Day 10

A Picture of Maxim Coloring in his new book in the orphanage playground.

A monument of Lenin with fresh flowers in the city of Tsurupinsk

While we were with Maxim this morning, Igor our translator/facilitator, met with the director of the orphanage, the local goverment representative and the psychologist who observed us with Maxim a couple of days ago. Igor is doing a great job of helping us and taking care of all the paperwork. After conferring with the psychologist about our bonding with Maxim at this point, the local rep seemed satisfied and they all met on our behalf with an attorney.

During these times when Igor is running with paperwork for us, we have the chance to know the workers at the orphanage and some of the other children a little better. The workers are always very kind to us. This morning, I asked one woman, Ludmilla, where I might purchase some knitting needles. She told me I could find them at any department store and then went upstairs with me and got some from another worker. To keep, she says, but I will bring them

back after I get to a store.

Today, we discovered that Maxim enjoys coloring and being thrown up in the air by Daniel. Quick squeezes are acceptable to him but not a full-out hug and although he obviously lights up when we arrive and comes right over to be picked up or held, he is not ready to give hugs. That's okay. Time will change all of that. He is a very sweet and generous little boy and I think as he learns to trust us, he'll open up.

Interestingly, at one point we were in the playroom and another boy who is quite rude and rambunctious (craving attention, no doubt) came in and "took over". He was very agitated himself and Maxim started to become harder to handle. After the boy left, though, Maxim settled right down. I had very mixed feelings because the other boy really needs as much love and attention as Maxim (all the children do) but we could not let his behavior go. There is another little boy (Victor) who is usually with Maxim when we arrive. They seem to spend a lot of time together and he is also very sweet. Today, Daniel spent some one on one time with him and you can sure tell he craved that attention from a man. He liked stroking Daniel's beard and then checking his own face.

This is not an easy place to be in many ways. Finances do not allow many things to be regularly repaired, for example, so conditions are not going to be what a typical American is accustomed to. Buildings often appear quite run down. Roads are generally very rough. You might compare it to certain areas of Mexico if you have been there. But the people are proud of their country and there are many monuments showing their pride in what their countrymen have accomplished. For those of you who are coming here for you own adoptions, just know you will be out of your comfort zone at times.

We don't know what is planned for tomorrow at this point, but Igor always fills us in each evening.