Week 1 - Written by Linda

We started out early Sat. morning.  Our first flight ended up being an hour late which wasn't too bad since we flew out of a small airport.  We played some games and the kids enjoyed looking at the planes.  The first flight was a just an hour and everyone was excited.  I have to admit when we took off I thought I was going to throw up.  I was scared of what our next few weeks were going to look like.  Once we landed we had about an hour to get some lunch and take 3 kids through a crowded airport. There was a mistake in 2 of our boarding passes so we grabbed some food and got to our gate.  There the lady said that our carry-ons  were to heavy and had to be checked.  Thankfully it was for free.  I kind of panicked for a moment because I packed so carefully in case luggage got lost.   Although after pulling them through the airport I didn't really care.  I knew it would make our next flight easier.  Once we got the bags checked and the boarding passes reprinted it was time to load the plane.  The kids walked on holding their lunch in their hands.  Ryan didn't eat until after we took off.  This was our long overnight flight.  It was crazy all of the different languages being spoken around the plane.  Also the amount of alcohol shocked me.  The kids were amazing.  They fell asleep during dinner which was chicken curry.  Really they were not going to eat that.  LOL then about 2 hours till we touched down they woke up and ate some breakfast and watched some TV.  Lexie's favorite part was the warm moist towelette that they pass out for the meals.  Then we landed in Germany.

 We had no problem navigating our way through thankfully.  We also had no problem going through customs.  The officer just stood up because he couldn't see Lexie over the counter and never missed a beat talking to his friend on the other side of the counter.  When we were walking to our gate I kept on asking Ryan are you sure that was customs.  LOL  I had been so nervous from hearing horror stories.  We quickly boarded and were on our way to his country!  It was a short uneventful flight.  When we touched down tears started flowing.  We were really here.  We were really doing this.  It just seemed like a dream.  

The first day was easy we got to our apartment and got settled.  We ate at a little restaurant down stairs and quickly realized that food was going to be a bigger issue than what we thought.  I think we all ate french fries.  I knew that the kids would struggle a little but I didn't think that Ryan and I would struggle too.   The next day we went to the store and were completely overwhelmed by the city life in a foreign country.  We get attention wherever we go.  We have only seen a handful of kids and never a family of 5.  They clearly know we are Americans LOL!  Thankfully no one has been rude.  In the stores I just ask for help to anyone around me.  They have many white liquids here.  Kefer is very popular and is sold by the glass at restaurants and in cartons at the store.  So I just asked the lady next to me is this milk she looked at me funny and I said moo!  She laughed and then pointed me to the right container.  I said thank you and we both laughed.  I smile at people and some smile back .  Some just look us up and down.  I love when we go into a restaurant and there is no place for us to sit as a family.  There is usually a table top with stools that look out the window we take up the whole front window usually.  The stores and buildings are very small.  At the grocery store you have about 2 choices and that's it.  The grocery cart is about the size of a Walgreens cart.  I still shop like an American.  I try to only go every other day but thats not always possible.  The meat comes in a produce bag.  I thought that was gross and unusual.  Ryan got a dirty look when he didn't put a bag of potatoes in a produce bag.  The different currency isn't too bad except that they are getting ready to switch over to Euros.  So everything has 2 prices on it.  Everything is very expensive here.  We are eating 2 meals in our apartment everyday and 1 out if we are out and about.  My grocery bill is about $250 a week.  We are not eating anything fancy either.  We have had toasted cheese sandwiches and spaghetti a bunch.  I did make fried chicken and mashed potatoes one night but we are just keeping it simple.  We have mostly just ate at casual fast food.  We have yet to find anything amazing.  We did eat at a pizza place.  The atmosphere was amazing.  Our bill for all 6 of us was around $70.  I wanted to put some real numbers out there for families who hope to be traveling soon.  We knew it was going to be more but we were surprised.  

