The beginning of the end...

OK, so I'm just going to come right out and say it.

I AM NOT ready for Mareks to leave. Yes, we still have the rest of this week and we're certainly going to make the most of it.... but his flight leaves EARLY Sunday morning-- and I'm going to be even LESS ready then than what I am now.

We went ice skating in Wooster today- just me and "the boys." Mareks, of course, is an excellent skater and has his own skates at home. In fact, he plays ice hockey in the winter. Me... I can't honestly remember the last time I strapped on some ice skates. I was probably in high school, but that was longer ago that what I care to think about. Joe and Kyle had never been.
The rink in Wooster had "public skate" today from noon-2, and we took advantage of the entire 2 hours. Joe and Kyle actually did pretty well, all things considered. Good enough, in fact, it really makes me wish we had an ice rink in Ashland. I'd make a GREAT hockey mom. :-)

Mareks, I think, was a little surprised at the cost. In Riga, he says if you have your own skates, you can skate for free; and from the looks of him today- he must take advantage of that on a fairly regular basis.

He's been so good with Joe and Kyle. Very patient and taking part in things they want to do. He and Kyle will chase each other around the house... hiding, and then jumping out trying to scare the other one. Mareks had Kyle laughing so hard today that Kyle had to call a "time out" just so he could stop and catch his breath.

Rick and I are exploring the possibility of sponsoring Mareks on a student visa to go to school here in the US for a year. The high school in Ashland doesn't currently have the certification it needs (SEVIS... SEVP?) in order for us to do this; but I'm calling the school tomorrow to see if it's something they'd be interested in pursuing. I'm not sure what that certification costs... or even what it would cost to sponsor Mareks for a year. At this point we're just at the "information gathering" stage. There are a lot of "I don't knows" right now... but this much I DO know. If The Lord wants him here, He will open the doors that need opening and provide the finances we need. He will grease the wheels that need greased, and lead the people into our lives who can be of help.
Truth be told, Mareks may not even be interested in studying here for a year.
But before we (or someone at the orphanage) approaches him about it, I need to make sure it's even a possibility.

Please join me in praying about this. It's not something we're taking lightly. It's a big responsibility and a lot of things have to "go right" if this is going to happen.

Please also pray for all the Latvian kids who fly home on Sunday, as well as their host families. (Some will start their journeys on Saturday night.)
These kids will have been part of a family (some maybe for the first time) for the last four weeks. Now they have to leave and go back to their former lives. Some will be excited to go back... friends, familiar surroundings, familiar food, familiar schedule, familiar activities, etc. Others will beg and plead to stay. Beg and plead to be adopted...

cry for a Mama and a Papa....
cry for someone to love them.