Adding on to Yesterday's post

There have been so many exciting things happening.  I want to back up to when we first left to catch our first flight.  To make a long story short,Congressman Geoff Davis was in line in security ahead of us a few people, and as we were finishing up through security, he was smack dab in front of me.  I spoke with him (he acted as if he remembered us~~I had taken an AHG troop to DC 3 years ago and his staff showed us around the capital, and have had other dealings with him), and then Diester added that we had had his # on standby in case we continued to have some problems with our adoption paperwork that we struggled with last week.  It was nice talking with him, and he told me about how his daughter has progressed in AHG.  That being said, before he left, he turned and reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a business card, offered it to us, and told us to feel free to call him if we had any troubles at the embassy in Moscow.  He stated that sometimes there are complications, and he would be more than happy to help us out if we ran into any problems.  TALK ABOUT GOD COVERING US~~WOWSA!  That was such a blessing to start our trip off.  I had to add that, because you know, God just works in small ways that are so huge in the journey.

So we are at the orphanage yesterday, and get up to the room, and at first we did the punch balloons (I think I wrote about that already???)  Then R.A. got his eye on an accordian that was his size.  Incredible, I have never seen such a thing.  So, he goes to get it, and that was all she wrote.  We clapped and marched and danced and played follow the leader with R.A. playing the accordian for most of the time we were there.  Okay, so there were no songs coming from it, but he was loving just marching around, getting that thing to make some noise, and loving the attention that he was getting as we played along with him.  I.A. was enjoying it also. 

Diester wanted to talk with them about some things, so he got all of us to sit with him on the floor, and our interpreter talked to the boys for us.  Diester explained to them that we are going to take them to live with us.  I.A. was obviously oblivious to any of this, although he was peaceful on Diester's lap, but R.A. was listening and responding positively, as much as he could comprehend since he doesn't really understand life outside of an orphanage.  We had gotten the photo albums that we left with them, and showed it to them again, trying to show them pictures of their sisters, which I am sure they don't get that either.  Can you blame us for trying??  hehehe

During our visit, I.A. was really enjoying Diester carrying him around, and enjoyed us swinging him around, etc.  It was so sweet.  He would walk up to Diester with his arms out to indicate that he wanted Diester to do something again, or just to pick him up.  R.A. was still playing the accordian and marching around the room.  At another point, Diester made R.A. put the accordian up so that we could play something else, and he just collapsed on the floor.  He never threw a tantrum per se, but would be visibly upset that Diester was taking the accordian away, but it was really good training for him to have Diester tell him what to do, and then for Diester to comfort him as Diester would redirect him to do something else with us.  And then Diester would help him put the accordian back on after a bit.  So, there was some good give and take between the two of them, authority and surrender through these interactions.   Important stuff for our boys~~

Also, I had brought some raspberry tea that I had made for our trip.  It was so cute, because it was in a huge 1 ltr water bottle, and little I.A. got his hands on it, so I asked him if he wanted a drink, and I took off the cap, and he was so funny, he put his eye up to the bottle to look down into it at the drink, and then he put it to his nose (he is quite a Monk type, Diester says) to smell it, and then he put it to his mouth to try it, and I am letting him do these, and helping him so it doesn't spill all over, and so we finally get the drink almost to his mouth, and he pulls it away to check it out some more.  So, I let him check it out, and then he is trying for a drink.  Um, we finally make it to his mouth, and some of it spills, but he gets a taste.  He didn't think it was too bad, so he checked it out some more, and then we tried again.  It was a nice time for us to bond.  Then as we were getting ready to gather everything up to end our visit, I.A. was back for more, and then R.A. wanted to try it.  Now mind you, he has been marching around for an hour or more with an accordian, and was mighty thirsty by this time.  So, I had R.A. in my arms, and he indicated that he would like to try it also.  I gave him a bit so see if he liked it, and he responded positively (I have no clue what he said), but there was not disdain.  Um, so after he tried it the first time, it was as if he could not get enough, so I kept helping to get him drinks, and he let me help him.  He did not try to take the bottle from me to do it on his own.  That may sound silly to you, but in all actuality, it was huge for me.  These kids are so independent that they do a lot on their own, so any way that we can connect with them is a step in the right direction of bonding, and I will take any that I can get.  You all know that Diester is a big kid~~children naturally just gravitate to him.  However, I am a bit more stuffy, and don't have that knack like Diester.  I will have to work on the bonding in other ways, such as the nurturing.  Isn't that what moms are for?  So, for me the drink was a blessing to share with them, and initiate more bonding.  Praise the Lord that he is so good! 

A couple of other things to mention, and then I am going to sign off.  We are meeting up with some missionaries here.  He is from Madison, WI (WOOHOO, a plug for WI where Diester is from) originally, and she is actually from Geneva, Switzerland.  I found out that she has studied under Francis Schaffer.  So excited to pick her brain about him, and his teachings.  I am sure that played a major role in her becoming a missionary.  How sweet!  She is taking us to a farmers market today, and then tomorrow we are going to church with them, and out to lunch. 

Another thing I wanted to share is the education I am getting about some hx of Russia, and the Russian people at least in this area.  Our interpreter, Ilena has lived here all of her life.  She has shared many things with us about growing up here, which has been really interesting, and Diester can understand a lot of it, considering that his G-ma came from Russia.  So, we were headed to the orphanage.  Dandelions are done blooming, and now there are just absolutely beautiful wildflowers that grow along in the fields, and forests that we pass along the way.  So, I asked if we could please pick some flowers along the way home, and also, if we could stop for these special mushrooms that only grow during this certain time of the year there in the forests.  They refer to them as 'little red fox' mushrooms because of their beautiful orange color, and official name is 'chanterelles??'.  She went on and on about how her and her mother have a special place they go to pick them every year, and how you have to wait for 3 days after the rain, and the mushrooms will be there, etc.  So, we actually stopped by and bought some along the roadside from a peddler.  Our driver Eugene, bought a pail full, and shared them with Diester and I.  I made chx, w/mashed potatoes, and put these special mushrooms sauteed with onions over the mushrooms.  I normally do not enjoy or go for mushrooms, but I couldn't pass on them, they are such a speciality in this area.  And they were beautiful in color, and delicious.  Neat to get to sample the flair of Siberia! !  

I have to go!  Lunch and then meet with Iris (and possibly Tim) for the market!  Have a blessed day!