The ache sets in 9/18/2007
We have been home now for 12 days and the hard waiting has begun. We watch our videos and review our pictures of Sophie almost constantly and just cannot wait to go back and bring her home. Our wait is supposedly not that long, but I had heard the waiting between trips is the hardest part, and now I understand why. Being so far away from a child you’ve claimed for your own is really hard! Knowing she is living in an orphanage with only the most minimal care is painful. It was hard with Adelina, too, but at least we got to visit her each day and begin to forge a relationship and some rudimentary language. Sophie just waits. Actually, Sophie most likely doesn’t understand what is going to happen, so she is in many ways unaffected. And yet she is going to be our daughter, which changes everything at least from our point of view.
Our paperwork was mailed yesterday, so our agency will receive it and send it along to Russia. Then we will only be waiting on the Russia side paperwork. Specifically, we are waiting for a letter that has to come from the Moscow Ministry of Education that releases Sophie from the national databank (i.e. registry). Evidently this letter must go through the mail system and can go no other route. For this reason, plus the MOE has up to 2 weeks to issue the letter, it can take 3-5 weeks for this letter to come, and that is presuming there are no glitches in her being released. We’re hoping for the short end of that time frame. We know the document requesting the release letter was mailed at the end of last week, so just pray for no issues with the Russian mail system either direction.
Once that letter comes back to the Vladivostok DOE (Department of Education), the court documents will be complete and can be submitted to the courts - but only on a Tuesday - and a week or so after that we should receive a preliminary court date for 3-6 weeks later.
I think that about sums up the remaining process as far as awaiting a court date. I’ll keep you updated!
Jodi I cannot imagine the pain in your heart. May the Lord bring you comfort during this time. Know that as each day passes you are brought one step closer to your daughter.
Now you know… imagine our wait was for one whole year! I know how hard it is, but you will be here soon. God amazingly watches over these children in our absence. So much of what I prayed for Dasha during our waiting was answered abundantly.
Someone once told me that the prayers of a mother are special. I don’t know if it is true, but they told me that there is not one single occasion in the Bible in which a mother’s prayers for their child was unanswered.