THIS IS THE DAY!

Sunday, November 3

We got a late start because we overslept!  Our plan was supposed to be that we left the apartment at 10am, but we probably didn't leave until closer to 11am.  We made the trek to the Metro station (should have spent more time walking this summer!), rode it from one end of the red line to the other, got on a bus (waited probably 20 minutes for it to leave the station) and got to Bogdan's much later than we had said. :(  The guard met us at the gate and was expecting us.  He walked us to Zoya's house (Bogdan's foster mother) where she was waiting outside.  Of course we asked where Bogdan was.  We had expected him to be waiting at the bus stop for us.  She told us he had just taken a shower and was getting dressed.  He was taking a long time, so Tim went up to his room.  Tim said later that Bogdan hugged him so hard that he thought he may have broken something! After that Bogdan came flying down the stairs and hugged me so hard.  He had never done that in the past. Even though his English is not very good, we had a nice visit.  Zoya made a nice spread of food for us.  She asked if we wanted coffee. I had forgotten that coffee means much more than just a cup of coffee. (I need to do this!!) She had cookies, bread, sausage, cheese, crepes, cake and preserves. Yum.  Tim showed them the pictures we had taken last year when we were in Ukraine and they loved seeing them all. The time went by so quickly and we still hadn't talked to him about adoption.  So after coffee we sat in the living room and told him we still wanted to adopt him.  We asked him if he still wanted to be adopted.  He said "yes". Then we told him about Liliya. He said "ok".  We also told him that nothing was for sure about his adoption, but that we were going to try and pray very hard that someone will say yes.  He said he understood.  It was so good to see him.  His looks are changing. No longer the little boy.  His voice is deep now. He has peach fuzz on his chin.  He said he had gotten taller (we couldn't tell), but he must have since he was now allowed to drive the race cars at the Mall. It was sad to say goodbye, but it was time to leave.  Zoya, Nastacia, a girl in his family, and walked us to the gate and Bogdan walked us to the bus stop.

Our friends, Rick and Marilyn, said they would meet us on the platform of the Darnitska station (I may have spelled that wrong!).  They took us from there to where the ICA church was meeting at a Hotel.  The hotel was very nice and the meeting room was on the 2nd floor.  We were there at least 30 minutes early, but Marilyn became our designated camera person and she was ready to video the big surprise. While waiting we recognized another couple from FB who were in Kyiv to adopt.  It is so much fun to meet people from all over the USA walking down the same path as you.  Cissa and Russ were an absolute delight to talk to.  As we continue to wait,  I talked to Marilyn, but kept one eye on the stairway.  Soon, I saw Raya, the orphanage director come walking up the stairs, and Liliya was close behind. I stepped out from behind Marilyn and stood next to Tim.  Raya stopped right by us and Liliya just stood there and stared. It seems like it took several seconds for it to sink in who we were, but soon she was running toward us hugging and laughing. It was so much fun.  She was definitely surprised.  We gave her flowers and then later on a FB friend, Irina, walked up and hugged Liliya.  It was so neat to be able to meet her in person.  She gave me her phone number and said she would like to help in any way she could.  The service at ICA was great.  It is in English and most are Americans.  We met so many people.  I felt like I was among friends.

After church, we went to dinner with Rick and Marilyn and their son, David, and also Cissa and Russ to a great little restaurant.  We had a great time of fellowship together.  Cissa and Russ and Tim and I got on the Metro and headed for our apartments.  Dave and Elsie and Cody met us at our Metro stop and we walked back to the apartment together. A wonderful day and we are grateful.