One year ago today: Waiting for Court

On June 28, 2010, we had our last visit with "Elvis" (in case you weren't around back then, that was our nickname for him) before having court.

On this particular day, he had a little preschool Fisher Price telephone with him. It was old and beat up, but he wouldn't let it go. A couple of my most cherished pictures from our time in Ukraine last year came from this particular day: shots of him & William walking down the sidewalk at the orphanage, the phone being pulled behind them.

He had no possessions of his own. He'd claimed this broken toy for the day, knowing that once he returned it, it would again become community property.

He had no clothes of his own. All the clothing was marked boldly with his groupa number. What was his shirt one day would be another child's a few days later.

He had no one who told him not to pick up and eat food that had been dropped on the ground.

And when it came time to eat, he knew nothing of sitting at a table with family and eating until he was full, at his own pace (which is now VERY slow!).

Before our time with him began, no one visited him. He had no one that brought him special gifts or gave him special attention.

But that was all about to change.

Here's the post we wrote a year ago today: http://littleboydove.blogspot.com/2010/06/day-before-court.html