Our Victory Day Baby!

As Christmas 2005 approached without word from Russia of a little girl for our family, the likelihood increased of a winter trip to meet her, seemingly unfathomable to us southerners! Friends even loaned us their Dr. Zhivago video! My husband says only Napoleon and Hitler were crazy enough to enter Russia in the wintertime, and both lost! Well, we did not!  

Growing up in the Cold War, both of us had been intrigued by Russia’s history and people. Before Craig and I met, we had each traveled to neighboring Ukraine on several mission trips. Just 18 months after our 2001 wedding, we were blessed with the birth of our son, George, the day I was 45 and a half! After his birth, I had an overwhelming sense of contentment that a sibling would be adopted from that part of the world.

As George turned two, we earnestly began praying about the adoption. In March 2005, we applied to Christian World Adoption based on many friends’ recommendations. Having traveled in that part of the world, I could not imagine working with anyone less than the best. In CWA I found a proven track record for Russia and the know-how to immediately resolve any paperwork or travel problem. Being a wife, mother, and working part-time, I needed an agency to hold our hands every step of the way, tell us precisely what was needed, how to do it, and when!

Home 14 months later with our new daughter, Susannah Kate, we could not be more appreciative to CWA! And, it has been another lesson for me in waiting on the Lord…not easy for someone whose first sentence was “Me do myself”! I had not suffered through infertility, but I had grieved “lost time” on my biological clock! After beating those popular “lightning-strike odds” of marrying after 30, much less 40, the Lord blessed me with one more minute on it! Having a pregnant 45-year old wife, my 49-year old minister husband called us “Abraham and Sarah”!

In May 2005, the Lord coordinated our paperwork completion with the birth of our baby on May 9th , Russia’s Victory Day! We just did not know it, though, until a sunny but frigid day nine months later, sitting in an office in Nizhniy Novgorod, to receive a back-up referral after declining the child we had traveled to meet. Upon receiving “the call” from Sue, our Case Manager, we jumped on an emotional rollercoaster that sent us flying to Russia!

We were greeted by Alex, CWA’s Moscow facilitator, and whisked onto a train to Nizhniy Novgorod, a beautiful walled city 200 miles east on the Volga River. We relished the ambiance of old Russia in our private compartment, with hot tea from the train’s samovar! The winter wonderland was breath-taking in the fading daylight. When the train stopped, the knock on our door was Natasha, CWA’s Nizhniy facilitator, with hugs!

Two days later, we were thrilled with word of another referral, who had just rolled off the databank that day!  The next morning, Valentine’s Day 2006, four years to the day we had found we were pregnant with our son, there we were, hearing about the baby the Lord had chosen for our family! Seeing her photo on a computer screen, I squealed and started crying! Immediately upon hearing her birth date, we voiced our recognition of Russia’s victory celebration over Hitler! She would be our Victory Day Baby!

In a warm pleasant orphanage an hour later, we met Susannah Kate! A knit cap covered her blonde hair, framing huge blue eyes and plump cheeks!  She was nine-months old, healthy, and developmentally fine! After awhile, I realized she had fallen asleep in my arms, so we kissed her good-bye, and a pleasant caregiver whisked her away. Outside, Craig slipped on the snow, cutting his head on the building. We hastily returned, and the staff responded to this calamity with much compassion and competence. This episode proved Susannah Kate had excellent caregivers, the fruit of which we see to this day!

We left Nizhniy two days later, extremely happy, greatly at peace, but very sad to leave her until our return for court. Arriving back in Moscow in a huge snowstorm, we toured Red Square, the Kremlin, and St. Basil’s in the beautiful snow, before leaving for home. In the subsequent weeks, we anxiously awaited word of the court date; our dossier would expire early May!  When we heard our court date was April 24, we praised the Lord for working out all the details. When we called for flights this time, I had goose bumps spelling the baby’s name for her ticket home!

With no doubts whatsoever about going through with the adoption, we arrived back in Nizhniy for the court proceeding. It actually was enjoyable! After we picked up her passport the next day, Craig had a special birthday gift carrying his new daughter from the orphanage, amid tears and hug from everyone! Later, we bid a tearful farewell to Natasha at the train. Susannah Kate slept peacefully alongside me, as the train rocked back to Moscow. At dawn, Alex knocked on our compartment, and pleasantly proceeded to guide us through the requisite embassy things the next few days. Content in her stroller, Susannah Kate began to see the world! Many Russians stopped us to "ooh" and "ahh" over her with no negative comments and even some "thank-you’s!"

Susannah Kate’s homecoming was very memorable! The Lord enriched our journey by the support of family, friends, CWA’s presence, and new friendships with other adoptive families. And the hugs, kisses, and pick-me-up arms of our Victory Day baby are priceless!

Vicki Wilkes

The Wilkes Family