#8 - Last entry from Kyiv

Dear Family and Friends,

We are completely official now and are heading home tomorrow (Friday).  Today we went to the Embassy to apply for the kids' visas and to do our exit interview with them.  It was not a lengthy process although it seemed like we signed about 100 papers.  Then picked up airline tickets and came home for lunch.  The visas were ready at three, so went to get those and brought them back to the flat.  Left safely in the flat all of the important papers, passports (three brand spanking new Ukrainian passports!), and the to-be-unopened by us envelopes for USCIS.  I (Jennie) then dashed back through town to the tourist souvenir shopping street (in the rain), and found some great things - embroidery, psyanky, carved wooden plates and crosses, and dolls garbed in traditional dress to bring home as souvenirs. 

The best souvenirs, though, are the living ones who will be coming home with us tomorrow.  We had a good supper at the Momento Italian restaurant (by the Circus if anyone is staying in this part of town...a great restaurant!)  The kids had  a first course of pizza followed by giant plates of french fries. We came back to the flat and  all  kids immediately jumped in the tub and put on jamies. A nice moment was when John and I were standing outside of the bathroom door and heard Ruslan singing away.  It was the first time we had heard him sing.  He seems so happy to be coming to America and home with us. 

We can't wait to be home and sleep in our own beds!  We can't wait to be together with all of our family...John and Ana, we're coming home.

Thanks to everyone who has remembered us in prayer and left good wishes.  We are grateful for them all.  I have kept a written journal of our trip and willl try to fill in some more details about impressions of Kyiv and traveling through the countryside as well as comments on the process.  Until then, love to you  all.  John and Jennie