Headed to the Village

Well, after two years of not traveling, I have been blessed with the privilege to lead a group to Village of Hope (VOH), this summer!  I can hardly believe I will finally meet the many individuals who I have been praying for.  Although it will be difficult to be away from Vika, I look forward to this opportunity, to do life with the children and mama's at VOH and serve alongside friends. 

VOH cares for special needs orphans in San Lucas, Guatemala and teaches them about the love of Jesus Christ.  The purpose of Village of Hope is to provide family, faith and a future to the least of these, by providing holistic orphan care to orphans with special needs, primarily focused on those living with HIV. 

They (VOH) understand the importance of a family living style, and allow these children to avoid an institutional living atmosphere.   VOH has created a family unit just as God intended:  to provide life-long support and to teach the children Christian life values.  These family units consists of house parents and six to eight children or mothers living in a home together on the Village of Hope property.  Village of Hope is different then an institutional (orphanage) setting because once the children enter they are placed in a family where they have Christian parents and are no longer called orphans.  They will never age out of VOH as children in orphanages around the world are forced to do. 

I can't wait to see all the Lord has in store for our team, when we finally arrive in six months.  We are planning on getting there mobile medical clinic up and running, as well as serving those throughout the community.  Please join me in praying not only for the team, but for the children, mamas, and missionaries at VOH.

To learn more about Village of Hope and what God is doing there, please watch the video below.

Village of Hope Guatemala from Lantern Vision on Vimeo.

Snap Shot of 2013

It has been so long since I last posted an update on the life of Vika, that it is ridiculous.  When I went to post our big announcement last week, and found my last post was from nearly a year ago, I was disappointed in myself...and decided THIS MUST CHANGE!!

So, here you have it...2013 has been busy, full of changes and blessings...our life through pictures (because let's be real, no one wants to read a book written by me)!

Vika finished Pre-K and said, "Good-bye" to the best Principal EVER, as well as some other very special people at Ave. A Elementary!!

Beth...aka Nana...and the ultimate principal!

Luan

Charlie and Vika were best buds in PreK

Mrs. Kathy...definitely a fav! 
Couldn't go a day without a hug from her!

Vika got a daddy, on June 15th, when Justin and I exchanged wedding vows in Ohio.

Vika spent the entire month of June in Ohio with her babushka, dedushka, auntie Jenn.  A special thank you to Jackie for all her help!

Auntie Jenn and Jesse flew out to see our new house, to visit, and go to a concert in KC.
(in all reality it was to spoil Miss Vika just a lil' bit...Vika loves her auntie!!!)

Vika started a new school, where I got a new job (due to the move) at Silver Lake Elementary.

Vika's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lindstrom

Vika's first day of kindergarten

Linh Chi's first day

We met a family who also adopted two girls from Russ*a and Vika adores!  Anastasia (one of the girls) runs and Vika really enjoyed going and watching her race in the xc races.

We have an exchange student from Germany living with us for the school year.  She is wonderful and is great with Vika.  When asked who Linh Chi is, Vika always responds, "she's my big sister!"

Vika went hiking in the Colorado mountains (to Hanging Lake) for the first time in September.  We had a great trip, but it was super quick and definitely a place we want to go back.

Hanging Lake...simply stunning

Vika ran her first road race!  She participated in the KC Kids Marathon where she ran a total of 25 miles prior to race day, and then on October 19th, she completed the marathon by running the final 1.2 (or more accurately 1.36) miles, for a lil' girl named Blen living in Ziway, Ethiopia.  She is wicked fast for only being five years old, running an 8:41 mile split and averaging an 8:56 pace.

Once again, Babushka and Dedushka drove out for Halloween and an early birthday celebration with Vika!  And any time with her babushka and dedushka is sure to be fun-filled and full of great memories.

We went to Gary's Pumpkin Patch...

Went to Boo at the Zoo, where Vika was a zebra.

Vika carved a pumpkin with her Dedushka

Grandparents Day at school

Putt-Putt with Dedushka

Buckeye Making with Babushka

Halloween means lots of TrIcK-oR-tReAtInG!!!

my lil' pirate girl

a family of pirates

Early birthday celebration while her babushka and dedushka are in town.

Vika had her first birthday party with friends!  She had her party at Bonkers followed by pizza, cake and ice cream at the house, and a sleep over with a couple of the girls that night!  They had a ball!

Birthday Girl!!!

Her bam bam birthday cake made by Tonya

Friends :)

Vika and her buddy Adrian

Vika has started playing basketball!  O my goodness...what a hoot to watch at this age!

She has also started taking guitar lessons.  But no pics of that yet...but sure I will take some in the weeks to come.

Anyhow, here is 2013 in a nutshell...I will try to be better about blogging on Vika's life and our current adoption journey, to bring home Vika's lil' sis...and...possibly "baby" brother.