Finally, the Fourth!

Today we had our final court appearance and it is also our final week in Albania.  As much as we are looking forward to seeing our children in South Dakota, we are sad to know we have to try to explain to Genti how much we care about him and that we have to be gone a short time before we can return to keep him with us forever.

Our court appearance was unremarkable: official people, official documents, and an interpreter.  In fifteen days (Albania’s legally mandated period after any court decision during which anyone may appeal the decision), Genti will legally be our child.  As we prayed before the court appearance today, we were reminded not to just utter a sigh of relief when all has gone well, but instead to praise and thank our heavenly Father!  All our prayers for our family (including our newest son) He has so graciously and mercifully answered and to Him be all the glory!

Although we are thinking of our SD home, we are still sight seeing with Genti in Albania.  We regularly walk to our favorite bakery for treats. (Dad and Genti get akullore/ice cream while Mom tries a new bakery treat each visit.) Yesterday we walked to a nearby park that is a national memorial as well.  A large statue of “Mother Albania” is central with beautiful landscaping and walkways all around.  We were surprised that the park usually has locked gates. (We slipped in between broken fence and hiked up a dirt path to get to the area, the way most Albanians enter as well.)  We learned it is kept locked up in order to minimize vandalism. We are planning a few more outings into Tirana with Genti before our departure on Friday.

 Teresa is in front of the Tirana skyline 

Mother Albania looks over Genti 

Teresa, Genti & Garet visit the Mother Albania park

When we are not out sight seeing we spend our time in the BATI, the dormitory style building next to Genti’s group home that we call home in Albania.  The other children are always curious about where Genti goes and what we do so we had them all come for a visit one morning.  After putting away all breakables and electronics, it was a mini-free-for-all.  The kids checked out all the toys, rode Genti’s bicycle, colored, and eventually had a snack.  Teresa was able to share American coffee with the two staff and visit, as both knew a little English. (Most coffee in Albania is Turkish coffee, very different but Teresa likes it.)  We all had fun and made a mess.  The children are adorable, well cared for physically, but each are in need of a family!

Genti welcomes his friends to the BATI

 "Fred" (not his real name) reads to "Fred" (not her real name)

 Fred & Fred ride Genti's bicycle (not their real names - but it is really a bicycle)

We hope all in America enjoyed the July 4^th celebration.  We looked at the US Embassy website last Friday to see if there would be any type of celebration and realized they had already done it Thursday night, June 30!! Drats!  (Garet thinks it's ridiculous to celebrate the "4th of July" on June 30th - Teresa respectfully disagrees with him) Happy Fourth of July anyway!!