sentence was 40 years.
It will be interesting to see what the Russian media makes of this.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060525/48616041.html
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Monday
It's noon on Monday, and we just stopped home for lunch between visits with Anya today. She was going to the eye doctor after lunch, so we should have the results from that test this afternoon.
This morning, Anya was REALLY rialed up. I think this was because of a few things; first, she was waiting for us to come visit and play all weekend...and we never showed up. So today when we got there, she was VERY excited. Then, I think that she is feeling more and more comfortable with us - which means she is testing her boundaries. That is a good thing. She knows if she does something bad, we'll still come back to see her. But now she is testing us to see what we will do when she doesn't behave. We had a lot of "that is not OK" and "do not do that" times this morning. Of course, Anya thinkg it is funny when we talk Russian in phrases like that, so she just laughed. I held her at one point and was trying to get her to calm down, doing the good 'ol 'shhhh' thing. So, little Anya was shhhhhh - ing me right back. Oh well...
All of the over excitment, throwing a toy, jumping on Mama and Papa, dumping out purses and then saying 'no, I am not going to clean that up' was being observed by a psychologist. Oh goodie. I didn't really know that at the time, and even if I did, I don't know what we would have done differently. After it was all said and done, the phychologist said that she thinks we play well together, and that she liked the way we didn't let her get away with things. WHEW! I guess a lot of pre adoptive parents do let thier kids get away with bad behavior.
This afternoon will be our last visit - and will be an emotional time for all of us. We're trying to figure out how we are going to tell Anya we aren't coming tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers, this will be a hard afternoon.
-K & M
This morning, Anya was REALLY rialed up. I think this was because of a few things; first, she was waiting for us to come visit and play all weekend...and we never showed up. So today when we got there, she was VERY excited. Then, I think that she is feeling more and more comfortable with us - which means she is testing her boundaries. That is a good thing. She knows if she does something bad, we'll still come back to see her. But now she is testing us to see what we will do when she doesn't behave. We had a lot of "that is not OK" and "do not do that" times this morning. Of course, Anya thinkg it is funny when we talk Russian in phrases like that, so she just laughed. I held her at one point and was trying to get her to calm down, doing the good 'ol 'shhhh' thing. So, little Anya was shhhhhh - ing me right back. Oh well...
All of the over excitment, throwing a toy, jumping on Mama and Papa, dumping out purses and then saying 'no, I am not going to clean that up' was being observed by a psychologist. Oh goodie. I didn't really know that at the time, and even if I did, I don't know what we would have done differently. After it was all said and done, the phychologist said that she thinks we play well together, and that she liked the way we didn't let her get away with things. WHEW! I guess a lot of pre adoptive parents do let thier kids get away with bad behavior.
This afternoon will be our last visit - and will be an emotional time for all of us. We're trying to figure out how we are going to tell Anya we aren't coming tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers, this will be a hard afternoon.
-K & M
Sunday, May 21, 2006
a typical day in Russia
We were out all day - walking from one shopping area, to downtown, to a cafe, then a market and home again. We were gone walking about 5-6 hours.
Our day ended later in the day, about 7pm - when we started seeing the things we only hear about in Russia...children begging in the streets, a drunk passed out in front of a concert hall, old men with very young girls, a homeless man picking through a garbage can - I guess looking for someting to eat...and the icing on the cake, an elderly couple - that had been (obviously) drinking all day, weaving when they walked, hooting and hollering...then, ducking behind a building. We observed this interaction from our apartment window - so we were not in any danger... I was very curious what they were doing, so I got comfortable and continued to watch...the older lady leaned up against the building, hiked up her babushka dress, and yes, started to pee! Right there, in front of everyone...no shame, no reservation...just peeing. Then, the old man apparently decided that was a good idea....then next thing we know - he's is taking a leak too! No one but us even paid them a second look. When they were done, the both took swigs from a bottle, hugged each other - and they went on their merry way.
The morale to the story? Siberia is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here!
Our day ended later in the day, about 7pm - when we started seeing the things we only hear about in Russia...children begging in the streets, a drunk passed out in front of a concert hall, old men with very young girls, a homeless man picking through a garbage can - I guess looking for someting to eat...and the icing on the cake, an elderly couple - that had been (obviously) drinking all day, weaving when they walked, hooting and hollering...then, ducking behind a building. We observed this interaction from our apartment window - so we were not in any danger... I was very curious what they were doing, so I got comfortable and continued to watch...the older lady leaned up against the building, hiked up her babushka dress, and yes, started to pee! Right there, in front of everyone...no shame, no reservation...just peeing. Then, the old man apparently decided that was a good idea....then next thing we know - he's is taking a leak too! No one but us even paid them a second look. When they were done, the both took swigs from a bottle, hugged each other - and they went on their merry way.
The morale to the story? Siberia is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Lena
We had dinner tonight with our former facilitator, Lena N. Wow! Things are really bad for her! About monthly, is seems that she is being hit with another complaint by the prosecutor's office or another 'something'. One of the charges actually is coming from the families of children who have been adopted. They are suing her because she released personal information about them in court...which is required by the Judge in order to adopt a child away from a person who abandoned them to a family who willk care for them. It is just nuts - they're on a witch hunt, and are hunting for anything...but nothing they have has any teeth (which is good).
She is doing well, and her spirit is higher than I imagined. She is getting by; she is a very resourceful 'do what you gotta do' kind of person...I think she will be fine. Her mom (who lives in Salt Lake) will be here next week for a month long visit. This will be good, since she can help financially etc.
