Latvia day 1 - Orphanage Visit

We made it to Latvia with no major hassles, except a 14-hour layover in Amsterdam, but whatever... it wasn't too bad, but I never want to do it again!

We were picked up at the Riga airport and brought to our apartment in the center of old town Riga.  It is a 4-story building and our apartment is the 2nd floor.  There is one apartment below us and 2 above us.  It is a pretty large living space with 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room, kitchen, 1 full bath and a 1/2 bath.  There is also a dishwasher and washing machine!  BONUS!!!!!  We got to bed somewhere between 1 and 1:30 am and had to be up to meet our driver at 11:30 am.  I fell asleep as soon as I hit the bed and slept till morning (we had an alarm set for 9 am, but I was awake off and on for about an hour before the alarm). 

We met the driver down the street from our apartment this morning (our street is pretty much just pedestrian traffic) and he took us to the orphanage where the girls have been living.  We were to meet our lawyer there for a meeting with the social worker who looks after our girls. This was a meeting to hear about their background, medical history, and schedules.  We didn't really hear anything new that we hadn't already heard. 

Anyway, as Jon and I were first walking up to the orphanage there was a group of kids just on their way inside.  There was a little girl standing there looking at us.  We were pretty far away still and Jon said, "I think that's Mila."  I said, "I don't know..."  As we got closer and noticed it was her, my heart started racing.  I don't think I knew how nervous I was about seeing them again until that moment.  How would they feel about seeing us again?  I said her name and knelt down, she got a HUGE smile on her face, walked quickly toward me and threw her arms around my neck.  It was the hardest hug and she didn't seem to want to let go.  I of course, just started bawling.  After what seemed like forever she let go and did the same thing to Jon.  If I had to describe what I was feeling when she hugged me, I would say it felt like my heart was instantly tied to her; this is my daughter, and I am so thankful that God chose us to be her parents. 

She then led Jon and I inside while calling Viktorija downstairs.  One of the other children had already run up and told Vika that we were here.  She came running down the stairs calling, "Mama," and practically jumped off the last step into my arms.  Again, big hugs.  She hugged Jon as well, and was telling all the other kids, "This is my Mama and Papa" (In Latvian of course).  They took us upstairs and we briefly caught a glimpse of where they live.  There was a foyer with locker-type cubbies where they take shoes and jackets off, a living room area and what looked like an eat-in kitchen... it looked like there were bedrooms off to the side.

We had to leave the girls there and go back downstairs for our meeting.  Like I said, we didn't really learn anything new.  The social worker did tell us again how much the girls had changed after their month with us last winter.  They were much happier when they came back.  The social worker also mentioned that the girls might have food allergies to citrus and strawberries.  Hmmm... I fed them tangerines and they loved strawberry yogurt.  After the meeting the girls were brought back to us and we were told we could spend about 20 minutes with them.  We took them outside to the yard and played on the different play things.  Milana stayed pretty close to us the whole time and Viktorija would run away and want us to follow her.  We are really going to need to hold her hand and keep her with us here in Riga. 

When our lawyer came out to find us, she told the girls that we would be back tomorrow to pick them up.  I know she said something about America and Vika didn't look too excited.  I am sure it is a scary thought to be told that you are moving somewhere forever.  We walked the girls back up to their living space and said goodbye.  Again, more hugs and kisses.

There is another family from the States here adopting as well.  So, we spent some time with them this afternoon while our lawyer showed us around the city.  It is pretty easy just to walk wherever you want to go.  We also ran into the other family again as we went grocery shopping and I mentioned the citrus and strawberry allergy, and that the girls had been eating that stuff at our house. The other family's mother told me that they were told the same thing!  Funny...

All in all, it was a good day.  We have orphan court first thing in the morning and then we will go back to the orphanage to pick up the girls!  I hope to blog every day, not just so you can all read about it, but so I can remember little details that I know will be forgotten in the future.  Part of me can't believe we are here doing this - it is something we have prayed about for so long and done so much work to get to this point.  God is so good, and there was such peace in today that I know He is here with us as well.  Please pray that transition for all of us goes smoothly over the next few weeks!

 

Here is the play yard of the orphanage.