Beautiful Day!!!

I love a day like today!!!  We woke up, played, ate breakfast.  Taylor went to work, Conor went to a soccer tournament and Nick is in New Jersey!  We decide it would be a good day for Dad and Owen to get hair cuts.  Hair cuts went smooth - Owen was sooooo good!  He sat and held still like such a big boy - well he is going to be 3 in 9 days :)  Then we stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a few things.  Everyone was being so good (Owen, Sara and Jason).  So we thought lets go to McDonald's for lunch and visit Tay (she works at McDonald's).  We didn't get to visit her though because she was "on grill".  But we did eat - still everyone was being so good.  I was so proud that the 2 little ones just sat so nicely and ate their lunch.  They used "in door" voices and for the most part kept their little "bums" on the seat.  So, since they were so good at hair cut, Wal-Mart and McDonald's we decided to go feed the ducks.  We had so much fun!!!!  Take a look:

"Look Mom, I'm a duck too"

Admiring GOD'S Work

Oh my, do I LOVE these three

There is always time for a kiss for Daddy

WOW, this is a BOND forever

Thank you GOD for bringing us all together!!!!!!!!

Dear Lyla,

Hello Sweet Girl!! 

It has been 75 days since I first saw your picture!  75 days of wanting to be your MOM!!  75 days of thinking of you and loving you!!!  It has been 53 days since our family committed to bring you home.   53 days of picturing you with your new brothers and sisters!!!  53 days of knowing you will have a Daddy that adores you!!!  53 days of knowing I will do what ever it takes to get you  home with us!!!  53 days of knowing 1 day I will meet you, my beautiful big blue eyed daughter!!!!

I pray for your biological mother and father.  I am not sure why they made the decision to leave you behind but I hope they know that you will be forever loved with never ending kisses, hugs and snugs.  I want them to know that we will be so honored to have you as our DAUGHTER!!!!  

But I want and I need you to always understand, that we believe your birth was OUR MIRACLE!   

You were born just the way GOD planned!!  This is how we found you!!  This is how we will be a FOREVER FAMILY!!!!!!!

I Love You Lyla!!!

~ your MOM

Wow!!! Lucky AGAIN!!!!

I have the rough draft of our home study in my hand!!!  We met with Sue (social worker) on July 13, 2010 and we already have the rough draft!!!! 

So it only took 2 weeks - so here is another person going out of her way to help us!!!!  I have read blogs where it has taken 6 months to get a home study completed.  WOW!!!!! 

Again, how did we ever get so LUCKY????? 

Yes, GOD IS SOOOOOOO GOOD AND SO ARE HIS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you SUE!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited!!!!!!!!

Wow!!!!! How Lucky Are WE???

I have read posts of families that are having a hard time getting a letter from the city appraiser's office!  Well, I have been working with the BEST clerk, Lisa!!!  First of all, my husband walked in on a Friday and asked about having this letter done.  Lisa (city clerk) stopped what she was doing and typed it up, had it notarized and he left with the letter w/in 5 minutes.  Well, unfortunately the notary's commission expires this year and that isn't acceptable.  So I called Lisa yesterday and asked if she would be willing to re-do with another notary.  So she said "sure" and told me I could pick it up.  I picked it up and faxed it to the team for review.  Unfortunately the notary's signature was in the wrong place.  So I called Lisa this morning, begging that she not hate me and told her of the new issue.  Again, she was so super nice, she even asked if she could e/m Courtney (team reviewer of documents for me) and ask exactly what they need.  REALLY?????  Yes, Really!!!!!!  So I just got back from lunch and I have an e/m from Lisa!  She did two different letters, had them both notarized, took pics of them and added them as attachments.  Honestly, could we be any luckier??? 

Have you even heard of some one so willing to go out of their way to HELP??? 

Thank you so very much Lisa!!!!!  Thank you GOD for people like this!!!!!!!

A Pedicure Sent From Heaven!!!!

