Weekend Update

As we continue to battle the jet lag and significant time change, we are settling into our three week stay here in Latvia.  Wednesday was our long day, driving out to the regional court and Irena's children's home.  Thursday and Friday we stayed close to 'home', enjoying the park, a race, our neighborhood and have cooked some simple meals in our apartment.

Today we ventured the other direction and enjoyed another park, which houses the Freedom Monument, representing Latvia's freedom and independence.  We got caught in the rain on our way home and are now drying off before our next adventure.

We're excited to welcome our friend Veronika this evening.  She was the chaperon that accompanied Irena's group last winter and we got to host her in our home for several days.  She lives here in Riga.

Tomorrow we'll attend church, which we're excited about.  From what we understand, Irena has not had many opportunities to go to church, and it will be great for her to have the opportunity to experience it in Latvian.

Our next adoption related obligations are Tuesday, when we will be visited by two social workers from the regional orphan court.  They will meet with us in our apartment, talk with us about what we've been doing and how things have been going.  They'll likely also interview Irena and get her perspective on how things are going.  This is part of our required stay here.

In some ways the transition seems natural ... what's another girl, right?  She has folded right in in many ways.  And then there are moments where we feel we're hosting a guest and things seem less than 'normal.   After all, we don't really know each other...  but these days are precious to do just that.

I loved our time on Wednesday with the orphan court judge and social workers and Irena's orphanage director.  I soaked in every word and every moment.  We had a time where we could ask whatever questions we wanted.  We took full advantage of the collective knowledge to find out all we could.  One of our final questions was to ask them 'what else should we know about Irena?'  Their unanimous reply was that she needs love, hugs, more love, and more hugs....  she needs to know she is loved.  She is.

I can't help but think of I John 3:1  "Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God."

God not only gave his Son to save us, but he goes further and calls us his children.  He loves us that much.  We will seek to show Irena how much we love her as her new earthly family ... our deepest desire is that she will know how much she is loved by her Heavenly Father!

Freedom Monument

Riga, Latvia