Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Year in Pictures (and a few words...)

We started with Birthdays

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Brianna's January 3rd

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Celebrating early to stay ahead of the curve.

Then a few days to play

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And to learn some new skills...

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A new bed, a goodbye

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And yes, a few spills

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MORE playing, it's a must

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The dogs joined in too

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Then we set up the bedrooms

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one purple one blue

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K's birthday was early

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By a month and a half

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But Mommy was there and we had such a good laugh

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Then out to make bears

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One black and one brown

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And before we knew it, it was time to leave town.

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Our next destination was different for sure

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The language and people, the keys and the stores

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We bundled right up for the COLD cold day out

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And finally found food a long way out.

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We counted our Grivnia each day red and blue

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Then we could eat HERE and enjoy it too!

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Our appointment was coming, right next to this church

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The sign unassuming you don't notice it at first

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Then off to celebrate- with THIS? what is THAT?

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But Mike had other things to pull out of his hat

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Happy birthday to Mommy from two little kids

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We're excited to add two more on and we did

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Dinner with friends who spoke ENGLISH, YAY!

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Then off to Korosten to spend many days.

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What's THIS? you might ask, well it flushes, you see...

The big one for... yep, and the little for pee.

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Then we met her, the sparkle in her eye, she was just beautiful and oh did we cry

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So many other children all waiting there alone, and one woman so sweet took our cause as her own.

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Then out to meet another, but wait, no gas? Take a look where we're headed...

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And then a look back

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Then finally, HELP! No, wait that's a pup...

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But these two did finally get the car filled back up.

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We finally met him, would he be our son?

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Misha's his name and he was LOTS of fun!

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Then a weekend of turmoil and not much to eat... Yes, we found water and sweets... but is THAT really meat?

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But God's always good and provided a way for us to talk to others far far away

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We wandered the streets out in the freezing cold

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And saw many things that were a sight to behold

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The most alarming was inside, it came from the spout

and Mike was in the SHOWER when this started coming out

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Then we called out "goodbye" it was time to leave

and we packed back in the car and headed to Kiev. ((by the way, this is pronounced KEY-v))

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The bustle of metros

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Babushkas out begging, the ladies' HIGH heels (see that?) and no pants just leggings...

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But we met more GREAT FRIENDS that were there for their own

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And found a litter of puppies, took pictures for home.

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Then came a joy, meeting this little one!

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No, she's not ours, but she did prepare us some

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A Reece's Rainbow get together on the other side of the earth

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Three families all gaining a child not by birth

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Then FINALLY the day was here

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To meet the two in our hearts we held dear

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Our "second attempt" though we know it was planned

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Because God does what's best

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When we follow his hand...

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So together a family, still split by a sea

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But Mike soon went home, and it was all up to me.

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Except , not really- these guys helped out TONS

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And hey, I saw my second funeral- isn't THAT fun?

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But then as I prepped to get ready to go,

I met so many children who I feel now that I KNOW

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All were waiting for families, TWO of them now HOME! But the rest are still there, and they are all alone :(

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Then say good bye to the caretakers first

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Then the director and his wife (who is also a nurse)

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Pack in to the snowsuits to sit in the car

and we stayed there ALL DAY though we didn't go far

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Then on their first PLANE! We were off to Kiev

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Micah refused to eat, guess he didn't want to leave?

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But Emma, all smiles, her first REAL bath

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But those ribs, those arms, a sad aftermath

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Yes, finally he drank- now come calories to burn

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Then bath time, he wasn't happy it was his turn

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These photos so tiny, each little rib,

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But you'd never guess now since he's gotten so big.

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Then down for the night well, them, not me... how could YOU sleep in this bed with all three?

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My Dad soon got there and rescued us all

We did paperwork, passports, Visas, that's all!

Then boarded another flight set for HOME

Micah slept in this bag

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And Emma preferred to roam

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Then HOME! WE WERE HOME! And the grandmas were there

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Grandaddy survived- though he spent more time in the air

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And at last the kids met, they bonded and played

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though Emma and Micah just on the floor laid

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Our sweet girl and boy, we were glad to be home

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And glad, as well, to not be alone!

Then Easter came, and photos were fun! Wow, it was easier taking pictures of ONE!

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Then a party once home with our family and friends

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But that's not where this long story ends...

The kids all grew stronger and learned new skills

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Played with some toys and grew stronger WILLS!

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We borrowed some cribs, put away the big bed

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And now each little new one had a place to lay their head

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We adjusted as a family for caring for FOUR little ones

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LOTS of bottles, lots of clothes,

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Lots of BUSY, lots of FUN!

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The the day came when Emma went in

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They said "we looked, and the chances are grim"

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We didn't give up and a "YES" we would get...

But in the mean time Micah got some hospital time in yet.

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Then fast forward a bit, everyone grew and got stronger,

It felt like we'd been together Much Much longer!

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The kids each accepted each other so well

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Which ones are adopted? No one could tell!

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We built up the memories, unsure of the future

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Knowing the day was coming when we could be without her

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But smiles and playing, new things into the night

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Oh yes, and LOTS of praying with all of our might!

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A holiday passed

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A visit from Sis :)

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Friends even came up to say "hi" to Mr. and Miss

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Then come the day did for the tonsils to come out

And who would have known she'd put up such a pout?

EIGHT days in the hospital but she came home at last! Now scheduling heart surgery, that was a pest...

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She came all set up with cables and wire, monitors and oxygen of those we would tire!

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But the weeks they flew by, yes they went by quite fast

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And the surgery we dreaded was upon us at last.

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Sometimes we've felt we were trapped between these

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But astounded we were when Emma came home with EASE!

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Who would have known that she'd been through so much?

Oh, yes, God really graced her with His touch.

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Now we laugh and we learn, do new things every day

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We've been BLESSED

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And I didn't think THIS we'd ever say

Emma's SATs are so high! She's doing so great!

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It's a joy and a wonder and we celebrate :)

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On to Micah's birthday, he's TWO now you see!

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The adventures keep coming for each of them and me :)

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We took a nice trip and met lots of friends!

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All her time, Mrs. Andrea to Reece's Rainbow lends...

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Then off on a CRUISE! With Shelley no less:) And we met more RR families with us!005024

It was time for the Buddy walk, this year with FOUR!

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Then a birthday for Grandma and through pumpkins we tore

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Now we're growing

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And changing

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And learning each day

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With more visits

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And laughter

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And lots of time to pray

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So as the year ends

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And 08 comes to a close

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We'll be sure to keep busy

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So that everyone knows

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That 2009 will be even better

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But don't expect NEXT YEAR to have such a long letter!

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Wishing you the best for 2009!

With love from the Cornish Family!