Desperately Needed: HOPE

     We need hope more than ever right now. This is not a joke. Or a campaign for orphans. It's not my usual stuff. We need hope.
     Reason: Anya has been shot. With a gun. In her ankle. She was in a store and someone she didn't even know just shot her in the ankle. I don't know the details, and I don't have the authority to share them even if I did. All I know is that she's in a hospital in Kemerovo. We saw the outside of the hospital while we were there and know how horrible it is. I didn't go in (thank God), but the outside looks like something out of a really bad horror movie. There's blood stains outside on the side walk, and on the corner of a busy intersection.

one of the ambulances in kemerovo

     And, to add to that, the ambulances look like dead hippie vans.

HOPE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED RIGHT NOW,

FOR ANYA!!!!

More than ever...

     I've been missing my little sister more than anything these past few days. While I've been at Rebel (see Keri's blog), I've been thinking, "If I do great in this scene, G will be able to come home!". Stupid things like that.
     But! There is good news! My dad has said "yes" to adopting her. Now, we need to:

• Find out if she's actually adoptable
• Raise the money, $40,000.
• Get an adoption agency that's not blacklisted in Russia. Preferably in New England, so we don't have to raise extra money to get the social worker to my house.

     Now that we're closer than ever, I miss her more than ever. I keep thinking I see her everywhere I go. A little girl with black hair at the park today made me über excited. It wasn't her. I imagine her sleeping next to me when I sleep at night. I can picture her sitting at our dining room table while we're eating dinner. I can't seem to go 15 minutes without thinking of her.
     So, for now, here's some pictures of me and her, and just her.

Everlasting Luck

I got home from camp yesterday night. The entire week, I was thinking about how lucky I am. Sure, my life gets confusing and hard at times, but these kids at camp stories are so much more.
     A girl whose sister has a brain tumor, and had to learn how to walk, talk and communicate again. A girl whose sister is 6,000 miles away, and is not allowed to come back to the US, the US embassy in Moscow wont let her. And those are only two of them.
    It makes me excedingly angry. And, I just want my little sister home. She might not even be available for adoption. 
     My birthday is in 5 days. I'll be 13. In three years, if I lived in the orphanage, I'd be kicked out. Just gone. No longer adoptable. Like so many others. Every single Russian orphan has that same fate. Let that sink in. All of them. Unless they get adopted, which isn't likely for most of them.
     America: Sweet Sixteen. Big party. Lots of presents and friends.
     Russian Orphans: Scared to death. Packing their small belongings. Leaving all of thier friends and safety.
     The kids don't have everlasting luck, they have almost no luck. When we were there, Keri asked a little boy what he wanted to be when he grows up. He replied "A coal miner". "Think big"
"A Taxi driver!"
Where are they to turn when they reach 16? When they get too old for the orphanage? When they get thrown out onto the streets? 
Think about that. Where do they go?
Prostitution? Maybe. Drug Dealing? Sure. Suicide? It's possible.
The out aged ones are scrounging for money. They'll do anything for it. They need homes. Now. Before they're too old.

Heading off

The main entrance at camp

Later today, I will be heading off to camp. This means I will not have access to this blog while I am there. But it's so amazingly fun! Here are some of the activities:

• Horse back ride
• Arts and Crafts
• Cooking
• Swimming
• Amusement parks
• Campfires

     It's so insanely fun!!! When I get home, I can post pictures from the 2 weeks. But until then, Ta-Ta for now!!!

Someday, Somewhere,

The world will have,

Some peace to share.

There will be peace one day,

when all is well,

All together,

We can tell.



"And the world,

Will live as one"

Love, Love,Love,

Bridget

3rd hint to my sisters name:

15-1=?

And all the pretty little horses...

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Coach and six white horses.
     Written circa 1884, by an enslaved mother singing to her baby girl who she couldn't take care of, because her owner needed their baby taken care of.




     Now, her baby had a mother. That baby will get taken care of, when the mother escapes (which she did, and the baby was 4). She gets fed, and is a normal height and weight for her age. Look at the kids at Detski Dom #5. Little G, who is 8 years old, really could pass off for being 5. These orphans don't need horses (though, they would love them!). They need enough food and CLEAN water to have adequate care. It just scares me to see an almost 9 year old be so tiny. I don't know how they survive. They all need loving families in a not-so-poverty-stricken country.

     I'm heading off to camp on Sunday, for two weeks. My camp is filled with horses, rock climbing, swimming and loads of fun. In about two weeks, all the kids at the orphanage get deported to camp so the orphanage can get cleaned. I have no idea what its like there, but it can't be fun.

     Everyone reading this, you can comment with a letter to one of the kids. I'll translate and print it. Then sent it to the child.

     And, the second hint to my little sister's name:

6-1=?

A few things that make me cheer up!

Because I'm really down lately, and want to stay away from the computer, I've discovered some really favorite things! Such as:

• Reeses Peanut butter cups
• A very funny blog, Hyperbole and A half, By Allie.
• Coloring
• Baking
• Shiny things covered in glitter
• Walking my dog, he was almost unwalkable.

     My dog never walked normaly before. It would be "Hey DOG you want to go for a walk!"
DOG "Of course I do!!!! *pant*lick*arf*
ME "Okay, lets go!
Dog oh-so-not-gently rips arm out of socket and we end with a crying Bridget running home to mom to punish the dog and get an ice-pack. BTW the dogs acctual name is DOG, pronounced dee-oh-gee.
     But, he walks now. We got him a be-good collar, and it works! Hallelujah!
     Hyperbole and a half is a very funny blog in which a 25 year old Allie takes her everyday situations and turns them into very dramatic scenes. Her "simple dog" and "helper dog" are there to comfort. She does not post very often, but just look around. She's hilarious.
     AND! For all who have been waiting, all of those pointless snow days have come to a close, and the frantic school year of 2010-2011 is coming to a close tomorrow. That means no more teachers who put their foot up on the black board to show you the bunion that they're getting removed on monday. No more walking up and down 4 flights of stairs everyday. No more waking up at 7am. Sadly, no more Ms. Rosenzweig. She's possibly the best teacher ever. And, the shocking reality hits me, I'll be in high school next year. Not next school year, but next year-year. 2012. Graduating class of 2016. I'll be in college in 5 years! Boy, does that put things into perspective.
     And, I'll possibly be going to Russia even sooner to see my Gorgeous little sister (soul) I'm giving you a puzzle and on the 5th post starting now, comment with what you think is her name. :)

8 minus 1... thats your first hint.