They're here

They are here! Our group of 14 kids from an orphanage in Ukraine FINALLY arrived around 8:30 pm Thursday. They were greeted by their host families and friends. It was a pretty amazing and incredibly emotional experience. It was obvious that many kids couldn't believe that they were here. We are hugely blessed that their orphanage director is one of the chaperones so we will be able to find out how we can best help and support them when they return to Ukraine.

Delta gave us special permission to meet them at their gate - which was awesome! Some of the children were naturally very nervous. Our host child, Sasha (our daughter Anastasia's roommate and best friend from the orphanage) hasn't stopped smiling since she got here. She kept wiping the tears off MY face when we greeted each other at the airport. Attached are a few pictures of the kids when the arrived. (Anastasia is in most of the pics too!!! She couldn't keep her hands off of her friends!)
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Here's some comments that we received from our host families since the kids arrived!
• Our child's observation in the car on the way home (through a translator): "Americans smile a lot. I like that."
• God bless his little self, he took a shower on his own accord as soon as we got home even as tired as he was. He is so beautiful! It's easy to love him already.
• My neighbors had come in while we were gone to the airport and decorated the kitchen. She smiled so big when she saw it! We're not sure if she realized that we didn't do that! I love that she'll be loved by my friends and neighbors too!
• When the interpreter came over, he told us that he just couldn't believe this could happen to him. He's been happy since the day he got our pictures, (the host families mailed pictures to the kids before they arrived) but he didn't really think this would happen to him
• After taking a bath(vanna), he was taking a while in the bathroom, so we checked on him. He was washing his clothes out ---in the sink. So, we worked out the idea of a washing machine and a few other little things before he kissed us goodnight, and he went giggling up to bed. I went up to tuck them in, and he said "ahhhh bed" with a look on his face like he had never been so comfortable or happy in his life.
• They have been taking pictures of EVERYTHING!!!!! It is very cute. They took a picture as I was paying to get out of the parking garage at the airport and the attendant thought it was a really big lightening strike. (each child got a disposable camera in their goodie
bag that was given to them when they arrived)
• Love him like crazy
• Despite having been on a plane for a day and a half, he was the
• happiest, lovingest child in the history of the universe.
• Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this. I am loving it. It is such a picture of hope to see these kids.


Here's some airport photos - Anastasia was SO EXCITED!!!

Anastasia and Vadim - one of her good friends from the orphanage. When she left the orphanage 2 1/2 years ago - they were the same size!









With her old roommate Sasha - we were sure glad to see her. I started crying when I saw her - she wiped the tears off my face and shook her head and said, "KEEEEM!"

With Viktor - another one of our favorites from our time in Ukraine!

A group photo (missing just two kids!)