paperwork and sightseeing

Over the past two days, we have visited the government office for adoptions twice.  Once to say that we were interested in Zoe and once to pick up paperwork that will allow us to visit and have bonding time with her!  We were able to see one picture of her when she was a little younger (though not an infant) and learned a little about her history.

Other than that, we’ve been walking around and exploring!  We have managed to find a large grocery store, a mall, a sports arena and have visited a few local sights.  Today, we were planning on buying some souvenirs for the kids and friends, but it became really, really cold (34 degrees-ish) so we headed back to the apartment before dark and made sandwiches with salami, cheese, bread and a mayonnaise-type sauce that is really good (even though we don’t know what’s in it!).   It’s really fun to buy groceries when you aren’t sure exactly what you are buying, but then again…I’ve always loved surprises!  Last night we made spaghetti with what we thought was spaghetti sauce, but it was really more like tomato soup.  J  We added some kind of ground meat (we are guessing that it was pork?).  It was different, but really good.  Other than cooking at “home” once a day, we’ve found a Mongolian BBQ restaurant and some delicious eats from street vendors.

Despite language barriers, we have learned our address and the address of the government building.  We spent an hour or so pouring over a map last night to familiarize ourselves with our surroundings – really helpful!  Our map does not have N, S, E and W on it, so maybe we’ll buy a new one tomorrow.  It is possible to take a taxi anywhere as long as you know the address.  We have our addresses written down on paper so that we can read it and show the taxi driver.   It’s quite easy to get around and there is a lot to see.

We won’t be able to visit with Zoe until after the weekend, so we decided to stay put until Sunday so that we can continue exploring this beautiful city!   I think we’ll meet up with some other adoptive families tomorrow – several families are traveling in and out around the same time.  On Sunday evening we will take our first-ever overnight train ride to Zoe’s city.  I will have pictures of our sweetie-pie in just a few days!!!

Side note:  Thank you, Dad, for re-suggesting that I bring a coat!  Good thinking!  I love you.

we made it!

After crossing many time zones, we are finally here! It all worked out perfectly so that we are already adjusted to the time change. We stayed up all night Monday night – well, okay, we took a 30 minute nap around 6:30am – and took turns napping Tuesday morning as we drove the kids to meet Marc’s parents and drove back to Indy. By the time we reached Chicago and connected to our international flight, we were more than ready to sack out for the night. We flew on Lufthansa for the first time and I have to ask, is Lufthansa the best airline in the world or something? I had no idea we could be treated so kindly and with such respect! I was excited to see that their offerings of movies include movies for kids…that might come in handy on Zoe’s flight home. The food served was healthy and there was plenty of room to spread out and sleep while we could.

We have arrived at our lodging and managed to buy some dinner and breakfast despite language barriers. So far, everyone here has been more than willing to help us by practicing their English.

Tomorrow, we have an appointment that has to do with the adoption…kind of like a court date, I guess. Traveling overseas to adopt is not for the weak of heart. And though we usually fly by the seat of our pants, I’ve never lived things out so moment-to-moment in all my living life! It’s a real true adventure and one has to be okay with not knowing what exactly is going to be happening in the hours or days to come. One leap of faith deserves another…and another and another.

This is a healthy stretch of patience and trust. It is new to us to learn to sit and breathe and wait. The pace of the process just is what it is and that’s that. The only action required on our part is to be flexible and mold-able to an unguessable, unfolding plan.

Thank you all for supporting us in prayer…things have been wonderful and we feel so blessed that so many people are open to God’s heart for redeeming the lives of orphans and have joined with us to set Zoe in a place of honor among siblings, family and friends.

bye, bye…we are on our way!

Status on us: We made it through security with all carry-ons and one guitar and are grabbing a snack before we board for Chicago. There is not much layover in Chicago and by the time our majority of readers are finishing their morning coffee we will be in EE.

Status on the fam: Safely and happily cuddling up the grandparents in TN.

In so many ways, I can’t believe that I’m actually sitting here, now. And even more unbelievable is that in a few days, a child who was once only a photograph that wouldn’t leave our minds and hearts will be in our arms, pulling on my hair and playing fun games with us day after day until we have to come home for a few days before going back to bring her beautiful soul home to be our daughter.

This has been and incredible experience so far. At times it feels like the whole state of Indiana is peeling off of the 2-D fold-out map to wrap up around us and lift us into the air and across the ocean. At times I can feel the corners of the whole United States – Seattle, Florida, California – encouraging us to keep going and never lose heart. I pray that EE will reach up to welcome us and that our presence there would be a blessing to those we happen to meet.

Yes, this is completely surreal. I think, how many times have we told the story of God’s call on our hearts to this adoption and how many people have joined us in support and prayer over the past few months? When you calculate the hours spent on making necklaces, having garage sales and having countless conversations with strangers, family and friends there was much labor to be done to arrive at this point. And the process, though arduous at times, instead of exhausting us, has only left us more fueled for the fight against injustice – the fight to go to extreme measures to be the face of Christ if only to one little girl. The road traveled so far to arrive at this one moment that will string into indescribable others in the weeks ahead has changed us for the better. It’s aligned our gaze to peer through natural human fears and see the supernatural compassion of our mighty God. It is unreal and surreal and….I highly recommend taking chances like these! Of whatever things I may regret in life, this journey does not and will never belong.

and…candace AND vadim have families!

