Getting Acquainted During Our First Trip ~ July 2002

We had only a VERY brief visit with Olga--three hours one afternoon--during our first trip in July. Fortunately, we got to spend the previous day with Nina!

Pictures - Meeting Our Girls

This picture was taken during our first trip to Russia in one of the govt. offices while we were signing the necessary documents declaring our intent to adopt Olga and Nina. Olga is 12 and Nina is 8.5 I'm certain that behind those beautiful smiles there are lots of questions and fears.

First Trip - Day Three: Moscow!

July 14, 2002 - We arrived in Moscow at the Sheremetyevo airport. I've got to tell you, looking out the airplane window at the landscape of RUSSIA was surreal, then arriving at the airport was like stepping back in time!

It's late right now (real time!!), so I'll add "the rest of the story" tomorrow!

First Trip - Day Two: JFK to Frankfurt, to Moscow

July 13, 2002 (Saturday)- After spending a restless night in NYC, this morning we were up early and on our way to the JFK airport where we would board a Lufthansa flight arriving in Frankfurt, Germany the next day, Sunday. From there, we'd catch a flight to Moscow!

Having flown large and small U.S. airlines the Germany Lufthansa plane and service were beyond our expectations--really nice for the 8+ hrs. to Frankfurt.

We arrived at the Frankfurt airport VERY early in the a.m. and waited for our flight to Moscow. The airport was nice and clean and soooooo quiet that early in the morning. As we sat in a waiting area, I noticed a "beer house" not far down the corridor. I commented to John that we'd see how serious Germans are about their beer if they opened the beer house early that morning--and on a Sunday (I was raised in the Bible Belt, you know!!). Sure enough, around 7:30 or 8:00 they were open for business--what a hoot! We decided that we'd pass on the opportunity to taste real Germany beer that early in the morning!

When we boarded our flight to Moscow the plane was not nearly as luxurious or large--understandable--and we quickly noticed that we were apparently the only native English speakers on the flight! Even though we both have traveled outside of the U.S. and have been around foreign languages, this was the beginning of "culture shock" for us, and the beginning of our "reality check" as we neared our much anticipated destination.

First Trip - Leavin' for Russia!

July 12, 2002 (Friday) Here we are in front of our local airport just four days after receiving "the call" telling us that we could go meet our girls! We departed in the afternoon, had a short lay-over in St. Louis, then spent the night in New York City at the cheapest (and safest) place we could find near the airport, a Comfort Inn! The flight for both of us from home to NYC was a 'gift' from dear friends who wanted to help us with our travel expenses and GAVE us their frequent flyer miles--God's amazing grace and provision!

"THE" phone call!

July 8, 2002 (Monday) It was like any other Monday--until about 8:30 a.m. John and I drove in to work together, I arrived early, greeted coworkers and chatted briefly about their weekend adventures, and then got busy in my office.

Around 8:30 I answered my phone, on the other end of the line was Jodi S. from our adoption agency. Her first words were, "Connie, are you sitting down?" When I told her that I was sitting down, she replied, "Seriously, are you sitting down?" I assured her that I was in fact sitting down. Jodi proceeded by saying, "You both will need to be in Moscow on the 14th, on the 15th you'll fly from Moscow to Yekaterinburg where you'll meet the girls and sign the necessary paperwork. You'll spend the night in Yekaterinburg and return to Moscow on the 16th. You'll leave Moscow on the 17th and return to the U.S."

After hearing this little itinerary I casually commented, "In August, right?" Jodi then said, "No, July!", to which I responded, "THAT'S THIS WEEKEND!!!!!" Once the reality of this timetable sank into my brain I asked Jodi to repeat everything she'd already told me! We discussed various details, instructions regarding obtaining our visas, suggested flight plans, details about our host families in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, and various other matters.

I got off the phone and immediately called John at his office! He was just like me--in a state of shock and disbelief! We had known things could--and most likely would--move rather quickly at some point, but up until now we'd understood that our turn would most likely not come until August or September!

After telling John, I eagerly told my boss and coworkers--all of whom were very excited for us. My boss suggested that I take the rest of the day off, and I didn't argue. I tied up as many loose ends as possible in my office that morning and decided to have lunch with John--which normally was working out together at the YMCA nearby.

After our "working lunch" together, I headed for home and began to operate what I lovingly began to call "command central" because not only was I emailing and phoning friends and family to share our news, I was working the phone and internet trying to arrange flights for halfway around the world in less than a week!

Adoption Update - July 8, 2002

I tried to email some of you from work today, but am not sure the message actually reached its many destinations!

I (we) received "the call" this a.m. telling us that we travel on our first trip THIS SATURDAY!

Of course we're busy getting things together and trying to work out the last minute flight details. We are beyond happy and excited, as I'm sure you can imagine. Please remember us in your prayers! ---Connie & John