Getting to Know Us Day

It is 10 pm here and we just walked in the door from a very long day. It is so hard to articulate the many things we experience here from minute to minute. We wake up, we rush to meet the driver, we spend 40 minutes in a car to Donestk. We always have to go to the government office first for paper work – then to the orphanage (but we have to see the Director first as well). Then we spend too few precious moments with one special little boy. Back to Director, back to gov. office then off to find a cab driver who will brave the truly brutal ride to Torez. The roads are crazy with tons of pot holes and a really crazy windy road. Then a meeting with the next Director and finally, once again some precious time with another sweet little treasure. Hopefully that will help to put some of our long days in perspective…..

Today the Director let us immediately go to Edward’s “groupa” to see him. When we walked outside all of his buddies yelled, Edwardo, mama! Papa! Mama! Papa! He turned around and smiled a sweet four toothed grin. We were able to walk the grounds with him and let him walk around and touch the leaves and trees. He must take after Christopher a bit because sticks and leaves are very cool. He loved my heart locket as all kids do. He loves Jeff. He truly has taken to him and touches his head to his shoulder while making a very contented loud sigh and grabs him around his neck. It is unbelievable. I only wish I could articulate it all in a journal. He seems to be very gentle and very kind hearted. A woman who was there with her own new treasure gave him a cookie. If you could have seen the look in his eye – a cookie is a precious thing to them. Well, one was good. Then he went running back to her after we thought he had forgot (what were we thinking?!). She gave him two more before I could grab them. He tried to eat them both whole. I know that Sally and the Grandparents are going to be mad but I took the other one and threw it in the woods. He actually gobbled them and started burping and almost choking (so please, no admonishing : )). After about 45 minutes we had to leave him. He did get a little upset and it was very hard to hand him back to his care giver. That is a very hard thing to have to do. The only comfort we can draw here is that the orphanage is very, very nice. It is obvious that being in the city gives them many more opportunities than others, a blessing for him and for us.

Then little Miss “Leeza” as they call her. The Director is a very nice man who has a heart for the kids. While Kostya was talking with the other staff members he quietly wisked us off upstairs to see her. They were all napping but he was very excited. He took us on a quick tour of the place where she site when she eats, where she plays and then of course where he thought she was asleep. She was laying on her back with her eyes kind of sleepy but open. I walked up to her bed and looked down and she smiled and lifted her arms up. So, so sweet. We took her out in the hall and talked quietly as the other children slept. After a few minutes they all got up and walked out, put on their clothes while helping others who could not, and then went to the bathroom. It was an incredible sight to see them all helping each other. They were also so sweet to Leeza. They were shaking her arm as if she did not know, “Voy Mama, Papa Leeza!” Some were jumping up and down. It was a heart wrenching experience. Both places had about 10 kids that Jeff and I both could have scooped up to share with all of Swansboro (and Texas). We took her down to the office with the Director and he left us. Jeff had her laughing and kissing the window (which she thought was absolutely hilarious). There were some boys outside playing soccer in the yard and she loved watching them. She interacted with us a lot. She went from whispering to talking but unfortunately we have no idea what she was saying! She kissed us and hugged us and the Director and his wife were very happy and excited that Leeza had a family. When it was time to go, she waved Paka (bye bye) to them and hugged Jeff’s neck. The lady said, you want to miss your dinner and go? She hugged even harder. Unfortunately, the woman had to tell her that she could not leave with us yet but that we were coming back. In the hall we leaned down and she kissed us both a million times. Kostya was walking (which is running in America) and I had to turn around with Jeff and get one more.

Oh such precious little hearts. Can you believe there are so many children who live under these conditions? It is really hard to comprehend the magnitude of it. This experience has been worth every hour we ride in a car. Every mile we walk, every missed meal (we at least do have dinner, Olga, Kostya’s wife has made some awesome things for us). Every Marshooka (I would not recommend it ) we ride, and well you get the picture. I just wish that you all could be here and be a part of this experience. We love your comments – with no tv and no phone or radio it sure makes our day! Kisses and hugs to my two sweet boys! And thank you all for keeping us lifted up. It is the only thing that keeps us going! God bless!