One month ago, I met an amazing little girl. One month ago today I had to leave the tearful little face that's at the end of this slideshow (My translator said the judge would want to see that.) And made her the promise written on my hand--that I would come back.
I've been waiting years to make a slideshow to this song. You can see in this such a progression in both of us in these pictures--from uncertainty, to certainty, to joy, to belonging, to grief at parting. Who would imagine that would happen in only four days?
I don't know how long this will stay up here...because I get nervous...but I wanted to show you this amazing little one. Now do you see why I'm going crazy at the inactivity?
(Um, you might need a tissue.)
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I'm glad you stopped by! This blog chronicles my experiences living in and adopting from Russia. It was a six-year journey that doubled the size of my family. I adopted my daughter, then age 6, from Moskovskaya Oblast. Now we're back in the USA and no longer posting from Russia.
onlyk8 @ yahoo dot com
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adoption timeline:
March 2006: adoption officially begins!
blah. blah. blah.
March 2008: starting over with "new agency"
May 2008: paperwork to US
July 2008: paperwork in Russia
September 2008: possiblity...
November 2008: improbability.
December 3, 2008:
1000 days!
February 2009: MOE approval!
May 2009: "the call" (which was actually an e-mail.)
June 2009: trip one
July 2009: a visit
September 2009: court
1294 days after March 2006: together!
September 22, 2009: day 1...
blah. blah. blah.
March 2008: starting over with "new agency"
May 2008: paperwork to US
July 2008: paperwork in Russia
September 2008: possiblity...
November 2008: improbability.
December 3, 2008:
1000 days!
February 2009: MOE approval!
May 2009: "the call" (which was actually an e-mail.)
June 2009: trip one
July 2009: a visit
September 2009: court
1294 days after March 2006: together!
September 22, 2009: day 1...
FAQ posts:
- what's an ex-pat?
- first impresssions of st. p
- Russian adoption process
- why Russia?
- waiting (bus is late)
- changing (bus metaphor ii)
- just a nice story
- st. p pix
- subbotnik
- maslenitsa
- scarlet sails
- autumn pix
- Russian "Christmas"
- st. p holiday lights
- new year's
- new year's pix (really)
- "winter" pix
- "metcha" post--hers and mine
39 comments:
Oh, Kate. That's just beautiful, and such a pretty child. (note catch in throat here!) I'm praying that these weeks fly by for you and Shasha. I can see why it's so hard for you to be away from her.
Thanks for letting me be first. You need to get her home. Julie
*might* need a tissue?
love the dimple!! :)
Oh! We are anxiously awaiting Mike to be off work and bring his laptop with him. Grandaad's old computer is so slow that it shuts down the system when we try to play the video. We'll write when we have seen it. :o)Amy
Love those eyes! and the eye contact with you in so many pictures!
Lovely, Mama. My little boy was watching and said, "She's six?" incredulously. Mark and I were teary over her obvious need for a home and her sweet tears. We are praying she is in her cozy not-pink bed very soon. By September.
Beautiful. And dimples!! She'll be home soon; she has to be.
a sweet little sparrow.... fearfully & wonderfully made.
He is God and He is good. i can't think of anything else to say, except that i love you alexandra and i've been praying for you for a long time. i can't wait to meet you and give you a hug!
It's stunning, Kate-- a visual reminder of how quickly God can change hearts. It's clear that you and Sasha are bound together now.
I often describe the wait between first meeting and court as "excruciating." It is suffering in a way that only those of us who have been there truly understand. But your obedience to His timing thus far has been strong, and I trust that it will carry you through. I continue to pray that your wait will be as short as possible.
Like a box of tissues!
Awesome pics! She is precious. What a beautiful little girl. I love those dimples. The pics at the end are heart wrenching. Hoping and praying she is home with you very soon.
All I can say is "AMAZING." Get her home fast!
Love it, love it, love it! That eye contact! Her sweet smile! Those tears. She is amazing. So are you! Thank you for sharing this with us. Sending you a huge cyberhug (through my tears).
Praying for a speedy reunion.
cm
Oh, I'm so glad I finally got to see her! (I missed the first pic -- boo hoo.)
Love her smile. Loved seeing you together!
She is amazing...you're pretty amazing too. The wait is almost over. I promise.
Great slides! What a beautiful little girl. Agree with Sybille - a "sparrow." You are going to be such a good mom, Kate! Keith and I are so happy for you.
Ok, so now my "amazing" daughter is wondering, "Mommy, why are you crying?? Are you sad??"
"No Baby, I'm happy because another Mommy and Girl have found each other!"
Truly Beautiful and Amazing!! BRING THAT SWEET GIRL HOME!!!
I am a mess!! Everytime i think about two you and the separation and wait --the tears just roll out!! (Good Heavens!!!)
I am SO thinking and praying for you both!!
What's your plan for going back to school or whatever--if you bring her home toward the beginning of Fall??
Love to you
Signe
I was fine until the end...You could see that Sasha had gotten teary eyed...and I did too!!
She is stunning! Her eyes are just perfection. Soulful, with lots to share with her mom!
Thank you for sharing this..It means alot to her blogging family!
As Jim said, the wait between trips is the hardest. Keep on keeping on, and time will pass!
Thanks again!
julianne
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
And MIGHT need a kleenex...woman, that was the understatement of the year! :)
Can't wait for you to fulfill that promise!
Oh, she's precious. And you two look wonderful together - and seeing the looks between you made me smile wide. Those dimples, that smile, those deep gorgeous eyes. How many, many moments you will spend gazing into them as mom to your sweet Sasha.
Thanks for sharing this special video. Wishing the speediest waiting time before court.
Goodness gracious!!!
