July 8,2011
Wow, what a day! We met up with Irinna at 930am and then met Anatoly and the orphanage lawyer for coffee. We all went to court together. We arrived before 11am. We all took our places in the courtroom in front of the microphones. The representative from the SDA arrived, the prosecutor, the 2 jurors and secretary and finally the judge. He began and proceeded to review our dossier-he read every page of the very thick dossier out loud in court and pointed out mistakes in translation many times and wanted to know how this got passed me. I explained that I never saw the translations. After going through the dossier he proceeded with debate-more questions. This went on and on. He then wanted to bring the girls to court to ask them if they wanted to be adopted and have their names changed. Everyone else in the courtroom argued that this was not a good idea due to their diagnosis of down syndrome. He finally conceded. We again had to state what we wanted from the court--"We would like the court to approve me to adopt these 2 girls, Victoria and Marina. I would like the mother's name changed to mine, Jacqueline Louise Egan, I would like the girls names changed to Clara Victoria Dianne Egan and Abigail Marina Jean Egan. I would like their birthdays to remain the same as well as their place of birth. I would like a positive decision as quickly as possible." He then had Tim repeat the request and promise to adopt the girls once back home in the US. He and the jurors left the court for 45 minutes and returned with their decision. He very solemnly read their decision to allow the adoption etc. We were jumping with excitement inside but remained subdued until he left the courtroom. The jurors congratulated us as well as the prosecutor, orphanage lawyer and SDA worker. They were all very much for the adoptions. We went to the orphanage to see Vika who we hadn't seen all week. She was very happy to see us and remembered us. She is still a Papa's girl. She loves him so. She loves me but very much loves her Papa-you'll see in the pics. They wanted to leave to take her back to camp until next week. Poor Vika did not want to go. She hid behind her papa. Tim had to take her to the van and put her on and walk away. I threw her kisses and told her we would be back to get her. She started yelling "Mama!" and reaching for me. It was so sad. The van pulled away with our girl. Later we found out the van was involved in an accident with a motorcycle and the motorcycle person was killed. We are told Vika is fine. I just want to get her back here and not let her leave again until I take her home. Hope to find out more in the morning. Thank you Jesus for protecting our girl today. We then had to race to the US consulate to have Tim sign paperwork before he left. By this time it was after 5pm so we didn't get to see Marina (Abby). We will see her in the morning.
Tim leaves early in the morning for home. I will be leaving tomorrow afternoon to go to Irinna's region for a few days. So I may not have internet access for a while. I will get back on as soon as I can. The pics are of our sweet Vika today.
Friday, July 8, 2011
It's Official!
July 8, 2011
Intruducing Our Daughters:
Clara Victoria Dianne Egan and
Abigail Marina Jean Egan
Intruducing Our Daughters:
Clara Victoria Dianne Egan and
Abigail Marina Jean Egan
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Protests,Playtime,Paperchasing and Pee Eww!
July 7,2011
Today started with Tim and I heading to our favorite place to eat , The Ukranian Kitchen. As we walked from the apartment there was a huge crowd in the square area with loud music, loud announcements about why they are protesting and police everywhere. There were also buses filled with more police ready to take action if it should get violent. We walked through the crowd to get to the restaurant and never really felt in danger. Irinna said it would not become violent but the protesting went on all day and into the early evening but it remained peaceful. After we ate we headed to the Metro station (subway) and rode the 10 stops to the orphanage. We arrived there around 10:30 ready to play. She greated us in the usual sweet way with a curtsy and then kisses. It was funny because the orphanage lawyer came out with her to be sure she saw us with Marina so she could tell the judge in court how much Marina already loves us. Can't wait until Vika gets back to be with us too. We took the stroller to see if she would sit in it and she loved it. She has definately been in a stroller and likes it. We walked her all around the orphanage grounds and she sat very content. We then took her out and got ready to play but then she had an accident and had to go in and get cleaned up. She finally came back out and we played, fed her a snack and just enjoyed being with her. She gave Papa several kisses today. She loves her toy cell phone and asks for it everytime we come. Our visit was over before we knew it and she gave us hugs and kisses before we left. Our job after that was to contact the US embassy here in country to ask them to draft a letter stating that Tim will be able to readopt the girls once we are back in the US. We talked with a very nice lady there who asked us to email the request to them and to please have our names in both American and their language. We contacted Irinna who emailed us our names in their language, I then copied and pasted this to my email and sent my request. I talked with the lady at the embassy who said she would call when it was ready to be picked up. At this time it was 4pm. They were open until six. In the meantime Tim and I began to smell gas here in the apartment. It was very strong. We went downstairs to let the lady at the desk know so we could get it fixed. Luckily there was a girl coming in with her family