We had a whole day before our first court appearance.    I am so thankful our agency told us to arrive early.  We really needed that day.  Jet lag has been awful.  Lexie 4 has had the hardest time.   She wakes up at 2 AM like clockwork hungry and wide awake.  Some nights she falls back asleep around 5 AM and sometimes around 1 PM  This makes for some tired parents.  Ryan and I trade off but we are both tired.  Caden and Libby had a hard first couple of days with sleep but are doing better now.  I laugh because every time I have had a new baby the lack of sleep has been very difficult for me.  I love sleep and really need 8 hours to function.  We joked before our travel that by adopting a teenager we would not have to go through the sleepless night.  Ha ha ha.  So the big day came. Another family from America is here adopting as well.  They are staying in the same apartment building as us along with some other families.  They watched the kids for us while we went to court.  You have no idea what a blessing that was to us.  We are so thankful.  I was worried about taking the kids because I had heard that the room is so small that they would have to wait out in the hall unattended.  I prayed so hard for God to take care of this for me.  Huge answered prayer!  So Ryan and I walk into this small office.  The floor looked like painted plywood and flexed when you walked.  There were 4  women who are what we would call social workers.  Our adoption attorney was with us.  Ryan, myself, the foster mother, and tucked away in the corner was Mr. man.  He was half way covered up by a coat rack and a plant in the corner.  We made eye contact from across the room.  We sat down and they asked us some questions. Nothing major just some basic questions.  It just seemed surreal.  We were really there.  Then it was over.  We were walking out the doors and he was with us.  It happened so fast.  We were then driving back to our apartment.  We had a 30 min drive where our attorney explained what the next week was going to look like for home visits and what not.  They dropped us off at the apartment and then we took him to our apartment.  Ryan went and got the kids while we waited.  I got the sweetest video of the door bell ringing and him opening it saying hello!  The look on Caden face is priceless.  It was wonderful and awkward all at the same time.  It was hard to pick up where we left off in some ways.  The kids were all fighting about who got to sit by him.  At one moment  he was in the middle with Caden and Libby on each side and Lexie was sitting on the back of the couch.  LOL He probably couldn't breath.  Ryan and I were sitting at his feet trying to communicate with him.  The first couple of days were a little awkward.  We did some sightseeing and just surviving.  The other day we had a home visit and it was easy.  The social workers are very nice and have known Mr. man for a long time now.  Some things were very difficult to hear.  We had walked about 45 min the day before our home visit to pick up these little cakes that our attorney recommended.   We know know that there is a bakery about 10 min away LOL.  The social workers didn't eat any so after they left we all grabbed a fork and started tasting.  Mr. man thought that was hilarious and dove right in. Things are starting to fall into place.  We have kinda found a new normal and he is starting to get more comfortable.  One of our problems is that he is not from the city so this is all new and overwhelming to him.  The kids are struggling with all of the walking and all of the down time in the apartment.  Today we bought bus passes.  Mr. man looked at the tram and said wow that's big.  I said yep we are going to ride it.  He gave me this scared look and then took Ryan's hand and got on.  He is such a trooper.  I hate that we are suppose to be here learning about him and where he is from but we are in a city that he has only visited once.  We are all counting down the days till we come home.  Every night Mr. man reminds us of how many more times he has to sleep here until we go HOME!  

We are very happy with our apartment.  Wifi is nice and the location feels pretty safe for this country girl.  Some things too get use to are the beds see photo!

Yes that is an 1.5 inches of foam on top of box springs

 We have no dryer so our clothes dry on a rack.  Honestly it's really not too bad.   We did learn that if you are line drying your clothes it is a must to use fabric softener.  Our wash machine is itty bitty.  We can fit about 3 kids clothes and some socks at a time.  We are always doing laundry.  Thankfully our apartment came with 2 little heated fans.  We have a system going and can dry a load in about 90 min.  No dish washer is just a pain.  Carrying groceries has a learning curve.  LOL  You don't buy milk, water, and juice all on the same day.  Your arms will be burning while you walk to get home.  Also add in a 4yr old who is tired of walking because we went to the store on the way home from our outing :)  Also it is smoking hot everywhere we go.  People told us to wear layers I had no idea it was going to be this HOT in our apartment.  We are cracking the windows to cool off.  Even Mr. man is hot.  The boys are in t-shirts and shorts in the apartment.  Outside it is cold and requires hats, gloves, and warm coats.  but as soon as you get in the stores you are burning up.  Another dead give away we are Americans.  When we go to the store we have one cart for food and one for our coats.  All of the other people are still bundled up.  

