Happy Fifth Birthday Vika!

Happy Fifth Birthday Vika!  This girl has watch several of us have birthday and she was beyond ready for her birthday!  When asked what she wanted for her birthday, the answer was consistent:  “a Dora and Boots Birthday Cake!”   For never celebrating a birthday, she totally knew how she wanted to celebrate her special day:  it was all about the singing and blowing out the candles on her Dora and Boots birthday cake.

Vika did not celebrate her birthday just once this year, but instead twice over a period of three weeks!!!  Babushka and Dedushka flew out to be with us for nearly two weeks and she had her first birthday party with them, as well as Justin and his family. 

Then Auntie Jenn and Auntie's Boy flew out for four days and was here on her actual birthday, so we celebrated her turning five...again!  She didn't get older...but she insists she definitely got bigger when Auntie was here :)

Here are a few words that describe Vika:

smiley

loving

affectionate
happy

playful

musical
(did I mention she is taking piano lessons and still loves to sing)

A few things she loves:

Dora, Clifford, Curious George, monkeys, dogs, running, being read to, the park, coloring, play doh, M&Ms (thanks to Babushka), southern sweet tea, potatoes, pasta

A few people she adores and loves:
Babushka

Dedushka

Auntie Jenn
Auntie’s Boy (Jesse)

Justin

Chuck
Joyce

Kristin

Nana

Papa

Jackie

Alex (her big sis)

Michelle
Michelle #2

Abby
Auntie Steph

Sylas

Kathy

Nana

Pastor Rick (with all his suckers)
Lori (with her MANY kiddos)
and…MAMA!!

From the first time I ever laid eyes on Vika’s photo, I knew she was my lil’ girl. She is such a precious gift, and I’m so thankful the Lord chose me to be her Mama.  It is really hard to put it into words how well she fits into my family and how much she blesses me daily. Vika is such a joy and it is a true privilege to spend this lifetime with her.  It is mind boggling to me...five years ago, in St. Petersburg, RU, a beautiful baby girl named Viktoria was born...Happy Birthday little one – you will always be my Baby Girl!

Love the Least of These

(v1) Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me. Will we leave behind the innocent too brief. On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun. These could be our daughters and our sons. And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating. I know my God won’t let them be defeated. Every child has a dream to belong and be loved. 

(Chorus) Boys become kings, girls will be queens. Wrapped in Your majesty. When we love, when we love the least of these. Then they will be brave and free. Shout your name in victory. When we love when we love the least of these. When we love the least of these 

(v2) Break our hearts once again. Help us to remember when. We were only children hoping for a friend. Won’t you look around these are the lives that the world has forgotten. Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open.

"Light" Needs Hope

Svetlana is a young Ukrainian orphan who has never known her father or mother.   Immediately after Sveta was born, her HIV positive mother abandoned her in the hospital with only a positive HIV test to remember her by.  
 
Svetlana, or Sveta, is a beautiful Ukrainian name that means  “light”.  In contrast to her name, Sveta's life has too often been full of darkness and hardship.  Like all children, Sveta waits and hopes for love, warmth and light, but it does not come.  She has spent her entire childhood in government shelters and orphanages and with each passing year her heart grows more sad and hardens.
        
Sveta's life has taught her to protect herself, and very often the very behavior that has allowed her to survive, has put her in conflict with the rules of orphanage life.  In spite of all these things, Sveta is an outstanding student.  She learns quickly when taught by motivated teachers who give her a chance.
  
She is a loving, curious, intelligent girl who loves life and loves to interact with people.  She also likes to learn, especially the English and Ukrainian languages, Literature and Art.
   
After living in an orphanage for a while she begins to shine like a star, wins friends and conquers the hearts of teachers and peers alike.  However, her hopes and feelings are dashed to the ground, when she is again moved to a new orphanage.   Then, she is once again surrounded by strangers, has no friends or admirers and, once again, faces each dark day with only a name that means “light" and her determination to survive and find a loving family. 
 
Life in Ukraine is difficult for many orphans, especially one who is HIV positive. The light of Sveta's beautiful spirit is just like her name.  Her loss is also the world's loss, because she has so much to offer the world.  Sveta wants very much to live and show her light as part of a real family.  But, she knows that with each passing day, the light of her world dims and her chances of ever being adopted and finding a loving family and stable life becomes extremely remote.  

Here's the deal:  she needs a family to say: "YES...Yes, You are beautiful, worthy...valuable, precious...adored...shameless...wanted, loved...OURS"  PLEASE PEOPLE...her fate if she ages out is a darker thing than any of us want to imagine.... This is UNACCEPTABLE.....she is 15 years old, HIV+ about to age out...this is NOT God's will for her life...She should be painting her toe nails and dreaming about her future in the security of a bedroom, in a house, with family in it that can't imagine life without her...we found Alyona a loving family.  Now we need a family to step up and say, "yes" to Sveta!