The Home Stretch

Tomorrow is the first of many ‘big’ days to come in the next week. Galya will pick us up in the morning and we will head out to get the adoption decree. The next step is getting the passport. We will try to get some other things done, but we need Elona’s new birth certificate and of course that office is closed on Monday.

Next we will go to the orphanage and pick up Elona. We will bring her her own clothes, shoes and coat. She will change out of her shared orphanage clothes for the last time. I really mean ‘shared’ clothes. Not only did we see Elona wear the same clothes for many days in a row, but we would also see the other girls in the dorms wearing them also. She will gather up the very few belonging that she has and we will leave for the apartment.

We will not be saying good-by to the orphanage for good yet. We will be returning about 3:30 for a ‘going away party’ and for the official hand off with the director and a government representative. Roger and I will be very thankful to be walking up that hill for the last time (it is steeper that it looks in the photo). Elona picked out small gifts at the market for her dorm mates; she did a great job, very thoughtful and stayed on budget. Did I tell you Elona is a list maker, and she has beautiful penmanship. She made a list of the girls she was buying for and crossed them off as she went.
Elona was also very specific with what we should bring for the party, she made me make a list. We are bringing juice, fruit, chocolate and a cake. She would have invited the whole orphanage if we would have let her.

Before I forget, wanted to ask those of you that have adopted, was your child eating everything in site? Since we have been spending more time at the apartment with Elona and offering her things like popcorn, chips and salsa and even trail mix, as soon as she gets to the apartment, she starts indicating casually that she is hungry. And, she will eat about anything we put in front of her, today it was strawberry yogurt and left over macaroni and cheese. It cracks me up.

Anyway……After the party and the official hand off…. We will, all three, be leaving the orphanage for the last time. Before heading home, we are going to the Potato House for Pizza. Then to the apartment for Elona’s first sleep over. Elona is about jumping out of her skin. She is so excited she can’t contain herself. Today on the way to the bus she was singing “Tomorrow, Tomorrow”. The feeling is mutual.

Almost forgot. Friday night our good friend Kevin hosted a party at his apartment . Roger and I, Galya and Kostya, Jaimee and Andy, and Amanda and Jarred attended. Katie, a past co-worker of Kevin's, also joined us. Kevin is a great host. Sangria, cold cuts, bruschetta, shrimp cocktail, and salad. There were also chips and salsa, potato chip with French onion dip and M & M’s that the Americans went crazy for. It was a really fun night with good conversation, a night that will away bring fond memories. Thank you Kevin.

Kelley and Roger

P.S. 2nd photo is the view of a statue of Lenin as we walk to our apartment everyday.