Could this day get more exciting?!? More eventful?!? Well…”YES” in the answer!

Sweet Candace has a family! Not only that….Vadim, for whom we’ve been praying and advocating finally has a family, too! Check it out…http://www.reecesrainbow.org/myfamilyfoundme.html

Vadim has a family!

Candace has a family!

Surely your prayers have accumulated in someone’s heart to make this amazing difference in the lives of two incredible children. I can’t wait to find out who is bringing Little Miss Sweetheart!  Here is the blog for Vadim’s Family – Enjoy! Oh, the love in this place…

Now, Igor. Pray, pray. Lord, help Igor find a family. Help his family find him!

Igor still waits! Pray and pray.

we have a date!!!!!! oh, me…oh, my!

We found out TODAY that we have a travel date! We have an appointment in Zoe’s country on Thursday, October 28th!!! Yes, that is next Thursday. It really, really is. Oh my goodness!

We will be on a plane next Wednesday, October 27th…and really, I couldn’t be more happy that we already have the kids costumes made for Halloween. Whew….close one. At least they can get free candy while we’re apart.

Okay….so now we need to book a flight, rearrange some gigs, talk some of our single friends into sleeping in our beds and watching our dog for a while. And what do we pack for Zoe and the kids at the orphanage? So much to do, so little time! Gratefully we are traveling at the same time as at least eight other families and I believe we are all meeting for dinner one night!

Fun. Exciting. Unbelievable. Woo-hoo!

I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness. – Mother Theresa

berkeley has a family!

Amazing news! Berkeley with the smile made of sunshine has a forever family!!! That makes two of the kiddos listed on this blog who have found families! Thank you, God!

 

Berkeley – going home to a forever family soon!

Just think…her mom and dad will get to see this awesome smile every day!

 

How awesome that Vika and Berkeley are no longer “waiting kiddos”!  They are “found kiddos”!

Valentin, Igor, Vadim and Candace still are waiting…there is never a shortage of sweethearts that need loving families!  I’m praying that the good news of family provision keeps rolling in!  Igor has been particularly heavy on my heart as of late.  That sweet boy from one photo reminds me so much of Nash (they are the same age).  I can’t imagine a better place for him that to be home with a family that loves him and can take him to Kohl’s to pick out a cool Tony Hawk shirt or teach him about monster trucks.  Please, Lord, provide for Igor.

 

Lord, please provide for Igor!

 

Psalm 34:17-18

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

vika has a loving family!

You all remember the lov-e-ly Miss Vika whom I posted earlier. Well, GREAT news! Vika has a family!!!! Thank you, Lord!  And thank all of you for your prayers and for sharing about Vika.

You really must check out this link and see it with your own eyes: http://www.reecesrainbow.org/myfamilyfoundme.html

Bookmark the Reece’s Rainbow My Family Found Me Page and check back often to see which kids have committed families.

If you want to see how many commitments have been made on Reece’s Rainbow since we committed to Zoya at the beginning of June, click on over and scroll down until you see sweet Zoe (31).  EVERY CHILD ABOVE Zoe has received a family within the LAST 4 months!!!!    This page is so exciting to have bookmarked.   There is no day so dull that can’t be brightened by knowing that a little one is going HOME.

Speaking of little ones….check out this ultra-cutie sweetheart, Candace.

 

Candace’s advocate created a blog to drum up support and help find her a family.  It is A Family for Candace. Check it out to see more pictures of this sweetie princess!

I am so moved by Candace’s face, eyes and mannerisms.  I watched a video of her on an adoption website from her country and she reminds me so much of my very own Hattie!  She also reminds me of so many of Hattie’s friends.  She was pretending with a tea set in the video…just like a little princess!  A couple that went to visit just loved Candace and think she will do really well in a family.  She is engaging and has a TON of personality.  It really shows in her face, don’t you think?  Please share this info and pray Candace home!

I forgot to mention that Candace is HIV+.  When I first joined the Reece’s Rainbow yahoo!group (a must do for any RR advocate!)  I remember thinking that there was no way I could bring home a child who was HIV+.  Since that time, I’ve educated myself and have come to know many families with kids who are HIV+.  Would I bring Candace home?  ABSOLUTELY!  If you feel like you may not know enough about HIV to make a decision on adopting a child with HIV, please visit  Project Hopeful.  I highly recommend that everyone visit this site regardless of your interest in adoption…so much to learn that needs to be known.   Another site, Positively Orphaned, is also full of useful info!

 

A note on advocacy: A simple blog can be made for any waiting child on RR.  What a great family project for Thanksgiving! Show thankfulness for your family by helping someone else find theirs!  Make a blog together to advocate for an orphan! Several blog sites are super-easy to use…it’s fool-proof, really.   If you have any questions about advocacy, contact me at amyimboden@gmail.com .   And if you get a blog up, please share!

we are submitted!

Grrrreat news!  We received word today that our papers have been submitted!

They have been translated and turned in to the powers that be and….

now we wait. For a travel date!

9/13/2010 – mailed dossier

9/30/2010  – submitted!

One big step closer to Zoya…and while we wait…here are some more pictures of our sweetie pie.

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