Brief Update

As you have probably figured out, we are in the middle of no where with no internet. After trying a few other places we finally found an internet cafe thanks to a very nice taxi driver!


Wednesday: We left Kiev at 6am after only a few hours of sleep, partly due to Cavin, partly due to all of the emotions we were feeling facing the day. It was a long drive, crammed into a Euro car with all of our luggage! We were thankful Cavin slept most of the way (until he wouldn't sleep Wednesday night!).

Once we got to the town where the orphanage is located we had to wait for our facilitator Olig to go over our paper work with the social worker in charge of our little boy. It felt like it took forever! While we waited Cavin played in the grass for a while, which was nice for him as it was the first time he got to play outside since arriving in Ukraine.

We then finally travelled to the orphanage where we were interviewed by the orphanage director and the social worker. At the start of the interview the orphanage director was not smiling at all, so it was hard to get a read on her. Then after our interview we were able to ask more questions about the child, such as why he is at the orphanage and how long he has been there, his health history and so forth.

As we were concluding, I saw a little boy walk across the hallway, and then come walking towards us. My heart lept into my throat. This was the moment we had been waiting for, for so long. He walked in holding the hand of the lady who works with him the most, with a timid smile on his face. Then he walked straight over to me and wrapped his arms around my neck. As tears streamed down my face I fought for control of my emotions. My heart immediately fell in love with this precious boy, and I felt many of the same emotions I felt when I held Cavin for the first time.

We were able to spend a few minutes getting to know him before Olig brought Cavin back in. We were both nervous on how the boys would react to each other. Cavin did not fuss with jealousy at another little boy being cuddled up beside me and our little boy instantly took to Cavin, smiling, touching his face and hair, and giving him hugs. It melted our hearts, and I found myself again with tears coursing down my cheeks, fighting back a wave of emotions.

We were able to stay and play with our child for over an hour. It was so fun to watch him play, to play with him, and to see how he interacted with Cavin. He called Cavin his poopiska (I have no idea how to spell this), our translator was unsure how to translate the term, but she said it is like a chubby baby doll.

We were teaching the little boy to call us by our first names, but while playing hide and seek, the little boy told his papa to close his eyes and not peak or he would tell everyone! This one for sure brought Matt to tears, and of course, I was still crying!

After leaving we ate some dinner and got checked into our hotel, which surpised us with how nice it is considering the area we are in. Thankful, to be sure.

Thursday: Visiting hours are from 10-12 in the morning, so we walked to the orphange, which is about a 20 minute walk, to visit with our little boy again. He was ready to meet us, giving us both hugs, calling us mama and papi. Today Cavin was his baby! Some other little boys came by the room we were playing in and ours excitedly told them "this is my parents, and this is my baby!" When they tried touching Cavin he told them not to touch his baby. He is already protective of Cavin, and Cavin is of course already trying to keep up and do everything he does! Too cute.

This little boy is very smart, very talkative and loving, and just precious! Definitely all boy as well, with lots of energy!

Update on Permission to Adopt:
Today while we visited with this little boy Olig traveled to speak with the officials about them granting us permission to adopt this little boy. They didn't say no, but again, didn't say yes yet. Tomorrow morning, Friday, we leave here at 6 to travel for a consult meeting with a group of regional officials at 8am. They will drill us with questions and will then be making the decision on if we can adopt this boy or not. They could make a decision tomorrow while at the consult, or they could take time to think about it.

**Typically when you receive a referral, you are receiving permission to adopt the child you have been referred to. However, the child we picked is in a special situation, so we are having to seek permission to adopt him.

This little boy is ours, whether they give us permission to adopt him or not. If they say no, our hearts will be broken, as I am sure this little boy's will be as well.

HUGE PRAYER REQUEST:
The decision on whether or not we will be able to adopt this boy will be made tomorrow. This is the last step of the process of asking for permission.

The meeting begins at 8am here, which is midnight for you all, since we are 8 hours ahead of you.

If there is any time we would ask to be covered in prayers, this would be the time.

Please pray for God to move in the hearts of the officials who will be gathered for the consult, that they may realize that this little boy needs a family, and we are already love him to pieces.

Please pray for Matt and I to have wisdom in answering the questions, and that they may clearly see our hearts in this.

Please pray for Cavin. Pray that he sleeps tonight so he can be in a good mood during the meeting.

We thank you all in advance for covering us with prayer. We are so blessed to have friends and family like all of you in our lives, who we know will read this and begin covering us and the officials of this consult with prayer.