Saved By Grace

Conflict....who really wins?

2011-04-05T17:22:00.000-05:00

I've had the honor of doing a 40 days of prayer guide through my church. It never ceases to amaze me at God's timing! Every day I open this little booklet, its exactly what I needed to hear that specific day!

After being down in the Florida Keys for a few months, I've had some time to reflect on my life the last ten years. I have definitely made some choices that have affected my life in trememdous ways. One of those choices, is how I handle conflict. To be quite honest, I'm not really good at it. Actually, I can get pretty defensive when I am being attacked and one of my BIGGEST pet peeves is to be accused of something I have not done. Not to be prideful, but I do usually tell on myself before being busted (just ask my mom).

So, I've thought a lot about the conflict in my life and relationships lost because of that conflict. Its been hard lessons to learn but ones that I feel make me who I am today. It gives me great teaching material for my girls during homeschool. Not sure if that is what God was doing in some of those conflict situations but He has taught me to teach my girls about dealing with it.

I opened my 40 days of prayer last week, only to find the title "Living in Conflict" at the top of the page. "Of course," I said out loud to God. What better topic of discussion than the one thing I struggle with the most. Then, today I open it to "Resisting Opposition," and the first line reads "We pray 'Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven...' but often we experience conflict that stems from people's opposition to God. It occurs in several arenas. Many Christians have found conflict in places that they considered to be the most secure: at church, home, even family or friendships..places they believe to be outside the battle zone. Not so!" I sat there for a minute soaking up that statement. It then occured to me that maybe I had viewed conflict wrong all along. I viewed it as an attack on me, personally, rather than an attack in the unseen world. "It is the unseen world where our real enemy lies. He will try to damage wherever he can." So, that's it! I was giving way too much credit to those around me that were attacking me and my family. We recently had a situation that I will not go into detail. But, we were attacked by people we claimed to be friends and brothers/sisters in Christ. We weren't sure where the attacks were coming from and we were quite frankly completely blindsided. We (Craig and I) became very defensive and to be quite honest, a spirit of bitterness welled up inside of me. I felt like when we left our home of 10+ years, things were left unsettled and a lot of questions unanswered. It brought me back to another time in my life, where I lost a very dear friend of mine to a series of arguments, arrogant attitudes and deadly defensiveness. The hurt began to grow again inside of me and the best thing I thought could happen was to escape my life in the one place I felt such opposition.

For whatever reason, God did choose to move us away from Texas and away from close friends and also those that were no longer friends. It grieved me to leave the home I had known for so long and the friends that I held so dear to my heart. It also saddened me of the things that were left undone and the reconciliation that had yet to take place. But, at times, I wonder if in God's perfect timing, He did remove us so that I could see and learn from what we had been through as a family.

While reading my devotion, I came to realize that as long as we harbor bitterness, unforgiveness and resentment in our hearts, we allow the enemy to come in and steal, kill and destroy. When we choose to allow the opposition of others to dictate our lives and then, in turn, become defensive and hateful - guess who wins? Yep, the enemy. We are falling into his perfect trap of deception and its a downward spiral from that point. Its scary to say the least!

You know, my brother, Michael is a great example of a duck. When he is attacked as an individual, he really lets things roll off his back. We recently had a great discussion about this very thing. We were part of a situation that involved the two of us. I made a couple of comments and then later had to apologize. His response, "I was over it a long time ago." And, rest assured, he was! I wish I could be more like my brother.

So, what have I learned this week:

The greatest arena of spiritual warfare occurs in our heads.
A stronghold is an attitude or mindset impregnated with despair that accepts as unchangeable anything that is contrary to the will of God.
Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads (that's just a funny church sign I saw before I left Texas)
Am I a tool in the hands of the enemy? By accusing falsely, by spreading gossip, by bringing damage to others' lives?

My prayer is that God would change my mindset. I pray that I won't view conflict as a personal attack on me but rather its a battle that rages around me in the spiritual realm. When someone opposes me or persecutes me, how will I handle the conflict?

As I type this, the radio program is on "forgiveness." Hmmm, how fitting :-)

Blessings,
Becca

Where has the time gone.....

2011-03-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

I never thought I would be one of those adoptive blogging parents that would slack off from keeping everyone updated once we returned home. But, here I am eating my words!

We arrived home on November 3 as a family of 6! Its still hard to believe all that took place from the day we first hosted Stephanie and Lizzie in December 2009. With no desire to adopt and no money, we never thought we'd walk down that road! Plus, all the comments about disturbing the birth order really had me freaked out. Even though I had two precious friends (Stephanee and Camille) that had gone before me, I just knew that older child adoption was NOT for me! But, here we come down the escalator in the Austin airport with four girls in tow and in that mix - a teenager!

I will be completely honest and will not sugar-coat anything. The first couple of months were VERY tough. Lots of tears, lots of confusion, lots of stress, lots of fighting, lots of doubts, but LOTS OF PRAYING! That is the only thing that got us through those months. My poor friends probably thought I had fallen off the deep end. There were days when I questioned what we had done bringing these girls to America. What had I done to my existing family? Had I ruined the lives of Molly and Madeline forever? What had we done to our marriage? But, I kept being encouraged by my sweet friends, Stephanee, Camille, Hollie, Colleen, Lynne, Cindy and many more that have gone before me with teenagers. I received great advice from Cindy one evening over dinner. She said "Don't assume the worse in her. Don't assume she is doing anything bad. Let her live a little. Trust God with her life." I chewed on those words for days. And, that is exactly what I have done - put my trust in OUR Heavenly Father - not trusting in my ability to parent a teenager.

We have continued to homeschool and that has been another challenge. Its like teaching three 1st graders to read. Right when I was at the end of my rope, my precious Molly (diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder and not able to read) picks up "Cat and the Hat" and starts reading - ON HER OWN! God knew I was at a breaking point and for whatever reason, He chose to extent His grace and mercy to me that day and perform a miracle! Molly loves to read and I catch her reading to her two older sisters quite often! School is going well and with the help of the owner of My Father's World and his wonderful advice, we are on the road to a great school year! The best is hearing my girls tell Bible Stories to one another and being able to answer questions from the Shorter Catechism! I stand in awe at the work the Lord is doing in their lives!

Well, the big news of the year so far is - WE ARE NOW FLORIDIANS! It has been a big desire of ours to move to Florida. We were here in the summer of 2009 and God shut the doors of that business opportunity. We have prayed for years that God would give us the desire of our hearts and move us there and we had to fully trust in His timing. When we returned from Ukraine, a series of events occurred that allowed Craig to sell his business to our dear friends. It was an amazing opportunity for the two of them and we are grateful that God provided that relationship. After selling his firm, he made a call to a friend in South Florida to notify him of the sale of his business. The friend says, "Funny that you should call today. I came in on Saturday to get your resume. I need to move back up north to take care of my daughter and her son. You are the only one for my job." And, less than a month later, on January 10th, we loaded a Penske and moved to Key Largo, Florida!

Key Largo is wonderful! We have met some amazing homeschool families and attend the same church we did in 2009. We weren't sure where we would go to church and visited several before sensing that God was leading us back to Redlands Community. We love it! Its a Presbyterian church and is so focused on community and missions as well as disciplining the flock. Its a GREAT balance and we feel so at home there. We have already met some amazing friends at RCC and look forward to how God will use us to serve Him there in that congregation and in our community.

I've attached some photos of our life in the Keys. We are so blessed to be here and there are days when we wake up pinching ourselves that God gave us the desire of our hearts! He is simply amazing!

We look forward to our journey here and welcome all of you to come visit us! We have our first set of visitors next week as Craig's parents will be coming for his birthday! My mom is coming the first part of April for Madeline's birthday and to watch me run in the 7 Mile Bridge Run in Marathon, Florida.

Things to pray for:
My mom desperately wants to be close to us. Please pray that her house sells and that she can find a job in South Florida. Pray that God would comfort her during her time away from us. Its been hard on her emotionally and physically to be away from her grandbabies!

Craig's work at Community Bank. This is a praise! Craig is so busy meeting with clients. Craig is so gifted when it comes to Financial Planning and he is finally getting to really use this talents!

Homeschool for us. We are still working on getting into a set curriculum for the girls. Pray that we will find what works for all of us. Pray for patience and endurance for me! Praise that we have met a huge community of homeschool families in the Keys - who knew!

Blessings to all of you!!!!!

The Hills from Florida :-)

It is complete.....

2010-11-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

We are out of here! Today, at 3:30 PM, we completed the final step in the Ukraine Adoption process! We received our visas from the US Embassy for our girls and we are headed home tomorrow!!!

We are currently at the Aeroport Hotel (about 10 minutes from the airport) and we will be leaving at 5:35 AM tomorrow. The middle girls are already dressed and plan on sleeping in their airplane attire, Madeline refuses to wear clothes and we actually caught her in the hotel hallway with absolutely nothing on her body! And, of course, my oldest is watching the last bit of Ukraine television before going to sleep and leaving the country she has known for 15 years.

We had the blessing of seeing Alla the last night of our journey in Ukraine. She has been a part of my girls' lives for the last 4 years and is like family to them. She met us for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Kiev (Arizona's BBQ). Check out the photos below :-). They import their food from the United States and its authentic! Check out the Mississippi flag in the background - how appropriate for this MS Girl! We also greeted another family (our friends) that traveled to Kiev today from New Braunfels to adopt out of our same orphanage. Their appointment is on Thursday and they are adopting three kids that have come on hosting trips to the US. They are excited and we wanted to give them the details on what to expect while in the region. It was good to see them before we left the country. We also got to have dinner with our incredible facilitator and her husband. They have done an AMAZING job on our adoption and we are forever grateful to them for their services. Denis and Vika were also there to say good-bye to us. Molly cried for 30 minutes because she didn't want to leave Vika. They have been such a huge help to us during this trip. They are Aunt Vika and Uncle Denis to my girls!

Stephanie also had a hard time leaving and this was the first time she has actually shown any emotion since we've been in Ukraine. I thought it was odd that she did not cry when we left the orphanage but I wonder if its all beginning to hit her now. Plus, we were leaving Alla tonight and she is like family to my girls. So, the car ride to the hotel was very quiet with the sounds of sniffles coming from three of my four girls. It is bittersweet to leave this place. Three of my girls are from this country and this is a part of their lives that will never be replaced. This is their homeland. This is where their journeys began and it will always hold a special place in their hearts and mine.

We are ready to return home. We got here on October 2nd and we are leaving November 3rd. It was a little longer than expected but it went so incredibly smooth! We are forever grateful to all of you that have prayed us through this journey. We could never do anything without the love, encouragement and support of our family and friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Is our journey over? ....who knows. I don't know what the future holds but I know Who holds the future.

Blessings,
The Hills (all 6 of us)!!!

My two Cowgirls

My Chocolate Addict

The Whole Gang!

I will not leave you as orphans.....

2010-10-26T11:24:00.001-05:00

Today, at 2:30 PM on October 26, 2010 - two girls walked out of an orphanage in Ukraine and left their years of living as orphans. They left a life of being unloved, a life of dispair, and feelings of sadness to a life of hope, unconditional love, and a home which brings the joy of having a family.

My girls were packed and ready to go when we got to the orphanage. Their friends anxiously but with sadness watched them as they hugged one another, snapped last minute photos, and said their good-byes. Even though we will return tomorrow with sweets and juices for a "Going Away" party, today was their last day as orphans. It was a memorable day and bittersweet, I'm sure. I can't imagine leaving a life where I depended on the relationships and shared such a strong commonality with those around me. I have left friends before and it was hard, but I can't imagine leaving what I considered for the last 5 years, my family. I know my girls were excited to leave but you could also sense their sadness. I pray for those that we left behind. A few of those I will continue to pray for are:

Alina - she is Stephanie Tatiana's best friend. She was not there today but she left a gift for me. I can completely understand why she chose to stay away today. Her best friend is leaving and she is having to continue her life without the person she considers as her sister. Alina is a precious soul and one I could spend my lifetime advocating for and I will do so! She does have three siblings and I met one of them, Kolya. He is a sweet boy and LOVES candy! Stephanie wants someone to host Alina at Christmas (she has a person in mind - Tasha (hint, hint) but we would love anyone to host her if she can't do that this year).

