Greetings from Eastern Europe!!

I spent a week here in country, and am so excited to announce that Violet and I got along as if we've known each other her whole life!!  She is really a remarkable little girl.  She has only been walking since she had her heart surgery in December, and she is doing really well.  She is a biter!!  She likes to pull hair!!  But if those are her biggest issues, I think we can get past it!!  She really started becoming possessive of me in the last 3 days...she did not want other kids getting any attention from me.  We celebrated her 4th birthday on Thursday, and I got to give her the gift of a bunny.  Rose, our translator, was kind enough to provide a cake for her and her friends to celebrate!  She loved it...she also loved watching me eat cake!!  I saw her for the last time this trip this afternoon, and have finally stopped crying long enough to write this.  I am in awe of the ladies who care for the kids at her orphanage...with limited resources they provide these kids with love, good nutrition, great care, and education.  It is really an amazing place, and I am honored to have met those that work there and provide their services.  They truly care about these kids.

Our in country team is amazing...I don't know what I would have done without them.

Please keep us in your prayers, it is going to be difficult to come up with funds to finalize everything.  I can expect to travel again likely in February.  I wish I could share some of the pics I took, but it is forbidden...but she is beautiful, funny, smart, and perfect!!  Thank you all.