Akes

Thank you so much for the update of your daughter. She has been in our prayers and I was excited to hear of her new endevers. Please keep us posted. I look forward of hearing more. She is a gift from God.

Aunt Patti

you definitly hav a super caring daughter i know you r proud how can U not be :twisted: :-P ;-)

OnTheGo

Here's an excerpt from Victoria's email on Father's Day.

My funny life. This morning I was leaving for church and I saw a lady walking across the courtyard. It was Raushan, a nanny at the baby house. She was in group 8 but now she is with group 5 and we were together yesterday. I thought that can’t be her, so I just kept walking then I heard “Victoria” across the courtyard. It was her. She lives 4 stairwells down from me in the same building and on the 5th floor also. She invited me to her home this evening so I went. I thought it would be tea and chocolates….NO! I had a huge plate of bish par mak (with beef not horse) and a gallon of tea. Her daughter works for the police and is the person that removes children from homes when there is neglect or abuse.

I told them that today is Father’s Day in America and they said it is cheaper to call with the cell phone plan they have so they tried to call. When they couldn’t get you they said, "Well, now we know how to find you when you go back to America to visit."

Birthday party was cool. Actually, hot, with 54 + kids in a not so big room dancing and singing. That's the most kids I have had at once for a birthday party. It's usually in the 30s.

OnTheGo

Victoria took over the birthday parties about 2 yrs. ago when the older couple who did them retired and moved back to the states. She buys them toiletries, school supplies and one toy and they have a party now every 2 months for everyone who had a b'day during that time. Until recently, they had a party once a month, but administration at the home wanted to change to every 2 months. You wouldn't think this was such a big deal, but it's the only things these kids get of their very own all year. Everything is shared, even the clothes they wear and a lot of those have been donated by Americans.
Once after a party, she went to tell some of them goodby and one little girl was proudly showing her new toothbrush to her little friend. Can you imagine American kids getting excited over a new toothbrush for their birthday?

OnTheGo

Thank you so much. She loves thse kids.

OnTheGo

Thanks. I would love to kiss those sweet babies. What's so funny is she speaks to them in both Russian and English. One day, one little boy was about to push himself over in his high chair and she said, "No, no no." He repeated, in English, of course.

Cottontop

You are a marvelous mother to have produced such a daughter!

OnTheGo

Thanks Cottontop, but I honestly can't take credit. Her dad and I couldn't believe or understand at first why she would give up a good career in business and her home and modern conveniences to live where they didn't even have sliced bread in the stores and where most of the shopping is done in outdoor vendor stalls at a bazaar all year....even in sub-zero weather.

Now we understand that she answered her calling and we are happy for her. And I'd love to have all those babies to play with. :)