Day Fifty-Nine

Julia and her two front teeth have left the Infirmary and are safely returned to Baby Room No. One. Clap! Clap! Clap!

Mother and daughter spent a delicious morning walking the grounds of the Delfin Baby Home. In the garden, on a clear, warm spring day, we talked about planting and the difference between annuals and perennials. Actually, "mother" did all of the talking while "daughter," feigning a slight interest, persisted in attempting to rip the buds off tree branches. Fortunately for the tree, Julia's own short limbs were engulfed in snow suit sleeves so damage was averted. She was notably more comfortable today and the tiny white ridges of her two lower "milk teeth" are more pronounced with each visit.

Tomorrow, May 1st, is a holiday in Kazakhstan, commerating ethnic and cultural diverstiy. As with International Women's Day (March 8th), and the traditional Kazak New Year and spring festival, Nauriz (March 22nd), the main street in Kostanai will be closed and there will be colorful displays of ethnic costumes, music, dancing and food. More yurts are also expected! Remember the yurt? These were the circular tents made of felt or animal skins affixed to collapsible frames and used by nomads in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. But you knew that.

Meanwhile, Bruce is waiting patiently for our return while working like a dog, spring cleaning the yard, preparing the baby's room, staining our back porch, answering inquiries about our Kazakhstan adventure, 'Google-ing' baby equiptment, touching base with friends and family and persistently vying for Austin's attention! Relatively speaking, life for me in Kostanai has been a vacation. I have loved the food, the beer, the people, the accommodations and the the exotic nature of this sacred place. Our babies birth land. But I'm now ready to come home already. I miss Bruce and our big kid, Austin. I miss my Mom, Reggie and all of you, our dear family and friends! Still hoping to be home by Mother's Day, I am sending my love on ahead, with gratitude and warm wishes ~ Carrie

Day Fifty-Seven

On my 57th day in Kostanai, Marcy, Darryl, Nellie (our translator/guide) and I boarded a bus which took us to another bus which brought us to a taxi station where we hired a car to drive south west to the iron ore mining capital of Kazakhstan. We ventured to "Rudney," deriving from the root word "rud," meaning ore in Russian.

Partly for the scenery, partly for the challenge of traveling in a foreign land and partly for the experience of exploring a new locale, we departed Kostanai at 1:30 PM on Saturday afternoon. Initially, we were amazed to discover that Kostanai is much larger than we had previously believed. Surrounding the downtown area, are sprawling suburbs offering a mixture of single family homes and high rise condominiums. There are no swimming pools, despite pockets of great wealth and the scorching, arid climate that prevails throughout the long, hot summer months. Once outside the city limits, for as far as the eye can see, lie endless fields of low cut grass, wheat or tilled dirt, preparing to birth to this year's vegetable harvest. Every few kilometers, in the distant pastures, thickly clothed sheep or brown cows were grazing. And as is customary for a predominant number middle income city dwellers, there are clusters of brick or wooden sheds on small parcels of farmland where people lease or own land for weekend fruit and vegetable farming.

On the outskirts of Rudney, the distant hills reveal evidence of strip mining. The mining of ore and coal, in addition to Kazakhstan's oil reserves, metallurgy and chemical production, play an important role in Kazakhstan's economy, employing 27 percent of the total labor force. Another 23 percent of the workforce is employed in agriculture with an emphasis on livestock and grain production.

Rudney is a small city or large village. It has extremely flat terraine, with wide streets, colorful metal store front facades and expansive tile wall murals displayed on many of the older, government buildings. As in Kostanai, Rudney also possesses numerous imposing, Soviet era metal statues, denoting the ore industry, military conflicts and the collective struggle of the common man. We walked for hours and hours but the sun doesn't set until after 9:00 PM so it simply felt like a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g d-a-y. Our final exploration was the new, local, three-story mall and the event center, replete with movie theater, disco, bowling alley, billiards and a Chinese restaurant. By 8:15 PM, we caught a bus for home which took us to another bus which dropped us off at the bottom of the promenade in Kostanai, one kilometer from our hotel. In a trance-like procession, we trudged the gradual incline just as the sun was setting in the west.

It was nice to get out and really nice to get back in! And we now know that we never could have done it without Nellie!

