Thursday update

First -- we thank everyone for their prayers. It is hard, but we're hanging in there. Today the visit was not much better. The caregivers talked with her and she cried (me too, you know how much of crier I am) -- you know, when you want to reach out and hug someone and you just can't -- that was me. I would have loved to just wrap her in a big hug and tell her it will be okay. Difficult at times, but okay. But you can't do that . . . .

We were able to take her to the store across the street (Yes, stores!). We walked the mall with her and one of her friends. The first store they went was the grocery store where they chose juice, cookies and some candy. She walked in front of us the whole way, not talking, nor looking back. Next was a video store where Luba, our translator, asked if we could get them a movie to watch tonight - we did. It's hard to explain how it felt -- good that she would go with us, yet hard because although she was with us it felt as if it may only be to get things. The positive to this visit was that we did get a smile at the end.

After our visit we went to the agency office and seriously talked about what all this means. They are going to go to talk with her tomorrow to see if she will give them an idea of what is happening in her mind. She holds a lot of the cards right now, we cannot/will not do this without her desire to come home with us. The agency will call us after they visit with her -- this will be before our visit in the afternoon.

We do have a little "playtime" because the judge who decides these cases is out of town until May 1st -- that means that court would not happen until after that.

As for the rest of our life here in Uralsk - it has been good. We walked to the shopping center we went to in 1999 and cannot believe all the changes we saw. Hailee was amazed at the way things work. Inside the center are booths that are run by citizens -- they have a variety of things, no booth has the same nor too many of one item. We did find 1% milk today and Pepsi light and Spaghetti sauce --- it is a good DAY!

Interesting observation of the day -- in the outdoor market near the orphanage we found a booth that sells fish -- they are hanging everywhere. Jack & Hailee found Northern Pike hanging -- NO, we're not going to try it, but . . . . . has anyone ever tried smoked chicken? It is everywhere . . . perhaps that we might give a try.

Meadowview -- Hailee says thank you for writing Mrs. H. Hi to eveyone and how are you doing? She misses all of her friends. And school too! It is different to be doing all the work without the recess time. My journal is going well and I'm taking lots of pictures to show everyone -- even the fish hanging in the market.