She asked about all of the American families, and how everyone is doing.
As for Lena B (older Lena) she has cancer, and is not doing well. She won't talk about it, and if you talk to her or see her, she will say everything is fine, she is feeling well.
It was interesting to talk to her, and hear strait 'from the horses mouth' waht is going on with her, and her view on the situation here.
She is doing well, and her spirit is higher than I imagined. She is getting by; she is a very resourceful 'do what you gotta do' kind of person...I think she will be fine. Her mom (who lives in Salt Lake) will be here next week for a month long visit. This will be good, since she can help financially etc.
She asked about all of the American families, and how everyone is doing.
As for Lena B (older Lena) she has cancer, and is not doing well. She won't talk about it, and if you talk to her or see her, she will say everything is fine, she is feeling well.
It was interesting to talk to her, and hear strait 'from the horses mouth' waht is going on with her, and her view on the situation here.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Lawyer
We met with the lawyer today, and we both feel good about the meeting. She is a beautiful younger woman, very nice person with a personality (something I guess I didn’t think we would encounter when meeting a Lawyer in Russia!).
Here are the steps:
Our documents will be translated – we will submit what we have now to the translation agency, and then we will send the remainder that is being redone next week. They will have all of our documents within 7-10 days
The translation process will take about a week, at $10 a page…I am SCARED to do the math!
Then everything is passed over to the lawyer for her review. After she looks at everything, she will have a better feel/understanding for what direction to take. This lawyer has a lot of good experience, and connections/relationships with people above the regional Judge
The lawyer will contact us with a plan
The lawyer will present our documents to the Judge
The Judge will surely have something that needs to be changed
We will have about 2 weeks to make the changes, and resubmit everything
This whole process detailed above is about a 3-4 week deal…we expect a court date in about 5-7 weeks
Depending on how things go with the Hilt thing, it is possible that whatever decision this Judge makes will need to be appealed…of course, depending on what direction the lawyer decides to take with our case.
So we are praying for:
Stellar paperwork – no errors or corrections will be needed by the Judge, everything will be clear and to her requirements
That the translation goes faster than 1-week, and we are not charged for every apostille (since they are all the same, and every document has one)
That the review of our paperwork does not take a week, and that the direction to take our case that will bring about a positive outcome will be abundantly clear to the lawyer.
While we have been here, my Mom and our pal Kathy Strukel have been hard at work doing what they can to get everything ready so when we get home next week, all we will need to do is put everything in an envelope and send it to the translation place. The creative thinking that has gone on at home while we’re here is pretty amazing! I think Kathy S should go into the Dossier Prep business!
Here are the steps:
Our documents will be translated – we will submit what we have now to the translation agency, and then we will send the remainder that is being redone next week. They will have all of our documents within 7-10 days
The translation process will take about a week, at $10 a page…I am SCARED to do the math!
Then everything is passed over to the lawyer for her review. After she looks at everything, she will have a better feel/understanding for what direction to take. This lawyer has a lot of good experience, and connections/relationships with people above the regional Judge
The lawyer will contact us with a plan
The lawyer will present our documents to the Judge
The Judge will surely have something that needs to be changed
We will have about 2 weeks to make the changes, and resubmit everything
This whole process detailed above is about a 3-4 week deal…we expect a court date in about 5-7 weeks
Depending on how things go with the Hilt thing, it is possible that whatever decision this Judge makes will need to be appealed…of course, depending on what direction the lawyer decides to take with our case.
So we are praying for:
Stellar paperwork – no errors or corrections will be needed by the Judge, everything will be clear and to her requirements
That the translation goes faster than 1-week, and we are not charged for every apostille (since they are all the same, and every document has one)
That the review of our paperwork does not take a week, and that the direction to take our case that will bring about a positive outcome will be abundantly clear to the lawyer.
While we have been here, my Mom and our pal Kathy Strukel have been hard at work doing what they can to get everything ready so when we get home next week, all we will need to do is put everything in an envelope and send it to the translation place. The creative thinking that has gone on at home while we’re here is pretty amazing! I think Kathy S should go into the Dossier Prep business!
CHANGE IN PRAYERS!!!
Such interesting information
We were able to piece 2 pieces of the puzzle together today with regard to the “why” in the court system here.
First, this new judge does not work independently. She is being monitored by the Supreme Court, and all of her decisions come through that court. When we thought we were just praying for this one person, we were wrong. We need to refocus our prayers for the Supreme Court that oversees this region.
The other thing that is interesting, confirms a gut feeling many of us in the ‘waiting game’ have had suspicion about for a long time. The paperwork games the Judge has been playing are in fact a stall tactic…they are stalling to see what will happen with the Hilt case. That case, for some reason, has caused adoption slow downs in more countries other than Russia. Apparently, everyone is stalling, and waiting to see what will happen at the sentencing hearing, and I think that is on the 25th. We need to pray (or send letters to the Judge in Virginia or wherever) that this woman gets sentenced to the full extent of the law! She is crazy, and killed her child with her own hands. She should rot in prison.
From what I understand, if the sentencing is harsh, and to the full extent as our law will allow…then that serves as a sort of green light to start the process again here. If (for some reason that I can’t even think of) Hilt is not held accountable, and only given a light sentence – that is a sure sign that things in this region (and possibly all over Russia) will close down for good.
We were able to piece 2 pieces of the puzzle together today with regard to the “why” in the court system here.
First, this new judge does not work independently. She is being monitored by the Supreme Court, and all of her decisions come through that court. When we thought we were just praying for this one person, we were wrong. We need to refocus our prayers for the Supreme Court that oversees this region.
