Day Twelve: Court
Sorry no photos to share today. It was an emotionally packed day as we scurried to make calls and confirmations and learned early this morning that our problems were resolved for court. Then we went out to the institution for Randy and Holden to play with Maxim one last time and say goodbye. It was hard for all of them and me too. I knew that this place had changed their hearts and the children are forever impressed into their memories, not to be forgotten. Telling Artyom and Beautiful goodbye was especially difficult. Maxim took it all pretty well knowing Mom was going to continue coming to see him each day and that he would be coming to America soon. He's hanging on that.
We had a small break of time for lunch before we walked to court. We stood in a crowded dark hallway until we were called in to a small room. The inspector, the institution's psychologist, the prosecutor, recorder and judge met us there. The session went well and we touched that even when the inspector and psychologist spoke in the hearing they spoke well of us personally and had we had impressed their hearts with our time with Maxim. When it was over we were sent back outside to wait for the decision to be handed down and then we were called back inside. While we waited, George who doesn't meet a stranger was explaining to the others in the hallway what was taking place. We received blessings, hugs and thank you's from people I will never see again but will thank God for the encouragement at that moment. As we filed back in to the court room, I tried to keep myself strong. The weight of all of these months, the paperwork, the years of prayers for Maxim, thoughts of my kids at home, thoughts of Holden and Randy leaving only a couple of hours later....ALL OF IT was sitting on my heart and I didn't want it all to come pouring out on in a bawl like I wanted to so badly. So as she announced that Randy and Tina Kacirek are now the parents of Maxim Joseph Kacirek, I stood there with tears pouring down my face. I didn't know tears could be produced in that quantity. I turned to see the inspector and psychologist and everyone was crying. It's only right that Maxim be rejoiced over in this way. We felt a huge victory spiritually- what Satan meant to kill has been redeemed and blessed. Maxim Joseph has a mother and a father and a family!
So it felt all so anticlimactic to find ourselves in the market afterwards and then packing Randy and Holden's things into the truck to go. They take a drive to the train station then a 12 hour ride to the city. Tomorrow they go to the Embassy and hop an early flight Thursday morning. Because of the time change, they will be home thursday afternoon. Funny. My heart will feel such a leap to see them back home.
As for me, I cannot get rights to Maxim until Dec. 13th and I still need to travel to his birth city which is 3 hours away to get his birth certificate- that can't be done on the 13th so we wait until the 14th. And we need to have the birth certificate before we can attain his finalized passport so adding all that needs to be done here in region before we head up for medicals and 2 day embassy visits, we may be looking at returning to the US around Dec. 18-20th sometime.
As I waved goodbye to George, Randy and Holden, I kept repeating to myself inside, "I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl." Then thoughts of Maxim flooded my mind of all of the times he had been disappointed, left alone, scared. Then I began thinking of all that is going through his little head right now and how strong he has to be. Not knowing where he is going, no idea of what America is or how he will get there. His leap of faith is far greater than Randy and mine in going for him. Leaping in faith isn't easy. There are not guarantee's that your road is made easy. But we don't live out faith because we are "safe." Part of leaping is trusting. That's what Maxim is doing. He's leaping that even after being hurt by his birth parents, being left alone in an institution for many years, that he will trust one more time. Gosh, that leaves me speechless. I think of how many people I know who will not trust again, who will not believe the best, who feel they are forever scarred from their pasts.
Childlike faith.... Childlike faith.... I'm a big girl. I'm clinging to childlike faith.
Praising Jesus for this day, for this gift of Maxim Joseph Kacirek - a preciously loved son of mine.
Love, Tina
We had a small break of time for lunch before we walked to court. We stood in a crowded dark hallway until we were called in to a small room. The inspector, the institution's psychologist, the prosecutor, recorder and judge met us there. The session went well and we touched that even when the inspector and psychologist spoke in the hearing they spoke well of us personally and had we had impressed their hearts with our time with Maxim. When it was over we were sent back outside to wait for the decision to be handed down and then we were called back inside. While we waited, George who doesn't meet a stranger was explaining to the others in the hallway what was taking place. We received blessings, hugs and thank you's from people I will never see again but will thank God for the encouragement at that moment. As we filed back in to the court room, I tried to keep myself strong. The weight of all of these months, the paperwork, the years of prayers for Maxim, thoughts of my kids at home, thoughts of Holden and Randy leaving only a couple of hours later....ALL OF IT was sitting on my heart and I didn't want it all to come pouring out on in a bawl like I wanted to so badly. So as she announced that Randy and Tina Kacirek are now the parents of Maxim Joseph Kacirek, I stood there with tears pouring down my face. I didn't know tears could be produced in that quantity. I turned to see the inspector and psychologist and everyone was crying. It's only right that Maxim be rejoiced over in this way. We felt a huge victory spiritually- what Satan meant to kill has been redeemed and blessed. Maxim Joseph has a mother and a father and a family!
So it felt all so anticlimactic to find ourselves in the market afterwards and then packing Randy and Holden's things into the truck to go. They take a drive to the train station then a 12 hour ride to the city. Tomorrow they go to the Embassy and hop an early flight Thursday morning. Because of the time change, they will be home thursday afternoon. Funny. My heart will feel such a leap to see them back home.
As for me, I cannot get rights to Maxim until Dec. 13th and I still need to travel to his birth city which is 3 hours away to get his birth certificate- that can't be done on the 13th so we wait until the 14th. And we need to have the birth certificate before we can attain his finalized passport so adding all that needs to be done here in region before we head up for medicals and 2 day embassy visits, we may be looking at returning to the US around Dec. 18-20th sometime.
As I waved goodbye to George, Randy and Holden, I kept repeating to myself inside, "I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl. I'm a big girl." Then thoughts of Maxim flooded my mind of all of the times he had been disappointed, left alone, scared. Then I began thinking of all that is going through his little head right now and how strong he has to be. Not knowing where he is going, no idea of what America is or how he will get there. His leap of faith is far greater than Randy and mine in going for him. Leaping in faith isn't easy. There are not guarantee's that your road is made easy. But we don't live out faith because we are "safe." Part of leaping is trusting. That's what Maxim is doing. He's leaping that even after being hurt by his birth parents, being left alone in an institution for many years, that he will trust one more time. Gosh, that leaves me speechless. I think of how many people I know who will not trust again, who will not believe the best, who feel they are forever scarred from their pasts.
Childlike faith.... Childlike faith.... I'm a big girl. I'm clinging to childlike faith.
Praising Jesus for this day, for this gift of Maxim Joseph Kacirek - a preciously loved son of mine.
Love, Tina
Comments
Praying for continued strength and safety and a quick return.
Jill
Just keep in mind, ALL of us that are lifting You and Maxim in Prayer. If there is some way or something I can do to help make this waiting time easier, Please, let me know.
Lots of Love ~ JO ~
may the good Lord continue to keep you and all of your family in the palm of His hand as you finish this wonderful journey!
Jan
Much Love,
Chantel