Dear all,
I see my adoption experience as a real Blessing. I have been thinking of it for over 10 years on and off, not being able to put finances together to be able to start the process.
About a year ago I signed the contract with AA. There were some complications and at one point I was not even sure I would be able to continue with the process, but I can thank Elina here, as she was my main psychological support. I have learned so much wisdom and went around many other mistakes I could have run into on that difficult path of adoption.
I have my own two bio children that are 19 and 17 and are thinking of themselves as of grown-ups. I was thinking the following way: majority of the parents would want to adopt a baby, an infant; very few would give their love to the older children – those have no chance to be loved, no chance to have a forever Family, to get hugs and kisses, to get bright future and awesome-happy present. I have later realized that that the older child or children was the only right decision in my case, being a single mother.
I went to Russia to finalize the adoption in December of 2005. All the procedures have been completed as planned, there was no single delay. I was afraid that something would go wrong and I have to change the plane tickets, but everything was going perfectly well. I am thankful and grateful to AA for the excellent organization and management of things! We have managed to make it to the Moscow Circus and the Zoo. The children loved it and as I learned it was their first time in their lives they visited Circus or Zoo. Imagine, how much we all taking for granted!
It has been almost 3 months as I have my 2 new daughters back home in VA with me. Norah Alessia is 11 and Sophie has just turned 6, she is such a girly-girl!
The older sister has been acting as the mother to her younger sister, so at the beginning I felt as a `second' mother. And if the little one wouldn't listen/follow my directions I'd have to ask for help from her `mother'/older sister. Now things have completely changed to the way they supposed to be. We like to cook together, clean together and play `hide and seek'.
I can’t express how happy and pleased I am with my new daughters. They are lots of fun, helpful, beautiful and bright girls, one – seem to be very mature and wise for her age, the other – little doll, very funny and happy child, you can hear her laughter all day long, but also spoiled by her older sister's attention and care. I am very happy with what I got and could not have dreamt of better. I think of all that happened to me as of some type of Blessing.
I don’t want you to think it is all easy and perfect. We are working on lots of issues, but they are fixable/doable/manageable. So there are no complaints.
All my thanks and appreciation to AA (Elina Filippova in particular!) for the great emotional and psychological support and all the wisdom that she shares. (Don't we all need that!!) I also should not forget all the arkfamilies members' support and prayers, while I was gone to finalize. It makes a great difference, feeling that you are not alone. My great thanks and the best wishes to all of you - still anxiously waiting and those who are about to finalize.