We decided to adopt in November of 2004 and signed a contract with Adoption ARK the following spring. We traveled to Kazakhstan in December of 2005 and met our little girl. When we met her we knew that she was meant to be our daughter.
Our coordinator in the region had gone to extra trouble to help us because of her relationship with Alla (our coordinator in the US) and Adoption ARK. She had found a nice apartment for us and we stayed there for 5 weeks, visiting Lizzie for 2 hours each morning and 2 hours each afternoon (except we had only one visit on Sundays). It was a relaxing time for us and I (Jane) had plenty of time for grocery shopping and cooking. Our translator shared some recipes with me for delicious Russian soups that I practiced making there and still make. Lizzie’s birthmother was Ukrainian and her birthfather Russian, so I see that as a part of her heritage that we adopted along with her. Mark and I also grew closer as a couple as we had long, relaxed mealtime conversations and shared so much time together.
Our transition to our new life together was very smooth. I had originally resisted the long stay that is required for Kazakhstan adoptions, but by the time we came home I appreciated many benefits, not only for us to get to know where Lizzie is from but, most importantly, that she really bonded with us before we took her from her familiar surroundings. We also got to know her better so were able to be better parents for her when we were given custody. Our coordinator did an excellent job of organizing things for court and handling little complications that came up.
After everything in the region was completed, our family traveled to Almaty and then Mark traveled home so he could get back to work. Lizzie and I stayed 6 days at the hotel in Almaty. While at the hotel and at various appointments in Almaty, I met others who were adopting children both through Adoption ARK and through other agencies. When we were in the region, we felt very happy that we had been guided to work with Adoption ARK because it was only through the special efforts of our coordinator, and Alla, our coordinator in the US, that we were able to be Lizzie’s parents. We were in the region over Christmas and New Years’ holidays, and during that time Alla sent a thoughtful personal gift , and calendars for all her special contacts in the region. These calendars showed pictures of children adopted from Kazakhstan, and reflected Adoption ARK’s caring for the children and families they help. All the coordinators we met were professional and eager to do a good job for us and for Alla, and there seemed to be a strong sense of caring and not just business in their interactions with her and with us.
Lizzie had her “10-month” physical examination at the pediatricians shortly after we arrived home. The doctor said she was “right where she should be” and one of the healthiest adopted children she had seen. There is a picture on this page of Lizzie playing with plastic keys. We took it on the first day we played with her, and it shows her strong neck strength. Today I had lunch with my mentor, an older woman who I really respect, and she said the Lizzie was the best-behaved 11-month old child she had ever met. Lizzie is also a very happy girl. It is clear that although the resources are very limited at the Baby House, Lizzie received a lot of loving and wise care there. Not all the children in her group responded as well to the difficulties of institutional life, and I know there will be challenges ahead for us and for Lizzie, but I hope that our story will give hope to parents who are wondering about the possibilities of adoption. Very recently, when I was feeling overwhelmed about the challenges ahead for me, I was reminded that we had felt called by God to do this, and the thought came through my head, “when God taps you on the shoulder to do something, He will give you the strength to see it through.” And as someone once told me, being a parent is one of the hardest and best things you can do. Children are a blessing from God, whether you make them in your belly or get them in your arms, and we are truly blessed to be Lizzie’s parents.
We will be forever grateful to Adoption ARK--to all our coordinators and especially Alla--for making it possible for us to adopt such a wonderful child. 2007