Kazakhstan family

KAZAKHSTAN REFERENCE FAMILY

Kincaid was adopted by Scott and Lara from a Karakastek baby house,
right outside of Almaty in the Fall of 2004. He just recently celebrated
his 3rd birthday and is learning to swim. At the moment, they are waiting
to travel for their second child – a daughter – from Kazakhstan. To contact them,
send an email to info@7fireflies.com .

MY STORY

My life began on May 19, 2005. All big events in my life to this point shrank to a grain of salt compared to that day. There were no fireworks, no melodic music in the background, no shrieks of joy and running into outstretched arms - just one small, scared little boy, with his head facing the floor, walking into a room to a stranger that would take him away from everything that he knew and loved. On May 19, 2005, in a tiny white office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Alexander Jacob Buuck walked into my life.

The events leading up to this point were difficult. There were countless bumps along the way - paperwork and timelines, INS mistakes, extremely long waiting periods, grueling plane rides and the arrival in a foreign country where I felt alone and isolated - but these all faded when I found this one person who would show me what it really meant to love someone.

I was allowed to visit him for two hours a day at the orphanage. It took three days for him to lift his head and look into my eyes and another for a true smile to come out, but every second was worth the wait. Sashka, as he was known then, was extremely shy and detached. We fumbled along trying to figure out what we were doing together, were we meant to be a family and could we love each other the way a mother and son should. I kept thinking that I would fail as a mother because there was no rush of love that instantaneously flooded my heart when I met him. But I knew I wanted the chance to love this boy. I wanted the chance to teach him all the things that were out there for him. I wanted to know him.

We were back home in Louisiana when one day I walked in his room to check on him sleeping when the most astonishing thought filled my head. I looked at this innocent child and I couldn't imagine myself loving anything more deeply in the world. There was no epiphany moment or lightning bolts. Just a gradual build of a love so strong that it could conquer anything. And I prayed and thanked God for May 19, 2005, the day Alexander Jacob Buuck walked into my life, now a vivacious, outgoing child who is merely a shadow of that scared little boy I met.

Our Journey to Annika

Some people say that all roads lead to home. I guess in a way its true, even if that road takes you half way around the world to Kazakhstan. It is on this road that Annika found her way home.

It was December 1, 2005 that Annika finally slept in a bed that she could call her own, in her very own room, in her very own house. Annika was 2 ½ when she came home from Kazakhstan.

Adopting Annika was every bit as much about her becoming our daughter as it was about Annika becoming a little sister and our 8 year old, Kathryn, becoming a big sister.

When we first met Annika on October 17, 2005 at the Taldykorgan Baby House she was shy and reserved and did not speak. We were told that she was speech delayed and hardly every spoke. Getting her to smile was a major feat. Less than a year later Annika talks non stop and is hardly ever with out a big smile on her face. In fact she is now quite the comedian and loves to make others laugh.

Our journey to bring Annika home was not without it’s road blocks, but Children’s Hope made sure they were there every step of the way to help us through the bumps in the road. Although our journey was difficult at times I believe that Annika’s journey was even more so. For any toddler to spend their first 2 ½ years in an institution, even the best one, is nothing less than heartbreaking. But to watch her blossom into a vibrant little girl is nothing less than heartwarming.

Annika, along with her big sister, bring smiles not only to our family, but to everyone they meet. With this journey under our belts, I am happy to say that our families’ life long journey has just begun.

The Hirt Family
Oregon