Hey Mom, a little privacy...I think she likes me...

Mom, you gonna eat this green thing in your teeth??

MUST...EAT...CAMERA...NOW...

And now a word from our sponsor...

We visited the Zhas Dauren again to see Sanija and Aigul one more time.  Sanija came tearing down the lane and leaped into our arms.  They led us on a tour of the grounds, their home for seven and six years, respectively.  It really is a lovely place with small woods to explore.  The grounds back to a wide, lazy river which welcomes children all year round as they cool off after their saunas.   Each "house" is home to 18-20 kids between the ages of 8-18.  There are two women per house who take turns staying with them, and act as a house mother.  All of their meals are cooked in a cafeteria, but brought into each of the houses to eat.

As we walked along, we started to attract more of the residents and soon ended up with our very own posse.  Most of them were sassy 17-18 year old girls who were anxious to practice their English.  We tried to visit their actual school, but when the children heard us in the hall, they ran out of their classes and we created such a ruckus that we had to bail on the school tour.

We've been searching for the joy in this sometimes harsh culture, and we found it in the beautiful hearts of these children.  It was delightful spending the afternoon with them... laughing, and sharing  ourselves with each other, if only for a brief moment in time.   They've made an impression on us that will never leave. 

Of course, we had a lovely time as always with our Sam Sergei.  Today little Asimgul joined in the fracas.  Asimgul is just two days younger than Sam.  Of all the babies in his group, these two are the only ones who fight with each other!  Fortunately there weren't any knockdown-dragouts during our watch.  Asimgul is a fiesty girl and has the craziest head of hair I've ever seen on a baby.  Her birth mother refused to sign the papers allowing her to be adopted, so she is going to stay in the system until she signs, which could be never.   We were told that though her parents never visit her, her grandparents come every day, and will hopefully take her when she gets older.

Four more days until court and Sam is ours for good!