Day Fifty-Five

Julia has teeth! Upon arriving at the Baby Home this morning, Julia's caretaker showed me that her two front bottom teeth have broken through the gums! That's the good news. The bad news is that she has diarrhea, a fever and she is very uncomfortable. She cried on and off throughout my visit and it was nearly unbearable because there was nothing I could do to soothe her. She went back to the infirmary where they are monitoring her temperature and hopefully keeping her comfortable. So the first picture is of Julia, teething.

The next picture is the worst one in the series of me and the BEST one of Julia. Isn't that motherhood in a nutshell? And the last photograph is a shot from our balcony window, the scene Bruce and I and now "I" look out on everyday. It is a picture that we never want to forget. I just wish that I could include the sounds (Russian and Kazak), smells (boiled meat, open air barbecue, fresh bread, sour milk and old clothes!) and tastes (indescribable) of Kostanai!

In my ninth week in Kazakhstan, I am just now realizing that my ability to sustain positivity and a sense of adventure comes solely from the security of knowing that Bruce and Austin are taking care of our lives back home while preparing for Julia's arrival and my return with anticipation and love. This security is magnified by the love and support from our families and dear and loyal friends who are "keeping a light on" for us as well. Your love is the miracle, the muscle, the motivation and the meaning. Bruce and I both want you all to know how much we love you back!

Day Fifty-Two

I may regret having said this, but today's big delight came in the form of a bowel movement. After fifty-two days, I finally got to change my baby! Yes. She works! It was magnificent! It happened at 10:57 AM. Nice job, Julia! Clap! Clap! Clap!

As usual, Julia was happy and playful today and she is now the biggest baby in the Baby Room in height and weight. If she wasn't coming home with me, she would soon advance to the next level and move to the room with older babies on the other side of the dividing wall. But her caretaker, Maria, has assured me that she will stay put until our departure. I am greatly relieved!

After this mornings visit, Oleysa and I helped Darryl relocate from the 3rd to the 2nd floor, right next to me! Marcy, who is a little further down the hall, has a throwing up illness so she missed her baby visit with 10 month old "Zhana" and lunch with the girls. Actually, we missed her! We lunched at the Korean/Russian place where we all had the spicy noodle salad, Summer Soup (a cold, white broth of sour milk and mineral water) and a chicken dish. From there, we walked to the "salon" and booked a facial for Darryl and to the "nail place" to schedule a manicure for Oleysa. Back at the hotel, Darryl and Oleysa inquired about the "loaner computer" she is having installed in her room and I changed from jeans to a skirt to accompany Oleysa to the Registry Office to pick up Julia's new birth certificate, listing Bruce and me as her parents! It was to be a momentous occasion only the papers hadn't been prepared and Oleysa was asked to return again tomorrow. Mind you, this involves a 20 minute walk in each direction. On our way back, while Oleysa went into the "bill paying store" to pay her telephone bill, I found a street vending "flower lady" and bought her a small, surprise bouquet of yellow and white mums.

We are in such good, competent hands with Oleysa that I sometimes forget how dependent on her I really am for all of the big, important stuff that she accomplishes so seamlessly. And although younger (in some cases by FAR!) than all of us, she leads us like a mother hen, directing, nurturing, encouraging and answering our endless and often repetitive questions. And then she schedules and prods us to get to all of our appointments on time! Oleysa is exemplary and extraordinary and I am proud to call her a mentor, a teacher and a friend. It's been another good and very interesting day. I hope the same holds true for you, my mentors, teachers, family and friends back home!

Day Fifty-One, Part B

Before I explain how I ended up sitting next to THIS GUY, let me rewind to this morning's visit at the Baby Home. Darryl, Luke, Julia and I had our final "group session" with Loretta and Margie who left Kostanai for Frankfurt shortly after lunch. If there is one, it was the best day to fly "Air Astana" as the weather is gorgeous! Sunny, warm and clear. I decided to spend my afternoon walking with a camera so I headed out by way of "Central Park". Two long blocks from Hotel Medeo, I realized I needed sunglasses for the glare as well as the pervasive dust. Not wanting to go backwards, I turned toward the outdoor market where I knew with relative certainty that I could buy a knock-off pair of Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci or Dior for under ten bucks. I was right. They are BIG, BOLD and really cheap! It was then that I remembered that I needed to buy fruit and that Darryl needed fruit so I proceeded to the produce market and bought LOTS of fruit. I also remembered that I was hungry so for about 20 cents I bought two fresh ground beef perrogies and ate them hot out of a plastic bag while standing on a mound of dirt, juggling my bags of fruit. Still, I had not lost sight of my original objective which, as you recall, was to take pictures on this glorious day! Things were going swimmingly so far.

