Heading Home

December 28: We had to get up at 4:00am for the drive to Mariupol. We got ready and left for the airport about 4:30am and made it there in about an hour and fifteen minutes. We sat in the cold, dark terminal for a few minutes as the workers and other passengers trickled in. About 6:30am, we checked our luggage and went through security and fifteen minutes later we all boarded the bus to the plane. The flight left even a few minutes ahead of time and was an enjoyable, comfortable experience with soft drinks, hot tea and candy bars being served to each of us. We arrived at Kiev at about 9:00am, retrieved our luggage and found our taxi driver waiting for us. When Valery called about our apartment, he found out that the one Yulia was planning for us to use would not be ready until 12:00 so he called someone about another apartment near where he lives that would be less money and closer to the airport. Since it would be ready at 11:00am, we decided to take it.

In the meantime, we decided to go to the CBN office and check our email. When we arrived, Valery took us to Steve Weber’s staff conference room. The secretary brought us some hot tea and a couple of minutes later, Steve came in to talk with us. We really enjoyed talking to Steve about our families, our experiences, the children adopted from Berdyansk, the last few days with the boys and several other topics. The most interesting one that he shared was that Valery had done some undercover work in Kherson after a judge had demanded a $1000 bride to complete a family’s adoption process. He was approached by the authorities to go back to the judge equipped with all the 007 gadgets (hidden camera and microphone) in order to get the evidence needed to convict the judge. It was good to hear that something that was an acceptable part of the adoption process six years ago when we came for our first adoption, was now not only frowned upon but was being prosecuted in an attempt to eliminate it completely. We not ready to leave but Valery reminded us that someone was waiting to let us in the apartment so Steve quickly gathered up three Bibles, three New Testaments, two C.S. Lewis books and a couple of copies of a Creationist newspaper for the boys to have. Hopefully, we will be able to have more time with Steve and his family on our next trip through Kiev.

We drove to the apartment, took in our luggage and then walked to a nearby outdoor market area to eat and look for some DVDs for Dima and the boys. We enjoyed our dishes from a small cafeteria and then started the DVD search. We ended up buying five DVDs containing over 30 movies for about $26. (Later, we realized the movies weren’t great quality, so not such a great bargain.) We then rode a bus to a grocery store near our apt. for some snacks.

After we got back to the apartment, Valery and I balance our books for the process so far to be sure that we didn’t owe him money. After he went home, Tamara and I watched parts of the Russian versions of Nacho Libre, Mr. Bean’s Holiday and a few parts of some other movies before realizing that it had gotten cold in the apartment. First we both put our jackets on and then we covered up with the comforter before I was able to figure out how to adjust the radiator. Since it was now dark outside and we didn’t really want to go out to eat, I decided to find an ATM and go back to the grocery store for some real food. I was able to buy some bread, cheese, cabbage and carrot salad, either bologna or something similar to it, pelmeny and some potato chips all for a little over $8. After we ate, we watched part of the World’s Strongest Man competition with the sound turned off before I came in the kitchen to write this blog. I am trying to stay up late enough to sleep until about 9:00am since we won’t be leaving for our flight until 10:00am. I don’t want to wake up in the the night and stare at the ceiling for two or three hours.

December 29: Tamara woke up earlier than I did and was almost ready to go before I even got out of bed. I got up, ate as much of the leftover food as possible and took a shower before getting ready. We had all of our bags packed when Valery arrived a little after 9:30am. The landlady arrived a few minutes later and we talked with Valery about our return trip plans while we waited on the taxi. Although it was Saturday, Valery told us that it was still a work day for most people in Kiev because of the upcoming holiday week. The traffic wasn’t very bad at all so we arrived at the airport at about 10:30am. Valery walked us into the terminal and we said our goodbyes before proceeding to the Delta check-in for our flight. The line was short at the passport control windows and we had no problems. The Delta agent had some difficulty printing my boarding passes but the issue was resolved in plenty of time for us to drink a Coca-Cola Light as we waited for our flight to board.

Finally, it was time to board our flight to New York – JFK. This was the first time that we had flown directly from Kiev to the United States so we were excited to see what it would be like to not have some kind of European connection. After getting settled in for our ten and a half hour flight, we departed Kiev on schedule. We had a good flight with two meals and an ice cream snack, three movies, some TV shows and no sleep. The highlight of the flight was the view that we had of ice drifts and glaciers as our flight path took us close to the Arctic Circle. It was a beautiful sight and we took several pictures from the window. Although we had pretty strong headwinds, the flight arrived in New York pretty much on time. When we got to customs, there was a fairly long line that didn’t move very fast but we were able to endure the wait and made our way to the Delta domestic flight check-in and our gate for the flight to Atlanta. The flight boarded on time and I was amazed how quickly we taxied to the runway and took off. The 757 was equipped with satellite TV and since we had and empty seat between us, I watched the Mississippi State and UCF game at the same time as the New England and New York Giants game while an exhausted Tamara finally got some sleep. We arrived in Atlanta about 30 minutes early but unfortunately our perfect trip so far was about to be derailed. First, there was a gate change for our flight to Birmingham and then about and hour and a half delay due to the plane being late and then needing two new tires. Finally, we boarded and taxied off as the last plane out of Atlanta after Midnight for the 25 minute flight to Birmingham. I commented to the stewardess that this was the first time that I had ever arrived at my destination a day before I left since it would still be about 11:45pm CST when we arrived. We were really dragging as we looked for our daughter Ginger who was supposed to be waiting for us. Since she and her fiancé, Eric, had come in her Volvo C70 and one of her friends had come along in her car, I had to drive her car back home. This was not pleasant for either of us since all we wanted to do was fall into our bed and pass out. We made it home about 12:30am…….

Tammy: When we arrived home it was after midnight and the house was dark and strangely quiet. The kids were obviously all asleep. I felt a twinge of sadness as I entered the back door and noticed a small pile of “stuff” strewn on the floor in the sunroom. It was Mimi’s belongings from the hospital….some Gospel music cd’s, her bag of clothes, cards and plants from friends who were praying for her. It was comforting to see the Christmas tree. I smiled when I saw the evidence of Christmas morning and opened presents here and there. Our presents were still wrapped and arranged neatly under the tree in a semi circle. Baylee probably did this. She was our official present arranger. I knew it had been hard for them for us to be away, not just because of Christmas, but because of all that was happening with Mimi. Ella woke up to give both of us a hug. Dima heard us and came upstairs looking pitiful because he needed some cold medicine. They seemed happy and relieved we were home. I climbed into bed and slid under our wonderful comforter. To sleep in our own bed was a gift, like we had been given a priceless treasure. I knew we had left unfinished business in Ukraine. I thought of the boys and their smiling faces. At the next moment, however, our mattress felt like a cloud and within minutes I gently drifted off to another land.