Some Encouraging News

We received the most encouraging news this morning (excluding that we could fly to Russia tomorrow and get Sam). Irina, our agency’s contact in St. Petersburg told us that she saw Sam the other day, and that he had brought her his little photo album of pictures we had left him. She said he always walks around with his little album. I hope it holds together for a little bit longer. He is such a brave and resilient little мальчик (malʹchik - boy). I am so proud of him.

I remember when we were in Russia, and he would ask for his собака (sobaka - dog). He called the album that, because we had put a voice recording Hallmark card in the back of the album with a picture of a dog on it. Unfortunately our accents were really bad and he could only understand one of the phrases we had recorded. For the record, it was mine. I think it because I use to watch Rocky and Bullwinkle (the bad guys were Russian for all our younger readers).

If this is all true it is very encouraging, because many times older children resent being adopted. They feel like they were taken away from everything they know and being dragged halfway around the world without their permission. It is also encouraging, because it means Sam not only remembers us, but knows that we are going to be his parents which shows that there was some bonding.

The email also told us we could send some photos and a letter, and the orphanage would show them to Sam and read him the letter. This is all good news and very encouraging. It feels like fifty pounds has been lifted off of my back.