The other thing that is interesting, confirms a gut feeling many of us in the ‘waiting game’ have had suspicion about for a long time. The paperwork games the Judge has been playing are in fact a stall tactic…they are stalling to see what will happen with the Hilt case. That case, for some reason, has caused adoption slow downs in more countries other than Russia. Apparently, everyone is stalling, and waiting to see what will happen at the sentencing hearing, and I think that is on the 25th. We need to pray (or send letters to the Judge in Virginia or wherever) that this woman gets sentenced to the full extent of the law! She is crazy, and killed her child with her own hands. She should rot in prison.
From what I understand, if the sentencing is harsh, and to the full extent as our law will allow…then that serves as a sort of green light to start the process again here. If (for some reason that I can’t even think of) Hilt is not held accountable, and only given a light sentence – that is a sure sign that things in this region (and possibly all over Russia) will close down for good.
Detski Dom
Here are some photos of the orphanage where Anya is...
We are standing at Anya's bed. In the above photo, pictured are L-R the director (Elena), Anya, me, Julia (our intreperter - she is a student at the local University, studying North American Culture...I think she will be glad to get a break from us for the weekend!)
The playground.
The front enterance. I saw other photos and heard that there was some kind of scupture on this building, it was of children on a river (the name of the home is something like small river)...but I don't see where that is.
We are standing at Anya's bed. In the above photo, pictured are L-R the director (Elena), Anya, me, Julia (our intreperter - she is a student at the local University, studying North American Culture...I think she will be glad to get a break from us for the weekend!)
The playground.
The front enterance. I saw other photos and heard that there was some kind of scupture on this building, it was of children on a river (the name of the home is something like small river)...but I don't see where that is.
Anya with her crooked glasses on. They don't fit, so she keeps pushing them up - using her dirty fingers on the lenses...so even if I thought she was able to see better with these things, she wouldn't be able to because the glasses are SO dirty!
Giggle britches. I think we got her a little too wound up this afternoon...she wasn't listening...and when we would point at her and say 'that is not ok'...she would point right back at us and say 'that is not ok'. Julia (our language go between) told her that if she didn't behave, we wouldn't come back and play with her. Anya said 'yes you will, Mama and Papa love me, they will come again'. Well, true, but - we are not allowed to visit on the weekend...so she is going to have a harsh reality tomorrow when we don't show up. We were a little late this afternoon, and she ran up nto us saying "I've been waiting for you, I had to play with these children until you got here...now let's go" So, we know she is waiting for us to visit every morning and afternoon.
Marty is feeling better today, not sure if the problem was the altitiude here (kind of like being in Colorado), or what...but all is well. Thanks for your prayers!
Anya's newest thing is everything is 'nee nada' or 'don't do that'...said as she is laughing so hard she can hardly talk. And everything seems to be 'I can do it myself' and then 2 seconds later "Mama/papa help please" It is so funny because the way you say please is pha-zha-lu-stah...and Anya says pha-la-do-da - kind of like "camptown racers sing this song, doo daa doo daa"
Anya's newest thing is everything is 'nee nada' or 'don't do that'...said as she is laughing so hard she can hardly talk. And everything seems to be 'I can do it myself' and then 2 seconds later "Mama/papa help please" It is so funny because the way you say please is pha-zha-lu-stah...and Anya says pha-la-do-da - kind of like "camptown racers sing this song, doo daa doo daa"
playing outside
These photos were taken today (friday) morning. We played outside most of our visit today. Although it was warm, they still insist that the children wear winter coats.
This is a pook-a-boo photo...although here they say 'coo coo' so, if you say Mama coo-coo it doesn't mean Mama is crazy!
This is a pook-a-boo photo...although here they say 'coo coo' so, if you say Mama coo-coo it doesn't mean Mama is crazy!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Another meeting with the director
We were interested and confused about this eyeglasses thing. We asked our interpreter ask her mother (who used to be the doctor at Shelekov) to help us with this. In looking at the prescription, it was from May 2005. The director and medical assistant we spoke to today were also a little unclear about the glasses this, as Anya does not display any characteristics of a child who cannot see…and the prescription she has is for a child who can not see. Basically this glasses thing is a mystery to everyone. There is nothing in Anya’s medical record about it – there is one note about a vision exam, however the notes are very unclear. Anya’s bio mother did wear glasses, and there is information in Anya’s medical record that says her bio mother did not have any medical problems.
We asked for a second opinion on the eyeglasses issue. IN talking to the director and so on, they agree that we need another exam for her. So, another doctor will come to examine Anya either tomorrow or Friday to see about this eye thing. I guess this doctor is a specialist…we’ll see how that goes.
When she was transferred to Shelekov in March, she was given a full battery of medical tests again. She was tested for everything you can think of from AIDS to lung and kidney issues. All of her test came back saying she is a very healthy girl.
The director told us the Anya is one of the best-behaved children at the home.
The only thing that the director said negative was that she did not like the way Anya did not talk to us when we first start our visits. Of course that is all I heard, and Marty didn’t even notice she said it (glass half full or half empty?). She followed that comment with she thinks we play together well and that there have been so many changes in the past few months with her she is still adapting. Now that Anya is getting older, she isn’t so into hugs and being held like she was on our Trip #1. The director told us that this is very typical of children at this age. She just doesn’t know how to take it as she has never had someone hug her – she doesn’t understand what that’s all about.
