Surreal

Walking through the gate this morning, a bright yellow bus with 17 kids and 4 adults was waiting to be let through.  Two caretakers got off and between our limited russian and their english, they asked us if we want to go to  the park with them.  Uh, YES, PLEASE.  Tuesdays for her groupa are FIELD TRIP days.  Imagine...

And so we loaded onto the bus, they moved Sarah to our seat, and off we went.  To...the park. And not any park, the 411 Battery Memorial Park, complete with military equipment and vessels.    They didn't seem bothered that Andy shot lots of pictures and video, and this afternoon he made a DVD of the trip to give to the orphanage.

Unbelievable, awestruck, indescribable...this adoption trip has been surreal.  We recognize our experience is atypical.  Instead of the Groundhog Day metaphor, we've chosen a morphed Bourne Identity meets Kindergarten Cop movie genre to describe our adventure.

We understand not every group in this orphanage is afforded these same experiences.  But, we are daily filled with gratitude and give thanks that someone saw Sarah's perseverance, her determination, and her desire to learn everything she can.  Someone thought she deserves a chance, and she is living every day with gusto.

Instructions for Living a Life: 
1.  Pay Attention
2.  Be Astonished
3.  Tell About It
Mary Oliver