It’s new day in Kokshetau and I woke up ready to greet it. The new leafy canopy in the trees has brought with it an absolute chorus of birds, invisible to groggy Americans sipping instant coffee but there none the less, each little bird chir-chirruping as loudly and passionately as its little feathered breast will allow. The local stray dog population occasionally joins in the harmony, so that the morning sounds of Kokshetau are those of the wildlife alone. With nearly three hours until our morning ride to the babyhouse, I threw on some clothes and plunged myself in the warm morning air.
Now this is the Kokshetau I love! Babushkas in clogs were sweeping up the dust on the streets outside their homes. Men clustered around old Volkswagens smoking pungent cigarettes, joked loudly with each other. Ten year olds in knit caps carried fishing poles and raced for the lake. A Policeman in a florescent yellow vest pulled over a passing car, for no apparent reason, by waving his orange flashlight with an air of determination and decided boredom. 
In the plaza separating Gorky Park from the Tsum Store a half dozen workers in orange vests were sweeping up the remnants of yesterday’s celebration. The streets and sidewalks are absolutely littered with bottles, some crushed into shimmering fragments of green or brown, some simply lying abandoned on the curbs.
I picked my way through the wreakage, silently wishing the broom bearers good luck, and headed for the giant statute at the end of the plaza and the blue waters of the freshly melted lake just beyond. 
With the exception of several men and boys who were making their way to the lake to fish, I left people behind as I walked towards the lake. I looked up to see one of the firemen leaving his “dom” near the lake. One of Nana’s favorite people! I’m sure that he was heading to work for a day of marching past our old cottage. He must have seen the look of recognition register momentarily on my face and though I’m sure he didn’t recognize me, he called out “Privyet Diavichka” as I passed by. 
Then I was at the lake, with its clear waters lapping gently at the shore. There is no smog yet this morning and I could see across the lake to the hills beyond. It was absolutely beautiful. I listened to the gulls and the crunch of broken glass underfoot, before I turned and headed for home. I'm almost off to see my baby (for the first time in a month). What a wonderful Mother's Day treat! Hooray for Garrett and Hooray for Kazakhstan. 
I'll write about Garrett and the babyhouse when we get back. Everything is O.K.
Paka!
Becca
Gone is the snow and the grey slosh in the gutters. Add to the spring splendor the fact that everyone in Kokshetau is off work to celebrate the three day holiday known as Victory Day, commemorating the Red Army’s victory over the Nazi forces in WWII, and you’ve got a lovely time in Kokshetau. 
All over town, families lounge in the grass and listen to the yellow winged sparrows singing on the leafy branches above them. There are bands playing on the grandstand outside of Gorky park. Little boys clambered all over several tanks that the army rolled out to Gorky Park. 
The high schoolers ran a series of spirited relay races up and down the main street, with full police blockades. 
Caroline and I were interviewed by a group of talkative college girls who desperately wanted to try out their English. 
Everyone is dressed to the nines: little boys are in suits, veterans wear rows of gleaming metals on their chests, and the little girls have the silliest frothy lace bows tacked to the tops of their heads. Kokshetau stepped out to welcome us in a fine style. 
I want Calvin to be here to chase bubbles with Ali and his sister. I want Tim to be here to cook up wonderful meals that make the cottage feel like a home. I want my mom to be here to be the glue that binds us all together. I thought, in coming back, I would experience the same happiness that I had before only multiplied because I would have Garrett with me too. What I found, however, was that my wonderful family and not this lovely city, is the magic key that makes everything beautiful. I can’t enjoy this place without them. Without them, it’s just another city. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m not here to settle back in for another thirty days. I’m here to close this chapter in my life and to bring my baby home.
She, her husband, and her son have moved out temporarily and are staying in their guest house next door. Shizada’s house is lovely (I'll give a tour later) and perhaps it is a good thing not to be in the cottage again because it would only make me miss Tim, Cal, and Nana even more. New cottage for a new trip, right? That’s a good thing.
Seeing that picture, how could you not want to fly across the ocean and scoop that little lovebug up and pinch those ridicuously round cheeks. Only 8 days to go! I just mught make it.
There are no more morning trips to the babyhouse. No Skulka in the afternoon. No more kisses for Calvin at the Viola store. No more mandatory cultural education at museums and theaters. No more dancing around this absurdly peach living room with Calvin. We are pulling up stakes and pulling back from life here. 
Here's how it went down. Tim gave a speech. Everyone sung our praises, quite genuinely I think, and recommended that the court grant our petition to adopt Garrett. But, when it came right down to it, the judge said that she would make her decision on Monday. Tim and I had a moment of real panic at this point. What had gone wrong?!! Makhabbat seemed confused, too. Everyone shuffled out, then, leaving us with hearts racing and tears welling. Then our coordinator, Dustyr's mom Shizada, came in, took me by the hand and told us not to worry. She led us to the judge's chamber. The judge explained that our petition was all set to be granted and in fact she had already signed it, but that she couldn't file it yet because the prosecutor assigned to our case was on vacation. The attorney in the court room had just been filling in. When the real attorney returns on Monday, our petition will be granted. She smiled and congratulated us and took pictures. She acted like it was a done deal...but it is a little scary knowing that it isn't official. I just have to trust that it will happen. 
Everyone "in the know" seems confident that our petition will be granted. They congratulated us and took pictures. 
