A miracle

Today we were talking to Anastasia about when we first came to Ukraine. Anastasia and Sasha were inseparable. Soon after we arrived in September 05, Sasha asked Anastasia if we would adopt her too. Anastasia shared that with us for the first time tonight. On Anastasia's last night in the orphanage we knew that Sasha and Anastasia stayed up most of the night crying. Today she told us that they talked about being sisters that night in January 2006. They hoped that night wouldn't be their last together. Anastasia was 10 and Sasha was getting ready to turn 12. Anastasia said they knew it would take a "miracle" but they still hoped that one day they would be sisters. Like we needed any more confirmation from God that this is what we're supposed to be doing! We have often wondered how long Sasha has been hoping we'd come back and get her. At the airport at the end of the hosting, when our translator warned her that adoption was not a decision you made quickly, Sasha informed her (rather sternly I thought!) that she had been thinking about this for a long time. Now we know how long - 3 1/2 years. Wow! We're ready to leave right this minute (well except that they only thing I have packed is a few DVD's and my outfit for court!) We'd appreciate your prayers that things move quickly when we get over there. We hate leaving our three "big kids" at home. We'd love to be home for Carter's spring break in April.

We talked to Sasha a couple times today. Anastasia said Sasha is getting very excited and her "woice" (don't you love how they mix up their "w" and "v") just keeps getting higher and higher when she talks about it! Here's more pictures of when we were in Ukraine in September '05 and January '06. Looking at the pictures of them together is almost painful, knowing that Sasha was already hoping that we would bring her home too. It makes us so sad for the other kids who are dreaming of a family.

One of our fist days at the orphanage. Notice Sasha's outfit.


We took Anastasia to the zoo for her birthday the day after the picture above was taken. Outfit look familiar (look at Sasha's outfit above)? The kids got one play outfit each week. Sasha and Anastasia regularly exchanged and mix and matched their one outfit so they'd have something "new" to wear!


Here's a few more pictures of them from Sept 05. The boy in the picture is Zhenya. He was a good friend of Anastasia's.




Sasha and Anastasia at the orphanage in Jan 06. no we didn't give them cigars! those are tootsie rolls!


Inna and Sasha in their room. When we returned in Jan. 06 to finish up the adoption, Anastasia and Sasha had a new roommate (which brought the total to 5 in their room), Inna. Inna came home a few weeks ago. She lives about 30 minutes from us!


Hanging out at the orphanage (sasha is sitting on top of the couch. Viktor who came here this summer is on far left. Zhenya is sitting to Anastasia's left. Behind him is Vadim who is home and lives less than one mile from us! :) Veronika, who was one of Anastasia's roommates when she first came to orphanage is in orange. All of these kids, except Vadim, are still in the orphanage)


Leaving the orphanage for the last time (well until she comes back to get her sister). All of the kids pictured here with Anastaisa are still in the orphanage. The girls are (left to right) Luda, Veronika, and Anya (Vitali's sister). Zhenya "the boy" is standing by Anastasia. We can't wait to see them.



After the party, we walked out to the car. Sweet Luda followed us. She's holding a candy bar that each child got at the party. She didn't want to see Anastasia go. We can't wait to see Luda. Anastasia has been talking to her on the phone. Anastasia describes her as a girl with legs that do not grow (she is a dwarf). My heart breaks thinking what will happen to Luda when she ages out.