Nine Days Until Home!

Dear Friends and Family,

(Kelly writing)

We were back to visit the boys today! It was hard not seeing them yesterday, but they had a fun-filled day anyway. The director had asked for no visitors yesterday because the governor of Donetsk was coming to inspect the orphanage. In addition to the governor visiting, the children had a very special visit from Saint Nicholas. We saw pictures of the visit and all of the children looked so excited!

I'm not going to say much about the trip to the monastery yesterday other than that it was absolutely breath-taking! Bill has planned out in his mind what he wants to say about our adventure, but he's registering for classes right now on the computer next to me. He will type it up tonight and post it tomorrow.

I have been very homesick this week and am very ready to return home. It's not that I'm not enjoying myself, because I certainly have been enjoying the food and sight-seeing and everything else about our trip. This is just a hard time of year to be away from friends and family. I love everything about the holiday season and this year will definitely be one Bill and I never forget!!

We are in the home stretch right now!! After today, we are counting down 4 days until the 10 day wait period is over. We will complete paperwork here in Donetsk on Christmas Day, pick up the boys and fly back to Kyiv. From there, the boys have to go through a medical exam and then we go to the U.S. Embassy to finalize the paperwork. We will have 2 full days in Kyiv for sight-seeing and souvenir shopping and then we fly home on the 29th!!! We are eagerly counting down the days 'til we set foot in Michigan!


Peace & Love,

Bill & Kelly