Day Twenty-Eight

Today's entry is dedicated to the one we miss the most, the child we left behind in person but who is always in our hearts and minds. This one's for you, Austin. And although you might not believe it, we are here, in part, because of you. We have come to bring your sister home. The only real damper on our time away has been that we reference everything in terms of you; things we think you'd like, things you might find funny and stuff we know you'd hate! For example, it's taken us five weeks to find Pringles and a lot of the snack food is flavored with fish! There isn't a black band tee-shirt in all of Kostanai, internet service is prohibitively expensive and we walk everywhere! On the up side, the teenage girls here are hot and you'd be a babe-magnet because English is a novelty and they all want to practice, only not with old geezers like your folks! You'd probably like "some" of the food and most of the chocolate. You would definitely miss your music as the radio here plays Disco and Rap. You would have loved the snow and hated the mud. You'd probably also go insane, sitting in restaurants for hours and hours as meals here are "an event."

We miss your sense of humor, your keen perception and quick mind. We miss hearing "That's awesome," "Dude," and "Righteous!" Believe it or not, we especially miss your habit of correcting our grammar and acknowledging our shortcomings! The highlight of OUR day, has been contacting you, despite the obstacles of time schedules (your "sleepification"), our computer ineptitude and that infuriating garbled message ordeal where everything we send is scripted in an esoteric code! You are the greatest kid and our proudest joy! And by next week at this time, half the family will be together on each side of the world. We'll be half-way "home!" SO THIS ONE'S FOR YOU BUNTER [ sorry about the caps. ] Love Mom and Bruce

Day Twenty-Six

Our adventures continue and on Tuesday evening we were still celebrating Carrie and Chris's birthdays! After our Baby Home visit with Julia in the morning, we fasted in preparation for a great feast at a place called Knights Castle, a local cabaret within walking distance of our hotel. Dr. Irina and her husband were invited to join Oleysa and "the Americans" but her husband was working late so she attended solo and was our prestigious guest of honor! We can't begin to describe the decor of the of this magnificent restaurant. It is seemingly transported from Medieval Times with enormous wooden columns and long, mahogany tables with lion's heads carved and extending outward and upward from each of the four corners. We literally sat in thrones. The place was replete with stone fireplaces, spooky oil paintings of Knights and Ladies and eerily lit chandeliers and torches, illuminating the stairwells, private dining chambers and the main hall where we ate and were entertained with a crooner and burlesque. No kidding! Carrie exhausted Oleysa by enveloping Dr. Irina in conversations about education, socialized medicine, politics, child rearing practices, blah, blah, blah. Bruce rescued both women by inviting them to the dance floor. As usual, our meals were sensational. Bruce finally had real steak, cooked to perfection and Carrie had rolled chicken, stuffed with ham and mushrooms and served in a light cream sauce. Dessert was a birthday cake from Oleysa's favorite bakery which she presented as a surprise! The REAL surprise was the 83 candles on top! Dr. Irina gave Carrie and Chris each a delicate handkerchief, embroidered by her 82 year-old mother, Ludmilla. Oleysa gave Carrie a beautifully detailed, hand-painted Kazak plate with a scene of a Yurt in the forest, a sheep farmer and woman cooking on a Weber grill! Who Knew? All of these kind gifts will be heirlooms for our daughter, symbols of her rich heritage and the generosity of the Kazakhstan people.

That evening lasted well into the next morning and Wednesdays visit to the Baby Home came quickly. Fortunately, Bruce had given Carrie a miniature alarm-clock for her birthday!

After today's visit with Julia, Bruce worked on the computer, struggling to figure out how to "upload" pictures to a CD which we can then take to the Kodak picture processing store. Carrie joined Oleysa and the others for lunch at the "Yellow Bus" restaurant where hamburgers and hot dogs are the specialty. Both dishes are curiously served with mayonnaise and ketchup (Russian dressing?). The food was yummy and the group later walked in the bright late afternoon sunshine to the outdoor market where Carrie bought two pair of beautifully knitted Kazak socks and Oleysa purchased brightly colored galoshes, a staple for spring in Kostanai!

Most importantly, we are continuing to enjoy our daughter, Julia, but grow increasingly anxious to bring her home. Each day it is more difficult to leave her. Our only solace is that she is in such good hands and the staff seems to enjoy her almost as much as we do.