I found the BEST gal for pedicures.  Honestly - this girl is Amazing!  She will even come to your home - have you even heard of this before?  She doesn't charge much either - so very reasonable!!!  You do have to supply the nail polish though but so worth it really.  She sings while she works and she will even take requests.  I think she is very "2010" because she doesn't just paint your nails but your toes and feet too!  The only thing I thought was a little weird is she will take breaks to paint her own nails but who am I to question this???  Oh, and she doesn't ever want to stop - she will continue for hours.  But I had other things to do so I had to say "all done" about 100 times.  She really gets in to her work!!!!  I took some pictures of my experience with her!!!!

Her name is Sara and she tells me that her sister will be joining her business soon.  She just can't continue to run the business on her own anymore.  Her sister, Lyla hopefully will be on board by January 2011!!!

Working Best Under a Little Pressure

It looks like we need to get our paperwork complete and submitted about 2 months sooner then most.  The area Lyla's orphanage is will not be accepting new dossiers as of 11/01/2010.  This means it needs to be submitted by October 1st in case we have to fix any problems. 

Now, yes this is a little scary because if we don't get everything in by October 1st, then we can not submit until February.  In February all our of documents will have expired and we would need to start All over again.  But most sad would be that Lyla would be stuck in that crib for another 4 or 5 months possibly.  And that just isn't ACCEPTABLE!!!!! Yes, I am a littler panicked.  But those of you who know me well - know that I really do work best under pressure.  So this is just another sign from up above that Lyla needs and wants to come home NOW!!!!

Please pray for all the families that are probably freaking out right now.  Please pray that we will all have our children home this year!!!!  How exciting really - our little princess could be home this year!!!!!!!!  I am sure all the little ones in orphanages got together and prayed to GOD that they want things to move a little quicker.  HE ANSWERED!!!!!!! 

Positive and Negative Comments......

If you didn't get a chance to read the article in the Post - Journal about Lyla and Zoya - Please Click  HERE!  At the end of the article, please make sure to read the comments.  Most comments are so wonderful and so supportive.  But then you have to have those few - those few that just don't understand.   Some people are responding to a comment I don't even see posted so I am thinking it was pretty negative and they must of erased it!  Phew!!!  I will be honest, it was hard to read some of those comments - yes, it hurts.  It's so hard to believe that people think that a child in need shouldn't be saved because of where they live???  I know everyone doesn't understand - and I am absolutely ok with that.  But to be so ignorant to believe that we are neglecting our "own" needy children to help a child across the big water.  Oh MY!!!!!!  Zoya's mom has such a wonderful way with words, please visit  HERE to see  Sarah's post regarding the comments.

Please, Please, understand only this:  It is our intention to Adopt and Love Lyla Forever.  And that is all that should really matter!!!!!!

Thank you for those of you that understand, thank you for those of you that don't understand but do not judge us negatively.  Thank you for those of you who are willing to become more educated. 


Thank you GOD for calling us to adopt Lyla and Thank you GOD for leading the way!!!!

Safe N Sound!!!!

Our 28 documents arrived today, safe n sound and newly apostilled!  WOW - New York state doesn't mess around!!!!  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

Unfortunately UPS is closed already so I will be there when they open Monday morning at 7 a.m.!  I made a promise to Lyla that I would make sure we did everything we are responsible for as quick as possible.  Delays would never be because of us!  That is a promise I will absolutely KEEP!!!!!  There isn't much I can do for her from so far away and it truly is heart wrenching.  But, the things we can do - like get everything done on our end as soon as humanly possible - WE WILL DO!!!!  Like praying for her constantly - WE WILL DO!!!!  I know I have said this several times but I mean it and:  I WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES - to get her home with us!!!!!!!  We are coming SWEET GIRL!!!!!!

Thank you for following our journey and thank you so much for all your prayers.  I know that it is only with the Help of our FATHER and his guidance that we are moving so quickly!!!!  We are so BLESSED!!!!
I hope you have a Wonderful Weekend and GOD BLESS!!!!!!

3 Wonderful UPDATES!!!!

I called Albany to check on our documents - I spoke with the nicest lady and she said they were finished and sent out yesterday.  YIPEEEEEEEE!!!!!

