Good News!

We've had some great breakthroughs today! The weather is lousy but everything else is going great. The directress came to see us while we are visiting and said she if very happy with the way things are going. She is going to suggest to the judge that he waive the waiting period and that we be able to take custody as soon as possible. Her fear is if we have to wait, that all the trust and progress we have made with Viktorija will be lost. So we have the orphanage pulling for us as well. Yea!! She also asked Viktorija if she wanted someone else to have us as their mom and dad, she said "ne, mano" no, mine. :-)

Also today, Broderick and I took Viktorija out of the orphanage for a walk. We tried to buy her something at the stand, but "ne noriu" or "I no want" another word I've had to learn quickly. Then we tried to stop at a restaurant to buy her a treat but "ne noriu." She held on to our hands and B and I sang as many nursery rhymes as we could remember. She was very good, but very nervous about being away from the orphanage with us. It was also very cold and windy, so she was more than ready to head back after a short time.

Yesterday I noticed this sad little box of paint chipped barrettes and stretched out hairbands that they were using for the girls. So when I saw a big package of them for only $3 (9 litas) I picked it up for the orphanage. I gave it to one of the caretakers before I left and gestured that it was for all the girls. You would have thought I gave her a box of gold. She hugged and kissed me and went running to the other caretakers to show them what I had brought. When we showed up after nap, I think Viktorija had about 5 of them down her little pony tail.

Our second visit started out with "ne" and hiding. But we got her to play with the boys as they stacked blocks and she knocked them over. We also did a few puzzles. The girl loves puzzles. I was a little sad knowing that this was going to be our last visit for a couple of days. Broderick and I prepared a letter which, Venta, the boys' Lithuanian teacher translated for us. We took Viktorija aside away from everything and B read her the letter. In it we explained that we had to leave and would not see her for 2 days. We told her we were going to ask if she could come and live with us in our home. B gave her the stuffed dog we bought to remember us and a new outfit for her to wear when we returned. She was very excited to get them both! She hugged each of us and seemed to understand. We then showed one of the caretakers the letter and asked her to ask Viktorija if she understood and to help her understand while we were away. We left shortly after that and at the door she gave me a kiss on the lips. She did it on her own. Usually the caretakers have asked her to kiss us goodbye and sometimes she would, but it was always on the cheek. This was just her showing her trust to me.

We will miss her the next couple of days. We won't miss the 2 hours of walking in the cold though. The boys are excited because we are taking the train into Vilnius..another first. This has just been an amazing trip for our family. Tomorrow we meet with the lawyer and go over how court will go. Then Thursday is the big day. Prayers for Viktorija and prayers that the judge would give his decision quickly and that the waiting period be waived would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the encouragement. I'm off to bed early, it's a big day tomorrow.