Thursday in Moscow

We finished all of the official adoption processes in Russia today. We went to the US Embassy and got the US visas for Sam and Jessica, so now we are free to go home. And we are MORE than ready!

The weather here in Moscow is cold and snowy. Really great for Christmas, but it doesn't feel like Christmas here. They have almost no Christmas music on any of the radio or tv stations (we did bring our own), but there are decorations. Although they are almost all secular. The big holiday this time of year is New Years, and they don't observe Christmas until January 7th. Nevertheless, it is white and we don't have to dream of a white Christmas!

Everything is more expensive here in Moscow. We had a late lunch/early dinner today at the "American Bar and Grill" eating salads and hamburgers, for over $90! Good thing we had been here before and budgeted for it.

The swimming pool in the basement of the hotel is a God-send! Nathan and Sam are loving it. Jessica hasn’t been in yet and Cyndy manages to skip it as well. But with the Jacuzzi and pool, the boys are enjoying themselves!

For our part, everything seems a bit surreal, still. At the embassy there were 30-some families obtaining visas for their adopted children, only one of which appeared to be in her teens. Most of the children adopted from Russia are babies or very young children. So our children felt a bit out of place. But leaving the embassy, they both lightened up and we’ve been playing a lot ever since! Cyndy had a good talk with Jessica while the boys were swimming; we are totally amazed at what God is doing to knit us together as a family.

Tomorrow, we are going to the Moscow open air market to shop. It is supposed to be 21 degrees tomorrow, so we are dressing for COLD. These Californians are not used to this weather! Saturday is supposed to get up to 16! Thank God the heater works in this hotel!

Anyway, that’s all for now. We’ll post again before we leave for home.

Merry Christmas, everyone. God IS good!

Blessings,

Glen, Cyndy, Nathan, Jessica and Sam Haworth