Another geat visit and the plan....

We had another great visit today (thursday morning in Russia). She comes right to us like it is no big deal. She is a completly different child than we visited a week and a half ago. Today she was running..yes I said running in circles in the room and laughing. She seems so calm and just goes with the flow..we could use some of that at our house..of course we will see if that changes as her personality comes out. Derrick is constantly making some sort of noise (shocking..I know) to get her attention so even if he is quiet she looks at him and laughs. She seems so comfortable with us. They refer to every cargiver at the orpanhage as "Mama" so if you ask her where Mama is she will run to any female in the room. They rarely come in contact with men but when they do they are considered "Papa". We point to ourselves and say Mama and Papa and she just stares at us. So.. with time it will come. We will need to be careful once we get home that she doesn't think everyone is either Mama or Papa...more to come later on that. Another fabulous visit! We found out today that our next and last visit to the orphanage will be on Saturday and we will pick her up on Tuesday the 9th. We were originally told it would be Wednesday so we are getting her a day early. Monday is "Womens's Day" a Russian holiday. I am thinking it is a cross between Mother's Day and Valentine's Day so we won't get to visit on Monday. Tomorrow (Friday) our translator (who has been great)is taking us shopping and out to eat..a change of scenery. We are not sure why we aren't visiting her tomorrow we got the impression something was going on at the orphanage?!? We are just so excited that in less than a week she will finally be with us. Very Surreal! Our boys seem to be doing great. So much so that occasionally when we call they are to "busy" to talk. I am just so thankful that there is not crying in the background along with "Mommy when will you be home." It is unbelievable the "village" that has come together to pull this off. So many people have played some role in making this trip and the entire process go smooth. We are so grateful and thinking you will agree that the payoff is priceless. Derrick and I were talking the other day about the life she would have if we had not chosen to adopt..the what if's. Sure maybe another family would have adopted her..maybe she would have been fine here. We quickly decided not to go down that road in our minds. People have commented on how great it is that we are "saving" an orphan and I guess that is what we are doing however....that was not why we started this. Honestly...we just wanted another child and this is the road God led us down. So we don't think of it as saving her. We just had to come a little farther than some to get our daughter. We believe that from the moment the Lord created her she was meant for our family. This process has changed Derrick and I, changed the way we look at parenting and changed our marriage. The conversation that started on January 27, 2007 has just about come full circle. I can't imagine this journey without the unbelievable man that God has placed by my side. He would admit that this was all me in the beginning but he jumped in with both feet. Amazing! Who would have imagined this journey that the Lord had planned for us. We are so excited about the next phase and hope you will continue the ride with us.
All our Love....
Amber