Gaining New Perspectives

Wow, what a week so far! Sunday started it off on a good note. Getting out and having supper with our good friends and Alex was just the emotional lift we had needed. To come half way around the world and have friends to get together with and enjoy is just awesome. We are so grateful to our Ukrainian friends who have opened their hearts to us during the past few months as we have come to know them and come to know our son.

Since we had our paperwork notarized on Monday, we did not have any paperwork that we had to attend to on Tuesday. Our facilitator/translator had plenty to do - but he didn't need us to do it!! Our good friend Babushka Lela called us on Tuesday morning to let us know that there was a concert at the Internat that afternoon. So instead of taking Alex on an excursion we stayed with him at the Internat and attended the concert. Spending the entire day with all the children was such an experience. All of these children are precious, smart, healthy, sweet and loving. My heart was so full of love for them all. We played with the children in the playroom until the concert started. Alex was beaming as he enjoyed sharing his bolshoi Papa and malinke Mama with his friends.

At 3PM we went to the Theater room and watched a concert that lasted over an hour. There was Christian music, dancers, singers, skits and games. It was lovely. Alex really enjoyed it and was so excited to use the digital camera to capture the concert. He was so focused and looked like a professional photographer or videographer as he scooted around getting the best angles and zooming in and out.

After the concert Dima and his driver took us back to our apartment. I spent the evening just thinking about the day. I spoke with Babushka Lela that evening and as we talked about the children - their sweetness and their desire to love and be loved we both were overcome with tears. Tears of sorrow and tears of gratitude. Sorrow for that which has happened in their past to bring them to this point in time, and gratitude for the gift of God's love in the hearts of those who heed their inner voice and come to these children with open and caring hearts, to give love and lavish attention on these small souls who so deserve to be loved.