One year ago yesterday we were in Pskov Russia standing before the prettiest judge I have ever seen. The two attorneys were knock outs as well. The Russian women are beautiful and hard workers. I was amazed that Brian and Edik were the only men in the court room that day.
That day kind of came and went with numb feelings. It was such a whirl wind trip to get over there which was a two day journey and stand before the judge and then two days home so there is your week. The human body just can’t handle that kind of physical turmoil so the emotions shut off. But now looking back I wish I could have felt the elation that I feel today of having Edik as our amazing son.
Edik tells the story that he had to get up at 6 am (he knows this because it was dark outside, but he has no concept of time so it is just a logical thing to say, which is a huge step) they gave him a brown bag of food for the 4 hour trip from Veliki Luki to the Regional Capital Pskov. He had something like a Twinkie in his bag but it was not an American Twinkie. He really has not said much more about the trip than the food and getting up early, but he is more into asking the questions than sharing now.
I remember the day though, we woke up at 3 am like usual for our weeks in Russia, put in a Tyler Perry DVD and watched a movie, then I read the book the Shack and I am sure my amazing husband was reading the Bible. The book the Shack was a gift from God to read in Russia. We got dressed and Brian braved it out going to the hotel café’ and had something that I am sure I could not stomach, he may have brought me back a yogurt but I really had a hard time eating when I was in Russia.
The interpreter called and said she would be to the hotel around 9am and she was right on time, we really enjoyed her, but she tried to not be attached because it was business. She usually had a driver when ever we went anywhere but this time she drove, now we know why she usually had the driver. We parked in a place that you would not get away with parking in, in the states, but it seemed to work for them. We walked a block to the court house where we waited in the hall at a table until the judge was ready. The hall way was large and wide, and the doors were upholstered leather with large buttons. There were large plants in the windows and the windows were large looking out at the other grey concrete buildings.
The court room was what you would expect, ornate wood carved throne type chair for the judge and two on either side. Wood panels surrounded the room and we sat in what would be the jury box. We had prepared our speeches of why we desired to adopt Edik. It was about the Lord calling me to adopt a Russian boy 13 years prior and that we had grown boys and were not ready to quit being parents with the active life that brings. Their only questions were why not a girl, maybe we would like to reconsider (Edik was sitting there) I said I know boys better and she said maybe you will come back for a girl, I assured her no.
They announced their decision that we would be suitable parents and he was ours. If we would have only known that he was going to be ours and that from that moment on he was our responsibility we would have made different travel plans. But we did not know he would be ours then. They whisked us down the street to a place that took passport pictures. Then we gave the orphanage workers a big bag of candy for the other childeren and they took our son back with them to Veliki Luki. This time I feared for his life, I knew how they drove. But as always I know God is in control and He has a plan and I will be prepared what ever happens. It felt so strange and wrong for him to have to go back to the Orphanage, we were disheartened but un-informed.
So that was the court hearing process that got him here to us. What an amazing year, it feels more like three months but yet so much has happened. Edik has grown so much and evolved into the amazing kid that he is.
The party was fun with Grandma and Grandpa Fox-Goodman and Keyser there, big brother Peter and sister-in-law Amy, pseudo auntie Tracey. The Foxes came up from Coos Bay and Tracey down from Kent Washington and the senior Keyser’s all the way from Hayden Island Or.
Edik greeted everyone with a big hug. It had taken all week for me to help him understand why we were celebrating this very important day. I told him that being born was the most celebrated day of his life but the day he became our son is the second most important day of his life. I helped him understand that when he was adopted that means that he no longer had to live in the Internot (Russian Boarding School) where no one took care of him, no one held him, no one kissed and hugged him and no one cared about him and no one helped him to become the boy that God has called him to be.
He got it! Everyday he anticipated the party, I let him help plan it so he understood what was happening. He chose hamburger and french fries for the menu and a chocolate cake with white frosting. He wanted Dr. Pepper for dinks. This is all huge step for him considering he never asks for anything. I see progress.
We were going to watch the Beaver game and hope they win, they did. We had presents, Beaver tee shirts, a crash car and a gift certificate to Applebee’s, for Daniels favorite hamburgers, which is Edik’s favorite as well. Grama Goodman gave him a locking diary.
Everyone told him that he could keep his secret thoughts in the book and that he could lock it and hide the key so that no one, and they all turned and looked at me, could read the book, but my loyal baby came over and whispered the secret hiding place of the key to me J.The cake was a child’s cake it looked like a child made it and it was decorated for a child and he loved it. It is the second cake he has ever had in his life that was just for him.
It had chocolate strawberry filling upon his request. He wanted the piece that said Edik, well that piece was in the middle edge of the cake, so I cut out that piece and served it up much to the surprise of the watching, doubting crowd of drooling on lookers. But they all roared with almost pants wetting laughter when the first ball of ice cream I was scooping up jumped out of the carton and ran across the counter for the edge and jumped over but not before agile 69 year old Grama saved the ball from its attempted escape, only to be tossed over to Peter for its demise down the drain, there was talk of letting Bella have it but it was chocolate so the disposal ate it. That was a very funny event. But Edik trying to understand what Amy was talking about betting him something was funny as well, how do you explain betting when the person has no concept of money.
We had a call from absent Andy wishing Edik happy adoption day, he lit up like this completed the fantastic day. I have never seen a kid embrace a celebration as much as he did this day, he loves his family, all of them, he genuinely cherishes each and every relationship and that is an amazing feat for this little boy. God has done an amazing work in his heart and is healing the lost time without people who think he is utterly amazing.
We are amazingly blessed to have this child in our life and our home. He has changed all of us and brought more love into our family. We never dreamed that we would have had this kind of experience. I love Edik like he was born of me and Brian and I have no idea where those real feelings come from other than our faithful God and Savior.
Our young son exhausted and greatful for his special day!
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