This Reminds Me

….and we’re getting ready to go.  Keith installed a court countdown clock on our computers – I know it’s 11 days, 2 hours and change until we’re in court.   We leave a week from today – omigosh, we’re not packed!  (Go ahead, Konen, say it – my packing list isn’t laminated, either.)  But we’re getting there.

Keith is concentrating on getting us there – tickets, Visas, hotel accomodations, maps, the I-600A - all the “point A to point B” stuffola.

You don’t “just go to Russia.”  You secure a “letter of invitation.”  You request a visa.  You have to show reservations to leave the country.  You have to prove you can support yourself in the country.  You have to document where you’re staying, and what you’re planning to do while you’re there.  You think Russia – or any other sane country – would tolerate this idiocy about illegal immigrants’ “rights”?  But I digress.

I’m concentrating on getting the home front covered – childcare for three kids in school, Scouts, choir, clubs, etc. for 12 – 20 days.   Both of us are tying up loose ends at work and have requested unpaid time off – kind’o'scary.  I’ve not been without a full-time paycheck since I graduated from high school, other than a couple of weeks on half-pay after having Lois.  I said goodbye to my boss Sharon today – she’s in Chicago next week, and of course we leave Saturday – I won’t see her again until June 5, and I’ll miss her.

We’re using our guestroom as a staging area for snack foods, orphanage gifts, caretaker gifts, our own clothes, etc.  We want to take as few clothes as possible.  Woolite and hotel bathtubs are my friends.

Of course, we’re preparing for Guanna-to-be-Julia personally, too.  I’m putting in my car seat this weekend (she’s six years old, but she’s little).  I strapped a booster seat to a kitchen chair last weekend.  And yes, the girls and I have bought just a few little things. 

I bought this one-piece hoodie in November of 2004, shortly after we submitted our dossier.  Unbelievably….it’s a 5T, which is what I believe she is going to wear.

We bought three pairs of light-up sneakers.  I think the 10.5 pair will fit, though we’ll take the 9.5 pair and the 12 pair just to be safe.  We’ll leave the other two pairs at Children’s Home #47.

And toys and books – oh yeah!  A package of “machinas” – Matchbox cars – I didn’t see any small cars in the Children’s Home and I think she’ll like them.  She seemed to like all things mechanical.  Some more small “kuklas” – dolls.  Coloring books and crayons.  A terrific “My Big Word Book” from cousin Sarah – we’ll start looking at that our first evening in the hotel.  Toothbrushes – they were neither in evidence physically in the Children’s Home, or by the look of the black on her teeth.

She has a floor pillow in the den with her name on it, stacked among those personalized “Rachel,” “Lois,” and “Hannah.”  There’s a yellow “Julia” embroidered on an aqua Nemo towel in the bathroom she will share with Lois and Hannah.  She told us her favorite books were stories “about the bear,” a series of Russian fairy tales.  We bought a book of those tales in St. Pete, plus a lovely set of nesting dolls, a few religious icons and CDs of Russian Orthodox cantors.

No, we don’t speak Russian and no, she doesn’t speak English – but we do have “cheat sheets” scattered about the house that contain dozens of useful phrases like, “Zdes bol-eet?” – “Does it hurt here?”  And one we may need if Rachel doesn’t learn to turn down that stereo, ”Po-che-moo tea kree-cheesh?” – “Why are you screaming?”  Keith and I have Russian adoption MP3s on our Rios but I confess he has been the more diligent student.  I have nyet ear for languages.

We have antiobiotics, scabies cream and clear Benadryl a’plenty for her, plus a small pharmacy for ourselves crammed into a Ziplog bag.  Keith and I have been poked, prodded, measured, evaluated and examined at least six times in the last 18 months to keep our required medicals current, as well as innoculated against everything that can grow in a petri dish.

Please, please be praying that our 10 days is waived so we can bring Guanna-to-be-Julia home quickly.

Her room – to be shared with Hannah – is ready.  Her clothes are ready.  Her family is MORE than ready.  The court date is set.  It’s time to go.

….two 6′ women sit in a photo booth?  Answer:  Any darned way they can.

Lois, Hannah and about 20 of their church friends recently completed their bible memory work for the spring and were feted to a Mr. Gatti’s celebration today.  Rachel and I quickly found the photo booth and jammed ourselves in it to create a B&W masterpiece – no “small” task for us, I assure you.  I feared my purse was permanently embedded under my left armpit, and Rachel’s jutting size 13 (men’s) Converse sneakers tripped half the kidlets running by.  I am hoping the feeling returns to my right size by evening.

What it do, Shorty?

Other “masterpieces” from Rachel this week – all verbal -

Parodying a country western song-  a music genre she loathes – in a twangy voice:  “I hit a dead dog, stuck a candle in it, called it a birthday cake and gave it to mah son, his name is ‘Johnny.’”

Teasing Lois about a techno song on the radio:  “That sounds like a gay nightclub.” Lois:  “How do you know about gay nightclubs?” Rachel: “Shhh!”

The girls and I playing Scrabble, and her trying to play letters MQIDAR.  “Mom, it’s a medicine – and you need some.”

Scrunching up her face while wearing one of Keith’s old white dress shirts and a pair of his old glasses:  “I’ve some got some sweet, sweet calculator action in this pocket.”

And my favorite – Wednesday night, when we had to skip church and our usual Subway dinner because I had a late conference call:  “First you take us away from God.  Then you feed us leftovers.”

If you’ve not experienced enough of her artistic ability, see her blog. If the flash makes you a little queasy, try a dose of Mqidar.

He was born

In Houston, Texas

His wife’s name’s Becky Lou Thelma Liz

He drives a Ford (not GMC) pick-up truck

His mother made him what he is.

So it’s “Happy Birthday, Keith”

Yeah, we miss you

Wish you were in San Antone today

You’re 45, and sleeping in a Marriott

Birthdays ain’t supposed to be this way.

Home to enjoy a Rice Krispie Birthday Treat in 1996

But we had to mail this picture to Saipan in your birthday card in 1997

“For truly, truly I say unto you – the Lord our God created the earth in six days. Surely we can get out of Russia in fewer than 20.”

1st Rebecca 4:13

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