Anna captured the hearts of alomost everyone who met her! I think Oles, our facilitator in Odessa, felt a special affinity with Anna. He playfully offered to wait for Anna to grow up so that he could marry her! We told him he'd have to get by 6 brothers and a very protective father!

Our first night with Anna was spent on the train from Odessa to Kiev - an 11 hour trip. This picture was taken on July 29th - our first night in the hotel back in Kiev. She had her first bath and we dressed her in her pajamas. Jonathan, Elizabeth & I stood watching her sleep. I couldn't help but pinch myself to be sure that she was really there. She looked so like a little angel!

Mrs. Tamara Kunko is the director of the National Adoption Center in Kiev. On Monday, August 1, we visited the NAC with Anna. Yuri, the office manager for Sense Resource Center's office in Kiev, went with me and helped me to select appropriate flowers for the right people. We brought gifts and flowers. I was so grateful for his help! Mrs. Kunko seemed genuinely delighted that Anna was part of a family. She is a very kind and caring person.

Jonathan, Elizabeth, Lena with Anna, and Yuri (the driver who does much of the driving for Sense). Lena was our facilitator/interpreter while in Kiev. She was an absolutely delightful person. I enjoyed getting to know her. My only regret is that we did not have more time to foster a friendship. Yuri drove us to and from the airport and on several other occasions. While there was a language barrier, we definitely felt the warm and friendly attitude that he showed toward us. This picture was taken as we said our goodbyes before leaving to the airport on August 2nd.