Messages of hope

Every few months I get a short letter via email or facebook from our sweet girl we hosted in the summer of 2012 who's in Crimea. 

They remind me she hasn't forgotten us and still thinks of us:) not a day goes by that Jared and I don't think of her and miss her. We keep holding on to the hope that someday we will see her again.

 

Katya is 11!!!!

Katya turned 11 last week! We had a small family party for her here at home. She was a bit confused as to why we were singing to her and giving her gifts! Lol Lesia kept telling her in ukrainian that it was her birthday and these gifts were because of that but she just has no reference to know what we were taking about. Imagine being 11 and never have had a birthday party before:( 

We had a small store bought cake for her that night and pizza (her favorite) but my friend Anastasia who happens to be Ukrainian had her mom make Katya a napoloen cake for her birthday. It's amazing even Jared liked it and he rarely likes any desserts. 

Katya is doing really well, she's picking up more english words every week. It's going to be awhile though before she really picks up enough to get by on. She enjoys her siblings most of the time! They of course pester her and make her mad sometimes as all younger siblings do. She and Ashlyn are doing good sharing a bedroom still but Katya likes to keep thinks neat and Ashlyns a slob.....it's been very crazy around here lately and I just don't have the energy to write so that's all for now. 

Wednesday pondering

Went to the Russian general store and an international market on Monday. 

I miss Ukraine everyday, mostly the food though :) and juice oh my gosh I miss the juice!!!! Yummy yummy yummy!!!

 

I hope I get to go back soon to visit and just sightsee without the stress of being there to adopt. Maybe I'll get lucky and another family will invite me to go along as a travel companion:)