Court and hard goodbye

Sorry for the delay in posting. On Thursday court went amazingly smooth. No name issues for Inna, no questions about Rada, just the usual stock questions of why do you want to adopt more children, why do you want to adopt older children(anyone older than 8 or 9 years old) and why Ukrainian not American orphans. In about 20 minutes the whole affair was concluded with the judge awarding the adoption decrees for both Inna grace and Rada Arianne Lance... Legally and forever no longer orphans. It was cathartic, the culmination of months of effort, and tears, but pure and simple joy. Afterward, we went to Chilantona's for lunch. There we gave our daughters each necklaces we bought in Virginia Beach. Actually we had bought them for Inna, since we were going to Ukraine just for her, funny thing we were torn between two necklaces and couldn't decide, so we bought both planning to give one on adoption day and the other for a birthday present in the future... Interesting.

Afterward, we had to return to our apt and I had to pack for the long drive to Donetsk to catch the train with Viktor, Jack, and Emily bound for Kiev, and on to home for me on Saturday morning. I only had a few minutes at the orphanage to say goodbye to all my girls. Cari is staying behind for the mandatory ten day waiting period and then take our daughters home by way of Sevestopal to see Ira, and Avie, and a bit of sightseeing for the girls. I cannot put into words how hard it was to leave my girls all behind. There was a lot of swallowing hard to not shed tears on my part. Big guys aren't supposed to cry right? Wrong. Leaving Cari all alone in Enakievo was the hardest thing I had to do. I know she will be fine, but still, very very hard. Sasha seeing my angst, put his hand on my shoulder and said he would look out for her. Thanks Sasha, what a great guy. Anya will be returning by train to Enakievo on Sunday morning to stay with Cari for the duration, what a comfort. Please keep Cari's health in your prayers, her asthma has been bad with all the particulate matter in the air from open air trash and leaf pile burning, not to forget the massive pollution from the iron works plant right in town.

Today after the all night train ride to Kiev, Jack, Emily and I went to the US Embassy for citizenship and visa document applications etc. Now, for me the journey of a lifetime concludes with a flight home through Amsterdam. To say that leaving Ukraine without Cari, Inna Grace, and Rada Arianne is bittersweet is a mammoth understatement. Cari, i love you so much, your courage and your heart for all your children bears witness to your huge godly character in a petite ochen kraseveya shinia(very beautiful wife). Thank God for Viktor Sadovnikov. He has been superb.

Tomorrow home,

Ray