"U" is for U.S.S.R.

So, I'm struggling a little bit with these last few letters of the alphabet! I had made up my mind that I was going to skip "U" and just give "U" an update on the adoption. Then I signed in an was reading my comments and a new visitor named Madeline left a comment. She said that her two children were adopted from the Pskov region and she was printing all the "ABC" posts out for her kids to read someday! I decided I would be letting Madeline and the kids down if their alphabet wasn't complete! So hi darlings and this "U" is just for "U"!

Russia is a huge, gigantic place and it use to be even bigger. From 1922 until 1991, Russia was part of an even bigger country called the U.S.S.R. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). After the fall of Communism, smaller countries splinted off into independent countries. Here is the National Anthem of Russia during Communist rule:

Unbreakable union of freeborn republics great Russia has welded forever to stand!Created in struggle by will of the peoples united and mighty, our Soviet land!
CHORUS:
Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
Bulwark of people, in brotherhood strong!
Oh! Party of Lenin! The strength of the people.
To Communism's triumph lead us on!
Through tempests the sun rays of freedom have cheered us along the new path where great Lenin did lead! To a righteous cause he raised up the people Inspired them to labour and valorous deed!
CHORUS
In the victory of Communism's deathless ideal, We see the future of our dear land And to her fluttering scarlet banner, selflessly true, we always shall stand!

After Stalin's death in 1953, and "de-stalinazation" was taking place, the song was never played with the lyrics! In 2000, when Putin was president, a new anthem was written. Sergey Mikhalkov who wrote the original communist music and lyrics, wrote the new song as well:

Russia — our sacred state,Russia — our beloved country. A mighty will, a great glory —Your possession for all future ages!
Refrain:
Glory to you, our free Fatherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!
From the southern seas to the polar regions Spread our forests and fields. You are unique in the world! You alone are like this —Our dear land kept safe by God!
Refrain
Wide amplitude for dreams and for living Gets opened up for us with each passing year.Loyalty to the Fatherland gives us strength.Thus it was, is, and always shall be!

As for the adoption update- it isn't all that exciting anyway, we just found out what we needed to re-do and it wasn't a lot so I re-did it fairly quickly. Since we are registered with the region, I think I'll forgo the road trip this time and use Fed-Ex. After all- as Kate would say- "There's no Rush in Russia" and I think they won't mind if we take another couple of days to get the updated Pskov docs to them. As soon as I get a chance to actually sit down with Chad and carry on a conversation, I need him to sign everything and we'll repeat the Apostille/agency/Russia routine once again. The end of summer is always a sprint to the finish line in Youth ministry, we are bringing in the new 7th graders tonight, and saying goodbye to the seniors as they venture off to college. Our "pretend" son and intern, Jordan, leaves on Wednesday after spending three months with us. I am really going to miss him. Pray for me as I will be experiencing an empty nest too!

I'll keep you posted- but not until the alphabet is complete! I have a new found responsibility and purpose that must continue for 5 more posts- V,W,X,Y, & Z!