a memorable day

The first thing Viktorija asked me when she woke up was, "Why didn't Mike kiss me this morning?" Mike has made a habit of going in Viktorija's room and kissng her on the cheek before he leaves for work while she's till asleep. Even though she doesn't "wake up", she always remembers that Mike kissed her. This morning Mike was in a hurry and didn't give his morning good-bye kiss. The fact that she noticed and asked me about it, tells me that she looks forward to that special moment. We have learned that she likes a routine.

I told Viktorija I had a "surprise" for her today. I took her to "Build-A-Bear Workshop". It was a very sweet moment. I made a recording to place inside the dog that she selected to be her new "baby". On the recording I told her how special she is to Mike and I and that we love her very much. I didn't let her hear it until we left the store. She gave me a big hug and said she loved me too. For those of you who haven't had a build-a-bear experience, it is really sweet how the child gets to pick a heart for the animal. You then make a wish on the heart and kiss it before stuffing it into the animal. They let us put two hearts in her animal (one for her, and one for me). They talk about how the pet will always love you, always have your back, always need you, etc, etc. She liked that. I told that's how God's love is. She dressed the dog, which she named Ella, in a denim skirt with roller skates! Too cute. She "walked" Ella on a leash throughout Old Navy, Target, and then at Wendy's. People were looking and asking about her dog. For the price of this little dog, I think it should have done tricks for everyone, and walked itself:-) Whomever came up with the whole concept of build-a-bear was a genious! They know parents are suckers for their kids!

The rest of the afternoon Viktorija played a computer game she picked out called Vet Pets. It's a virtual game where she is the vet and has to diagnose and solve the pet's health issues. She loves it! And, of course, we got in a few games of UNO before bedtime.

Today she, again, told me she didn't want to go back to Latvia. She said, "Maybe I can come back at Christmas time?" I don't know how she knows about the Winter hosting program through New Horizons for Children. We certainly have not mentioned it. But, maybe (Lord willing) she will be back by Christmas:-) (??)