The Big Day

This is a long one....fair warning....

I was awake at 8 a.m. this morning, so excited for our big day. Ted, Pa and I got ready as we knew Anya and Den were picking us up at 11 a.m. Well, at 10:45 Valera was still asleep. I went in to wake him up and had to pull the sheets off of him after several attempts to get him up.

He put on the clothes I had picked out for him without complaint. He usually wears the same shorts every day, as he has come upon a pair he likes best. He didn't want anything to eat and when we got in the car he barely spoke even to Anya and Den, although he was polite.

Viktor met us at the court as he was planning on being our translator. I could tell Valera wasn't himself so I asked Viktor to talk with him. I sat in the chair, in the lobby of the court building, deep breathing and praying, and holding back the tears. I was wondering if Valera had cold feet.

Viktor came back into the lobby and explained that Valera was nervous about being in a courtroom, in front of a judge.

The brick on my chest lifted and I was able to breathe again.

We walked into a small courtroom where Viktor sat between Ted and me on the front row. Pa sat behind us. Valera and the social worker from his orphanage sat on the other side of the "aisle", behind two women who we
later found out made up the "jury".

The judge asked Ted and I a few questions, one question for each of us. We were instructed to stand up to speak with the judge. Valera was then asked if he was willing to be adopted by us, and that indeed he knew us. Valera answered "yes" to both questions and then we were dismissed.

We walked out of the building and before we knew it, we were taken to a pizza place to celebrate. Both Viktor and Anya had to help another family and do other business so we ate with Den....who called Anya to joke her that he was doing her job...translating for us. Just as we were about to order ice cream, Anya showed up with the family that is adopting Vladik, the other boy who we hosted in January. Vladik was with them.

Valera and Vladik gave each other a big hug. Anya told me later that they were saying "me going to America. You going to America. Yeah!".

Everyone exchanged hugs and started to share stories when Viktor announced that he had to take me and Ted to sign more paperwork. Pa and Valera came with us while Anya stayed with the Warners.

And I won't bore you with the details but my head is still spinning. Our backpacks were in one car, we were taken in another. There was "traffic" that our driver was determined to get around, along with every other driver. Valera was whisked away from his celebration, and his buddy. We went and sat in another lobby for a long time. Next thing we know the Warners are outside with Anya, who has to relieve Viktor, who has to take a train back to Kiev.

After that paperwork was complete, we joined Anya and the Warner's for a walk, and for the long awaited ice cream!

In one picture below you will notice that everyone's ice cream was delivered before Valera and Vladik's ...that's just not right.

At any rate, we finished the night with a movie. Valera tucked me and Pa in. He takes very good care of us. Then we played Jenga, UNO, and iPod games.

So....despite sore throats, coughs, eye infections, and a whole lot of other logistical details, today was a special day....one that I am sure will mean more and more to each of us as time goes by.

I think it's the rule follower in me....but once the ten days are up and we go back to court on Sept. 18th, I will feel like it is completely official.

Until then, we will continue to pray for God's will to be done, and will continue to love on Valera.