Hammer and dish soap?

I have so much to say that I keep putting off writing until I have more time/energy to do it! I've realized that's not happenin', so I'm going to give it a try!
What can you do in a week?  Hmmm...
Church last Sunday where he got his own Russian/English Bible from our church, family dinner, swimming at the pool again, dental cleaning, packing and driving across the country, staying in a hotel overnight, 2 family 4th of July picnics, fireworks, a visit to the caves (Raccoon Mountain Caverns), dinner at a marina feeding ducks and fish afterwards, bouncing half the day at Partyville with cousins, supper at cousins' farm including slipnslide and S'mores, birthday party, movie, power outtages, church again today, meals with family, and LOTS of checkers games (several of them by candlelight!

He is really a great kid! We have enjoyed getting to know him, seeing him smile, and watching him attempt more and more English. I have to laugh sometimes wondering what he thinks of us. Back home last week, the power went out for about an hour randomly one night. Then, on vacation, there was a bad storm and the power went off in the middle of the movie at the theatre (followed by 24 hours of no power at my Mom's house where we were staying)!  He seemed a bit confused why we were running around lighting candles and putting batteries in flashlights.... Industrialized country... haha.  (We had to go back and watch the movie today, and there were technical difficulties at the beginning of the movie!)

There are so many things to say, but there have been a few moments that really stuck out.  His first time really opening up was when we went online for him to show us pictures of his friends and orphanage. He was really proud of being able to show us more about him. 
Another night, he had taken a nap in the late afternoon... So, when he woke up, it was late and the other kids were in bed. The three of us spent several hours playing checkers and looking at pictures from his day in NYC (as part of his journey here).
One of the best moments... He has always prayed with us (after or before us) in Ukrainian. I found out from my cousin that what he says is the Lord's Prayer.  A few nights ago, when we prayed before bed, I could tell that after the Lord's Prayer he started praying from his heart (and I was hearing all our names). It's such a blessing to see his sweet heart!

It hasn't been all roses and rainbows. Most days have been wonderful. Yesterday, we had a rough day where he wouldn't communicate a lot and seemed very withdrawn saying he was sleepy all day. Honestly, he really might have been just sleepy, but it was still a tough day for all of us!  Oh wait!  I'm thinking teenagers are probably tough every now and then - haha!  He is back to his "old" self today, though, and maybe the extra sleep helped :)  He learned to play "Sorry" today with Papa G, A, and cousin M. All the kids liked the movie, but it was pretty scary for B - she was almost crying! So, just a headsup on that if you want to see Brave!

If you've kept up on facebook, you've read this part, but here it is anyway...   I really would have loved to know what was going on in his head when N walked in holding a hammer and a bottle of dish soap telling him to put on his bathing suit! (Hammer to put in the stakes on the slipnslide, and dish soap to make it go FAST!)  He ran right in to put on his suit once he realized the reason :)

We are so blessed to have him here with us and watch the world in his eyes. Our kids are just loving that they have him around to watch after them, too!  Can't wait for more adventures!