We have made it home!
We sincerely want to THANK ALL OF YOU for your incredible support and thoughts and prayers during our international adoption adventure in bringing Alena Eden Moss home. We certainly believe it was God's hand who blessed us with Alena.
Her transition during the first few days have had many firsts for Alena. She saw her first tall buildings in Almaty and road on her first escalator in the mall. She saw her first opera (mine too) and experienced her first long car ride through the mountains. She took her first airplane ride and really got her money's worth as it took 7 hours to fly to Frankfurt and then another 12 hours to fly to Los Angeles. She walked barefoot on a beach for the first time, saw her first ocean and rode her first roller coaster. She watched me cheer like a maniac, and then exchanged a number of high fives with me Sunday as The Ohio State Buckeyes beat Wisconsin in hoop. We had her in a golf store and Jonathan gave Alena her first lesson on a putting green. She is kind hearted, laughs a lot, likes to hug our dogs and most of all loves being with Kelly. (Who doesn't). Hopefully we can always be the loving family she was dreaming for. Next mission is to teach her English. After she masters the English language, I don't think we will be able to tell her apart from your kids.
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers, they have been comforting and effective.
We hope you and all of your families are well!
Joe, Kelly, Jonathan, Jameson and Alena
Monday, February 26, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
News
Joe is sitting in the Almaty Airport waiting to board the 3:45am flight to Frankfurt. Alena is all smiles.
They got thru immigration and when Alena steps on US soil, she becomes a US Citizen. How awesome is that. Joe told me Alena enjoyed the Opera, but said nothing about whether he enjoyed it. By tomorrow we shall have our daughter home. Can you imagine. It is so wonderful. I will let you know if I hear any updates when they get to Frankfurt. Thank goodness for the crown room. They will go to the Frankfurt Crown Room while they wait for their next flight home to America. They will get in about 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. We can't wait.
Kelly
They got thru immigration and when Alena steps on US soil, she becomes a US Citizen. How awesome is that. Joe told me Alena enjoyed the Opera, but said nothing about whether he enjoyed it. By tomorrow we shall have our daughter home. Can you imagine. It is so wonderful. I will let you know if I hear any updates when they get to Frankfurt. Thank goodness for the crown room. They will go to the Frankfurt Crown Room while they wait for their next flight home to America. They will get in about 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. We can't wait.
Kelly
The Opera?
Our cook is awesome! Comes by the apartment every evening at 5:30 and has dinner ready at 6:00 sharp. She has made a baked chicken opening night, beef goulash the next night, pasta filled with meet the next and then mini meatloaves the next night. Always served with some form of potatoes, various forms of salads, a plate of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, and then some incredible dessert. Tonight beef stroganoff is on the docket. We've definitely stepped it up this trip and horse never made the menu this time.
Our driver Igor got stopped by the police for the second time this week. He drove straight across a regular 4 lane street into a store parking lot. Apparently there was a double yellow running down the street but it was completely gone or wore out where he crossed. He later told me you can never cross your wheels over a double yellow anytime. Seems bizarre considering all the other chaos I've seen on the roads here. Anyways, The police were sitting in this little white unmarked car. The cop jumped out and waved him over and got back in his car. He was a young heavy set cop and him and his partner were laughing their ass off as we slowly pulled by them and then parked behind them. Igor suggested for Alena and I to go in the store but I told him we would wait. Igor and this policeman go on to argue for 25 minutes about whether there was a double yellow line in the street or not, Igor often walking to the street and pointing at the spot as he pleaded his case. I wish I had the video camera rolling but I just didn't have the guts to turn it on because at that time I wasn't sure what was being said and why we were pulled over.
The following is Igor's play by play to me postgame in his limited English. (to be read in a heavy Russian accent)
No yellow, yes yellow, No yellow, yes yellow, No yellow.
I give you ticket. No No No No Nooo. Yes ticket. No ticket. The cop begins to write the ticket. Then Igor says money money. No, write ticket. Then he gestures to me that the cop put his hand on his chin in a thinking pose. "18,000". No, no, no, 2,000. 18,000. No 2,000. I write ticket. 2,000. Then a pause in the action, "money money, ....OK. Igor then gets in the back of the cop car and pays the cop 2,000 tenge. The equivalent of $15. I'm bummed I didn't video him telling me the story. It would have been all over youtube.
Here is another example of the extremes people take to avoid the police. Unfortunately the day before I arrived, our attorney representing us, Arduk, got into a car accident and totalled her Lexus into a traffic light pole in Taldy-Korgan. She is an experienced driver and one of the few women I have seen driving here. The story goes a guy was going to hit her head-on so she swerved to miss, now came up on pedestrians, so she took out the pole instead.
