Building Trust

Last night was fine, although I had to get up in the middle of the night and put some blankets and a pillow on the floor and sleep there. There were two little furnaces on either side of me in the bed and it was the warmest night since we've been here. In addition, Ella snores and talks in her sleep, so it was not the best night's sleep I've ever had, although probably one of the sweetest!

It started so cute. They had to call their teachers and friends back at the orphanage first. They talked a short time and seemed content. Then we three snuggled in the bed and Mark got settled on the couch. I told the girls a story about two little flowers named Zhanna and Ella who had had a spell put on them by a wicked witch. A good fairy came along and touched each of them with her magic wand and "poof!" they turned into girls again. They learned they were really princesses and were going to go live in the castle of the good king and queen. I have no idea if this story has any psychological symbolism at all, but it's what came to me as I was grasping for words to tell a story. I think both girls liked it and laughed and smiled in parts. After we turned out the lights there was a normal amount of giggling and making jokes. Ella said, "Good night, Kitty princesses in the bed. Good night, dog in the doghouse." She was referring to Mark over on his couch. We all laughed and laughed. Then they were getting crazy and saying good-night to all the English words they could think of. Zhanna got stuck, and we were having a hard time understanding what she meant. Finally, she got out of bed, went to turn on the light and pointed at her stomach. "Good night stomach!" That cracked us all up. So, we had to get settled again, and then I had to shush them a few times, but they both quickly fell asleep and slept all night. It felt GREAT to be with our girls all together as a family!

This morning we all woke about 8:00 and got ready for the day. We had breakfast and then we went to the market. We had fun looking and buying a few small things for the girls. Then we walked to Amstor (we love that place!) and bought another "Rynetky" CD because the girls left the one we bought before at the orphanage. We'd rather buy another than try to go back and collect the old one. We ate lunch at Amstor again (sharing the food they couldn't finish) and went home to take a nap. The girls said they were sleepy. When we got home I went to sleep on the bed and Mark slept on the couch. The girls headed upstairs and we thought they were going to sleep in the bunkbeds. However, pretty soon they both came downstairs, and I woke up with both of them beside me on one side of the bed sharing the ear plugs for Mark's CD player, listening to the Rynetky CD! They were "whispering" ( right!) and giggling. They both wanted to go to the "Moray" or the Sea.

Our friend, Natasha, from the TLC, wanted to go, too, so she led the way. Mark and I were following, watching the girls talk with Natasha. They needed towels and water bottles and snacks. Mark put the towels in his backpack. Ella had packed a smaller bag and started out carrying it, but it wasn't long before I ended up carrying that, too. Mark and I laughed and said to ourselves, "Look, in one day we really have become parents again. We are cleaning up after these kids, buying whatever they ask for (for right now, at least), carrying all their stuff, and getting very little sleep!" Yes, the empty nest has come and gone! It is indeed full again! We praise God.

We got glimpses of the girls' personalities once again on our trek to the sea. Zhanna was ready to swim and wore her swimming suit under a coverup. Ella had no interest in swimming. Zhanna went far out into the sea on her own, and then she and Natasha asked Mark to let them ride a bungee cord/trampoline type of ride available close by. It was cheap, and Mark is ready to pay for just about anything now, as they come and ask him. Then Zhanna wanted to go down a water slide in the same area. She's a little thing, but doesn't seem to have any fear. Her quiet determination is written all over her face. Ella, on the other hand, holds back a little more. She's a bit more hesitant and reluctant to jump in to new situations and adventures. But she seems to be the one who will be extremely loyal and sensitive to others, once the barriers have come down. She's always offering to share her food or drink or anything else she has with us all the time. She constantly comes to me to lean her head on my shoulder or hold my hand. They are both just so dear to us already.

At the sea, Mark and I had time to talk about the trust that is being built right now. Mark said it is like in the book of Hebrews, which talks about Jesus indeed becoming a Jew and fully human. He came to our world, before we could have entrance to His. That trust was built. That's the way it has been with us and the girls. We have come and spent time in their world, now they trust us enough to go back to ours. I think they know we love them and will never hurt them or leave them. Last night I tried to share those words with them before we went to bed. I tried to tell them that they now have a very happy Mama and a happy Papa, and that we will always take care of them and we love them. I think they understand, but even now can't fully grasp everything that means. However, they are ready to go with us.

Our train tickets have been purchased for Tuesday evening at 5:00. We'll arrive in Kiev on Wednesday morning. So, Monday night will probably be my last blog until we get home, unless we have time to go to an internet cafe of some kind and pay to use the computers there. We'll have to see. I'll try to share as many details about travel plans as I can before we go to Kiev, otherwise we'll just contact family members to let them know. But it is looking like we'll probably be coming home next Saturday - one week!

All is well and God is good! May He be praised and glorified.
Love,
Dawn and Mark