Big hug from Vanya

Well we are now back to the schedule in Zapporezhzhia (still don't know the correct spelling). We will see Vanya twice a day (10-12 and 4-6) for the next few days as they have sent Yuri to camp. This morning when I went to get him his face just lit up and he got up out of his chair and ran over and gave me a big hug and said Mama! It made me just melt. I think he may have thought I had left him since we had been gone for a few days but he was as happy as a clam once I got there. This is my little love bug. What a difference it makes when they have had people love them and care for them like he has. His caregivers are great and the orphanage really does a great job of making sure the kids have what they need (including being held and talked to and played with and given medicine when they are sick) I wish the other 2 had gotten the same kind of attention. Yuri has only been in the orphanage for a couple of years so not sure what kind, if any, attention he got from his birthparents but the caregivers at his are not quite as attentive. They do have a few who are really good though and are usually the only ones who play with the kids or do something other than sit on a bench outside. Surprise surprise, they are also believers. What an awesome God we serve. You can definitely tell the difference. I knew before I even asked them what the answer to that question was.

Victor is the one who is going to need alot of extra attention and affection. I really don't think he has had much. He is much rougher with his things and with people but is compassionate when someone gets hurt or wants to share something with him. The little girl we had been including in our play time had an accident in her pants and was so afraid to go inside and we couldn't figure out why. Igor told us that she was afraid to tell them what had happened and when the caregiver came to get her to clean her up she was yelling "Don't beat me!" Since we were standing there we could hear the caregiver saying "no one ever beats you, Sasha." Hhmmmmm. Poor thing.

We had lunch today with friends of ours from GA that work with Young Life. They are adopting a little girl in the same orphanage as Vanya. It has been great to have made some new friends during this process. The Lord must have known we would all need each other to talk to and pray for and with through this process. Thank you Lord! We will be getting together with our group here for dinner in the next day or two. Sorry Rob, you'll have to miss this one. I know how it pains you to have to go home instead of being here and ordering pizza from NayBay (Pow Wow) with some kind of mystery meat on it. You'll just have to get over it. I'm sorry to have to tell you that. Everyone says hi to you though.
That's it for now. Babushka wants to go get some wine and cheese now so better acquiess to her request. She has been great and even though she ends up stitting by hersekf some times when I'm off chasing the kids she has been a great help.
I appreciate all the comments and will hopefully get a chance to respond to some of you personally.

Laura and Babushka