Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Sept. 2009 Natalie at 2 years and 11 months

July 2009 Having fun

June 14th marks one year since God gave Natalie to us and made us a family. So blessed!

My First Mother's Day

For many years I lived out the scripture, "hope deferred makes the heart sick".  I longed for a child to love to this degree.  At times I felt as though my heart would burst.

My heart still feels like it will burst, but now it is out of great joy and her name is Natalie.  She is my sunshine.  I cannot even fathom life without her now and I am completely amazed at the sublime goodness of my God for this amazing gift in my life.  He chose Natalie for Steve and I, and He chose us for her.  Knowing that we all needed each other and that together we are stronger for the Kingdom.  

Everyday Natalie teaches me how to love without judgement or bias.  She teaches me how to appreciate all that God has created (even bugs; dead and alive).  She is fearless and compassionate, strong and tender.   I pray daily for wisdom and grace as this little girl looks to me for nurture, protection and love.  

I love being a mom, more importantly, I love being Natalie's mom.  This is the first of many Mother's Days where I will stand and give God all the glory for bestowing me with such an honor.  God is faithful!

Natalie's been home for almost 11 months!

Natalie is growing up so quickly! She now has close to 200 words in her vocabulary and parrots almost every word we say.  Tonight she said "pickpocket" because that's what Steve called her when she took his pen out of his shirt pocket.  Makes you very aware and careful of what you say!

Everyday is  a new adventure for Natalie and I love seeing the world through her eyes.  She wakes up saying "good morning" and "hello" and is quick to greet everyone in her path with "hello, goodbye, and have a good day" as she leaves restaurants, church, shopping malls....you get the picture.  I think we have finally taught her that kisses are for family and special people, although I believe all the waiters and waitresses in the past have enjoyed her sweet smooches.  So much love in this little girl she can't help but give it away.  

1st Easter with Natalie

February 7th: Then and Now

February 7, 2008 was the first day we held our daughter at an orphanage in the small town of Pavolvsk, Russia.  We shared three hours together and knew that we would be a family forever.  One of the hardest things we ever had to do was to give her back to the orphanage caregivers.  But four months later, we returned to the orphanage and brought her home with us. 

Below are pictures of Natalie on the day we met in 2008 and now in 2009.  What remarkable growth and progress she has made in only seven months.  We were at the adoption specialist today and Natalie is finally on the charts for weight and head circumference.  Praise God!  Her milestones for motor and verbal skills are right on target for her age group.  We are beyond blessed.  

Some of her new words include:  morning, oh man!, dude, what's that?, and no way!  She has also learned that she can climb out of her crib (such fun for mommy and daddy!).  Natalie also loves to imitate animal sounds.  Her favorite is the lion, but her monkey imitation is too cute (oo oo ahh ahh). 

Thanks for all your continued outpouring of love and prayers over our little princess.  Take a look now for yourself at how much she has changed. 

Natalie's 1st trip to Disney World

January 2nd will always be special.

On this day, in 2008, our lives changed forever. It was a Wednesday night, before church. Steve and I were eating dinner together in the fellowship hall downstairs when his phone rang. It was our family coordinator from America World Adoption. She told us that we had a referral for a little 15 month old girl. After our initial shock and then tears of joy, we ran up to my office to open the email. We were given three pictures, one of her at around 4 months and two recent photos. I remember feeling connected to this little one, but remaining guarded as we had no real idea of her health issues. It was so hard not to tell the world (especially all our friends at church that night), but we had to keep things quiet until we consulted with our adoption specialists. I do remember Steve and I calling our family and I did pull a few coworkers in to see the picture of my possible daughter.

Today my heart and mind has been flooded with flashbacks of the people, places and circumstances that God orchestrated as He was weaving us into a family. It is too much for me to wrap my mind around. I can only stand in awe of His greatness and remain humbly thankful at His goodness.

Natalie is a complete joy (yes, even though she is two---I'm a new mom, humor me!). Steve and I are amazed at how she is constantly babbling (wanting to talk like us so badly), climbing like a monkey (even out of her crib), and making friends wherever she goes. One of her favorite things to do is to dance with us in a little circle. She totally cracks up! Then she likes to push Steve's neck and mine together so we can kiss each other and then kiss her. Too sweet. At night we say our prayers together and then she proceeds to shut her eyes tightly and babble out her own prayer, ending with an 'amen'. Brings tears to my eyes every time!

2008 was our miracle year and we anticipate what God has in store for us in 2009.
May we all trust Him more, love each other deeply and live to please our beautiful Jesus.
Blessings,
Karen