More details from Court

We met with Helen and have to wait until 3:30 to head over to Andrew's orphanage to pick him up. We then go to the Civil magistrates office to file birth certificates and start passport processing. We have an appointment at 5:30 then we head to Kathlena's orphanage to pick her up and deliver gifts. I brought gifts for Andrew's orphanage and David and I are about to head to the market for Kathlena's orphanage. We are buying cakes for the staff and diapers for the kids. Helen graciously helped us with translating thank you notes. She has been so helpful and we are so grateful for the Russian staff that works with our agency. I am not sure how we would navigate this otherwise. They really work hard to accommodate and help us with everything.
Funny moments from court. Well, mostly court was the solemn occasion it should be but, then we are Shiflet's and it is hard to stay completely serious for 1hr and a half. Actually, this was purely accidental but I nearly cracked up...fortunately I kept my wits about me. In court the judge asks you a series of questions of which our translator has given us specific answers to some we simply say "yes" or "no" where appropriate and others have a more lengthy explanation. On one of the answers David responded "si" which is spanish for yes. He had been answering with yes or "Da" or no or "neight" but for some reason "si" came out. We all laughed til we cried when we got back to the hotel. Fortunately, our translator said "Da" and kept on going. I don't think the judge ever noticed he had said anything different. Well, it will be one of those funny stories to go along with the special day today is.
Well I have got to run David and I are off to the market to get cakes and diapers. Will try to write more as time permits and post pictures but with 4 kids in a hotel room time will suddenly be limited for posting. Das Va Danya--Goodbye!

"Labor" of Court...."Birth" of Adoption

It is official...30minutes ago (11:30am) we became the proud legal parents of Andrew David and Kathlena Hope Shiflet. Thanks for praying for Emily and J. Michael. They were able to stay right outside the court room the whole time--they could even hear much of the testimony. Court was long but uneventful...David did very well on his speech and I had to give a small speech and then was given a series of questions from the judge (my favorite-talking off the cuff!). I made it though... the Lord was gracious. We also had two social workers from each orphange recommend us to the court, as well as Sergei from the Ministry of Education. Then the inspector of children's rights spoke (this department has oversight of the orphanages) followed by the prosecutor. All spoke very highly of us and especially of Emily and J.Michael. The officials in the court really seemed to be concerned about our bio children accepting Andrew and Kathlena, and those that had the opportunity to observe them together(since we brought them with us) were very impressed. After having gone through this, I am even more convinced of the importance of bringing Emily and J.Michael, not only for their sake, but also the testimony they have had in this process of their love for their new brother and sister.

We're back at the hotel for lunch and a quick break. Our translator, Helen, will meet us at 1pm to go over our schedule. The court promised to have the birth certificates and other documents (with new names) ready by this afternoon. With these documents we can apply for passports and get out of here!

We should be able to pick up Andrew and Kathlena later today and have them with us beginning tonight. It's very exciting to see this stage of our journey coming to an end. It will take a couple of days to get the passports; we're tentatively scheduled to leave Ark on Friday for Moscow. This will be a welcomed change, because we will have a 3 room apartment with a kitchen (!!!) in Moscow instead of a hotel room with four kids. We feel like were camping four stories up. At least there is a market just outside the hotel.