Five Years Ago.....The Beginning

How and Why I Became Involved with the Antares Foundation

Five years ago, my husband and I arrived at the Petropavlovsk airport on a small old plane.
Waiting there for us was our coordinator/attorney, translator, and driver with his car.It took some doing to get all of the luggage into the car. We had brought many donations from family and friends.

The sun was shining. There were white fluffy clouds floating across the blue sky. We were anxiously looking forward to the moment we would meet our child! We tried to take in all of the scenery on the way to the hotel, but all we could think about was that there was a child somewhere in Petropavlovsk who needed and wanted a family, and we were a family who wanted another child. There was an empty chair at our table, an empty seat in our van, and most of all room in our hearts and home, and the desire to love and raise another child.

Of course, we went through all of the necessary steps and paperwork. One of these steps was to meet with the Department of Education. The head of the department was on vacation, so we met with one of her assistants, who asked us (through our translator) many questions clearly demonstrating his concern for the children under the care of his department. I will always remember this gentleman, his kind blue eyes, and the last comments he made to us. He said that the children were at summer camp. He said that we would go to the camp and see the many wonderful children that were there; and we would see what good care they (Kazakhstan) take of the children. He was right!

We made the trip out to the camp. There were many wonderful children there. However, there was one boy, that we knew without a doubt, was to be our son. It was not love-at-first-sight, but rather a strong “heart connection”. When we looked into his eyes, my husband and I both knew in our hearts, that this was our son!

Our Son the Day We Met Him! (July 2003)
Our Connection to Kazakhstan
One of the Reasons Petropavlovsk Has a Special Place in Our Hearts

In the process of adopting our son we saw and met his friends, and many of the other children living in the orphanages. Children who now also have a special place in our hearts. Children we will never forget!

To be continued tomorrow......
Apryl