Clint here

Hi everyone, this is Clint writing.  (on Day 13) 

The journey to Kazakhstan has been a whirlwind of emotion, energy and personal reflection.  I had begun to think we would never make it to country.  Now that we are here I know it was all worth it.  I can’t even begin to explain how it felt to meet little M for the first time or how it feels to watch my two boys play  together excitedly.  Lauren even has a little brighter glow about her.

I am so proud of Matt, he is a super trooper, being uprooted from the comforts and security of his home and whisked away to live for a month in a different culture. I don’t know many 12 year-olds who would do so with as much grace and courage.  He will never know how proud of him I am because simple words just are not enough.

Kazakhstan is a beautiful country with a proud and rich culture.  We have been welcomed and made to feel at home here in Semey.  The team here is top notch and works hard to make sure the Americans get to see as much of their region as they can.  We are very grateful to them because we have a strong desire to see and experience little M’s culture and country.

The bonding times have been great and we enjoy playing, watching Wall-E on the iPod, coloring and just spending time together as a family.  We look forward to seeing little M and being able to spend time with him, but after almost two weeks the bonding schedule is proving to be a little exhausting.  Not the actual bonding time mind you, but the overall schedule.  We are all experiencing the drain but it is hard watching the impact it has on Matt.  I am so grateful to the team here who have provided some distractions for him;  He has had the opportunity to go on an outing with the students at the English language school and spend time with our driver Pasha’s son.  In spite of the drain, he has been awesome!  

We are so blessed to be here and be able to experience all we are experiencing.  And we are even more blessed to be able to add to our family through adoption! :)