Anya and Tanya's One Year Homecoming Anniverssary!

Can you believe it! A year has flown by!! All I can say is what a year we have had! We have had some set backs. Mark lost his job 5 months prior to going over to Ukraine. But God blessed! We stepped out on faith like we have never done before. We knew that we were to continue on our journey of adoption of our two beautiful girls! Mark received 6 months severance, was able to work a temp job until we left and received 1/2 of his pension in a lump sum. The severance sustained us while we were in Ukraine and then some. We paid off our house with his pension. We brought our sweet girls home August 8, 2009!

As to be expected, we had some bumps along the way, but I never imagined that God would bless like He has done! The girls started school two weeks after being home. Anya had a tough time at first. She cried the first two weeks of school. I think she thought it would be easier than what it really was. After much assurance by the faculty and us, she settled in. Tanya just took one day at time. About 6 months into school, she told me that she tells the teachers she does not understand and then she doesn't have to do work!! What a toot! She keeps us laughing all the time! Anya received 5 awards and Tanya received one! I am so proud of their progress!!

Spring Break 2010 we went to Alabama so the girls could visit with about 10 kids that were adopted from their orphanage. What a great time we had on our first road trip!

March 2010 I lost my job of 12 years! At first I was devastated! I could not figure out how we were going to make it with both of us collecting unemployment!!! Two days later Mark got a job! Hallelujah! God is faithful! I have been looking for a job since. But it has been absolutely awesome to be home with the girls! We have had a blast together. Once again God has blessed us!

All I know is that my faith in God has grown immensely. I have learned this past year to place all my trust in HIM and HE is faithful in taking care of ALL! I have learned to definitely not sweat the small stuff!! Love is all that matters! I love my beautiful girls but most of all I love God!! Anya accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at church camp this summer! She was baptized 08/15/2010! What an amazing journey this has been. I can't even imagine experiencing this with out trusting God all the way! Thank you Abba Father!