Five Days Till Departure!

We're getting there! We've both been scrambling to get stuff in order for work. We're both pretty much caught up and have our bases covered on that end. Our documents are in order for court and the embassy. Our bank promises me that they'll have the newest money they can gather when I come in this week. Clarion's parents arrive on Thursday. They'll be staying with the boys until she gets home the day after court. My parents are set to arrive here a few days after Clarion gets back.

I've been doing my best to prepare my mom for her travels through Moscow and on to Vlad. She's travelled overseas, but never alone. I'm trying to remember every detail as clearly as I can so I can steer her in the right direction in Moscow. Today she was researching how to explain to Russia airport security that she's had a total knee replacement. Metal detectors are sure to beep. But she has her little phrase printed out in Russian and folded up in her purse. Hope it's all good.

Today we got the last of our court documents apostilled in Springfield. I'll be glad if I don't have to set foot in that place again for a while. I guess I'll be heading there soon after post-placements begin. Uggh! When we lived in Missouri during our last adoption we never had any trouble with apostilles. The Missouri SoS office would apostille my left pinky toe, certifying it true and authentic, if I paid them their ten bucks. Illinois is another story. Anyway, we're good to go with documents. We did some shopping today too and bought gifts for our in-country agency coordinator and interpreter. We can't wait to see those wonderful, dear ladies again! They're almost part of the family!

Our boys start school next week. Their backpacks are already packed with new school supplies thanks to their awesome Mom. Grandma and Grandpa will be seeing that they get to school their first couple of days before Clarion gets home. Clarion's folks raised five children in Panama, so two little Russian-America boys in Staunton ought to be manageable!

That's about it for now, friends. Thank you for your prayers as we prepare for this culmination of our adoption journey. We're so thrilled to be going to get our boy and bringing him home. Our congregation collected $1000 for us this past weekend. Between that and other gifts from church members this past year, we've received over $3000 from them. Thanks be to God! What a blessing they all are to us and to this little one they've never even met.

I'm sure we'll post one more time before we leave. If not, definitely from Vlad! Paka! Paka!

Joel