Fathers' Day/Quinn's Birthday

I woke up Sunday morning really looking forward to church. We got to the orphanage to get Ruslan changed into the clothes we brought, and he was nowhere to be found. All the children were helping us look for him. After about ten minutes, he appeared through the side entry of the grounds. He had gone to the store. Michael had given him some change yesterday, and I guess he wanted to buy some candy. Several of the children and a teacher were all trying to speak to him at once as if to say, "Where have you been? Your parents have been waiting for you?" I think he was embarrassed. Michael quickly helped him get changed. (He wanted to also give him a bath and scrub him, but that will have to wait.) We drove with Constantine and Lena to Dniproprotrosk, the nearest LDS church, about 30 minutes away. The Bensons went in a separate car with George, Nadia's husband. This picture is the door going into church. Doesn't Ruslan look spiffy?
When we walked in, there were eight cute, white-shirted elders and two sister missionaries, the majority from good old Utah. I wanted to hug them all. We felt so welcome, and I think they were so glad to have us there. They are such good young people and are doing such a good work. It was so nice to take the sacrament. Ruslan sat nice and reverently during Sacrament Meeting, but the second it was over, he was out of there! He was waiting for us in the hall while we visited with the elders. I'm sure it's difficult for these kids. We've heard from others that it takes a long time for them to start to like church. Any comments anyone?

After Sacrament Meeting we ate there in the city before heading back to Dniprodzerzhink. We dropped Ruslan off at the orphanage and told him we'd come back later. (We had our Sunday clothes on.) Everything was fine. When we came back later, he had transformed into someone we didn't know. Pout, pout, pout. He was mad about something, and we still don't know why. He wouldn't come to us, wouldn't talk to us. I know many of you adoptive parents out there have experienced this over and over, so I know this was to be expected. I was very discouraged, and then on top of that, I called home to wish Quinn a happy birthday and started crying as soon as I heard his voice, and then Quinn started crying. (Oh, do I miss my kids.) I looked up, and there were twenty children and adults staring at me watching me cry. Jen and Alex were trying to comfort me, and I felt really stupid that I couldn't control my emotions better. Anyway, it wasn't the greatest of days, and I hope today is better. Quinn, I hope you had a very happy birthday. We're going to do it all over again as soon as we get home. Dad, I tried to call you. I love you. Thanks for being a great dad.

Well, that's it for now. Lena is on her way to pick us up for the notary.