I e/m'd our social worker (Sue) who did our home study to make sure she had everything she needed.  Sue e/m'd me back that she has everything and the rough draft of our study will be done by the end of the week end!!  Oh My, Oh My, Oh My!!!!!!!!

We received another donation in the  mail.  This donation was from the dealership we just bought our van from.  I was driving a big gas guzzling SUV and that just wasn't going to work while trying to save every penny for our adoption.  So we brought it to Bianchi Honda in Erie PA (Zoya's home town), to trade it for a van.  They were so GREAT to deal with.  So I thought, what the heck - I will send them a letter asking for a donation.  Well did they ever come through - they sent a check for $200!!!!

3 Huge Blessings today - Thank You Albany, Thank You Sue and Thank You Bianchi Honda!!!!!!!!

Thank You GOD!!!!!!!

Lyla Update!!

The update on our adoption is summed up in 1 word:  WAITING!!!!!!

Not the easiest thing for me - actually probably 1 of my biggest Pet Peeves. 

We sent 28 documents to Albany via Fed Ex to be apostilled.  I am so hoping they arrive back to us by Monday.  Then we will send 6 of the documents to Ukraine - this will let our facilitator know that we have started the process and we want to be Lyla's family. 

The next thing is to wait for our completed home study.  Then we can apply to immigration and let them know of our intentions.  We will then WAIT for another fingerprint appointment.  ( I honestly don't understand why they just can't use our fingerprints that we had done 2 weeks ago????) AGGGHHH!!!

Then it all gets very exciting because we can submit our dossier to Ukraine.  OH MY!!!!!  I just am so excited and I can't wait until we can hold that beautiful little girl.  I just desperately want her to know WE LOVE HER and we WANT HER SO VERY MUCH TO BE HOME WITH US!!!!!!! I pray and ask our FATHER to wrap her up in his arms and let her know how very loved she is!  And I know HE DOES!!!!

Sara Demolished Her Birthday Cake

Princess Sara turned 2 yesterday!!!  Here are some pictures to show the damage this little girl can do to a cake.

Yes, I need a fork and a spatula!!!!!

Just shoveling it in!!!!

Wait - It's NOT your Birthday!!!

I think we re-lit the candle about 5 times for Sara and 3 times for Owen

THE END RESULT

A Big Huge Thank You To The Stuart Families!!!!!

WOW - we received 2 generous donations from 2 families in the mail!!!  Chuck & Tina Stuart and Randy & Dawn Stuart ( the men are brothers) !!!  Thank you so MUCH!!!!  We have known these families for about 10 years.  They each have a son that played Hockey with our sons Conor and Nick!   And both Chuck and Randy coached both our sons and they both were Amazing coaches!!!!     Just knowing these families has been a Blessing.  They are the kind of people that just shine.  Tina wrote us the nicest letter, it was so sweet and so Perfect!!!  I will put this letter in a special box for Lyla so we can share with her someday!!!!!  Thank you Stuart Families!!!!!!!!!

Sibling Love - Nothing BETTER!!!!!

Just wanted to share the LOVE that can be found at our house between siblings.  I can't wait for Lyla to be part of this Amazing sibling group!!!!!!

Well, they are siblings too!!!!

Siblings brought together by Birth, Adoption and Foster Care!  

Thank You Post-Journal

Lyla and Zoya (http://angeleyesadoption.blogspot.com/) are on the front page of our local newspaper this morning!!!!! 

If you are visiting our blog for the first time, WELCOME!!!!!  I hope you will follow our journey to bring Lyla home!!!

Lyla is a beautiful little 9 month old girl in Eastern Europe, she has Down Syndrome and she was born missing her Left hand.  Lyla is currently living in an orphanage.  I first saw Lyla on the Reece's Rainbow website May 17th and I knew I wanted to be her Mom!!  I knew that she was meant to be here with us, in this family!!  I knew I would do what ever it takes to bring her HOME!!!!

But we do need help!  Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help bring her home and SAVE her life.  Unfortunately at age 4 these children with special needs are transferred to mental institutions - where it is reported that 90% will die in the first year of transfer!!!!  I know we can't SAVE the world but we can SAVE a child!!!!  Please help us!!!!

