Lunchtime

So far our favorite spot for lunch is a cafeteria called “Lunchtime.” I think initially we only ate there because we could in fact pronounce it on our own. Then we decided we like it because it was the only place we could pronounce and point to the food we wanted without looking foolish when ordering without our translator. I of course also like it because, well to be honest, I get to see the food before I order it. Yeah, so what—I’m picky. Trust me, if you were in a foreign country you’d want to know what in the world was in your soup too—so back off. :P
Oh and also—the bathrooms are great. Yeah, I hear ya laughing but you haven’t seen the bathrooms here. Just to sum it up picture no running water in most of them, no toilet seat (not that I’d even sit on it, but still an option would be nice) and no toilet paper—you gots ta bring your own roll to these places. It’s a scary, scary feeling. Anyone else know the song “stranded” (you know “stranded on a toilet bowl…blah blah without a toilet roll? Well that is most of the bathrooms in Ukraine, except add a fowl smell). So again, we love the restrooms at Lunchtime  You would too. Now go be thankful for your ‘ultra soft charmin’ and cozy bathrooms.
Despite lunchtime being our favorite spot…. Today was our best lunch ever. No it wasn’t the waitress who didn’t write down our order and tried to bring us 4 bowls of borsche that we didn’t order (honestly, I would of taken them because I don’t want her mad and spitting in our food… but Oksana isn’t so scared) or the fact that even though we were there yesterday and tipped she acted as though she’d never seen us… And really? Do you really have that many American’s pass through these parts of Jonquoe (in America this town would be without a Wal-Mart, McDonad’s and stoplight)? Nevertheless, the food is actually quite good. We had to request a menu seeing as whether or not the restaurant has a name is still up for debate and 2 days before at lunch in Johnquoe we were robbed when paying the bill. Don’t ask me how but they had no menu and no pricing we later found out—the bill was insane… I get the term ‘highway robbery’ now—this place was indeed on the highway and for what we got—it was robbery. For all I know it could have been the name. I think Oksana was having an ‘off’ day when picking it. .. Oh well… I digress…..
Why you ask was lunch so great? Yuri really talked today—really talked. No we didn’t understand it until Oksana translated but we could see the emotion and the feelings when he spoke—especially once it was translated. Needless to say it was a good talk, and it opened up a new side to little ol’ yurimatic as we like to call him.
At lunch after guzzling his whole drink before the meal even came—no worries Yuri, I’d love sacrifice mine (hehe) Yuri asked about our upcoming court date on Monday. He asked if his “old parents” would be there. We probably shouldn’t find this so endearing but who could resist? He already calls us Mom and Dad and never another name—it is heart melting, it really is. Oksana told him no and asked him if he wanted them to be there? He quickly informed her no he didn’t want them there he was glad they wouldn’t be there—he meant it to0 (strong feelings do not need translation, we could see it on his face). We then mustered the courage to have her ask him if he was at all sad about the situation with his family and all. And let me just tell you this was hard and we weren’t sure we even wanted to ask…. But at the same time we don’t want him to ever resent us for taking him away… Either way, Oksana asked him about it and his reply was direct to say the least. As he rattled off Russian like a pro we could feel the ‘personality,’ shall we say for lack of a better word, in his voice. He informed her that his brothers and sisters promised him for 3 years that they would come to get him, and they never did. As he spoke his brow furrowed and his hazel eyes welled up with tears out of painful intensity and not out of sorrow. His tears ever quite reaching his cheeks and it was only a second before they were gone and he was reaching for his next bite. About that time he made eye contact with Andrew who during this painful conversation had been squeezing his shoulders and rubbing his little neck. Upon meeting his gaze he laid down his fork and reached over to hug his Dad, smiling as though everything was right in the world. And I guess for him, right now it is. Serenading this moment was Oksana’s soft voice bluntly stating to Yuri that his brothers and sisters had never even started the process, nor where they really doing anything now. Yuri didn’t seem the least bit surprised. Which leads us to wonder, how much life experience is crammed in his little 10yr old brain? We had Oksana tell him that it is ok to be sad and if you are now or ever are that we understand and it’s ok—you don’t have to pretend to be happy. He then replied quite easily that he doesn’t pretend—he’s just not sad. And that was that. This kid has a mind of his own and he knows what he wants.
I will say it hurts me for him that he went through such a time at such a young age. He’s only 10 and has already felt the sting of betrayal as I would imagine. It amazes me that he is so optimistic and has such a happy go lucky and trusting attitude…did I mention he can walk on water…kidding, kidding.. he’s still learning :o (what?! It’s a joke…sheesh). Really though, he’s a great kid—amazing. We told him today that we’ve been trying to get back to him since we left the first time. He grinned from ear to ear (then finished off my drink… no worries I don’t need a drink kiddo). I asked if he always thought we’d come back and he replied quite confidently Yes. Yes he did.
So there you have it, our prayers were answered. You can ask anyone close to us or read the journal I kept in the process of this adoption—I prayed that somehow God would let him know. That God would give him a peace that passes all understanding and it looks like He did just that. Just like a confused human to go being surprised that God did what was asked. If I’ve learned nothing else in this process it is patience and trust. Trust in God, trust in translators who speak no English, trust in random cab drivers and trust in a little boy with features strikingly similar to his new Fathers. Trust in the fact that God is always on time…just not on our time.
Today walking back to the orphanage Yuri looked up at us in his new clothes and shoes…saddled with his new ‘big boy’ back pack loaded with treats and said through the translator “Today was a good day.” As he took our hands and turned the corner we knew he was in fact right… today was a good day.