TGIF

Today was our last full day in Moscow. We started this morning by leaving the hotel at 8:00. I made us a little late because I had to stop to use the restroom after breakfast. Curse those bowels. We ended up at the Passport office on the outskirts of the city. Took us 1 ½ hours to get there, which was behind schedule. I was blaming my bowels. At the passport office, they said we weren’t supposed to pick up the passport until 10:00. They finally let us have it about 9:45. We were supposed to then have all our paperwork including the passport to the American Embassy by 11:00. Remember that it took us 1 ½ hours from downtown to the Passport office. Well on our way to the Embassy, we asked Anastasia what would happen if we were late with out packet. She said they would most likely reschedule our appointment for Monday meaning we would have to stay the weekend. Well let me tell you that Moses and the Red Sea have nothing on the McGill’s and Moscow traffic. Traffic parted for us. Our driver Vlad was weaving and speeding like a madman. At one point, Vonda finally figured out the seatbelt in the minivan and strapped Allie in. We crossed ourselves and saw our lives flash before our eyes, all the while Jack was sleeping peacefully in the back seat. But we made it to the Embassy in 45 minutes,50% reduction in time. At the Embassy, Anastasia told us “God must really love you. I didn’t believe until the last moment that we would make it in time” After we dropped off our paperwork, we went to Red Square to get some pictures and then did some shopping at Arbat Street waiting for our 2:30 appointment with the Embassy. We enjoyed lunch at McDonald’s then headed for the Embassy. The appointment was very short and uneventful. There were about 30 adoptive families there. It was so nice to hear American accented language and to have official looking people actually smile at you. After a trip to the office to sign more paperwork, we finally got back to the hotel about 4:30. Jack’s had a bath, Allie’s had her Mac and Cheese and we’re ready to start packing. We got seats confirmed on our flight for the bulkhead row which means we should have a bassinet for Jack to sleep in. He was as good as gold in the car for the last two days so we’re hoping we haven’t pressed out luck too much. We’ll leave the hotel tomorrow at 11:00 for our 2:40 departure. We’ll have about a 5 hour layover in Dulles and then should be home in Nashville by 11:00. We can’t wait, and we know you’re excited too. We’ll forgive you for not being that excited to see us. Love, Steve, Vonda, Allie and Jack