We went to church today and it was amazing.  I have never been in a church that spoke another language before.  Thankfully they translated in English as well.  It was a very small church.  There were 17 other people there.  The worship leader shared that he just got back from visiting America and that he actually drove through our little town on his trip.  Another member shared and he was leaving for America for 3 months to visit his family.  They sang and preached in English and Latvian.  This was the first church service that Mr. man has probably  ever heard in his language.  You guessed it I balled my eyes out during the service.  The service lasted for about 2 hours which is longer than our normal church service but the kids were amazing.  Lexie got antsy towards the end of the service so I took her in the nursery.  She instantly made a friend named Elizabeth who was also 4.  Elizabeth spoke Russian and the two of them didn't miss a beat.  They could really understand each other until it was time to say bye.  Lexie didn't understand and I think Elizabeth got mad.  At the end she told me chow.  This was monumental because I have been waiting to say chow to people.  Mr. man felt that it was very important that I knew when we came to get him that I would have to say chow.  LOL  No one has said chow at all.  I asked him why and then he sighed and said Mom you're too American Baahaahaa...  Miss Elizabeth's chow made us all smile.  Then Lexie understood and now says cha chow to everyone we see.  LOL   This church blessed us today more than words can explain.  He shared on being vulnerable.  Are you making yourself available to be used by God?  Another lady shared a blessing in her life about how God has provided her financial need to finish college. She shared that if God is leading you he will provide.   I just sat in amazement....  God's presence was in that building and it felt amazing.   

The worship leader leads a Southern Gospel Chior here, and they just returned from the United States where they studied and learned.  Here is a video that they showed this morning of what they do:

After church we ventured out on the public transportation again.  We paid $100 for 5 days so we are going to use it!  We ended up really getting our money worth today LOL we missed our stop and ended up going all the way out to the other part of the city,  At one moment the bus stopped and the driver got off.  We just sat for what seemed like 10 min on an empty bus.  We were not in the best part of town and I kept on telling Ryan HE GOT OFF!!!  After the driver returned we got back to the right stop and ate lunch at 4:00  We went to Cili Picia.  They have pizza and a huge selection of other choices.  There are 4 of these restaurants around the city and we will be eating there again.   Tonight we are watching TV , playing minecraft and eating ice cream for dinner.  Tonight is Dec 1st so we are going to start our advent devotions and get to eat a chocolate from the advent  calender that we bought the other day.  I have never seen so much Chocolate in my life.  It is amazing but at the grocery store you a have a choice of mild salsa or hot only one brand.  Then you look up against the wall and it is covered in chocolate.  With so many different choices.  

The rest of this week we are hoping to go to the zoo, WWII museum and the chocolate museum.  We still have a part of old Riga that we have yet to make it to.  We also have another visit from our social workers on Tuesday.  Thursday we are going to meet several families that are here adopting as well.  I can't wait to meet these amazing families.  I want to grab a hold of all these children and tell them you are WANTED!   You are LOVED...  The other day we were on the bus and  I noticed these 2 boys had a blue little bus card.  All of the orphans are given one of these cards so that they can access the public transportation for free.  They were standing in the connecting part of the tram.  The accordion part that pivots when the tram turns.  They were smiling and giggling and just breaking my heart.  Then this mean little girl got on the bus with her mother.  I'm going to call her Nelly Olsen started yelling at them.  I'm not sure what she said but I could tell by her tone and the boys faces that it was mean.  Her mother just laughed and talked to another lady.  Nelly got the middle part all to her selfish little self.   The boys took off and ran to the end of the tram.  I wanted to go find them but I didn't.  I am kicking myself now.   I also wanted to tell that little girl and her mother a piece of my mind but I didn't.  It is so sad. I see how people look at the orphans around town.  I see these kids and see faces of children who have been hosted.  I just want to hug them all and tell them that God loves them.  Oh could you imagine a crazy crying American lady grabbing you and hugging you!  Ya Mr. man would die of embarrassment.  I 'll tell you this much I will never be the same again.  My children's lives have forever been changed for the better.  I am so grateful and thankful to everyone who has helped us get here.  I am also thankful for all the prayers being prayed for us.  I can feel  God's comfort and peace that only he can give.  Please keep the prayers coming.