Wednesday, September 08, 2010

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