Aloyna (aka Helen) - this sweet, precious child does have a family interested in adopting her and they are from New Braunfels. Please pray for the family as they begin the dossier preparations and a journey that will take them to the other side of the world. We love this child!

Pasha - what a precious boy! He is the most well-behaved 15 year old I have ever met! He absolutely adored us for some reason and Madeline spent a lot of time flirting with him. We are praying with a family now that is interested in hosting him. We pray for God's will to be done in his life.

Olya - another friend of Stephanie's. Absolutely precious young girl (14 years old) and has an older sister that is not adoptable. Olya really desires to come for Christmas and to find a forever family. I wish I could have spent more time with her - she is adorable.

Slavik and Vova - two sweet brothers. Slavik meets us at the car everyday! He must have Becca radar or something because he is the first one out the door if he's not already outside waiting for us. We are praying with a couple of families that might be interested in hosting them. Their mother visits them on a regular basis so we need to do an official check on the availability for adoption.

Yura and Vitaly - another precious sibling group! Yura is 10 and Vitaly is 13. They are on our website for potential hosting and they are cutie pies! So, so, sweet! Yura has the cutest dimples EVER!

Vika, Maya and Kolya - I could spend a whole post on this group of kiddos. They have been to Texas several times and its just not in God's plan for them to be adopted by their host family. The family loves them dearly but just does not feel the call to adopt right now. Vika - 15, Maya - 12, and Kolya - 7 are a precious sibling group. Kolya is hard and would require a very strong father figure to guide and direct him. The girls are amazing. Vika speaks fluent English and has been a huge help to us these three weeks.

Andriy - he is 12 and I finally got the opportunity to meet him last night. He desires so much for a family and really wants to come to America for Christmas. I have a photo of him that I will post at a later date.

I could go on and on about children! I plan on featuring a child per week on my blog with photos. If anyone is interested in hosting children, please visit our website (http://www.charis4orphans.org/) and under "Hosting" the password is ukraine.

I pray that one day, I will be reading the blogs of families that have rescued the children above and they will be orphans no more.

Thanks for all your prayers! We love each and every one of you! You have no idea what your love, support and prayers have done for us in the journey!

The Hills

The tale of two mothers.....

2010-10-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

On October 22, 2010, I had the honor of meeting the woman that chose to give my daughter life. Molly's biological mother, Viktoria, agreed to meet us for dinner. I thought about it all day and what to expect but nothing could prepare me for this meeting. I trusted God that He had it totally under control and of course, He did - every bit!

Unfortunately, I had been sick most of the day. Mom had a stomach bug that she graciously passed on to me. However, she knew how much it hurt, so she was very willing to forego her trip to the mall to take care of me. I was very grateful for her nursing care! I was very worried that I would be too sick to meet Viktoria but I was praying that God would make me well enough to go that evening.

When we got to our meeting place (McDonald's by the train station), we were the first to arrive. Denis went outside to see if he could find them and Craig and I were alone. We both were nervous and excited at the same time. We had no idea what to expect and we never thought we would be at this place. We remember about 7 years ago when we made the decision to adopt internationally so that we would never have to come in contact with a birthmother. Boy, have our thoughts and feelings changed about that whole concept. Here we were, waiting for the birthmother that we never thought we'd ever get to meet.

She walked inside and since I have seen photos of her, I recognized her immediately. She definitely looked younger in person than in pictures. She carried her precious 1 year old daughter, Irina, in her arms. Her new husband, Viktor and oldest daughter, Tanya, were behind her. Viktoria was beautiful in her own way - I don't know if its her outside beauty or the fact that I recognize her as Molly's "first" mommy. We left McDonald's and walked across the street to a Ukrainian restaurant. On the way over, Viktoria said that the rest of the children (Dima, Nastiya, and Yana) were home and wanted so badly to come meet me. They were upset that they didn't get to come but it was late and too much to bring so many children into town. They live in a very small, poor village about 30 minutes by bus. Tanya said on our way over to the restaurant that she felt like she was in a dream. She said that she never thought this day would ever come in her life - to meet the woman that adopted her sister. A little background on Tanya...
When Denis found Viktoria in 2004, Tanya was the one that answered the door. When Denis said why he was there and it was in the interest of a child of Viktoria's that was adopted, Tanya started crying. We later found out that Tanya had been told that Molly died at birth. We aren't sure why they chose to lie to her but it has hurt her tremendously and you can see it in her eyes. She is still very hurt and saddened but I was so happy that she came that night.

I brought a photo album of Molly's pictures throughout the past 6 years to Viktoria. She thumbed through them and then gave us her phone so that we could scroll photos of her children. There was one photo of Yana, Molly's sister, that jumped out at us - she look IDENTICAL to Molly. We had to glance a second time to make sure Molly had not made a secret visit to Ukraine. It was amazing to see the resemblance in Molly and all of her siblings. If Viktoria were blonde and smaller, Molly would look much like her. They have the same cheek bones and lips. It was pretty cool to look into the face of the woman who gave birth to my child.

Zhenya (Tanya's boyfriend) and Viktor (Viktoria's husband) got up to get something to eat. At that time, we thought it was best to talk to Viktoria. We told her how thankful we were to her and that she chose the most selfless act of any mother - to place her child up for adoption. We told her that we knew it had to have been the most difficult decision she would ever make but that we were happy with the gift that she chose to give us. We told her that Molly is very aware of her family in Ukraine and that she will always be told of her life here and that I hoped one day she would come meet her. She began to cry as did Tanya, and then of course, me. We cried over a child that two mothers love and hold deeply in their hearts. Viktoria and I share a bond that can never been broken. We both love Molly Luba with all of heart and we both desire the best for her life. Viktoria knew 7 1/2 years ago that she could not provide for the child she was carrying in her womb and she knew she would have to make a very hard decision but in that decision, she knew her child would receive life. She thanked us for providing for Molly and was so happy to hear how she had grown up the last 6 years. I can't imagine the thoughts or emotions running through her body and mind. I am not even going to begin to try to understand the heartache she must face on a daily basis of not having a child, she bore, beneath her wings. But, I do understand the ache for a child and the feeling when an empty lap is filled with the child you desperately long and pray for. And, I am grateful for Viktoria and the life that she has given me!

We left the meeting with lots of hugs and promises to keep in touch. We are so blessed to have Denis in Dnepropetrovsk and his willingness to go see her on a regular basis. We will most definitely continue to keep in touch and one day, when Molly is ready and she so chooses, we will bring her back to meet her "life mommy!"

We are now back in Zhytomyr. We spent a lovely evening with Alla's mother and of course, she fed us a wonderful meal! We saw the girls and tomorrow we will go again and spend our last day at the orphanage. On Tuesday, we will pick up the court decree and the girls will leave with us - FOREVER! Its hard to believe that they only have 2 more nights in the orphanage. Craig will also travel to the border of Hungary and Ukraine to get Tanya's new birth certificate. He is not so happy as its a very long train ride but it has to be done. Hopefully, we will get all the documents needed by Thursday and head to Kiev that evening. If all goes well, maybe we will be home by next Tuesday. Praying for a smooth week!

Blessings to all of you!
The Hills

WOW - What a day!

2010-10-19T13:52:00.003-05:00

Today was a very exciting day even though the skies were quite gray and the weather was dreary. We were up early and dressed and headed to Molly's orphanage. We took the bus (like old times) and went the exact track. I took video of our journey, even our walk through the woods that we did every day for over 5 weeks. It was very cold and very different than 6 years ago in the heat of the summer. We were bundled up with heavy coats, scarves, hats and gloves. When we approached the building, I had a wave of emotion. I can't believe that this is the place that my child called "home" for 17 months of her life! The outside of the building and the smell as we stepped foot into it, was the same. However, the walls had been painted and new couches had been placed in the LONG hallway. It looked very different inside and much better than 6 years ago. We went upstairs to meet with Svetlana, the orphanage director. It was great to hug her neck and show her pictures of Molly from the last 6 years. None of Molly's caregivers were there because of changes at the orphanage. There are only 60 children there and most of them are not adoptable. There were 180 children when Molly was there in 2004. Apparently, Svetlana had a dream of opening up a rehabilitation center for children with special needs. And, her dream has come true! Its the only rehab center in the whole country of Ukraine! The equipment was purchased by a family in Germany that adopted from that orphanage many, many years ago. Their son is now 18. Its state of the art rehab equipment and its all kids' size! Its ADORABLE - pictures below. Svetlana then showed us an "aromatherapy" room for the children and a place for them to lay down and relax! It was soooo cool and I was tempted to stay and let my family go on the rest of the tour alone. It smelled heavenly! She also has a wing where mothers with children with special needs can come there and receive therapy at no charge. This helps with those mothers that abandon their children because they are born with abnormalities. The mothers can stay with their children as they receive the necessary treatment/rehab. These mothers learn to cope with their special needs and provide for them rather than leaving them on doorsteps of baby houses. Its a GREAT program!

We then went into the special needs part of the orphanage and we met Sasha! He melted our heart immediately and he loved Craig! He has Down's but is very high functioning. He is extremely smart and he's only 2 1/2. Madeline loved him too. I was so happy to hear that two American families had adopted out of that room this past summer.

We got to see Luba, the orphanage attorney. She was so special to us and was at our court hearing in 2004. She is a lovely person and it was great to see her face and hug her neck. It was actually great to be back and they loved that we brought Molly to visit them! So many families promise to bring the children back and never come. We left photos and chocolate!

The orphanage is in need of roof repairs. It will take about $2000 to repair so we are praying that maybe our marathon (www.marathonforadoption.com) will help accomplish that goal in the future.

We pick up our girls one week from today! We are excited to see them this weekend and pray that they are doing okay without us. We have enjoyed our time in Dnepropetrovsk and look forward to meeting Molly's biological mother this week. Molly will not be going with us but Craig and I plan on meeting with her. We will get the opportunity to ask about her family, medical history, and get to know her personally.

Thanks for all your prayers! We are so thankful for ALL of you!

Blessings,

The Hills (all 6 of us)!!!

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride....

2010-10-17T14:39:00.000-05:00

You know...I have done some really ridiculous things in my life and I'm sure the same goes for my husband and my mom. But, our decision to drive from Zhytomyr to Dnepropetrovsk on Friday night takes the icing on the cake!

We met a taxi cab driver, Vitaly, during the beginning of our adoption journey. He drove a white VW car/van/SUV thingy and we noticed he had a German flag hanging in the window. Since we had just come from Germany, we thought it would be cool to strike up a conversation with this guy. He didn't speak much English but he LOVED to talk. He would just continue to talk as much as possible, even though we didn't have a clue as to what he was saying. I could understand some words and piece it together, but for the most part - he just loved to hear himself talk. He did tell us that his family was from Germany and how he wanted to either live there or America. He asked if we would take him. A few days later, he came to pick us up and his girlfriend, Leana, was with him. She speaks perfect English and was such a big help in translating for us. I asked her about his family in Germany and she rolled her eyes and said, "His family is Ukrainian and live in Ukraine, his ancient ancestors are from Germany - HE IS NOT FROM THERE!" It was funny because clearly she had had this conversation once or twice before with other people.  Anyway, we grew to really like Vitaly and we would call Leana to have her call Vitaly to pick us up and take us places. They were such a great help!