The director was asking our interpreter a lot of questions about is that she couldn’t answer. She is just that, an interpreter not our adoption representative. They (the people at the orphanage) are preparing the paperwork for a court hearing and are asking a lot of questions about us for that. I think there is some confusion about all that. We have been asked to meet with the head of the guardianship department in Shelekov tomorrow. Apparently she is a very nice person, and just wants to meet us. This is pretty unusual. Also, we’ve been asked to spend some time with the director, and tell her about us – about what we do for a living, why we are choosing adoption, why Anya, what our plans are after we get her home and so on. At first I thought this was very strange, however, we called our friend in town who works with adoptions and he said that she is doing this because in court she will be asked to tell everything she knows about us. The more she knows, the better. It might look odd if the records show that we’ve spent so much time with Anya and the director know nothing about us.
We asked for a second opinion on the eyeglasses issue. IN talking to the director and so on, they agree that we need another exam for her. So, another doctor will come to examine Anya either tomorrow or Friday to see about this eye thing. I guess this doctor is a specialist…we’ll see how that goes.
When she was transferred to Shelekov in March, she was given a full battery of medical tests again. She was tested for everything you can think of from AIDS to lung and kidney issues. All of her test came back saying she is a very healthy girl.
The director told us the Anya is one of the best-behaved children at the home.
The only thing that the director said negative was that she did not like the way Anya did not talk to us when we first start our visits. Of course that is all I heard, and Marty didn’t even notice she said it (glass half full or half empty?). She followed that comment with she thinks we play together well and that there have been so many changes in the past few months with her she is still adapting. Now that Anya is getting older, she isn’t so into hugs and being held like she was on our Trip #1. The director told us that this is very typical of children at this age. She just doesn’t know how to take it as she has never had someone hug her – she doesn’t understand what that’s all about.
The director was asking our interpreter a lot of questions about is that she couldn’t answer. She is just that, an interpreter not our adoption representative. They (the people at the orphanage) are preparing the paperwork for a court hearing and are asking a lot of questions about us for that. I think there is some confusion about all that. We have been asked to meet with the head of the guardianship department in Shelekov tomorrow. Apparently she is a very nice person, and just wants to meet us. This is pretty unusual. Also, we’ve been asked to spend some time with the director, and tell her about us – about what we do for a living, why we are choosing adoption, why Anya, what our plans are after we get her home and so on. At first I thought this was very strange, however, we called our friend in town who works with adoptions and he said that she is doing this because in court she will be asked to tell everything she knows about us. The more she knows, the better. It might look odd if the records show that we’ve spent so much time with Anya and the director know nothing about us.
Marty...and on being overwhelmed
Poor Marty is kind of going through it a little bit. Please keep him in your prayers. We don’t know what the problem is, but he hasn’t felt well since we got to Russia – and is just not himself. Kind of a vertigo thing maybe, when we get off the elevator at our apartment, he feels like the elevator is still moving; and he has been so tired, he can’t keep his eyes open.
And, he really needs to be himself and wide-awake for sake of the court hearing. Since we are being watched so closely, and everyone takes notes on how we play with Anya, if Marty isn’t feeling well and is kind of standing back…that doesn’t look good. It is so hard to think of that. This morning I was tired, and we were playing outside. My instinct was to let Anya and Marty play, they were having fun…and I was going to sit on a log and watch. But then I thought twice about that.
We both really need to work harder on our Russian. Just saying yes and no and nodding out heads isn’t going to cut it. For us to know more conversational Russian means that we care more. It says a lot to the Russian people that we took the time and the effort to learn Russian. I fell that I can speak it OK – however, I speak using cheat sheets and a book. So, it’s hard for me to speak on the fly. And, twice as hard to know what people are saying to us.
This trip is very different than our first trip here. There seems to be so much pressure on everything…although I am sure most of it is self-imposed. Last time we would only visit the Baby home one time a day, and we would spend hours walking downtown, going to lunch and to the grocery store. That is not the way things are on this trip. We have only been into town one time. When we are not at the baby home, there are more documents I need to review, organize or complete. It is overwhelming. It is hard to enjoy the time we have with Anya when there seems to be so much between now and when we get to enjoy her in our house. And, all the junk between here and there is on my plate – wondering how I am going to get to the store so we have something to eat, deal with al mountains of paperwork, sleep, and learn more Russian in the next few days…just feeling a little overwhelmed, I probably need a nap and some fruit roll-ups.
Please keep us in your prayers over these issues.
thoughts from Marty (Wednesday)
Hello all,
Greetings from the other side of the world. It's very difficult being upside down like this. All the blood rushes to your head. Of course, since my normal thinking processes are inverted, I am just a normal person when I'm upside down on this side of the globe. It all makes perfect sense to me.
After meeting with the director of the orphanage, we have been allowed to visit with Anya twice a day. It seems that her and the Russian psychologist lady like us very much. The Ruskies (pronounced ROO-skee's) come off cold as steel when you first meet them, but seem to warm up to you after a while.
When we arrived here the weather was in the 60's in the daytime. It actually got into the 70's one day. Then a HUGE dust storm blew through the city and brought freezing Siberian air down from the North. Yesterday we walked downtown for an hour or so. The wind blew like it does in Chicago in the winter. It went right through us. We returned to our apartment to find
that the hot water didn't work. The hot faucet had no pressure, but the cold faucet had plenty. It seems that the City supplies TWO water lines. One is hot and the other is cold. So, if the hot water line is ruptured, the entire city has no hot water! The genius who engineered that system was probably sent to the prison camps in the north to think about that for a while.
