Keeping Time

Friday came, and we mentally prepared ourselves to brave the Russian Subway on our own and venture to Arbat Street, tourist trap #1 in Moscow, to scout out and bargain for souvenirs. 3 stops and one line change and we were there, or at least across a huge, busy street from Arbat Street. We decided to take the long way around, and it was truly the long way around. What’s a few extra calories burned? This trip ended up being more of reconnaissance mission, but we managed to talk down a few items and left feeling rather proud or our “let’s make a deal” skills.

After lunch, it was off to the good ol’ USA (in a manner of speaking). We went to the U.S. Embassy to get Elijah’s visa. What an experience sitting in a room with 15-20 American families, all brimming with excitement and sagging with exhaustion at the same time, committed to a single purpose (and speaking English. Ahhhhhh, English). To bring these little orphans to forever homes. One family back for a third time to pick up the older sister of their other two adopted children. Another bringing home twin sisters. What a positive and uplifting experience. Just a healthy reminder on those tough days that you’re not the only one pushing through, and that there are other families out there for others boys and girls that need homes.

That night we said goodbye to our new friend, Becki, and her daughter, Lira, all laughing and soaked from head to toe from our walk back from KFC in the rain (when the storms hit here, they hit hard and without warning). Exchanging e-mail addresses, it’s funny how a shared situation as deep as adoption can bring people so close so quickly.

The next day, we decided to lay low. Sara was itching for a hot chocolate in the morning, but our trip across the street to coffee shop yielded no hot chocolate, or coffee for that matter. We’re still not sure what the deal was with that one. We spent the better part of the afternoon in the 4th floor lobby of the hotel visiting with another couple adopting through America World, the Mocabees, who were leaving that evening for Krasnoyarsk for the next 2 ½ weeks to bring home a boy and his two little sisters. From none to three. What a gift they are giving these little children. I applaud their faith and determination. I’m not sure I would have been up for an order that tall. How special!

Dinner at TGI Fridays yielded one of the best tasting cheeseburgers I have ever eaten, a large Coke that cost me $6, and a shirt that will never smell the same (you needed a foghorn to find your way to your table through the haze of cigarette smoke).

Today was a bit of a setback in terms of Elijah’s behavior. He reminded us of the boy we knew at the orphanage, scared and unsure of things. It was just a reminder that we can’t let up with this little boy and become complacent in how we raise him. We have to always be watching for that curveball that he’s going to throw us. But the walk home from the restaurant reminded us again what it’s all about, and that it’s going to be ok. As I carried him, he just sang at the top of his lungs to anyone within earshot, giggling and bouncing in my arms, keeping perfect time with my every step. He was a normal little boy, comfortable and safe enough with me to just let go. Wow…

JP