Not yet…

Still waiting on court for Wesley.  We should know tomorrow... just like we should have known today, and yesterday, and Monday, and last Friday.  Hopefully we really will know tomorrow...

In the mean time... we decided we haven't seen Aleksa in a long time and went to go see her today.  2 1/2 hours there... 1 hour to visit... 2 1/2 hours home.  It was worth it!

When we arrived the Deputy Director (who knew we were coming) wasn’t there.  Through cell phone translator services LOL, we learned that Aleksa has a cough and was quarantined… they were waiting on a doctor and she’d had a fever the day prior.  The day before—we’d called the day before to ask if we could come… so…

Anyway, a nurse brought her in to us then brought us to an empty room where we could play with her.   Instead of a 2 hour visit (our driver had been 30 min late to start with…) we ended up getting in just an hour with her.  It was worth it, no matter how short, to be able to play with Aleksa again today.

Here are some pictures from our visit with Aleksa today...

She had a good time dressing and undressing with her hat and coat today… and dressing up Daddy and Mommy too :).  Too bad Mommy had the camera… just some pic’s of Daddy with the pink hat!

During our visit an adult ‘child’ with developmental delays came in to our room.  She spoke to me in “clear Russian” (from what I could tell), but all we could do is say “I don’t understand” in Russian.  She said something else… we repeated the same… She stayed and watched Aleksa sit on our laps and snuggle, then jump up to build with big fabric blocks… then she left.  I’d say she’s just a few years younger than Michael and I, early 20’s maybe.

Aleksa needed to use the bathroom while we were playing, and again she took me by the hand and we went to the restroom.  This time, there were other people in the building, and 2 girls followed us in to the communal restrooms.  Aleksa went and found her “mixing bowl” on the floor and went to the bathroom.  One older girl- probably about 18 or 20- came over and talked to me after using a commode with no seat on it.

“…. (speaking Russian)…. mama…. papa…. (more talking in Russian)….”

She took her hands and with two fingers held out about 6” apart she continued to tell me something… with mama and papa…  The other older girl from earlier was there as well.  She watched.  The younger of the two came over and hugged me.  A sweet loving hug—not a rough or uncomfortable situation.

With that, Aleksa POPPED up off her little bowl and ran over to pull her away from me.  She was getting possessive!  The older girl came hesitantly over and leaned in slowly.  I hugged her too.  Aleksa was ready to go, trying to pull me from the room and I made sure to give her a big hug as well.  Then I fixed her pants and shirt and the older girls again began commenting about “mama…”.  I got Aleksa to wash her hands, though she wanted to DRINK the water out of the sink rather than just wash, and we walked back down the hallway.  Aleksa’s protective hand holding mine securely as she walked me down to the room where her Papa is.

I think she’s really starting to understand that we are there for HER.  That she has a Mama and a Papa that come to see her.

And the other girls… are seeing what they are missing.

It breaks my heart.  They have been there since they were 4 or 5 years old.  Now, at 18 or 25… 15… 20 years living in the institution.  One adult to 30 kids at many times.  It’s a good facility.  A clean building.  A kind staff (from what we can tell).  A nice director who has cleaned it up a LOT since arriving 15 years ago.  But no mama.  No papa.  No one saying “I love you, and I’ll travel the ocean for you.”

There is no way we could turn away from Aleksa and let her be another adult child… who we could have provided for… but decided not to for whatever reason.

No, she is meant to be our daughter.  God brought us to her—TWICE!  There are so many more there though… watching us hug her.  Watching us play.  Hearing “mama and papa”.  And understanding very well what that means.  Those older girls had great speech.  Just a different language than ours.  I wish we could know what they were saying.  I wish we could talk to them.  But instead, just a hug, an “I don’t understand.” 

Today is Thanksgiving, and I’m thankful for so many things.  I’m thankful that God brought us back to Aleksa.  I’m thankful that He provided for us to be here right now.  I’m thankful for our family and children back home.  I’m thankful for our parents who are keeping things going there.  I’m thankful for every person who is praying for our family.  I’m thankful for every person who has trusted in God’s provision for themselves and helped us financially in this adoption.  I’m thankful for those who will continue to give to our adoption, because we know that God will be providing the last $12,000 that we need to be able to finish these adoptions.

God is good… all the time.  I’m thankful that I don’t have to worry about anything because HE is in control!