This morning we discovered that the boiler in the building isn't working either (if there is one). It could be linked to the city's hot water line. If so, the entire city now has no hot water OR heat (as all heat in Russia is radiant). And to think, these guys actually have access to nuclear reactors and weaponry. In my mind, that's kind of like a six year old with his own personal hand grenade. Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Making the two trips back and forth to the orphanage and the time we spend with Anya pretty much consumes our entire day. Contrary to our last trip, we actually found a restaurant that serves some very palatable food.
We want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers!
~Marty
Greetings from the other side of the world. It's very difficult being upside down like this. All the blood rushes to your head. Of course, since my normal thinking processes are inverted, I am just a normal person when I'm upside down on this side of the globe. It all makes perfect sense to me.
After meeting with the director of the orphanage, we have been allowed to visit with Anya twice a day. It seems that her and the Russian psychologist lady like us very much. The Ruskies (pronounced ROO-skee's) come off cold as steel when you first meet them, but seem to warm up to you after a while.
When we arrived here the weather was in the 60's in the daytime. It actually got into the 70's one day. Then a HUGE dust storm blew through the city and brought freezing Siberian air down from the North. Yesterday we walked downtown for an hour or so. The wind blew like it does in Chicago in the winter. It went right through us. We returned to our apartment to find
that the hot water didn't work. The hot faucet had no pressure, but the cold faucet had plenty. It seems that the City supplies TWO water lines. One is hot and the other is cold. So, if the hot water line is ruptured, the entire city has no hot water! The genius who engineered that system was probably sent to the prison camps in the north to think about that for a while.
This morning we discovered that the boiler in the building isn't working either (if there is one). It could be linked to the city's hot water line. If so, the entire city now has no hot water OR heat (as all heat in Russia is radiant). And to think, these guys actually have access to nuclear reactors and weaponry. In my mind, that's kind of like a six year old with his own personal hand grenade. Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Making the two trips back and forth to the orphanage and the time we spend with Anya pretty much consumes our entire day. Contrary to our last trip, we actually found a restaurant that serves some very palatable food.
We want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers!
~Marty
poverty in Russia
This is the view we have outside our Kitchen window. Typically there are a few homeless people who live in the trash. Be grateful for everything you have!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Our visit with Anya and the new director- Tuesday
We had a meeting today with the director at Anya’s orphanage. She is very very nice - her name is Elana. She said that she used to work at BH2 where Anya was before moving to Shelekov. She was there for 2 years when Anya was there (so, from the time Anya was 8 months old until she was 2 years and 8 months). She new of us, and had heard many things about us…which struck me as odd since there are so many families that come through those doors, and we had not met her in the past. Anyway – she said that Anya was still adjusting to being at Shelekov, but she is little, and she will be fine. She said that Anya is a very good little girl (as if?!?!). She said that she has read our complete file from the Adoption Center (meaning she has read through our dossier etc.), and from knowing about us, our home and our family, we are the perfect place for Anya.
Elana also told us that Anya talks about us all the time…which I think is amazing since I’ve not been here for a year, and Marty hadn’t seen her for a year and ½! When Anya first moved to Shelekov, she was meeting with the orphanage psychologist (also, a VERY nice woman named Shetlana), and Anya insisted on showing her the photo book of us. Anya went through every page with Shetlana, explaining in every photo that was Mama, Papa and Anya. She also informed Svetlana “Mama and Papa love me very much!” Very true, and how wonderful that she knows that, even if she doesn’t understand it, the fact that she knows we love her, and that means something special is so powerful!
When we arrive at our visits with Anya, she is always sad-faced. This goes back to October 2004 to our first visit with her. I was told today that this is an act because when she leaves her group, she exclaims “I must go and plan with Mama and Papa now – bye bye!”…kind of a 3 year old’s way of saying ‘see ya later bums, my mama and papa are here!”
When Anya returned to her group (the sheep group) on Saturday, she told the other children tale after tale of our visit with her.
We were allowed to visit with her 2x today…and Elana said that she gave us permission to visit from 10am until lunchtime, and then from 4pm until 6 (dinner). She said that each time we visit, it is documented in Anya’s permanent record – with notes of how we are playing with her and how our communication is with her. All the times we’ve sent clothes, notes, photos etc. to her has been documented – and will look very good to the Judge.
At our afternoon visit, we were allowed to play outside. It was FREEZING cold here today. But, it was fun to be outside. Anya had a lot of fun going down the slide, and kept saying, “one more time Papa, please”, and then when she would get to the ladder, she would say “I can do it by myself!” Well, that lasted until she realized she couldn’t get her foot up to the first rung of the ladder…which would bring on “Papa, help please!” This went on for probably 10-15 times!
Elana came outside to tell us that it was dinnertime, and Anya had to go to her group. Anya asked frequently to go with her group when we are together, but never pushes it – I think she hears the other kids in the hall, and thinks she is missing out on something. Anyway – when Elana said that, Anya stopped dead in her tracks and said “no, I want to stay and play with Mama and Papa!”. She then told Elana, “I love playing with Mama and Papa.” We went on talking, and then Anya blurted out “I love Papa the best” – so yes, it’s true, I am still just the lady with the cookies and shoes!
When we were leaving, Anya hugged and kissed both of us bye bye, and asked us to come back tomorrow. As she was walking back inside, we said, “I love you Anya!” She yelled back “I love you too Mama and Papa!”