What a beauty!
And I am not just saying that because she looks a little like my Caroline! :)
What a beautiful family you will be.
Beautiful, Kate. In every definition of the word - beautiful! Praying that you two will soon be playing in YOUR home.
xo
Kelly
I woke up early to see the vid just "one more time" in case you do remove it...I just needed to see her one more time.
I forgot that I don't think I have ever seen you before!! You are beautiful too Kate! But get used to people never remembering you and always talking about your child. Even your family will fall in love with her and you will have to remind them that YOU have a birthday too> :)
(And we moms wouldn't want it any other way!!)
So if you get a chance, tell us about your court trip...
Will you definately have a 10 day wait? Can you tell the judge that you want to hurry up and get her to the US and then back to the RF so she can start her life, in Russia...Will your living in Russia make things easier for you??
Ok, maybe I will watch the video a couple more times today...
I agree, I bet she looks lovely in RED~
I'm speachless. What can I say that hasn't been said here already. The wait, the wait is just, just the hardest. Bring her home is right! She is so totally yours! The dimples! The eyes! The difference between 1st photots and last... how her face softens. It's so loving, filled with so much. Precious. Beautiful story. When's the book come out? Then the movie version? Oh, this is real life? Ah... then fairytales DO come TRUE!
xo,
Heidi
So many tears of joy for you! I absolutley love Janelle & I have been using that exact song in Harry's birthday video -which is coming soon! Thank you so very much for sharing!
That really is amazing. Thank you for sharing Sasha with us...I can't wait to watch your relationship grow!!
Hope the processing goes quickly and you can start your family life soon.
OK, stop it - you're killing me!
It's a very beautiful slide show! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Amazing is right, seriously! I am so happy you put up new pics, I missed the last one.
It is all in the eyes!
She is so beautiful & a dainty little girl... praying that she is in your arms quickly
Wow. Simply beautiful.
Oh, her face at the end. It just rips at your heart. Praying you get that court date soon. She is so beautiful - you are so beautiful together. Praying and hoping that you and your little star are home together forever soon.
Oh, yes....my face is wet. Nastya came in to sit on my lap while I was watching and the back of her shirt is wet, too...
I hope she understands, I tried to tell her - that that is just the way I felt about her when I met her. And she is still amazing to me. It is one of God's greatest miracles that she is mine.
And that Sasha is yours.
Thank you so much for introducing your daughter.
Wanted to comment on today's post but couldn't find the comment button. ??
Love that you said 'foundation garments'. :)
any chance you could send me the link for a private viewing? i missed the link this week!
Your comment posting facility has fled. FYI
So - I wanted to note that your lack of desire to vacation in Hawaii just made me cry out inwardly "I KNEW we were soul mates!"
oh no...I clearly missed the show. Ok, I will patiently wait for it to reappear. And I will be sure to have Kleenex handy :)
habeshachild said...
wow - Kate! this is just, well... amazing is the only word I can come up with.
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Nancy said...
More like a box of tissues! She is beautiful! I am so excited to watch the progession as she is home now. Congratulations MOMMY!
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Katie and Pete said...
It's not fair to cry before I've even had my first sip of coffee! Couldn't wait to come to your blog to hear the offical news and see your BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER. Those eyes are absolutely amazing. I love the way she opened up over the four days, you can see the changes in pictures so I can imagine what it was like in real life.
Congrations Mommy!
Katie
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
The Holmes Crew said...
I cried the first time I saw this video, and still has the same effect! So happy for you both!
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Conethia and Jim Bob said...
I was overjoyed the first time and it's just as touching this time!! Congrats! Bring on the pics!!
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Kristine said...
She is absolutely beautiful.
Loved every second of the video...
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Anonymous said...
Loved the video! She is just gorgeous - and look at her concentration with all of the activities. She looked like she was trying soooo hard to do everything just right. How old is she? She looks like a very wise little girl, I'm so happy she has you for her mommy! Congratulations! You must have been thrilled to get her out of there!
Wednesday, 23 September, 2009
Allison B said...
WOW--what a transformation! Not just in Lexi, but in Mama Kate, too!
From the time you met her, I've had a clear picture of your bunny. Really wondered how accurate it would be. This isn't the face I saw at all...though, that face has faded the last 10 days, as I've seen sneak peaks. But what a gorgeous face it is!
I know you'll have challenges as the two of you grow together into a family. What a wonderful, worthwhile thing Family is, though...that outweighs the challenges.
Thursday, 24 September, 2009
Allison B said...
Oh, I forgot to mention, when I first ready this this morning, I glanced at the bottom of your post to see, "So saith Kate at 8:39 AM." Then, I glanced at my computer clock, to see that it was 8:40 AM. Felt kinda special to be reading at the "same" time you posted, though many time zones apart....
Thursday, 24 September, 2009
Pam said...
Happy tears of joy for you both!! The slideshow was won.der.ful.
Pam (friend of votemom's)
Thursday, 24 September, 2009
Pink said...
Oh Kate! What an amazing video! Thanks for the warninga about the tissue...really needed it.
I have been a "lurker" for a LONG time, I am a friend of Kay B., and that is how I found your blog. I also read several others that follow your blog. I have prayed for you without every saying a word to you.
I am overcome with joy that you have your precious daughter with you. You are BOTH blessed! I will continue to pray for the adjustment as your family bonds and grows in love!
Saturday, 26 September, 2009
Anonymous said...
OMG Kate! I am still crying...what a BEAUTIFUL video! What a beautiful daughter to end the long journey you have made to find her! Words cannot describe how happy I am for both of you. Now post your pics to single moms group so I can put you on the homepage!!! :)
xox
Angie
Monday, 28 September, 2009
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