Sara Grace Spitz

It is Legal and it is FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Love You Baby Girl!!!!!

Morning Princess!!!

How Lucky Are We??? 

In just a few hours it will be LEGAL!! 

This amazing precious GEM

will be ours FOREVER!!!!

Never ever will I have to go to sleep again terrified that we could lose her!!!!

(She will no longer be labeled a foster child - she will be Sara Grace Spitz as GOD planned)

Beach Babes!!!

These Babes Love The Beach!!!

We are so lucky to be able to ADOPT this beautiful Princess tomorrow

Owen LOVES the water

Owen helping his little sister jump the waves - How cute is that??????

When Mom doesn't bring beach toys - we have to play with her flip flops

I am so grateful every moment of every day that these AMAZING Love bugs are my CHILDREN!!!  Tomorrow we are blessed to be able to adopt SARA - I am so excited!!!!  She is already our daughter and has been for a very long time but tomorrow it will be LEGAL!!!!!  Thank YOU GOD!!!!!!!!!

Lyla's Book

This is the proof of the book for Lyla!!  I am so excited - It's perfect!!!!!

This is the site:  http://www.customboardbooks.com/

Laura is the designer I have been working with at custom board books.  She is absolutely wonderful to work with and had a proof for us with in 24 hours of placing order.  I am also planning on making one for Sara and Owen for Christmas, I know they will just LOVE it.  I can't wait to receive the finished product!!!!!!

Still no officer :(

Called USCIS - still no officer assigned - YUCK!!!


On the brighter side, I ordered a board book for Lyla!  Sarah did this for Zoya and I just thought it was the best idea ever.  So it is personalized with all our pictures and little statements of our love for her.  The plan would be that she could keep it during the 10 day waiting period to be reminded how her family loves her very much!!!!! 


I also ordered and designed a photo book on line that we will bring to EE to share with Lyla, the orphanage and anyone willing to see the family so desperately waiting for her to come home. 


Please Pray that we will have an officer assigned ASAP!!!!!!!!

Watching Daddy Play Hockey!!!!

The kids love to watch Dave play Hockey.  This is the first time Sara has watched him play and really understand that it is him playing.  He was on the bench and he took of his helmet - I wish I took a picture of her face - She was so Amazed that it was her Dad under that helmet!  So she started screaming "That's My Daddy", over and over again.  It was the cutest thing EVER.  Then after about 30 minutes of it - the crowd wasn't that impressed.  But, I didn't care - she was so proud of her DAD and it was just wonderful!!!!!!

Conor, Owen, Sara, Jay and Nick

(Tay was in the warm room when I took this picture)

The BEST part of Dave's Hockey games are the look of such pride on his face when he looks up at his family.  He just GLOWS!!!!  I am so BLESSED to be his wife and so PROUD to be his partner in parenting!!!!!!

I can't wait for LYLA to be the daughter of the MOST INCREDIBLE FATHER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU DAVE!!!!!

Panache ROCKS!!!!

I go to the BEST salon EVER!!!!  Today my fun spunky hairdresser Amber told me they wanted to help with our Adoption costs.  The salon is printing tickets that they will hand out and our family will hand out.  Anyone that goes to Panache with a ticket and has a service they will deposit $10 in the "Lucky to Love Lyla Fund".   WOW!!!!!!!  I of coarse cried when she told me!  I mean really, how sweet is that???? 

This is their site:  http://www.panachejmst.com/

Take a look at what Panche has been able to do for me and Tay over the years.

So please, please, please - if you need a trim, color, massage, pedi, mani or makeup PLEASE let me know - I will give you a ticket and you can get the BEST LOOK  and be donating $10 to our adoption.  I can't think of anything better then looking FABULOUS and helping bring home Lyla at the same time!!!!  It's a WIN - WIN for sure!!!!!

Knock Knock

Taylor answered the door tonight to a very pretty young lady asking for Dave.  Tay told her that Dave was on a walk with Sara and asked if she could take a message.  The young lady just asked Tay to please give him an envelope.  Dave came home, opened the envelope and found two checks.  One made out for $100 and another made out for $50 to go toward our adoption.  Thank you so much Dave and Pam!!!!  Your generosity and support means so much to us!!!!