In closer proximity to Victory Park than to Central Park, I turned right out of the market and headed west toward the Vladimir Ilich Lenin (1870-1924) Memorial which was unfortunately shrouded in blinding sunlight so that you are looking at a blog photo of the grounds and not the monument which is now draped in roses and floral wreaths. And although the landscape is greener and undoubtedly more attractive, I still believe that Kostanai is most charming under snow. But back to my story,,,

I meandered through the park taking pictures when all of a sudden I heard an uproarious commotion and saw people of all ages, hundreds of them, running toward the soccer stadium. Sucked in by curiosity, I joined the swell and soon found myself (clutching three bags of fruit) squashed amidst the crowds on a ticket line for the opening match between the Kostanai "Tobyl" and the Astana "Actaha" (mind you I didn't know this until I was safely escorted to my seat!). By this point I had mounting reservations and NO options. I couldn't move. It hadn't even occurred to me that once I got up to the window, I had no idea WHAT I was asking for or HOW MUCH it would cost me! As fate would have it, I survived. And my greatest accomplishment of the entire day was non-verbally convincing a battalion of armed guards that I could not possibly surrender my produce!

The karmic twist is that MY seat was next to "THIS GUY"! I am not kidding. I can't tell you who won the game. I can't even tell you who I was rooting for! But I can say this for sure; that I figured out how to fit in. Isn't that one of life's lessons we learned in kindergarten?

Well, now night is approaching. The heat of the late afternoon sun has allowed me to throw open my balcony doors while I sit in jeans and a tee shirt, reflecting on the day. My all of your day's adventures be so simple and so sweet. Love from here to there...

Day Fifty-One, Part A

Today deserves two installments! The first segment is about my two kids! I spoke with Austin, "my older child," last night and he had an "awesome" time on his 8th grade school trip to Italy! From what I could "extract," his favorite tourist attractions were the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Square, both in Vatican City. He came perilously close to bringing me home a string of Pope-blessed rosary beads but then remembered that we're Protestant. At least he thought of me in the context of religious paraphernalia! It sounds like he, too, has had a growth-enriching experience abroad. I couldn't wish for anything better! He also expressed a renewed appreciation for the United States which, in spite of it's myriad flaws, IS a great country. We're all glad that Austin's home. Including Austin!

Regarding "my younger child," Julia is thriving! I can't get used to saying that I have two children!!! Today, Julia squeeked and squalked and babbled and spit for over an hour, much to the delight of the younger babies! And although I know that "babbling" is a sign of "normal" development, it's amazing to watch her blossom in so short a period of time. I've got to bring her home before she starts saying "Da Da"!

The first photo is of Julia standing by herself in the playpen and the second is of Julia in the arms of her new caretaker. It has been a great day for me! I'm hoping that you are having a great day, too!

Day Fourty-Nine

In the first photograph, Julia is on Darryl's lap and her little buddy, Luke, is on Loretta's lap on the couch in the crib room of the Delfin Baby Home. You can see by their sizes what a difference one month makes! And first prize goes to the person who can identify the edifice in the second picture! We came across it last night en route to dinner at "The Mango Cafe" and it is amazing in its grandeur. We think it has something to do with a peasant uprising or socialist revoloution! It has been fun for Julia and me to share our daily visits with Darryl, Loretta and Margie. It's been a nice diversion and a bonding experience for the adults as well as our children. I am so grateful that we will continue to share in each others' lives after leaving Kostanai. Another small miracle!

When I visited Julia yesterday, she was holding herself up, standing in the playpen! Clap! Clap! Clap! And she was proud of herself, too! I am so glad that I am here to see her everyday. I have even begun to imagine the day when she and I will leave for Almaty and spend a few days touring that great city before our long trek home. I have heard that it is warm there now and although our days are warmer here, the mornings and late afternoons in Kostanai return to temperatures in the low 40's.