Elana also told us that Anya talks about us all the time…which I think is amazing since I’ve not been here for a year, and Marty hadn’t seen her for a year and ½! When Anya first moved to Shelekov, she was meeting with the orphanage psychologist (also, a VERY nice woman named Shetlana), and Anya insisted on showing her the photo book of us. Anya went through every page with Shetlana, explaining in every photo that was Mama, Papa and Anya. She also informed Svetlana “Mama and Papa love me very much!” Very true, and how wonderful that she knows that, even if she doesn’t understand it, the fact that she knows we love her, and that means something special is so powerful!
When we arrive at our visits with Anya, she is always sad-faced. This goes back to October 2004 to our first visit with her. I was told today that this is an act because when she leaves her group, she exclaims “I must go and plan with Mama and Papa now – bye bye!”…kind of a 3 year old’s way of saying ‘see ya later bums, my mama and papa are here!”
When Anya returned to her group (the sheep group) on Saturday, she told the other children tale after tale of our visit with her.
We were allowed to visit with her 2x today…and Elana said that she gave us permission to visit from 10am until lunchtime, and then from 4pm until 6 (dinner). She said that each time we visit, it is documented in Anya’s permanent record – with notes of how we are playing with her and how our communication is with her. All the times we’ve sent clothes, notes, photos etc. to her has been documented – and will look very good to the Judge.
At our afternoon visit, we were allowed to play outside. It was FREEZING cold here today. But, it was fun to be outside. Anya had a lot of fun going down the slide, and kept saying, “one more time Papa, please”, and then when she would get to the ladder, she would say “I can do it by myself!” Well, that lasted until she realized she couldn’t get her foot up to the first rung of the ladder…which would bring on “Papa, help please!” This went on for probably 10-15 times!
Elana came outside to tell us that it was dinnertime, and Anya had to go to her group. Anya asked frequently to go with her group when we are together, but never pushes it – I think she hears the other kids in the hall, and thinks she is missing out on something. Anyway – when Elana said that, Anya stopped dead in her tracks and said “no, I want to stay and play with Mama and Papa!”. She then told Elana, “I love playing with Mama and Papa.” We went on talking, and then Anya blurted out “I love Papa the best” – so yes, it’s true, I am still just the lady with the cookies and shoes!
When we were leaving, Anya hugged and kissed both of us bye bye, and asked us to come back tomorrow. As she was walking back inside, we said, “I love you Anya!” She yelled back “I love you too Mama and Papa!”
Eyeglasses
While we were playing outside, Elana came out and gave me some children’s eyeglasses. She said that they were just delivered and were Anya’s. They are like coke bottles! I think either they don’t know how to test for vision problems, or they have seriously over corrected her eyes. Elana gave the glasses to me to keep for Anya, so I have the prescription that I am going to have translated. I don’t know if this kind of thing is universal or not. When we play with her, she doesn’t have any trouble reading or seeing the cards on the ‘match’ game we played. Her favorite things to do are to color, read a book or watch TV…when she put the glasses on, you could tell that she was a little wobbly-kneed.
If she does need that strong of a prescription, that is OK – her Mama is blind too!
Photos
We are able to take photos of Anya – I don’t know what all the hub bub was about the other day – but we are able to do that…yay!
My day in Russia…
For those of you who really know me, you will appreciate our day today.
We wake up to find that all the hot water is gone. Nothing, not even water pressure when you turn the faucets to hot. Well, one might ask, “how do you shower” – I’ll tell you. You need to heat up water in a teapot and in a regular pot on the stove. Then you pour it into a bucket, being careful not to splash your self with the scalding hot water. You ten transfer the bucket into the bathtub, and cool it with the freezing arctic water. Don’t forget your Plastic Moose cup to rinse with! Just like the Pioneers used to do!
In researching what the deal was with the water, we found out that all the hot water in the city is gone…no one has hot water. Apparently there is only 1 main line into Everyone’s home for hot water. Isn’t that nutty?!
So then we go to lunch. For those of you who were on this journey with us the first time, you know we got a big kick out of the “American” menus in restaurants. The translation wasn’t always so accurate, so what you actually got wasn’t usually what you thought you ordered.
So – we go to this new restaurant for lunch – it was called ‘Figgaro’ – basically a pasta and pizza joint. It is near the new European hotel, and boasts that they get a lot of international visitors…which is good because that means they have American menus. So I order what I thought was a small pizza with mushrooms, tomato and olive. Guess what I got? A small pizza with mushrooms, tomato, ham, bacon, sausage and peppers. You all know that I don’t eat meat, and if I do I will get very very sick – and am very freaky about meat touching the food I do eat. So – I am in a foreign country, can’t really send back what I ordered, need to eat something…what is a girl to do? She scrapes off all the topping (and I do mean ALL the topping) and just eats the crust!
2 days ago, it was nearly 80 degrees outside here – today, it snowed (kind of like at home! If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change). I battled with what to pack for clothing, not knowing what the weather was going to be like. I errored on the side of the weather channel’s report that the low this week was going to be 50. So, what is a girl to do to stay warm? She wears her CAbi spa yoga pants with full length Spanx underneath for insulation (Spanx are a new now and wow term for girdle)…Toasty!
And the final great part of my day…when we got back to the orphanage this afternoon, I really needed to find the ‘ladies room’. Typically, I avoid public restrooms – especially in foreign countries. But – this was an emergency. Get this – there is no toilet seat…and they wipe with cut up pieces of scrap paper…like the kind we would cut up into squares for notes – left over paper from a printing job. The paper all had some kind of printing on it – like old reports they needed to shred, instead of shredding it became TP! Let me just tell you, that regular paper isn’t very absorbent!
