First family time!

Today was a great day for our new family.  An emotional one for mama and papa.  Today for the first time in over a year ( probably longer)  brother and sister were reunited!  I was holding back my tears in anticipation all the way to Zhenya's internat.  I think I was more nervous and emotional than I have ever been.  My heart hurts for siblings who have been separated and I am so happy that my boy and girl get to be together again! 
Zhenya looked so nervous when we picked him up from the internat.  He looked almost scared.  He knew where we were going....I was getting more nervous wondering how it was going to work out.  However, Zhenya is a sweet sweet boy.  He sat quietly on my lap while Leeza's caregiver dressed her.  Then I introduced them...Zhenya remembered having a sister, but Leeza had no memory of Zhenya.  I told her "Zhenya tvoy brat." (Zhenya is your brother.)  She smiled her nervous smile.  When we went to go outside, Zhenya helped her put her shoes on!!! What a sweet kid!!  My mama heart was happy as tears were streaming down my face.

 Soon we were outside playing on the teeter tooter and the slide and the smiling faces Jeff and I have come to know and love appeared!!  The nervousness was gone!!

When it was time to go back inside,  Leeza was walking with her papa holding her hand.  She called for her brother to hold her hand too.  Precious!

Zhenya is not much taller than his sister.  I think she is tall for 5, but he is also little for 9.

As we said our goodbyes to Leeza for the day, she hugged Zhenya at least 5 times.  I can not tell you how happy I am that she reacted as she did.  We were concerned she would be jealous of the shared attention. However, Zhenya was a great helper with her.  He helped her up and down the stairs.  He held a bag of chips for them to share.  I could go on and on how well we felt this meeting went.  My eyes well with tears as I write this, because I am so happy for brother and sister to be reunited again.  We were told that Leeza has been in this orphanage for a year and 3 months.. but at our SDA appointment they said they have been in an orphanage for 3 years...so we really have no idea how long it has been since they were last together.  I can't wait for more time together!!  Zhenya is a quiet sweet yet reserved boy...he is not affectionate like Leeza, but he is older and that is probably normal.  He does not pull away from our hugs and he will hold my hand when we walk.  Leeza is our cuddle bug....she can sit on our laps and cuddle for hours...especially if her papa is holding her!!  

Many have asked about our return date...I wish I knew!!  This waiting is tough!   This IS what I know...on September 6th, we go to a nearby town to get the children's birth certificates. Then we return to pick up the children FOR GOOD from the orphanage and internat!!  Our Gotcha Day!   This is also Zhenya's 10th birthday.   The next day, we travel to Nicolaev to get their passports.  This can take three days...I am praying for less.  Then I guess by next Friday (Sept 10th) we will go to Kiev.  We have to get visas and medicals done in Kiev...and that takes two days...so best case scenario is leaving Tuesday or Wednesday Sept 14th or 15th unless the passports are quicker than 3 days!  So at the latest we should be home by September 15th. I hope!!  In the meantime, we are hanging out with our kids for the next 6 days!  Tomorrow is the first day of school here and it is a big deal with a ceremony of sorts.  We are hoping to go to Zhenya's internat to witness it and take a video for him to keep to remember his time here.  

I will close now, because I always hate reading long blogs.  This is long enough!!

Keep praying!! We need it!