After

Big events in life almost always cause a BC/AD thought process in us.  Before marriage.  After.  Before children.  After.  Before loss. After. Before Ukraine. After Ukraine.  We arrived back in the States after nearly two months living in Ukraine on December 25th, 2012.  Two and a half years ago.  "Where have [we] been?" is the next question. Like Jen Hatmaker, we have some "after the airport" thoughts.  ( http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport ).  We gained attention when half our passports were stolen on our way there.  Maybe we kept attention throughout the process with heart-sleeve honesty about our journey, trials and ultimately our success in bringing Liza (Leeza) home; or maybe it was because she was 16 and aging out at the time; or maybe it was because it was Christmas; or because we had our four biological children and 66 year-old parents with us. We had a lot of people, tens of thousands, checking our blog, writing to us, praying for us and following every step with bated breath.  After seven interminably long weeks, on Christmas night, we made it home with our new daughter.

The end.

At least that's what it looked like; a sparkly, Christmas miracle, fairy tale ending (if there were any such thing as fairy tales about international adoption).  We left our supporters kinda hanging afterward. Sorry about that.  Now we'd like to tell you why.  Through a series of pieces that we are writing together with Liza, which will be translated into Russian for other kids in her situation to read if their new parents so desire, we want to share part two of our story.  Tom & I have often written jointly to give you both perspectives of Mom and Dad.  One thing that has since been gained is Liza's perspective.  She has a voice now.  Praise God.  And she wants to use it.  We expect it to be challenging but cathartic and relationship building for us.  

Why now?  Well, Liza decided last week that she wants to return to Ukraine on a mission trip with her Daddy in June.  That's HUGE.  Until now she has readily admitted that it was too soon and would be too painful.  Now Liza believes she's ready to not only return to her birthplace, but to minister to orphans there...during wartime.  Could she be any more courageous??? When I have the emotional energy to think through the complexities of if all, I am full-circle-speechless.

Step one is to, get this, obtain a passport.  Ordinarily this wouldn't be a record scratching moment.  However, USCIS has kinda dropped the ball on finalizing her citizenship.  She is the only Ukrainian teen adopted into the U.S. that we personally know of who has still not taken her citizenship oath 2.5 years later.  So there's that.  And then there's just--- us and passports.  It's a thing.  A Mountain thing.  Stay tuned.

Coming Soon: We will get our feet wet in the shallow end with a lighter subject that we have practiced quite a bit, what Liza calls "My American Smile". :)