I finally got word from Laura in Russia. See a copy of her email to me this morning.Thanks sooooo Much for your prayers.

Well, other than being stranded in Chicago and the hives, the trip has gone very well. The flight from Chicago to Frankfurt was wonderful. Sat next to a guy on a ministry trip (to do with marriage) and we talked the entire way so it flew by. I'm sure that Vickie prayed specifically for that! No problems from Frankfurt to Moscow either.

My back feels fine, too, and the hives are much, much better.

Now, about our baby...she is beautiful. Really beautiful. She seems much more so this time than last. Maybe because she is ours...She fell asleep promptly at the start of our visit but I didn't hold it against her. I just held her as she slept. She is so precious. It was a very happy day. She wasn't so happy, however. She was quite cranky when she woke up. She just wanted to sleep and I think that she was getting sick. She was really sweaty and they had her wrapped in about 14 layers of clothes...yuck. I took some off her to make her more comfortable and I didn't even ask her caretaker.It was cute...she fell asleep holding a cookie and had it gripped with her fist in the air. They said that she likes sweets...that's my girl! We played ball together and she loved the matchbox car, of course. She let me snuggle her but I got no smiles or laughs but the caretaker assured me that she does. She described Dasha as "very emotional." I think she means moody. She gave some scowls and some pouts but everyone just laughed because it is so cute. She did get upset at the end, though, and wanted to sit by herself then she started rocking. It was awful. That is what children in orphanages do to comfort themselves because there is no one that does it for them...She let me pick her up and console her...She will be so happy when she can come home. Oh, they changed her to a different group of kids and caretakers 3 days ago. She is rattled by that, too. I got lots of pictures and keep looking at them over and over again. Can't wait to share them when I get home. I signed the documents agreeing to adopt her today so now nobody else can have her!

Thank you all for praying!! It has made all the difference in the world. Everything is going much more smoothly this trip. I fly home on the 12th now because of the delay in Chicago.

Love to you all. Will send update when and if I can.

Laura