Thank God she only broke her leg and her passenger was fine. The other car she avoided didn't even stop to see if they were OK. Next step, they call family members to tow the car as fast as possible to an auto repair garage and then take her to the hospital where they cast her leg. No 911 call, no EMS, no police, all in an effort to not have a long drawn out police investigation that no doubt would involve a substantial bribe. Just crazy.
Yesterday we were in heavy rush hour traffic in downtown ALMATY. We are stopped at a traffic light, three lanes wide going both ways. Two cars up in the center lane is a white suv with a little girl, about 6 years old, banging her fist on the passenger door relentlessly. Finally the guy opens the door and waves the girl away. The light turns green and she weaves her way through moving traffic back to the four gypsy women sitting on the sidewalk. Unbelievable.
This is also unbelievable. I am sitting with Alena waiting for the Opera to start! Never saw that game in the states with Jonathan and Jameson.
Take care,
Joe
Our driver Igor got stopped by the police for the second time this week. He drove straight across a regular 4 lane street into a store parking lot. Apparently there was a double yellow running down the street but it was completely gone or wore out where he crossed. He later told me you can never cross your wheels over a double yellow anytime. Seems bizarre considering all the other chaos I've seen on the roads here. Anyways, The police were sitting in this little white unmarked car. The cop jumped out and waved him over and got back in his car. He was a young heavy set cop and him and his partner were laughing their ass off as we slowly pulled by them and then parked behind them. Igor suggested for Alena and I to go in the store but I told him we would wait. Igor and this policeman go on to argue for 25 minutes about whether there was a double yellow line in the street or not, Igor often walking to the street and pointing at the spot as he pleaded his case. I wish I had the video camera rolling but I just didn't have the guts to turn it on because at that time I wasn't sure what was being said and why we were pulled over.
The following is Igor's play by play to me postgame in his limited English. (to be read in a heavy Russian accent)
No yellow, yes yellow, No yellow, yes yellow, No yellow.
I give you ticket. No No No No Nooo. Yes ticket. No ticket. The cop begins to write the ticket. Then Igor says money money. No, write ticket. Then he gestures to me that the cop put his hand on his chin in a thinking pose. "18,000". No, no, no, 2,000. 18,000. No 2,000. I write ticket. 2,000. Then a pause in the action, "money money, ....OK. Igor then gets in the back of the cop car and pays the cop 2,000 tenge. The equivalent of $15. I'm bummed I didn't video him telling me the story. It would have been all over youtube.
Here is another example of the extremes people take to avoid the police. Unfortunately the day before I arrived, our attorney representing us, Arduk, got into a car accident and totalled her Lexus into a traffic light pole in Taldy-Korgan. She is an experienced driver and one of the few women I have seen driving here. The story goes a guy was going to hit her head-on so she swerved to miss, now came up on pedestrians, so she took out the pole instead.
Thank God she only broke her leg and her passenger was fine. The other car she avoided didn't even stop to see if they were OK. Next step, they call family members to tow the car as fast as possible to an auto repair garage and then take her to the hospital where they cast her leg. No 911 call, no EMS, no police, all in an effort to not have a long drawn out police investigation that no doubt would involve a substantial bribe. Just crazy.
Yesterday we were in heavy rush hour traffic in downtown ALMATY. We are stopped at a traffic light, three lanes wide going both ways. Two cars up in the center lane is a white suv with a little girl, about 6 years old, banging her fist on the passenger door relentlessly. Finally the guy opens the door and waves the girl away. The light turns green and she weaves her way through moving traffic back to the four gypsy women sitting on the sidewalk. Unbelievable.
This is also unbelievable. I am sitting with Alena waiting for the Opera to start! Never saw that game in the states with Jonathan and Jameson.
Take care,
Joe
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Coming Home
Just got some great news. Joe and Alena have their exit interview Thursday, Almaty time, at 3:00. So they can come home on the Friday 3:45am flight. Thank you God. This is huge as Joe will have an extra day to relax before the week starts. Now the real work begins. How do you acclimate Alena, without overwhelming her. She has never seen the ocean, or a city as big as Los Angeles. Shopping is going to be a trip!!
WHOA.... I am getting ahead of myself. First let's get them home.
Kelly
WHOA.... I am getting ahead of myself. First let's get them home.
Kelly
Igor
I apologize for a few inaccurate words in the last blog. The blackberry posted promoted as prompted and see as are and I just didint catch it. I know I'm writing to an educated crew so you'll figure it out.
