Tuesday 30 January

Hello Gang,
Chip here. We're getting a much later start on our blog today; it's almost 5 pm here. The place is crowded, so we couldn't get the computer on the end of the row. That spot enables one of us to work at the computer while the other tends to Sambo. So, Kristin is back in the back with Sam and a bunch of Lithuanian internet cafe malingerers.
Got a bunch of paperwork done today: new birth certificate and completed the application for the new passport. We'll get the passport back either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. The good news is that we may now be able to move our schedule up, if we don't have to pay too much in penalties and ticket price differences. If we don't have to pay too much, we could leave Vilnius for Warsaw early, early on Friday, have our appointments at the US embassy in Warsaw late Friday morning (doctor's appointment and visa application) and mid-afternoon on Friday (pick up the new visa), then fly home Saturday morning. The hitch with that plan is that it puts a lot of pressure on K and me with my ailing back. So, what is more likely is that we'll fly to Warsaw on Saturday or Sunday, have our appointments at the US embassy on Monday and fly home Tuesday. That would still get us home two days early, on the 6th as opposed to the 8th. However, if the ticket-change penalty is too costly and the ticket price difference is too great, we'll just suck it up and keep our original schedule. That would mean several more days killing time in Vilnius.
However, as I said before, killing time is good is some ways; it continues the process of Sam getting used to us and us to him. I'm just starting to get antzy to get back to work.
Kristin continues to do a great job of parenting. I totally cue off her. Sam has had a few more moments of "protestation". Kristin handles those moments like a champ. She just calmly takes away the object of contention from Sam, then while he wails and cries, gently, but firmly tells him that we love him, but he can't have the (ball, tape player, etc.) because of his behavior. That's definitely not my inclination of how to handle things, it ain't the Army way, the fraternity house way, the gym rat way of handling things that I lean more towards, but I'm learning. Kristin is a real pro. Kay Carleton, in a comment on our last blog, said that parenting is a huge ingredient in making one more like Christ. Ditto that for me in a big way. Evidently, God doesn't think that Kristin needs any sanctification. =)
On the flip side Sam has absolutely angelic moments. The kid is really smart: he's picking up more English words and phrases everyday. Today he added one of my most relied upon phrases: "I don't know." He's getting "please" and "thank-you" down, too. He continues to interact with folks we meet without hesitation.
He did have a bit of rough morning, though. We returned to the orphanage to say goodbye and to return his stuff and to pick up some paperwork necessary for the visa. He freaked out, thinking, I guess, that we were going to leave him. He finally calmed down and had a good visit with one of his long-time caregivers. (The orphanage really is great - clean and the caregivers love the kids.) We took lots of pictures.
That's it for today. I'm sure once Kristin reads this blog, she'll make corrections or additions. =) Thanks for your comments, prayers and love. We definitely feel it here.
Grace and peace.