Easter Call To The Orphanage

Local Priest blessing the children.

Nastia and I have been trying to reach Anya by phone for days, as we need to give her the code for her monthly Western Union cash pick-up. Although the Kemerovo western Union people let my friend Svetlana pick up funds without the code, they won't let Anya. Anyway, we've had no luck. Her phone is either off or out of funds again. So we decided to try the orphanage since it was Easter morning there. I was happy that one of the caretakers I know fairly well answered. She was so happy to hear my voice, she yelled "Kitty!" ( That's what my name sounds like when spoken by a Russian.) " Kitty! Happy Easter!"

I told her I was calling for that very reason, to wish a Happy Easter to all of them. She yelled slowly into the phone, " I WILL GO GET D. HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!" So I heard her scamper off up the stairs, and D's name repeated at a high decibel multiple times. D came to the phone and sounded much happier than he did a few days ago. He said he missed us and hoped we could come soon. He said that everyone there was well. Nastia wanted to talk to him, so they had a long conversation about a great many things. She warned him again about smoking (many of the kids there smoke...even as young as nine and ten years of age.) She told him about the beach near our house. She told him about his room and explained legos to him, and how much he would probably love legos..lol. She warned him that the dogs will want to sleep with him, and we even had Henry and Matilda (our dogs) say a quick hello to him on the phone. He liked that alot.

Then Nastia surprised me in asking him how he'd feel about having a younger brother or sister. ( Nastia knows that we are eligible to adopt two, and she has started advocating for a younger sister.) She explained this to D and then I heard her say 'Do you know any nice kids younger than us that would make a good sister or brother? It has to be someone that we can be in charge of 'cause we are older...so no one too crazy.' I stopped her and said it might not be a good idea to discuss this with him, but before I could finish, D was yelling in the hallway to the caretakers 'Hey, do we have any good kids here under ten that could be my little sister?'

I was mortified! I got on the phone and told D that this was something we could only discuss with the Director and each other. So he said 'Ok, Mama, but I will still look around for Nastia and find somebody really good."

So that was our very unexpected phone call. Nastia knows, and I had her explain to D, that we would only adopt another child if it were completely evident that it is what God is asking of us, like it was with him. If anyone reading this is thinking, how can she possibly afford another adoption? The added cost if I adopt at the same time as D, is under $3,000. THat is the reason I have quietly been contemplating it since we commited to adopting D. If it's God's will, it will happen. If not, we really won't be able to afford another adoption for 4-5 years. We'll see. But it was sweet that both Nastia and D are so enthusiastic about having a younger sibling. It was very cute to hear them discussing it together. I think these two will get along fine. Can't wait to see them together again. Strike that. Can't wait to see him home.