Well, after court, we were trying to decide when to go to Dnepropetrovsk. One guy offered to take us but was going to charge us an unbelievable amount of money. We thought about the train but there was no way to find out about train tickets without traveling to Kiev first and we didn't want to take that chance. So, we called our buddy, Vitaly. He offered to take us for less than what we could take a train. We took him up on it and loaded the car at 6:10 PM. He told us it would only take us about 6 hours. When we got in the car - the first thing we noticed - there were no seatbelts. I am sure its okay, we were most likely going to be traveling on an interstate type highway and I would hold my baby as tight as possible. We headed out on the highway to Kiev and once we got there, he kept stopping and asking for directions. We began to get a little worried that he didn't know exactly where to go from there.  We contemplated catching the train from Kiev and letting Vitaly go on his way back to Zhytomyr. But, we kept on going, stopping every hour to ask for directions or to read the map. We were trucking along and the interstate then turned into two lanes and stayed that way the rest of the trip. These weren't normal two lane roads - they reminded me much of Mexico or Belize roads. Lots of pot holes!

Now, Vitaly told us that he had been a tank driver in the Army. We were impressed but I think he wanted to show us those tank driving skills on our road trip. It was a mixture of NASCAR, Bumper Cars at the Fair, Frogger from Atari, and tank driving all wrapped up into one. Madeline would occassionally say "I riding a horse!" We passed people on the road and I'm sure we were going close to 90 miles an hour. We were dodging cars like bullets. It was like we were part of a high speed chase! I was scared to look. I could read the serial numbers on the license plates of cars and 18-wheelers!  As we got closer to Cherkassy, we noticed the sign to Dnepropetrovsk and we were FAR, FAR AWAY! What to do now? We were literally in the middle of nowhere and there was no sense in turning back. We asked Vitaly over and over (about every 30 minutes) if he was "oostala?"  (which is tired). He assured us he was not though none of us (except the girls) were about to fall asleep in fear that Vitaly might follow suit. So, here we are, bouncing along the incredibly difficult roads in NOWHERE UKRAINE! Vitaly LOVES techno music and so we were subjected to a night full of it. He continued to talk to Craig (who was riding shotgun) and he would laugh out loud knowing that Craig had no idea what he was saying. He said "Vitaly skazhi blah, blah, blah and Craig skazhi 'ne penemayo' - ha, ha, ha!" And, then he would laugh (translated "Vitaly says blah, blah, blah and Craig says I don't understand you." It was hilarious! So, our 6 hour ride turned into 9 hours!!!! We were so extremely tired. Vitaly was supposed to be back in Zhytomyr by noon and it was 3:30 AM! We made him come upstairs and sleep on a mattress on the floor. There was no way we were going to let him drive back to Zhytomyr with no sleep. He slept for 4 hours and made it back safely (late, but safe). We called Leana throughout the day apologizing that we had kept him in Dnepro to sleep.

The ride was one of a lifetime - much like adoption! It was such a reminder that God is in control. There we were - no seatbelts, no directions, a language barrier, not knowing where we were going, and extremely exhausted - and God's mercy poured down on us and got us safely to our destination! Adoption is not for the faint-hearted. It should have a disclaimer, much like the rollercoasters and thrill rides at the amusement parks. But, trust God and He will carry you every step of the way! He doesn't called the equipped - He equips the called.

We have made a friend in Vitaly and Leana - we hope that our lives are a reflection to them of who Christ is through us! We hope and pray that God would pour His mercies on them as well.

No more Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for us - we are taking the Express Train back to Kiev on Saturday!  However, we are hoping and praying that Vitaly will be so gracious to pick us up and take us to Zhytomyr.

Vitaly and his car

Our new friend!

Blessings,
The Hills

NOW PRESENTING....

2010-10-15T09:50:00.002-05:00

Stephanie Tatiana and Amy Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hill, the proud daughters of Craig and Becca Hill and sisters of Molly and Madeline Hill!!!!! I will post more about these precious name choices later.

Today, the 15th day of October, 2010, the Government of Ukraine announced us the adoptive parents of these precious Ukrainian children. Our hearts are overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving! Court was amazing and it went so smooth - thanks for your prayers! The judge was quite comical and was very professional and light-hearted with the girls. He explained to Stephanie (Tanya) that she must be a good girl and that when her parents (us) get old, she must take care of us. He expressed the importance of her responsibility of being a good child. Then he proceeded to talk to Lizzie and asked her if she was going to be good and if not, we would be forced to send her back. He said it jokingly. He also said that there were no good children in America and that it was Lizzie's responsibility to show Americans what "good" children act like! It was too cute.

Court lasted less than an hour and we went to our favorite restaurant to celebrate! The girls finished lunch with a HUGE bowl of ice cream sundaes!!!

We could never have done this without the love and support of our family and friends! Having my mom here has been such a blessing! Our team of attorneys, facilitators, and drivers have been AMAZING! Oksana was such a professional representative in all of our meetings and especially court! She quadruple checks every document and is so personal with everyone she meets. We are so blessed and honored to know her! Natalia is our Kiev contact and is amazing at the SDA! She has such an amazing presence and carries herself with such professionalism and poise. We are BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

We are headed to Dnepropetrovsk this evening to visit Molly's orphanage, as well as sweet and dear friends we have met along the way in our adoptions. We are excited for the next chapter in our book.
We will head back to this region at the end of next week at which time we will get new birth certificates and passports for our new Hill girls. Craig will travel to the Carpathians Mountains on the 26th to get Stephanie's new passport and will return the 28th. We will head to Kiev to complete the adoption process and hopefully be home by November 2nd or 3rd!

We love each and every one of you!!! Thanks again for your prayers and your encouragement. We can't wait to be HOME WITH OUR FOUR GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Hills
Craig, Becca, Stephanie, Lizzie, Molly and Madeline

My Last Night as a Mother of TWO!

2010-10-14T15:32:00.000-05:00

It is kind of a strange feeling that I have tonight - my life, as I have known it, is about to change. I was playing cards with Molly tonight and my little family of four (and Mom) were all gathered in our little room, when it occurred to me - this is my last night as a mom of two! I looked at Craig and said "Hey, we are married, we have two kids and we are about to have four!" We say things like that from time to time because there are days when we feel like we are still in our 20s! Of course, there are days when I feel much older than my actual age.

So, tomorrow is the big day - COURT! Our girls will be picked up by our facilitator and brought to the court building. It is there that they will go before the judge and give their consent and desire to be adopted by us. They have told us for the last 10 months that they want us to adopt them but of course, anything can happen. So, we covet your prayers for tomorrow (even though it might be pretty early for some of you). We ask for favor with the judge, the prosecutors, the SDA, orphanage attorney, inspector and most importantly, our girls. We ask for a smooth court hearing with no bumps along the way. We ask for God's will to be done over our will - whatever that may look like!

As I sit here with Madeline laying beside me, I am overwhelmed with emotion. I would never, in a million years, have envisioned my life with four beautiful daughters. I would have never thought that I would be so blessed to be part of God's Sovereign plan of adoption. How could I be so blessed that God would, first of all, choose to adopt me and then allow me to be a vessel to adopt the fatherless? Its amazing that God would choose me in the first place! But, I am so thankful and humbled that He has worked through me to bring these precious four girls into my home by way of my heart!

I must sleep because its a busy day tomorrow! Thanks for your prayers and your support - its amazing to see so many people united by this adoption!

Love to you all,
From the soon-to-be MOMMY OF FOUR!!!!
Becca

A Future and A Hope...

2010-10-12T16:05:00.000-05:00

Its hard to believe that we have been in Zhytomyr for one week. At times, it feels like we've been here weeks and at other times, seems like yesterday we were in Germany. We had a great weekend at the orphanage and yesterday was a blast.

The children are so happy and so well taken care of but through all of that, there is a request (sometimes unspoken) of each and every one of them - to find a family. There are about 8 kids that hang out with us on a regular basis. It has been a lot of fun getting to know each and every one of them. Their personalities are so different but one thing is the same - they are children. However, they are children without moms and dad, some without hope, some with real pain, some with a future while others have none. But, one thing is true about all of them and that is - there is One who holds their future. Its hard to grasp the depth of the orphan situation in Ukraine and how one could ever go about finding the answer. So, I find comfort in knowing two things God has said in His word - 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.' Jeremiah 29:11 and
Acts 17:26
"and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation"

God does know and He cares for these children more than I could ever comprehend. However, it doesn't excuse me from my responsibility to "care for the orphans and widows of this world." James 1:27. Its obviously a command that He gives to us and its so much a part of His plan that he called it "pure and undefiled religion is this..." That's pretty serious business.

So, being here has shed new light on our ministry. We have looked into the faces of these children, most that will be left behind and we have heard their stories, their hurts, their pains, their desires. And, we listen, we pray and we trust in a Sovereign God that holds us each in His hand. That is what gives me the desire to go back every day (well, that, and getting to see my sweet girls!)

Speaking of girls, we didn't spend too much time with Leeza today. She came down and was quickly whisked away to get a shower. Tanya came down with her friends and sat quietly on the couch. She didn't say much today and I continued to ask her if everything was okay. She assured me it was but there was just something in her spirit. I don't know what she's thinking or feeling at this moment but I'm sure she is scared, confused a bit, sad to leave her friends, and excited all at the same time. Mix that with being a teenage girl and I'm not sure what her emotions are doing at this point. So, please pray for our sweet Tanya and whatever she may be going through right now. She has been all smiles up until today.

Court has been set for Friday at 11AM. Our facilitator called today to let us know that our Interpol clearances (international background checks) have not been received yet. Without these clearances, we can't have court on Friday. So, please PRAY that these are received by Thursday!!!! Lord willing and those come in, we will have court on Friday and then head to Dnepropetrovsk on Saturday to see friends and visit Molly's orphanage. We are excited to travel down there and look forward to seeing so many people. Molly's biological mom has expressed an interest in meeting us (without Molly) so we are praying through that right now to see what we should do. I would like to sit face-to-face with this sweet woman and express my sincere gratitude for giving my daughter life. She could have chosen to terminate her pregnancy but she chose life. She chose to take her to a hospital 3 days after her birth because she knew she would be fed. She chose to give her the name "Luba" which is "Love" because she loved her so much and wanted what was best for her. She chose life and I want to personally thank her!

Well, I need to get to bed. Its been a long week and we have a long road ahead of us. We did find a fabulous mall and even broke down and ate at McDonald's (against our better judgment!) Hopefully, we will get to take the girls out this week to ice skate with their friends. I am praying the head teacher will allow it :-) Now, if I could just muster up the courage to ask her in her native language!!!

Please pray for the Nyman family - they are currently adopting from Ukraine. They have run into big issues with their region. If you want to follow their journey - its http://www.sashanyman.blogspot.com/
And, singing praises that our friends, the Bollingers are on their way home tomorrow with their newly adopted daughters from Ukraine! http://www.morelovetogive.com/

Hopefully, we will be right behind them!!!

Blessings to you all!

Life in Ukraine...

2010-10-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

We spent a fabulous day today at the mall and then off to see the girls. I couldn't believe the mall! It had a great ice skating rink, a good food court, and wonderful shops. I was able to get a very nice winter coat for about $40. I got the little girls warmer clothes and plan on returning with the bigger girls to pick up some much needed items (coats and shoes).

Molly and I ice skated for a bit while Daddy and Madeline treated themselves to ice cream. We were anxious to get to the orphanage but the older girls were in school and we had to wait. There is a lot of waiting around but we know in the end, it will be worth it :-)

Oksana called this morning to tell us the documents were ready in the next town and that she would take a taxi (about 60 miles one way) to pick it up. She then dropped it off at the regional inspector's office so that she could write up her conclusion of the document. We were waiting on a separation paper from another region. I am not a huge advocate of separation but we have a very unusual circumstance. The oldest sister of our girls is almost 18 and has a child. There is no way to find her or let alone adopt her at this point. She has fled to Western Ukraine with her mother and she has always been listed as a "runaway" with the State Department of Adoption. So, we received that document today and were waiting on the inspector to write her report. Oksana tried to see the judge today but guess what - they decided to take a "short day." So, we shall wait until Monday to submit some documents to the judge and then Oksana will travel to Kiev to submit to the SDA. Once the SDA reviews the documents, they will write up a "conclusion" of their opinion of this adoption and then court will be set. We are hoping for next Wednesday or Thursday.

