Well, went to sleep last night about 11pm and woke up at 2:30pm. And, if I'd let myself, I could easily go back to sleep. Anyway, I wanted to start writing about our trip. First, in Atlanta we decided we might not have enough money and Mark went to use an ATM but it said we had exceeded our limit?????????? So, from the plane before we left, we called and they said someone had withdrawn $9869.00 that day from the airport?????????? Yes, we were kinda flipping out. But, they realized something had happened or someone had fraudulently used our number there in the airport and assured us it would be alright. Then, we arrived in Moscow, it was snowing and cold. We went to our guide's apartment and dropped off our stuff and headed to a souvenier shop and the Kremlin because it was a beautiful day and we had like 10 hours. This was Sunday and there was not that much traffic. I bought a few things, nesting doll, a couple of painted eggs, and a couple of Christmas ornaments. Then it was off to the Kremlin. The first thing we saw was a beautiful Church with the onion tops. I'll add a picture of that. Mark really enjoyed seeing everything even though we did not go inside because of time restraints. So, later we went to another airport to catch plane to Novokuznesk in Siberia. While in the airport where you hear no English we just happened to sit by two adopting families going to be staying in our hotel. Moscow is eight hours difference from home and now we would go four more hours difference making it twelve. We rode on Siberian airlines, what a nightmare!!! Hot, I mean I was ready to jump out of the plane. The food, oh my gosh, I spit it out!!! We finally got there it was -5 and snowing. Our lovely guide met us, she was beautiful and in a full length mink coat that I want!! She is an English teacher by profession but she freelance interprets and transcribes instead. She drove us to the hotel and got us checked in, this was about 6:30 am and said she would be back at 10 to take us to the orphanage. Apparently, it was some kind of holiday and the Dr. would not be there today and so we would speak with her tomorrow. So, soon they brought in A and he is small and was a little timid but came up and hugged me. I brought things to break the ice like bubbles and a music box. He played with it all and seems to be quite smart for a child that has lived in an orphange most of his little life. Soon, we walked him upstairs and told him we'd be back tomorrow. We went with our guide and went to lunch and then back to hotel. Yes, our room was sooooo hot. Because it is so cold there they wanted to make sure that we were comfortable. We were not to go back to orphanage that day and so we relaxed and walked to a grocery store. The next day we went to orphanage where we met with Doctor, Social worker and his primary caregiver. She had tears in her eyes about him and said the family that gets him would be very blessed. Everything we heard was positive and then he came in and hugged him. We then went to the same area were the day before and he started looking in my bag to see what I might have brought him. He sat down and did puzzles for quite a while. He put on Mark's sunglasses and we had a great time although I was not feeling well. Happens every time I go overseas. We went upstairs and saw the room where he sleeps, like 15 little beds with pink little blankets on all of them. All the children were around us and wanted to see camera. I had taken them all bubbles and crayons and suckers, etc. Then our guide said, get with a friend and we will take your picture. She said, he said, my papa is my best friend! That was the sweetest moment. We left, and came back that afternoon. We left him with pictures of us, Adrian, Snickers, our home and pictures with he and us in them. We will go back in about 2 months to go before a judge (that part scares me) and bring him home. Anything can always happen, but my hope is in the Lord. I want to thank you all for your prayers!!!! I know that they helped our situation. I love you all. I'll post again soon. Cherie
