Wow, how long have we waited for this news? On Jan. 21, Scott attended district court in Latvia for finalization of the adoption. She is now officially Sarah Gertrude Murphy. Gertrude and I still have to go back one more time for her to go through immigration. We leave Feb. 29 and return March 8. Then it will truly be done. She will be a citizen, can attend school, etc. We are all so happy and she is doing great. She is more comfortable and happy each day and adapting well. I am still homeschooling her and she learns very easily and quickly. I don't think we'll have any problems academically. She just started an art class and hip hop dance class and is adapting quite well to American life. This can be good and bad in some ways! She is anxious to start school but in the meantime I am checking into some homeschooling groups to help her meet some kids. She loves America and thinks the people are just so nice.
So, we take one day at a time and so far every day is better than the next. God knew what He was doing when he laid this desire to adopt Gertrude on our hearts. We know this is part of His perfect plan. Can't wait to see what's in store next!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
A Month at Home
Gertrude has now been here just over one month. This is longer than she has ever been here so it's sinking in she is here for good! It has been a great month, full of fun and rewards, and a few challenges. Overall she is adjusting extremely well, and Tena is adjusting extremely well with having a little sister.
Gertrude has made friends with some of Tena's friends in the neighborhood, and they all spend a lot of time together. We went to one of their homes for a New Years Eve party and all had a good time.
Christmas was a treat for all of us. It was great to watch the girls opening gifts together and giving gifts to each other. In typical Gertrude style she hugged and kissed her thank-you's, especially to Tena. Before Christmas both girls were counting down the days, and Gertrude would ask almost every day how many presents she was getting. It's so great to be able to give this to her. I know she did not have any such Christmas at the Children's Home. The last and best present we got for both of them was a Nintendo Wii. They were so excited, especially Tena who has wanted one for quite a while. Gertrude wasn't sure what it was at first, but then recognized it and was very excited also. They have both played it at a friend's house, and they have played it quite a bit since we got it.
There are a few kids here from Lativa for the Christmas hosting, and Gertrude got to spend the night at her friend Veronika's. This was her first spend the night in America and she was very excited about it. When the kids are hosted, they are not allowed to spend the night anywhere without the host parents. But now she is a free agent, on a six month visa and no such rule! So off she went and she had a ball. She is spending the night there again this Friday, and then they will all go to a place where you can feed animals and they walk right up to your car and stick their heads in the window! I know that will be a trip to remember. Also, Gertrude got to have her friend Christina spend the night here once, and she will be spending the night there in a couple of weeks.
When Gertrude first got here she called her sister and friend every day, her mom once or twice. As time goes on though, the calls are less frequent. She also talks like she is here for good now. She talks about school, about her name being Murphy (she is changing her name to Sarah Gertrude Murphy by the way). She is very happy and says so quite often.
Scott will be going to Latvia for a January 21st court date which will finalize the adoption. Then Gertrude and I will go back the first week of March to have her Embassy doctor's appointment and get her new passport, visa, and birth certificate. Then we are done and it will be final!!! I started homeschooling her and will do so until the adoption is complete. Then we may put her in school for the rest of the year. I may join a homeschooling group for a short time so she can meet some of her own friends.
Gertrude's English is absolutely amazing. You would never know that only just over a year ago she barely knew 5 words. You can actually have conversations with her and she speaks in sentences and knows a lot more than I even realize sometimes! Our friend Helen is here chaperoning the kids this Christmas, and she just saw Gertrude before we left Latvia. Only 3 weeks later when she spent some time with Gertrude here, she couldn't believe how much her English had improved already. From the way she picks up English, and from what I see when we do school together, I can tell she is a very bright kid.
Gertrude loves to dance and may start dance lessons in January. She also loves art and drawing (and she is good at it too) so she might take a drawing class.
We are loving our new family. Lots of girls, poor Scott is outnumbered between me, Tena, Gertrude and Allie, but he loves it! Both girls tell us now they want an older brother. No plans on our end for that to happen however!
So, stay tuned...more to come later.
Gertrude has made friends with some of Tena's friends in the neighborhood, and they all spend a lot of time together. We went to one of their homes for a New Years Eve party and all had a good time.
Christmas was a treat for all of us. It was great to watch the girls opening gifts together and giving gifts to each other. In typical Gertrude style she hugged and kissed her thank-you's, especially to Tena. Before Christmas both girls were counting down the days, and Gertrude would ask almost every day how many presents she was getting. It's so great to be able to give this to her. I know she did not have any such Christmas at the Children's Home. The last and best present we got for both of them was a Nintendo Wii. They were so excited, especially Tena who has wanted one for quite a while. Gertrude wasn't sure what it was at first, but then recognized it and was very excited also. They have both played it at a friend's house, and they have played it quite a bit since we got it.
There are a few kids here from Lativa for the Christmas hosting, and Gertrude got to spend the night at her friend Veronika's. This was her first spend the night in America and she was very excited about it. When the kids are hosted, they are not allowed to spend the night anywhere without the host parents. But now she is a free agent, on a six month visa and no such rule! So off she went and she had a ball. She is spending the night there again this Friday, and then they will all go to a place where you can feed animals and they walk right up to your car and stick their heads in the window! I know that will be a trip to remember. Also, Gertrude got to have her friend Christina spend the night here once, and she will be spending the night there in a couple of weeks.
When Gertrude first got here she called her sister and friend every day, her mom once or twice. As time goes on though, the calls are less frequent. She also talks like she is here for good now. She talks about school, about her name being Murphy (she is changing her name to Sarah Gertrude Murphy by the way). She is very happy and says so quite often.
Scott will be going to Latvia for a January 21st court date which will finalize the adoption. Then Gertrude and I will go back the first week of March to have her Embassy doctor's appointment and get her new passport, visa, and birth certificate. Then we are done and it will be final!!! I started homeschooling her and will do so until the adoption is complete. Then we may put her in school for the rest of the year. I may join a homeschooling group for a short time so she can meet some of her own friends.
Gertrude's English is absolutely amazing. You would never know that only just over a year ago she barely knew 5 words. You can actually have conversations with her and she speaks in sentences and knows a lot more than I even realize sometimes! Our friend Helen is here chaperoning the kids this Christmas, and she just saw Gertrude before we left Latvia. Only 3 weeks later when she spent some time with Gertrude here, she couldn't believe how much her English had improved already. From the way she picks up English, and from what I see when we do school together, I can tell she is a very bright kid.
Gertrude loves to dance and may start dance lessons in January. She also loves art and drawing (and she is good at it too) so she might take a drawing class.
We are loving our new family. Lots of girls, poor Scott is outnumbered between me, Tena, Gertrude and Allie, but he loves it! Both girls tell us now they want an older brother. No plans on our end for that to happen however!
So, stay tuned...more to come later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)