What an enjoyable day! We started our with a few-hour visit with Nastya who is still in the infirmary with an upper respiratory infection. She's got some germ-containment manners to learn! So we are grateful for the anti-microbial wipes! Great...the snot-nosed kid is *mine*!
The infirmary is on the first floor of the orphanage & the sidewalk passed right by the window of her room. She is a very popular kid! Did I mention she told us she has a boyfriend? We think we met him today. We gave him dirty looks and told him to go away!! I'm kidding....well, we *did* tell him to go away but in English, so he has no idea.
I asked her if she was ready to go to court to be adopted; she said yes. I asked her if she was ready to go to America; she said yes. I asked her if she would miss all of her friends; she said yes. The time between friends in Ukraine & friends in America will be rough for her. But it will be the perfect time for us to be her "parents". To teach her to lean on us and to know that we are always there for her; that we are different than her friends (even though we're still fun...usually!).
After our early visit with Nastya, we enjoyed the outdoors and toured a Turkish-built fortress with our facilitator and our American friend (the peanut butter savior!), Slade. The sun was shining and it was warm enough for no coats! We then enjoyed the best meal by far that I've had since we've been here. I didn't want the meal to end!!
But we followed the meal with another visit with Nastya and , as we alwasy do with her, completely enjoyed ourselves. She has so much personality and she does not wait for the green light from whomever she is with to let it show! I love that about her! And she is also showing us a different level of....ummmm...how do I say? Intelligence. And commitment. And determination. When she stayed with us over the summer, she was not at all interested in the computer or computer games. And if something was a challenge, she gave up pretty quickly. No more! It is GAME ON! And she is really staying the course with the English lessons!
I also talked to her a little more about her brother and she seems to be getting a little more excited. I think at first, it was a shock and not very real for her. But it is starting to sink in & she's ok. I'll sneak another little tid bit in here to see who's paying attention. We will ask the court to change her name to Anastasia Landyn Sapienza. She likes it! It is sweet to hear her say "Landyn". We think we will continue to call her Nastya.
I've mentioned before that Nastya has a good friend (we'll call her K) who is cute & sassy and has three younger siblings. My heart breaks for this girl. She comes in & out of Nastya's room many times while we are there. Today, while Poppa & Nastya were playing a game, K sat by me and we looked at pictures on my laptop. Mostly I showed her pictures of Nastya during her time with us, but really I was at a loss for what to show her. I know she is as happy as she can be for Nastya, but it must be unbearable to have the reality of not only losing your close friend but also not have a family coming for you unfold right before your eyes. It's so real. And so sad. I want a family for her........
Speaking of a family for her.......I found out today that one of the girls from our summer hosting program (the girls who went out of state, I think to Michigan) has been adopted (she and her little brother) to Spain!!! YAY!!
Anyway, after our visit with Nastya, two key things happened to round out a great day. I saw O and got a famous O hug! I'd been waiting for that for months!! And we walked to the local Wal-Mart where I bought some French Vanilla scented candles.
Gonna Skype with the family in a few minutes & then we're probably ready to crash for the day. This is more activity in one day than we are accustomed!!!!!!
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