Surprise, Surprise !!!

What a great weekend it has been !  We were surprised to hear that we were able to have the opportunity to skype with the girls.  Lori called Friday night and let us know that they wanted us to skype with the girls yesterday morning.  When Lori and Russ were there before getting Ana, they could not get internet at the orphanage, so we assumed it would probably be the same this time.  We got to see the girls and all of their friends.  The excitement on their faces was priceless !  Yesterday was Nastya's 14th Birthday, so this made it an extra treat to be able to wish her a Happy Birthday !  We got to talk to them about a lot of things.  We were able to have our friend, Lilya, join our conversation to translate for us.  They said they miss us a lot and are anxious for us to come.  We told them that we will be to the orphanage to see them on Jan. 21st or 22nd, and they were excited for the news for us to be arriving earlier than we originally told them.  We told Vika that God has been answering her prayers for us to come early and we encouraged both the girls to keep praying and reading their bibles everyday.  We also wanted to ask the girls about some of the names that we were thinking about for them for when they come here to live.  Vika said she would like to keep her given name, Viktoria.  We told her that we chose the middle name Love for her. We told her that it was my grandmothers maiden name and it was a family name and she really liked that and said she loved it !  For Nastya, we decided to keep her given name of Anastasia.  We have choose the middle name Lee for her, as it has family meaning as well, it is my middle name, my Mom's, and Lori's.  We suggested to her that we would like to call her Anslee for short, which is taking part of her first name and her middle name, and she said that she loves it and wants everyone to call her that.  So, from here on out, I will try to refer to her as Anslee, so we can get used to calling her that.  They told us a few things that they would like us to bring to do with their group when we come and visit them.  They said a volleyball and puzzles.  They said they like the 3000 piece puzzles.  I had to laugh because Russie hates to do puzzles, he did agree to take one over if that is what they wanted though.  We are also planning on taking our wii over with a dancing game for the girls to play.  I will be sure to take  videos of Russie dancing !!!  Talking to them yesterday and hearing Lori give us updates on them and all the kids, just really makes it seem so much more real and how God's purpose and plan is being carried out.  I was broken this morning as I sat in church and realized the magnitude of what this experience really is.  My Mom had asked us to come to church with her this morning.  We went with her and Eric and were welcomed by their church praying over us with My Mom and Eric as well for our travels.  God's spirit was moving and was speaking to me as to what he wants to do in each of our lives.  We become so self centered and only see us and what we are doing, we cannot hear or see what God wants us to do. I knew that this was going to be powerful and life changing, but I am reminded of that so often.  I see how God has taken families that were not open to adoption ( us included ) and has taken us from never even considering it to now being so excited it is happening.  I saw the anticipation on my Mom and Eric this morning of getting ready to be reunited with Dema, it is amazing !  Only God, can transform hearts like that ! I could really go on for ever and ever about this, but I will stop.  At the end of our conversation yesterday with the girls, Anslee said that it had been the best Birthday she had ever had.  She had never had a party before or gotten presents, and that talking to us was the best present she could have ever gotten.  It made my heart smile as I thought about that.  Syvette ( The lady who makes it all happen when you are in Ukraine ) told Lori that birthdays are a big deal in their country, and to think that she had never really celebrated a birthday in 14 years made me feel bittersweet.  Bitter for her to not have ever had that, but so sweet that every birthday from here on out will be celebrated like the precious person she is.  Vika has asked if she could talk to us again tomorrow, so we are going to do it again tomorrow at 10 am. !!!   Please pray for my Mom and Eric as they were to leave today to head to Ukraine.  They flight was canceled tonight due to weather,  they are scheduled to leave tomorrow morning at 8:40 am, PLEASE pray that their flights are on time and they make it there safely !!! Here are a few pictures that were taken at Anslee's party yesterday, what a monumental day for her !!!

Lori said that Anslee put on her best clothes and curled her hair for her party..how sweet !

Anslee and Tina...both the Birthday Girls !

The look on Dima's face cracks me up !!

Anslee's party, Russ/Lori and Dusty/Tina brought pizzas and cake for the kids.