Getting Closer!

I (Kim) arrived back in Kiev on Sunday afternoon. Monday evening I met Natasha and Olga and we took a night train (with one other mystery traveler in our compartment) to Kherson. We arrived at 5:45 and went to the house Eric and Natasha Jones (a couple from Seattle who is also here to adopt) for a few moments. Before 8 AM we left to start processing papers. We weaved a trail through Kherson, through many dark and - very - cold waiting rooms in banks and government offices. We processed birth certificates and adoption decrees and tax numbers for the boys. Now they are officially Alexander Carroll Mitchell and Oleg David Mitchell and we have the papers to prove it.

Finally, at 4 PM we made it to the orphanage and after a short meeting with the director to sign yet more papers, we got to spend a few minutes with the boys. They'll spend one last night in the orphanage and I'm to show up bright and early tomorrow with their new clothes. We'll need to go right away to apply for Ukrainian passports for them. Then we will take the overnight train to Kiev and begin the wait for the passports to be issued and American visa to be obtained.

They are both so excited. Excited about their first train ride (even though they may be in for a letdown as Sasha said he was looking forward to the stewardesses serving him on the train - I had to explain that the train we are to take is not quite that luxurious), their first time in Kiev, their first plane ride and, of course, their first time to America. But they are most excited to meet their new big sister Renee. At their insistence, we actually called Maggie for a few moments so she could say hi to them. All in all, it has been a tiring day but we accomplished all we needed to. Thanks for your continued prayers!