[skiboo]

What an emotional day. I woke up to sweet hugs and kisses from Alex and then headed off to the library to prepare for the Human Rights Film Festival.

The Children of Leningradsky was shown at 12:30 pm and we had about 75 people in the audience. We were pleased with the turn out considering that it was Mother's Day during the time when many might be at brunch or some other activity.

Everyone in the audience was very touched and quite moved by the film. Several were moved to tears... as was I yet again.

I was too emotional when I stood up to speak... it took me several minutes to gather myself and share my remarks. I spoke not only about the homeless children in Russia but about all the social orphans in Eastern Europe. Many in the audience has no idea as to the magnitude of the problem and it was an eye-opening experience.

I also shared some of our adoption journey with the audience. I had 3 slides that I prepared using PowerPoint ... I have attached them. The first two slides show Alex today in juxtaposition to two of the boys featured in the film. It is these two boys that haunt me as I see them as older versions of Alex. My heart breaks when I think that Alex could be either of these boys had fate not intervened to bring him to us. The last slide was used to illustrate our adoption story.

Even though this has left me feeling emotionally drained, I am glad that I was able to faciliate this experience on Mother's Day.