This link:  http://www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsorspitz.html  is our family sponsor page!  You can make a donation on line - or mail in your donation!  If everyone that visits us today would just donate $5 - it would be such a huge HELP!!! 

If a donation is not possible, please keep us in your thoughts & prayers as we continue our journey to bring Lyla HOME!!!!

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comment box below!!!

Thank you for visiting our blog and God Bless!!!!!!!!

28 Documents - So Important!!!!

I can't even explain how careful I am with all the documents we have signed and have had notarized.  I am a FREAK about keeping them SAFE!!!  It's crazy I know but they are so very important.  Anyways, New York state requires a county certification before they will "authenticate" the documents.  So we brought 28 documents to the county clerk today.  I kid you not when I tell you I almost had a heart attack when the clerk stapled a little piece of paper to each document.  I thought I would pass out!!!!  How could she put those wholes in my beautiful perfect documents.  Of coarse my husband kept looking me like I was nuts!!!  But I have kept them so safe and now I am paying $3 a piece to have someone staple them - OH MY!!! 


So the clerk hands me the documents and I am a bit relieved that they are all OK!  What did I think they would cry???  So yes, I am losing it!!!  Anyways, we get in the van and I am inspecting each one carefully.  Then I decide to count them - UH OH - only 26!!  Dave turns the van around and I go back in the office.  The girl that was helping us is at lunch but a very nice lady finds the 2 documents and gets them certified.  Phew!!! 


Now I am afraid to mail them to Albany to be Apostilled - what will they do to my poor little documents?  They have clearly been through enough, don't you think???

So this is just a little insight on how absolutely obsessed and insane I am to make sure everything is perfect to bring Lyla home ASAP!!!!!!

Notarized, Certified and Apostilled.......

These are 3 words I am NOW very familiar with.  Wow!!!  Right now we have 20 documents signed by us and notarized.  We then take them to our county clerk to be certified.  Then we mail them to Albany to be apostilled.  We are so lucky to have Kathy notarize everything for us at NO CHARGE (Thank you so much Kath)!!!!  We will pay $3 for each document to be certified and then $10 for each to be apostilled.   So that is $260 so far for 20 documents.  I think we will have about 15 more documents to follow this process. 

Every time we get a document notarized we fax it to our team at Reece's Rainbow.  These women volunteer their time to review all of our documents before they go to Albany.  Honestly, this is the best process I have ever been involved in.  We have had to re-do a few of our documents - so can you imagine if we sent them through this whole process and then Eastern Europe did not accept them.  OH MY - THAT WOULD BE AWFUL!!!  Reece's Rainbow provides a check list for each and every document!  Even if there is 4 identical documents they EACH have a checklist.  This is just the BEST system.   And to top it off - these ladies are so SUPER NICE!!  I am faxing them every day - e/m them questions every day and they always respond with such kindness!!  I am just AMAZED at how this all works and so excited to be a part of it! 

And then the GRAND PRIZE:  LYLA WILL BE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

HOME STUDY VISIT

We had our home study visit last night.  Our social worker couldn't of been any sweeter!  Her name is Sue and she is an absolute GEM to work with.  She was so understanding and patient with how our family works.  Sara and Owen were running around, climbing on our laps, getting down, climbing on the table, yelling for our attention.  Jay wanted to tell her all about him playing Soccer.  Dave was cooking dinner.  Conor and Nick had a soccer game so I had to leave for 20 minutes to drop them off.  Taylor had a new friend come pick her up so Dave left Sue for a few minutes to meet the friend (and I was still out driving the boys).  Sue just went with the flow - it was really Amazing!!  Sue is definitely in the right career.  I had been so nervous about our visit and honestly it couldn't of went any better.  This was a true reflection of how our family works and who we are.  Sue made us all feel so comfortable and she recognized that we are all blessed to have each other. 

So, our home study will be done soon.  Sue understands why we are so urgent to bring our little girl home and she is so willing to help get her home quick.

Again, THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!!  WE ARE SO BLESSED!!!!!

We Signed The Papers This Morning!!!!!!

Our attorney is filing the adoption petition tomorrow for: 
                      
                    Sara Grace Spitz

We Are So BLESSED!!!!  THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!

