Bringing Dariya home: Love at first hug

A picture is worth a thousand words....



Another daddy's girl for sure!

Our so full hearts are filled with joy!  Our first meeting with Dariya couldn't have gone any better. 

We were picked up by Luda a little after 9am and went straight to the orphanage to meet with the director/head doctor.   She is a very nice lady and was a joy to meet.  The orphanage is nice and clean and well taken care of.

The director began telling us all about Dariya.  Her nickname is Dasha.  About 20 minutes into our visit with the director the door opened and in walked Dariya and her groupa teacher, also named Luda.  Oh my the tears started flowing.  She walked directly to Jason and put her arms up to him and hugged him over and over.  Then she came immediately to me and hugged me over and over.  I asked if we could take her home now?  They of course laughed at me.

She was born and spent 2 months in the NICU and was visited by her birth parents daily. 

During this time they came to the conclusion that they could not provide for her due to her diagnosis and no services here in this country and signed temporary custody to the orphanage.  Her birth parents love her very much and continued to visit her up until December of this year where they learned of other US families (the Brownings) that were adopting children with down syndrome from this orphange. 

At that time they wanted to give Dariya the best opportunity possible so they signed the paperwork to allow her to be adopted internationally.   This was exactly the same time that God moved Jason's heart and he began searching the RR website, coincidence?  Absolutely not.   We are saddened to learn that her birth parents have since divorced as the stress of this situation weighed heavily on their marriage. 

Our God is amazing and we are humbled to be here and to be chosen to be her parents.  I sit here in awe as I continue to be shown small pieces of this puzzle.

She is the same size as Alayna, feeds herself, walks well is saying words but not sentences, follows directions, loves to hug and has a great giggle (think she will fit in with our family well?)  God SO knows what he is doing.

We are allowed to visit everyday from 10-12 and 4-6 even on weekends.  We are off to head back and spend the afternoon with her.  This morning she didn't want us to put her down and as we said, "paka" (bye) she began to cry.   Oh soon sweet Dariya we will say paka, paka, paka to this orphanage and you will be with us forever.  For us that day cannot come soon enough.

A little more eye candy for you...enjoy! 



Playing patty cake with daddy

Hugs and smiles for mama

Dariya and Ludamila, our parent liason

She was loving me kissing her neck, the giggles were overflowing...