Sunday October 2.
Hi Everyone. We went to mass today and expected a Russian service but it was a Polish service. It was interesting. An old guy sitting next to me gave me a prayer book and showed me the page. They were all singing before mass and he kept looking at me like he was aggrevated I wasn't participating. Maybe he understood when I shook his hand and said "peace be with you" in English. Our translator understood a little and the sermon was about 2 bishops from Ukraine who are supposed to become saints on October 20.

Our visits with Connor continue. His behavior has changed and he wants to be held all the time. I am loving it. He is such a sweet heart. It is so easy to get a smile and laugh out of him. He said ma ma to me but he doesn't quite understand yet. we feel that he is becoming more attached to us. We visited him today and his group was outside playing. He met us half way between. He is curious about everything. It us funny how he finds ways to communicate with us. Today we were sitting on a couch inside the orphanage and he starts to put all his toys back into the bag and then he grabs for his sweater. He wanted to go outside. He has been looking at the photos of everyone and we have been saying everyones name to him. We just keep talking and talking to him which will help him learn. I think it will make a big difference when we are home and the only language he hears is English.

The orphanage setting is really something. The kids are so darn cute. It has been very nice weather and they have been outside a lot. When you walk by them they kind of swarm around and smile at you. some of them even reach up to be held. It is also sad. If they fall they just pick themselves up and you don't hear a peep out of them. They have learned that when they fall crying does not help because nobody comes to pick them up.

We had our preliminary court hearing on Friday. We hope to have our main court hearing early this week. The courts are different here. The court house is run down and not nice like at home. They just changed a law to start having a 2 person jury. That is part of the reason why there has been a delay here. The 2 person jury applies to all cases--even adoptions. However, the judge still makes the final decisions.

We will keep everyone posted.
Christine and Darren