The Story of Nicholas Yuri Rosenwirth
The idea of adoption had become one of mine the first
year I was in the service. I happened to stumble over some adoption brochures
in the hospital during a checkup. I went back to my barracks room and phoned
my parents. Their reply at the time was, "Do you think this is smart you
just starting a new career?" So I decided to tuck the idea away. During
the last year of service, I started looking into the idea again, and again I
went to my parents. Their reply, "Do you think this is smart you just starting
a new career?" So again I placed it on the back burner.
I
finally had started to settle down. I bought a home in a quiet community full
of kids at play. I entered a career that is both steady and doesn't require
a lot of travel. I went for a yearly checkup and found out that having children
of my own would be dangerous in the least and most likely wouldn't occur. I
pulled out the research I had done before about adoption and starting looking
at it more diligently. I decided to call my parents and talk it over with them.
Their reply, "So how long till he is here?" I guess what I am trying
to say is that I have always known I would have children, but not necessarily
because I was pregnant. I also knew somewhere inside me that I would be adopting.
For the next 6 months I pulled every book I could about adoption and read all Internet findings. I created a plan based on those books. All the research had told me it would take about a year to two years before it became a reality. I set up the financial plan that would take its course. From the word go, November 27, 2001 until now the time line couldn't have been more wrong. Processes that were supposed to take two weeks took only a day. Others that would take two to three months took only a month. I found my timeline desperately needing to be reworked; this meant having to find financial help.
At first there were about ten places money could come from, then as I went through the list dwindled. I went back to my parents and we prayed for some insight. The problem was every time I was ready to hold off for a later time, God would push another document through more quickly. My parents' put up everything they had and I was still short. I had one place left, A Child Waits Foundation. Through error of my own, I ended up holding up the process. The problem was the more money I gave the Adoption Agency the more I could lose if I couldn't come up with the rest of the money. There is a no refund policy, so I was holding all the money in separate accounts until I was assured I would have it all. Then A Child Waits thought I needed more than they could help with, because I hadn't paid the money. Consequently, the process was held up for an additional month. Still the overall process was months ahead of what I ever expected it to be.
Finally everything started to take shape. I went for my first visit and found my son. He was 6 months old with blonde hair and blue eyes. His features were amazingly close to that of his soon to be cousins. I didn't realize that until I got back and was reviewing the pictures. As I was leaving, the translator asked me if I could come back the very next week. I was still waiting on two documents to return and still needed to pay the last portion. I told him I would try. I came home and made the calls. I had everything except a document from California. I called everyday till finally we had to call off the trip. The document came a week after I was supposed to leave untouched by the State Department. I went and FEDEXed it back with a letter pleading for their help. The envelope went untouched for three days. I called and asked to speak to someone who could help me and it was found immediately and sent back that very day. I received the last piece of the puzzle for this adoption four weeks after my first visit.
I called
the Adoption Agency and turned in everything that was needed on my end. Then
I waited. Finally, on Aug 15, 2002 at 415 pm I received the call about my court
date. Everything was a blur for the next few days. I changed my tickets for
the 4th time and packed. I left on Aug 19th and didn't arrive in Tomck until
Aug 22nd. I had enough time to check into the hotel and change for the pre court
hearing. We stopped by the orphanage on the way. I saw my son and played with
him for a few minutes and then had to go. On Aug 23rd he was declared mine in
the court and his name was changed to Nicholas Yuri Rosenwirth. I didn't feel
any different. The reason was I wasn't able to have him until I left Tomck.
On Wednesday,
Aug 28th I actually felt like an overwhelmed mother. I was given my son only
an hour before we were to fly to Moscow. This little tiny boy looked at me as
if I was the only thing he knew. The rest he had never seen. However, God was
watching out for me. God provided me a well-mannered son. He is easily entertained
and smiles at everyone. He hardly cries unless he is hungry or has a messy diaper.
I could not have chosen a better son.
Each and every person I met along the way was amazed at how well my son journeyed. When we arrived home in LAX, his grandpa took him from me and said well I have the package I am carrying. We all laughed, but grandpa couldn't have been happier. I know I could never have done any of this without the support of my parents, friends and financial help from A Child Waits foundation.
