complete

I've tried to add more pictures, but too slow of a connection, but after some time I got this one, it is one of my favorites. This is Laina and her school teacher from the 1st to 4th grade. She hadn't seen her for almost 2 years and was so happy to see her. She loved her so much. We can't tell you how grateful we are that she had so many wonderful, loving influences in her life.

We were told to go to the Embassy, Consular Annex at 3:00 p.m. and they would have Laina's Visa ready and other sealed documents ready for us. We arrived - had to go through the heavy security and went up to the office we had spent several hours in yesterday. There at the desk, behind the glass window, the sweet lady who helped us yesterday appeared. Our documents were right there waiting for us. She explained the process, that the sealed envelope must be hand carried, unopened to Customs in NYC. There they will take them, open and all is complete. Laina will become a US citizen the moment the plane touches down in NYC. She then made an important request that we make sure we give reports to the Ukainian Consular about Laina and yesterday we were also asked to report to the Embassy how those reports are handled. these are so important for all adoptive families to do, as it determines how many adoptions will be allowed in the future. We are happy to comply. She then called Laina to the window and spoke to her in Ukrainian and wished her much happiness in the future and new country and with her new family. People here are so supportive and well wishing. I commented that they must have gotten the computers working in Washington and she said yes, but they have been asked not to process any other Visas for a few days. She said if we had not gone in yesterday, but waited til today when our appointment was, we would not been able to process her Visa and would have to wait until next week to complete it. We have been blessed with so many tender mercies. We are so relieved and feel so blessed with our smooth process. It is hard to watch and hear of others with many obstacles and challenges. We don't quite understand, but only know we have to trust and accept the Lord's timetable. Unfortunately, it looks like Vern and Andrew aren't going to get out on Saturday. They may have another week. It looks like they will head back to Sumy to wait it out. They will definitely be in our prayers. It's good they have friends there.
We would like to know what was going through Laina's head after we left the Embassy, besides happiness and joy. She was laughing uncontrollably, so hard she was silent and she couldn't breathe. She is a happy girl. We have lots to learn from her.
All is on schedule and we will be home on Monday night.