I know it had been awhile since I spoke about the status with the girls and our adoption. Mostly, we have been very busy with Christmas preparations, travel to KY for Thanksgiving, and more adoption paperwork. We did have a small issue with the girls I-800 paperwork, but it has been resolved. The girls will be getting their pre-passport paperwork soon which they need to make their appointments for their medical exams. Once they pass their medical, then we are given the clear to make arrangements to retrieve our daughters. Yeah!!!
The most exciting thing that has been happening with the girls is that once a week since Thanksgiving, we have been able to Google-Chat with them. One of the directors set up an account with us and we both click on at the designated time. It has given us time to get to know the girls more and see them interact with Anton and Isabella.
Criselda just lights up with Isabella. Those two are like peas in a pod. The two tend to take up most of the talk time laughing and giggling over girl stuff. Christine is more like Anton. She quietly takes it in but when she wants to say something or likes something we are well aware of her thoughts. We have a bit of language problem. We tend to talk too fast and the girls can't always find the right words they want to use. Most of the time Pauline is at the chat times who is fluent in English and Tagalog. We also draw a lot of pictures.
Both girls want to learn piano and horse back riding. Christine wants the dogs to sleep with her while Criselda is not so sure about it. In the Philippines, dogs are mostly used as guard dogs NOT pets. She is nervous that our dogs only like us because they know us, she doesn't understand that golden retrievers are just loving happy dogs.
Christine loves legos, pink, and soccer. She is fascinated with anything Anton shows of his legos. When we sent a movie Anton made with his legos, she was totally glued and eyes wide with excitement. She spends a long time drawing and quietly studying us. It reminds me of when Anton was younger as he would spend time just watching his surroundings before jumping into the action. But once when all four children made their hands into puppets it was fun to see them all acting like kids together. Christine does like the dogs a lot! She always asks where they are if they are not in the computer frame.
Criselda loves art, light blue, and cooking. She has teased Isabella about making chicken adobo (chicken marinated in vinegar and soy sauce) with our chickens. Isabella was very quick to point out our current chickens are egg laying pets. Criselda was confused and wondered if we ate chicken. I explained we go to the farmer who gives us our meat chickens. I'm not sure she totally understood. In a country with lots of poor, you would not consider a chicken a pet and it would be common to eat the hens after they stopped laying. When you are poor, there is no waste. So we know Criselda will have no problems taking care of meat chickens if we decide in the future to do this, but Bella just can't seem to bring herself to eat an animal she cares for. I said long ago, she has the possibility of becoming a vegetarian if it wasn't for her love of bacon. When we get off the chat time, Bella just is a ball of excitement bouncing everywhere exclaiming how she just can't wait till her sisters come home.
A couple weeks ago, the girls asked if we could come for a visit. When we said we were going to come get them when we come, it was a realization for Criselda they would be leaving the Philippines. Her facial expressions got sad as she was going through the thoughts of leaving the place she has come to love and feel secure. But you could also see her struggle with wanting to come be with us also. Our last chat, she seems to have come to terms with the changes about to happen to her and Christine. She has started saying things like "I can't wait till you come," and telling Isabella they will be together soon. She is very happy when she says this. When we were getting off the chat, the girls said "I love you!" It was a touching moment but we had to go. I just let the thought sink in and marveled at the changes that have taken place in just about 5 weeks. I know the adjustment period will be hard, but I am not nervous anymore. We will all blend eventually and life will change in a very good way!
