Happy New Year 2011!

Happy New Year to all! I pray that 2011 brings everyone good health and prosperity!

It is hard to believe how time passes so quickly! I remember as a young girl, my GaGa (grandmother) telling me to enjoy everyday because as we get older the days fly by. Of course, I did not believe her. Whoa! She was right, it amazes me how fast time flies these days. It seems I have an idea of something to do and then, poof, the time goes by and I don't get to the task.
I am amazed that I have not posted since September 8, 2010. In my mind, I have posted many poignant discussions! If I could just get those thoughts from my mind to the keyboard!!!

My 2011 New Year's Resolution is to blog more!

Here is a photo of our "little angel"! You are correct, she is not so little anymore and I am not sure "angel" is what we should be calling her! Ha! She is a little imp and this photo captures that perfectly!!!
God bless,
Elizabeth

Happy Gotcha Day 2010!

Gotcha Day - September 8, 2009

It is hard to believe but one year ago today we were saying goodbye to everyone at the orphanage and getting ready to start our new family. It seems so long ago, yet it seems just like yesterday. We just chronicled our adoption in a storybook for our Angel. I am praying it arrives today so we can have a little celebration this evening. She often asks us to tell her the story about her adoption. She especially likes to hear about when we received the phone call from AWAA and then the email with her photos.

I was working on updating the blog for the past year but realized it will take me forever. So, I think it is appropriate to post a few photos of family life over the past year and move on from there. Enjoy!

First Day in the USA!
When we arrived in Atlanta, our Angel was singing a song she made up and the only Russian words we could understand were: "Ya Amerikanka!" English translation: "I'm American!"

Our American Princess!
The first day home, we told her we were going to take a walk around the neighborhood.
This is what she insisted on wearing!

Christmas morning, December 2009.

Ready for Ballet Class!

Our Annual New Year's Eve Swim! December 31, 2009.

Valentine's Day, 2010!

Cheering on the FGCU Women's Basketball Team!
February 2010.

First Day of School, January 7, 2010.

May 2010
Dad and Angel Ready for Daddy Daughter Dance!

May 2010
Getting Ready for Her Ballet Recital - She Seems So Grown Up!

Our Prima Ballerina!

Happy 11th Birthday!

Disney, Here We Come!

We Had So Much Fun!

Celebrating Dad's Birthday!

July 2010
We Hosted Two Exchange Students for the Summer.
One From Spain and One From Hong Kong.

August 23, 2010
First Day of School

September 8, 2010
Happy Gotcha Day!

We hope you enjoyed our quick update. We are so blessed by our daughter, we cannot imagine how empty our lives would be without her. We are so thankful for the support of many family members, friends, and people we have never met during the long adoption process. There is not a day that passes that we do not thank God for you all.
As I have been preparing the storybook for our Angel, I was reminded that we completed our original homestudy in November 2005. It was almost five years later when we finally brought our Angel home. We faced many obstacles and challenges during the adoption process but I know that God knew exactly when we would bring our Angel home. For those of you who are still in the waiting phase of adoption, please be faithful and know that God has a plan and you will bring home your beautiful child or children according to God's perfect timing.
                     Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Elizabeth

Nostalgic Moments!

Today, I am overcome with emotion and nostalgia. Partly because I have been working on a story book for our Angel and partly because it is one year ago today that Don and I boarded a plane for Russia to bring her home. We are amazed at how we have been blessed by adding a daughter to our family.

We are overcome at times by the generosity of so many that helped us bring our Angel home. Over the past 11 months, we have felt some guilt by not keeping this blog updated. Please understand that we thought we were justified in neglecting the blog. Last winter, Don wanted to update postings but I was not convinced it was the thing to do. However, now, I am feeling compelled to update this blog and to let followers know how amazing the past year has been. A year of challenges, blessings, struggles, and sheer joy! Everyday is a new day with new experiences. There is so much to share and I will begin this week with some updates and I plan to journal more frequently.

Due to some unpleasant, insulting and harassing emails, I was reluctant to continue the blog. I felt paralyzed by this and could not bring myself to blog. However, after much prayer, I believe God is telling me to continue. After all,

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Psalm 27:1-2.

I now feel strong and determined to continue. I am putting on the armor of God and taking a stand against evil that may lurk out there!
Please stop by next week to see updates.
Thanks to everyone for your support over the past year.

God Bless,
Don and Elizabeth

Give Me A Hug

While we were in Russia and for at least 6 weeks after we arrived home, Anzhela would not hug or kiss us. We would tell her we love her often and attempt to hug her but she would pull away. We did not push it but we continued to tell her that it is important to tell your family you love them and to hug them. We would then hug and kiss each other and say, "I love you Papa" or "I love you Moma". She would just watch us.
While in Russia, bedtime was difficult but once home we've been able to get into a routine. Don and I put her to bed together. We say prayers, read a book, and then we tuck her in. She pulls the covers up over her head so we can't kiss her or hug her. At first, we would just say "goodnight Anzhela, we love you." And we would leave her room. After a few nights, we decided to hug and kiss her anyway. So, when she pulled the covers up over her head, Don would get on one side of her bed and I would get on the other and we began hugging her and kissing her through the covers. She would just laugh and giggle, eventually pull the covers off her head, and say goodnight to us.
One thing about Anzhela is that she demands our attention. When she wants something, she calls us and expects us to come to her. A few weeks ago, she was calling me to come to her bedroom. I was folding laundry and told her I would be there in a minute. She kept calling, "Mom, Mom" so I went to her room. She was standing in the doorway with her arms stretched out and she said, "Give me a hug!" Then she hugged me like there was no tomorrow. I was really caught off guard but once she pulled away I said, "Wow, that was the best hug ever! Thank you Anzhela, I can't wait for more!" She beamed.

Since that day, she is very free with her hugs for both Don and me. She will not kiss us but she gives us hugs frequently throughout the day. I love it and so does Don. Bedtime has changed a bit. Now, once we are finished with our story, she has to hug each of us and then we tuck her in. Bedtime has become a very special time for us.

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Elizabeth





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It's Gotta Be Blogger's Block!

I am really having a difficult time blogging these days - not sure why. I guess I just have "Blogger's Block"! I have been blogging for a little over 2 years. During that time, I have had periods where I just couldn't blog. I don't know why it happens. What I can say is that when I feel the urge to blog, there is no stopping me. In fact, when I have the urge to blog the words just flow, I don't even think about it. Right now, I have about 6 unfinished posts. I am hoping I can get them finished by the beginning of December.

We finally bought a used camera in late October so we are taking photos of our Angel like crazy since we feel we missed a good 6 weeks without a camera. We were also able to replace my crashed computer in late October so now I am working on organizing our photos. I tried to upload a slideshow of the few photos we downloaded before we lost our camera but I am not happy with it. I will have to work on it.

Well, I am just blogging to blog right now so I will sign off. Hopefully, the "Spirit" will move me soon and I will start posting more.

God Bless,
Elizabeth
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