Working and Waiting....

Today I was thinking about our daughter Alyssa, like I usually do many times during my day. I am always thinking about what she must be doing at this time or that. Krasnoyarsk is exactly ahead of eastern time by 12 hours. I am always wondering if she is having a good day or a bad one. I hope that a small part of her remembers our visit with her, and that she remembers who her mama and papa are. For the past few days I have been printing out pictures from our trip for family and friends. I am also burning DVD's from the video we took. It really amazes me how she responded to us in such a positive way. She was a little bit leery of Wade, just because we were told ahead of time that most of the children do not see men at the orphanages. There are usually only women caregivers. We found out that she really loves music, and that she is very inquisitive!!! I found out this past weekend that my sisters are having me a baby shower on July 5th. Everyone is so excited to see Alyssa when we bring her home. I also got a call tonight from a friend at church who said that they would also like to throw Wade, Alyssa and I a toddler shower!!! Our church family is amazing!!! They have been there for us through this whole journey so far. The Lord has blessed our family and this entire adoption journey. We have made so many new friends, and there are so many people that are willing to give to us their prayers and blessings, it really takes my breath!!! Little does our daughter realize just how much she is already loved!!! I can't wait to share Alyssa's picture, but for now that will have to wait. We cannot post her picture until after court. Just know, that she is absolutely beautiful, and so full of life!!! How did we get so blessed???

We Are Home!!!!

We have finally had a chance to post after returning home on Sunday night at 11:30pm.
We had an amazing first trip to Krasnoyarsk to see our daughter!!! I did not get a chance to post before our flight on Tuesday. We left on Tuesday headed for Moscow. We flew Delta thru Atlanta and then on to Moscow. We arrived early Wednesday morning and checked in to the Aerotel for a few hours of rest before our next flight to Kras. We flew out on Aeroflot on Wednesday night and arrived in Kras on Thursday morning. We were then picked up by Sergei from the airport and then checked into the Hotel Krasnoyarsk. Then we were off again, with not much sleep I add, to our meeting with the Ministry of Education to formally ask to visit our daughter at the orphange. When we were done with that meeting, we were off to the orphange!!!
We met our daughter for the first time on Thursday. She was kind of timid at first, but she soon warmed up to us when we started playing with her. My sister Lori gave us some toys to take on our trip, and as soon as she seen them, there was no holding her back. We had arrived late in the afternoon, so about halfway into our 2 hour visit, she fell asleep in my arms. Let me just tell you, that there was no better feeling in the world than her trusting me, and falling asleep in my arms!!!
While we were there we got a chance to talk to the orphange doctor about her, and she said that our daughter is very inquisitive and gets into everything!!! She can walk and she can already drink from a cup. Alyssa stayed asleep in my arms for the entire meeting with the Dr. The Dr. was chuckling and smiling, and was truly happy to see how she was taking to us. The next morning (Fri.) we went back to see her for another 2 hrs. She was a little more calm because she kind of knew who we were. We played and played and she really opened up, especially when we would say a few words in Russian. She loves music and swayed to a piano being played by the daughter of another couple who had also went to the orphange with us to meet their son. We met 2 amazing couples that were traveling with another agency, and it was a true blessing to have them there. We really look forward to staying in touch with them as we follow along on this journey together. When it was time for us to leave the orphange on Friday, our daughter said mama and waved goodbye. That little face, that we finally got to smile and laugh, was telling me that she knew who we were, and that she couldn't wait to see us again really soon!!! We flew out of Kras on Saturday back to Moscow. We had pretty much all day Saturday to tour Moscow. A lady named Ana took us on a tour of Red Square, the Kremlin and downtown Moscow. We rode the subway(my first time), it was sure exciting!!!! We had bought a few things that we wanted to pass on to our daughter as she grows that were from Russia. We spent the night Saturday night in Moscow trying to somehow realize just exactly how we did so much in such little time while in Russia. We left Moscow after lunch on Sunday, flying Delta back to Atlanta, and then on to Knoxville. We would just like to say that we really appreciate all of the prayers and well wishes from you all!!!! Our daughter Alyssa, we hope, will be coming home soon!!! We think in the next 3 to 4 months (I am praying sooner)that she will be home with us to stay. I guess I will sign off for now, and show you a few pictures from our amazing trip!!!!
Picture #1 - Playroom in the orphange
Picture #2 - Orphange
Picture #3 - Hotel Krasnoyarsk