Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Thanks Mom...for Holding me Accountable ;-)

My mother missed my blog post last night so the first thing I did this morning was post my blog.  Since she's my best friend, financial advisor, prayer warrior Mama...I decided I wouldn't keep her waiting again.  So here we go:

It was a chilly, rainy day in Latvia (sounds like the beginning of a great book huh?)...and we slept in.  Wait, that sounds like every other day!  Seriously though, we did sleep a little late.  Gary and I were troubled about several things and I personally didn't sleep very well.  That coupled with the fact that a certain little boy magically appears in our bed around 6 am every morning to then flop and flip and elbow us with hugs and kisses sprinkled in makes for the fact I woke up tired and a bit irritable. 

I immediately got coffee from my hubby and then blogged before Mama called me out again ;-)  At 11am we decided the kids needed to rise and shine so we rousted them out of bed.  Breakfast was an "on your own" kind of thing with cereal and granola bars...this family goes through so many bananas I'm beginning to think the moniker "monkeys" is quite fitting.  Once done with breakfast, Gary and I decided a talk was in order. 

It was a good, cleansing, get it all out in the open kind of talk.  And everyone felt better afterwards.  While the kids were held hostage by "yellow" (it's all E wants to watch...Sponge Bob Square Pants) Gary and I got our showers and discussed what to do for the day.  J had wanted to go to Kemeri to get his things from the orphanage...another big step in this process.

I really cannot imagine what it must feel like to have been in a place for three years where it's been the only home you've had and now you're moving out...and you're moving out because you now have a family.  It has to be wonderful, scary, thrilling and sad all at the same time.  I had emailed his Orphanage Director to make sure that was ok and had not heard back but he called and it seemed to be ok.  So we took an empty suitcase and off we went. 

It seemed God was really smiling on this as the rain stopped and when we got to the train station, blue sky was already starting to show.  And it had been raining ALL morning...hard! 

The train ride is an hour to Kemeri.  We all piled on and the trek began.  E got bored pretty quick but I gave him my music on my iPhone and my ear buds and before long he was jamming out bigtime.  Zach and J were sharing ear buds on Zach's iPod.  Marleigh and Mae were between reading, listening to music and snacking (they are very efficient travelers...never leave without a bag and always have a snack).  Gary borrowed Marleigh's ear buds and before I knew it he was serenading us on the train with some good Beach Music.  I told Marleigh...the train ride was 13 lats for all of us...but the entertainment was free!

Finally we got to Kemeri and off we piled.  There's a short cut through the woods I knew our blond kids would enjoy.  So we took the suitcase and E and went by the sidewalk and told J to take the others through the woods and we'd meet them at the orphanage.  We got there and went up to his room...he wanted all of us to come.  He packed a few things, showed us a few things, got his guitar immediately and asked Gary to play while we packed him up.  After a few minutes, he asked if we could walk around some.  We had about two hours before the next train.  So we did...

His sister works at the little market on the corner so we went down there and visited her and bought some chips and cokes for a snack.  His brother...VERY SHY...was coming to meet us for the first time and visit with him and bring his little five year old nephew to see us too.  We hung out and just walked around...getting eaten by mosquitoes again!  His brother arrived and little Zhenya bounced off the bus with him.  It was so good to finally meet this brother and see little one again.  We set out walking around and just looking at the area.  Stopped and took a few photos along the way...shocker!

E was so funny with Zhenya!  Acting like the big man on campus and making him hold his hand as we walked.  J really needed this time I think.  It wasn't closure yet...but the beginning.  When it was nearing time to go for the train, we walked back to the orphanage and got his suitcase...packed a few more things in.  He said goodbye to the lady who works mostly in his group...she was obviously touched by him...happy for him.  I gave her a hug and said Paldies...so so much!  These are the women who have tried so hard to work with and care for our sons.  And they have made a difference.  This makes us want to so badly to do something for and with this orphanage. 

It is a unique place...not perfect but wow, so caring.  And it made me sad too for E.  He has nothing to gather from this place.  But at the same time, he's the happiest kid around.  He could care less about stuff to take away...look at what he's got!  A FAMILY of seven people...where's he's the Baaabbbbyyyyy!  (drag that out and put a little sing song on it).  However, at orphan court, their director commented that when she saw us with E in March, her heart had let him go.  Now how many directors out there would get that attached to their kids?  I'm telling you, she's a GREAT director!

We walked to the train station and re-boarded to head back to Riga.  I reflected to Gary how fortunate we are.  We'd spent the afternoon walking around this small town admiring the little things.  Houses might be run down but did you see the flower garden?  Front yard a little rough but how about that very cool ladder built out of two tree trunks with smaller logs for the rungs?  Just appreciating the little things in this town that our boys have called home for three years.  And seeing other orphans from their home riding each other on bikes around the block, taking turns.  It struck me...who's there to doctor a leg if they fall down and scrape a knee?  And who's going to make sure they get a bath before bed?  These kids are cared for but they need homes!  At one point, J had seen another kid out and about...and J said, "he's too young." And he yelled across the street and told him to get back to the orphanage...he knew he wasn't supposed to be out.  I hope more of the older ones help look out for them.

As we pulled back into Riga, J was the happiest he'd been since coming with us.  All four of the big ones piled into the little exit area and started making lots of noise.  He commented "everyone's going the other way because there's a bunch of Belks back here!  And Daddy's trying to act like he doesn't know us!"  We struck out toward the apartment walking quickly because we were all starved for dinner.  Half the crew had Ramen noodles and Gary cooked the others a breakfast supper. 

We spent some time catching up again and just chatting and then Circle Time. I think "home" is starting to come about again finally for all of us.  It seems every time one of us "feels" good, Satan comes along trying to steal our joy again.  And he does for a minute...but then, somehow, it all comes right again.

Tomorrow is J's birthday...and while one of our issues has been not to make everything "all about him," tomorrow needs to be.  He said to me that he's never had a birthday cake that wasn't shared with someone else.  And he said everyone forgot about his birthday...except his parents (THAT'S US Y'ALL)!  We've invited his brothers and sister and little Zhenya to eat dinner with us.  I'm making mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sugar peas and this really yummy looking rotisserie chicken from Rimi. 

We're all ready for home...and the next 9 days are going to be long.  Please be praying for us to make the most of it and not miss any opportunity to enjoy each other and give glory to the One who's brought us here.

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