Thursday was a stay at home rest day for Heidi, Rimma and me. On Friday we ran a few errands, such as a taking the birth certificate and immunization record to the school. Rimma got to see her new class and teacher. Natasha and Pasha were there and both are speaking excellent English, having been home now only three months. So Rimma was impressed and comfortable that she will improve her already good English.
Rimma took quick note that girls her age in America don't wear the knee-high boots that they wear in Ukraine. We needed to buy a few more clothing items for her anyway, so we added two pairs of shoes to the list. She opted for a nice pair of converse shoes like all her Ukie friends at the airport were wearing, and ones that she saw other girls at school wearing. She also got a pair of dressier slipper-type shoes (I don't know what they are called, I'm a guy). I think we may have seen the end of the "Goo-chie" boots for awhile. She let Julia wear them last night to Red Robin and they show signs of splitting open really soon. Yeah!
I've caught moments of Rimma walking hand-in-hand with Nadia and Julia. Right now I can hear them giggling in one of their rooms and having fun. Rimma really likes Kole too. Having a little brother is a novelty for her and she can't get enough of him it seems. They play together like they have been together for years. I think they have such a rapport because they are the two level-headed kids in the family. Nadia and Julia fight a lot and this confuses and bewilders Rimma, she often looks at me or Heidi to see what we will do when those two misbehave. Two nights ago, she herself called them out when they started fussing at each other over nothing. This has Nadia and Julia "towing" the line and self-governing their behavior, a nice change I might add.
Reading my friend, Karen Springs' blog, I recall the same dinnertime conversation that Rimma had with us the night before our departure. She said, "you know, I've seen a lot of kids go to America because they think they'll have a better life, more money, and more opportunities. And I know that I'll have those things...but honestly the only reason I ever wanted to go to America was so that I would have a family to love me and to support me....I've never had that. I've never had that kind of love."
I'm so happy that Rimma "gets it". That's what it is all about! Zina, too, is wise beyond her years, often saying the same things with an in depth maturity that you don't expect from children this age. She and Rimma just want a family, one for all time to give them the love and support they so richly deserve. Zina's only break with reality was when she texted me while I was on the train last Saturday night, leaving Kherson.
"Daddy go (come) back, Daddy please." I will, I promise Sweetheart, I will!
~ Felix ~