Please continue to write and think about us as we think of you and begin planning for our return. Bruce hopes to fly from Kostani to Almaty, on to Frankfurt and then to Newark next Thursday, after our final court appearance. Carrie says "Keep writing 'cause I'll be here alone!" Love you all so much! C&B

Day Twentythree

What an amazing 40-something birthday this has been! Carrie awoke at 6:30 to read heart-warming emails from her family and our friends. Bruce surprised her at breakfast with an assortment of gifts from Kostanai, wrapped in Kazakhstan newsprint! He even remembered flowers! We then showered, dressed in our Sunday best and headed to court with Olyssa and a bundle of nerves! But all went beautifully. The Judge approved our petition and scheduled us to return to her chambers on April 5th to finalize this phase of the adoption. Then Bruce can come home, return to work and prepare the house, the cats and "the older brother" for the pending arrival of an infant!

During our visit with Julia today, we were permitted to take her outside, bundled in what appeared to be six layers of clothing (reminiscent of a scene from "The Christmas Story"). Though she was immobilized, it was a welcomed change for all of us! We had brought a birthday cake to the Baby Home and shared it with Dr. Irina, Olyssa and the Mullens (Chris, Jennifer and 6 year old Ryan) as Carrie shares her birthday with Chris. Dr. Irina proceeded to read their horoscopes, faces and palms! She presented Chris and Carrie with beautiful, semi-precious stones and then insisted on taking Carrie to the home of a personal friend and jewelry designer who is renown for his unique yet traditional style of Kazak jewelry. Carrie is having a bracelet made from Dr. Irina's gift and the jeweler promises that she will be the only person in the world to own this piece! He, his wife and their cat were warm and hospitable and it was truly a memorable occasion. From there, Carrie returned to the hotel and we walked to lunch with Nellie and the Mullens at 'The Gold Cafe.' After a delicious meal, Nellie gave Carrie a small printed scene of Kostanai's Russian Orthodox Church, where she had taken us on her initial day as our personal "tour guide." Carrie then trekked alone to the balloon store to buy a small surprise for Chris and met a wonderful Russian woman named Ludmilla while crossing at a busy intersection. With only a few common words shared and a lot of laughter, they locked arms and walked for several blocks through the snow covered streets before embracing as "friends" and each going their own way, alone again. Bruce shared a similar moment with a young Kazak man on the street today. Upon realizing that Bruce was a foreigner, he struggled at great length to find the word, "Welcome," expressing that he was a Kazak man from Kazakhstan and was personally welcoming Bruce to his country. The two exchanged first names, a hearty handshake and, before leaving, an embrace followed with the universal phrase for "Good-bye" which appears to be "Chow". We are so humbled and so grateful for these poetic moments, touching reminders of "the language of the heart"...

Just moments ago, there was a knock on the door and a young girl who checks coats in the hotel lobby had come to give Carrie a birthday gift. She had beautifully scripted "Happy Birthday Carrie! From Victoria" on a post-it and wrapped a delicate shell bracelet and necklace around a small laminated pocket calendar. Does life get more precious than this?! God is GREAT!

We are off now to what promises to be a romantic birthday dinner at our favorite local spot, Dolce Vita. We love and miss each and EVERY one of you and hold you close in our hearts, always! Carrie & Bruce

Three Weeks and Counting

When we last posted we were celabrating the Kazak holiday,three days have passed and it has been quiet here.As we mentioned most of the city has been shut down until Sunday. When ever a holiday falls on the weekend Sunday becomes a work day, so it was business as usual today.We spent a lazy couple of days after the festival on Thursday. Friday we visited the largest park in the city Freedom Park.They have a Huge statue of an unknown solider and war memorial with the names of all the lives lost,and an equally massive bronze of Lenin overlooking the entire setting,very impressive.Saturday Bruce went on his own to shop for Carries birthday at the open air market and the big mall,[ not so big really].A perfect time for Carrie to lose herself in Anna Karenina
We continue to visit Julia every morning and she continues to amaze.Today Sunday we joined Olyssa and the rest of our ameraconski's for lunch and then back to the hotel to get ready for our first visit with the courts,Bruce is a little nervous, he has to do all the talking,we'll check back tomorrow and let you know how it all goes.Love to all Carrie and Bruce

