Just another day in Mariupol

Hello everyone,

I wanted to reply to some of the comments:

First to Joe thanks for the tip about the book, I have read this one, it is good stuff,Thanks. About the restaurant again Thanks we are getting kind of tired of pizza. Not sure we have seen this "Golden Lion" is it near the park or in the park? Is the sign in English or Ukrainian? Any other help in locating this would be great. And by the way I knew what you meant even with the spelling :).

June, thank you for the info on your daughters emotions, this is what we figured with Anya normal and will improve as she feels more secure. But it is nice to hear of similar experiences.

Jen, We love you and Miss you too. I am glad you are enjoying the pictures, I have not taken many the last two days because Anya is taking so many on her camera(FKA:Matt's camera) and because we keep seeing the same things each day. I will hope to find something more interesting and different soon.

Melissa, Thanks for your prayers and I too hope and pray your waiting period is short. I know it is soo hard having a child so far away and wondering about them all the time.

I have a few pictures from today nothing very exciting.

We had rain this morning for a while, then sun again and warm. Brian, Tami, Matt and I took a taxi to Fox Mart this morning to get a camera for Nastiya and other food and household items that we needed. After this we met up at the orphanage about 2:30 and they had their visit with Nastiya until 6pm, unfortunately they will not allow Nastiya to leave the orphanage grounds on the weekdays. Matt and I took Anya back to the shops near the market place to purchase the belt she wanted yesterday, we had not brought enough Ukrainian money with us last time so we had to return for this today. We also picked up a few more personal items for Anya including a new toothbrush, a battery powered one hoping she Will use this, her teeth are in really bad shape. A lot of work to be done when we get back home. The other thing we purchased today was small tea size spoons for the orphanage, they needed them apparently and Anya was sooo happy when we told her we would let her them buy them for her group, she jumped up and down and did the happy dance! It is just amazing how much the little things we take for granted at home. These tea spoons for 5 of them cost less than one American dollar, and it was like treasure for these people. I got some nail polishes, hand creams and manicure tools for the girls in Anya, Nastiya and Lyena's group. Tami also brought a bunch of these from home, so Tami and I are hoping to be able to do all their nails one day this week just for fun.

The only real exciting thing that happened today was the email we received from Christine Niles in regard to Lyena. They are for sure coming back to adopt her ASAP, after she is available next November. Masha had called Lyena today and now she knows for sure, and she is sooo excited and happy. We are also so over joyed that this girl is going to get a family that loves and cares for her. So we will not be coming back to Ukraine next year, as far as we know, God may have other plans but for now, we are thankful and content with our Anya.

When we saw Lyena today she was all smiles. She was walking around the orphanage grounds with Anya carrying her a letter that the Niles family had written to her last December. She wanted me to read it and gave me a big hug, and she told me thru Nadiya "don't be sad because she will give me her address and we can write." I told her I was not sad at all and that I was so happy for her!"

So after our shopping we took Anya to the pizza place for dinner, Matt had the pizza again the rest of us had the lasagna and veggie/salad dishes. Tami and Brian met us at the pizza place after their time with Nastiya was up and we had a good time eating together again. Nadiya was wonderful and spent about 45 minutes during this dinner working with Anya on her English and helping her by writing things out and teaching her correct way to form sentences. Anya was trying really hard and by the end of this lesson asked us several things in perfect English. The Fields and us have decided that we will be bringing Nadiya home with us, to be the English teacher, family therapist, and personal nanny to all of the kids from our group. Nadiya says she is too old for us to jointly adopt her, but she may consider it if we can find her a suitable American boyfriend. She says the only good boyfriend she ever had was an American, and there are no good looking men in Ukraine. Jen I was thinking of Cory, what do you think?? Not sure how she feels about motorcycles?

Oh and we will have court in two days wednesday the 8th, Nadiya confirmed this for us today.