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