from the US who could speak English and their language. She told the woman for us and she called someone to come. We also called Irinna. Anyway almost 2 hours later someone arrives. By this time the whole apartment reeks with the smell of gas and we are waiting outside. No one else in the building seems to mind or think it's an emergency. The man that came could not speak English but he indicated to us that the smell was from the wooden windowsill from the varnish or something? We could not believe this because it was obviously a gas smell. We called Irinna to talk to him and he told her the same thing but then said that he also found some small leaks in the stove and will fix them while he is here. So for almost 2 hours he works on the stove and fixes the leaks. The embassy had our letter ready and Irinna picked it up and came to our apartment to make sure everything was ok. By then the owner of the apartment showed up as well. All was finally ok and about 830 pm Tim and I headed out to the store to get laundry detergent, and water. I also wanted a pastry and Tim wanted McDonalds. So we came back to do laundry and eat our snacks. My pastry was soo good with a cup of my international coffee. Getting relaxed and prepared for court in the morning. Praying still for the judges heart to be softened and for a positive decision. He requested this letter today and also says he will ask the people in court tomorrow if they want the girls brought in to the courtroom to be seen? We do not understand this but we are assured by Irinna that no one would want our girls dragged into court. Please pray that all goes well and we will officially be named the parents of these precious girls.
Morning protest
Sitting outside our stinky apartment
Today started with Tim and I heading to our favorite place to eat , The Ukranian Kitchen. As we walked from the apartment there was a huge crowd in the square area with loud music, loud announcements about why they are protesting and police everywhere. There were also buses filled with more police ready to take action if it should get violent. We walked through the crowd to get to the restaurant and never really felt in danger. Irinna said it would not become violent but the protesting went on all day and into the early evening but it remained peaceful. After we ate we headed to the Metro station (subway) and rode the 10 stops to the orphanage. We arrived there around 10:30 ready to play. She greated us in the usual sweet way with a curtsy and then kisses. It was funny because the orphanage lawyer came out with her to be sure she saw us with Marina so she could tell the judge in court how much Marina already loves us. Can't wait until Vika gets back to be with us too. We took the stroller to see if she would sit in it and she loved it. She has definately been in a stroller and likes it. We walked her all around the orphanage grounds and she sat very content. We then took her out and got ready to play but then she had an accident and had to go in and get cleaned up. She finally came back out and we played, fed her a snack and just enjoyed being with her. She gave Papa several kisses today. She loves her toy cell phone and asks for it everytime we come. Our visit was over before we knew it and she gave us hugs and kisses before we left. Our job after that was to contact the US embassy here in country to ask them to draft a letter stating that Tim will be able to readopt the girls once we are back in the US. We talked with a very nice lady there who asked us to email the request to them and to please have our names in both American and their language. We contacted Irinna who emailed us our names in their language, I then copied and pasted this to my email and sent my request. I talked with the lady at the embassy who said she would call when it was ready to be picked up. At this time it was 4pm. They were open until six. In the meantime Tim and I began to smell gas here in the apartment. It was very strong. We went downstairs to let the lady at the desk know so we could get it fixed. Luckily there was a girl coming in with her family from the US who could speak English and their language. She told the woman for us and she called someone to come. We also called Irinna. Anyway almost 2 hours later someone arrives. By this time the whole apartment reeks with the smell of gas and we are waiting outside. No one else in the building seems to mind or think it's an emergency. The man that came could not speak English but he indicated to us that the smell was from the wooden windowsill from the varnish or something? We could not believe this because it was obviously a gas smell. We called Irinna to talk to him and he told her the same thing but then said that he also found some small leaks in the stove and will fix them while he is here. So for almost 2 hours he works on the stove and fixes the leaks. The embassy had our letter ready and Irinna picked it up and came to our apartment to make sure everything was ok. By then the owner of the apartment showed up as well. All was finally ok and about 830 pm Tim and I headed out to the store to get laundry detergent, and water. I also wanted a pastry and Tim wanted McDonalds. So we came back to do laundry and eat our snacks. My pastry was soo good with a cup of my international coffee. Getting relaxed and prepared for court in the morning. Praying still for the judges heart to be softened and for a positive decision. He requested this letter today and also says he will ask the people in court tomorrow if they want the girls brought in to the courtroom to be seen? We do not understand this but we are assured by Irinna that no one would want our girls dragged into court. Please pray that all goes well and we will officially be named the parents of these precious girls.
