Marvelous Monday

We're still enjoying warm and sunny weather here. Grateful that we each brought a pair of shorts & t-shirts for when we're in the apartment -- we'd cook otherwise! Wishing I had brought my sandals; my feet are screaming when we walk anywhere -- they do not like those tennis shoes at all -- can't wait to walk barefoot on the green grass of home!

Dinner was pretty good last night. We were at this little out of the way pizza place -- when we say little we mean little. There are about 5 small tables & one counter with 2 stools, it's about 95 degrees inside but it's always crowded. Wish we could read the menu cuz' some of the sandwiches look intersting -- but afraid to order one without knowing what it is. We went back to Mike & Debbie's apartment and Mike made chocolate chip cookies while we talked. They were excellent!!! Considering there are no measuring cups, no choc. chips (he cut up chocolate bars), no brown sugar, powdered vanilla and the temperature on the stove didn't stay consistent they tasted so GREAT! A taste of home. He sent some home with us and we're going to share with Luba and Yerlan (our driver) tomorrow. They've never had chocolate chip cookies -- imagine that!!!

Visit went wonderfully again -- Veeka was waiting for us we think. She came down the steps and gave Hailee a big kiss & hug & me one too! Jack got the handshake. She wanted to play outside so we played catch with her. She's learning how to throw the ball pretty well. We also had Luba write out, in Russian, phrases that we think we'll need to communicate in the beginning.

Toward the end of the visit a young girl who is a good friend of Veeka's came over to talk. She had Luba tell me that she would really like to come home with us too - she is the same age as Veeka and beautiful -- she counted from 1-8 for me and asked again if we could take her too. It broke my heart to have Luba explain that we were only allowed to take one child unless they were siblings .......... oh, how I wish .......... Stacy?????? You asked about a sister for Kylie????? I know she's available because she was a child that we could see if things didn't work with Veeka ........anyone???????? Please, she's really sweet!!!

Before we left Nastya and the Psychologist talked with us about some medical tests that Veeka has to have done tomorrow -- her medical needs to be in order for court -- so we will only get a short visit with her tomorrow. Jack & I are saying prayers that all goes well with the tests.

As we were getting ready to get in the car Nastya asked Veeka about coming to America and being our daughter. Her face lit up and she told her that she was ready to come home with us ....... as you can imagine we were on top of the world when Luba translated that to us. WHEW!!!!!

Just a bit ago I was talking with Jack and we think that the reason we came to Uralsk was for Veeka. If we had come in February as hoped she would not have been off the registry -- she was newly off the registry right before we met her -- Yulia had never even met her . . . . the Lord has a plan, it all worked out for a reason and although Saltanat and Zhenya will always have a piece of our hearts it was meant to be .......

This afternoon has been quiet - we took a walk to "our market" and bought a few souveniers. Found something really amazing for Hayden ........ plan to make chicken for the first time tonight. We bought it at a large market that is sort of like Pick-N-Save -- the chicken was actually in the deli type cases so it hasn't been sitting out all day. It may sound silly, but we're realling looking forward to it - MEAT ,,,,,,,,,,, yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

Please keep us in your prayers, the journey is not complete and nothing is for sure until after our court date . . . and please, please keep commenting -- we cannot tell you how much we look forward to reading the comments when we check the blog. For a few minutes when we're reading we feel part of everything we're missing!

Love to everyone .........