Yesterday we became very homesick. We really miss our children and after we heard from our coordinator/translator we cried as we counted the days until we might get to go home. If everything takes as long as she is saying it will, there is no way we will be home in time for Christmas. However, nothing is impossible for our Lord so we continue to pray for the desire of our hearts--to be home as a complete family for Christmas. We prayed a lot for peace and joy in our sadness. Christmas is always a very special time for our family and missing all of the fun and excitement with our children is not easy. We talked about flying home for a week yet that would be difficult on all of us financially and emotionally. We are still asking God for a quick court date which we have been told we may hear about this week. Technically they do not have to tell us until the following week but we are prayerful that court will actually be next week. Our walk to the orphanage was more somber, a dreary day with sad and heavy hearts. At the orphanage we met a woman from Oklahoma and her translator who are visiting children her family hosted. They are staying at the same hotel as us so we then had dinner with them. They gave us a phone number for the lawyer who we met last week who could possibly help to speed up our court date. They also gave us resources for where we could possibly stay for cheap in Kiev and how to get more reasonable plane tickets home. Then today they gave us another lawyer's name and email so she can give us advice on whether to have a jury or not to have a jury at our court hearing. We found out this morning from our coordinator/translator that court may be delayed because a new law was passed earlier this month so that families do not have to have a jury for adoption, however the courts are still trying to figure out how to hold adoption hearings without a jury. This woman lawyer whom I have already emailed is going to court with a family tomorrow so we are praying she will have good advice and be able to help us expedite this court process. God is so faithful in all things! He sent us encouragement and a translator who truly wants to help families. We are so thankful for new friends and for added support. The last two days we have only been able to spend 3.5 hours each day with our girl which is not enough. We enjoyed playing Old Maid and Crazy 8's from the very tiny cards we brought and then she requested to play hide and seek. Playing hide and seek in the very tiny room with 3 bunk beds is interesting. We end up simply rotating around in the same hiding spots but the girls sure enjoy it. The precious little girl who was so sad the first day we saw her is now attached to me from the time we arrive until we leave. She wants to sit on my lap, hold my hand, play with me, etc. so I am trying to give her attention but have to be careful so our girl is not jealous. Today she stayed in the room while our girl took us to a rec room where there are two table tennis (ping pong) tables, foosball, and weights. While we were in the rec room, Jason enjoyed playing foosball and checkers with our girl and then she and I watched some videos and looked at pictures of children and activities at the orphanage. Jason then played more foosball and table tennis with others in the room and the boys who were playing table tennis with him did not want him to leave. I enjoyed sitting with our girl looking at pictures on a computer and she seemed to enjoy sitting right next to me. She reached out and held my hand for a little while which was super sweet. She is definitely becoming more affectionate as we get to spend more time with each other! Yesterday one of the "den mothers" showed us the washing machine and that there was no more detergent. We bought detergent for the orphanage this morning at a hardware market and she was very appreciative. However, we wonder what we will be asked for next. We know there are many needs so we are trusting God to stretch our money in order to help where we can. We appreciate prayers for God to continue to work out all the details for court to happen very soon and that everything will go smoothly. We praise God for giving us encouragement and practical help when we really needed it yesterday. We trust God to continue to provide everything we need and to use us for His purposes. We give praise and thanksgiving to our Almighty Heavenly Father!