Our First Week at Home

Tonight marks one week home for us. All three of us have been transitioning well even though Steve and I have been sick. Natalie continues to be a good sleeper. She goes down for her two naps without a problem and then sleeps thru the night at bedtime. What a blessing! When she wakes up, she is happy to see us and ready to play. The only time she is grumpy is when she doesn't feel well or if she doesn't get her way. Wednesday was 'defiance' day and I am glad that she is displaying the normal testing of boundaries typical of a 20 month old. Thursday was our 9th wedding anniversary and we were so blessed be a family---she is the best present we could give each other. Truly a gift from God!

Natalie loves to eat peanut butter crackers and cookies. I am also feeding her nutritious baby cereals and organic baby foods. She is picky about the texture of her food and so we are working on expanding her menu. Natalie has gained 1.5 pounds since she's been with us, so I guess we are on the right track. Her favorite thing is to ride in the wagon her Aunt Becky bought her. We pull her all around the neighborhood. She loves being outside, touching things, playing the piano, taking apart legos, watching Little Einsteins and saying 'hey' to everyone. Bath time is NOT her favorite thing but today we are going to try the neighborhood pool---we'll see how that goes. Her cousins, JP and Jake are in love with her and I believe it is mutual. They follow her around as she plays and babbles to them. She also loves to play with Deacon, Aunt Chelle's dog. He is a patient pet lets Natalie play with his toys and smack, I mean pet him.

So far she has mastered saying "mama", "dada" and "hey". She also learned how to turn around and back down the stairs in one day. I am trying to teach her baby sign language for things like: eat, more, finished and help---we'll see how it goes. Natalie picks things up quickly, but it has to be on her terms, in her time. She is a strong child; she had to be to survive. Natalie also loves kisses, especially on her hand and her belly (anything around her face is not tolerated). I am anxious to see what the doctors say when we go for her pediatric and adoption specialist appointments. It will feel good to get her evaluated and on the road to better health and development.

We have taken her to several restaurants this week, to Target, the mall and the church where I work. She loves riding in the carts and does really well eating out and even enjoys her car seat. Overall, we couldn't be happier or feel more blessed. She is a happy girl and we know that love can create miracles. Natalie is blessing our days beyond what we could imagine.

With our love,
Karen

WE ARE HOME!

Our long journey back home is complete! We began Friday morning, leaving the hotel at 8:30 AM (Moscow time). Our flight left Russia at 12:55 PM and we landed 12 hours later in Atlanta around 4:20. It was good to back in the US--to things that are familiar to us. We will cherish the memory of the immigration officer handing us Natalie's passport and declaring her a US citizen. Then he sweetly bent down, touched her head, and said, "Welcome to the USA, Natalie!"

Our last leg of the trip was from Atlanta to Dulles. Natalie slept this entire flight (mostly because she hadn't hardly slept in over 12 hours). We were completely touched and overwhelmed by the reception of our family and friends (around 50 of you!) when we walked through the arrival gate. Natalie had been crying because we had to wake her out of her deep sleep. But when she saw all the people clapping and heard the happy shouts, she lit up, gave everyone a huge smile and said, "HI". Thank you to everyone for your love and support in praying us home safely. Thanks for the warm welcome home. Our bodies are so tired but our hearts are full. We are blessed.

We'll post more pics and videos once we are better rested.
We love you!
Karen, Steve AND Natalie

We've hit the ground, running in Moscow

It's Tuesday evening here in Moscow and I wanted to give you an update on what we've been doing since we left Voronezh. The 11 hour, overnight train ride back to Moscow went quite well. We were really crammed into our little compartment with all our luggage and a little one too. Natalie slept well on the train--I think she was the only one though. As soon as we ended our journey into Moscow, we were met by our facilitators who took us directly to the medical clinic for Natalie's required checkup. Then to a photo place to get her picture taken for her visa and then to the American Embassy to apply and pay for the visa. Finally, to our hotel. Natalie was incredible. She went with the flow of the busy morning, without her morning nap, with finger snacks and juice to sustain her till we could check in. Then it was straight to the crib for naptime. While she slept, Steve and I ordered a filet dinner and split it---yummmmmmmy!