Days Seventeen and Eighteen

Well today we will start our news with our authentic Kazak dinner which we shared (with the "Americans") on Wednesday night. The idea here was to eat with our hands but we but looked at each other, sitting around the table, and opted for dinnerware. The meal began with shredded vegetable salads dressed in oil and garlic followed by a chilled "Spring Soup" consisting of a sour milk and mineral water broth then loaded with diced eggs, potatoes, ham, dill, parsley, tomato, garlic, salt and pepper. The main course, served family style, was an enormous platter of flat noodles layered with onions and horse meat. For many locals, this is considered a delicacy. Bruce says "it was really not too bad and tasted like Mom's home-made pot roast." Carrie couldn't get past her fondness for horses! It was all washed down with Bajithka 7's, a dry Merlot and, for the men, shots of Russian vodka. Dessert came in the form of ice-cream with cognac or ice-cream with fried bananas, apples and oranges. This was the night of March 21st, the beginning of "Nauryz," the Islamic adaptation of the pre-Islamic vernal equinox or "Kazak New Year," which is celebrated for the next three days.

After this morning's delightful visit with Julia, we emailed her medical report to our stateside adoption pediatrician, Dr. Nalvern, and then joined the throngs of Nauryz celebrants parading through the streets of Kostanai. The entire city is "on holiday" and people young and old headed to the streets to eat, dance, visit with friends and family, drink and watch the stage performances. Music was everywhere and street vendors cooked kabobs and sold home made bread, pastries and deep fried dough balls. Traditional festive Kazak clothing was worn by many and the early Kazak homes, called yurts, were beautifully displayed up and down the sidewalks. Kostanai's Central Park offered amusement rides including a looming ferris wheel, a Tilt-a-whirl and a giant swing. They even sold popcorn and cotton candy! We felt like we were at Seaside Heights except that we were surrounded by snow and couldn't decipher any of the signs or instructions! After several hours of people watching, we retired to our hotel room or "home," to hand wash laundry and watch "The Jackal", a terrific Russian spy thriller staring Bruce Willis and Richard Greer, generously lent to us by Olyssa. We selected the "English" listening option and, for 90 minutes, felt like we were REALLY home.

Now, a Russian dubbed Harry Potter movie is on TV- ugh! but most importantly, we'd better close and post this blog so that some of you (whom we haven't yet bored to death!) can read about our yesterday and today, this morning! We continue to thrive on your comments and emails so please keep on writing! We love and miss you all, a lot! Carrie & Bruce

Day Sixteen

Well, we'll take it as a good sign that our preliminary court appearance is scheduled for Monday March 26th, Carrie's birthday! In the meantime, we continue to explore our new worlds; both as parents and as foreigners in this exotic land. Yesterday, our visit at the baby house started with a surprise "invitation" to a birthday party for Julia's lead caretaker, Fieena (a surprise to us, not to Fieena!). We sat around the children's feeding table, sharing birthday cake, cookies and chocolates followed by a course of bread, cheese, sliced apples, oranges, cucumbers and "chi" or Russian tea with milk. When we first arrived, Carrie wished Fieena a happy birthday in Russian and Bruce presented her with a bouquet of yellow mums. We felt very "accepted" as we carried on meaningful conversations, miming and guessing our way through, sharing smiles, nods, hugs and lots of laughter! It was an incredible moment in time. Then this morning, we presented the women with pictures of themselves and they were exuberant! We think we'll reciprocate buy bringing in a cake for Carrie's birthday next week.

