After court, Tamara, the orphanage director and the city inspector joined Malvina (I mean Allison), Vera and me for a celebration lunch. But none of us were really hungry, so we had an ice cream party instead. It was a happy, joyful time. The former tension melted away into smiles and laughter, and it was a wonderful new beginning for us.
Vera with Allison and me
Tamara, the orphanage director
Later in the afternoon when the Judge read her final decree to me, she stated I have 10 days in which to change my mind for any reason. I was a bit relieved to know the law extends that privilege to me as well as other relatives---just in case---but I'm really not too worried. We're erasing the past and starting fresh.
Malvina went back to school and is busy finishing her homework so we can finally go play ping pong. She's certainly driven to do well in school. If she works this hard at learning English, we'll be communicating in not time at all.
Tamara told me the foster family she lived with previously made her feel she never measured up to the accomplishments of their biological children, and she was constantly being compared. I suspect that's why success in school is such a priority to her ---- to be able to prove her worth.
I'm trying to make all the new changes coming up in her life as gradual and painless as possible. She's going to continue living at the orphanage until she finishes her final exams in the middle of May. And instead of shopping for new clothes, I'm going to buy from the orphanage the clothes she's already comfortable wearing. She's so beautiful, she looks great in whatever she wears.
Thank you for your many prayers.
Congrats to you and Allison. We can all take a sigh of relief now! She seems to be a smart girl who thinks things out, so now that she's committed, hopefully it is smooth sailing from her on out!
ReplyDeleteYea!!!! I'm so glad it turned out the way it did! :) Congratulations on your new addition! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteWhat a shock to see this post, I missed the day before. Great joy and happiness to you, your family and Allison. Congratulations. I can't wait to meet her.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! She looks so happy:) I agree with Andreas and speaking from our experience of our son having had such a difficult time in deciding to come, I believe he is doing so well because he truly thought things through and didn't just take the first ticket out that became available.:) I'm so glad that you had a great court experience and that things have worked out! Enjoy the rest of your time in Ukraine! This is a beautiful time of year!!
ReplyDeleteShe looks like you, Christie!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Woot!! I am so glad and she really does look like she belongs to you!!
ReplyDeleteLast night she was all smiles and looked very happy.
ReplyDeleteChristie,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that you had to go through so much heartbreak. I am still trying to forget that devastating feeling of rejection. So glad you have had such a happy ending. It seems that the older the children are the more they worry that they are giving up too much. It is a huge leap of faith. After a couple of years in your family she will probably express how much she appreciates what you did for her and be able to see all the blessings that are not even comprehensible to her right now. Hang in there, dear girl!
Congratulations! What wonderful news. She does look like you. May your entire family be blessed with peace.
ReplyDeleteAnne