Meet Natasha!

Sorry for the delay in posting to our blog. We are now 5 hours west of Kiev in a very rural part of the country. Internet access is very limited, so we wont be posting daily. We are in such a different frame of mind since out last post, that it seems like a whole other time. We drove 5 hours to reach Natasha's Internot. We were very nervous at our first meeting, and so was she. When she walked into the room, our hearts just melted. She looked so sweet and shy. I just wanted to hug her and protect her. That first day we just made some jewelry with the jewelery making kit we brough her and then we watched a little of Finding Nemo. We got a hug and the end of the afternoon and that was about it. We are able to see her from 2-4 pm each afternoon. The second day we met with the director. That did not go well. She does not seem supportive. :(

However, our visit with Natasha went very well. We purchased a few videos in Ukrainian and watched them and then ended our vistit with a rousing game of Uno that was full of laughter and goofing around. It felt good. It felt like family. Big hugs and kisses as we left.

On day 3 there was a big change in her demeanor. She was a bit sullen and shy again. All of us met again with the director, along with the inspector who is very supportive of the adoption. Natasha started crying and it seemed she was very confused and hurting. We hated to see her in such emotional pain. We were getting concerned that she would not agree to come. She said she could not make up her mind and asked for the weekend to think it over. Of course! This is too much for a child to process. They have no idea what their like would be like in America. Life in the Internot is all they know.

Today, Saturday, we were able to spend all day with her and the smiling girl was back again. We had so much fun playing board games, barbies, Uno and whatever else we could get our hands on. We managed to get special permission to take her out of the Internot for lunch. When the director finds out on Monday we are sure she will have a fit. We were on Cloud Nine by the end of the day.

As other who have gone before us have said, there are SO MANY wonderful deserving children at this and every Internot. We are certainly celebrities and the children crowd around us, full of questions. They try to speak Italian or French to us before they realize we are American. There are a few in particular who are special to us. In particular one smart, confident girl who just turned 15. She told us today that Natasha does want to go with us, but is getting pressure not to go. We hope Natasha will be strong and say "YES" , "DA" to life in America with us.

This sweet 15 year old said she would come to America in a minute. She speaks English pretty well and is fluent in Italian. We are going to find out if she is available. She has what it takes to have a bright future.

By Monday we will know for sure if we will be a family. Pray for us!