Sara has been our foster daughter since she was discharged from the newborn nursery.  We could never imagine a life with out her.  Of all the families she could of been placed with - We were the LUCKY ones!!!  As you can see, she is the cutest little girl ever.  Sara is full of fun energy and has the BEST smile and laugh!  She loves Hugs and Kisses and she pretty much runs the show at our house!!!

SHE IS A PRINCESS!!!

Did You Get A Letter From Us????

We have sent more letters out asking for financial help. Please understand that this is not easy for us at all. I understand that a lot of people might think we shouldn't adopt if we can't afford it our selves - I understand. But, it's not that we can't afford to take care of Lyla and the rest of our family - We most certainly can. It's just we don't have $24,000 on hand for the up front costs. Yes, we can take a loan and Yes, we might just have to but if we can get some help from our community, friends and family it would be such a HUGE HELP!!!


A question I get all the time is: "Why are you going out of the country - we have so many children here?". This is a GREAT question and I would like to answer. Dave and I are foster parents in Jamestown. We have had 7 foster children with us in 3 years. We have adopted 1 (Owen) and we are adopting another (Sara) in August or September of this year. So yes, we are aware and YES we have helped children in the USA and in our own community. Our experience adopting domestically has been AWESOME!!! We couldn't of picked 2 better children if we had the chance. These 2 little ones have enriched our lives like I will never be able to explain.

So why go out of the country now? Well, I found Reece's Rainbow in February and I knew I wanted to save a child with Down syndrome from an orphanage in Eastern Europe. I knew when I read how these sweet angels are treated and the sad life they are living - I HAD TO DO SOMETHING.  

I know these pictures are DEVASTATING 

 BUT I NEED TO SHARE WHY WE ARE SAVING LYLA

To know that at age 4 they are transferred to mental institutions and 90% of these transferred children will die in the first year. I COULD NOT TURN MY BACK!!!!

May 17th - I saw LYLA!!! That was it!!! I knew I wanted to be her MOM - I knew I would do what ever it would take to bring her home and begging for money was not excluded from "what ever it takes".


So please consider making a tax deductible donation to bring our precious little LYLA home! Please visit this site: www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsorspitz.html

Lots of Good Stuff!!!!

We received an e/m from our "team" last night.  This team consists of 4 ladies that will help us prepare all of our documents to bring Lyla home.  These women are MOM's and volunteer their time to help others.  I am so very grateful and feel so BLESSED that these women are going to help us save our DAUGHTER!!!!

Yes, there is lots and lots of documents to complete, notarize, apostille and double and triple check.  But it is all so exciting to me!!!!  All of these documents bring us closer to Lyla - I can't explain how anxious I am to have them all completed.  I know that I have to RELAX a little so errors will not occur.  But - I just want to hold her and SNUG HER UP!!  I want her to know we love her!!!  I want her to know she has a wonderful family waiting for her, dreaming of her and praying for her to get home ASAP. 

Look At Our New Button for LYLA!!!!

Look at the left side bar - isn't this button perfect?

There are some wonderful women that take time to design these beautiful button's for the families committed to bring home babes from Reece's Rainbow.

I just love this button!!! Thank you so much Lu - It couldn't be any more perfect!!!!

I will do what ever it takes......

I still remember the first time I saw Lyla and said "I will do what ever it takes to bring this baby home to us".  Well I meant it!!!!

I sent letters out yesterday to friends asking for help.  I posted an ad in the Penny Saver.  I have never, ever asked for money from friends and it is a bit uncomfortable.  But like I said, "I will do what ever it takes to bring this baby home to us" - this includes getting on my knees and asking for financial help.  We are financially able to take care of all our children - ABSOLUTELY!!!  We just don't have the $24,000 up front it costs to adopt our little Lyla! 

It is so important we SAVE her - she is most likely confined to a crib and only knows the 4 walls in the room which she lives.  Lyla has probably never been outside - can you imagine?  Never even having the chance to breathe in fresh air????.  The part that kills me every time is our little Lyla has never felt LOVE.  She has probably never been rocked, hugged or had someone kiss her sweet little forehead.  All because she was born a little "different".  It just drives me crazy!!!!!  Yes, she has Down syndrome.  Yes, she was born with only 1 hand.  Yes, she has some heart issues.  But these are no way a reason to be UNLOVED!!!! 

