30+ hours and many time zones later, we finally made it to Mila's country. We arrived at DFW airport and walked right through security, no lines. So far, so good. Then we hit JFK. Wow! The security line was about an hour long. This was the LAST half of the line. You cant see the end!!! The front was almost as long, with the rope maze added to it..It was CRAZY!!!
then we had to go through an xray machine. People were not so friendly, I was totally out of my element....Until I came here. It's very different. Noone smiles at you. Everyone minds their own business. There is not any small talk at all. The women all where 6-8 inch heels. Even the security officer at the airport last night had in tall boots with 6 inch heels. Being from the south, and especially now, living in a small rural town, we talk to EVERYONE. It is extremely different.
On the plane to Europe (the trip took 3 different planes) we were in a HUGE plane. The TVs in the headrests were pretty cool. You could watch several different movies/shows of your choice, or play video games. The coolest thing was that at take off and landing the TVs had a camera (like a back up camera) that showed the takeoff.
It was pretty neat. They also show the speed and temperature and exact location you are flying over.
And YES.. That temperature says negative 74!!! There was frost forming on the windows as we flew.
The language barrier is difficult, but quite a few people speak SOME English, so it's not too bad.
We checked in our hotel this morning at 6 am and slept until our facilitator called at 1:30pm. We went to the Department of Education to receive permission to visit/Mila and receiver the referral of that specific child. The interview there went so well. We were both so calmed and felt the spirit very strong... It was very powerful. The director of the DOE was touched and was so sweet and said that she NEW that Mila would have a wonderful home with parents that will love her. It was a very touching and amazing experience.
We then traveled (by traveled, I mean was driven by our driverand everyone drives like drunk, blind Nascar drivers...WOW!!) to the director of the Orphanage/baby home. It is mad up of a series of buildings throughout the city and outskirts.
Here, we learned about Mila.
Her parents have been married for years. She has a 10 year old sister that lives with her parents. Her mother is quite a bit younger than her father. They are both College grads with Masters degrees and professors at Universities. They were devastated to have a baby with Ds, they had really wanted this baby and when she was born they were heartbroken. Then both signed away their rights at the hospital. Mila was born on November 27,2009. Almost exactly 1 month older than Hope. Everyone seems to LOVE her there. She is very smart. She learns quickly. She laughs and smiles alot. She is a happy baby. She is definately an orphanage favorite. Their faces lit up to talk about her.
We meet her at 9:30 tomorrow morning. We CANNOT wait!!!! My heart is full of an overwhelming joy and a calming reassuring feeling that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. It is the same exact feeling I got when I would go to the hospital and hold Hope when she was born. I had forgotten what a humbling peaceful feeling that was.
I miss my children terribly. I woke up this morning and wanted to see them so badly. I am so lucky to have each of them. I hope they know how much their mom and dad truly love them. I hope tomorrow Mila can feel that same love.
I am also so so grateful to my sisters ... all 3 of them (Kel,Heather and Arielle) They are amazing people. They have been so willing to help us with ANYTHING. I'm so glad my girls have sisters. I hope they are always close.
I'll have pictures of Mila tomorrow!!! I saw a recent picture of her today.
She is perfect.
Here are a few pictures of our Hotel view and some buildings around us.
Across the street:
Clock tower next door:
Fountain/park benches across the street:
view of the river from our window:
View out our window:
