Where to Start?

Whew!  Where do I start?  Today has been absolutely slammed packed with excitement and has been our most adventurous day in Ukraine so far.  Some old hat stuff and definitely some out of my comfort zone stuff.

We started out the day with a visit to Nastya and obviously that is the highlight of the day for us! Not just today, but any day we get to see Nastya is grande.  We are starting to even know our way around town a little bit.  Directions to the orphanage are pretty simple...go through 2 circles, pass the stone maker shop, and the lake and you are there.  Just around the corner right?  I feel like I am back in N. Raleigh...not...

Nastya introduced us to 2 of her best friends today on our visit and we shared time with all 3 of them.  On our last visit she asked if they could come meet us and be with us today and we were so excited she wanted to show us part of her world.  So far it has been us showing her our world.  To see the excitement in her eyes and hear it in her voice about HER friends and HER little piece of the world is endearing.  So, our Nastya, her good friend Veta, and our Nastya's other friend Nastya shared an exciting day.  (For simplicity sake, we started calling Nastya's friend Nastya, "Nastya 2". So not to confuse, it was me, LA, our Nastya, Nastya "2", and Veta.)

We started the day with some more official business and paperwork and got to chat with the director of the orphanage and ask all the questions we wanted about the orphanage, Nastya, and anything else we could think of.  It is very clear that she loves these kids very much and that she wants to see them find forever families.

Shortly after the official stuff, we gathered in the hallway and popped out the Ipad to show them some pictures that we had taken and brought with us.  Family members, Daisy, friends, some of her that were sent to us from other families, our home, etc.  The best reactions were to the ones of Daisy and the fact that Daisy sleeps on a chair in what is soon to be Nastya's room.   Another picture of our Christmas spread and gifts from Santa Claus for her got some pretty good ooo's and ahhh's.  The best moment was when they saw some pictures of some baked goods on a table at one of the fundraising crops LA held.  They were definitely asking questions about that!

One thing that stands out the most about the picture viewing session is that each of her friends are very loving and caring and want to help us learn Russian and they want to understand the life that Nastya is going to live.  Questions like "are all 3 of those windows into MY room?"; "Did Santa bring gifts for Nastya too?"; "Do you always get that much snow? (After seeing pictures of the 8" on the day after Christmas). None of the questions came out that way in English or in Russian for that matter; but a mixture of their broken English, our broken Russian, and a whole lot of cherades got us through.  All of the girls were thrilled to see what world Nastya is moving to and you could see the glistening in their eyes that they all want that same thing one day too.

After pictures, we played a card game called "Durak".  Which in Russian translates to "The Fool".  Quick props to the Clines for giving us a heads up months ago that this is the card game that all kids over here grew up playing.  So we got a head start and knew how to play when we showed up, which I must say was quite impressive to the girls that we knew how to play THEIR GAME!  Brownie point #1 for us!  Durak is a variation of the traditional WAR that all American kids grow up playing.  At the end, the last one with any cards is "the fool" and Nastya giggled as she ended up being the last one.  She was a great sport and quite a bit of fun for us all.

During all of our activities I definitely felt a connection with each of the girls. Her friends are very caring, sweet, and nurturing girls.  Despite the hardships that they endure on a daily basis and the situations they come from, it is remarkable to see the resolve and love for others that comes out.  This is best noted by Nastya's good friend Veta. She is a little smaller and younger than the other girls in her group but has the biggest heart of them all.  As we were walking down to the playground to have some fun, I take a little longer route because it is flatter and more even terrain.  With my recent ankle problems, whenever I can, I have to take the road less traveled sometimes.  Of course, the kids always want to take the most fun, most direct route.  Unfortuneately for me, that is straight down hill on old uneven steps and down some steep slopes.  So, I meander around the outside driveway and down and meet up.

Today though, I didn't walk alone.  Veta saw that I was starting to walk the other way as LA went the short way with the other girls.  Veta came up behind me, grabbed my hand, and walked with me the whole way around!  I almost lost it right then and there.  To see that kind of love, caring, and compassion coming from such a troubled and hardened little girl.  Absolutely brought me to tears.  Totally  unprompted, geniune caring for others.  So strictened but yet so giving.

Once we met up at playground, LA joined the 3 girls playing on the jungle gym and monkey bars, as I stood and watched, holding jackets, and Veta's eyeglasses, and taking pictures.  It was so much fun to witness the youthful play and to be a kid with them.  Without at doubt, LA is going to be sore in the morning!

As our time wore down, we headed back up the main building, gave them some chocolate bars to share, and said our goodbyes.  Hugs all around.  Smiles from ear to ear on all 5 of us.  And finally, LA and I got to use our newest addition to our Russian vocabulary..."Ya deb-ya lou-blue"...which is "I love you".  As we walked away and headed to our waiting van, the 3 girls walked back to their dorm.  You could hear Nastya tell Nastya "2" and Veta that we told her we loved her and they all girlishly laughed in great satisfaction.

On cloud nine, we headed back to the apartment after a short trip to the market to pick up a couple needed items.  I actually went into the market on my own.  Found the items that we needed rather easily and checked out!  ALL BY MYSELF!  I was rather proud of myself as this was quite an experience the first couple of times to the market. 

After a quick break and wash up back at the apartment, we met up with the Cline family for dinner.  It was great to see them over here and share in their excitement as they are nearing the end of their journey here and on their way back home with the 2 new additions to their family.   

Here is where the comfort zone ended for me!  We arranged to meet up with them outside our apartment and walk into the main part of town for dinner.  Ok, let me tell you I was freaked out!  This was my first time venturing out to a new place, on foot, near dusk, and to a place we had never been.  LA has been chomping at the bit to get out and explore a little but I have been the ones holding the reins and saying "Whoa Nelly".  So, onward we went.

Another out of the comfort zone experience happened at the cafe that we visited.  No English words.  Not a lick of anything that looked American. Thankfully we had some help from the experienced Cline Family to guide us.  We did okay with our selections, carefully choosing our items as we walked down the cafeteria style set up...only after watching them do it.  We ended up getting the whole ordering thing about 80% right and our choices were edible.  Except the dessert that LA choose.  It looked like chocolate pudding on the bottom with whipped cream and nuts on top.  LA selected it after one of the others did so first.  But to everyone's surprise...NOT what anyone expected.  Chalk that experience in the memory and remember "what looks like chocolate, isn't always chocolate". 

After dinner, we walked to the market again to get some insider info on some other good eats that they had enjoyed during their time here.  When we were all done, we said our good byes and we headed home. In opposite directions.  We no longer had our trusty friends guiding us.  We were all on our own and at this point I was freaking out inside.  But being the man of the situation, I didn't show the fear to LA and put one foot in front of the other and headed back to the apt.  Around this circle, down these steps, under this road, around this corner, and finally home!!!!!!!  Whew is all I can say.

I quickly took a nice cool shower to decompress from our day and got settled in for the night.  As I was sitting down to upload our photos from today and prepare to type this update, we lost complete power in our apartment!  We quickly called our coordinator and searched the apartment via Blackberry lighting for the breaker box.  In a few minutes of searching we found it and "wala", we had flipped the breaker box.  I guess you cannot charge your laptop, Ipad, and cell phone all at the same, while running a load of laundry!  Totally our fault and lesson learned.  Well, 2 lessons learned.  Don't plug in too many things and next time don't forget the flashlight!

Ok.  That was our day.  A play by play version.  Now on a serious note.  I have been trying to use this blog as a method to share our experience with others and keep everyone updated with our stories.  And on a personal level, to share my emotional journey and document my memories here for me to appreciate and enjoy later.

Today was exceptional.  I wish I could bring each of these girls home with me.  Each of them jumped up and grabbed a little piece of my heart and will forever rent space there.  Getting outside my comfort zone sometimes is not a bad thing and I think it will help me grow as a person and most importantly as a good Papa.  LA and I are so blessed to be able to experience what we are experiencing.  Today was not about anything but the kindness of the human heart...a kid's heart...longing to be loved...to share love... and to have a family to call their very own.