Today, the snow is melting (it's actually 32 degrees Fahrenheit!) and the sun is shining brightly. Julia was crying when we arrived at the Baby Home this morning but stopped abruptly when she saw us, probably sensing that food would soon follow! She has begun to make crawling movements toward specific toys beyond her reach. Her arms and legs are strong and she enjoys lifting herself with her arms and standing with our help. We are now on our way to meet Olyssa and visit a Notary before heading someplace new for lunch with "the group". After our usual BIG meal, we hope to hike out to the large outdoor market where we're told the spring merchandise is replacing the winter wares. This ought to be interesting~ endless booths of black and brown boots, fur coats and hats, sweaters and blankets replaced by... what you ask? We'll let you know! Love for now and big, imaginary hugs and kisses~ Carrie and Bruce

Day Fifteen

We thought we'd start our journal now, between afternoon ice skating and date night at the local pizzaria, Dolce Vita. Otherwise, it's been a quiet Sunday. Bruce spent much of the day trying to fix something on the computer. Carrie is well into her third book, having finished "The Whistling Season," by Ivan Doig and "For One More Day," by Mitch Albom, both Christmas gifts and greatly appreciated! She's now reading "Running With Scissors," by Augusten Burroughs in avoidance of starting "Anna Karenina," by Leo Tolstoy. It's really long and the words are r-e-a-l-l-y small but she's working up to it. Reading without distgraction has been a luxury!

Regarding Julia, she is great! She is babbling more each day and reaching out toward Mom or Dad when she wants one of us to hold her. She seems to know us now, two weeks in and she is responding well to our attention. She is able to sit up with Mom behind her and she pulls herself up to a standing position holding onto our fingers. She has a hearty appetite and eats any cereal that she is given for breakfast, regaredless of the consistency or addition of shreaded fruits or vegatables. Her favorite part of the meal however, is that final shot glass of applesauce which she gulps down without taking a breath!

Ice Skating was reminicient of the Montclair Clarey Anderson or South Mountain Arenas, except that the songs were mostly in Russian and they didhn't sell hot chocolate at the concession stand. Nonetheless, it was really enjoyable and we worked up an appetitie for a pizza dinner and a Bajithka beer! So untill tomorrow B&C

Day Thirteen and Fourteen

Dancing is truly a universal language! Simply to be on a dance floor with a live band, moving to the rhythms of Russian and Kazak ballads, surrounded by local townspeople will be etched in our memories for years to come! Olyssa gave up her Friday night and, with her three American families, piled into two small cars and drove 30 miles out of Kostanai to a place called "444" but affectionately referred to by us as "the shishkabob-belly dancer place." What a time we all had! We arrived at 8:00 PM and closed the place after midnight. And the food just kept on coming! Between courses of fresh vegatables, skewered meat with delectible barbecue sauces, bread baskets, rice dishes, pickled tomatos, peppers and pickles, wine, water, beer and vodka, we danced and were entertained by amazing belly dancers and performers! It exceeded our wildest expectations and we salute Olyssa who is ensuring that our time spent here inn Kazakhstan is not only poignant but enjoyable, educational, culturally informative and comfortable. Julia comes from a very rich heritage!

We arrived at the Baby House before Julie awoke and we surprised her by greeting her at her crib to which she responded with a characteristically brilliant smile! What a cutie! She is still a little congested but doesn't seem bothered by it. "Dad" took more pictures. "Mom" fed her breakfast and the three os us played for over an hour. Time with Julia always passes too quickly (for us anyway!).

Then, as the day was sunny and warming, we hiked to the distant outdoor market and browsed the stalls, buying Bruce a baseball cap with ear muffs for eight bucks! We walked back to the hotel through "Central Park", still buryed in snow and ice, ate chicken breast sandwiches with cold potatos in our room and took an afternoon nap, preparing to write this blog to you. Tomorrow afternoon we're scheduled for luncing out, followed by a rigorous two hours of indoor ice skating! Austin we miss you! More to follow, so stay tuned and keep your comments and emails coming! We love them! Our love to you there, from us, here... C & B

Day Twelve

Big green army trucks~ reminiscent of the miniature Tonkas that Carrie's brother once played with in the dirt as a kid~ roll past in the darkness, filled to the brim with snow recently shoveled from the main roads. Most snow removal occurs at night with only the "ice chippers" and "snow sweepers" visible by day. Today, on our treck back from the Russian Orthodox Church, we saw several men shoveling snow from their flat roofs. And although the roads are generally clear, snow is piled to our waists in most spots. because we can't decipher the news, we have no idea if winter is receeding or mearly waiting in the wings. And, as in New Jersey, dirty snow makes our surrounding look dismal and neglected. An exchange for the warmer atmosphere we suppose.