I was happy when I saw Alena and all the kids at the orphanage, but in all honesty I was ecstatic the moment I saw Igor, my driver, in the mob of taxi drivers when I was exiting the baggage claim at the Almaty airport after midnight Saturday. He's bigger than me, ex-military, and his presence carries a comforting level of security. Needless to say no gypsies were bothering us like last time. Our ability to communicate is limited, but improving, and we have developed a cool friendship despite the language barrier. Our most common language is laughter after I butcher some Russian words in my many attempts. But it doesn't stop me from trying.
The drive between Taldy-Korgan and Almaty did prove to be just as exciting as the first time. Amazing how the drivers turn 2 lanes into 3, or 4 lanes into 6 with the middle lanes used for playing chicken with oncoming traffic when passing vehicles, just crazy. Many parts of the roads are very rough and I think Igor is in need of some new shocks in the van because we definitely bottomed out a few times at 60 mph. Fortunately his brakes worked well as he needed two quick stops to avoid taking out some cattle deciding to cross the road. The middle of nowhere is not the place to have any accidents or car trouble. We also got stopped at a police checkpoint on the way back. He just had to show them license and registration. No payoff necessary that time. I fell asleep the last hour and that was probably the best way to take that ride. If Alena took that ride in stride while sitting in the far back seat of the van, the plane rides should be a breeze.
Take care,
Joe
I was happy when I saw Alena and all the kids at the orphanage, but in all honesty I was ecstatic the moment I saw Igor, my driver, in the mob of taxi drivers when I was exiting the baggage claim at the Almaty airport after midnight Saturday. He's bigger than me, ex-military, and his presence carries a comforting level of security. Needless to say no gypsies were bothering us like last time. Our ability to communicate is limited, but improving, and we have developed a cool friendship despite the language barrier. Our most common language is laughter after I butcher some Russian words in my many attempts. But it doesn't stop me from trying.
The drive between Taldy-Korgan and Almaty did prove to be just as exciting as the first time. Amazing how the drivers turn 2 lanes into 3, or 4 lanes into 6 with the middle lanes used for playing chicken with oncoming traffic when passing vehicles, just crazy. Many parts of the roads are very rough and I think Igor is in need of some new shocks in the van because we definitely bottomed out a few times at 60 mph. Fortunately his brakes worked well as he needed two quick stops to avoid taking out some cattle deciding to cross the road. The middle of nowhere is not the place to have any accidents or car trouble. We also got stopped at a police checkpoint on the way back. He just had to show them license and registration. No payoff necessary that time. I fell asleep the last hour and that was probably the best way to take that ride. If Alena took that ride in stride while sitting in the far back seat of the van, the plane rides should be a breeze.
Take care,
Joe
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Need Help for a teenager
Hi guys,
Many of you know my brother is fighting a nasty children's cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. In our travels of cancer with him we have been following a young man named Tyler Copley. He is a Boston Red Sox fan and a Buckeye fan!!!! Man after Joe's heart.
Tyler is struggling these days and asked if anyone, and everyone could send him a card. No special words, just get better from....wherever and your name. It won't take long. Any funny, silly card will do. Maybe your kids can send one, if you have kids!
His website is www.caringbridge.org/ga/tylercopley We appreciate it.
Everything here is good. Joe and Alena continue on the amazing adventure and Joe promises he will update soon. He is 11 hours ahead of East Coast time.
Thanks,
Kelly
Many of you know my brother is fighting a nasty children's cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. In our travels of cancer with him we have been following a young man named Tyler Copley. He is a Boston Red Sox fan and a Buckeye fan!!!! Man after Joe's heart.
Tyler is struggling these days and asked if anyone, and everyone could send him a card. No special words, just get better from....wherever and your name. It won't take long. Any funny, silly card will do. Maybe your kids can send one, if you have kids!
His website is www.caringbridge.org/ga/tylercopley We appreciate it.
Everything here is good. Joe and Alena continue on the amazing adventure and Joe promises he will update soon. He is 11 hours ahead of East Coast time.
Thanks,
Kelly
Joe's First Update
Greetings from Kazakhstan.
I never thought I would say that again after the moment we got back in the US in December. Just goes to prove you never say never. Quite fascinating how God's plan isn't always the one you visioned in your personal playbook. Next blog will explain why I'm here instead of Kelly.
Well, let me bring you up to date since our last blog. We returned to the states with an approved adoption by the judge. Unfortunately a prosecutor protested our adoption along with 7 others in the town of Taldy-Korgan. No other adoptions in the entire country were having trouble. We later found out that this prosecutor along with a judge in Almaty got adoptions closed for about 6 months back in 05-06 timeframe. Anyways he protested that these were illegal international adoptions all in effort to get publicity and prompted. He claimed the children would be used as spare body parts for American babies! What's amazing is this insanity is even considered. Well, once he got in the paper and on TV he got prompted back to Almaty from Taldy-Korgan. Along with this nut there was a bigger scandal going on as him and others were trying to get a few judges fired. During this political battle which is still going on, a couple of these protested adoptions have been cancelled, a few are still in process and a couple have gone through. We were just very fortunate Alena's got through! Enough of that.
