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" | . Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, April 2, 1996-- 7 ol Local couple adopts two Russian babies . Canada, John and Marg have For Canadian couples thinking of adopting an overseas child, John and Marg Peco have some timely words of advice. 'Be patient. But once you have made up your mind be ready to persevere, and don't be un-daunted by delays on both sides of the ocean and the seemingly mountains of paperwork. * John and Marg can speak from experience. The Port Elizabeth and endless Matthew, children recently adopted Perry area couple first started looking into adoption five years ggo and pursued it seriously about two years ago. Today, they are blessed with two children, both from the former Soviet Union; eight month old Elizabeth, and Matthew, 17 months. Last November, they flew to Moscow and then on to Thlisi, the capital of the Georgian republic in southern Russia in Russia by a Port Perry area couple. See story above. April 4th, 1996. scheduled days. TOWNSHIP OF SCUGOG PUBLIC NOTICE EASTER HOLIDAYS Good Friday & Easter Monday RE: GARBAGE PICKUP, SCHEDULE CHANGE Friday, April 5th, 1996 garbage pickup (Port Perry Commercial Area) will be picked up on Thursday, Monday, April 8th, 1996 garbage pickup (Scugog Island and Caesarea) will be picked up on Wednesday, April 10th, 1996. All other pickup days will remain on regular Earl S. Cuddie, AM.C.T, C.M.C. B ~ Administrator-Clerk WEED & FEED ® WEED CONTROL @ INTERLOCKING @® FERTILIZING STONE . arrangem where Elizabeth was being cared for by foster parents. Then in February, John and his mother Emma returned to Russia (Marg stayed home to look after Elizabeth) for Matthew who was living in a crowded orphanage in the Siberian city of Perm, east of the Ural mountain range. Having these two childfen in their comfortable and spacious home in rural Scugog Township is the ** rulmination of a dream and a long process that began some two years ago. After looking into public and private adoptions in Ontario, they decided to .adopt overseas through the Cradld of Hope, a non profit rganization based in Washington D.C., with an office in Toronto. Virtually all the ts, in Canada and in Russia"Weére made through the Cradle and John and*Marg haVe nothing but the highest words of praise. In an interview recently with the Citizen, they said the amount of paperwork, the inevitable delays were most frustrating at times, but they never gave up. bd When the call cafne to fly to Moscow and then on Thlisi, they were nervous and 'apprehensive, but were treated very well in the former Soviet Union as Cradel of Hope arranged . transportation, lodgings, a driver, an interpreter and even a co-ordinator. "The people we stayed with in Thlisi were very hospitable. There were lots of tears when we left," said Marg. Likewise when John went to, Perm for Matthew, though they found overall conditions in Russia far below Canadian standards. Matthew's home was a small room in the orphanage with eight other infants. The first time John saw him, he was wearing girls clothing. Both children are small for their age because of their initial start in life and. Matthew is prone to ear infections. But since arriving home with the Pecos, the children' have thrived, have developed , very healthy appetites and are putting on weight by the day. John saigythere are over 500,000 children in d another 126,000 are pected this year. While adoption is not as culturally accepted in Russia' as in North America, many of these children are ®there for gconomic reasons: their parents just can't afford to raise them. John and Marg declined to say how much the two adoptions cost, but it ran into the thousands for fees, travel, lodgings, medical reports and filling in the nevkt-ed ng paperwork, ' But as they both "said looking at bright-eyed Elizabeth perched on John's knee and Matthew like any toddler bouncing happily around the living room, his eyes twinkling and an ever- present smile on his face, "how can one ever put a price tag on them?" Since the children arrived in pope in Russia today ++ And received nothing but fine "support from their ,own . family, friends and members of their church who threw a shower for them" Jost, weekend. They agree the addition of two new youngsters has meant a big change in their own lives. Marg is whether to go back to work : later when the maternity ° leave runs out. they are apprehensive that the children don't get "labelled" as the "Russian kids" as they grow up. John and Marg will face i both those hurdles if they arise in , the future. In the meantime, they are too busy loving and caring for the flew family members, and enjoying every second of it. "People often say to us just how the lucky the children are. The truth is it is us who are the lucky ones," said Marg quietly. (The Cradle of Hope agency, Toronto office {number if 416- 512-7591) \ . SPRING IS HERE! VES [ele] Q-1a eV slo Ris [-Xeoleldsl=lad INDOORS! free from mosquitoes, blackflies, houseflies [QR =NCIRCTVI oT=Te VII [V]] VISTA ENCLOSURES a complimentary addition fo any style of home, to let you relax and CUS ALEY time you deserve Relax - because It's absolutely maintenance-free - all framing is made from strong aluminum attrusions. sound investment that oa vale 15 yod home. harmful & hot direct sunight. ket on norm ih proves evostos at, corrosion & mex resistance. 8 ca cy ara Coup or Your langiccreig vemcirs inact becouse heavy equipment is used. 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