Pictures!

I just took 89 pictures off our memory stick, and couldn't go to bed before sharing some of them with you! It has been awhile since you have "seen" the kids, so here you go...

Thanksgiving - We spent Thanksgiving this year with the Marble family in Forest Grove, Oregon. Most of the family hadn't yet met our new children, and while it was just a quick trip, the kids loved playing with all their cousins. And, I mean all! John's dad has 8 brothers and sisters, all of which have children, and a few of the children (like us) have children!

Sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner.



Playing with older cousins.


Playing with Danny, one of the kids' younger cousins.



Fireworks - After Thanksgiving, we drove to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and met my parents at the Annual Light Parade and Christmas lighting ceremony. While there were too many people to see the parade well, the kids loved seeing the fireworks, set to Christmas music by Mannheim Steamroller!






Moving Days - The house was in shambles and packed in boxes, but the kids made the best of everything. They thought it was cool to all sleep together on the floor in sleeping bags when our beds were packed - they were fascinated with our Uhaul trailer - they collected boxes, hauled boxes, taped boxes, packed boxes, loaded and unloaded boxes!

We never knew how much fun an empty Uhaul trailer was until our kids showed us!


This is what each room looked like for a few days before we starting loading the Uhaul trailers!


Just when you are ready to pull your hair out completely with a child, God gives you a glimpse of their developing hearts. As I came upstairs one afternoon from packing, I found Lillia kneeling over her little sister Anabella, who was asleep on the floor taking a nap. Lillia had found her New Testament Bible as she was going through things in her room - she had it open and was praying over Anabella and singing "Jesus Loves Me". It is probably one of the sweetest displays of God's love I have ever seen...




Getting settled in Big Sky - We are currently renting a 3-bedroom condo from John's parents. Located directly across from the golf course, the children can play in the snow just by walking out our door.

Our kitchen.


The living/dining room - still being unpacked, and also decorated for Christmas!


The kids were invited to help Nana and Gramps decorate their tree...They all had a great time helping!



Enjoying the snow outside! And don't think for a second that Anabella will ever be left out! She always wants to be out there with her big brothers and sisters! I wish I could tell you how many miles Sasha has logged, pulling Vanya, Olesya, Lillia and Anabella around on the toboggan!


Vanya enjoying the snow! Not only a cute picture, but what a long way he has come! Just 4 months ago when we came home, he cringed at getting his fingers wet or cold - and now he makes snow angels, sleds and asks to go outside and play! If he gets snowy, he'll look up at us with his huge brown eyes and say, "That's OK, Papa (or Mama)!"


Our little skier Sasha!


Getting ready for skiing! Doesn't Mariyana look like an All-American girl??!


I saved the best picture for last. I just love this - it wasn't posed at all - I just snapped it when the kids were playing outside. I'm a little bias, but I think the kids look like they are modeling for a magazine - they are so cute. And you know what? As cute as they are, they are even better kids!


Picture time over! Please don't overlook the next entry - no digital pictures, but hopefully a wonderful word picture of God's goodness and blessings in our lives!

We are so blessed

I guess at Christmas time all of us get rather in sentimental, thankful mood. This year is no different for us. The only difference is how many blessings we can count and praise God for!

We have moved to Big Sky, Montana. We are settled into our new home. The children love it there! (And so do their parents!) There is lots of snow and sunshine, and with a golf course across from our house, the kids have a huge playground to enjoy this winter. A day hasn't gone by since our move that they haven't been sledding, cross country skiing or just playing around in the snow.

Some collected thoughts, blessings and special memories to share with you that have gone on over the past few weeks...

* Singing along, at the top of our lungs, to "Awesome God" with my almost 12-year old daughter, Mariyana, while driving our van to MT. The dark night sky was dotted with a million stars and the moon was shining bright. Can you experience God more deeply than worshipping him with your new daughter on such a night? I never have...

* Listening to Olesya, our 5 year old daughter, thank Jesus for her Mama and Papa at each meal this week.

* Seeing the excitement in all the kids' eyes as they find every Baby Jesus in every Christmas display around town.

* Hearing Lillia, our 4 year old, thanking God for her entire family by name at each meal.

* Having Olesya say "America is cool!" when we were talking about her forever family.

* Hearing Lillia pray for and talk about her brother and sister she has never met in Ukraine (the two older siblings of our new children).

* Seeing the growth and change in the two boys' confidence and language skills.

* Counting the days each week with excitement and eager anticipation until we can go to church again!

* Hearing stories about the children's experiences and memories in Ukraine before coming home.

* Listening to our 2 and 4 year old daughters (our bio daughters) as their vocabulary grows daily - with both Russian and English words! And, laughing with joy at having to remind Lillia that she needs to speak English with her grandparents if she wants them to understand her! Smiling as we tell Anabella to say "Yes" and she repeatedly says "Da" instead.

* Listening to our 5, 7, 9 and almost 12 year old as they "review" their Russian vocabulary that is beginning to slip away. (We aren't joyful they are forgetting their Russian - we would love for them to keep it, but it does show us they are really progressing in English. It has taken them longer than an individually adopted child to learn English because they have each other to speak to, as well as help understand English.)

* The opportunity to live in a ski resort community, surrounded by God's beautiful creations, while being able to teach the children about sledding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and iceskating. Seeing and experiencing their excitement in participating in these activities.

* Our meal-time prayers in which some or all of the children participate as they feel led - each saying their own individual prayers for what they are thankful.

* Hearing the kids share their prayer requests at bedtime each night - mostly prayers of thanksgiving for their family and for Jesus.

* Seeing the children's understanding of family and their permanent place in our hearts and lives grow - not only to increase their comfort and security, but wanting to expand and extend it to other children waiting for their forever families.

* Daily experiencing God's grace and strength as we enjoy our family. Six children are a blessing. We are not overwhelmed with anything except joy and blessings. Our full table is alive with laughter and sharing. Our work load is light with eager helpers. Our hands aren't full - our hearts are. Family has become our true priority and instead of missing our time or money or sanity or whatever else we might have imagined missing with six children, we just sense missing our other children - out there somewhere waiting for their forever family.

And so, for tonight, I will close with a happy heart and a thankful spirit. God is so good!