We wake up to find that all the hot water is gone. Nothing, not even water pressure when you turn the faucets to hot. Well, one might ask, “how do you shower” – I’ll tell you. You need to heat up water in a teapot and in a regular pot on the stove. Then you pour it into a bucket, being careful not to splash your self with the scalding hot water. You ten transfer the bucket into the bathtub, and cool it with the freezing arctic water. Don’t forget your Plastic Moose cup to rinse with! Just like the Pioneers used to do!
In researching what the deal was with the water, we found out that all the hot water in the city is gone…no one has hot water. Apparently there is only 1 main line into Everyone’s home for hot water. Isn’t that nutty?!
So then we go to lunch. For those of you who were on this journey with us the first time, you know we got a big kick out of the “American” menus in restaurants. The translation wasn’t always so accurate, so what you actually got wasn’t usually what you thought you ordered.
So – we go to this new restaurant for lunch – it was called ‘Figgaro’ – basically a pasta and pizza joint. It is near the new European hotel, and boasts that they get a lot of international visitors…which is good because that means they have American menus. So I order what I thought was a small pizza with mushrooms, tomato and olive. Guess what I got? A small pizza with mushrooms, tomato, ham, bacon, sausage and peppers. You all know that I don’t eat meat, and if I do I will get very very sick – and am very freaky about meat touching the food I do eat. So – I am in a foreign country, can’t really send back what I ordered, need to eat something…what is a girl to do? She scrapes off all the topping (and I do mean ALL the topping) and just eats the crust!
2 days ago, it was nearly 80 degrees outside here – today, it snowed (kind of like at home! If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change). I battled with what to pack for clothing, not knowing what the weather was going to be like. I errored on the side of the weather channel’s report that the low this week was going to be 50. So, what is a girl to do to stay warm? She wears her CAbi spa yoga pants with full length Spanx underneath for insulation (Spanx are a new now and wow term for girdle)…Toasty!
And the final great part of my day…when we got back to the orphanage this afternoon, I really needed to find the ‘ladies room’. Typically, I avoid public restrooms – especially in foreign countries. But – this was an emergency. Get this – there is no toilet seat…and they wipe with cut up pieces of scrap paper…like the kind we would cut up into squares for notes – left over paper from a printing job. The paper all had some kind of printing on it – like old reports they needed to shred, instead of shredding it became TP! Let me just tell you, that regular paper isn’t very absorbent!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Monday in Irkutsk
Hello Everyone,
What a whirlwind of information we have going on here in Russia! We were not able to visit Anya yesterday (Sunday) so we met with our new facilitator to go over our documents. Thankfully, I created a set of documents for our copy -- I'm not sure where our original dossier is...but, what matters is that we're moving forward.
We need to redo several things, but nothing that is unmanageable. In going through everything (roughly 100+ documents), there were only 20 items that needed attention...and most of those were things like the license that we have from our doctors, CPA etc. The format that is required is now different (it is back to the way it was in the Fall - then it changed around Christmas again - now we're back to the original way - ugh!).
We are not allowed to take photographs of Anya. This is a new requirement/rule. We are going to meet with the director tomorrow and talk to her about this. We are required to have photographs of us with Anya for our court hearing, so not sure how that is supposed to happen if we are not allowed to take pictures. Luckily we have a photo album with tons of pics from previous visits - but the requirement is photos of each visit. Ahhh yes, the good 'ol Russian way!
We're also going to hire a teacher to help Anya with English - I think we will be meeting her tomorrow.
There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes here - most of which we were asked to keep confidential. At this point, we really don't want to jeopardize our chances of getting a court date - so we're going to keep things between us for now...as silly as it all seems. I hope you all understand this and respect that fact we just can't talk about it all right now...and we don't even know why.
We have been in prayers of surrender the past day. What we are doing here is a bold move, and our only chance and hope of being able to adopt Anya. The path that brought us here and led us to our new facilitator and legal team is no coincidence. The expertise the team has is specific to our situation - which is pretty amazing and NOT common at all. The group we're working with are all going out on a limb for us, for some reason...the only way to explain it is God. because we've come this far, and are knee deep in the last thing we can 'do'...we are already thanking God for His divine intervention and plan, and completely surrendering this whole process and experience to Him.
That's all I know or can talk about right now.
More later!
-Kathy
What a whirlwind of information we have going on here in Russia! We were not able to visit Anya yesterday (Sunday) so we met with our new facilitator to go over our documents. Thankfully, I created a set of documents for our copy -- I'm not sure where our original dossier is...but, what matters is that we're moving forward.
We need to redo several things, but nothing that is unmanageable. In going through everything (roughly 100+ documents), there were only 20 items that needed attention...and most of those were things like the license that we have from our doctors, CPA etc. The format that is required is now different (it is back to the way it was in the Fall - then it changed around Christmas again - now we're back to the original way - ugh!).
We are not allowed to take photographs of Anya. This is a new requirement/rule. We are going to meet with the director tomorrow and talk to her about this. We are required to have photographs of us with Anya for our court hearing, so not sure how that is supposed to happen if we are not allowed to take pictures. Luckily we have a photo album with tons of pics from previous visits - but the requirement is photos of each visit. Ahhh yes, the good 'ol Russian way!
We're also going to hire a teacher to help Anya with English - I think we will be meeting her tomorrow.
There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes here - most of which we were asked to keep confidential. At this point, we really don't want to jeopardize our chances of getting a court date - so we're going to keep things between us for now...as silly as it all seems. I hope you all understand this and respect that fact we just can't talk about it all right now...and we don't even know why.