I am off this morning to visit our Jewel, our precious gem. Then I will run some errands with Oleysa who is taking the girls to "444," the belly dancing nightclub for kabobs and dancing tonight! Oleysa, who goes far above and beyond what a host must do to make her international guests feel comfortable, is a joy to be with. I am relishing our prolonged time together in Kostanai! Love to you all and we can't wait to see you very soon, again! Carrie (and Julia)

Day Fourty-Six

Just a few of the remarkable faces of Kazakhstan! From the teenaged boys of Kostanai to the knitting ladies at the outdoor market to my favorite pashmina vendor... each face has had a story to tell and each person, a laugh or a smile to share.

In the singularity of my purpose here, I am more keenly aware of my own vulnerablility and those random acts of humanity that guide me, like an undercurrent, along my way. There is a gentle nudge at the post office, steering me toward the right pick-up counter, or a quick hand on my shoulder, restraing me from stepping into the on-coming traffic or a middleaged saleswoman in slippers running out of her shop, into the drenching rain to hand me a forgotten package of camera batteries. I am not alone here but instead, surrounded by a sea of kindness, waiting to happen. But these euphoric moments of human connectedness, moments of pure joy, cannot happen unless I experience and reveal my own helplessness. Humility and Grace.

These past few days at the Medeo Hotel have reminded me of the stories I've read about living in New Yok City in the ethnocentric neighborhoods of the early 1900's. There is the anticipated arrival of English speaking emigrants bringing news of the motherland, stories of political and social upheaval and signs of the changing times, evidenced by the more fashionable and freshly creased attire. And each departure is cause for celebration while eliciting mixed feelings of accomplishment, relief, melancholy and trepidation. I deeply miss Bruce on this leg of our journey together. I miss Jenny, Chris and Ryan who welcomed us to Kostanai and embellished our experience. We crossed paths with Bret and Laura and this week Laura returned, briefly, to take her daughter, Paulina, home. Marcy and Peter arrived mid-March and Peter returned stateside shortly before Bruce went home. Marcy and I have gotten closer and together we welcomed Darryl, Loretta and Margie and are showing THEM the ropes! In and through this experience, we have shared our dreams, fears, hopes and heartaches and rely on one another for support and validation. Holding tight and letting go. Comings and goings. Humility and Grace. Life demands much, but the rewards are innumerable!

On a closing note, Julia and I had a delightful morning and Oleysa and I agree that she is breathing easier and her energy is improving. She can now stand up with both feet planted firmly on the ground and she crawls with her elbows the full length of the couch. This little girl thrives on social interaction and is happiest when surrounded by other people talking! She babbles mostly when we are alone and blows rasberries until I'm coverred in spittle! I will be home before Mother's Day but each day is my gift!

Day Fourty-Four

The Americans have landed! A new family arrived on Saturday and, despite having had their laptop stolen in Frankfurt, they were all in good spirits, anxious to meet their new baby and hungry for the Kazakhstan experience that awaits them! Darryl, the first-time "Mom", is single and lives in Montclair. Her mother, Margie, is an artist who lives in Manhatten. Darryl's cousin, Loretta, also lives in Montclair with her two sons (one is Austin's age) and worked with my beloved father in advertising in New York in the 1980's! It really IS a small world. They are a delightful bunch and up for anything so I walked them all over Kostanai today and will introduce them to "The Russian Pub" for dinner this evening. They loved the outdoor market, the "Gros" and the large in-door mall. I forget how overwhelming it is to have newly arrived in such a foreign place. For me, it is a joy to be useful again and I am thriving in my role as "tour guide!"

Julia is still congested and still happy as a clam! We had a good visit today and I am amazed at how she is growing right before my eyes! She is definately a size 9-12 months. I can hardly wait to see her in new baby-girl outfits!

I heard that Austin and his compadres landed safely in Italy! Still no direct word from him but the email chain said that the kids are exhausted, excited and extraordinary! A good report all around. Their teacher, Mr. Prasarn, is a Saint!

In my wildest dreams, I NEVER would have believed that one day, I would be writing from Kazakhstan where I'm staying with my DAUGHTER, while my HUSBAND is in America and my SON is in Italy! "My cup runneth over..." God is GREAT! You, my dear friends, are too!

