It is official! Today Ladi received her certificate of US citizenship! How appropriate to receive this document this 4th of July week. Yesterday our church had a Patriotic celebration for our worship service and a family picnic afterwards. We have never been able to attend this service before so I wasn't quite sure what it was all about- but to my surprise it was the perfect way to kick off the 4th of July festivities! And because this is Ladi's first 4th it made it that much more special. There was a full orchestra playing beautiful Patriotic music as well as hymns. We sat right up front so Ladi could see all the musicians and instruments. She loved clapping along and singing! I kept thinking how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful country; freedom, rights, opportunity, democracy, equality- words we use to describe the United States. Then I thought of those that live in countries that are not described in those words; where people are oppressed and live without hope. In the letter that accompanied Ladi's certificate, the President wrote, "As you begin to participate fully in our democracy, remember that what you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to serve your new Nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it. Welcome to the joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship." When we started the adoption process and we learned of the orphans in Russia, I prayed that we could give a little girl a loving family, a safe home, and opportunity. The opportunity to come to know God, the opportunity for an education, the opportunity to help others, the opportunity to become what she was created to be! After our first visit to meet Ladi, I kept saying, " we just have to bring her home, to the US where she has a chance!" Now my prayer is that she embraces this opportunity. As a US citizen and a responsible adult I sometimes find myself taking for granted the freedoms and opportunities I was blessed to be born into. (Like listening to all the "hoop-la" about the presidential candidates- it really does make a difference if I vote!) Then at the end of the letter it says, "God bless you, and God bless America." It is only my opinion but after being in another country for 2 weeks; I think God has already blessed America. This is where the responsibility comes in- what to do with this blessing and how can we bless others with it? I don't know, but the letter says start with your neighbor. I think I will and I pray that my children and you will too! And for those of you that are still reading this, "thank you" for letting me reflect and be "gushy" about this subject!
The boys are still in DC with Phe and Pops. Every time they call they sound like they are having a blast! Bryson is really into all the National Treasure movies; so he is loving seeing all the government archives and monuments. Today he was able to view the (in his words) "real thing" Declaration of Independence. They had to wait in line for about 45 mins. but Bryson said it was worth it. (He even got a poster of the "DoI" to hang in his room! Yesterday they saw a Nationals baseball game- Blake said it went 12 innings (I think) and he gave us a play-by-play of how the Nationals won. Very exciting! Phe cheered so hard she lost her voice and still sounds "rough" today when I talked to her. Brady is really looking forward to seeing the Lion King at the Kennedy Center. That is his thing; singing and dancing! I can't wait to talk to him about it! [Oh and I need to mention that on Friday the camp that Brady was attending had a performance for the parents. At the performance the campers showed off what they had learned during the week. Well, Brady did not tell us, but he elected to take the dancing class! We still don't know why he decided to go to this class, maybe because it was all girls and he was the only boy- Brady loves the ladies! Anyway, he performed a liturgical dance with the other girls and it was awesome! He was not embarrassed at all and he knew what he was doing (for the most part). He was so proud of himself and the other boys in his class were giving him high fives afterwards! Brady loves musicals and I hope he never loses his excitement and joy for them!] On Friday the 4th they will be seeing the fireworks on the "Lawn" at the Capitol. WOW! (I really am jealous but so thankful that they get this opportunity!)Anyway, pray for their safe travels. I will pray that you have a safe, happy and reflective 4th of July!

Fancy Nancy Party!