Seeing the girls was absolutely great today! The weather was perfect and we sat outside for a couple of hours. I was able to see and visit with children who I had previously met on hosting trips. It was great to catch up! I was also able to meet children I have only seen in photos. Each of those photos have children with stories. It broke my heart and there were many times I had to fight back tears. Mom had to walk off on two different occasions in fear of breaking down. We hosted a little 6 year old, Oksana, in 2007. We applied to adopt her and found out she had five older brothers and was not even registered. A few days later, we found out about Madeline and proceeded with the adoption of a newborn. I have continued to keep up with Oksana and two of her brothers through a young girl that works at the orphanage on the weekends. Its my understanding that she is being adopted by an Italian couple. I pray that it the case. It was so hard to see her the first day not knowing if she knew we tried to adopt her and it just wasn't possible. We got to play with her a lot today. She and Molly had a blast with Leeza - the three of them played well together. If its in God's will, I'd give anything to come back and get she and her older brothers, Viktor and Vanya. I pray that they are being adopted and not left behind.

Tanya's best friend is Alina. She is absolutely precious! She speaks a little English and has been hosted to France. She has such a sweet spirit and her relationship with Tanya is so genuine. She has a younger sister and two younger brothers. All are so cute and sweet! There are so many! So many faces, so many stories, so many hurts - its all hard to comprehend! But, I do know that God knows the very number of hairs on each of these children's heads! He cares more about them than I could ever imagine and I trust in His sovereignty! I pray that the Church would step up to the plate and take control of what has been entrusted to them by God. I pray that people would step out of their comfort zones into a world unknown to them but known to God and play a huge part in the life of a child that has no home.

We are excited to get to the orphanage tomorrow. What a great way to spend my birthday! I am hoping that they will allow us to take the girls ice skating and for pizza to celebrate!!!

Thanks for all your prayers!
Much Love,
Becca and the rest of the gang...

Tuesday and Wednesday in Ukraine...

2010-10-06T15:39:00.001-05:00

We stayed in most of the day on Tuesday until Natalia’s husband picked us up to go buy a stroller. I was hesitant to bring one or even buy one until we carried Madeline through the streets of Ukraine. The backpack was great but she is just too heavy to carry on my back. In an effort to save my back and my sanity, we bought a stroller. She loves it! Next, we went to the SDA to pick up our referral letter. There were four other families there and one we actually met the day before at a café. It was interesting to see where everyone was from in the States and actually most of them had hosted the child or children they were there to adopt. It was really cool to see fellow Americans!

Last night, our driver took us to the region. It was a long two hour drive with a two year old. She acted as if someone had given her a bottle of straight caffeine. Once we got into the city, we stopped at the grocery and then on to our apartment. It’s a very modern apartment but it does not have internet access nor a television. So, its very quiet (with the exception of Molly and Madeline). They girls have had to get quite inventive in their playtime. The décor is so South Beach in here and its quite cozy. We have three beds, which makes it nice. We purchased a wireless interest USB stick so I think we are doing okay on internet. Its pretty slow which makes “waiting” your turn for the computer quite maddening!

NOW TO THE GOOD PART…

We drove to the orphanage today for the first time. The inspector was walking as we pulled into the drive. Once inside, we were able to meet the director, as well as the orphanage attorney. Everyone was extremely nice! Then, in walked Leeza! She was shy at first but then warmed up to you immediately. I started crying my eyes out when I saw her, I have missed her more than I could have imagined. I don’t think she has grown much except for her hair! Then our sweet Tanya came in. Oh, how I could have just grabbed her but she is much more reserved. I hugged and hugged her and she did the same – it was nice to have her in my arms again! They were very excited to see us.

Once we talked to a few people and answering a few questions, they had the girls sign a consent that they did indeed want to be adopted by us. It was exciting to say the least! I can’t believe we are here and we are in the process again! It seems surreal

The girls were so excited to show us their friends. They took us all over the orphanage introducing us to many many children. It was exciting but so heartbreaking. I realized when I saw the hurt in the children’s eyes, that I have a calling and its to these children. I saw a girl that was hosted several times and has not yet been adopted by she and her two siblings. She began crying uncontrollably on my shoulder. I wanted to console her and I tried to the best of my ability. But, there is nothing I can do except advocate for her to find a family. It was heartbreaking!

In 2007, we hosted Oksana. She was nickname “Sluggo” because she was a bull in a china shop. She walked into the director’s office to see her and I came unglued! I couldn’t control my tears and my heart broke for her. What could she be thinking? Did she think I had forgotten her? We tried to adopt her but at that time, she wasn’t adoptable. It broke my heart more than you can imagine when I saw her today. Everytime I think of it, I get tears in my eyes. I am praying that she finds a family for she and her two brothers.

We left about 3 this afternoon to go to the notary for paperwork. Tomorrow, Oksana will travel to another region to obtain separation paperwork from an older sister that is almost 18. She has fled to Western Ukraine with her mother. There is no way to find out where she has fled to and to even ask if she wants to be adopted. I hope and pray that one day we could find her.

The next few days will be just a lot of waiting around. We should know in the best few days about our court date. I am hoping it will be around the 12th or 13th of October. Please pray its sooner versus later.

Thanks for all your prayers! They are greatly felt and appreciated!

Love to you all!

Craig, Becca, Molly, Madeline, Tanya and Leeza (and Gammy)

A "Hill" Deal...

2010-10-04T02:40:00.001-05:00

If any of you know us well, you know that we can't do anything "easy." We manage to find drama and if not, drama finds us :)

The SDA appointment went very well this morning. We met Natalia in front of St. Michael's church this morning to head to the SDA. It is freezing here this morning and we were frozen by the time she met us. We took a brisk but cold walk to the building and were ushered in by our psychologist, Deanna. She was precious! We took Molly and Madeline in the meeting and they were both a hit. They asked all about their adoptions and even asked why Madeline's birthmom gave her up for adoption. Madeline proceeded to make "flirty" eyes with everyone and we got a lot of giggles from the women in the office. Then, she opened my backpack and put on the darkest lipstick she could find. It was hilarious.

They showed us the files of the girls and they were quite old. Both of the girls had really short hair and looked fairly young. We found out that the girls' mom was deprived of her parental rights in 2006 and we also found out that Tanya was born in the Carpathian Mountains. So, here comes the "not so easy" part of the story. After we go to court, wait our 10 days and pick up the court decree - we get to travel to the far Western part of Ukraine! Its an overnight train ride or a 10-12 hour car ride. Natalia is going to call the birth certificate office in that region to see if only one parent can travel and I'll stay with the girls. Never a dull moment! So, we pick up our referral letter tomorrow between 4-5pm and then head to the region to see the girls! We can't wait and are so excited! If we can't see them tomorrow, we will see them on Wednesday for sure.

Its freezing here and we have limited clothes. So, we are going to try to head to the mall and purchase larger coats, long johns, and sweaters! The girls are soooo cold!

Thanks for all your prayers - we definitely feel them and they are working! Pray for our sleep - we can't seem to sleep in this apartment and it makes our nights very long.

Blessings to you all!

In Ukraine

2010-10-03T13:27:00.002-05:00

We finally made it! We left Austin on Wednesday, arrived Frankfurt, Germany on Thursday and spent two amazing days with friends. Craig had the opportunity to serve in Siberia and South Africa with Andre Bay. He, his wife (Masha) and three children are now serving and living in Germany. They live about 45 minutes from Frankfurt and about 20 minutes from Braunfels. We had a fabulous time and got to see the sister town to New Braunfels. We toured the Solms Castle and learned a lot about our own hometown. Germany is absolutely beautiful and we can't wait to go back one day.

We arrived in Kiev on Saturday and went through Customs like a breeze! We were standing in the "Non-Visa" line behind atleast 20 people. We knew it was going to be quite a long time and lots of fun for a 2 year old! Well, Madeline took a fall and started crying. I was trying everything to make her stop when a Customs agent motioned for us to come to the front of the line. I thought we were in trouble or something but I followed her direction. So, the five of us went to the front of the line and they let us go through Customs. After looking at our passports intently, we were motioned through the line. Next, we picked up all our luggage (which is a huge blessing) and headed to the other Custom's line. Again, we were motioned through and they never checked our bags! What another blessing! We were out of the airport by 1:45! Our precious driver "Leo" picked us up in a nice Volkswagon van and took us to the grocery store, and then to our nice apartment. We are very close to the center and within walking distance to everything!

Our first evening, we opted for TGIFriday's for dinner. We enjoyed people watching on the streets of Kiev and eating an American-tasting hamburger! We turned in early (8 pm) and went fast to sleep. Most of us (Craig and Madeline) slept 14 hours. Molly and I were up from 11-1 due to jetlag. I gave Molly a Benadryl and gave myself two Melatonin and we were finally off to sleep! We all slept in really late until our doorbell rang. People were coming in and making sure we were comfortable and others came in to set up our internet. We finally were able to meet Natalia and to give us last minute instructions before our appointment in the morning.

We will meeting at the SDA (State Department of Adoption) at 9am (1am Texas time) in the morning. We we receive our official referral of the girls. We hope to pick up our letter for the girls tomorrow but it could be Tuesday morning. Nonetheless, we will leave for their region on Tuesday. We may or may not get to see the girls that day but at the least, we will see them on Wednesday for sure. We are so excited and can't wait for the process to officially begin!!!

Thanks for all of your prayers! We do feel them and appreciate them. Continue to pray for a smooth process, favor with the SDA, judge, prosecutor, inspector, orphanage director/workers, etc. We know that God is in control and that He has a plan for our lives, as well as the lives of these girls. We know He holds the future. We are here out of obedience to Him and trust Him in this process.

Blessings to you all!
Becca

Eve of THE BIG DAY!

2010-09-28T23:11:00.001-05:00

I honestly don't know how tomorrow snuck up on me so fast! It seemed like I was cool and calm and then all of a sudden....its here!

I will try my hardest to keep updating the blog and I'll upload as many pictures as I possibly can do at one time.

We leave from Austin tomorrow evening at 5:00 pm, head to Dulles International (Washington DC) and then on to Frankfurt, Germany. We will be staying there until Saturday with some precious friends of ours that are missionaries. Craig met them in Siberia and then went to serve with them in South Africa the spring of 2004. We can't wait to see them and it will give us some down time and rest before heading to Kiev on Saturday. We will have day of rest of Sunday and then our appointment with the SDA (State Department of Adoption) is on Monday at 9AM. We will receive the official referral of our girls and then travel to their region on Tuesday evening.

Both of our girls (Molly and Madeline) are coming with us as well as my mom. She has graciously offered to join us and help with us during our SDA appointment as well as our court date. We plan to travel to Molly's birthplace after our court and spend time with lots of friends we met during our adoption of her in 2004. We also plan to meet Molly's birthmom for coffee (without Molly) and I am really looking forward to that! Please pray for us as we meet her for the first time.

Well, I need to get some things done before our big trip tomorrow. Keep reading and I'll update as much as possible.

Thanks for the prayers!!!!

7 days and counting....

2010-09-21T23:31:00.000-05:00

This morning was filled with checking email and the Ukraine Parliament website. A bill was being presented to possibly halt adoptions in Ukraine. The unfortunate thing about this bill is that it would be immediate and all those currently in the adoption process would not be allowed to adopt. So, if it passed, this little family would stay "little" and we would not be able to adopt our girls. I sent the email to Craig this morning stating that it was "up for vote" and he wrote back, "I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." He was certainly right and there was nothing I could do about the situation. So, I went on to bible study and of course, its on suffering and the Israelites in Egypt. I was reminded today that its through our suffering, that we can really see the character of God. He never leaves us, nor forsakes us and He always remembers His covenants and His promises to His children. So, as I sat there in bible study, I received an email (yes, I was checking) and it stated that Parliament had decided to postpone the vote after receiving a letter from the SDA requesting the bill to be rewritten with different language! So, with all that being said - we are still headed to Ukraine in 7 DAYS!!!!