Day Fourty-Two

Todays blog is for Julia and for the special memory of Fyeenah. You probably won't remember Julia, but the day that God released you to this world, you were "caught" by the cradling arms of a wonderful Angel named, "Fyeenah." Fyeenah has been your caretaker since the day you arrived at the Delfin Baby Home in Kostanai Kazakhstan. She is a tireless and grateful soul who, seemingly without effort, attends to the needs of all of the babies in your Baby Room at the same time. Fyeenah never stops moving and can always be heard gently cooing, singing and playing with all of you, making sure that nobody is ever wet, unhappy or alone. She has a mother's intuition and cares for each baby like a mother bear. Your mind will not remember, but Fyeenah has been your angel guide, waiting patiently with you for your Dad and me to come and bring you safely home.

Fyeenah told me this morning, in sign language and through mime, that she is leaving tomorrow on a plane to visit her mother and will not see us again before we leave. This leg of our journey together is ending. But I know this my precious daughter... that Fyeenah has loved you since the minute she laid eyes on you and that your father and I fell in love with her the first day we met. It is obvious that she has a special bond with you which is most apparent in the way she delights in your laughter and your smiles! And she welcomed your parents as if you'd both been expecting us! Without words, we "recognized" each other and the important roles that God has given each of us to ensure your safe delivery and your happiness.

With tears of gratitude streaming down my face, I know that we will never forget Fyeenah whose shining face and bright spirit are imprinted on our hearts. Thank you, God, for your abundant miracles and the way that you weave our lives together with family and friends to make each life complete. Thank you especially today, for the life of Julia, who brought us here, to meet an Angel!

Day Fourty-One

It was just a matter of time before Julia became re-infected with the baby-cold that is circulating among her peers. As one infant gets better, another begins to cough and so on... And although coughing and congested, Julia's spirits are high and her appetite is good. She was just a little lethargic and ran out of steam before I left her this morning. She was preciously clingy and I wished more than ever that I could have stayed with her all day. Oleysa came upstairs to Julia's Baby Room and must have sensed my motherly instinct as she suggested that I stay with Julia for an additional few minutes, a generous offer as the caretakers and our driver, André, adhere to rigorous schedules. I am truly grateful for the quality time that we do spend together and soon enough, we'll be together all the time!

After my visit, I joined Oleysa and Marcy for a "girls day out." We lunched at the "Bistro Cafe" where I had that divine "beef loaf" which approximates my Grandmother's meat-loaf and is topped with melted cheese and a tomato slice. We finished lunch and walked for a while as the sun was shining and the temperature was relatively warm. We tucked into some little shops and I bought a bottle and bottle brush while beginning to discuss how to feed my child once we leave the orphanage. This is a stressful topic for both Marcy and me as the customs are so different regarding baby feeding in Kazakhstan! I can only handle these conversations in small doses. Today I learned that the miniature, hard-boiled yoke that I mix into Julia's porridge is a quail egg! My biggest concern is her hydration as the babies aren't given bottles and don't yet drink from cups. I'll brooch that topic next week!

Oleysa had arranged for us to visit the "Eden Salon" where Marcy enjoyed a manicure and Oleysa and I had our "roots" fixed by the colorist. They did a great job and it was nice for me to have Marcy there for the "girl talk" that is so critical to the spa experience! After primping, we walked to the "big indoor mall" where Oleysa helped me purchase some precious, pink and white baby outfits for our trip to Almaty. Pinch me because I think I'm dreaming! We stopped last at the "Gros" where I bought several "D" batteries for the baby swing that has never worked in Julia's playroom. I also bought a bag of mayonnaise, several bags of "bonxay" potato chips and a bottle of Trivento Cabernet from Australia! Tomorrow I'm scheduled for a facial at 2:00 PM so hold my calls...

It's 8:30 PM and the sun is just now slipping behind the five-story, grey government buildings across the avenue. It is a very different experience being in Kostanai after the snow has melted and the mud has dried. I am told that May brings the warm weather and the foliage and I hope to witness the beginning of a third season, though my attire is becoming conspicuous! I will write again, after the arrival of a new American family on Saturday. I am now "the welcoming committee" and look forward to seeing my familiar surroundings anew, through the eyes of a stranger! Love for now, Julia and her Mom XOXO

