No worries today.

Today was actually a really good day, news-wise! Woohoo! It's about time! First, after waking up from the basset hound we're watching saying "booowww! Bowwww!", I checked my phone and there was a new email from the kids. We had trouble translating it at first, so we asked Diana (agency lady) to help. Our email to them was about how we were waiting anxiously for the court date, and we are told it will probably be in September, and we hope it is as soon as possible. They wrote back: "When there will be a court date, write us a letter. We will wait. We love you."

So that was nice!

Oh wait, before that happened - last night I spent nearly 2 hours total on the phone with Shelley - the social worker who works for the agency (and coincidentally lives in PA); and then with Barbara, the other primary person at the agency. They advised me not to talk to that other family, which I told them I wasn't planning to anyway. I didn't want to. They said there is no way they can disrupt anything or cause any trouble for anyone but themselves. It is impossible to adopt from Estonia from the US without approval from the agency, and in addition to that - no judge would approve their adoption of our kids because apparently - Shelley said she was under the impression that our kids actually SAID they don't want to be adopted by those people! We didn't know that. So when I talked to Barbara, I asked her if that was true. She said yes, and that the orphanage asks kids (over a certain age) after a preview if they want to be adopted by the family that visited them. If they say no, they don't let the family proceed with adopting those kids. So naturally my next question was - so did they SAY they definitely want US to adopt them? Yes, they did. In fact, they told Igor, they told the orphanage, and they signed a paper saying such.

That was really good to know. I'm glad we didn't know before the preview, though, or we might have acted differently, nervous that THEY could fire US! LOL But even when we had to discipline them or tell them no a bunch of times, they still truly wanted us to be their parents.

After talking to Shelley, I promised to email her pictures from the trip. This morning she wrote back and said "What a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing the pictures. I looked at them over and over because the smiles on the kids faces is what makes my job worthwhile. Things in Europe slow down over the summer but I know that Diana and Barbara are doing everything possible to see that your children are at home with you, where they belong, as soon as possible."

Barbara also shared a lot of other good information with me, too much to type. Mostly about other people and their experiences. We also talked about me helping them with some website stuff and document formatting, which I love the idea of. Maybe there could be another website created by Molly for you guys to see, soon!

OK so back to today. We get home from service and SHOCKER! guess what we find? A letter in the mailbox from Tallinn. We thought it would never happen! (<---Said in my head like Mrs. Bennett in Pride and Prejudice, British accent of course.) There was a letter from each of them, handwritten in Russian, along with little drawings of the 4 of us next to a house and a heart that says "I love you." Along with each letter was a typed out translation (I assume was provided by Igor. How NICE!!!) with a photo of them on each translation printout.












In our letters to them, up to this point, we've talked about the family (all the aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. that they would have); we talked about the beach and asked if they've ever swam in the ocean before; we sent them shoes (translates "boots") and a photo album of pictures from our visit with them. We also asked them how they are and what they've been up to since we saw them. Here is what they said:

Hello, Mum and Dad!
It was impossible to answer you immediately, because we were in a camp, it's 150km from Tallinn. When we returned we got your packet at the post office. Thank you very much for the presents, I liked it all! Boots fitted, but I do not wear it now, because I am going to put them on in September, when I go to school. The album with the photos is very beautiful. When I read your letter, I felt very sad. Roman and I miss you very much.
We want as soon as possible to meet our aunts and uncles, grandmothers and grandfather. We love them by now.
This year summer is not very warm here, often rains, that's why sea is cold. We can't swim there.
Write letters, we will very wait. I love you very very much!
Katya

Hello, Mum and Dad!
I am waiting when you come and take us with you to America. I want Daddy to teach me taking photos as well as he does. It seems that in all photos I look like my Mum and Katya looks like Dad. I would like to play football in America, because here I have been playing football for 2 years already.
I am also dreaming of seeing ocean and swimming in it. I have never seen ocean, because I didn't go abroad. I hope that in America good life and friendly family are waiting for us.
Recently we returned from the camp where we played and had fun, every evening we were dancing at the disco. There was a very beautiful lake near the camp, but water was cold, so we didn't swim there.
I like it very much that we will have a big family, I want as to see and meet our relatives as soon as possible.
Waiting for your letters.
I love you very much!!!
Roman

So today was a much better day than the last two. We hope the good news keeps on coming!
I'll keep you all posted, as always.
Love,
Molly