So this nice surprise donation was such a great way to start the weekend!! Thank you GOD for people like Pam and her father Dave!!!!! We are so BLESSED!!!!!!!


Weekends are very hard to get through during an adoption.  It seems the adoption world just shuts down!!! Every day matters now - we need to have our approval from USCIS ASAP!!!  So when they are closed for two days in a row - well its beyond painful!!!!! 

I think about our little girl constantly - it is so hard - I just want to get on a plane and hold her.  I want desperately for her to know how loved she is!!!  Taylor had posted in the video that "we are incomplete with out her"!!  That is so true!!!  We all feel it, something is missing!!!  We know what it is and we are doing everything we can do.  And it's still not enough.  Our future is in someone elses hands - someone that doesn't know us and doesn't know her.  It doesn't seem fair, does it?  Please Pray that our application will be assigned to an officer that will see the urgency in processing our application.  Please Pray that we will have an approval soon.  Thank YOU!!!!  GOD Bless!!!!!

Lucky to love Lyla : Our Journey to Save a Beautiful Blue Eyed Princess

Our daughter, Taylor made this video.  I am so proud to be her MOM!!!


Please pause the blog music so you can hear the song for this video!!!!


I LOVE YOU TAY - THANK YOU!!!!!

Zoya and USCIS

1st and most Important,  little Miss Zoya had surgery this morning and all went well!!!  YAY!!!!

2nd, we went to Buffalo to see if they would do our finger prints early and GUESS WHAT????

THEY DID!!!!!  Finger prints DONE!!! 

We still don't have an officer assigned yet (yes, I called them again to check) but we should have one soon!

Thank you Dear FATHER for all our wonderful BLESSINGS!!!!!!!!!!

Heaven Sent!!!!!!!

Proof that Angels do Exist on EARTH

The Basile Family

A Family That Makes A Difference

You know how every once in awhile you meet someone and there is just something about them - something that makes them stand out and you know that they are so special.  Well, I felt this way about EACH member of this family.  They shine together and individually!  I have only met a few people in my life that really have had an impact and my visit with the Basile's today - Each of them made an impact!  This truly is a family that makes this World a BETTER PLACE!!!!

I was sure I would take a million pictures and the truth is I only took about 5!  I guess I didn't want to miss a moment of our visit!  The picture I am about to post was taken right after we got out of the van at the Basile home.  I went over to greet Sarah and Zoya but I got a little overwhelmed with emotion.  So Dave went up to say hello and sweet Zoya reached out for him. 

My husband fell in love with Zoya instantly - look how proud he is?

Sara and Zoya could be twins!  They are the same size, same color hair and both just as cute as can be.  Part of the visit they just had diapers on and it was hard to tell them apart.  Too CUTE!!!! 

Super Dee Duper!!!!!

"Super Dee Duper" is from Barney for those of you who think I have lost my mind.  We watch Barney several times a day at this house so his "famous" quotes are some what addicting!!! 

So excited to see 2 letters from the USCIS in the mail today!!!!  YIPEE!!!!!!  Dave has his fingerprint appointment for Monday, August 23!!!!!!!  And a receipt that we paid for our application.  So if mine comes in the mail tomorrow - we will drive to Buffalo this Monday and try a "walk in" for finger prints.  Other families have gone early and have had success!!!!   Just another step closer to meeting our daughter and bringing her home to this Amazing Family!!!!!

Oh My - I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And then to meet Zoya, Sarah and Shawn tomorrow - What a wonderful way to start the Week End!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER!!!!!!!

Update

Well, I called USCIS and asked for the status of our application.  I spoke with another very nice lady - who said our case has not been assigned to an officer yet BUT it was in transition to be assigned and next week we will have an officer.  So, not great news but a definite improvement - so I will take it and SMILE!!!!

My wonderful friend from Switzerland, Christina is such a blessing.  I am so lucky to have her as my co-pilot on this journey.  She keeps me focused and on track, she opens my eyes to things I would never of seen my self.  And she is working very hard to be able to go to EE and meet me and Lyla.  Not only that (ok, yes I'm crying now) she is willing to stay with Lyla while Dave and I return home for the 10 day waiting period.  To know our daughter will still be visited by someone that loves her and will shower her with hugs and kisses while we can't - is just the BEST feeling in the whole world.   WOW!!!!!   When Christina signed up to be Lyla's prayer warrior it was FOREVER!!!!  Our little girl although million of miles away is so LOVED - it it just AMAZING!!!! 