Yesterday Ladi and I went on our first "Girl's Night Out" together. We went out to dinner with some dear friends and their daughters. Then we went to a Fancy Nancy party at the book store. (Fancy Nancy is a children's book that is about a little girl that loves to dress and act fancy- Ladi loves these books and loves to say in her Russian accent "Fancy" and "Oh-la-la"!) All the girls were dressed fancy and wore their tiaras! Ladi thought it was wonderful- she kept saying, "Momma look- Princess!" After the book reading and arts and crafts we looked at all the books and Ladi picked out- of course- a Cinderella book. FYI- she loves Cinderella if I haven't mentioned it before- books, dolls, videos, she loves all the princess stuff. Which we think is so funny- I don't know if she was exposed to all of it in Russia but it is certainly what she has picked to play with. (And for those of you who know me- I am not the princess type- I played with stuffed animals and baby dolls! But Ladi is her own and she is a "princess"!) After shopping in the book store we walked around the other stores and window shopped- the little girls really seemed to enjoy this! I was standing there watching Ladi with her new friends and letting them put lip gloss on her and show her "girlie" things and it all felt like a dream. I still find myself amazed that she is with us and that she has "fit in" so perfectly. When we started out the evening I wasn't sure if Ladi was ready for this - to be around so many other children, staying out later than usual, etc. But she loved it! And as I was driving home I looked back at her in her car seat, sound asleep with her princess book in hand and I knew I had dreamt that image before!

I wanted to let you all know what the boys were up to this week - Blake is at beach camp with our church youth group. They go to Fort Caswell and have a blast boating, tubing, swimming and then they also have worship services and devotion time. He called me this afternoon and said he went 8 feet in the air on the tube and that the 8th graders have a house to themselves and it was so cool because it was like a hotel where you get clean sheets, soap and shampoo (which was good because he forgot to pack any of that!). I know this is a fun time for him as well as a time for him spiritually! Brady is going to a day camp this week at our church. This is his first year and he is so excited about going! It is an all day camp with lots of fun activities. He has watched his big brothers go for many years and now he is finally old enough to go! So Bryson and Ladi and I are hanging out together this week. We went to Topsail yesterday to visit a friend of mine and tomorrow we are going to the beach. Bryson is so good with Ladi (he and Brady argue over who she likes better). He enjoys helping her do things and she likes playing with him. The boys also had another swim meet tonight - they did very well! The meets are very long and very hot - so Ladi stayed home with Phe tonight and they made pink cupcakes for the boys to eat when they got home. Ladi did well with Phe by herself. Although I had to come home to give her a bath and put her to bed; Ladi is getting more and more comfortable around my parents. My dad stops by the house often just so he can have some time with her! We have come so far in just a month!

sorry no pics; just my thoughts! WOW! It is hard to believe that a month ago today we were in a court room in Siberia adopting our little girl! Steven and I both feel like it was a life time ago! We have come so far (physically and emotionally) in just 4 weeks. To us it feels like Ladi has always been right here with our family. Friends of ours that have adopted before us have told us throughout the year that we will forget all the anxiety and worrying that we were going through at that time. I kept saying, "No way I will ever forget this!"; but they were right! As I was reflecting on our journey of the past year; all the paperwork, worrying, anxiety, preparation and more worrying, running around Raleigh to get papers notarized and appostilled and doctors appointments and yes more anxiety- it all seems like a dream. I really don't remember it like that. Just a month ago we were standing in a room with a Russian judge; and we were explaining why we would be the "right" parents and family for Ladi. Steven and I were very nervous; never having done this before and not wanting to mess up! But I remember having peace about the entire trip! Even when things didn't go the way we wanted or planned. (Ok maybe not at peace when we were driving to the Russian airport to go home! You will have to ask Steven about that!) And even now with the unknowns about Ladi's past and future; I am just going to have to have faith. I am going to have to give up control- not give up- but not worry about the things I can not control! Like this week- Ladi started her immunizations - and we have to start over because we don't know what she had when she was an infant. You read all the books, blogs, listen to doctors and you have to make a decision on what you feel is best for your child. And of course this is just one example of many decisions that we will have to make over the course of her childhood. But she did great- no reactions! And yes we must do the same with our other children as well- but at least I do have some history and to me that gives me the illusion of being in control- but I am really not! So we pray and let go- give it to God! And we focus on all the good and blessings we see and feel. Like Ladi laughing and playing with her brothers. Her firsts - like going to a swim meet this week and cheering for her big brothers in the races! "Go Bryson, Go"- she was yelling just like me- it was so cute! And today we went to see her first movie in the theater. Even though she couldn't understand what was being said she still laughed with the other children. With all of her "firsts" she teaches me so much- I am humbled by her spirit and her trusting attitude and her quest to learn and her happiness- no worries- just trust- He has carried us all along! Some dear girl friends gave me a sign for my birthday that reads "Enjoy the Journey". I have hung it over the door leading out of my house to remind me- enjoy all of it! Laugh with the other children! And just trust in Him!
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

