Well, it's been a week since leaving the States. We will be in the Sumy region for probably the next 20 days. We have to wait for our court date and then wait our mandatory 10 days. Sergei will then legally become our son on the 11th day. I absolutely positively love the sound of that.

We are blessed to be able to spend time each day with Sergei at the orphanage. The last two days, we were able to spend 5-6 hours there because our in-region facilitator was off running with our documents. Starting today and for the rest of our stay here, we will be permitted to spend 3 hours a day.

Sergei just LOVES having us there with him. And I am just LOVING being able to love on him finally! Yesterday, we took temporary tattoos for the kids and they were a huge hit!! We started with just five boys and word of mouth spread and then it was boy after boy coming for their tattoos. They were so excited and happy! These kids have really touched my heart. I wish that they all would find a family. It's very heartwrenching for me to think of what most of their futures look like. And I am so thankful and grateful to God that He is using us to pull Sergei from that future.

The orphanage grounds are very nice! The orphanage is in a very small, primitive village. The orphanage has many gardens, both vegetable and flower, and they also have a little pig farm. There is a beautiful lazy river that the kids swim and play in. It's a very calm, peaceful place.

Here are some pics from our week here in Sumy so far...

Sergei and Brad drawing out their soccer play in the sand...

Me waiting for my food at the very nice local restaurant we eat at each day. Many of the restaurants with outdoor seating give blankets to the patrons when it is chilly.

Our extremely handsome son...

Random livestock everywhere...

Giving the kids their tattoos...

Sergei and Brad with Sergei's best friend, Sergiy. (There are MANY Sergei's in the orphanage.)

Washing clothes in our bathroom sink...

Sergei swimming in the river...

Brad and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be here. We love the time we get to spend each day at the orphanage. The kids are amazing. And they are so excited for Americans to be there - they all just flock to us when we get there. Today we spent 1 1/2 hours playing UNO with 11 of the kids. It was a blast! They had so much fun.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Please continue to hold our family and our adoption up in your prayers. Also be praying for the many children who do not have families. Some of them are getting ready to leave next week for the States for the summer hosting program. I ask you to join me in praying for the host families and that God would give wisdom and direction to them regarding the potential adoption of their host children. Without programs such as New Horizons for Children, so many of these older children would not have a hope.

Be blessed!