Anya

What can I say, I really have nothing new.  Although I do want to talk a little bit about Anya. 

Anya is a girl in Peyton's group.  When we first got here she was very standoffish and would just look at us.  The other kids would just pick on her and really not give her much attention.  She did not seem to be in the "in" crowd.  She could be sitting so nicely watching television and wack, someone would hit her upside the head for no reason. Or, she could be sitting at the table drawing and one of the kids would take a pen or color and scratch right through her drawing.   Granted she is smaller than most of the kids in this group but we are not really sure why she is picked on.  We never see her hit or mouth or do anything out of the ordinary.  Slowly but surely she has warmed up to us and she now will take some of the things we have brought and play with them.  Now that the other kids have seen us giving her attention they are being nice to her as we have told them over and over to be nice.  When they are mean to each other and then come over to us for a piece of candy we tell them nyet (no) you have to be nice and we wait until we catch them being good and reward them. 

Gary always roots for the underdog and so as you can imagine Anya gets a piece of candy everyday from him.  She always says spasiba (thank you).  She is just a very good little girl.  So today when we got to the orphanage  at lunch time she came running and hugged me so tight.  And tonight when we got ready to leave she just hugged Gary.  Yes, we are smitten with this girl and before you get any ideas, no we have no intentions of coming back to Ukraine.  But while we are here I want Anya to know the love of a mama and papa.  Tonight when you say your prayers, say one for Anya. 

~Tina

Anya

Anya's drawing

Caleb's artwork (I am sure he said
something about it being a jellyfish).

 

Here at the hotel on Saturday and Sunday
nights there is usually a wedding reception
or birthday party.  We get to see fireworks
on those nights even if we are awakened
at midnight by the loud booms.