A note on the Guest Book.  Not to worry that the older entries are missing.  It is automatically saved when the file gets to a certain size and our friend EA in Denver is also printing everything out so we are doubly sure to catch all your messages.  Thanks again for your notes, it will be a great chapter in Sam's new life in our family!

With our sponsor girls at Zhas Dauren.  Aigul is on the left and Sanija is on the right.

We added Manshuk & Phillipich for lunch.

At the holiday celebration weakly translated as "Happy Birthday Our Town".

Today was an extraordinary day.  After our visit with Sam (who just wanted to cuddle the whole time, joy!) we went to the Zhas Dauren, which is the orphanage for children age 8-18.  It's located in the countryside, with lots of fresh air, trees, blue sky, and looks similar to a summer camp.  There are approximately 140 children living there.  We had the wonderful opportunity to spend the afternoon with our sponsor daughter, Sanija who is 15, and my parents sponsor daughter, Aigul, who is 13.  We went to out to lunch, walked around the streets (there is a festival in town this weekend), got ice cream, and enjoyed getting to know each other.  Sanija just sparkles.  She's a bright, poised, delightful girl full of potential.  Aigul has a great smile, and is a bit shy.  She has a penchant for Algebra and Ben Affleck.

Our agency organized a sponsorship program for the children of the Zhas Dauren.  The commitment is $25 and a letter per month, which is so little for us, but it means so much to these children to know that they have people in their corner. Someone who cares that they got second place in the regional dance contest, someone who asks about their hopes and dreams and will encourage them to succeed. 100% of the money goes to the child and helps with their medical/dental care as well as for their future after they leave the Zhas Dauren.  In exchange, you receive letters and a photo from your sponsor child, and a yearly update on how your sponsorship has helped them. We've heard that more than anything, the monthly letters and pictures mean the most to the children.  Our travel partners brought over a big suitcase full of letters from sponsor families, and the children were really excited about it. 

We were both so touched by our experience today and are thankful that we now have them both in our lives. For more information on sponsoring a child please see the link on our agency's website at www.worldpartnersadoption.org/project.html.