Today, we completed our Embassy visit and Natalie now has her own visa to enter the USA! Our facilitator will register her with the Russian Embassy tomorrow and will give us her passport with all the necessary seals and stamps. We are getting closer to home and I can almost 'taste' it!

Natalie is still not feeling well. Please continue to pray for her. It's hard to watch her cry and try to figure out how to comfort her, it's a learning process for all of us. Also, pray for me. I have been sick with a sore throat and horrible stomach pain. Our facilitator believes that I have picked up a germ from Natalie---this is hard to imagine!!

I want to end this blog by bragging on my husband. He has become one of the best daddies in the world. Natalie adores him and even wants him over mommy---and that's o.k. with me. They play and laugh together over the smallest things and I love watching them together. My heart is bursting and I think Steve's is as well.

Love to all (Friday's coming!)
Karen

Gotcha Day part 1 Video

GOTCHA DAY !

Saturday, June 14th


The long awaited Gotcha Day is here! We arrived at the orphanage after 12 noon to get Natalie and begin the last part of our journey in Voronezh. The orphanage director, Olga, took us to her building where she sleeps, eats and plays with 11 other children around her age. As soon as we entered the room with the cribs, Natalie got very excited and couldn’t wait to come to us. Little does she know that soon we will be taking her from the only place she has ever known. After a quick change into the clothes we brought for her, we were headed to the car for a long ride back to the apartment. All the ladies at the orphanage were saying their ‘goodbyes’ to Natalie as we made our way down the path and out the gate. It was very touching to see the mutual affection between them. Before we left, a caregiver brought out the bear we had left for her back in February. As soon as she saw it she reached for it and snuggled it. Then she proceeded to press the paws to hear our voices and screamed with glee. [During our second day of court, the orphanage representative mentioned to the judge about the bear we had left with the girl. She thought it was why Natalie had recognized our voices when we returned and applauded us for leaving such a touch

Natalie is a very loving child. Even though she has never received kisses before, she enjoys them immensely now and we are never short of supply. Steve kisses her hands as she touches his beard---who knew facial hair could be so entertaining.

I was prepared for the car ride with lots of finger snacks, juice and toys. She did very well and ate snacks for almost the entire 2.5 hour ride. We could not get her to take her second nap of the day—too much excitement and fun---too many new things to see and do. Finally at 10:40 pm she went down for the night and didn’t wake up till 8 am! Sweet sleep.

It was a good day and we are grateful for all your prayers. We feel them. There is a lot of transition for us and for Natalie. Tonight we board the train back to Moscow leaving our beautiful friends in Voronezh. We are coming home on June 20th at 8:32 into Dulles via Delta! Keep praying us home.

Love,
Karen, Steve and Natalie

Daddy and Natalie in the play yard

Our Third Visit

Mommy and Natalie share a moment

Court, More Papers and Passport, oh my!

Dear Family and Friends,

Here’s an update from us as of Wednesday, June 11th , 8 PM Voronezh time.

The past several days we have been in the ‘hurry up and wait mode’ concerning getting Natalie’s paperwork complete before we can head to Moscow. On Monday we spent the entire day driving back and forth from office to office, around the center of Voronezh submitting documents to apply for Natalie’s new birth certificate and passport. Our facilitator knows how to speed up the process because by Tuesday afternoon we signed and picked up her new birth certificate that states us as the Mom and Dad. It was a wonderful moment as we signed our names and became ‘official’ parents to our sweet girl. Last night our hosts took us to the cinema and we watched an American movie in Russian. Quite an experience. Steve mainly wanted to go so he could enjoy the popcorn!

