February 22

Today we were hoodwinked into hooky. 

Anya:   I am just the messenger.  Milana wants you to come to three of her classes.

Andy:   Really?  Did she get permission?

Anya:   That's what I asked her.

Without a clear understanding, we went.  She and Yulia met us.  We went upstairs, thinking we were going to class.  Instead, Milana had checked out a key to a visiting room.  They wanted to chit chat!

Andy:   Shall we go to class?

Girls:    Oh, no!  The teacher is terrible.

Andy:   I get it now.

So we worked some more on Photostory, and then Pam said: Done! played Blink.  Pam is merciless.  She is too fast!  Oops, I misplaced her favorite word in this paragraph. 

Masha had the signed documents (letters from us, the Internat director, and the regional social worker) sent to Kyiv via special courier yesterday, and Nina received them and submitted them to SDA today. SDA must first bless the process, and second say they'd rather not show up at court date.  In order for the second to happen Masha must subpoena them.  She waited half a day Monday and all day Tuesday to try to do this.  Blech.

This entry is on the short side.  Hooray, you say.  HOWEVER—you must read the February 19 entry of Clayton and Selene Peck's adoption blog. They are also adopting an older teen girl, and ran into a MAJOR snag.  See http://claypeck.com/adoption-journey/

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Our hearts were overwhelmed by their story.  Now, you must know that Anya has befriended a young boy Stas who will turn 16 in May.  He would love to be adopted. 

After reading Clayton's blog, Anya wrote, "Wow!  I am so excited that Stas still has hope. He called me today and shared he saw you in their school.  His date of birth is May 5th, 1995.  Stas is a very nice boy. ALWAYS smiling!  Loving God!  He visited America a couple of years ago as a part of a drama team from his orphanage.  He loved it!  He loved that people were so nice and SMILING!!  He wants to be in a family, but is losing his hope because of him turning 16 in May."

Please pray and share this note.  Prayer is powerful.  And do the math.  Remember, the new interpretation of the I-600 law potentially gives you until November 2011, but one would need to get right on the paperwork to make sure the application is in before May 5.  If we can help, please let us know.  We know this process backwards and backwards.