[Lo-la-la]

I am so touched . . . I am so speechless . . .

Thank you, Rainy. That was beautiful . . .

As Olya and I sat here and watched this beautiful show, I started to cry. At first, Olya would look back at me and reach up and touch my face, then she would kiss my cheek. A few minutes later, she started to cry and I wasn't sure if I was scaring her or not, so I tried to hold myself together. I hope she felt the depth of love that I have for her. That's what the tears were for.

She was so sweet - she would point to pictures and say, "Mama!! Olya!! Nana!!" She would also say the dog's names when she saw them. She would dance in my lap and smile! It was so sweet . . . Olya and I will treasure this forever.

It was an extremely emotional journey - one that I will never, ever forget. My fears of losing her, of being faced with the possibility of having to travel to Russia for the third time to say goodbye, have been replaced with joy and a renewed awareness of the power of God through hope and prayer.

For those of you still waiting and waiting . . . if you believe in God's power and His immense love for you, hold on to that. He will bless your lives, too. I don't know why this adoption journey has to take so many twists and turns - it's so hurtful. As hard as it is, we have no other choice but to accept things, things that are out of our control, as they are - we don't, however, have to like it AT ALL. I didn't like my situation at all and I don't like what all of you are going through.

Again, thank you, Rainy, for this beautiful gift of love!