‘What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men …… That is what love looks like.’ - St. Augustine

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Arrived and SO HAPPY!

It is now 9pm in Kemerovo on Thursday the 17th. We arrived this morning at 5:30am and were met with a VERY happy Anya, her best friend Katya whom I love, and my dear friend Svetlana whom I adore!!! Didn't realize we would be meet by a camera crew and have a boom in our faces ans bright lights and cameras, but we didn't even really notice as we were busy exchanging a million kisses and hugs. The girls were SO HAPPY and held hands the entire time. While they caught up, I did an interview with the TV people, and then we all squished into our van with our million bags and headed to our hotel.

Once at the hotel, where I have never stayed before ( always stayed at the Kuzbass for the last 5 trips) we were treated to a HUGE breakfast that comes with the room -- fried eggs, a whole sliced tomato, lots of sliced cucumbers, ham, toasted rye bread with raspberry jam, cheese, yogurt, pastries and REALLY good coffee! I felt the the queen of England after 2 days of rough travel and no sleep. I think I ate enough for 5 grown men..lol.  We chatted at breakfast and the girls laughed and laughed and I could have been in a prison cell and it wouldn't have mattered. I was THAT happy. Their joy at being reunited even made Katya weepy. We talked and talked and then came back to the room where the three girls had a field day emptying all our bags of their contents. ( I had meant to keep the orphanage donation bags sealed, but they really wanted to investigate!) I gave Anya and Katya their gifts and got kisses for every one. Nastia shared her clothing with them and they modeled different outfits. But most popular? The barbies! Not only had I packed 30 new barbies for the orphanage,but also several of Nastia's that we could give out. The girls played barbies ( I kid you not) and laughed and laughed.

After this, Anya played with all Nastia's electronic stuff while we slept for many many hours. I had told them to wake me at noon, but when I awoke it was 5pm! Right now Nastia is out to get dinner with Anya and Katya and i am home to clean up the mess..lol. More later, if this WIFI is not a dream..lol. sorry if this is a sloppy post. I'll clean it up later. I am still jet-lagged and a little loopy!

Thank you all for your prayers. Tomorrow we go tour apartments! And Saturday we spend the day with the Moscow TV people...they are doing a special on the girls reunion. I'll be sure to tell you when it airs:)

Love love love!!!

11 comments:

  1. That is so fantastic. I am happy for the girls and you.

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  2. I'm so happy that after such a horrible travel that things seemed to melt away! I hope the trip is everything you want it to be! I'm thinking of you!
    Kristin

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  3. Im so happy that you are having a good time and that the girls are so happy. And a Moscow TV crew? Wow....maybe, hopefully, this will result in some really good news!!!

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  4. Anonymous11:54 AM

    I am so happy that the girls are reunited! My prayers are with you...

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  5. I am so glad you made it safe and had such a warm welcome! I can actually feel your smile in your post!

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  6. So happy you both made it there safely. Have been praying for you.

    Sue

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  7. When you get right down to it, Anya never had a chance to play with little girl things when she was growing up. That is so sweet, playing with Barbies.

    Glad you made it there safely. Good luck with the apartment hunt.

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  8. I'm smiling so broadly now - so, so glad! You deserved (and needed) some positives!

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  9. What a wonderful post to read!!! Soo happy for everyone!

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  10. so wonderful to hear. i'm glad katya, anya and nas had fun with the barbies. good luck remembering how to flush the toilet right (heh) and i'll skype with you later.

    :-)

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