Letter to the Governor

Vika wrote and hand delivered her first letter to Governor Sam Brownback today! First, she thanked him for helping me bring her home just two years ago, and then she asked him to continue helping other girls and boys just like her find families! I love her heart for orphans...and I love the Brownback family's heart for adoption! Thank you so much Governor Brownback!

Olympics

 Having the Olympics in Russia this year has been a bit difficult for me to get excited about. Every time I see the large amount of money spent on providing a "show" for people to be entertained and the politics behind that "show" it leaves me feeling sick to my stomach.  I respect the dedication and hard work all the athletes have, in order to compete.  However, having the Olympics in Russia has made it difficult to watch.

Today, like many days, I am feeling so discouraged about the plight of all the orphans locked behind closed doors, hidden away from the world, while the world watches figure skating and snowboarding on TV.  Nobody wants to talk about the "orphan problem" but some of those children are not much better off than the stray dogs of Sochi being exterminated on the streets, so they won't be an embarrassment to the government.

However, there is a difference.  A very sad difference.  The difference:  the children are not in the public eye anymore. Putin won't let anyone from the outside in to see them, advocate for them, or adopt them.  But adopting the dogs are okay!  Seriously?!?!  Families continue to fight for their sons and daughters and are repeatedly told "no, they cannot bring them home!"

Save the Dogs in Sochi 

But I will never forget that they are there! I have seen them with my own eyes! I am heartbroken all over again for them...and my many friends who want(ed) to adopt them, but were forbidden to do so due to ridiculous politics!  May we not forget those left behind!

Fire at St. P*t* Orphanage :(

So sad.....recent fire at Orphanage #6 in St. Pet*rsburg, Russ*a

No fatalities but the level of care in Russ*a has taken a drastic downturn in Russ*a. While more money has been thrown into orphanages in an attempt to get the problem outside the cities, the money involved has led to corruption and less money actually going to the orphanages.  And while Russ*a spent $50 billion dollars on the Winter Olympics (yes, 50 billion...the most that has ever been spent on the Olympics).  I wonder how many $$ were spent on the Russ*an Orphans this year.  Actually, no I don't...because I know it would make me sick!  I suspect that they spent a small...a very small fraction on the orphans living in Russ*a, in comparison to the total spent on the Olympics. What an injustice and waste of resources...

This is a note from Alex Krutov a Russian Orphan Advocate and former Orphan in Russia.
"It is quite late here in Russia, but recently I was told by a friend about this video clip that was placed on Youtube about the fire incident that happened in one of the orphanages in St. Pete on January 29th, 2014. Yes, I understand that incidents/accidents happen, but this is actually beyond the incident. As I was watching this 8 minute video clip I was very emotional. I realize that the kids once again were victims due to lack of parental care, attention, and love. As government tries to either shut down all of the orphanages in major cities of Russia by placing orphans into suburb orphanages or tries to invest literally millions of dollars, yes, dollars, yet the life of kids in so many different ways is not getting any better and sacrifices are being made. Actually more and more graduate orphans tell me, "Alex, we liked the old orphanage life better because even though we did not have leather furniture, or nice window frames and so on, but we at least felt cared and loved by some of our mentors, some of the directors cared as well and it did feel to us that it was our home." Now so much money is invested and it only raises the level of corruption in the state system, there is less care, more marketing than personal care of children's souls and future. I was shocked when I found out that during the day there were about 73 children and only 10+ staff. Moreover, for some reason the director was missing. Furthermore, how can 10+ staff manage that many children especially if there are some challenging kids and rest assured there are some. Thank you Jesus that no one died and only three children had sever smoke inhalation and they were hospitalized. I cannot even imagine what would have happened if someone would have died.

It breaks my heart. These children are beyond than just left behind. They are totally forgotten by so many. More and more staff are leaving orphanages because they cannot raise orphan children due to lack of proper training, desire to care for these children as their own, low salary, etc. Thus, orphanages are becoming more understaffed. Orphanages always been understaffed, but now it is getting even worse. What is next? I am afraid to even think about it.

They need our love, prayers, support, care, and perseverance. It is not going to be an easy road, but blessed are those who are faithful and perseverant.

Please say prayers of love and protection for millions of orphans around the world.

Please become an active ambassador for orphans.

Please become an active financial and acting partner of orphan-care ministry, whichever God lays on your heart.

Let us unite and do something about the truth that we are aware of. Thank you!"

Eth*op*an Christmas Celebration

We spent Saturday afternoon celebrating the Eth*op*an Christmas (Jan. 7th) with fellow Eth*op*an adoptive families.  

We went to Elsa's and ate some traditional Eth*op*an food.  We went vegetarian style, eating injera and doro wat.  Thanks to all the families who came out to celebrate our children's (and future kiddos) heritage!

Melkam Genna to all of our Eth*op*an friends!

Fun with the Dinos

For our final day in Ohio, my parents took Vika to experience the dinos, and she LOVED it!!!

petting a dino, as soon as we entered the exhibit

they started out small...

...and got larger.

check out those teeth!

munching on a large fish

the most aggressive dino...even more so than the t-rex

check out those horns

so thankful the bugs today aren't that large

wouldn't want to roll around in a diff with one of these

he was kinda fuzzy

I'd call him "Spike"

Vika and her babushka

he was kinda funny looking

time for a lil' learning

another funny lookin' dino

with HUGE feet and massive claws! 
I think he could use a pedi.

Dedushka, Vika and Babushka

And this is how it all started

Look at that neck...back in the day he was larger than a house.

another Large....fly???

then she was off to play in the dino blow-ups

and she loved it!

digging for fossils with her dedushka

she found something!

ahhhhh, a single bite,
and they'd all be goners.

what do you think...dino!?!??!

going for a ride

one of my favs

hand in the wrong place...ouchie!

As always, I love being close to family, where they are able to interact and show Vika, just how much they love her!  She cherishes the moments with her Babushka, Dedushka and Auntie Jenn!