Day Four, From Home

A step back in time! Well, after a thirty-four hour return trip home, it has taken me a few days to get my land legs back and my head on straight. There has been a large time-gap but I thought I'd try my hand again in the "World of Blog." Our Kazakhstan adventure has been a life changing experience for me in so many ways, too many to express or even comprehend. I did want to express my love for and amazement at a person that has challenged me to stake a claim in this life and do something good. And, for the first time in my life I feel just that way. The third best thing I've ever done is become Austin's stepdad. I hope he knows that I think he is awesome! The second best thing I've done is become a dad to Julia, truly a love-gift from God! And the best-est thing I've done was to marry Carrie. She is ONE in a million and has shown me the true meaning of love and family. I have been three times blessed and consider myself a very lucky man. Bruce

Day Thirty-Seven

It's been forty days and forty nights and I'm beginning to understand Noah's plight, on a boat packed with non-English speaking couples! Actually, I am still fine and enjoying the novelties of life amidst this very foreign culture. For those of you who have lived or visited abroad for an extended period, you will understand that the most inspiring moments are the subtle ones. Like walking "home" from the market, carrying bags of groceries, feeling momentarily like everybody else.

Today started out rainy and cold, reminiscent of a damp November morning in New Jersey. Julia was happy to see me and we talk now, before, during and after breakfast. She is consistently more relaxed with me during mealtime, no longer straining for her next bite before swallowing what's in her mouth! She still let's me know that she's not happy when the food is gone but recovers more quickly and we move into the next activity of the day. This usually involves crawling on the sofa, playing with her vibrating teether-dog and stacking cups, sitting and standing with Mommy's support and singing songs like "This Old Man," "The Itsy, Bitsy Spider," "Someone's in The Kitchen With Dinah" and "The Barney Song". I need some help here 'cause I'm making up words as I go along! No one told me to bring a baby song book! After digesting, Julia and I mingle with the other babies. Julia then begins to rub her eyes and pull her ear, signaling that nap time is around the bend. When I'm holding her, she will rub her whole face into mine, not unlike Lil' Buddy when it's time for me to wake up! Julia doesn't yet cry when I leave but I am hopeful that phase is approaching, just not until we get home! It's hard enough to leave when she's so happy...

We had our final farewell luncheon for the Mullins who headed for home to south Jersey this afternoon. I didn't think I would say this again but I had the BEST perrogies ever! It was a special meal and one that reminded me of the last day at overnight camp, saying good-bye to new friends who'd shared a brief but significant life experience. I walked in the light rain to the indoor mall and then to the "Gros" for diapers, water, "Leibniz" (German Butter Biscuits), grape juice and a great Kazak cup-of-soup mix. It's there that I enjoy trying out a new Russian phrase with the older, bag-check ladies whom, by their facial expressions, appear to reciprocate my enthusiasm. Today it was, "meen- YAH zah- VOOT Carrie. YAH OH- chin pree- AHT- na." OR, "My name is Carrie. I am pleased to meet you." They correct my pronunciation of EACH AND EVERY WORD but seem to get the message! This is an impossible language and I'm not getting any better at it, despite my fruitless efforts!

At 7:30 PM, the sun is now shining brightly and there is a fierce wind howling! I am the happy, NEW recipient of the "community DVD player" replete with the complete collection of Bruce Willis movies! Does life get any better than this??? Austin leaves for Italy with his 8th grade Latin and Art teachers and a few other kids on Friday. I am thrilled for him and only wish that I were there to obsess about his packing and general safety! I am really proud of his independence and self-confidence and can't wait to hear about his trip when we both get home! I am thinking about all of you on the adventures of YOUR lives. Keep me posted! Love Y'all~ Carrie

Day Thirty-Four

HAPPY EASTER! CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Although the two and a half hour, Russian midnight Easter Mass was amazing, the real feeling of Easter came with the warm reception that Yana, the State Adoption Rep, gave me when she saw me in church, "sharing the Peace" with parishioners, and attempting to say "Shast LEE vee Pass kha!" or "Happy Easter," to the hotel lobby and cleaning staff. It was in those small exchanges, plus the opportunity to say "Thank you" to God for our abundant blessings, that brought the meaning of Easter home for me.

The church itself looked curiously unfinished on the inside with bare, unpainted walls and plain, wooden benches. Sixty-five of us packed the pews on both sides. The young Priest had a gentle demeanor and the service was a mixture of the traditional Catholic Mass with intermittent scripture readings by parishioners and songs lead by a soloist and followed by a common refrain. There were no bibles or hymnals though people brought their own and shared with one another. At the end of Mass, two plates of halved, hard boiled eggs were passed. The only word I KNOW that I knew was, "Ah MEEN." It was a rich experience and a meaningful Easter service for me.