Julia had a cold today or perhaps it's her teething that makes her nose run, her eyes red and has given her a cough. Yet, although slightly under the weather, she was still in good spirits today and has maintained a healthy apppetite.

After our much anticipated morning "Julia visit," Carrie went out for an authentic cup of coffee (not instant!) with Jennifer and was back in time for a group luncheon and trek to the Russian Orthodox Church. Our new guide, Nellie, is warming up and getting acclimated to our boisterous group! The scenery was unusual and the church, empty and ornate. The walls were coverred with ancient murals of what we surmised are Jesus and His Disciples. Also, there were many paintings of Mary and baby Jesus and numerous box framed paintings, adorned with jewels. A mass was being held though the priest and madrigal choir were concealed behind partitions. The music was beautifully haunting. Women have to cover their heads and fasten a skirt around their waists if wearing pants in order to enter the sacred place. There was no entrance fee but beggars waited at the outside gate for monetary donations. Most impressive were the gold domes that reach skyward and can be seen from miles around. It was unlike anything we had ever seen. Majestic and timeless.

We hiked back to the hotel, retired for a late afternoon nap and awoke to read books and write to you. We have experienced "technical difficulty" in sending photos on the blog but will persist until victorious! We've learned that the blog people are responsible for the problem. In the meantime, imagine us better looking than we normally are! Love and warm wishes until we see you each again! C & B

Day Eleven

Just a walk in the park. Well it was -10 and a stiff wind, but the sky is always a deep blue and the sun always brilliant. It warms up at nearly 4:00 PM and stays light until 8:00 PM. Kostanai's Central park is just outside our door and we make it a habit to start most trips by walking through the Park. Today, after our "Julia visit," we had lunch at yet another cafe with Olyssa, this one called The Waterfall or something) We then visited a book store to buy a more extensive map, a baby book with the Russian alphabet and some postcards of Kostanai. Carrie was recommended to have a two hour facial which was scheduled for 5:00 PM at a salon called Eden. (It was fantastic!) Bruce had a five o'clock appointment with his pillow for a short nap! Tomorrow we plan to visit the Russian Orthodox Church where women can only visit at certain times of the month and must have their heads coverred at all times. We'll eat at The School Bus Cafe where we're told they have hot dogs and hambergers! We'll be the judge of that! Stay tuned for our food review! It's still cold. We still rely on your comments and emails (bjqmiller@gmail.com) and look forward to seeing you all again, real soon. Until then, Peace and Love to all

Day Ten and Eleven

Monday evening was a spontaneous "date night" and we braved the cold and dark unknown for an evening stroll to Dolce Vita, the reputed pizza parlor around the corner from Hotel Medeo. The pizza was quite good, the salad with a pesto sauce, delicious and the ravioli (one) was enormous but excellent! Bruce came back to watch an Australian movie dubbed in Russian and Carrie, frustrated with not "getting it", read a book. Tuesday began cold at -20 and it didn't warm up much though the sun was out and the sky was blue. Our morning visit with Julie was sweet. She seems to recognize us and beams with delight when her father holds and talks to her.

After our visit, we were introduced to a new translator and tour guide, Nellie, who is 22 years old and studied English at the University here in Kostanai. She was very sweet and shy but was delightful and a little nervous about her first day on the job. She took the seven Americans to a new German restaurant called Munchausen [nothing German about the food, though]. Bruce tried a fruity Russian drink that cost as much as our dinners combined. Thinks he'll stick to the beer from now on. After lunch, the three couples went their separate ways. We did a little shopping at the market, Carrie ventured out alone to find the reputed Icy River and we joined up again at the hotel for a quiet evening "at home" in our hotel room. What a life! Bruce is looking forward to watching CSI Miami this evening, dubbed in Russian. We bought M&M's for a TV snack and a reminder of our real home where the fires are still burning. Love you all so much and keep you in our daily thoughts and prayers.

Day Nine

We are even a little MORE confused with the element of time today. Apparently, on Kazak holidays that include a Thursday or Friday, people are expected to return to work the following Sunday. Therefore, Sunday felt like Monday only NOW is it Monday but it is still Sunday in America. Got it? Us either! Most importantly, Julia is in very good health! As per Russian protocol, She has been evaluated by more pediatric specialists than we can count, including neurologists, opthamologists, orthopediatric surgeons and cardiologists. That is why Russian medical evaluations contain a number of diagnoses rather than a detailed history and description of the physical findings. In addition, the Russian specialists rarely question the diagnoses of another physician of another specialty. Julia has been cared for and observed by doctors since her birth so her treatment has been exceptional.