The girls and I have been preparing our travel items this week. We've made a couple of trips to various stores gearing up for our upcoming trip. If any product comes in travel size, we have purchased it. Molly has had a blast getting ready and she is chomping at the bit to back her suitcase. She keeps going over and over (she must hear me doing the same thing) of what she is going to wear while in Ukraine. Its so cute and she is so excited! Madeline could really care less. When I asked if she was ready to go get her sisters in Ukraine, she replied that she "wanted to go to the store and get a donut." Priorities of a two year old. Needless to say, we are all very excited and counting down the days until our departure!

Other exciting news was that our dear friends that have been in Ukraine for awhile were named parents of two precious little girls. It has been quite the fight but God was victorious! Olivia and Tamara are now part of a forever family! Their blog is amazing (http://www.morelovetogive.com/) if you get a chance to read it.

There are other families that are currently in Ukraine and waiting on travel to return home. Please keep them in your prayers. There are families here in the US waiting on travel dates to go to Ukraine! Keep them in your prayers as well. Its hard to wait!

Well, I need to get in bed. Molly made her annual Pound Cake for the Comal County Fair. She will enter it tomorrow morning, bright and early and pick up her ribbon on Thursday. She is pretty certain (based on the taste of the batter) that she will get a Blue Ribbon. Personally, she put just a tad too much vanilla :) But, she had fun baking it and always has a great time at the Fair.

Oh, one more thing about Molly. Today, out of the blue, she says "Mom, what's it like on your way to heaven?" (like I know). But, I said "Well, when you take your last breath on earth, your next breath will be in heaven. There won't be anything to be worried about and there is nothing to be afraid of when you die. You go from here to there in an instant." She is terrified of any kind of amusement or waterpark ride. So, she replies, "Going to heaven is going to be one ride I'm not afraid of." I thought it was priceless! I love being a Mom!

Blessings to you all!
The Hills

The things that make you say hmmmmm.....

2010-09-15T11:05:00.000-05:00

Okay, we woke up late around the Hill household today. Craig had an allergy attack at 2:30 am and I slept with a mule (aka Madeline). So, we didn't sleep much during normal sleeping hours so we caught up this morning. It was nice to get up and drink coffee and chockey nilk (Madeline's words) with my family and watch a little television before we started our day.

I checked my email on my phone and was in complete shock when I received an email from PayPal. A donation in the amount of $500 was given and to top it off, I didn't know the donor! I immediately called my mom and she didn't know the name either. I sent an email to the gentleman and thanked him for his amazing contribution. In the meantime, Craig googled his email address and it took him to a blog (onelifetogive.blogspot.com) and he's a WAR HERO! HE FIGHTS FOR MY FREEDOM! I should be giving him $500! He is currently serving our country and just happened to be on leave for a week to spend time with his family. I won't disclose his name, out of respect for him, but I am amazed at what he has done for our freedom! He immediately responded to my email that he wanted to send an additional $500 via a check! I started crying and couldn't stop! How in the world did I know this guy? How did he know us? Where had he read our story and why was he giving us $1000? Then, he sent another reply "Oh, I am a friend of JD Steward's." JD is a dear, precious friend to us. He was a missionary to Guatemala and opened a women's shelter to provide a safe haven for many women in domestic violence situations. He is an amazing man of God and we are blessed to call him our friend. He and his precious girlfriend spent the entire weekend in May serving BBQ plates for our adoption fundraiser. He has gone over and beyond his duty as our friend. He tells our story and shares our website with everyone he knows and we are grateful!
Back to WAR HERO - please pray for him and his family. He is currently serving our country. He is constantly put in harm's way for our freedom. Pray that he will return home safely for good and pray for his precious family that must be without him during his tour.

I sit here in awe and I am speechless! Another donation came in from one of JD's friends. A family that he met while in Guatemala. They met two sisters while serving in an orphanage in Guatemalaand felt like they were "their daughters." Guatemala has closed their adoptions. They have had to leave their precious daughters behind and they long for the day when God will bring them home forever. Please lift up the Wagners up as well! I can't imagine knowing that I have two daughters in another country and I can't do anything to bring them home. Please pray that God would open the doors of adoption in that country and that children can be rescued and brought into homes - forever.

So, we have $2110 in our account - WOW - I can't believe the money that has been raised since Friday. I am speechless! We don't have far to go and we leave two weeks from tomorrow. I can't even begin to express my gratitude! I am humbled and amazed at each of you!

Blessings to you!
Becca, Craig, Molly, Madeline, Tanya and Leeza

So, they have fallen off their rocker.....

2010-09-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

I have been completely amazed at the outpouring of love and support from each of you! The encouraging emails, texts, voicemails, and comments are overwhelming!

This has been a hard year for us. There have been times I've thought, "What in the world are we doing adopting two girls? God has really brought us to this point, we could never have gotten here on our own. Financially, its been a hard year - who isn't experiencing some hard times in this economy? I feel like Craig works so hard and is so gifted in his ability as a financial planner, and sometimes the rewards just aren't coming in as fast as I'd like :) But, I know God is faithful and He will reward those that work hard but most importantly,those that work for the Lord. Craig gives God all the glory for every good thing that comes our way. He is such a great spiritual leader for our family and I am so blessed!

I know with the praise, comes the opposition. I know there are many people that are asking the same question that I've often asked myself, "What in the world are they doing adopting when they don't have the money?" I'm sure there are some people that are, quite honestly, tired of the fundraising emails, the letters, the home-based business parties, and so on. But, I made a promise to two little girls that don't have a Mommy that I would do WHATEVER it took to bring them home - forever! If that means being a nuisance to others and practically begging for money (so I feel like at times) - I said I would do whatever. So, I've had to swallow my pride (if you know me, I don't like to ask for help), bite the bullet, and ask for assistance. Its been a hard pill to swallow but "pride comes before a fall" - right? So, for those of you that think we have completely fallen off our rocker - I'm sorry. I don't apologize because I feel we are in the wrong but I do apologize because I'm a people pleaser :). But, I'd rather apologize to you because I know you guys can take it rather than apologizing to two little orphans that spend their days in an orphanage without a family. We are totally following God's lead and He has been the one that has opened the doors of this adoption.

When I set out on my journey called "life," I would have never in a million years planned to adopt older children. But, God, in His providence, has led us down a different path. Its Him who calls, its Him who equips, and its Him who provides. He has been the one to soften the hearts of His people to financially and prayerfully support us. So, I give Him all the glory!

We are $1800 away from our goal to bring our girls home. I am forever grateful to those that have given and so appreciative of those that can't give money but can give of their time to pray for us! That means so much and I feel your prayers! We have been given a HUGE gift - a sweet, precious friend has agreed to buy our flights. She wasn't prepared to purchase flights for Madeline so I am trying to fundraise for her ticket. And, I am trusting that God will provide for that as well.

We have been diligently trying to save and fundraise for this adoption and its been exhausting at times. But, I know that it will all be worth it when we bring those girls home - FOREVER!

So, thanks to ALL OF YOU! We love you and can't imagine going through this without you!

Blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly, Madeline, Tanya and Leeza

Leaving on a jet plane.....

2010-09-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it - we received our appointment date today! The funny thing is that last night, I continued to check my email over and over. I was waiting on an email from our facilitator in Ukraine. Nothing. Nada. Zelch. But, I had a dream that she got our invitation and it was for October 4th. Well, my dream came true - its actually OCTOBER 4th! I am still amazed at the goodness and faithfulness of God as He has taken us down this journey.

We began down this path scared, nervous, excited, and not knowing what to expect. As I sit here and think of those precious girls in Ukraine - I am ecstatic! I can't wait to bring them home! I can't wait to hold them in my arms and fulfill a promise I made to do whatever I could to adopt them. I've always told them we would do what we could but that it was God who would bring them here - not us. And, there is still a possibility that they could not be adopted due to a bill that is being voted on just a week before we leave for Ukraine. A bill is being presented to Ukraine Parliament that would halt adoptions. We are asking for prayer that this will not pass and that we will be able to proceed with this adoption.

We ask for your prayers, that is the most important thing in this journey! We are also $3000 away from our financial goal. We've raised and saved close to $12,000 in the last few months. I have been completely overwhelmed at the support of those around us. Everyone has really rallied around us and have given us more than we ever expected! We are asking 100 people to donate $30 this week to help us meet that goal. I have already received $240 is less than two hours! If you are inclined to donate, you may do so online (PayPal) with the beccarhill@msn.com address or send a check to us. Email me for the address (beccahill00@gmail.com)

Thank you again for all your love and support! We could not go down this road without each and every one of you!!!

Blessings,
The Hills

Life in the Summer....

2010-06-12T15:28:00.002-05:00

Doesn't everyone remember the lazy days of summer when you were a kid. I remember spending countless hours outside playing with my friends and almost every evening ended with a good ole game of the "Kick the Can." I remember my friend, Laurie, and I playing with Kelly and Jeffrey McHenry. They lived across the street from me and it was our personal mission to beat them at that game every time. I remember my mom "hollering" for me to come home and it had to be very late at night. We'd wash the summer smell off of us in that little tiny house on Brock Avenue deep in the heart of Mississippi. No telling what we had on us from playing in the creekbed behind Kelly's house, going down to the reservoir water's edge trying to catch crawfish, or chocolate ice cream that my Diddy had bought us from the Archusa Quick Stop. He made us ride in the back of his pick up truck and he had somewhat of a heavy foot so you can imagine that our ice cream cones didn't stand a chance! Poor Eula (our family housekeeper) would probably scrub our clothes to her fingers were raw trying to get that chocolate out! Oh, how I miss lazy days of summer! Catching "lightning bugs" or as Craig says "fireflies" and keeping them in glass jars next to our bed at night.

I love that my girls enjoy being outside. I love that they enjoy playing in dirt in our backyard. I love that they eat popsicles or ice cream on the back porch and love every minute of it. I love that they enjoy swimming and exploring the neighborhood on treasure hunts. I love that they love being sisters!

Speaking of sisters, we are planning to add two more sisters to our family. Tatiana is 15 and Leeza is 10. They are both living in an orphanage in Ukraine at the moment. We met them last summer and began to form quite the bond with them. I can't wait for them to share in the things my girls do during the day. I can't wait for my dining room table to be filled with the sounds of girls talking about their day. I am excited for what is in store for us as we go down this journey to bring them home forever.

We have been diligently trying to fundraise for our adoption. Though we can pay for their daily needs, we just don't have a huge lump sum to pay for their adoption. When we chose to adopt them, things were different. The dreaded health care plan had not passed yet and unemployment wasn't as low as it is now. Jobs were more secure and people weren't terrified of losing their wallets. And because Craig is a Certified Financial Planner, there are days when its tough around here. He is so incredible blessed with amazing talent. He is so intelligient and is incredible with his clients. But, its getting people to trust him. Its hard for people to trust anyone when it comes to their money. So, times are tough. But, I know that God called us to adopt these girls and I know He will provide a way for them to get here. I just have to trust Him. Tatiana graduates from the orphanage at 16, which is only 7 months from this upcoming week. She has a 20% chance to survive and I can't imagine her fighting for her life on the streets of Ukraine. We just have to get her home :)

So, please join me in praying for our girls in Ukraine. Pray that God would provide a way for them to get here and to get here FAST.
I long for them to enjoy our lazy days of summer. I long to tell them of my childhood summer days and for them to experience lightning bugs, popsicles, treasure hunts, chocolate ice cream running down their chin, catching crawfish, and Kick the Can.

Blessings,
Becca

2010-06-02T17:51:00.002-05:00

Sesame Street Birthday!

2010-04-14T12:14:00.001-05:00

Well, we celebrated Madeline's birthday on Saturday with her Sunday School friends. We transformed the backyard into Sesame Street. We had Abby Caddaby's Playhouse, Oscar the Grouch Trashcan Toss, Pin the Nose on Elmo, and Big Bird Fishing Adventures. It was a very fun party and we were so blessed by all her friends that came for the afternoon. The cake was absolutely INCREDIBLE! If you ever need a cake or dinners, you need to contact Jamie at http://www.dinnersbyjamie.com/ - unreal! There wasn't a drop left and it was a two tier cake!

