Love, Kolia"
*FYI... for those of you who don't know what PSP is... it's a Play Station Portable.
I love how he throws that gift suggestion into the email! Very clever! He was the child that was constantly asking for something... a cell phone, a Wii, a Play Station Portable, clothes, you name it, he would ask for it!... and then proceed to have a temper tantrum when I said NO! I really worked with him on this. Constantly explaining that I do not buy my children "gifts" like that just because they want them. That's not the way it works in my house. My kids do chores, earn money, save it and then buy things they want. The exception to that rule is when one of the Grandparents buys something for the kids. That's a hard lesson for all kids, much less an orphan who is submerged into the gift giving holiday season in America. Not to mention I think these kids had been told to expect expensive gifts. Maybe by other children that had previously been on the hosting program.
I did send some gifts over to him and his brother and sister when the host team went back to Russia (the trip I was suppose to go on). In the bag I sent a few little toys (finger skate boards for the boys, lip gloss for Valia), T-shits from the Ga Aquarium, pictures, and a few other goodies. Nothing fancy... just wanted them to know that we were thinking of them.
As you all probably remember both of the boys are amazing football (soccer) players. Their soccer team won a huge tournament in St. Petersburg, so the team was picked to go to Italy to play soccer this summer, but now something has happened and only Sergey and a few other boys are going. Kolia and the others are going to England. Kolia was not able to explain what happened, but at least they will both have a wonderful opportunity. Valia will be left at the orphanage this summer. I really wish I could bring her here to be with us, but with all the other things I have on my plate right now, it was just not feasible. If I had my way, I would be at the orphanage to surprise her on her birthday (July 14th)! Seeing how the chances of that happening are VERY slim, I'm planning on just calling her on her birthday. I want the kids to know that they are loved, and that love did not just last for the 4 weeks that they were in out home... it will last forever.
Here are a few pics that they have emailed me:
The boys soccer coach takes the pics for me and then emails them for the children. He also passes along messages for Valia because she is not able to type/spell as well as the boys.
The Kids at church. The boys soccer coach was able to take all 3kids to church a few times. For some reason the orphanage director only allows him to take Sergey on a regular basis.
Valia in her room at the orphanage. This picture breaks my heart. From what I have been told, she has had a very difficult time returning to orphanage life.
Sergey on his bed at the orphanage. I think he will make something of his life. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being a professional football player.
Kolia (Mr. Tough Guy) in his bedroom at the orphanage. Notice the brown picture frame behind him in the picture?.... he took that from my house! Little turkey! I had noticed that picture was missing and couldn't figure out what in the world I did with it! Well there it is!!!! And the strange thing is that I packed his bags in hopes of preventing him from stealing anything. I am happy that out of everything that he could have taken, he took a photo of me and the kids. Bless his heart! I also see the piggy bank that someone gave him, but that was a gift so we are good on that one!
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