Russia for 4: Days 2 and 3

Yum!

Yesterday, before our visit, we had an adventure! We went to Cinabon and the Mall. We were having so much fun eating our cinamon rolls,(the only resemblance of home) until the giagantic bees came! No lie, Russia has HUGE bees! So in true Boyd form, we ran! We then went to the "mall"... Let's just say, it's no Barton Creek! Didn't stay long because it was so HOT and we were feeling yuck (a constant on this trip, we think it's the lack of food).

The view driving into Sosnovoborsk.

Later we took our hour car ride to Sosnovoborsk. Let me explain about the driving and roads here. For those of you who have driven on City Park Road, think of that, but covered in potholes riding in a car with no shocks, driving about 70, multiply that by 100 and add dodging cars coming from all sides! It's almost comical! It is a death-defying journey and Scott should never complain about my driving or honking the horn again. They use the horn here like a blinker! Scott and I die laughing and our driver, Serge and facilitator, Yelena, don't even crack a smile because it's so normal to them! We love them though!

Our day at the orphanage yesterday was awesome, to say the least! We had the whole room to ourselves for the majority of the time. We were able to feed her her snack and watch her chug a teacup of milk. Seriously, chug! She grabbed it from me and started slurping like a cow until it was all gone! She is a good eater too! Her snack, I thought was cinamon oatmeal, was microwaved cottage cheese. It did NOT look like the cottage cheese I am used to. But, she gobbled it all up!

She was happy and playful the enitre time. And boy, she is one tough cookie! She took tumbles and falls and never made a peep. We thought it was probably because she's learned that crying doesn't get her attention. I grabbed her up though, like a typical mother and cared for her boo boos!

Last night was uneventful here, pretty much like every other night we've had. We cook our pasta and I found canned corn. That's about as adventurous as we get! We watched about the 10th movie. Thank goodness we are in the apartment though. They have an American DVD player! Yippee!!

This morning, Serge, picked us up at 9:00 and was sporting a TEXAS sweatshirt! We LOVED it! Made us feel right at home. Although, later today we notice Texas was spelled, "Taxes" on one of our forms and we had to redo it. We joked at Serge that he should have just looked down on his shirt. It got a good laugh.

View of the room in orphanage. Baby home #5

Today we shared the visiting room with a French couple and a Spanish couple. Scott and I were so elated that we finally found someone who we could understand...Spanish! His specialty!

THE BOW!!

M's caregivers decided to "doll" her up today and tied an enourmous yellow bow on the top of her head! Holy cow, it was funny! It's bigger than her head! She kept tugging at it but it NEVER came out. I think it was weaved into her scalp. Poor thing!

M acted a little tired today but she was still the light of the room! That girl is the cutest thing EVER! She is such a little flirt too! She has this nose crinkle thing that she does when she's wanting you to play with her. It's precious. She melts my heart every time I look at her! She is so happy and is such a busy body. She's intereted in everything and allows you to grab her up to cuddle too. She has the sweetest smell...like a baby! I can still smell it on my shirt. I am tempted to not wash this shirt untl I come back so I can have a little piece of her.

After we left the orphanage, we went to the notary and officially signed and notarized our petition to court and power of attorney.

Leaving her today was a little difficult, but we were also so happy because we were told we might get an October 4th court date! We had every paper ready (thanks to my obsessiveness) and it has already started the process. Yelena is petitioning court next Wednesday. She will know for sure then, but they are pretty positive we will be back in a month! Yay!

God has been so good to us on this trip and He has shined His face on this little princess! She just glows! His radiance is so evident throughout this whole process. We are faithfull that He will continue to be faithful through the rest of this process.

Please keep us in your prayers. We leave to come home tomorrow (Thursday morning). Pray for safe travels and smoothe plane rides! Please pray that our M stays well and that she knows she is loved! We know that she is in good hands. The orphanage's hands, and the hands of her Father in heaven!!!

Here's a few pics of our trip!