Madeline had a blast and I hope that her friends enjoyed the day :) We ended the evening with friends, eating pizza, and hanging out by the fire pit. It was a perfect night!

On Sunday, we went to Willow City, Texa (close to Fredericksburg) to a baby shower. My best friend, Shelly, hosted a shower for her nephew, Case. He was born in January and they had a picnic at an old schoolhouse in his honor. It was so fun and th girls had such a great time. The food was fantastic and they have fun activities for the girls - bubbles and kites! The girls really enjoyed it and it made for a great Sunday afternoon with our family.

This week marks a special time for us. We are submitting our I600A to USCIS for the adoption of Tanya and Liza from Ukraine. God-willing, they will be joining our family this year. We have a lot of paperchasing to do but I am ready! Its been a few years since completing our dossier for Molly but I think I have enough energy :) Tanya is 15 and Liza is 10. There is some concern that Ukraine will close international adoptions due to a lady sending her 7 year old adopted child back to Russia. We are praying that this does not happen and that Ukraine will realize that there are more good adoptions than bad. If we submit our documents in June, we could travel literally that month! We are in a huge push to raise money and have so many fundraisers going at this time. We have made $170 on Adoption Bug (www.adoptionbug.com/journeythruthehills) and we've done well on our 100 for 100 = $10,000 on our Facebook. We raised enough money to send in our I600A form which costs $830! We will need to come up with $12,500 for our attorney in Ukraine by the time we leave in June or July. That is a lot of money but hey, its ALL God's money and He will provide is this is His will. We rely heavily on His Sovereignty!

Well, I think that is all for now. We have an exciting appointment in about an hour! We are in court to try to gain custody of a precious little foster care baby (1 month old). We are pretty much just trusting God with this placement. It wasn't anything we were searching for and we agreed to help the birth family. Its a sticky situation but I know that God has a certain plan for this little guy's life. We'll know something today (hopefully). So, gotta run for now. Enjoy the pics of the birthday party!

Blessings,

Becca

Two Years Ago....our lives changed forever!

2010-04-10T09:08:00.000-05:00

I honestly can't believe that its been two years since we brought Madeline home from the hospital. Where in the world did the time go? I remember about a year ago, I was in the grocery store and a man could tell I was a little frustrated with the girls. Madeline was in the basket screaming and Molly was hanging on the side begging for candy. This man said "The days seem to go on for years and the years will seem like minutes." That has stuck in my head and I am reminded that time really does fly by and especially the older I get! UGH!

Two years ago, a young woman made the hardest and selfless decision of her life - she gave me her child. I remember my stepmother saying to me when we announced our news to adopt "You mean a girl is going to just give you her baby?" I could tell that it was foreign to some and that the idea that someone would "give" me their child was unimaginable. But, she did and she did it with love. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I had never in my life been through such an emotional day. None of the miscarriages I had ever had could compare to the feelings I felt that day. I almost felt guilty for taking this child from her mother though she was voluntarily placing her child in my arms. She stared at Madeline and held her for hours, talking to her, sobbing, and asking if I thought she would grow up to be angry at her. She kept asking if Madeline would ever understand and know how much she truly loved her. Oh, talk about RIPPING YOUR HEART OUT! It was unbelievalbe. She walked out of that room with a sadness that I can't imagine. But, she also walked out with a glow.. she had just chosen life for this child! She was certain and confident in her decision. She gave us the greatest gift a person could ever give us. There was nothing to compare to that day. My heart still aches thinking of her and the pain she must have felt the day she left her baby with us. I am forever grateful to her and Madeline will grow up knowing the sacrifice she made and the love she had for her. Thank you, B! I love you!

So, we embark on the Two's! We actually started around 20 months. The "cute" little fits are funny at times (just because she is so darn cute!) but they are getting out of hand. Its hard to discipline a two year old so if anyone has any tips to share, please do!

On Thursday (her actual birthday), we had plans to go camping. At the last minutes, the plans changed, so we grilled steaks and Molly made Madeline a homemade strawberry birthday cake. We had presents, cake and ice cream with our family - it was a sweet time. She LOVED her cake! Today, we are having her little friends over for a Sesame Street Birthday! She is excited and we have transformed the backyard into a child's version of Sesame Street with Big Bird Fishing Adventure, Oscar the Grouch Trash Can Toss, and Pin the Nose on Elmo! It should be a fun day and I'll post pictures after the party!

Blessings to you all!!!
Becca, Craig, Molly and Madeline

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T22:14:00.000-05:00

It has been quite the week. We have really looked forward to my Daddy and his wife coming to visit! We cleaned the house, went grocery shopping and waited in anticipation (actually Molly started counting the days about 32 days ago!). They would be traveling from Mississippi. On Monday, I woke up with horrible neck pain. Thinking that I slept wrong, I took some Motrin and went on my day. Well, that night I had to pop a muscle relaxor and did so for the next three nights. I must have taken a whole bottle of Motrin and those that know me well, know that I don't take medicine well AT ALL! Craig knew I was hurting and on Thursday, it became worse. You know how they ask you at the ER "On a scale from 1 to 10, what is your pain level?" Well, I've never had to say "10" but I was VERY close to saying 15 on Thursday night! My mom came over and helped me with the girls and took Molly to gymnastics! I made a call to our doctor friend and he called me in a steroid. With Good Friday the next day, he was apparently out of town. Our other doctor friend came over and did some neck stretches on me which helped a little. Great to have docs that still make house calls :) Anyway, Daddy and Jodie showed up on Thursday night (very late) and we had a great day shopping and having dinner on the Riverwalk. We spent some time on Saturday shopping in San Marcos and cooking out that evening. It has been so much fun having them here! The pain in my neck subsided for a couple of days and I was so thankful! However, it started hurting again today in church and so I am now getting a little concerned. Maybe its stress (I seem to be under quite a bit of it lately:) ) but I think I'll get it checked out this week. I would appreciate the prayers.

Daddy and Jodie leave tomorrow and its sad to see them go. We look forward to seeing them again in May when we travel to Mississippi for a wedding. I do wish they lived closer to us - my girls absolutely love them. We have had such a wonderful and blessed time this weekend.

Here are some photos of the week and a couple of the girls "Egg Hunting." They would not cooperate for Easter Morning photos so it was hard to get the two of them together in their matching Easter dresses.

I pray that you are reminded each and every day (not just today) of the price that was paid for your adoption into the family of God. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. May He receive all the glory and honor for your salvation. Its nothing you have done or a choice you have made but its by grace you have been saved. Praise His Name!

Happy Easter! The Hills

Praise God from who ALL blessings flow...

2010-03-29T12:11:00.001-05:00

My heart has ached for Nahomie of Haiti for weeks. We went from being so excited about having her in our home to the news that she could possibly not be coming over on the humanitarian aid visa like the rest of the children. Our only option would be to apply for a student visa and then be responsible for getting her to and from school each day at a private school. Craig and I are just not set up to do that right now. My heart was broken. Who would take her? Who would care for her? Would she have to stay in Haiti? Would I ever be able to get over saying "no?" But, I sent one email to a dear friend that is adopting two girls from Nahomie's orphanage. She immediately got busy contacting her family in VA. Her dad is a professor at Liberty University and they are interested in sponsoring Nahomie on a student visa. My friend's older sister is in college and lives at home. She could take Nahomie to school and they could also keep one another company when their parents are traveling! WOW - God works fast! Why do I ever question Him???? So, please pray with me and with this family as they embark on the journey to rescue Nahomie from the devastated orphanage in Haiti. Pray that a school will allow her to come over on a I-20 visa and that her school would provide a scholarship. Pray that our government approves her visa and that she will be able to travel soon. I know that God has written her name in the palm of His hand. I know that He knows the plans for her, to give her a future and a hope that will not harm her. Glory be to God!

Blessings,
Becca

Our new journey thru the Hills....

2010-03-28T14:40:00.004-05:00

So, I promised to update my blog more often and once again, I failed. Its been December since I updated so please forgive me. Its almost April! Alot has happened in our lives since December but doesn't that happen to all of us?

Its been a very exciting year and did I expect anything less? We hosted Tanya and Liza at Christmas. They were part of 17 orphans that came to Texas from Ukraine. Out of those 17 orphans, 14 of them are going to be adopted by families in the area! Praise God! Out of those 14 are our very own, Tanya and Liza. I call them "our own" but I know that its not until God brings them here that I can call them "my daughters." Whatever God chooses to do in their lives (and ours) - I am submitting to His will. Its hard to sit here on the other side of the world while they sit in an orphanage waiting for us to come rescue them. Its hard praying for God to "place a hedge of protection around them" knowing full well that I have no control over their lives. But, I find comfort in knowing Who is in control and I rest in that promise!

We have started the adoption process of Tanya and Liza. Our social worker came for a visit on February 15th and updated our homestudy. We have been waiting on our completed homestudy to submit to USCIS. But, to be honest, we have been waiting on funds to follow through this process. It cost $830 to submit our I600A to USCIS. We raised $383 at a garage sale yesterday and two people have given us a total of $300 in the last 48 hours as part of our new Facebook Fundraiser "100 giving $100 = $10,000." So, we are less than $200 away from having the funds to send to USCIS. Then, the "real" fundraising begins! We have 7 families that have pledged to give $100 to our Adoption Fund - praise God! We have also set up an "Adoption Bug T-shirt" fundraiser on our blog as well. We know that God has called us to pursue these girls and it will be His Divine Provision that will bring them to us forever. There is nothing that we can do or say to cause these funds to be raised - its in His doing that makes it all happen. So, we find comfort in believing in His Sovereignty.

Other situations have come our way and to be honest, we are praying through this decisions. We ask that you pray for us as well. Without going into too much detail, we could possibly provide a temporary home for a newborn. His parents made some poor choices during the pregnancy and have lost the right to see him. He is a sweet little boy and needs a loving, Christian home, even if for a short time. I once spoke those words, "I will NEVER foster a child!" Hmmmm, if you know me - you know that I should have learned by now to NEVER SAY NEVER! For some reason, God brought this little guy to our attention. We have no idea what's to come of it and even if we'll be able to foster him but we are praying for God's will, His wisdom and His discernment in our lives and this child's life. We will go to court on Wednesday to hear the temporary placement order from the judge. We shall see but please join us in praying for this precious little guy and his birthparents.

On January 12th, a great earthquake hit Haiti and it was a privilege and honor to be involved in placing 54 orphans into homes in the San Antonio/New Braunfels area. I was amazed at the outpouring of love and support of God's people! My list of potential foster/adoptive couples grew to over 70! It was incredible! All but 4 of the children have been placed in loving homes and we now wait the decision of the House and Senate to pass the Hope Act. This bill would grant humanitarian aid parole to these orphans and provide them a way to get to the United States and into loving homes. We were matched with Nahomie, a 17 year old precious girl. Unfortunately, there is some concern about her availability to come on the same visa as the other children, because of her age. The only way we can get her here would be on a Student Visa. We would have to find a private school that would allow her to come on a I-20 student visa. We would also be responsible for providing private education and to be honest, we aren't able to do that at this time. So, we need to pray to find a home for Nahomie or to provide provision for our family to host her. We don't know what the future holds for this precious girl but we know Who holds the future.

Craig's job has taken off by storm. And, we know storms can be scary at times and full of torrential rains. But, with storms - there is growth when the rain ends! So, we are trusting God during this transition and can already see some amazing things taking place. He brought on a new business partner that offers so much to the firm. He has tons of experience and he brought a licensed assistant for them to share! She is awesome and provides the much needed support that Craig needed in the office! God is good!

Well, I promise to update this a couple of times a week. I need to start using this blog as a means to get some things off my chest during this adoption journey! The journey is never easy and the road comes with some bumps but there is a great reward at the end of it.

Join us in prayer as we embark on this rollercoaster of a ride called adoption.

Blessings,
Becca

Talk about a year!

