Albania Days 23 & 24

Day 23:

We get to sleep in a bit this morning as we didn't need to go to the orphanage until lunch time--this time for a pick up for a home visit. My girly was excited to 'go home', walking hand in hand the 1/2 mile to the 3rd story walk up apartment we call home. In fact, she stood at the bottom of the steps and called up "Gramma!  Gramma!" She is learning who her people are <3 

Our first official meal together as a family was pizza, salad and Coke. Nothing more American than that, uh? While she folded her hands for Isaac to pray she was a bit confused by us singing the Doxology (something we do in our home for meals)--she'll learn. 

The rest of the visit was benign. She was peaceful as we packed up our bag, waved goodbye to Gramma and headed down the stairs. About half way back to the orphanage she shut down...then the tears came. She fully understood she had to leave her 'home' to go back to the orphanage. Oh my heart. Thankfully, she folded into my embrace at the large steel gate of the orphanage and let the tears flow as the Mother Superior opened the door.  How do you explain to a tender heart Mommy Always Comes Back when for 13 & 1/2 years no mommies ever came?  How do you convince a little one she is not being rejected? That we are at the mercy of the court? That the Sisters are her guardians and are doing their absolute best but even they say they can't provide what she needs...a family. 

I'm preparing a place for you sweet heart. Get ready. You have to believe, I WILL be back.

Sounds familiar doesn't it?

Day 24: 

The Sisters reported this morning that my girl was "so very sad all afternoon" yesterday. Oh honey!  "The judge needs to hear the cries of the child. We are going to him today".  Oh thank you Sister! Our Sassy-Polish-Sister-friend went determined to get a timeline of when our judge plans to grant us a court date. We are still within the expected timeline but my heart is certainly feeling a sense of urgency--my girly needs to not be in the orphanage any more. She is physically safe but her heart is slowly breaking with little understanding of what is keeping her from her family. She NEEDS a Mommy, and Isaaci and a Gramma and an Annie. Will you please pray with us? I don't know if this lack of movement from the judge is a cultural issue, a spiritual attack or what, but I am holding on to the promise the Lord gave me from the very beginning: "I will move the mountains, I will split the seas".  We need a miraculous intervention to get a quick court date and to get things moving forward. We are also starting some adoption counseling for my girly to help tease out what she actually understands is happening and to help give her some tools to process this very traumatic process to the best extent of her understanding. Will you pray over this as well? My daughter's heart is so very tender, carrying a lifetime of rejection that no heart should ever know.  

The heat kicked up to 96 again today...close to melt your brain territory, so we headed to the pool again (even called for an air conditioned taxi for the ride!). Isaac is getting particularly good at using his arms now for swimming: "Wook Momma! Skwoop Skwoop 'wim" (using his scoopers-hands to start his crawl-stroke). 

Albania Days 21 & 22

Day 21:

Today is our fourth Sunday in country, also our 4th Sunday missing from our church community. When the option to go to the capital and attend an international Assembly's of God church presented itself, we jumped on it.  Oh to worship with the family of Christ (in English and Albanian!) and to refresh our spirits!  Adoption is stressful--physically, emotionally, financially, mentally and spiritually. Our hearts NEEDED to worship today--it felt so very good. 

After a delicious Albanian lunch (baked feta with honey, people! Baked feta with honey!) our Bethany missionary friends took us around Tirana for some sight seeing and a bit of history. 

Annie and our missionary friends on top the Selfie Tower:

Skanderbeg. The Albanian nobleman and military leader that stopped the Turks in Albania prevented the Ottomon empire from extending into Europe.

Monument to the Freedom Fighters of WW2:

Spice and Produce Market.  The colors and the smells are WONDERFUL:

Day 22:  

Trial and error has been the name of the game in finding what both interests my girly and is developmentally at her level. Today we tried stamps, which didn't get any far (and rendered absolute offense when Isaac stamped his own forehead!), but picture dominoes were a big hit!!  As we continue to work on both English and ASL, finding the things that she does like and adding "more" has been a success too.  After every game we clapped and yahoo'd and then waited and looked at my girl. Her eyes would light up and lips would tentatively form the M sound as her hands found their way together "More?"  YES!!! More!!  And we'd play again.  She also let Isaac give her a zerbert on her arm (his somewhat sloppy way of showing  excited affection), and she smiled ear to ear. We are making progress on many fronts. 

Two specific prayer requests:

1. We have yet to hear from our judge regarding a court date. He has had our file for just a week, but unfortunately one of the Sisters decided to share a series of discouraging stories of how meticulous and therefore slow this particular judge can be. That was not good for my heart. Please join us as we continue to lift our judge up before the Lord and pray for him to have wisdom regarding our care and SPEED.  

2. Continued health. My mom has struggled with the heat here and come down with another virus. Thankfully, the rest of us have remained healthy (after my initial full body viral implosion). Please continue to cover us all in health & healing as we soldier forward on this journey. We are doing our best to stay cool, hydrated, joyful and healthy. 

Albania Days 19 & 20

Day 19:

Have I mentioned the food in Albania? SO. VERY. GOOD.  This morning during our errands we intended to stop for gelato but then they had creme brulee and hazelnut chocolate layer cake and a gift direct from Heaven for Annie...Nutella mousse.  The only way we can justify the frequent treats is a) everything is so very cheap and b) we walk 5+ miles per day in 90 degree heat with 90% humidity. We NEED the sustenance!  *wink*

Fruits & vegis are not sold in the stores, only in the produce market, so we end up shopping there a couple of times per week. We have a watermelon guy now and have found a few women towards the middle of the market that are kind and honest. Today, one woman even chased me down several blocks when I forgot to take the grapes I had just paid for.  

