The Birth Certificate

Today we drove two hours to Luke's birth city. Let me just say that it was one roller coaster of a ride. The roads have plenty of holes to go around for sure. I did get a great two hour massage from the ride so all is well. On our way there, our taxi driver had to ask for directions from random bystanders. I love it! We eventually made it to the city. The ride to his birth city was very beautiful and I was thankful to be able to see more of Ukraine. When we got to the birth certificate office, I got out of the car and my poor mother was left in the car with her Kindle. Don't worry,  she was safe with our taxi driver who happens to be a deacon at his church. Lets just say two and a half hours later I was pretty much dancing out to the car with excitement when the birth certificate was finally finished. Ken and I are on his birth certificate as his parents!! YAY!!! After we had the birth certificate we were headed back home and I was able to get another great two hour massage.

So tomorrow we head to the region's capital to apply for his passport. The city his orphanage is in is two hours from where he was born. His orphanage is also a few hours away from where we need to get his passport. Ukraine is divided into different regions and each region has a "capital city" I guess that is what you could call it. Kiev is the capital of Ukraine though just in case you were wondering. It is kind of confusing. :) Hopefully I will be able to let you know soon how it went. I am not sure when I will have internet once we leave this city (where his orphanage is) tomorrow.

Before we went to Luke's birth city, we went to lunch with the taxi driver and another lady. Well, we had a great time except no one could understand each other. It was pretty funny! I was sitting across from our taxi driver and mom was sitting across from the lady. Can we say awkword? I could only understand mom and our taxi driver could only understand that lady. Our taxi driver told me I need to learn more Russian. :) I did tell him all the words I knew but I am not sure how much that impressed him. So we did a lot of laughing and pointing. I am sure we looked so dumb. Oh well. We had a great time. I feel like I can relate to the people at the tower of Babel and how frustrating that would have been with all of the different languages. I do wish I knew a little more Russian. I know enough to get around and figure things out but not enough to have a conversation. Maybe one day. But for now I will stick to English.

I took this picture today during our short visit before we headed to his birth city. He has started to warm up to my mom and even sat on her lap. I love it!

In adoption news:

Please pray for the passport we will be getting for Luke. Please pray that we can get him one that will only take three days instead of the new ones that take five days. I know that is only a two day difference. But if it is a three day passport, we will have it by Friday and travel to Kiev for the Embassy appointment over the weekend and go to the Embassy  the beginning of next week. Then we will be able to travel home the middle of next week instead of the end.