Last leg of the AMAZING RACE

and you won't believe how it played out.



Yesterday on our way home from Irkutsk, Irina pointed out a billboard that advertised Rubber Stamps in 15 minutes. If only it was that easy!



Today we left the house before daylight again, arriving at the first clinic by 9:00 a.m. Again Skip & I kept the car warm while Irina & Mike did their thing. The next clinic only Irina went inside, so the three of us waited in the car. It took her a LONG TIME, but she accomplished what she needed. Next place, we all went in, and it didn't take too long - though we were examined. Mercifully, Debbie & Brian called to offer to watch Skip while we finished our running around, and given the choice of staying with them, and playing in their apartment, or riding around in the car - for some reason - he chose the apartment :)



While sitting in the Cafeteria at our final stop, waiting for the Head Doctor to return from a staff meeting, Irina learned that a family from France, who had their hearing the day after us, had been turned down over medicals as well. Specifically, because the doctor - the same doctor we had just seen, and were waiting t0 get the Eagle Seal on, did not herself have a round stamp. Alex - Debbie & Brian's facilitator had arrived there and was getting the Doctors passport and credentials, so he could buy her a stamp! Seems she lost hers at some point, and never replaced it. Alex however, got tied up at the clinic, and after we got the Head Doctor to put the Eagle on our medicals, he asked us to pick up the stamp for him. The thing is, we had no idea until just then, that it was this lack of a Doctor's rubber stamp that could have sabotaged our court hearing tomorrow. Of course we said we'd do it. We found the place Alex told us to go, and Mike & Irina went inside. They returned in a few mintues without a stamp, explaining that they couldn't do it same day.

Cut to the chase, we ended up getting the stamp at the place on the billboard! Potentially, the best 700 ruble purchase of our trip!

After getting our stamp we returned to Deb & Brian's apartment to find Skip contentedly lying on the bed with Brian, playing with their Nintendo D.S. He wasn't in the least bit excited to see us! We even had to bribe him to come home - pancakes for dinner!

We arrived home at 6:45 - almost 11 hours after we set out this morning, again. Tomorrow we leave here at 7:00 a.m., drive to the clinic where we had our "special" tests yesterday, get the Doctor & Head Doctor to sign, stamp, and seal, then HOPEFULLY arrive at court by 10:00 a.m. for our hearing!

We also heard from the US Embassy today. Mark & his staff have been working with us and other adoptive families, to break this barrier down that has been keeping American families from being allowed to adopt here in Irkustk. They forwarded our letter to the Human Rights Advocate here in Angarsk, who has agreed to attend the court hearing tomorrow, on Harry's behalf! It will be up to the judge to decide whether or not to allow him to sit in on the hearing, BUT, we figure at least it will put her on notice that others not directly involved in this adoption, are following this case.

At this point all we can do is try and get a good night's sleep and pray that the Judge will finally grant our adoption. PLEASE keep us in your prayers if you can, until our hearing is over!

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. - Matthew 17:20

Only God can move this mountain, and now we've done all we can, and are again putting our trust in Him.