Alena was very excited to see me and I was greeted by her hugs as well as hugs from another 20 kids in the parking lot which continued with many more inside the orphanage. It was like old home week! They performed a little going away concert as they performed a Kazak dance dressed in traditional Kazak dresses, and then her friends individually sang a few songs to Alena. I took back tons of pictures from our first trip and all the kids split them up with smiles in their eyes. I guess that is just a universal human trait that everyone likes to see themselves smiling in a picture.
It was a day of mixed emotions for her friends as they were happy for Alena's new life but sad she was going. Thankfully the orphanage just got internet access so she will be able to stay in regular contact with them.
Alena has been all smiles and she's pretty keen on making her bed and doing the dishes. She usually washes and I'm delegated to drying. Jonathan and Jameson better step it up because she will definitely be raising the bar on doing chores at home. We are staying in an Apartment in Almaty since we drove up and back the same day from Taldy-Korgan to get her. It was an 8 hour roundtrip drive and Thank God the roads were clear and the sun was shining. Since we got back to Almaty Sunday night it has been snowing pretty steady.
Well, we are heading to the US Embassy today to attempt to get a visa for our translater Zhanara. We have invited her back for a month but it is very difficult for a single woman from Kazakhstan to obtain a visa to the US. We'll see what happens.
Alena's visa is suppose to be back in time for our exit interview Friday with the US Embassy. The courier plane was cancelled yesterday due to the snow storm so they sent it via a 16 hour train ride to be sure it got there.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our journey continues.
Thanks, Joe
I'll post another blog later.
-------------------------------
Joseph R Moss
I never thought I would say that again after the moment we got back in the US in December. Just goes to prove you never say never. Quite fascinating how God's plan isn't always the one you visioned in your personal playbook. Next blog will explain why I'm here instead of Kelly.
Well, let me bring you up to date since our last blog. We returned to the states with an approved adoption by the judge. Unfortunately a prosecutor protested our adoption along with 7 others in the town of Taldy-Korgan. No other adoptions in the entire country were having trouble. We later found out that this prosecutor along with a judge in Almaty got adoptions closed for about 6 months back in 05-06 timeframe. Anyways he protested that these were illegal international adoptions all in effort to get publicity and prompted. He claimed the children would be used as spare body parts for American babies! What's amazing is this insanity is even considered. Well, once he got in the paper and on TV he got prompted back to Almaty from Taldy-Korgan. Along with this nut there was a bigger scandal going on as him and others were trying to get a few judges fired. During this political battle which is still going on, a couple of these protested adoptions have been cancelled, a few are still in process and a couple have gone through. We were just very fortunate Alena's got through! Enough of that.
Alena was very excited to see me and I was greeted by her hugs as well as hugs from another 20 kids in the parking lot which continued with many more inside the orphanage. It was like old home week! They performed a little going away concert as they performed a Kazak dance dressed in traditional Kazak dresses, and then her friends individually sang a few songs to Alena. I took back tons of pictures from our first trip and all the kids split them up with smiles in their eyes. I guess that is just a universal human trait that everyone likes to see themselves smiling in a picture.
It was a day of mixed emotions for her friends as they were happy for Alena's new life but sad she was going. Thankfully the orphanage just got internet access so she will be able to stay in regular contact with them.
Alena has been all smiles and she's pretty keen on making her bed and doing the dishes. She usually washes and I'm delegated to drying. Jonathan and Jameson better step it up because she will definitely be raising the bar on doing chores at home. We are staying in an Apartment in Almaty since we drove up and back the same day from Taldy-Korgan to get her. It was an 8 hour roundtrip drive and Thank God the roads were clear and the sun was shining. Since we got back to Almaty Sunday night it has been snowing pretty steady.
Well, we are heading to the US Embassy today to attempt to get a visa for our translater Zhanara. We have invited her back for a month but it is very difficult for a single woman from Kazakhstan to obtain a visa to the US. We'll see what happens.
Alena's visa is suppose to be back in time for our exit interview Friday with the US Embassy. The courier plane was cancelled yesterday due to the snow storm so they sent it via a 16 hour train ride to be sure it got there.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our journey continues.
Thanks, Joe
I'll post another blog later.
-------------------------------
Joseph R Moss
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