08 April 2008

quickie

* Old agency has been gracious and forthcoming. Refund of ppr deposit is on the way and I can schedule a time to pick up documents. They've even asked for news and pictures when I adopt.

* I woke up Saturday with the luxurious feeling that comes with knowing I have a whole.week.off. I love that.

* I tried to visit the girls to celebrate birthdays on Saturday, but was thwarted by the Olympic torch. So, I watched the flame instead. Pix later. Mostly, it was a madhouse.

*I did visit the girls yesterday. It was a surprise visit and they tore down the stairs shouting my name after someone spotted my car. I love the "all access" pass that I've earned over my visits. Yesterday I ate lunch with them, watched them sort through donated clothes (very interesting dynamics) in their sleeping room (bright quilts and what looks like new paint), and then had tea and our "party" with them alone.

*I love the way L always takes charge of me and makes sure I know that to do. I love that they take turns trying to make me understand what everyone is asking. Yesterday they figured out what my zholty kneega (yellow book) actually was--an English/Russian dictionary!

* There is a lot of repair work going on that the orphanage. Hooray!! I'm thrilled. There are new window and walls being installed. The girls were excited but didn't like the mess and the smell. They say the repairs will continue through the summer.

*Birthday gifts were well-received. Everyone enjoyed planting sunflowers, eating brownies and ice cream, and getting a blanket for their kookla (doll). The blankets were a big hit. So was taking pictures with my camera.

*I'm paperchasing the rest of this week.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm almost shocked to read the first bullet point after everything that happened - Great!

Anonymous said...

Well, hooray for all of that! (Except the Olympic torch fracas.)

june

votemom said...

P was in greece when they lit the torch... kind of a cool experience for him.

hooray for a special visit - how wonderful for all of you.

i'm so glad you updated. i'm missing you.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a pretty good week so far...just think of all the gifts you can get me now that agency #1 refunded you.

6blessings said...

Glad that the agency refunded you. The visit sounds wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Good news! Great!
What orphanage # do you visit those girls at?

Melissa said...

hopefully this agency will move you along quickly

Tami said...

Its so good to hear the adoption stuff is moving along. Great news! :)
I'm so glad the visit went well.

Rachael said...

I love the mental image of those girls tearing down the stairs yelling your name in delight! Reading that made my heart happy today.

And refunds, and gratiousness and paperchasing...what a fun little quick post!

Almost forgot: enjoy your week off!

Jim said...

Wonderful news, Kate! Hope your new paperchase is short in proportion to your last one.

Anonymous said...

Hurray! Too bad "old agency" couldn't manage to be as "gracious and forthcoming" when you were with them, but it sounds like you're really on your way now! And that's good timing that you have both time and reason to paperchase this week! Maybe soon there will be call for FRUA's pink dancing elephants...meantime, I'll keep an eye out for elephants of any description.

Also good to hear about your visit with the girls. I can tell you're all getting so much out of this relationship!

Tina in CT said...

I know that I don't know diddysquat about the whole adoption process with Russia or the Ukraine BUT if there are all these orphanages with children of all ages and here is a loving American teacher that wants to be a mom to one or two girls, WHY, WHY, WHY can't something be done? Patience is not one of my virtues.

Maura said...

I am so happy to read the first bullet, but sad that the graciousness is so late in the game.

Glad that you had such a great visit with the girls. Sounds like the benefits of your visits are quite mutual! :-)

junglemama said...

Glad to hear things are going so well! I need to go back and catch up. What girls are you speaking of that are at the orphanage?

kate said...

Christine, there are a group of eight girls in an orphanage that I "sponsor"--visiting, taking birthday gifts. They're very, very precious.