First Meeting
We traveled by train 12 hours to region and then another 2 hours to city before we met the inspector. Looking rather ragged, we were in good spirits and a bit of adrenaline rush to get to our boy. The inspector was so nice and really liked us as well so within 30 minutes she joined us to go out to the institution. She had to observe Maxim and our interactions with eachother to make a favorable approval to begin the adoption process locally.
As we were ushered down several hallways, many faces came and went and I wondered when I would see him. We came into a room to find him sitting there on a couch by himself. His eyes were wide, like a deer in headlights. Not long before we arrived, he was told his Mama and Papa were coming for him. Being the third family to adopt here in it's over 50 year existence, children are not expecting to hear this kind of news.
After the meeting, the inspector came to us and said she was amazed to see such a boy as Maxim in this institution. She had tears in her eyes and began working in her free time to gather all of the necessary papers so we can go to the judge hopefully as soon as Monday.
Maxim is doing better than we could even imagine. He is TINY for 9 1/2 years but he is not weak. Some of the questions he had for us was if we had a refrigerator and food at our house. He particularly wants green grapes. Do we have a car? Cats, dogs? He was overjoyed to hear we had pets! AND, we presented the photo album to him of his new family and at the front I had some pictures from when I first met him. He just stared at them then kissed them and then told our translator that he remembered. It was a most beautiful first meeting although overwhelming for him for sure. He hugged each of us calling us Mama, Papa and brother. Perhaps his one struggle is a few close friends there one in particular he is close to. He is 17, no feet and cleft palate but he does EVERYTHING include teach and care Maxim. He is pictured below with Holden and Maxim. It's hard to believe he is 17.
Thank you for your prayers! We appreciate them oh so much! Love you, Tina, Randy and Holden
Comments
Kayla
http://bebrandnew.blogspot.com
I think it's amazing that the family adopting Corinna just left a few weeks ago and now you are there! And Nadya who was once at Torez is getting adopted too!
Joy McClain