And it only took one meeting for all three of us to know immediately she belonged with us.  Just turned five on December 2, Katya, as she is called, is bright, smart, funny and VERY talkative. 

The Director agreed to see us at 1pm today.  We drove the 20 minutes to the ‘less reputable’ side of town, to a quaint orphanage over looking the city cemetery.  We waited only a few minutes to be greeted in a flurry of turquoise and followers.  Numerous women crowded around her wanting information, signatures and various decisions.  She apologized and asked Natasha to shut the door.  The Director (no name was ever given) asked Natasha to introduce us and then read the file aloud for Katarina.  All the doctors had given her a recent physical and said she was very healthy.  She has been in the orphanage system since she was born- so her files were very complete.  The Director told us that she liked to dance and has a real musical ear.  She was also very smart…then the young lady “arrived”. 

The size of a big 5 year old- she had shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes and a cherub round face.  She swept into the room, running up to the Director and planting herself firmly in her lap.  She was chatting and laughing the entire time.  The Director asked her several questions- Katya was very articulate and detailed in her answers.  Today was “St. Nicholas” day- so all the children had received presents.  Katya detailed the types of candies she and her friends had received. The Director then introduced us- and she came to see what we had brought her.  She immediately dove into the food sack pulling things out, asking “What’s this? And what’s this?”  The Fig Newtons were a novelty.  Her hands were so full that she just dumped everything back into the bag and picked the entire bag up with a huge grin.  Pam then pulled out a stuffed rabbit we had brought her- she managed to hug it and never let go of the food bag.  When the Director asked her to come back to her, Katya replied, “Wait, let the rabbit have a seat,” setting the rabbit on an unused chair.  The Director asked her a few more questions, then Katya ‘announced’ that she was going to recite a poem for us…and boy did she…easily reciting a 15 to 20 line poem without missing a beat.  She evidently knew more of the poem, but the Director stopped her to all of our applause.  Katya then spoke with Natasha.  Natasha was amazed at how smart and verbal she was.  The Director gathered Katya back to her lap, then asked what we thought about her.  All of us were speechless, even Jake.  I think he has met his match!  The Director asked Katya if she liked us and wanted us to visit again.  She happily agreed.  Then the Director dismissed Katya and asked if we wanted to see her again.  The answer was a resounding yes.

As we stopped for a coffee on the way back from the orphanage, we gave Svetlana a rundown on the meeting.  She told us the next step was a ‘firm’ commitment.  Pam and Paul looked at each other then at Jake- and no ‘thinking time’ was needed.  We all answered in unison “YES”.  Svetlana will start the paperwork tomorrow- and we hope to have a court date next week.  We are going back for a play session tomorrow- hopefully we will get some pictures to post!