Family Reunion

20 Jun 2009

We awoke to a beautiful, sunny day after about 15 hours of sleep. We ate lunch at Aral on Friday with Quentin and Kara. I guess we are memorable or weren’t gone long enough because they recognized us and brought the English menu over without our asking.

We were surprised this morning with a different translator. For court we have to have a translator who has a diploma so Farida, who will be our court translator, is working with us so she can get to know us before court. She is very nice and I feel like I already knew her because she was Christian and Nathalie’s driver/translator. They are the couple who sent us pictures and videos of Lukas in our absence. I followed their blog daily so I heard all about Farida. It ends up she also was the translator for a couple 2 years ago that live in Ellicott City. I have spoken with this couple through email. It is definitely a small world.

We went to visit Lukas this morning. When we got there they took us to the music room as usual to wait while Janetta and Farida went to fetch the children. When they came back they told us they were all outside. So off we all went to find Symbat and Anton. Symbat was the first to be located. So we headed on down the way to find Anton. We figured they were over by the playground somewhere. Sure enough we heard them all over in one of the shelters we played in the last time. One of the other children saw us and I heard him call Anton. He came walking out of the shelter and over towards the walkway real quiet. He didn’t seem overjoyed or upset. He just stood there quietly.

I pulled some of his old toys out of my bag and that got a happier look from him. He picked them all up and headed off down the drive. We walked all the way around the building to the shelter at the other end of the playground. Once there he started playing and interacting with us just like before. We got lots of smiles and laughs out of him. He didn’t look for food right away which I guess is a good thing. After a little play we sat down and he ate his banana. Then we played some more before he decided to search my backpack for more tamook. He enjoyed unzipping all the compartments and looking through everything just like last time.

He got all excited when a man came by on the other side of the wall with 2 horses. Wayne held him up and took him closer so he could get a better look at them. He accidentally threw the ball over the wall of the shelter and thought it was great fun after Wayne threw it back to keep tossing it over the wall. He jibber jabbered away and every so often you heard the word papa.

All in all I would say it was a very good visit. He was his regular old self and we didn’t have any tantrums.

We will go back in the morning again to visit. Then on Monday at 10am we have the first of a 3 part series with the court. We have been told that we have a female judge who is very nice and in favor of international adoption. On Monday’s session we have been told that we will go and listen. Then on Tuesday we will go and answer questions and speak. On Wednesday, the judge will come to Umit to observe us with Lukas Anton. She may also speak to Anton. It should be very interesting and we will be sure to give you all the details. So, say your prayers for us on Monday as we start the process. That would be 8pm Sunday evening EST.

And, yes, Janetta needs our passports again, surprise, surprise!







Paka until Zaftra,
Lynda and Wayne.