Counting The Days

We are trying to stay busy to help the time pass more quickly. Everyday we learn more how much we do not understand. My advice is DO NOT ask questions, do what you are told without hesitation, do not try to make sense of anything, DO NOT do anything you are not directly told to do even if it seems like a kind thing to do. I am not joking. Gifts are seen as bribes and are unacceptable unless the adoption is complete and you are on your second trip. Small gifts for your child are ok but nothing else.

Next have an international phone with you. Today we received a phone call from Sasha who was at the airport in Kiev waiting for Eric and Cindy who were just boarding a plane in State College to leave due to a plane delay. We were pretty wrried when we couldn't reach them and no family memebers knew their expected arrival time in Kiev. Picture this: arriving in KIev, you can't speak the language, there is no one waiting for you because no one knows when you are coming and you have no way to get ahold of anyone, not good. Thankfully David was able to get the correct arrival times to Sasha. Lesson; let David know your flight itinerary and any delays, let someone at home know, have an international phone so you can call someone, have Sasha's number in your phone, (our very first trip we called David in the states and he found Sasha for us.) Eric and Cindy will arrive tomorrow at 1:10 pray for safe travel for them please.

Today we spent time with Lena's art teacher and Dusty and Tina had opportunity to watch Dema box and to meet his instructor. It seems we have a prize winning boxer and a great artist coming home with us. Tomorrow wew have the privilege of going to an art exhibit with Inna, the art teacher, the orphanage director and Lena because Lena's art will be displayed there. People have been buying her work when it is on display, I hope we have the opportunity to buy one of Lena's pieces. She told us when in America that the thing that would mean the most to her from the Ukraine would be to bring her art work to America with her.