Hi! We're Cathy and Dave - and now Justin - and soon Ethan (nee Shani)! Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know us and become more aware of the "blended family" through adoption. Since we started our journey we've seen that EVERY one is touched in some way through adoption. We hope that our adventure touches you.
A year ago, Cathy and I had finally gotten our invitation to travel to Kiev for an appointment at the SDA. It was there that we would be formally introduced to our son and ask to spend time with him and get to know him better and then select him and bring him home permanently. Except for a number of pictures, that we are still grateful for getting by e-mail from other families adopting at the orphanage, we hadn't seen him since January.
We called him every Sunday morning before church. We struggled with Google Translate. We agonized over every "baka" (goodbye). It felt like we were slitting our wrists every time we severed the phone connection over nineteen hours from our living room to the orphanage hallway where the phone hung on the wall.
There were six weeks that we didn't get to talk to him because he was on a summer trip to The Black Sea in Crimea in the south of Ukraine.
Our flight was on September 11th for a September 12th appointment.
Cathy and I stood up individually and told the judge that we could not live without this boy. He nearly fell off the courtroom bench and exploded on the floor when she and I expressed how much we wanted him.
Yesterday was his FIRST day of Sixth Grade Newcomers. His third first day of school. He is excited about Math, one of his favorite subjects. He's excited about P. E.
As he fell asleep last night, he told me how frustrated he was that he wasn't learning faster. He wanted to pick things up in class (finger snap), just like that.
In the car this morning, after he said, "Let's roll, Kato!", he told me about a dream he had last night after he - finally! - fell asleep.
"I dreamed that when Shani comes home he knew English as good as I know now, yeah, Popi?"
It took me a second to get it. Yeah, I'm pretty slow. I started by telling him that nothing happens instantly, like (finger snap) that.
"But I dreamed that when Shani comes home with you, he'll know English how I know now, yeah, Popi?"
That's awesome, buddy. Both things you said.
I'm glad that he realizes now that four is better than three. He's going to have a lot more fun with a younger brother - who is taller than he is - than just by himself...with his Mom and Popi. Being an older brother comes with built-in responsibilities. But, now he seems up to the job.
Right now, we're trying to plan housing in Kiev. There's an English-speaking church we visited last year, we'll be visiting again this year. We've been in touch with them. One last thing on the to-do list to get ready to go.
We're still waiting for word on an invitation. Then, we roll.
I don't know anyone that has adopted again so soon after adopting a first time. I think our situation is unique. It's a shame that our boys have had to be separated for twelve months...but Cathy and Justin and I have needed time to adjust to one another. It's going to be interesting for Cathy and me to go man-on-man with both boys. I may need to take up karate myself!
It is amazing to see the changes in our world. How different life is now than it was. I know that Cathy and I had time before Justin...I just don't remember a whole lot of what it was like. Not that Cathy's boring, but it was only just the two of us. Now, it's a whole lot more!
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