We are Free!

We have the girls! Praise God, "Slava Bog"! Thank you, God, "Spaseba Bog"! "Dvia Gracivuia Dotchki"! Two beautiful daughters! They are ours forever and ever and ever! This day feels exactly like the high a new mother feels after the pains of giving birth have passed. The endorphins kick in and WOW! Everything is wonderful! The rest of the day is just a blur of happiness!

Today was nothing like we anticipated it would be. We got up early and were ready when Tanya arrived at 7:45. We went to the court building first thing and picked up 16 copies of the court decree that says we are actually and legally the girls's parents! Then we headed to the village to get the birth certificates. It takes at least two hours to get to the village. About 45 minutes down the road, Tanya suddenly pulled over and said she just thought about something. It suddenly occurred to her that we might need to take the old birth certificates. She called Vanya, and yes, we did need those and they were back at the orphanage. So, we turned around and headed back to Mariupol. At first we were disappointed. Our day had started early and well, and we were looking ahead at getting many things accomplished today. However, God had other plans, and they were SO MUCH BETTER!

Since we already had the court decree, and we were heading back to the orphanage anyway, Tanya called the social worker to see if we could go ahead and get the girls and finalize the papers at the orphanage. That's what we've been waiting on for almost a year! It was agreed that we could do that, so we went there. We had more dealings with the director, but I'll spare you the details at this point. We signed papers in the office. The girls brought their suitcase down and we left. We had one more step to finalize at the bank, and then we returned to the orphanage to get those papers back, and it was done! The girls are ours! We don't ever have to go back to the orphanage! Hallelujah! Slava Bogu!

Tanya and Mark and I and the girls had one more stop at the central business office in town to sign more papers about obtaining the girls' birth certificate. In the meantime, Tanya called the village office where we had intended to go today. She learned that there was some special election or other event the office they were preparing for, so even if we had showed up they wouldn't have been able to help us today. We have an appointment there Monday morning at 10:00 and intend to go to Donetsk after that to get the passports. We'll spend Tuesday here, cleaning up and packing and getting ready to go. Then we'll catch a train to Kiev on Tuesday evening. We'll arrive there Wednesday morning. Then we get busy again as we do everything we need to do there. We don't exactly know yet when we'll be flying home, but maybe a week from tomorrow on Saturday, June 20. That's what we're aiming for at this time, anyway.

So, after all the "stuff" we finally celebrated being a family! Tanya dropped us off at the Amstor and Mark and I and the girls ate lunch together - just the four of us for the first time! Then we went shopping for shampoo and toothbrushes and pajamas and other things the girls needed. Then it was shopping for clothes and we had a blast! The girls were so sweet trying things on and letting me see them to give my approval or not.

The girls both seem to be more relaxed than we've seen them since we arrived here. Away from the orphanage and the peace of God is upon them. They've held our hands and laughed with us and teased with us and smiled at us and with us all day. Tanya arranged for the girls to stay in bunk beds in an empty room upstairs. But after we arrived here and got their room all ready, they came down and laid down on the bed with me in our room. Zhanna asked if they could sleep with me tonight! Mark had thought about this a couple of days ago, but I thought they might feel too weird about it. However, they really want to sleep with me in the bed downstairs, so Mark has graciously and happily agreed to take the couch so we can all be together in one room. Wow! We really are a family! The girls and I will be like little puppies or kittens sleeping together in one bed. I'll let you know how it goes!

Well, I'd better go for now. Both girls have had their showers and are reading in the bed, waiting for me. I'm a tired Mama tonight, and Mark is a tired Papa. But we are happy. Ever so happy! God is good - we praise Him with every fiber of our being. He has set the captives FREE!

Love to all!
Dawn and Mark