Three Years Home

Amazing-- three years already! Tomorrow marks the day that Rachel came to our family-- her forever and ever and ever family. Oh what a joy it has been having her as my oldest daughter. A little sassy lately, but nonetheless a joy. She has changed so much since I wrote this and made this video in honor of her two and a half years ago. Rachel is now fourteen years old and very much into looking beautiful inside and out. She enjoys painting her nails, wearing a little make-up, and choosing outfits that look incredibly cute and stylish. Here and there I notice her try to push the envelope a little too far with her bra strap showing or her pants too tight that should have been given to Annalyn or Sveta, but she is a young woman who is known by all to be trustworthy, hardworking, respectful, honoring, caring, responsible, loving, and dependable. And I had to put this in---when I say change her clothes, she changes. She also loves to watch movies--- loves, loves, loves. And listening to music, and writing letters to her friends and her bio-brothers.

In just a few weeks, we have the opportunity to take Rachel back to her birth country. This trip is going to be so amazingly special because even though she is from Ukraine, we did not go to Ukraine to adopt her--- we adopted her after she was already in the states. We never had that opportunity to bond in Ukraine, we never got the chance to share with each other what is near and dear to us about this country. Now we will.