On Parole

We were blessed to have Toli spend the weekend with us in the apartment. We hadn't heard of anyone else being able to get a weekend pass for their adoptive children, but it never hurts to ask. We seem to have found favor with the orphanage Director and she has been very accommodating. That dozen roses we gave her for National Women's Day when we first arrived probably didn't hurt the cause. We have heard many stories of peoples difficulties while in Ukraine and the adoption process. Live life generously and favor will find you when you need it. The people have been very helpful to us navigating the process, finding a place to stay and getting us around town.
Toli was glad to be out for the weekend. He and his friends say the food isn't very good and I suspect their conditions are Spartan. The staff does the best with what they have to provide the best environment they can, but they certainly have some facilities challenges on their hands. We picked oli up after school and had dinner at the local cafe. We also stopped by the local "mall" and picked up a small Lego jeep kit to put together and some groceries. We spent the evening watching a movies and hanging out. You could tell Toli relished the family time he has had only during the two hosting visits with us over the 6 years he's been in an orphanage.
The rest of the weekend was just life's simple pleasures like lunch at the cafe, buying a book in Russian, the grocery store, walks in the park, more movies, legos, an occasional snowball to the back of the head, feeding pigeons, and some window shopping. The weather is warming which makes for wet walks through the melting snow and runoff. You'd be surprised what the volume of litter that's revealed when the winter snow begins to recede!
The weekend went fast and soon it was time to go back. Surprisingly there were tears. Even though we'd be visiting daily and ask for another visit next weekend, there is no attachment to the orphanage for Toli. I can't say I blame him, but it is what we have to do for now. Soon Toli will walk out of the orphanage for the last time and into a new life full of promise and unconstrained by his circumstances. I know he will miss his good friends, but it will be a great day to get this one little starfish back into the water where he can thrive.