Today (Wed.) we were able to go and visit with Natalie at the orphanage for an hour. This takes practically the whole day because it’s 2 hours there and 2 hours back to the apartment. When Natalie saw us she smiled and clapped her hands, walked over to me, took the doll (kookla) I had in my hands and sat down in my lap. Everytime I see her I tell her “tea nosha dochka”—“you are our daughter” and I love the way she looks into my eyes as I tell her. Somehow, I think she understands. They let us take her out of the small visitation room out into the play yard and the garden. She loved the flowers but wasn’t so sure about the bubbles I brought. We still haven’t seen her in a bad mood or have a bad moment, but I’m sure it’s in her. She loves to smile and have Daddy take her picture. Today Steve showed a Baby Einstein dvd and she was mesmerized! We think this will a lifesaver on the train and the plane.

Saturday will be ‘Gotcha Day’ and the orphanage asked us to be there by 9 am. I am sure we will be sending pictures of this day we have waited so long for. We will all wave ‘paka’ (byebye) to Pavolovsk and head back to Voronezh as a family. Then Sunday, June 15th, we will board the overnight train back to Moscow and finish up the paperwork at the US Embassy. We’ll let you know as soon as we get information on our flight back home.

Please feel free to comment on this email. We can’t tell you how much we enjoy hearing from you—it is truly the highlight of our day when we get on the internet.

We love you---keep praying us home!
Karen, Steve and Natalie

WE ARE MAMA AND PAPA!!!

At 12:30 today, the judge ruled in our favor and declared us parents of Natalie Faith!
Our hearts are full and words cannot express the relief we felt at the end of this court day compared to yesterday. Not only did she grant us parental rights but she also waived the 10 day waiting period due to her health. We will get to see Natalie again this Wednesday and "Gotcha Day" will be next Saturday, June 14th. Steve will be an official daddy for Father's Day!!

Now, we can finally post pictures of our little princess . . . .we are so blessed!
Thank you for you prayers during this part of the journey. It has been the most stressful and draining part of the process, but now that part is behind us.

with our heartfelt love,
Karen

Court will continue tomorrow

Well, it was a long day in court day and we do not have a ruling on our behalf. There were documents missing and the judge and the DA we not satisfied enough for the judge to make a decision.

We go back tomorrow at 11 am. We hope to have an answer after this session.
The journey continues . . . . . . it will be worth all of this . . . .

God is in control and we will choose to stand and believe on His promises!

We saw Natalie today!

Our hearts are happy! We saw our little girl today at her orphanage. She turned 20 months on Monday, is walking well on her own, she has 4 more teeth, her hair is growing, she is taller and has a bit more weight on her. That's the good news!

Tomorrow is court day and we spent the evening with our translator going over questions the judge could ask us. We are hoping to get the 10 day wait waived due to her health. Her kidney issue is getting worse and we need to bring her home and get medical attention as soon as possible. Please remember us in prayer for Friday court.

Hopefully we will be able to post pictures of Natalie once the judge has made his decision---we can't wait to hear him say he is "satisfied" with the answers to his questions.

Off we go!

Bags are packed and repacked numerous times, but I believe we are ready to zip them up and try to get some sleep before we head out tomorrow. We fly to Atlanta around 12:20 pm and then to Moscow around 5 pm; arriving in Moscow 10:30 am (their time)on Tuesday, June 3.

I can't wait to see how Natalie has changed over the past four months. She is 20 months old tomorrow (Monday) and I pray she has grown and is still the happy little girl we spent three hours with one unforgettable day in February. I want to kiss her dimpled cheeks again and watch the twinkle in her eye. My arms can't wait to wrap around her, cuddle her and rock her to sleep. We're coming Natalie!!

Our court date is June 6th (not sure of the time yet) but please lift us up in prayer on Thursday night as we will be eight hours ahead of you and probably headed into court by then. We are believing that we will find favor with the judge as he asks us questions that will assure him of the safety, well-being and future of this little life. I will be relieved, grateful and completely thrilled when we hear him say "dah" (yes!).

Mark your calendars now, we arrive in Dulles airport on Thursday, June 26, around 8:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to come and catch a glimpse of the Clark Family!

More to come as we journey on . . . . . . .