After our consultation and wonderful visit with "Droolia" as we sometimes endearingly refer to her, we walked in the snow to the closer outdoor market and took some great pictures of the city or "town" as Olyssa refers to Kostanai. We walked for nearly two hours and then returned "home" to the hotel to meet Olyssa and the others for "drunch" or dinner AND lunch! Had yet another great Russian-Korean meal and of particular interest were the outstanding, seemingly fresh tomatos coverred with mayonaise, grated cheese and spices. to date, we have successfully avoided horse meat, a Kazakhstan specialty. The beef and chicken meals are terrific. Also had a fresh pork perrogie that we bought at the market and ate from a baggie. It was u-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-y delicious. Carrie tried taking pictures of the endless indooor produce section and was promptly surrounded by Kazak police who hand signaled that she stop abruptly or surrounder the NEW camera! She pleaded "English..." and they softened, smiling to themselves and uttering something that probably resembled "What an idiot..." The experience was worth not repeating though the authorities were very kind in the end.

We are heading late to the Baby Home because the three children whose adoptions are pending were taken out to see an "objective" medical doctor this morning. We cannot convey how impressed we are at the tender-loving-care and attention that is given to children from the Delfin baby Home. It is simply remarkable!

Day Eight

And so the journey continues... After our morning visit with Julia (who again fell asleep in her Mom's arms after eating a hearty breakfast and playing with her parents) we went to the local electronic store to solve are camera woes. We are getting very good at sign language and will never again poke fun of foreigners who are visiting in the states! We hope to include a picture link to the blog so you devoted blog-readers can see this magical land through our eyes. A new couple from Philadelphia arrived today and we "Americans" took them to a Russian Pub [Taste of Life] for dinner. You wouldn't believe it but we have not had a bad meal yet! All in all, it's been a lazy and thoroughly enjoyable Saturday! We're "back home" in our hotel room to check our "mail" and blog then early to bed as we meet with the pediatrician in the morning to review Julia's medical records. With the welcomed input of some impressively qualified nursing, psychological and medical professionals back home, we think that in addition to being EXTRA-ordinarily cute, Julia is reasonably healthy and developmentally on cue. We are grateful to God and to all of you, our "home team" (thanks Tom and Dee!) who continue to support us in this great adventure of our lives! Love, C & B

Day Seven

Greetings from Kostanai! Todays escapades took us first to the Baby Home where Julia pulled herself up holding onto Carrie's fingers. She was facinated by the birds in the trees outside her window and we're beginning to notice when she's energetic and when she's getting sleepy. We don't know when the babies wake up but they all go down for naps after breakfast around 11:00 AM and then again after lunch around 3:00 PM. There are eight other babies in Julia's group and they are all so well cared for and attended too.

This afternoon, Bruce and I joined Jennifer, Chris and their 6 year old son Ryan and all walked to the indoor waterpark where for the equivalent of four dollars, we swam for almost two hours. There were three distinct pools; a lap pool, a children's pool and one enormous pool replete with water slides, tube tunnels, a whirlpool, a wave pool and a "lazy river" with a current. Despite the embarassment of not understanding a single procedure or instruction, we could laugh at ourselves and have a great time anyway! By the way, everyone, everywhere naked looks about the same! After swimming and playing nearly to exhaustion, we showered, dressed and walked a little farther to the Mango Cafe which was mentioned in our Central Asia tour book (thanks Nancy and Mike!) as having great American pizza. Well, group concensus is that it was "good" American pizza (not to worry, Star!). In addition, we had marvelous salads, acceptable french fries, dreadful fried mushrooms and they forgot our perrogies! At every meal, our waiters forget something which we attribute to our miscommunication, not their insufficiency! Bruce made a trip to the "Gros" (supermarket) where he bought some baked chicken for dinner, canned vegatables, a new kind of unusual candy and some other assundries and the whole day cost us about 30 dollars! Next weeks excursion will be to the bowling alley!