We have been in prayers of surrender the past day. What we are doing here is a bold move, and our only chance and hope of being able to adopt Anya. The path that brought us here and led us to our new facilitator and legal team is no coincidence. The expertise the team has is specific to our situation - which is pretty amazing and NOT common at all. The group we're working with are all going out on a limb for us, for some reason...the only way to explain it is God. because we've come this far, and are knee deep in the last thing we can 'do'...we are already thanking God for His divine intervention and plan, and completely surrendering this whole process and experience to Him.
That's all I know or can talk about right now.
More later!
-Kathy
Saturday, May 13, 2006
In Irkutsk
Hello All -
We're here, just got home from Shelekov. It is nice, but very different from BH2 where Anya was before. Anya is so big now!
Anya remembered us right away, came right up to me and sat on my lap to tell me about some bad boy in her group...then She started crying because we were speaking English...so we switched to Russian and she was OK.
We're both very tired, and need to sleep. It's Saturday 7pm here, and we haven't slept outside of an airplane since Wednesday night.
More later...
Kathy and Marty
Thursday, May 11, 2006
on our way
Well, we're off. Currently we're at the tail end of our 6 hour layover in New York...we were here about 4 hours before we realized that the airport gate area is a WiFi hot zone (in other words, we can get online). Our flight to Moscow leaves in about an hour and 1/2...and we're both very glad. Since we only were able to sleep about 3 hours last night - it'll be nice to nap.
The only catastrophe so far has been with my hairspray. Yes, it happened...somehow the squirter was squirting all over the inside of my carry on, and now my laptop smells like Aveda Firmata hairspray.
I'll post a note as soon as we're able to get settled in at the apartment in Irkutsk (probably not until Sunday).
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Update
Hello All - Several friends have asked for an update...so here it goes. There is not much to say! Everything seems to be working out exactly the way it should. We spent Monday in Indianapolis getting last minute things apostilled at the State House.
Of course I have a really neat tension headache that goes from my eyebrow to my shoulder....but this is OK. My to-do lists are shrinking - and the only things we have yet to do tomorrow is get some cash, deal with Power of Atty., and pack. But I am sure that I will think of more things I need to do before we leave Thursday morning.
Thanks to everyone who has been and is praying for us. This is a huge leap of Faith...but, I've said it before and I'll say it again - God is bigger than all of us, and His perfect plan will play out regardless of what anyone does.
It's hard to believe that on Saturday we'll get to see our little Anya again?!
Of course I have a really neat tension headache that goes from my eyebrow to my shoulder....but this is OK. My to-do lists are shrinking - and the only things we have yet to do tomorrow is get some cash, deal with Power of Atty., and pack. But I am sure that I will think of more things I need to do before we leave Thursday morning.
Thanks to everyone who has been and is praying for us. This is a huge leap of Faith...but, I've said it before and I'll say it again - God is bigger than all of us, and His perfect plan will play out regardless of what anyone does.
It's hard to believe that on Saturday we'll get to see our little Anya again?!
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Wailing Wall
I was going through old email tonight, and came across this note from a good friend, Wes Smith. A few months ago, he placed a prayer for us in the Wailing Wall* in Jerusalem. Here is what he said:
Dear Marty and Kathy, Wow! The Lord is really working for you with the old time miracles. Of course, this is the kind of God he is, this God of the Bible. He always blows our minds with his power. Each time I have placed a slip of paper (prayer request) into a crack of the Kotel (Wailing Wall, Western Wall) miracles happen. So God is looking after Anya, as he promises so many times to plead the cause of widows and orphans.
Keep praying for a miracle!
*for more info on Wailing Wall visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wailing_Wall
Dear Marty and Kathy, Wow! The Lord is really working for you with the old time miracles. Of course, this is the kind of God he is, this God of the Bible. He always blows our minds with his power. Each time I have placed a slip of paper (prayer request) into a crack of the Kotel (Wailing Wall, Western Wall) miracles happen. So God is looking after Anya, as he promises so many times to plead the cause of widows and orphans.
Keep praying for a miracle!
*for more info on Wailing Wall visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wailing_Wall
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Ever had one of those days when, at the end of the day, you finally take a deep breath - and realize that you have been running all day and haven't really breathed? Welcome to my Wednesday!
We decided today that we need to go to Indianapolis on Monday to get some documents apostilled. It will probably be good to be forced into the car for the drive down there...to sit still. Part of me thinks I can afford to do this like I can afford a hole in the head!
We decided today that we need to go to Indianapolis on Monday to get some documents apostilled. It will probably be good to be forced into the car for the drive down there...to sit still. Part of me thinks I can afford to do this like I can afford a hole in the head!
postings
Hello everyone. I've gotten a lot of email from you saying you check this blog frequently. Feel free to post back! You can respond to any post we've made here.
Calling all prayer warriors
Most of you know that we are leaving for Irkutsk, Russia next week to explore different avenues for bringing Anya home. We will be gone for at least two weeks.
What is going on reminds me of Sanballat* trying to discourage Nehemiah from building the wall. We are not dissuaded by this. Our concern is for Anya and Anya only. The main reason we are going is to make contact with another Russian adoption coordinator and to make contact with a Russian attorney. It remains to be seen whether we will actually bring her home this trip. However, we know that God is in complete control! Contrary to reports about the devil, the Lord Jesus is alive and well in Irkutsk! The last time I read my Bible, the devil runs from him!
We're still leaving on the 11th of next week. Your prayers are deeply appreciated!
* And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there had come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
[Nehemiah 2;10]
Best Regards,Marty W. Friend
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