Morning protest
Sitting outside our stinky apartment
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
First Court Hearing/Many emotions
July 6,2011
Today had so many emotions. I woke up feeling a little anxious about the court hearing that was to take place today. But I knew that Our God would be with us through it all. He had given me peace last night and reassured me that this was all in his hands and" not to be afraid for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west". He said ...I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-I and not some foreign god among you. you are my witnesses declares the lord, "that I am God. Yes and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand, When I act, who can reverse it?" I knew He would give the final decree in the end and no judge could change that. Anyway we spent the morning with our precious Marina. She is so full of joy. She played, sang and danced. We read books and blew bubbles. We received many kisses and hugs. When we left oh the precious hugs and kisses she gave me and did not want to let go. But go we did-off to lunch and then to court. It stormed quite a bit today and was cold out. But anyway a little before 2 we got in line to enter the court house. After having our passports checked we were allowed in. present in court were Tim and I, our facilitator Anatoly and our interpreter Irinna. There was a representative from the State Dept of Adopiton (SDA), the orphanage representative (their lawyer) and the prosecutor. Then there were 2 jurors, the secretary and the judge. We were questioned for hours. The court room was very stuffy/hot, we were nervous to say the least. The judge was very stern and had many questions. I had to tell who we were, about our family, my job, why we wanted to adopt these girls and what we could offer them. Tim was also questioned. After hours of being in the court room we were tired, hot, hungry and had to go to the bathroom. Tim was very nervous and was having a hard time answering the questions. the interpreter was interpreting all we said to the judge. Tim finally said "I'm so nervous, please apologize, I am shaking all over I 'm sorry. With that the interpreter began to laugh and try to interpret to the judge, the more Tim tried to talk and she tried to interpret the harder she laughed and she even snorted out loud. I was trying to encourage Tim but when she snorted I too began to laugh, the others present were also trying not to laugh. The judge did not find it funny and told Irinna to compose herself or leave the courtroom to compose herself. Well we all pulled it together and finished. Tim had to tell what the girls names were and what we were changing them to and he couldn't think. I finally had to tell him and he repeated it. The judge did not like this. anyway about 5:30 the judge said we will break until Friday at 11am and continue then. So no decision and a little silliness and a lot of tension. After court we were all very worried and nervous but couldnt help but laugh some more about what happened in court. Tim and I and Irinna laughed off and on all the way home. We were just so slap happy! Anyway it is still in God's hands. I know he is with us and all those in court supported us, except maybe the judge was still not convinced. So we go back on Friday. I know that God can soften the judge's heart and give us a positive decision. I know God wants our girls home with us and not here in an orphanage for the rest of their lives. God says: I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland". He is making a way, I know and I believe my God! It was a day of delight with our girl this morning, fear and tension in the court room and then silliness and more fear. Tonight I am feeling peace. My God is a mountain moving God and I know he is making a way!
Our precious girl who is so worth the fight!