Albania is becoming more and more modern, but still just 25 years since coming out of a deep & isolated communist state the 'old ways' are still prevalent. We pass this woman nearly every day as she sells her chives and spices. Today she let me take her picture. Feels like Albania in one photo. 

This afternoon my girly made her first trip out of the orphanage with her family. We brought her 'home', made popcorn and watched a movie. She was enthralled. And slowly through the show she relaxed into my arms and shared her mommy with her brother...even reaching out to touch him lightly on the cheek: "Isaaci, my brother".  Melt a mother's heart. <3

They came up with this pose on their own!

When I asked the Sisters how my girl talked about her field trip apparently she casually declared "I went home".  God sets the lonely in families <3

Day 20:

In a miracles of miracles, I figured out a way to get our external DVD player to work last night. This feels HUGE. We came prepared for easier access to wi-fi then we've experienced and with a book of DVDs to watch in the evenings on the laptop. When it appeared the DVD player wouldn't work and wi-fi wasn't going to be an option we were all a bit deflated...Now what?  We've gotten creative. Isaac plays ball or with the playdough we brought. A few books are available as is a coloring book and markers. Annie has taken to getting creative in the kitchen, including hand juicing 17 lemons to make a gallon of lemonade.  Then there are the dishes and the laundry and the mopping and the cleaning.  Feels like the pioneer life doesn't it? But now...NOW...we have DVD access. Hallelujah!  

My girly is 13 & 1/2 but has had no to limited access to developmental or academic training. Many of the things we take for granted with our children in how the learn--blocks, crayons, balls, bikes, making crafts, helping in the kitchen, etc--she has not had access to in her life. I prepared crafts and games to bring to our daily visits to help us bond, not aware that her fine motor skills are that of a preschooler. In addition to not being able to read or write, she literally does not know how to cut, color or create. This has taken me a bit by surprise and I've struggled with how to keep her engaged several hours per day during our visits.  Today, I brought paints for BOTH my children to enjoy and we found success---nearly 40 solid minutes of engagement, creativity, English learning and smiles.  Looks like I'll need to stock up on water color sets (and puzzles!  Her other favorite) when we get home. 

 Tomorrow we are headed to the capital for a day trip!

Albania Days 17 & 18

Day 17:

My girly wasn't feeling well today so our visit was cut short by tears. Her heart has come so very far in the last 17 days but she doesn't yet know to come to me when she needs comfort. The Sisters were near by and gave her the care she has learned to receive over the last 13 years. The time will come when she knows my heart is safe for all things, until then I am thankful for the sweet women who love Jesus and my daughter. 

We have really struggled with the heat the last two days; streams of water pouring down our necks, backs and chests. Glow is no longer the cute moniker to use--WET is the only descriptor; just WET.  Our YWAM missionary friend picked us up at lunch and took us to a local pool. Our pool experience at the hotel over the weekend was, um...less than inspiring (gross and jenky is more accurate) so I was a little nervous. But glory-be--it was PERFECT. For nearly 4 hours we floated, swam, dunked, slid, splashed and refreshed.  It was so very wonderful.  Isaac conquered the twirly slide nearly a dozen times and went down the BIG slide three different times! (I only tried it once--too fast for me!).  I would stand at the top of the twirly slide and see him down into Gramma or Annie's arms--his giggle resonated through the tubes and he would send a thumbs up my direction as he made the final turn. What a brave boy!  We didn't have our waterproof camera with us but mental photos I wish I had on film include:

• Isaac's face as he slid off the slide and into the pool--each time, utter joy!
• Annie taking a skin board down the BIG slide and skimming 20 yards into the pool.
• The "lifeguard" (there was no guarding of life happening) smoking at the top of the slide as he PUSHED kids down into the chute. 
• Two adult men, one upside down on his back with this arms in the air holding the hands of the second man standing on his belly surfing his friend down the 30 foot slide and launching himself into the pool just as the slide ended! (again...no life-guarding lifeguards on the premise)
• Gramma repeating getting out of the pool and climbing the slide to follow Isaac down the twisty slide--filling his memory tank of the summer he spent in Albania, swimming with his Gramma.  

We came home exhausted, sunburned and refreshed so very thankful for the time to escape the heat.

DAY 18:

My girly was feeling better today and was in a musical mood. Playing with my phone is usually how we end our 1:1 visits. She is enthralled with taking selfies, movies of her orphanage friends, playing Isaac's games and watching worship videos on YouTube. I've preset a beautiful rendition of "No Longer Slaves" in Albanian and she absolutely soaks it up. She asks for it daily "Jesus musica?" pointing to my phone. She wandered the halls today singing, letting her heart be light and allowing Jesus to speak to her sweet heart. At one point I found her on her bed, like any teenager, holding the phone and bouncing along to the music. The scene that melted me was seeing her at the end of a long, sterile, orphanage hallway worshiping, jiggling her little hips and singing "Jam bir e Parendise" (I am a child of God). I pulled one of the sisters aside to watch her with me and we both just smiled. 

This afternoon the original Albanian Team wandered into town and found the cool part of the Elbasan Castle!  A hotel has reclaimed the West end of the remaining walls of the Ottoman Empire-era castle and added gardens and a lovely cafe. We soaked in the beauty (the shade) and the local cuisine. Isaac is a big fan of bruchetta and Annie & I tried a local specialty of lamb baked in cheesy yogurt--so very good!  

We made it home just before a massive storm hit and we were able to prevent our apartment from flooding.  (Also we watched a man take three live chickens and behead them on the side of the street--so that happened). 

Tomorrow...my girly gets to visit our apartment!  She is. so. very. excited!  (So are we).