So Please - Help us!!!!  Please visit this site:  www.reecesrainbow.org/sponsorspitz.html and give a tax deductible donation!!!  We will be forever grateful that you helped us SAVE Lyla and HELPED bring her HOME!!!

We LOVE Lyla and we so want to give her a life of LOVE!!!!  If you are unable to donate - Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue on with this journey to save our daughter!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!

Moving right along

We meet with our social worker next week for our home visit.  As I understand she will interview each of the kids and then me and Dave.  She will tour our home and make sure everything is safe for a new little one.  Then we will go over the documents she has requested, we almost have everything ready for her.  These are the items requested to complete our home study: 

* Medical reports for me and Dave - DONE!  
* Xeroxes of every ones (8) birth certificates - DONE! 
* Copy of our Marriage Certificate - DONE! 
* Statement of conviction for both me and Dave (notarized) - DONE! 
* Xerox of our most recent 1040 Federal income tax form - DONE! 
* Financial Statement - DONE! 
* Letters from our Employers stating our annual salary and job title - mine -DONE! Dave's requested-NOT DONE YET! 
* Guardianship Letter - DONE! 
* Xeroxes of our current mortgage statement, retirement fund statement, savings account statement and investment statements - DONE! 
* Statements from our children's doctor stating that "they are physically, emotionally and mentally stable and free of communicable diseases" - NOT DONE  ( All the kids are scheduled for well child checks this week)! Good thing I work for our Pediatrician's Office!!!  
* Three letters of reference - NOT DONE YET!  (But I have asked 7 people to write these letters)
* Statewide Central Register Database Check Application - Done and Mailed on 6/22/2010!  I think the database check takes the longest to get back so we wanted to get that in right away.

Oh, We had our fingerprints done today - so that's DONE!!!

So we are moving right along with this process!!!  Every "DONE" is one step closer to bringing our little LYLA home!!!  This is all so exciting!!!!!!

$25!!!!!

Just went to visit our family sponsor page because I love to see Lyla listed with us as her family!  I was so excited to see someone donated $25 - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!  I couldn't wait to share the news with everyone in the family - so I ran around the house like a crazy woman - yelling "someone donated to LYLA".  This means so much to us!!!!!!!! 

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 4th To All!!!!!

I hope all of you have a Safe and Wonderful Holiday!!!! 

I am so happy to know that this will be the last 4th for sweet Lyla in an orphanage.  This will be the last 4th for many precious little ones that have families waiting for them.   May GOD BLESS a safe journey home for all our ANGELS!!!!

Please pray for those who don't have a forever family yet!!!!!!  These little ones are just waiting for a wonderful family to love them up.  They have spent way too much time away from LOVE!!!  Knowing adoption is not for everyone - Please remember there are many other  ways to help.  Go to:  http://reecesrainbow.com/ . Please consider giving the "Gift Of Freedom" to a special needs child desperately waiting to be FREED from a very lonely place!!!!

My 15 yr old son too!!!!

Another positive thinker in the house!!  Our 15 year old son Conor just came home from a friends house.  I told him that Lyla will only be 1 year old when she comes home.  Here is what he had to say, "That's so good she wont have to be in there as long".  Oh My!!!!!  Do I have some positive men in this family or what???  I am so blessed!!!!!

Great News!!!

Wow - Just received an e/m regarding our precious little Lyla!  It turns out she will be 1 in November not 2!  There was a mix up on the website! 

I will be honest - I was a little shocked when I got the e/m.  You see our 2 little ones at home right now are almost 2 and 3.  So I thought it would be perfect to have another around the same age.  So I just pictured all the things that two 2 year old girls and one 3 year old boy would be doing together.  So when I got the e/m all those visions changed a little bit. 