Today had so many emotions. I woke up feeling a little anxious about the court hearing that was to take place today. But I knew that Our God would be with us through it all. He had given me peace last night and reassured me that this was all in his hands and" not to be afraid for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west". He said ...I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-I and not some foreign god among you. you are my witnesses declares the lord, "that I am God. Yes and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand, When I act, who can reverse it?" I knew He would give the final decree in the end and no judge could change that. Anyway we spent the morning with our precious Marina. She is so full of joy. She played, sang and danced. We read books and blew bubbles. We received many kisses and hugs. When we left oh the precious hugs and kisses she gave me and did not want to let go. But go we did-off to lunch and then to court. It stormed quite a bit today and was cold out. But anyway a little before 2 we got in line to enter the court house. After having our passports checked we were allowed in. present in court were Tim and I, our facilitator Anatoly and our interpreter Irinna. There was a representative from the State Dept of Adopiton (SDA), the orphanage representative (their lawyer) and the prosecutor. Then there were 2 jurors, the secretary and the judge. We were questioned for hours. The court room was very stuffy/hot, we were nervous to say the least. The judge was very stern and had many questions. I had to tell who we were, about our family, my job, why we wanted to adopt these girls and what we could offer them. Tim was also questioned. After hours of being in the court room we were tired, hot, hungry and had to go to the bathroom. Tim was very nervous and was having a hard time answering the questions. the interpreter was interpreting all we said to the judge. Tim finally said "I'm so nervous, please apologize, I am shaking all over I 'm sorry. With that the interpreter began to laugh and try to interpret to the judge, the more Tim tried to talk and she tried to interpret the harder she laughed and she even snorted out loud. I was trying to encourage Tim but when she snorted I too began to laugh, the others present were also trying not to laugh. The judge did not find it funny and told Irinna to compose herself or leave the courtroom to compose herself. Well we all pulled it together and finished. Tim had to tell what the girls names were and what we were changing them to and he couldn't think. I finally had to tell him and he repeated it. The judge did not like this. anyway about 5:30 the judge said we will break until Friday at 11am and continue then. So no decision and a little silliness and a lot of tension. After court we were all very worried and nervous but couldnt help but laugh some more about what happened in court. Tim and I and Irinna laughed off and on all the way home. We were just so slap happy! Anyway it is still in God's hands. I know he is with us and all those in court supported us, except maybe the judge was still not convinced. So we go back on Friday. I know that God can soften the judge's heart and give us a positive decision. I know God wants our girls home with us and not here in an orphanage for the rest of their lives. God says: I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland". He is making a way, I know and I believe my God! It was a day of delight with our girl this morning, fear and tension in the court room and then silliness and more fear. Tonight I am feeling peace. My God is a mountain moving God and I know he is making a way!
Our precious girl who is so worth the fight!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
We Are Here!
Tuesday July 5,2011\
We arrived safely yesterday afternoon and were greeted at the airport by Inna and Anatoly with hugs and kisses from both. We made it to our apartment. This place is much bigger than our last one. There is a separate bedroom, larger kitchen and living room. But there is no internet yet. The owner is supposed to bring us internet hookup today but has not come yet. So I am at an internet cafe posting this. Yesterday was just settling in and walking around a little Today we had paperwork to do in the morning and then it was off to the orphanage. We arrived and spoke with the lawyer there who will be at court with us on Wednesday. Then we were told that Vika was not there as she had been taken to a summer camp. This was not supposed to be allowed since she is being adopted but the director of the orphanage was not there and the others said they did not know. Anyway she will not be back until the 17th or 18th. We were not happy about this but it is not worth going into now. We did get to visit with Marina. She was very happy to see us and was just adorable. She still seems more taken with me than with Tim. We were able to play for about an hour. She even sang and danced for us. I did get it on vide and will try to share once we get internet hooked up in the apartment. She loves to lay on my lap or be held and hugged on. She is still very active and doesn't sit still for long. She did play with one toy for a while--the \noah's ark. It made animal sounds and played music and songs and she really liked this. She remembered the toy telephones from last time and asked for them. I gave her one and she played with this but mostly held on to this. We read books together too. We had a very nice visit and once again it was hard to leave her there. We will go back in the morning and then have lunch and our court hearing is at 2pm our time. It will be 7am at home. Please set your alarms and pray that the judge will have a softened heart and give us a positive decision tomorrow. Pray that I say the right things to make him understand that we love these girls and can offer them so much more in the US. Pray that the Lord guides me and directs me in what to say and that the judge has opened ears and a softened heart. God willing we could have a decision tomorrow and not have to go back on Friday.
We are very happy to be back here where our girls are but miss the kids at home so much. Please everyone pray for them as well-for their health and safety and for my mom's health and safety as well Anyone that has time to spend time with them please stop in, I'm sure the kids and mom would appreciate any help.
I would love to post pictures but that will have to wait until we have internet in the apartment. Oh and they did cut Marina's hair as I thought they would but she is still precious. I can feel God's hands wrapped around us here and I know he will not leave us. He is my protector and I know he will be with us tomorrow. Please all who are reading be with us in spirit at 7am.
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