Passing Court...and some misc stuff

It's early in the morning, and for the first time during our visiti there is snow on the ground here in Kemerovo. Not much, just the kind that sticks to the grassy areas and makes the roads damp. The cold here is different than Nebraska or Kansas cold. It's hard to explain really. It's cold, but not unbearable. But we're from the midwest, they'll have to throw a whole lot more than this at us to keep us down!

The picture above is from yesterday, outside the courthouse. The "courtroom" was more like a little office. One desk at the end where the judge sat, then a small table in front for the prosecutor and court reporter. We sat against the wall on the left side, and the lady representing the orphange on the right side. The process was pretty simple actually. They wanted to talk to me most of the time, and I was ok with that. I talk in front of people all the time. Jenny was a bit more nervous, but that is understandable. We've been waiting for that moment for a long, long time. It was finally our turn. The judge asked about Rylee and Scarlett some. Then they asked about a families and if they were excited? Then a little about our house and financial standing. The judge seemed to spend a lot of time looking at the packet of pictures we had to include in the dossier. Note to anyone reading this and working on their dossier, take time on the pictures. I think the detail helps! It concluded with Helen (we think that is her name) from the orphanage talking about how it would be in the best interest of the boy to go with us. The translations were kinda funny and touching at times. She said that during our visits we would "kiss and make hugs with him" and he would smile. She also said that no one ever came to see him at the orphanage. Not his mother, grandmother, brother, no one. That part makes us sad, and reinforces our commitment to making his life the best it can possibly be with us as his parents.

So now we wait. It shouldn't be too bad. We're going tomorrow to see him again, then again twice next week. The ten days will be over before we know it...I hope!

Rich