The best part is when I ran outside to tell my husband he said, "That's Great - that's a whole year less she has been left confined to a crib"!!!  MY HUSBAND IS THE BEST!!!  Why didn't I think of that?????  Normally I would like to think I am the positive thinker in the marriage.  Not this time - my wonderful husband loves this baby and could only see the Good in her being a year younger. 

Blessings, Blessings EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!

Christina - My Forever Friend!!!

This is part 2 of my last post!

So I mentioned that a wonderful woman in Switzerland was Lyla's prayer warrior - praying each day that Lyla would find her forever family.  Well, June 20 I received my first e/m from Christina.  Oh My - Best e/m I have ever received!!!  The e/m had an attachment - a photo of a beautiful framed picture of Lyla, with fresh flowers surrounding and a large white lit candle with her name on it.  Also a pamphlet that said "Praying my Angel Home" with her name and date of birth.  Just imagine the tears running down my face while looking at this picture.  The next attachment was a photo of several pictures of children they have fostered and another picture of Lyla!!  So yes, now I am a balling crying mess!!!  I mean look at this picture!!! 

Then I read her words - I couldn't see to well through the tears.  So I would re-group and then start reading again.  I can't tell you how many times I have read this e/m over the past 11 days. 

We have corresponded every day since.  Christina is the most positive person I have ever MET (or virtually met)!  She is so caring, understanding and just a BLESSING to know and now call my FRIEND!!!! 

The BEST part - is she called me on the phone when we were listed on the new commitment page!!!  I got to talk to her and hear her voice.  It was like we have been forever friends and talk on the phone all the time.  Her voice is so refreshing and her words just warm my heart!!!!

I am so glad her prayers found us!!!  I am so glad not only did she find a forever family for Lyla - but she found a forever friend - ME!!!!!!

So Many Wonderful Things to SHARE!!!!

I want to share this very important, miraculous testimony!!  On 6/09/10, my family decided together that we wanted Lyla home with us.  I sent an e/m to Andrea Roberts the director of Reece's Rainbow letting her know of our commitment.  Then I sent an e/m to Sarah Basile - I beautiful MOM that just adopted a gorgeous baby girl, Zoya, from Eastern Europe.  I had been following her blog for some time and was left in happy tears after reading each post.  I was so inspired!!!!  So I wanted to thank Sarah for sharing her journey to save Zoya.  It was Sarah's words honestly that gave me the will to know our family could save Lyla!  The e/m I received back from Sarah was just incredible.  She said:

So I'm jumping up and down with joy right now! I am amazed at how God used ME for this little girl. You see, Liliannah has a story with me! One woman that follows my blog lives in Switzerland and we have emailed back and forth a lot. Through emailing she let me know that her daughter, who is now an adult, was born with a missing hand...it was a great story of how she overcame this obstacle...but the important piece of info is that she was born without a hand. The day she told me this I was looking on Reece's Rainbow website and came across Liliannah, and noticed her profile stated that she was born with a missing hand. I immidiately thought of this friend in Switzerland and emailed her asking her if she'd be Lilliannahs prayer warrior through RR. She was so excited and signed up to pray for this angel. They sent her a picture and she has prayed for her to find a family every day for the last month. I will have to look to see what date exactly I emailed her about Liliannah. I am wondering when you started looking at her and if God led you to her as a result of her prayer warrior's prayers! How awesome and amazing!!!!! I am so excited for her and for your family!

You can not deny that our FATHER heard Sarah and my new friend from Switzerland, Christina's prayers!!  The fact that HE picked us - Oh MY!!!!   I only e/m'd 2 people that night.  Just 2!!!!  Andrea and Sarah!!!!  Isn't this just the BEST????

I am not sure I have mentioned that our little precious Angel was born with out her Left hand.  Lyla also has Down syndrome and 2 heart defects.  I know that her country looks at these diagnosis as something very different then we do.  This is why she is in an orphanage!   I honestly believe she was born just the way GOD planned with all these extra  BLESSINGS!!!  Why?  Well, this is what led us to her.  If she wasn't born with these blessings she wouldn't be across the world waiting for us.  And we wouldn't be waiting for her!!!!!   OH MY - I can't wait to get my arms around her and let her feel the LOVE of her MOM!!!!!!