What Else Could Possibly Happen

Our 13th visit was wonderful -- Vika came down the stairs to greet us with a huge smile on her face and the biggest of hugs for all of us -- yes, even Jack! He was walking on air out to the car -- we were on our way to the mall for shopping and lunch.

Our first stop was the music store. Vika found her favorite Russian singers CD and also bought another group she liked. Next were computer games -- Luba suggested a game that helps to teach English -- what a great idea. We bought the first two levels - we’ll be installing them tonight and bringing the computer with tomorrow to have Luba explain to Vika how it works. We also found a couple movies that are both Russian and English and a book that Vika liked. Each time we chose something Vika added it to her pile -- I wish we would could have gotten her face on video -- it was priceless. It was a mixture of awe and joy -- precious. It reminded me very much of the way Hailee looked when she received the sparkly pair of mittens we brought with when we adopted her.

Most of the stores in the mall were closed -- we’ve learned that things open later here - around 11, but they stay open until midnight or later. We had planned on the business lunch but the restaurant didn’t open till noon so we wouldn’t have enough time to eat there. Instead we went to Westside which was kind of like the mall food mart. Lots of firsts for Veeka today -- she had her first elevator ride to the 3rd floor -- it was a glass elevator so Jack was able to get pictures of her inside. She also tried Jack’s Pepsi -- she didn’t like it all and the her face when she tried it was funny! She also had pizza for the first time -- SHE REALLY LIKES cheese pizza -- she had 3-½ huge pieces! Guess she’s going to be an eater like Hailee -- there goes the food budget!














We were able to take our court pictures during this shopping trip -- one of Jack with Vika, one of me with Vika, one of Hailee with Vika and one of the family. These pictures will be printed for the judge, the orphanage, Natalya and the American Embassy in Almaty. Of course you’ll have to check them out below!
















This is our favorite picture of the day -- the look on Vika's face says it all or maybe it's the look on mine. What do you think?















The ride home was filled with talk about how much fun we had, how much Vika is really attaching to us and happiness that she continues to look forward to coming home with us. We had stopped at the grocery in the mall and picked up some things Vika likes to have in the apartment when she comes with us.

It’s hard to believe that the amount of joy we felt could turn to sorrow but it has -- upon our arrival home we received a phone call from Yulia. She started the conversation by telling me she did not have good news. My heart dropped ……… there is an aunt on Vika’s fathers side who lives in Uralsk, she has known Vika was at the orphanage but did not visit or come forward until now. Somehow (and they don’t know how) she learned that a family was visiting Vika. She came to the Minister of Education to ask to meet us and to talk with Vika to see if she wants to go with us. Yulia says the social worker could not give her any information so they were calling us to see what we felt.

Now what happens? We don’t really know. Of course we will meet this woman, we really have no choice. The agency still has to secure the paperwork from the village where Vika lived with her mother.

4 PM UPDATE:
Yulia just called, we will have a meeting with the aunt at 7 tonight in their offices. The aunt has seen our post-placement reports for Hailee and will see Vika also. We will take the pictures we have of Vika with us -- we hope and pray that this will work out and that if we agree to allow her contact with Vika she will give her permission for us to adopt Vika.

There are no words to tell you how we feel ……………