Leaving Moscow

Yesterday was our last day in Moscow. As we flew away I really reflected on how many wonderful memories I take with me. To be honest, it was probably the most gut wrenching and emotionally exhausting experience of my life, which I was totally unprepared for. For the most part I totally believe none of that would have happened had we seen Ariana playing with her friends the first day, as we did the last day. Again, I truly believe there should be a way for PAPs to observe the child from afar for a while before interacting with the child. I believe how absolutely essential it is to see the child with the caregivers and experiencing their normal routine. I don't believe in waking a baby up from a nap or skipping meals. It isn't fair to anyone. Thank God we had such an amazing director and a child care staff made of our dreams! We don't worry about her at all as we leave. We miss her. We don't want her to feel abandoned. But, we know she will be taller, heavier, stronger and wiser when we return. They do the work of angels.

I also have many new friends and now faces to go with Internet names. That is fun. Ian too has some good memories. He won the hearts of the European women for sure! Ana called him Papa. It was love at first sight... but I have more chuckles about my hubby and women to share... First, let me tell you about the medical. When we were in the room being evaluated, we were examined by 6 beautiful Russian women doctors. At one point we each had our shirts off and they took our blood pressure. Of course Ian had high blood pressure and they expressed concern. I on the other hand grinned from ear to ear. Well, HELLO! Here is my husband- he is still a man- with his shirt off and 6 amazing, smart women checking him out. Whose blood pressure wouldn't rise!!! I still giggle at the thought of it. Fortunately, I was too scared at that time to point out the obvious. Then, just to make sure my husband left feeling about as manly as a man can feel, he got hit on my the flight attendant! We were in different rows on the aisle and she stopped and asked him if he was a football player or a weight lifter... mean while I am curled up in a ball laughing so hard and trying not to explode!!! It was such a huge obvious come on!! And, yes, my husband ate it up! I should have given the lady a tip. It was great. I haven't stopped razzing my football player/weight lifter husband yet! (Dinia- right now is the time to remember the GONG) So, I have a lady's man on my hands. Mr Lady's man needs to charm his little girl on the long plane ride home. He needs to keep his mojo going so it is smooth sailing.

Last night we checked into the Hotel Pulitzer in Amsterdam. It is 25 old canal homes that are now all one big hotel. It is just amazing. The stop was worth it just to stay here. We went on a long walk this morning to the city center and we took a canal tour that I fell asleep during. It just rocked me to sleep. This town is just so Harry Potter to me. I know London is supposed to be Harry Potter- but I don't think so. The buildings standing at a tilt. The random kalidoscope of odd people. I mean odd. Mushrooms and Pot for sale in windows. Truly the most bizarre place I have been. Almost everyone here is in college. There are Youth Hostels all over and I think it is one big college party town. I even saw a building and thought it looked like the quiddich field. And, someone else on the boat said what I was thinking out loud. Later I am going to try to go into Ann Frank's home. Well the one she hid in for 2 years. The line is LONG! so we will see if we get in today. Ian wants to show me the red light district. I guess everyone is going to ask if I saw it so I might go.
Tomorrow I will happily be back in cell phone range when we get to Newark. Hopefully I can also use Internet. It will be a LONG road home.
We already reserved 2 weeks worth of hotel rooms in July. It is so busy in July in Moscow we wanted to make sure we could use points. If we go July21-25 we are in the Hyatt. If court is July 28-Aug 1, we are in the Grande. We talked about getting an apartment the pick up week, but right now I am leaning towards the Courtyard. I want to be able to avoid the subways, and I love how taken care of we were.
Thanks to everyone for being our prayer warriors. We return changed people.

God Bless you all, and God bless the orphans and their care givers.

Paka,
Michelle