Kazakhstan: The Eight Louies

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The Eight Louies

The Louie Family

Looking back to six years ago when we decided to adopt our two daughters, we can plainly see God’s hand orchestrating every step towards our girls. At the time, our anxiety, doubt, fear of the unknown and lack of finances clouded our peace. When we gave all of these things to Him, we could enjoy the ride He had planned for us.

In 2003, our fourth and youngest son began preschool. I asked God to show me what He wanted me to do with my “free” time. While I was waiting for Him to speak to me, I began a friendship that would change my family’s life. My new friend was in the process of adopting a little girl from China. Our kids would play at the park every week and she would catch me up on her adoption process. I remember saying to myself “I’m so happy for her but I would NEVER adopt!” We were lucky enough to be one of a very few who were allowed to be at the airport when her beautiful daughter came home. Watching an adoptive mother see her daughter for the very first time is a blessing I cannot put into words. My job was to take pictures of this blessed event and I couldn’t see what pictures I was taking because I was crying so hard. God was planting a seed that would grow and grow in my heart.

When my preschooler became a full time kindergartner, I asked God again what He wanted me to do. For the next 30 days, God spoke to me about adoption in everything I heard and saw ~ from commercials, to friends, to sermons I heard at church, to television shows. It was amazing! One night I guess I was being rather quiet and my husband must have been worried. He asked “What are you thinking?” I warned him that he didn’t want the answer to that question. My husband only wanted two children, we had four children and I was going to ask for six children!! He said “No really, what are you thinking about?” I blurted out “I believe God wants us to adopt two little girls from Kazakhstan!” A second went by and my husband said “I guess we’re gonna need a bigger car then!” This is when the fun really started.

A year later, we were sitting in an orphanage office in Karaganda, Kazakhstan awaiting an introduction to our daughters. The nurse brought in a beautiful two year old Asian beauty who was dressed in a bright yellow dress with black polka dots all over. Then the nurse brought in a tiny one year old Russian cutie with curly brown hair. We were in Kazakhstan for 5 weeks for the bonding time and court. We stayed in a nice apartment for our whole stay and were able to bring the girls to stay with us a few nights. Other days, we would spend time with the girls on the orphanage grounds. We got to spend time talking with some of the caretakers with the help of our wonderful driver/translator. Our daughters were blessed to have been taken care of by wonderful, caring women. From the minute we landed in Kazakhstan until we left to come home, we were taken care of by so many wonderful people. From the drivers who drove us all over Karaganda to our coordinator who did all the leg work and paperwork for the adoption, to the translator who took us out to eat every meal and would share the history of our daughters’ birthplace, we felt like we now had a new family on the opposite side of the world.

One thing we learned in the process of our adoption was to expect the unexpected. Our court date was no different. What we thought would be a fifteen minute formality turned into an hour and a half inquisition. A negative news story about an American adoption from Russia caused the court to be extra diligent when questioning Americans. The proceedings went smoothly although very long and we left the judge’s chambers and headed to the airport. We got to say goodbye to the girls before we left for home. In the five short weeks we knew them, they were a part of us. I’ll never forget how torn we were about leaving our new daughters and flying home to see our boys.

One month later, we flew back to Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan. The girls were brought to us by the medical staff of the orphanage. For the next three days, our wonderful translator/driver drove us around getting passports and medical check-ups. Then we headed home.

Awaiting us at the airport in Raleigh were our friends and family who went through the whole adoption process with us. The memory of our sons’ faces when they met their new sisters is priceless. Showing the girls their new pink bedroom and all their new toys that they don’t have to fight 15 other kids for was an exciting time. All the firsts that we got to share with them were so precious.

It has been four and half years now and we cannot imagine life without our daughters. We have had some wonderful times and some difficult times. Our oldest daughter has been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder which has made our bonding with her and her bonding with us difficult. Our younger daughter has bonded with everyone in the family like she was born to us. We thank God every day that He allowed us to be part of His plan to bring these girls into our family.

If you would like to read more about our journey to our daughters please read our website.

God bless!

— Tim & Linda Louie