1 Month Ago

"You are the helper of the fatherless.  Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart." Psalms 10:14


1 month ago... I was taking you out of the orphanage.  You were terrified.

Now ... you're home.  And you radiate joy.

1 month ago... you were as quiet as a mouse.

Now... you know more English words than you ever did in Russian.  You even know your sister's name.

1 month ago... all you ate was mush and maybe a chocolate chip cookie.

Now... you'll try just about anything and eat more than your big brother.

1 month ago... you weighed only 18 lbs 13 oz at age 2.5.

Now... you weigh 21.5 lbs and gaining!

1 month ago... you would scream when I took your clothes off, even if it was just your socks.


Now... you're perfectly content to chill by the pool in your swimsuit.

1 month ago... you had horrible bite marks on your back and were scared of your siblings.

Now... you're learning to trust and love them.

1 month ago... you were scared to fall asleep and would stay sitting up for as long as possible.

Now... I can lay you right down.

It truly is amazing what love and proper nutrition can do.  She is like a completely different child.  Home only 3.5 weeks, she has blossomed and can belly laugh with the best of them.  If you are on the fence about adopting, please take the leap.  It has been the single-most rewarding experience of our lives.  She has blessed us 100 times more than we could ever bless her.  If God is stirring your heart for the cause of the orphan, please listen.  I cannot convey to you the number of beautiful children left behind in Ella's orphanage alone that are just like her - desperate for love, desperate for a chance in life. 


There are 147 million orphans in the world, and you can't save them all.  But you can save one.  And for that one, it means the world.

This little boy was in Ella's groupa.  We'll call him Ian.  A few times when we went to visit Ella, Ian would walk by with some of the other boys to go outside or go to a meal.  One time he was wearing pink tights.  And I'll tell you, I've never seen a little boy look so doggone cute in pink tights.  He has a smile that could light up a room.  He would walk slowly by trying to catch our eye with his impish grin, and his nanny would shoo him away telling him we were Ella's mama and papa.  He so badly wanted to make a connection with us, to have the attention showered on him that he deserved. 

I am working on getting more information about this little boy.  If he has touched your heart, and you would like to find out more about him, please feel free to comment with a way to reach you, and I'll get back in touch with you as soon as I can.

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  James 1:27

I will leave you with a fun video of Ella.  Enjoy!

She is saying, 'Opah!' which is Russian for 'Yay!'