I talked to both my boys on line this morning and they sound happy to be home and together! They emailed me a short video of our cats, Katie and Buddy! How cleaver! I felt like I could reach right in and scratch their furry little heads. It's a HUGE relief to know they're okay!

Julia babbled up a storm today! She also seemed less frantic when the food arrived for breakfast. Perhaps she's beginning to trust that I am there to feed her and at a slower pace than she's accustomed too. You can't imagine the sound of nine hungry babies or the competency and agility of the two adult caretakers at mealtime! Julia wanted to stay and play with her friends in the common room today so we hung with Nikoli, in a swing and Natasha, in a walker. I see God revealed in each little face and am comforted to know that there are more families wanting children than children available for adoption at the Delfin Baby Home.

My love to all of you! I pass the "Peace" in a hug from my heart! Carrie

Day Thirty-three

I thought it was time that I included pictures of our wonderful hosts, here in Kostanai. In one photograph, Bruce is at the airport with Andre, our driver and Oleysa, our interpreter and coordinator. In another picture, Bruce is dancing with Dr. Irina. And Nellie is in the picture by herself. We couldn't have survived here without the four of them!

Today's journal will be brief as there is not much to report except that Bruce called "his girls" from Frankfurt to say that he'd made it safely to and from Almaty en route to Newark. Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan (replaced by Astana in 1997) lies in the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains, bordering Kyrgyzstan and not to distant from China. Bruce reports that these snow capped mountains are stunningly beautiful! Julia and I will get a chance to see them when we spend several days in Almaty at the end of our trip. I'm looking forward to exploring a new city!

Julia was precious today and I swear she kept looking over my shoulder for her father! She now nestles herself in my arms as opposed to pushing off of me as she did when we first arrived. I think she will be crawling by the time we get home.

I had lunch today with Oleysa and "the Americans" at the "Bistro Cafe" where I had the best "beef loaf" ever and the closest approximation to an American cheese burger! After lunch, I left our group and walked through "Central Park" as the sun was high in the sky and the weather was warm and spring-like. I bought some staples at the "Gros", including several plastic eggs, filled with surprises (?) that I will give to the hotel staff on Sunday, Easter morning. Tomorrow, I plan to take myself ice-skating in the afternoon and will attend Easter Mass on Saturday night. On Sunday, Nellie bought us tickets to "A Show" at the Kostanai Philharmonic. Best as I can decipher, it's a traditional Kazak musical production, hopefully with minimal dialogue!

I look forward to hearing that Bruce arrived safely home, that Austin is with him and the cats have forgiven us for leaving! I will write again as soon as something interesting happens! Love for now from KZ! Carrie (and Julia!)

Adoption Day!

SHE IS OURS! Yup~ our petition for adoption was granted in court today and Julia Marian Miller officially became our daughter and Austin's little sister!

First thing this morning, Austin emailed us his "statement" for the Judge, saying, (and I am paraphrasing Austin, so please forgive any miscommunication!) "I am happy to have a sibling and I look forward to making sure that her life is really happy and safe and secure. I will protect her and guard her with my life and more if necessary." Bruce took the stand, answering all of the Judge's questions with careful consideration, and, under the expert direction of our guide, Oleysa and the generous praises of Dr. Irina, our Judge formalized Julia's adoption, congratulating us ALL (Austin too!) on our new family. April 5, 2007. A day we will always remember!

After court, we had a late visit with Julia and "Dad" sponged up her beauty and her charm before saying "good-bye." We stopped at the hotel, loaded a ton of luggage into André's car and headed to the Kostanai Airport to put Bruce on the plane bound for Almaty. Characteristic of our relationship, Bruce's parting words to me were, "Be careful" and mine to Bruce were "Relax and enjoy the ride." Now I am back in our hotel room, surprised at myself for missing Bruce so much, so soon. I have really grown to rely on him and I am feeling a bit untethered. I have, however, moved myself into his living spaces, sprawling my toiletries across the bathroom countertops and usurping all the hangers! I look forward to hearing that he has arrived home safely, tomorrow afternoon.