Last week Friday a box came in the mail from Switzerland.  I knew this box was coming but what I didn't expect was the emotions I would experience when I opened it!  Christina had sent bibs that she made, beautiful, beautiful bibs.

  She made these for us to sell as a fundraiser.  She also sent Chocolate - I don't know if you have ever had chocolate from Switzerland but OH MY - BEST Chocolate I have ever had in my life!!!!  Also, she bought a little onesie for Lyla - it says "Swiss Princess" - so CUTE!!!!

I also want to share that tomorrow we are going to meet Zoya!!!  I will be an absolute emotional MESS!!!  I know that I will feel so much closer to Lyla being around Zoya, Sarah and Shawn!!!   Plus, it is this family that encouraged us to take this Leap of Faith to bring Lyla home.  Oh my - so emotional!!! 

Thank you FATHER for so many blessings!!!!!!!!

No officer assigned yet

I called USCIS to check on the status of our application - our case has not been assigned an officer yet!

The USCIS rep I spoke with was very nice but states that she can not give me any type of time frame. 

I explained our URGENT situation, we need to have our approval to send to EE by October 1st!  If we don't - we will have to wait until February (Lyla's country is not accepting new dossiers between November and February)  and that means we wont even get to meet her until March or April!  The thought of that is just unbearable really - unacceptable and BRUTAL!!!!!!!

Please Pray for us that an officer will be assigned and we will get this process moving.  We have been so lucky through this Adoption journey so far and I refuse to lose Faith and Hope now.  

Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it

I was just visiting another blog and look what was posted:

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Phil. 4:6 (ESV)

Thank you Marianne  http://ahomefordarya.blogspot.com/2010/08/philippians-46.html, this is what I needed!!!!

Happy Birthday Owen!!!!

Our beautiful little boy turned 3 yesterday.  He was so excited when he woke up yesterday, telling everyone "my irf day" - Priceless I tell you!!!!!!  To say Owen Loves Barney would be a huge understatement - Owen absolutely ADORES (still not a good enough adjective) Barney!  One of the Barney episodes the kids dress up as Drummer Boys and they march while playing drums.  Well, Owen just thinks this is the greatest.  So he will ask to see "my drummer boy" and when we play it he will march around the room with his pretend drum.  Now, I am not kidding when I say that this is a JOB - he is all business.  So serious and it truly is the best to watch.  So for his Birthday look what he got:

So PROUD

Happy Birthday Owen - We Love You So Much!!!!

It amazes me everyday that this little guy just came to our house December 17th when he was 4 months old.  The social workers on duty that night called us to see if we would be willing to foster a 4 month old baby boy.  "Absolutely" we said, never imagining in a million years that this little love bug was a missing puzzle piece in our family.  GOD lead him right to us and we are forever grateful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feeling So Much Better!!!

Our check that we wrote for the USCIS cleared our Bank today!!!  So that means someone has opened our envelope and maybe even started to work on our application????!!!!! 

Ok, so I am feeling so much better now!!!! 

Thank YOU GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It HURTS!!!!

Waiting is the Worst!!!  Honestly, when you have a child you love that is sooooooo far away and there is absolutely nothing you can do to help her - it is beyond heart wrenching!!!  When all you want to do is hold her and let her know how loved she is and YOU CAN'T!!!!  When you have to wait on others to finalize her adoption - OH MY IT IS BRUTAL!!!!!  I have read so many blogs expressing these same feelings but you just don't "get it" until you are "in it"! 

It HURTS!!!!!!!

USCIS - I600a form - sent via FED EX!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!  Picked up our Home study today and sent it with the other required documents to USCIS!!!  Ok, everyone this is a BIG step - we are getting closer and closer to getting Lyla home!!!  So now we wait to hear from USCIS regarding our fingerprint appointment. 

I will be going to Mayville, NY tomorrow at lunch to have 8 documents certified.  Then Thursday I will send 11 documents to Albany to be apostilled.  So once those are all back safe and sound, I will just have the state police checks and the form from immigration approving us for adoption to have apostilled.  Then the BEST day ever will be when we mail our dossier to our facilitator in Eastern Europe. 