Tomorrow we'll have been here in Kostanai for one full week. A new American family is to arrive at the hotel and we hope to welcome them with a group meal if they're not too exhausted for company. On Sunday before visiting with Julia, we will meet with Olyssa, Dr. Irina and the pediatrician to go over Julia's medical records. Though still surreal, we are easing into a routine and a rhythm. Peace

Day Six

Each day in Kostanai with our daughter is magical! We only wish that Austin was sharing this experience with us! Just before leaving for Kazakhstan, Carrie's Mom sent the following prayer which has become our daily meditation...

"Dear Lord, please give me...
A few friends who understand me and remain my friends.
A work to do which has real value, without which the world would feel the poorer...
A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.
An understanding heart...
A sense of humor.
Time for quiet, silent meditation.
A feeling of the presence of God,
And the patience to wait for the coming of these things,
With the wisdom to know them when they come."

Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued contact and kindness. We are now getting all of your emails and they are absolutely sustaining and endearing!

Day Five

Today we started our new visitation schedule and were at the Delfin Baby Home by 9:00 AM. With Bruce's help, Carrie fed Julia porriage and apple sauce with a spoon. Though not graceful, the task was accomplished! Our new American friends lent us their camera so we now have some preliminary "Julia Photos" that we will attempt to post. You'll see how easy it was for us to fall in love with her! As usual, our time together was too short.

We returned to the hotel (checked for email and blog comments!) and headed out in -10 F temps under clear blue skys to the outdoor mall. It is simply fantastic! Thousands of cloth coverred stalls, not unlike the boardwalk, only packed side by side and overflowing with themed isles of merchandize from cloth to children's clothing to electronics, food and fur pelts! The venders, many of them farmers, are layerred in wool and fur, their faces chisled by exposure to extreme Kazak temperatures. Each face tells a story. Today, the ice and snow made walking difficult but no one was deterred. Soon, we are told, the mud will come. We are continuallly amazed at how stylishly the people of Kostanai are dressed.

After stopping at the "Gros", or supermarket for a few supplies, we came back to the Medeo Hotel to meet up with the two other American families and our Guide, Olyssa, for a celebratory luncheon. This afternoon, Laura and Brett Watrous were granted priliminary adoption rights here in Kostanai and will now return to Virginia to wait for their finalization. They have been here a month and have been very helpful in orienting us to the culture of Kazakhstan. We will miss them. We DID however have one of the best meals of our lives repleat with Kabobs, pickle soup, spicy beef noodles, a cubed tomato with garlic and ham salad and beer #6. Everything is seasoned with dill so the flavor is even more unusual.

Tomorrow we plan to walk to the river to watch the ice fisherman. Though spring we're told is coming, we're still hoping to experience a major snowstorm! Friday we're planning a group excursion to the indoor waterpark! So stay tuned and please keep your comments and emails coming! Let us know on the blog if you are having difficulty reaching us via email at bjqmiller@gmail.com. We send you smiles across the miles and always are love, Carrie and Bruce XOXO

Our Kaz Trip~ Day Four

Today is Tuesday, the eve of the Kazak holiday, Women's Day which is a three day-long celebration. Our day began early with a group morning visit to the Delfin Baby Home to surprise Dr. Irina with a fruit glazed ice cream cake and two beautiful boquets of flowers. She was so grateful and toasted the three American families with a beautiful speach that brought tears to our eyes. She said we were forging a union between our two countries and that she hoped that our children grew up to know that their country did not abandon them as their mothers did. Julie will certainly know that she always has a home here, as well.

Our visit with Julia this afternoon went beautifully also. She is too cute to describe and brought tears to our eyes again when, after playing with her parents, she fell asleep in Carrie's arms as Carrie sang Edlewise from The Sound of Music! She is able to roll from side to side, grab for objects with both hands and follow sounds with her eyes. Oh, and she smiles constantly~ this big, dimpled toothless smile! She is captivating and weighs 6600 grams or about 14 lbs. Her height is 60 cm. We live for our daily dose of Julia! Tomorrow we begin a new schedule, from 9:00 - 11:30 AM and we are curious about her morning temperament. The time flies when we are together! That will open our schedule for afternoon walking tours of the city.

