Over the last several weeks I have been making a focused effort to find the kid's 11 year old sister Anastasia. When the kids father died in 2004, a much older half sister was only able to adopt Anastasia. Dausha was to young to remember, but Dima has not seen her since then. With what little info I had; names and name of village in Sakhalin. I have been searching forums and setting up groups to find them. Recently I found a Russian forum for the village of Smyrnykh were they last lived. I posted that we were family looking for them that had lost contact. Within a few days a kind Russian man replied with a phone number and address of their neighbor.
With that number Svetlana called and contacted them. Later that night we called and Dima was able to talk to his sister for the first time in 5 years. Anastasia was also excited to talk to her sister Dashua for the first time ever. Obviously they didn't understand each other at all, but it was still precious. I was relieved to find that her older sister Angelica was eager to allow the kids to contact each other again. You never know what expect with all the unknowns.
Svetlana was also able to find out a lot of other information from Angelica about the kids. Will be interested to get more of the details when she sends them in her next e-mail.
Two weeks again Dima also gave his first public talk in the Sign Language congregation. For those not familiar with sign, facial expression is comparable to pausing and voice fluctuation in speech. Clear and large signs are as important as proper volume and articulation. Yes, he is my son and of course Ill brag, but honestly I was very impressed with how well he did. Ive included the video if your interested, his reading was on 1 Corinthians chapter 14.
Our 9th Anniversary. Went to Tagaris Winery for dinner, always strange going places without the kids.
Kids birth father Victor, Nastya, Dasha,Dima