Oh ya, we need to raise about $10,000 too!!!  Ah, no biggie!!!!  We can do it!!!!!  I know the concert my friends are willing to do for us will be such a huge HELP!!!!  I also sent letters to more businesses and local churches today.  So we will just have to see!!!!!

Have I mentioned how absolutely grateful I am to be part of this amazing journey!!!  And how appreciative I am that our FATHER, his SON and the HOLY SPIRIT  have been with us every step of the way!!!!! 

GOD is GOOD and so are his PEOPLE!!!!!

My very good friend called me yesterday and said "The Kindberg clan has an idea to raise some money for your Lyla".  You see the Kindberg family was blessed with amazing singing voices and they are willing to put on a concert and all the proceeds will go to our adoption.  I am even crying just writing this - I am so blessed to know so many wonderful people.  So I was so excited, I told Conor what the Kindbergs were willing to do for us.  Then Conor hit me with some more great stuff.  He said Mrs. Benson and Mrs. Johnson had got together and were talking about ways to help raise money.  They had mentioned a pancake breakfast.  And Conor said Mrs. Watson also asked Conor how she could help our family!!!  Are you kidding?????  I am so very grateful, so appreciative of the AMAZING friends we have!!!  I can't tell you what this means to us.  That people are just trying to help - they just want to help!!!!  It doesn't even matter how much money these events might raise - it's that GOD has blessed us with a support group of truly FABULOUS people!!!!!!  People that will just LOVE Lyla because she will be our daughter, not turn away because of her disabilities or where she is from. 


Also, I woke up to an e/m from our social worker Sue.  I can pick up our home study tomorrow!!!!  I will then have it certified while in Buffalo and Wednesday send it out Fed Ex to immigration!!! 


THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Why Lyla?

People have asked me, "why Lyla, out of all the children why her?". 

On May 17th I was scrolling the "waiting children" on Reece's Rainbow site, just like I had done almost every day since February.  I didn't know what I was looking for - honestly I didn't think I was looking for a child to adopt.  I was sure the traveling would not work for our family.  But for some reason I just kept looking, every day.  So, May 17th I was scrolling down and BAM - there she was.  MY DAUGHTER!!!  I can't explain it any other way because that is exactly how it happened.  I didn't even read the paragraph next to her explaining some of her conditions.  It was just HER and those beautiful big blue eyes!!!!  It was kind of like the world stopped for a second, a second for me to grasp what I was thinking.  So I sat frozen just staring at her picture - knowing I wanted to be her MOM.  Strange?  Yes, I thought so too!  But, I never questioned it - Not Once!!   I just knew it was time to get to work.  I had 7 other family members that would need to feel the same way I did.  Conor our 15 year old son was on board right away.  He said "ok, what do we do".  Dave, Taylor and Nick took a little bit of time.  This was HUGE, I knew I was asking so much from my family to take this leap of faith.  Well, Nick and Tay followed after about a week.  Dave was concerned, and rightfully so of the money and leaving our family for the trips necessary to adopt her.    I just had to reassure him that we could make this work.  So, 2 nights before we made the commitment, Dave asked, "How is the baby?".  I knew he was so close........I can't even tell you how excited I was that he was almost on the same page.  The next night he asked "Has anyone looked in on her?"  Now, I knew we were going to ADOPT her.   So the next day (the day we committed), he asked if I heard how she was, I said "no I haven't but can we go get her" and he said "YES"!!!!  Oh MY!!!!! I gave him the hugest hug, I was crying of coarse because I knew he LOVED her just like I did!!!   It was just another reminder that I married my soul mate!!!!  We were a team and when we committed to something - Look out because nothing would stand in our way!!!!

Do you know, not one family member had any concerns that she had Down syndrome or that she was missing a hand.  NOT ONE!!!!!  This is the family I am so proud to be a part of.  A family that doesn't judge a book by it's cover.  So, honestly the fact that Lyla has Down syndrome and was born with only 1 hand really is simply the reason we found her.  This is why I say her birth was our MIRACLE.  We found our DAUGHTER because she was born in a country that doesn't seem to understand Down syndrome or physical deformities.  We were not looking for a baby to adopt.  We found our DAUGHTER  and it was obvious that she was meant to be home with us.  It's just that simple!!!