The Day Before…

In international adoptions in general, and Kazakhstan adoptions in particular, one is always faced with that glass half full, glass half empty dichotomy. Perhaps the best description for Kaz adoptions is that the glass is always full – it just contains differing proportions of air and water (and these proportions can change in an instant). So then why this introduction in riddles? A very good question indeed. Perhaps to stave off the use of explicit profanities by the parents on a public blog (read daily by both sets of in-laws) – but we digress, somewhat. We have alluded in our earlier postings to our ongoing difficulties in obtaining actual, physical custody of our now legal daughter, Zoe Yerkezhan. And we have also mentioned that we believed that we would finally obtain custody tomorrow (Wednesday).

As in every aspect of this process, nothing is ever as it seems. Today we entered into the (not entirely unanticipated) debate that would have continued to withhold custody from us for an even more extended period of time. Did we agree? Heck no! But being cautious around this somewhat delicate matter (and realizing that everything is entirely beyond our control), we managed to resolve the “outstanding issues” sufficiently to convince “those that be” to allow us to take custody of our beloved daughter tomorrow, as hoped for. Presciently, Julian permitted Sara to perform all of the negotiating for fear of stepping beyond the bounds of good taste. Read into this process whatever you will (and I am sure that many of you can understand that there are many issues that will not be disclosed here), we are extremely happy to have achieved this ultimate resolution.

Tomorrow Zoe is ours for keeps! Enough said on that matter (until the posting tomorrow, of course).

So today, our visit with Zoe turned out to be absolutely delightful. She is over her malaise and back into her regular “fighting fitness”. Full of mischief, smiles, laughs, giggles, and trouble. The Zoe we have come to know and love. Enough trouble to last a lifetime. And we are counting on this to progress with absolute glee. For all of our lifetimes!

Finally we would like to wish a very happy birthday to Julian’s father, Grandpa John. May this year bring you more health and happiness than you could have thought conceivably possible. Plus a beautiful granddaughter.

The Yeomans clan anchored by the birthday boy in the centre.