I have been invited by our State adoption representative to attend Easter Mass on Saturday night, from 10:00 PM until midnight and I am delighted! God is everywhere! "Happy Passover" to our Jewish family and "Joyful Easter" to the Christians! You are ALL in my thoughts and prayers and I am celebrating Julia with you, in my heart! Love, Carrie

Day Thirty-One

It was another great day in Kostanai that began with a surprise telephone call from Ginny and Austin! Thanks guys! What a wonderful way to start the day...

Julia was sleeping when we arrived at the Delfin Baby Home and awoke to find both parents' big heads smiling down on her in her crib. She was delighted and delightful! We dressed her and fed her then played for nearly an hour. She is definately in the crawling stage, pulling herself forward on her elbows toward any bright objects! Everything within reach goes directly into her mouth and this morning it was Bruce's nose. We played until nap time and she went down without a fuss.

We lunched with Oleysa and the Mullens at "The Russian Pub" and all ordered the stuffed cabbage, of local renown. It was terrific! After our meal, the "boys" walked to the ourdoor market and the "girls" went for coffee and then to visit Dr. Irina's Russian jeweler friend who had finished Carrie's made-to-order bracelet. It is magnificent, a piece of art and an heirloom for our daughter when her mother's done wearing it! The jeweler and his wife were again, hospitable and interesting as they told tales of growing up in Moscow. The girls returned to the hotel in the late afternoon when the balcony thermometer read 6° C. Although that may sound unseasonably cold, the temperature of our hotel room is in the mid to upper 80's so we are adequately prepared to return home to "spring."

Tomorrow morning we take Julia out of the Baby Home for her Passport photo! Tomorrow evening, Oleysa has planned a good-bye party for Bruce so "the Americans" will gather in the hotel lobby and carpool to a new discotheque for dinner, dancing and show girls. The fun never stops, right? First thing Thursday morning, we appear in "final court", then to the Baby Home for a brief visit with Julia before heading to the airport to put Bruce on a plane, eventually bound for home.

The time has passed quickly and this has been, so far, a remarkable journey! We are eternally grateful for the love and encouragement we have received from you, our family and friends back home. We are equally grateful for the support and attention that we have received from our new Russian, Kazak and American friends throughout our stay in Kostanai. May God bless you all with the generosity and kindness that you have showered upon us! With appreciation and love, C & B

Day Thirty!

We have made it to April, Julia is out of the infirmary and recovering from a bout with bronchitis and Bruce has packed his bags for home! It's all good! Todays photos of Julia were taken this morning and she seems as relieved as we are to be back with her familiar caretakers and intermingling with the other precious babies. This morning she was a ball of energy and all smiles! This also means that we will have 90 rather than 30 minutes with her every day. This is particularly important for Julia's "Papa," during these last few days with his little girl! Both of his "girls" are gonna miss him!

On Saturday, after visiting Julia in the infirmary, Bruce and Carrie enjoyed a day by themselves, walking in the afternoon sun to the large, more distant outdoor market. We retired to our room for dinner of leftovers and watched "Anger Management" on the laptop, compliments of Oleysa, who owns movies that can be seen in several languages. It was light-hearted and enjoyable. On Palm Sunday, unable to attend church, we bought 5 stalks of Pussy Willows, appparently signifying "re-birth" or something like that. In the afternoon, we purchased tickets to a performance at the Kostanai Philharmonic where we saw the final competition of Child Performers from throughout the region. Children, seemingly between the ages four and 16 sang and danced to traditional Russian and Kazak music, as well as performed some popular selections. Although the audience far exceeded the auditorium's seating capacity, the show was riviting and the talent supurb! It was also interesting to watch the crowd. It was very entertaining and a lot of fun. After the show, "the Americans" walked to the small, indoor mall to visit the displays at the Kazak store. We finished the day with a relaxing dinner and several Bajithka 6's at "Bavaria".

Which brings us to back to Monday and our wonderful visit with Julia today and the fact that Bruce has packed his bags and placed them by the door. Do you THINK he's ready to come home?!@# He's begun to dream about real milk and butterscotch Krimpets! And also about reuniting with Austin and the cats! Our final court date is in three days and then Julia officially becomes our little girl! Please don't forget that Carrie and Julia stay behind with "the blog" so keep reading and remember that you are always close in our hearts and minds! Love, C & B