Independence Day!

Today these dear people celebrated their countries independence!  It was a wonderful thing to experience!    It was mostly a day of standing next to L while she sat in her chair explaining the art work displayed by her school.  It was a neat experience to see her so poised as she explained each piece to strangers as they passed by!  Her most important responsibility was to exhibit to the "Inspector" who I think may have been the mayor or assistant mayor.  However, this inspector showed up hours later than expected leaving L to wait baking in the sun! She was out there from 8:00 in the morning and the guy did not make his way to her school's display until around 12:30!  Laughing to myself as I noticed the teachers get rigid and flustered as he approached, I noticed little L as poised as ever, patiently waiting to explain her treasured art.  I wish I had it on video.  She was so calm and articulate.  I was so so proud! I think any other child may have been cranky with hunger and heat stroke but not my little darling!  I watched as she gracefully held up her hand to direct attention to each piece as she spoke.  What a sweet little charmer!  I was blushing with pride :)
Here are some pictures from the Independence day celebration. 

There were hundreds of little displays set up all around this park, each so unique and interesting.  I wish I could have taken pictures of all of it!

L is really not camera shy :)

I love the shy smile :)

she thought these sheep were really cute... she looked at them for a long time.  Then she said "this one is Emily, this one is Yulia, and this one is me!"

at this booth there was art supplies and L got to add a masterpiece to the collection.

L working on her masterpiece

My dear friend Yulia! 

"What are the fish saying to each other?"

Some of L's wonderful teachers

L explaining the art to one of her teachers.  This sweet woman loves her students so much! It is so obvious and so wonderful to see!

L and one of her friends worked on this one together!  I loved it so much I asked if I could buy it but they said they love it too much to let it go.  They said they love to keep the art work as it reminds them of their children that they love so much!

L really loved these bears! So sweet!

She really loved these bears!

Sweet L manning her duty station.  So so sweet!

Lots of interesting costumes... these were her favorite!

she wanted to take pictures with all the characters as they walked by :)

Here is L with some of her wonderful teachers!  The sun was right in her eyes... poor sweet girl!

The woman in the middle is one of L's teachers.  They sang a song with her and it was beautiful!

L loved taking pictures when she was all dressed up in her traditional clothing!

Later on Monday I got to visit again.  We were both so tired but still so happy to be together!

I could be wrong but I think this is the Saksahan lake :) I went for a walk after dinner on Independence day in the park with some friends that I met at church the day before.  What fun! 

Days 5 and 6: Give thanks in all Circumstances!

Friday night I had to say goodbye to my absolutely awesome social worker/facilitator Iryna :( 

The most awesome, Iryna!

 Me and Yulia at L's school!

But thankfully and excitedly I waited for my dear friend Yulia to visit me from another city (P) that is East of KR.  She was willing to take the night train (yeah, she loves me) to come visit me in KR for the weekend and help me communicate with L!  What a sweet blessing she was!!! 

L liked taking pictures of us!

The next few days were just a blur of wonderful visits with L (with a great translator so really good conversations!).  And of course, Yulia and I had a wonderful time together when we were not visiting the school!  We took the "Mashutka" which is a large van that has been fixed like a bus and um....I'm trying to say something nice about it....um... The driver was very cheerful and helpful!   After our first mashutka experience we ended up with soaked pants... not sure how the cloth seat was  so so very wet after sitting down...um... I also dont have a washer so I've been wearing the same pants for like 10 days... yes the same ones that got soaked on the mashutka.  When things like these happen most people smile and say "Hey! Welcome to U!"  They are right!  and really I love that attitude... so what if some strange liquid has dried on my only pants...I get to be L's momma forever because this country decided to welcome Americans into its borders! Praise the Lord!!!  

Another fun thing about traveling in U is that the roads are a war zone... I mean... haven't been repaired at all for like 30 years....maybe longer.  Drivers do not like to hit all these crazy deep pot holes so they would rather swerve in and out of oncoming traffic or onto the sidewalks to avoid said holes.  Think Harry Potter's night bus experience only we didn't have a magical "shrink and squeeze button" to fit between the impossible spaces...it is no wonder that "victim of a bus collision" has its own medical code name here. So if you are susceptible to any motion sickness at all you should not ride a mashutka..... um....what on earth is on my pants?! 

Anyway I was able to take the Mashutka with Yulia to find a book store and I got some awesome Russian fairytale books for L!  Books here are so so cheap!  After I left I thought I should have bought several more than I did! 
So, Saturday was just full of wonderful visits with L and her sweet class.  I’m really really loving this little band of munchkins!  A few of them have families on the way but two of these darlings still are looking for their forever family!  Could it be you?  Please contact me if you are interested….

 

Meet Charlie! You can learn more about how to adopt this absolutely adorible, oh so so sweet, little guy by following this link to his Reeces rainbow page

this is Charlie... I could fill a novel about his sweet nature!

Meet cuddle bug Rebecca

Meet Rebecca! She is such a leader in her groupa and so so snuggly! I could hug this girl all day! Could you? If you would like to learn more about how to adopt this little snuggle bug follow this link to Reece's Rainbow

L really liked taking pictures of me :P

 What a blessed time this weekend has been!  Here are some more pictures from our visits together at L's school as well as some silliness :)

I love this smile!

more dancing!

she thought my dancing was pretty funny :P

like I was saying... L likes to take silly pictures of us!

on Sunday we rode the maschutka to a christian church!  We met some wonderful people!

Outside of the little Christian church!  we were pretty excited!

Oh my goodness!  These beautiful blessings the Lord has given to us!  My conclusion:  Yes, my pants are dirty, yes I kinda smell bad, yes my tummy hurts because I've not had access to my normal food, and blah blah... but oh my goodness these blessings!!!!  Oh my Lord I thank you for this great great love you are showing me!  I LOVE this darling girl!  I am so so grateful for my time here!  "Give thanks to the Lord in ALL circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!!!! "

Thank you Lord! Amen!