Another day, more paperwork.

We spent today traveling to Donetsk to complete more paperwork.  As it turns out, Anna has an older sister who can not be located.  Even though we were assured that it wasn't going to be an issue with our adoption process, it turns out we have to complete more paperwork to separate Anna from her sister so she could be adopted.  We met with the director of children's services in Donetsk and she stated that she would have this paperwork done by tomorrow or Monday.

After leaving the children's services office, we took Victor to the train station.  Victor is taking our documents back to the State Department of Adoptions in Kiev.  After receiving our documents, the SDA will give Victor permission for us to have court to adopt Anna.  Victor will be returning to the region sometime next week with these documents. 

Until Victor returns, Laura and I are staying in a hotel in an town near Uglegorsk.  Paul and Holly are staying in an apartment in the town next to ours with Anya, the translator/facilitator that Victor hired to help with the process.  Tomorrow, we will be moving to an apartment in the same town as Paul and Holly.  This town is closer to our girls orphanage.

We were initially told that we wouldn't have enough time to visit with Anna today.  Visitation with the children is from 3pm-6pm and Victor didn't think we would make it back from Donetsk in time.  As it turned out, we were able to make it back to Uglegorsk by about 5pm.

When we arrived at the orphanage, we exited the car and saw Anna outside walking toward us.  When Anna realized it was us, she started running.  I ran to Anna and lifted her off the ground as I gave her a big hug.  Anna embraced me in a hug for several seconds then went to give Laura a big hug too. 

Anna took us by the hand and led us into the orphanage.  We went to her room to spend some time alone with her.  Paul and Holly were also there with Masha.  We asked Anna if she wanted to keep her name or change it.  Anna emphatically replied that she wanted to change her name.  We had a short list of names and she picked Emily for her new first name and Rebecca for her new middle name.  So our new daughter will be named Emily Rebecca Mertes.  From now on I will be referring to her as Emily.

Emily keeps asking when she gets to leave the orphanage for good.  Our daughter is so eager to come home with us and begin her new life.  Anya keeps telling her that she will be leaving soon.  We are trying to have court as soon as possible.  Then, after court, there is a ten day waiting period before I can take her home.  This time seems like a long time for me but I'm sure it seems even longer to her.  It brings us so much joy to know that she can't wait to start her life with us.

During this visit, Emily showed us off to all the other kids at the orphanage.  There are so many beautiful children at this orphanage.  It makes me so sad to see all these children without families.  One of the boys spoke English and he enjoyed showing off his English speaking skills.  These children are so polite and well behaved.  They keep their rooms very clean.

Emily and Masha were talking about friend of theirs named Rada.  Rada really wants a family.  Emily and Masha are really close with Rada and they really want to see her get a family too.  Hopefully we can meet Rada and get to know her a little bit so we can advocate for her and find her a family.  Yesterday, I mentioned how great it was that Emily and Masha were good friends that were getting adopted at the same time.  I didn't realize at the time that they were actually a threesome with Rada included.  Emily and Masha are such amazing young ladies.  They are getting what they have always wanted: a family.  Instead of thinking only about themselves, they are thinking about the friend they are leaving behin.

Our visit today was only an hour due to our trip to Donetsk.  We will be there tomorrow.  The children are performing tomorrow.  We can't wait to see the performance.

Currently, I am doing these posts from an internet cafe.  Our current hotel doesn't have internet.  The computers at the internet cafe don't allow you to copy files from a flash drive.  I will post pictures as soon as I can.