Easter 2011

No doubt, every day is special in our home...but Easter holds a special place in our hearts.  Easter signifies new beginnings, not only of our faith but a new beginning for our family as well.  Two years ago, we were in Russia during this Easter season...falling in love more and more each day with a little girl who only deserved love and a new beginning of life with a family.

As an adoptive parent, we celebrate so many "beginnings" -- when we got our referral, when we traveled for the first time to meet her, when we traveled again and were reunited, the day we went to court, the day we we finally took her into our arms for good as we held her close walking out the doors of her first "home," and then the day we arrived home in CA.  Some may say I'm crazy to remember each and every one of these dates but these occasions are engrained in my mind and heart and they bring us to where we are today.

And where are we?  We are crazy in love with this little girl.  We stare at her daily and wonder how in the world we could have been so blessed.  Life isn't perfect --- we have had some challenges all first-time parents face and sometimes I cry wishing I could provide her more.  But then I realize --- this is more than she ever had, and what more could a child want than to have loving parents?

As I think about the children we left behind and the others throughout Russia and other countries around the world including here in the USA, I pray for them.  May Easter bring them new beginnings -- whether it's a lesson learned from a teacher, a hug from a compassionate caregiver, or the love from a forever family -- may they, too, find a reason to laugh, giggle, and be happy.  Is it too much to ask?

Here are a few photos from our Easter Day spent going to church, hunting for Easter Eggs with the neighborhood girls, and dinner with Jon's family.  A day of hugs, love, laughter and giggles.  Priceless.

Kristina counted the mini chocolate Easter Eggs that lead from her bedroom door to her Easter Basket.

An over-stuffed Easter basket full of chocolate, jelly beans, a puzzle and her favorite...

...a Little Mermaid bathing suit!

Chocolate Bunnies!

Kristina "posing" next to the Holy Family at church.

Daddy hiding almost 50 goody-filled Easter Eggs in our yard.

Kristina's ready to hunt for eggs...just waiting for her friends to show up!

Standing still just for one minute before filling up the baskets.
(L-->R:  Andrea, Gaby, Kristina and Kira)

Daddy giving clues to all the girls so no eggs go unnoticed.

Only a small part of the paparazzi!

Last year, Kristina couldn't reach the eggs hiding in this tree.  Got 'em this year!

Tired but not too tired to start counting eggs and seeing what's inside.  Total eggs found:  190!!

What a loot!

At Nana and Grampa's house...Kristina sees something "strange" in the backyard...

Two HUGE eggs!



Wow...we've never seen such large eggs.



Nana and Grampa made Easter fun!

Decorating the Easter Cake with jelly beans.  YUM.

And the Easter Bunny left one more basket.  Lucky girl!

And as I write this Easter post and talk about new beginnings, it was two years ago today that we stood in front of the judge and declared our desire to be Kristina's parents.  We remember it like it was yesterday.  Little did I know how truly happy our life was just about to become!!

  A belated Happy Easter to all!