We celebrated Father's Day and Ladi's birthday today (since the brothers and grandparents were in Disney on her birth date)! The boys came home last night and we all were so glad to see them. Ladi was very excited and they missed her while they were gone. At dinner last night we were able to hear all about their trip- they were so excited that at times all three were talking at once! Blake is going to update you all on the trip later! So we had lunch at our house today with my parents, my brother and his family and my aunt and uncle that went to Disney. We had a birthday cake for Ladi and we sang to her and Steven helped her blow out her candles. After we ate cake the boys were "dying" for her to open the gifts they had purchased for her in Disney (they picked them out all by themselves and paid for them with their own money)! She put each gift on as soon as she opened it- a necklace from Bryson, a bracelet from Sadie, a princess headband from Brady, and a princess watch from Phe and Pops! She also loved the Minnie Mouse princess from Uncle Ken and Aunt Lucy and a Tinker Bell from Phe and Pops! Ladi was a bit over whelmed with being showered with so many gifts! One of the gifts was a Cinderella play set that Blake gave her and she immediately wanted to play with it but there were still gifts to open and brothers anxious for her to continue! But the moment I will never forget from today was when everyone had finished and we were sitting in the living room talking; Ladi came to me and hugged me tight and whispered in my ear "spahseeba" which is thank you in Russian! I couldn't believe it! She was so sweet and discreet with her act of affection but she was truly grateful for her special day!

BEACH BABY!

Ladi's first day at the beach! She loved it! We meet some friends down there and she played in the sand forever! She would also splash around where the waves would break onshore. She wasn't afraid at all- it was as if she has done this her whole life! Which was a huge relief; because living at the beach we spend a lot of time there! I did lather her with sunscreen- but she tans very fast- not sunburned but brown! Like she is from the coast of NC!

PICS OF LADI'S ROOM

For those of you who asked for pics of her room- it is hard to tell from these but her colors are light green and lavender. Oh and a "splash" of pink! She really loves her room and she keeps it so neat!

Ladi has had a wonderful 5th birthday! Her doctors visit went very well. Dr. Adams spoke to Ladi in Russian and Ladi responded to her. After a couple of minutes in the office Ladi started to warm-up to the doctor and realized that today there would be no shots! Then it was off to lunch with the girls! Ladi loved the tea room- it is VERY girlie! Real china tea cups and silver platters- I think she drank an entire pot of tea! (decafe of course!) The fruit tea is her favorite with milk and of course a sugar cube! Then it was off to get manies and pedies! (I got a manicure and Ladi got a pedicure) Even though it was her first of many- she acted like she knew what she was doing! The young lady painting her toes was so nice and found the perfect shade of "princess pink". (Ladi's favorite color!) Oh and the shoes- well according to Ladi they are "Princess Cinderella" shoes. She picked them out at the store- gotta love some Targe't! We had to go down to the church tonight (our Sunday school class was doing a mission project) so she had to wait until tonight to get her gift from us- a Princess bike! I guess you can tell Ladi LOVES the princess theme- actually Cinderella is her fav! And of course the bike is pink and purple! On Sunday night at the neighborhood party a little girl was riding this bike and Ladi just went "crazy" over it! She touched it like it was the most beautiful thing she has ever seen! So yesterday she and I went to the store to look at them and test drive one. I hadn't realized that Ladi has never been on a bike- I don't even know if she has seen one before. When I put her on it she didn't know where to place her feet. It is yet another first for her! So poppa went last night and got one for her b-day! He was just as excited about it as she was! But we have a lot of practicing to do before we can go for a ride! Ladi has been learning new things pretty fast- so she should get the hang of it soon. Especially when she sees her big brothers riding their bikes! Speaking of the brothers- they are still having a blast in Disney. But I do miss them so much! Dad said it was cooler there than it is here in Wilmington!

Oh and sorry about the "cheesy" song; but when I listened to the words it was so perfect!