2009-12-06T23:22:00.005-06:00

I think I am a terrible blogger. No, I know that I am a terrible blogger! There are women (and men) that have multiple children that blog almost everyday! I am so very impressed with those people and strive to be better at this whole thing.

Over Thanksgiving, my sweet niece (Zoe), asked me to update my blog. I think she was the only one that actually read it and I'm not sure if she still does read it :)

But, here goes...

In May, we made the sudden decision to move to Florida for the summer. It was the greatest 3 months of our lives. Craig went down there to work for a man that had the contract with the FBI. They worked on their benefit and financial planning. It was quite interesting and nothing like we had expected but it was good for us. There were many bumps and bruises along the way but the summer grew us all. We met some incredible new friends that will be in our lives forever! We were able to see my brother, Michael, his wife Cristi, and their new little one, Sydney. It was great to be only 2 hours from Key West!!!

We were able to go to Disney World a couple of times and get to see some of our dear friends that live in Orlando. Disney was incredible! Molly had mixed feelings. She was excited at times and fearful at others. She wasn't a big fan of Peter Pan (which I love) but loved the Haunted Mansion - go figure! Madeline, on the other hand, was a trooper and loved every minute of it! She fits well into our family. She can go, and go, and go! She did great in the double stroller and I don't remember her fussing much at all. Her sister, now that is a different story!

When I came home, I had to make some decisions in my life. My children were growing up right before my eyes and I was missing it. If Florida taught me anything, it was that I was way too busy. I was trying to run a dance studio, run an adoption ministry, homeschool Molly, run a household, and many other things I sign myself up for on a daily basis! I was exhausted when I left for Florida and the time there allowed for much rest. I enjoyed the simplicity of life and wanted that when I returned to Texas. So, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life - I closed Corum Deo Dance Academy. It was my dream to own my own dance studio and I loved every minute of it. I do miss my little ballerinas and pray that their lives were touched in the short time that I had them in my life. I needed to cut some things out of my life and that just had to be one of them. I had a friend ask me what my passion was in life, ballet or reaching orphans? I had to be honest with myself and I knew in my heart that my passion was raising awareness of the 143 million orphans worldwide! So, I have decided to focus on my orphan care and adoption ministry.

Saying that comes with a disclaimer! My Lord comes first. My family second. And, then my ministry. I have to check myself daily on where my priorities lie. Its a hard struggle but I can't allow myself to get so busy that I miss out on my ministry to my family.

Speaking of family, I am homeschooling Molly and LOVE IT! We have such a great time and she is learning. She was recently diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder. Its been a struggle for months to try to figure out what was wrong. We weren't sure if it was something we could "fix" or if it was a product of her orphan life. We were thankful that there is hope! Little Giant Steps is the program we are using and its a long road but one that offers a light at the end of the tunnel!

Madeline is growing up so much! She is talking more and more each day. She can say "Mama, Dada, Momo, Cat, Paci, Bed, Book, Light, Eat, Ride, Night Night, Bye bye, I wanna go, Milk, Wawa (water), Pop, Papa, Gigi, baby, ball and my favorite "Down!" for touchdown! She is my football buddy! She loves it and we love our New Orleans Saints! They are 12-0!!! She is also a daredevil! We joke that she is my brother's child! She knows NO FEAR! She learned to swim this summer after she kept jumping in the pool!!! The lifeguard suggested we do the Infant Survival Swim Class and she was swimming on her own by the 2nd lesson!

Its Christmastime here in the Hill house! We are gearing up for a very exciting Christmas! We will be hosting two very special girls, Tatiana and Liza, from Ukraine. They are 14 and 9 and we met them this summer. Tatiana actually flew to Florida and spent three weeks with us. We even had the chance to take her to Disney! She loved it! Now we get to host them and we are so very excited! We actually have 17 orphans coming for Christmas to stay with 11 families in the New Braunfels area. I can't believe that we are at this point in our ministry and it excites me every time I think of it! God is good! He is calling His people into action to care for the orphan and they are being obedient. I never in a million years thought that I would part of something so huge! Thank you, Lord, for using me. I could never do this on my own strength.

Well, I need to get to bed. No wonder I don't do this often! Its 11:40 at night and I need to be sleeping :)

Merry Christmas to all!
Blessings,
The Hills

iSearchiGive : Raise money for G.R.A.C.E. Adoption Ministry, every time you search the web.

2009-08-04T13:16:00.001-05:00

iSearchiGive : Raise money for G.R.A.C.E. Adoption Ministry, every time you search the web.

Shared via AddThis

Our Journey is never boring!

2009-06-03T11:11:00.006-05:00

I can't believe its summer! Where has the time gone? We love summer around here but our "here" will soon change! We leave on June 13th and will board a flight to Florida. We will be living in the Sunny State for 3 months. Craig has accepted a job down there and we will be "test driving" life in Florida for the summer. We are excited and scared at the same time. Our life here in Texas is wonderful! We belong to an incredible church and have such a great network of friends. But, life changes and we are certainly open to that change. We know that God has had to open many doors and put many things into place for this to happen, so we are completely trusting Him during this move.

We are getting our house ready and that involves lots of cleaning out! We had a garage sale a couple of weeks ago and got rid of alot of things. Molly was so excited to sell her toys and even made $57 from her lemonade and cookie sales. She asked everyone that came up to shop if they would like lemonade! I am trying to teach her the value of a dollar and how important it is to make money before you spend money. I was very proud of her. She sold her Little Pony Castle, a dollhouse and LOTS of little toys!!!

We are renting a duplex in Florida. I have a photo attached to this post. Its amazing and we are truly blessed to be living there for the summer. My brother, his wife, and their new baby are only an hour and a half from us so we are super excited! Pray for us and with us as we start this new journey!!!

On Saturday, June 6th - 15 orphans from Ukraine will land on US soil! We (G.R.A.C.E. Adoption and Orphan Care Ministry - www.graceadoptionministry.com) put together our first hosting trip for the summer. We have some AMAZING families that have stepped up to the plate to host these precious children for almost 3 months. The children are 6-14 years of age and all orphans. Their stories would break your heart. These families will get to show them a love that they have never known. We are so excited that these children will get to experience a summer like no other. Pray with us that its a safe and fun summer for all of them.

Molly graduated from Kindergarten this year. Where has the time gone since we brought her home from Ukraine in 2004. Wow - time really does fly! She will start 1st grade next year and we plan on homeschooling. I am still researching curriculum but I am sure we will pick something before the Fall gets here.

Madeline will be 14 months on the 8th of June. I still can't believe that God blessed us with such a precious baby. I have to pinch myself every once in awhile to make sure I am not dreaming! She is walking (well, running) all over the place! Her nickname is "Search and Destroy" because it literally takes her about 2 seconds to destroy anything she touches. Her favorite food is pizza! She follows her sister everywhere and is little Mini-Molly! Its so cute.

We don't talk to her birthmom much and wish that we could see her. She is still living in Vegas and we hope and pray she is doing well. We think of her often and pray for her every night before we go to bed. We still love and care for her so much.

Well, I guess that's all in our little world. My next post will be from Sunny Florida!!!!

Blessings,
The Hills

Madeline is One...We are getting a dog...and Mom has a pacemaker!

2009-04-11T11:43:00.005-05:00

It has been quite a month! I can't believe our sweet baby girl, Madeline, is a year old! Where in the world did the time go? It just seems like yesterday I was holding that 5 pound baby in my arms for the first time. I remember that day like it was just yesterday. The pure joy I felt when I looked over and saw Craig holding her for the first time still brings tears to my eyes. I was so excited that he got to hold her first and the look on his face was priceless. Though we approached her birth and adoption with caution, we knew the minute that we saw her - she was our daughter. She will always have a "Life Mommy!" We are forever grateful to her Life Mommy for the choice she made to give her life. We are blessed to know "B" and she will be in our lives and our hearts forever.

Madeline had her "First Fiesta" birthday party on the 4th. Mommy ran a 5K and then came home to make enchiladas. They thought it was important to appreciate Madeline's heritage by making it a fun, festive, Fiesta. We had a sombrero cake for the big kids and Madeline had her own "Chili Pepper." My sweet friend, Jamie Rutledge, did a fantastic job at both cakes! They were soooo yummy! If anyone ever needs a cake, let me know - she is the best! We had a jalapeno pinata filled with candy and cascarones to top off the evening. The bigger kids (aka Mommies and Daddies) had margaritas :) I needed it because I was having a really hard time coming to terms that my baby girl was ONE! Is it okay to cry on your daughter's birthday?

Before her birthday, we were blessed to go spend time in Ingram, Texas with our sweet friends, the Barrs. They invited us (oh wait, we invited ourselves) to their cabin in the woods. We had a fabulous time! The kids played so hard and even swam in the frigid cold pool! It was so relaxing and much needed. During our time there, I got a call that my mom had been rushed to the ER by ambulance! Her heart rate was around 32 and her blood pressure was low. She could not walk and was extremely weak. Craig, Madeline, and I rushed back to New Braunfels and Molly stayed with her friends. Once we got to the hospital, Mom was looking better but her heartrate was still dangerously low. After a series of tests, they determined she would need a pacemaker. So, a couple of days later, the cardiologist put in her pacemaker and now Mom is feeling a ton better! She will have more energy and I think she is better set for old age :) A friend of mine told me that she was "pre-wired for old age." That made her laugh!!! Anyway, she is doing so well and we have been showered with tons of support from family and friends to make things so wonderful!

Molly is doing fantastic! She turned 6 in January and is growing up so fast! She is our little gymnast and recently was evaluated at a new gym. They told us that she was "very" good and had lots of potential. Must be her Ukrainian blood :) She is a strong Level 2 but almost at Level 3. She may start at the new gym in May or June. We love her current coach and it will be a hard transition. But, she needs to be somewhere that works with her potential alittle more. Several of her friends have already switched to the new gym and are doing fantastic!

Craig is still plugging away at his firm. He wanted to sell his practice and was approached by a large firm in San Antonio. They are talking now about merging and forming a strategic alliance. So, it should be interesting. We are just praying and wanting to do what God wants for his business. He loves his clients and wants more time to develop those relationships.

G.R.A.C.E. Adoption Ministry is doing awesome! We have really been creating awareness of the 143 million orphans worldwide. We have a family that just returned last month from Ukraine with their precious daughter. And, we have another family that is returning tomorrow to pick up their little girl in Ukraine! We have a family waiting to travel soon and we have about 12 Ukrainian orphans scheduled to hit US soil for a hosting trip this summer. God is moving in the hearts of His people and its so cool to be a part of it.

Ballet is wonderful! I have two incredible teachers that help me with two days a week. God continues to bless me through Corum Deo Dance Academy - He is so good and we dance for Him and His Glory!

So, Craig was moved by his 6 year old daughter and we will be welcoming a new puppy into our home in mid-May. His name is Chaco and he is a chocolate Labradoodle. Craig is having a hard time with the name of the breed but is excited that its a BOY. Poor guy, he is so outnumbered!

I guess that is our update. Sorry that I have been a terrible blogger!!!!

Blessings to you all and HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!

One Year Ago Today...

