Adoption Awareness Month - Day 12

This adoption journey that we have been on has stretched us in so many ways. Emotionally, physically and spiritually we have been tested.  These boys like to test the limits and they sure do know which buttons to push!  Thankfully, so much good has been accomplished in the midst of some of our toughest days.  So today, I am focusing on the good and trying to let go of the bad!

#adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily #beautyfromashes #adoptionisawesome #butalsohard #totallyworthit

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 11

Adoption Awareness Month Day 11: Keeping it simple today. Just want to say how thankful I am for my family. None of us are perfect and we drive each other crazy sometimes but, we are perfect together.
#newbeginnings #lovemyfamily #adoptionawarenessmonth

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 10

Anyone that has met Alex has seen his huge smile. He loves to help others. He takes care of the elderly. He likes big things (big house, big car). He loves to ride horses. He loves animals. And children love to be around him. He has a goal to see every state in America. So far we've been able to hit 18 of them!

So much of his childhood sucked. Really sucked. Our problems pale in comparison. But on the days that he puts his guard down and allows us to see his heart, on man, I cherish those days!

Right now he is in Ukraine. He's been gone for 3 and a half weeks. He has a ticket to come home 3 and a half weeks from now. We miss him like crazy. We worry about him. We pray he is safe. We don't know if he will get on the plane in December to come home. We pray he does. If he doesn't, we will still love him. No matter where he goes, he has the love of 2 parents that wish they had more than 2 years with him.

#adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily

 

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 9

We woke up this morning and heard the election results.  Donald Trump will become the next President of the United States.  This brings a lot of questions and anxiety for some Americans.   My boys are not American citizens yet but, I love how proud they are to be here.  And we look forward to the day when the process is complete and they become U.S. Citizens.  (It is a long and expensive process!)
#adoptionawarenessmonth #newbeginnings #lovemyfamily

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 8

Today is Election Day.  I was able to take Mark with me to vote and answer all of his questions about life in America.  We talked about what politics are like in Ukraine.  We talked about who we think would be the best President out of the current candidates. We also talked about the people in our lives and out of those people, who we think would make a great President.  I really enjoyed this time with him.
There are freedoms we take for granted every single day that seem foreign to people from other countries.  I am thankful that we live in a country that allows us to vote for our leaders. A country that allows women and minorities to vote.  A country that does not turn it's back on those in need.  My children are from another country.  Today I got to show Mark a little of what it means to be an American.  I am thankful for adoption and that God used adoption to make me a mom!
#adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily #govote #america #election2016

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 7

Oh how Mark has kept me on my toes since the day I met him!  He has gone through every range of emotion and has handled it like a champ most days!  We have laughed, we have cried and we have even hugged it out a few times.  There have been arguments and lots of apologies.  And I wouldn't change him for the world!
I am so proud of the young man he is becoming and cannot wait to see how God continues to work on his heart.
This boy makes me proud!

#adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily 

Adoption Awareness Month - Day 6

Man's Best Friend.  That's what most people call their dog.  It has definitely rang true in our home.  Our dogs have always been part of our family.  I wasn't sure how they would react when 2 wild and loud teenage boys moved in and became part of the family.  They immediately put my worries to rest when I saw how patient they were with Mark and Alex.  The boys never had pets of their own.  At the beginning they were sometimes rough with the dogs.  And they didn't like it if the dogs didn't do what they wanted.  However, they have formed such a bond and it has been so much fun to watch.  Yep, they still annoy each other sometimes.  But they sure do love each other.
#adoptionawarenessmonth #lovemyfamily #beautyfromashes