3 Days Until Court!

Hi~ We had good visits with both kids today. We will use their first initial on the blog until after the court date on Tues. The little girl's first initial is "A" and the little boy is "V". We went to A's orphanage first and it was so cute, she actually saw us pull up today in the front of the orphanage and she came running down the sidewalk to meet us. I guess she was watching out the window. Her orphanage told her on the first day that we met that we were trying to adopt her and we have explained to her also that we are doing everything we can to adopt her. She always responds back that she really wants us to adopt her. They also told her about her brother on the first day we met and that we were trying to adopt him too. Well, today she asked about him and we told her about him and showed her a picture of him on our camera. As soon as she saw it, she took the camera and just looked at it and cried. As she cried, she told us that the only time that she had seen him was after he was born, her mama let her see half of his face and then she never saw him again. She wanted to meet him so badly and we told her that we think they are going to allow us to take her to meet him at his orphanage on Tues after our court date. The director at her orphanage had already told us this. Today, she began to call us mama and papa (this is daddy in Ukrainian) and we all talked about how she would be meeting her brother "V" for the first time just like she and Grant will be bro/sis and met for the first time. A funny thing that happened today...Jason wore a short sleeved shirt today as it was warmer outside and as soon as she saw his arms, she told our translator, "Papa has hair on his arms and then she just examined Jason's face for a long time and said that he had needles (beard stub)on his face like a hedgehog and we have a good pic of her trying to figure out his beard. We think she probably has not been around too many men, never the less she has warmed up quickly to Jason.
Today, we had a good visit at "V"s orphanage. He is in a special needs orphanage because of his delays, mainly because of speech and we got to spend time with the other kids in his group. We tried to bring him a juice box yesterday, but he had no idea what to do with it, so it was funny, he would hold his mouth open and Jason would squirt the juice in his mouth and then he would swallow...today, we brought a cup :)
Today, was a special day for Grant. One day over the past year, Grant asked me to get a mason jar and he decided that he was going to collect money for the kids at the orphanage and that is exactly what he did. He collected a pretty good amount and while we were in Kiev, we exchanged his dollars for Hrynia( Ukraine money, pronounced Grevna) and then we asked him what he wanted to get them and went shopping. He said he wanted to get them a Ukrainian childrens Bible for each orphanage and videos, stuffed animals, and snacks. So, that is exactly what we did. Today, was the big day that he got to deliver what he had bought to both orphanages and they were thankful and said, "Speciba" (thank you). All of "V"'s orphanage loved their new stuffed animals and he was able to pass them out to each one. We are so thankful for Grant's big heart to want to do this!

Comments:
"Crispy": Sounds like a fun B-day...we want to see that video!

Penny: So glad that ya'll are able to pull up the blog at the bay. Tell everyone we said hello!!!

David & Elaine~ Glad to hear from you! Family reunion...sounds great!!!!


Pics:
1. Girl's orphanage
2. Grant on playground at Girl's orphanage
3. Boy's orphanage
4. Doorway into boy's orphanage
5. Bedroom at boy's orphanage (V's bed is the one that is against the wall)