Five Years

I can't believe it has been five years! As of yesterday, our precious granddaughter, Sveta, has been in America for five years. I remember February 8th, 2012 like it was yesterday. The weeks and days of anticipation leading up to her arrival were difficult. The excruciating wait at the airport as the plane landed and we waited for the new family to enter the waiting area. The joy and elation we experienced as we saw this tiny little girl meeting dozens of people who had prayed for her safe journey to a new, and better life. The feeling of disbelief that this little Russian gypsy girl was now thousands of miles from the orphanage where she spent the first three years of her life, and was now in a strange new place that would be her home for the rest of her life.

Sveta arrived home to us ten days short of her 4th birthday. Here we are today just short of her 9th birthday. Watching her live, learn, and grow has been nothing short of amazing. We are so blessed to have her here, and I thank God that he was pleased to make her a permanent part of our lives. I truly cannot imagine life without her. The amount of love I feel for her cannot be measured. It is endless and boundless.

Here is the beautiful (almost) nine year old :-)