So close and yet so far

Today shook out just about the way I should have expected it to.  We picked up Julia and got to the grey door on time.  Svetlana and Irina (asst orphanage director) were already there.  They huddled together for a few minutes, told us to wait, and disappeared into the police station.  After a while, Svetlana came out and grabbed Julia, and went back in.  Julia came back out and the three of us were together again.  We just stood on the sidewalk for two hours, trying not to feel to cold or be too bored.  Libby would not let me dance, but i did sing some.  Then we headed to the notary in Romny and you will never guess what happened when we got there.  Or maybe you can.  The notary computer system was down again.  Arrggghhh.  Svetlana called the nice notary in Sumy, who helped us last time, and she agreed to do what she could for us.  Because of the number of us, we had to go in two taxis.  I was a little worried about that, but since Irina was doing some of her own business, too, she paid for one of the taxis.  Started at the notary, and all of us signed an official piece of paper.  Then off to other destinations, for which I never did understand the purpose.  All we did was sit in the car, or when I couldn't sit anymore, stand out in the cold.  After about an hour and a half, Svetlana reappeared saying she got two out of three things done, but the third would have to be done tomorrow.  So we will be traveling back to Sumy in the morning, hopefully for the last time.  (Well, not really the last time.  In 5 days, we have to pick up her passport.  If things go right, just Svetlana will have to make that trip) It is so hard to be with Julia and not be able to communicate.  We really need to get her away from here, so we can have her undivided attention, and start pouring English into her.

The drive to Sumy was gorgeous today.  I should have brought the camera.  The fields are mostly harvested now, and being plowed.  Some have already been planted with winter wheat or rye, and are richly green.  The trees are all golden yellow or light orange, with a few still green.  Very, very peaceful and nice.