Change

The journey is over, so it only made sense that I stop updating this blog.

However, I felt compelled to share something so important, it was worth one more update.

As I write this, I'm yelling at Elisha to put back the leftovers she just grabbed out of the fridge as a snack. She's Miss Independent, and constantly in trouble for trying to do more than she is allowed. She's awesome.
She's going to be just fine. Life is great.

But for others? They don't get the same chance at life.
Less than a year after Elisha came home, Russia closed its doors to American adoptions as part of our two countries never-ending love/hate political relationship with one another. There is plenty of evidence to suggest this is the beginning of their doors shutting completely on foreign adoptions. And, while plenty might say, "Let them take care of their own children, and let us do the same here," the fact of the matter is...
we're all God's children. When we turn our backs on the children on the other side of the world, we might as well turn our back on the missing child's face on the news. On the disabled child being bullied at the playground. On the student who comes to school showing signs of abuse.
When we turn our backs on one, we might as well turn away from them all.


The head of a country has asked us to forget. I pray we never do.

For Kolya's sake. 

A few years ago

Now locked in an institution.

For Kyle's sake.

Living in an orphanage. 

Now locked  in an institution.

 For Ksenia's sake. 

Living in an orphanage

Now locked in an institution

For Nathan's sake. 

Living in an orphanage

Now locked in an institution

Elisha faced this very same fate. Exactly six months ago, without being adopted, she would have had the same fate- a life sentence in an institution. Had God not brought us together, her before and after would look much different than it does today.

Because this:

Elisha in an orphanage- age 2

has the potential to become 

this:

Elisha's first day of Kindergarten- August 2013

but only if we refuse to look away. 

One Year Home

Today, we celebrate Elisha's first U.S.A day. Exactly one year ago she landed on U.S. soil and was home forever!

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ONE YEAR, ONE BIRTHDAY

I just cannot believe it. We are days from celebrating Elisha’s first full year HOME. Today, we celebrate her birthday. Elisha is now five years old. FIVE! I really can’t believe how quickly this year has passed.

She has been waiting far too long for this day to come. For the past few weeks, we have been talking about her upcoming birthday, and she has been so excited about it. I don’t know that she really understands exactly what it is all about, but she does know that there is a party, that there is food, and CAKE, and that the day is all about her. Today’s plan is to spend the day celebrating her in her favorite ways. We’ll eat birthday pancakes, go swimming (her favorite activity,) and have her one of her favorite dinners- pesto chicken pasta, the  exact same first meal that we had with her back in R*ssia.

Next weekend, we have her big official party. How perfect that her homecoming and her birthday are so close to one another. It’s a huge milestone party- one year home, first party, fifth birthday. It’s a way to say thank you to each and every person who brought her here. I wish you all could be there to celebrate. She is lovable, and I think two minutes in her presence would show you just how worth the journey she is.

I put together a little something, but that will wait until I post party pictures. Instead, I’ll leave you with this little nugget of fun. 

In case you are wondering, life is good. Elisha is smart, and funny, and enjoys life with her brothers, her mama, her daddy, and her dog. She is friendly, and lively, and strong and healthy. She is beautiful, she is sweet, she is independent. She is very much a typical girly girl with a love for fashion and sparkles and Taylor Swift and the Fresh Beat Band. 

Even though I don't update this blog often (I do have a family blog, so if you aren't a troll feel free to email me for the address ;) if you'd like to follow along,) I do plan to return to add a few pictures from the parties. 

In the meantime, I ask that you keep the orphans of Russia in your prayers. Pray that hearts are changed, that people will recognize how important family is, and that, regardless of borders, every child deserves to have a family to call his or her own.