"Santa Claus, Santa Claus."

I just spoke to the Girls! :)

Jen is traveling to Boston for work this week, but we felt it was important to call them asap to let them know we got their message. It was really nice to hear their voices, and on this call "I" stole the thunder and was quite the chatterbox!

T answered, and right away I asked how in the world she managed to call us the other night. She giggled and said she "just called from my phone." How thoughtful...i told her "Happy Holidays," and that she can call us anytime. When I asked how school is going, T replied she is doing well and that they are on vacation right now. School starts again on Monday. We asked T if she was learning English, and she said not too much, but that "I" is! The phone passed to "I."

"I" got on the phone and immediately said (in English), "Happy New Year!" We said 'hello,' "Happy New Year," and then "I" began telling us that it is snowy and cold where they are. She said she is doing well in school, even learning some English! "Dog, Cat, Fox, Boy, Girl, Dog." "I" continued to talk, and then she said that "her sisters" want to know "when are they coming?" The interpreter began to explain to her that we are in the process of completing paperwork and that we will be there ASAP. I told "I" than we will do everything we can to get there soon....hopefully by "Spring."

"I" continued to talk and laugh and demonstrate her "command" of her English vocabulary. I overheard "V" in the background "correcting" "I's" pronunciation of "boy," so "V" got on the phone and giggled when I told her not to worry too much about that word.

"V" sounded happy, and I told her that I saw photos of her from the other family that recently visited for their adoption. She remembered and said that "I" was in a few of the photos as well. We'll have to go back and take a closer look. "V" said she is doing well in school, but sometimes not so well studying after school. I told her to do her best. "V" told us they had a party for the holiday, and then they had another one "on their own." I asked if they danced and she said, "of course." "V" reminded us that they took first-place in a dance contest....i think that's the competition we already knew about, but we'll have to clarify that next week when we call.

The background noise then got loud, and "V" told me that "I" remembered what she wanted to tell me in English......"I" got back on the phone and began to sing (somewhat); "Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Santa Claus is going to our town." It was pretty dang cute, especially the third or fourth rendition! :) Then, "I" said (in English): "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, 11. I can count to eleven." She "loosened up," and the English words continued to fly...."dog, cat. fox, girl, boy....." She was quite the character!

Finally, "T" got back on the phone and we explained our "paperwork status" to her, and that we will call again next week when Jen is home. I also mentioned that some "jeanseez" were on the way, and she giggled and said, "dah, dah dah!" I told "T" that we missed them and that we love them. I then passed along Jen's message to them, "ya teebeeahh loublu," and "T" said, "We love you too."

It was a very nice call, and I can't wait to "get the ball rolling."

The New Year Brings New Hope!

Happy New Year to All!

With so many uncertainties surrounding this adoption, I sat up late on New Year's day wondering how to proceed. Questions such as: How will we ever afford this adoption?, and: Would a Ukraine judge approve this adoption? ran through my head.

I asked GOD how we should proceed, knowing it is going to be an incredible financial challenge...among other things. I know it is going to take a miracle to bring the girls home, and it is going to be challenging once they finally get here, but I am confident they are worth all the effort! But how can we possibly even get the initial funding to do this? How can we even get the ball rolling? How can we get this done, especially in these difficult economic times? And at what point should we consider stopping....or could we ever stop?

I asked GOD for some guidance... for some sort of "sign."

"Give me a sign, Lord. What do we do? Guide us in the right direction," I asked outloud.

Nothing. I waited.

Nothing. I went to sleep.

The next morning I awoke and went to work. A few hours later, Jen called me and told me we got a phone message from last night. I recall, while I was asleep in "my chair" in front of the TV last night, the phone did ring and the answering machine pick up, but no one was there. I went to sleep for the night, but the next day Jen told me there was a message on the answering machine....and it was from the girls in Ukraine!!!!

When I got home from work, I immediately played the message. It was from either T or V (it was hard to tell). The cutest little voice on the other end said, "Hello Mama e Poppy, eta I..., V...., e T...." There was more greeting, a short message, and a cute "Bye" (in English).

The girls had called us!

We are so thrilled that they actually called us! How on earth they were able to manage an international call "home" I don't know, but getting that phone call and hearing that message was enough of a sign for me to never give up!

That evening we also went out for Chinese food...and as if we needed any more incentive, Jen's fortune cookie said something like "You Will Help Children In Need" and mine said something about soon taking "A Long Journey To A Distant Land."

New Year, New Hope, Same Dream.