We ate at a Russian Pub and had stroganoff, and mushroom chicken. Rice, potatos and vegatables are ordered on the side. Like everything we have tried, the beer here, Bajithka, is also delicious and is ordered by number from 0-9 depending on your preference for alcohol content. It costs 83 Tenge or about .70 per bottle. Breakfast is included in our hotel arrangement and we have tried different plates every morning, deliverred to our room.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will visit Julia early and then stroll the outdoor markets which are indescribable and a lot of fun! We will bring home pictures. Please comment on our blog site 'cause we read it every day!
Love to you from across the world~ Carrie and Brusky

We can't believe that it's Monday evening already! Time goes by so quickly and our days have been so full. We have seen our baby, Julia Marian Miller, three times and she has captured our hearts! We have named her Julia because Austin, Bruce and Carrie all agreed that we like the name and Marian after Carrie's maternal grandmother who was and is even after her death a soul mate and spiritual presence. Bruce can make Julia laugh and today she fell asleep in Carrie's arms which is probably one of the few times she has fallen asleep in the warm embrace of an adult. It is always hard to leave her at the end of our visit.

We had a very special tour of the Delfin Baby House given by Dr. Irina and our interpretor and guide, Olyssa. Dr. Irina and her staff are meticulous in their cleanliness and order. The children are wonderfully cared for and looked after. They have a full-time seamstress who "creates" the atmosphere of the children's rooms with beautiful curtains in addition to sewing and repairing linens and clothing. There is a full cleaning service in the facility and they wash 10 tons of laundry daily! They have a complex kitchen and pay close attention to ensuring that the children get well balanced meals and that the food is both healthy and abundant. They have a sauna, a swimming pool, an auditorium for children's productions, a piano in every group room, a massage specialist, a social worker, speech and language specialist, a full-time nursing staff and four pediatricians. They even have a sea salt room so that if a child has breathing problems they go with their whole group for play in the sea salt therapy room. It is remarkable what Dr. Irina has developed and oversees. The President of Kazakhstan's wife has given the Delfin Baby Home the country's highest honors. It is the only one we've seen but we agree that it is remarkable!

On Thursday, Kazakhstan celebrates a three day Women's Day celebration and all women are recognized! Good for them!

Tomorrow after our visit with Julia, we plan to visit the outdoor markets and explore the city.

Well we have made it, what a freaking trip! We arived at Kostanay at 9am this morning after what seemed like days of travel. Most importantly we met our baby girl and she is DARLING! The most beautiful little face we have ever seen! Her birth name is Erna and she is tiny and angelic! She smiled at us and has dimples and sky blue eyes with strawberry blonde hair. Dr. Irina kept saying that she looks like Carrie but Carrie thinks she looks like both of us! We seem to have forgotten the plug for the edigital camera but will resolve that problem tomorrow and hopefully sent a picture,

After flying out of Newark Thursday evening, Carrie slept the entire flight and Bruce stayed up and worried. Nonetheless, we arrived in Frankfurt at 2 AM our time, 8 AM Germany time and spent the entire entire day walking around Frankfurt. We fell in love with the architecture and the little shops, biergartens and both religious and cultural buildings. Everone eats outside under street tents in warm hats and coats. And Starbucks is everywhere! We said a prayer and lit a candle for our baby at an incredible old church called Saint Barts located at the edge of a huge village square. We even shared a frankfurter! At nearly 4 PM we took the subway back to the airport and walked every inch until our flight to Kostanay took off at 11 PM or 5 PM Germany time. Our flight to Kostanay was more stressful but we were also overly tired and anxious to arrive. Olyssa, our interpretor and wonderful guide was there to meet and assist us with entering the country. We were taken to the hotel for a quick change of clothes and then went diredctly to the baby house. Dr. Irina was wonderful in her welcome of us, particularly since our Saturday arrival required both her and Olyssa to work on a weekend. After a brief visit, Olyssa took us to the money exchange and then to a food market where we bought some basic supplies and water to hold us until Monday.

The market is amazing and surprisingly stocked with familiar items as well as MANY unfamiliar things. There is good chocolate everywhere! I will close by saying that today has been just like a dream~ the familiar mixed with the unfamiliar in wierd ways. We lookforward to all your coments.This whole thing is out of control.We will enter more on Sunday.