Counting Down the Days!

We are so excited as we count down the days of our ten-day waiting period. The girls had their last day at school and brought home many gifts and mementos. The first picture is of their school. It appears the youngest has a special bond with her teacher and showed us a delightful photo of the two of them, with a long note in Russian written by the teacher on the back.

We had expected them to go to school on Monday (the last day of the waiting period) but they emphatically said "nyet" and explained that they would be at the orphanage cleaning up their room, saying final good-byes and being totally ready to head out the door at the close of business, when the legal paperwork officially matures!! When we said that would be their last day at the orphanage they simply danced for joy!

We will bring a change of clothes for them that day for them to wear home with us that night and they were giddy with delight at the thought. During our time today we helped them make a list where they matched presents with people and it was so fun to see how carefully they thought it all out. Because I had written out the gifts in English at first they were stumped as they didn't know how to write the recipients names in English, but then I assured them it was fine to write in Russian and soon the list was finished!

We had a lovely time with them and I seemed to get special attention after my absence yesterday so that was fun!! We said our good-byes with such happy thoughts, knowing we will soon be taking them with us permanently.

On the way home, David and I stopped for a bit to eat at a nice coffee shop attached to the Hotel Sevastopol on the main street. The photo shows the sign for the shop. It was relaxing and now we are home starting to make a dent in the paperwork we will soon need for the U.S. Consulate in Kiev, in order to bring the girls home!!

Thanks again for all your love and support!! Lorelle and David