New Day...New Discoveries

Today was an eye opener. We went to the notary this morning to get paperwork done, and then we headed off to the orphanage. It was wild. N was really high strung during our visit, and we really had a hard time settling him down. We was running, jumping, and yelling loudly. About the only time he was settled down was when he was eating the banana we brought him for a snack. It was a bit of an eye opener. I think we realized for the first time how difficult his transition is going to be.

After our visit, we went off to the toy store to get some more ammunition, and then to the market for more fruit. We went back to see him this afternoon. Our facilitator talked to the doctor and she indicated that his hyperactivity is the way he reacts to stress. (Great, everything we do from now 'till we can imagine feels like a stressor!) Tonight, we had a smaller room to keep him in and he seemed to be more comfortable. He was still wound up fairly well, but we were able to get him to color a little, play with some flash cards, and eat an apple. Eating the apple was a sight. He ate everything! When he was finished, all that was left was the stem and the bottom part of the core!!!

As far as our timeline, we heard a little more today. We went to see the lawyer, and we have petitioned for a court date on the 12th. That is the soonest that we could go to court. To make that date, we'll have to get paperwork finished here for our facilitator to take it to Kyiv by Thursday night. Things are moving right along, and we are glad.

When our facilitator goes to Kyiv, it will be for 5-7 days and we will be without a translator. Needless to say, we are a little nervous about that time. She will set us up with a driver and get things arranged at the orphanage, so the basics will be covered. And, we have Joel and Mary Ellen as a gracious lifeline on the other end of the phone, but we'll be glad to get past that hurdle. It will be more difficult communicating with N without her as well. Please pray with us about that.

Today was one of those days where we honestly felt more out of control than in control of things. In the end I guess that is just a proper perspective in terms of the control we have. In the end, we know God has brought us here, and we are trusting. Maybe breaking down the illusion of control is just part of His plan for today?