Happy New Year

January 1st, 2009

We're back, a little behind on updating the blog. Busy running around updating documents for trip #2 and renewed my passport in 24 hrs. Trying to catch up with everyone and still not finished doing our rounds visiting everyone!!! It's nice to be back and see everyone, including Sonny but something is missing! The last day in Kazakhstan was extremely hard and saying good-bye to Dylan was one of the hardest things to do in my life. The 1st and last day at the orphanage are 2 days that will mark me for the rest of my life.

The trip back home went well but it was LONG!!! The train ride was slow but comfortable. We came across more Corruption on the train when an officer came in our cabin to check our documents. He spoke to us in Russian but we didn't understand one word that he said. He gave sign to Fil to follow him in another room and as he was holding our passports he asked Fil for money and Fil actually bargained with him and gave him less than what he asked for. When Fil came back in the cabin he said, "I had to give him money" I said. "WHAT"??? I took whatever money we had and I hid it in a very feminine place. It wasn't much money that Fil gave him but it's the principle of this corrupted land!!

On another note---> Happy New Year to all our wonderful friends and family and thanks for all your support!!! We are impatiently waiting for trip # 2 to go back, go to court so that Dylan officially becomes ours forever and bring him home where he belongs. I wish you all Health, Peace and Happiness!!!