2009-02-20T21:09:00.003-06:00

It was rainy and cold day one year ago today as Molly and I loaded up the car and headed to San Antonio. We were on our way to the unexpected. We were on our way to an appointment that could change us forever. We were on our way to meet Briana. As we sat in the kid's part of McDonald's, my heart was beating fast. What would our meeting be like? Would she even want to consider me? Was I just here to give her information about adoption? What exactly was I on my way to do? Did I have my thoughts straight? How could I be objective and just give her the facts about adoption without getting emotionally involved? So, I waited. Then, they came through the door. I noticed her gorgeous blue eyes and then looked down at her belly, she was tiny. How could she be 6 months pregnant? She looked fantastic in her little tiny jeans. She stood there with her son and boyfriend. Her son's hair caught my attention, those precious blonde curls and those big blue eyes! He was absolutely adorable. And, her boyfriend was so attentive to her and to her needs. It was amazing to watch him wait on her hand and foot. She was so blessed to have these two precious men in her lives. Why in the world is she placing her child up for adoption, she was being taken care of so well. But, she told her story and it was so sad. She was a product of her environment. She had grown up in a home that didn't have the best of circumstances. She had done so well being a Mommy to her son but there was no way she could do it. I sympathized with her and wanted to take away her pain right then.
As I sat across the table from her, it became apparent that I was there to give my story. I told her about us, our struggles, and our adoption of Molly. I showed her our adoption scrapbook of our time in Ukraine. I was very open and honest about our family and the rollercoaster ride we had gone on in adoption. She seemed to sympathize with me too. She looked through the scrapbook and smiles came across her face as she turned the pages. After she was finished, she pulled sonogram pictures from her pocket and handed them to me and said "These are yours." I can still remember that I was numb. I took the photos but I bit of guilt came across me that I was taking something away from this precious girl. A relationship formed that day.
For the next 6 weeks, our lives changed. I remember getting in the car that day at McDonald's and not being able to speak. I think Molly must have asked me a million times if she was going to let us adopt her baby but I couldn't answer - I just sat there. I remember calling Craig and telling him that we were going to have a baby. I could barely drive back home that day but I made it. I called all my close friends and family and everyone began praying. I guarded my heart but was so excited I could have jumped out of my skin that day!
So, as I look back on this past year, I have tears rolling down my face as I remember the day I met the girl who would change our life forever. I will forever be grateful to the self sacrifice she made that we may have our arms and hearts filled with a precious baby. Thank you, Briana, I love you and will forever!

10 Months and Crawling!!!!

2009-02-10T11:08:00.004-06:00

We finally have a Crawler! Its taken us awhile to get over the fear of falling but she has it! I can't believe our baby is 10 months old - she is growing WAY too fast. It hasn't hit me quite yet that she will be 1 in less than 2 months. Where has the time gone? Here is a video of her crawling for the first time - I am so thankful that I had the camera ready and that it had 2 minutes left before the battery died!!

Christmas, Birthday, Loose Tooth and Key West....

2009-01-29T21:56:00.006-06:00

Wow, its been quite the two months! Molly turned 6 years old on January 12th! She chose to have a small tea party with a few close girlfriends - it was quite the change from our normal "HUGE, INVITE THE ENTIRE TOWN" parties. Molly has quite the heart and never wants to leave anyone out. So, it was so hard to have her keep her guest list to a minimum. But, I was proud of her even though she has stressed over those that were not able to attend. We had a "Fancy Nancy" party and my friend, Jamie, made the most adorable cake (picture below). It was AMAZING! The girls dressed in their fanciest dresses and we had so many activities for the girls to do that went with the "Fancy Nancy" theme. It was so much fun and Gammy and I even got fancy!
Madeline turned 9 months in January! UNBELIEVABLE! She gets prettier and prettier everyday. She was pretty when she came out and I can't believe how much she has grown. People literally stop us in the store to stare at her! I think she looks more and more like her "lifemom" B. She sits up and goes on all fours but REFUSES to crawl. She loves to hang on our fingers, pull herself up, and then walk with us holding her hands. Its so funny and I think she just might skip crawling all together. Molly did and she is just fine. Madeline still has two teeth. But, I am thinking she is on the brink of a couple of more. Just waiting!
Speaking of teeth, Molly has her first loose tooth. Its been loose for 29 days and counting. Tonight it started bleeding so I think its about to fall out. She is really nervous and I think she thinks she will swallow it in her sleep. We just can't wait for it to fall out so the Tooth Fairy can visit and be done!
Ballet started back the middle of January. After an amazing Christmas performance, I gave the girls and myself a break! During the break, I was seeking treatment for my hip. I have dealt with hip pain for 8 years and have been to many doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists, etc. Nothing seems to be helping but I found a chiropractor that is actually helping for the first time. Its been quite the journey but he advised me to find an alternative to teaching dance. Either I could close the studio and let 60 little girls down or hire teachers. After much prayer, I found the PERFECT teachers! I am so blessed to have Brittany and Elizabeth Docter as my new ballet teachers. They are a huge blessing to my studio and the girls love them! I am keeping teaching to a minimum right now while I am seekig treatment and hope to be back in full force soon. I love teaching and I miss all my little ballerinas but the teachers are taking such good care of them.
The adoption ministry is in full swing! I met with the elders of our church in late December to get the ministry approved to be under the authority of the church. We have not been officially approved but I think its in the works! We just got our Certificate of Formation from the Secretary of State and now we are working on our 501c3. I hear its ALOT of work but I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring awareness of the 143 million orphans in the world!!!
For Christmas, we stayed in New Braunfels. It was pretty low key but Mom joined us along with Craig's parents. It was nice to be quiet and be traveling all over the place. We did board a flight on New Year's Eve headed for Key West! We couldn't wait to get there and see our new addition to the Robinson Family - Sydney Claire! She is absolutely adorable! She loved her Aunt Becca and I loved her too. I got to get in some great snuggling time!!! They are actually in San Antonio for the weekend and we get to see them on Saturday! Can't wait!
Well, I think that is all for now!
Pray for the Bredesens - they just got their referral for a 12 month old little boy in Ethiopia! So exciting! I am praying that they travel soon - hopefully in the next couple of months.
Hope all of you are doing well - let me hear from you!!!
Becca

8 months, two teeth and lots of new things...

2008-12-11T23:36:00.004-06:00

I am such a bad blogger. It could be because I am so busy that I can't seem to keep my head above the water!!! There has been so much going on in the lives of the Hills that its hard to keep up. I get an email every once in awhile about the lack of information on our blog. So, here goes.

Molly will be 6 in January! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of her birthday. She must talk about her "Fancy Nancy" party atleast twice a day. She and I have collected tea cups and saucers for her friends and she can't wait until the day comes when she can celebrate her birthday with them. She chose "Fancy Nancy" because, well, quite frankly - she is Fancy Nancy! The girl is full glam! She uses BIG words and I think learns a new 'fancy' word every day! She learned to ice skate in Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago and now she is officially ready for the Olympics! She and Oksana Bahul (sp) grew up in the same town in Ukraine. Speaking of Olympics, Molly's other passion is gymnastics. She has always had a talent for gymnastics but I never wanted to push her. She would go each week, pass her skills tests each time, and just go with the flow. Well, one day, she began to do flips in the yard and became quite the daredevil! She looked at me one day and said "I want to do one of those backflips like Nastia." (meaning Nastia Luikin). So, I spotted her in a back handspring and the next thing you know, she is trying it on her own! So, I enrolled her in private lessons with Coach Stephanie so she doesn't break her neck! Stephanie says she is VERY good for a 5 year old! I don't want to be one of those pushy moms that thinks my daughter is the best so I am just "going with the flow." What happens, happens.

Madeline - well, our baby is 8 months old! She finally rolled over from front to back and then back to front. I never know how I will find her in her crib in the mornings! She flips and flops all over the place. I think she must watch her sister and then attempt to do the same gymnastics in her bed!!! She cut her first tooth the day after Thanksgiving. It was like a PARTY when I felt it! We ran around Craig's sister's house like maniacs having everyone feel her tooth. It was quite exciting! Well, her second tooth came in the day of her 8th month birthday. She has been MISERABLE! We have not slept in a week and we spend lots of quality time togther in the middle of the night fighting those teeth! She is sleeping soundly now so I should be sleeping too! Madeline is sitting up all by herself and she has even gotten in the "crawling stance." She scoots very well on her belly so she may be ready to start crawling any minute! We have her enrolled in Kindermusik and she absolutely LOVES it. When we are there, she lights up. She LOVES to hear Brooke sing. I think we all do! She has such a gift with kids and music. She is a great teacher. When we play the music at home, its almost as if she is trying to find Brooke. Its so cute!

We are headed to Key West on New Year's Eve. My brother and his wife welcomed a new baby into their homes in November. Sydney Claire made her arrival 3 weeks early! She is sooooo stinkin adorable. She looks alot like Michael but what is even more strange - she and Madeline look soooo much alike. Its so cute! I can't wait to meet her!!!!!

Mom has been helping so much with the kids. She is a TRUE LIFESAVER and the best grandmother in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't live without her! She went to Key West for two weeks and we were miserable!!!

Ballet is going well. We have our Christmas play on Tuesday, December 16. I have the best ballerinas in the world! But, we all need a break! We are tired.

Grace Adoption Ministry is getting closer and closer to getting off the ground. My dear friend, Camille, and I met with the elders of our church tonight. It went exceptionally well! Thank you, Lord, that you use people to help in rescuing the orphans of this world!

I guess that is all for now! Blessings to you all!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Hills

I miss her...

2008-10-20T22:08:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking ALOT today about "B" - not sure why but she has just been on my heart. I started doing "YouTube" searches on videos of adoption. Of course, I ran across this one. I do hope and pray that when Madeline meets her one day that she will thank her for giving her life. I am thankful to "B" and her absolutely unselfish act of placing her child with us. I will love this child with every ounce of my being. I still can't believe she is in our home.

I also pray that Molly will get to meet Victoria one day. I know Victoria thinks of her daily and loves her so much. I just pray that I continue to tell Molly of just how much she does love her and that she chose to give her life!

Please join me in praying for all the birthmothers out there. I can't imagine what they must go through when they place their child in another's arms.

Baptism, Toes, Sweet Potatoes, and the Big Easy...

2008-10-18T23:22:00.003-05:00

Wow - its been way too long since I updated this site. It was brought to my attention when a friend asked if things were okay because I had not updated the blog. Shame on me :)

I can't believe our baby is 6 months old!!!! Its so hard to imagine that its been that long since God brought her into our lives. She has changed so much and its amazing to see her personality coming out each and every day.

The girls were both baptized at church on September 28th. It was an amazing time and we are so very thankful that our church is so supportive of us and our adoption. We thought it was important to have both girls baptized and dedicated to the Lord. Its also important to us that our church is involved in helping us raise these two precious gifts from God. We had many friends and family there to support us and to show their love for our girls.

Today was a big day - Madeline finally rolled over. Its been quite frustrating to hear all these other babies her age having mastered the art of rolling over at such an early age. I was beginning to worry a little because I feel like we work on it all the time. She absolutely hates tummy time so it was quite an effort to get her to do it. But, she did this morning!!! When I walked into her room during nap, she had rolled over again and was kicking the musical mobile to make the music turn on. She is so smart! She rolled over again tonight just for her sister!

This month has been exciting in the life of Madeline. She ate her first baby food and I must say that she takes after her daddy - her favorite is sweet potatoes! She loves them! We now eat baby food throughout the day and it has given her more incentive to sleep harder during the night and naptime!!! That is great news for all of us.

Madeline also took her first trip to New Orleans to meet her uncle, Michael. This was their first meeting and they both fell in love with one another. If you remember, Michael and his wife, Cristi, are expecting their first, Sydney Claire, in December. Michael was able to get lots of practice with Madeline! He is now ready to tackle being a Daddy!!! Molly had a great time showing Madeline around the Big Easy. We did have quite the fender bender on our way out of town but thank you, Lord, we were hit by a cardiovascular surgeon and he is willing to just write a check for the damages!

Molly is in Kindergarten part-time and we are homeschooling the other days. It seems to be working well and she is so busy with ballet, gymastics, and art that she gets plenty of socializing.

Corum Deo Dance Academy is going well. I have about 60 students and we are having a ball. Its been such a blessing to have added students this year. Things are gearing up for our Christmas production. I am just praying for help! Its hard to homeschool, be a Mommy, run a household, and then run a dance company. I am meeting with a couple of girls next week to see about partnering with them! I am excited!

Madeline goes to the doctor on Tuesday for her 6 month old shots. She probably weighs about 15 pounds! But, she is still so tiny. She has noticed her toes and LOVES to play with them. Its quite amuzing!

We love our girls so much! We are so blessed to have them in our lives. We are also so thankful to their life mommies that chose to give them life! Speaking of life mommies, "B" and I talked a couple of weeks ago. I miss her terribly! I went into a restaurant this evening and a girl was wearing "B's" perfume - I got teary-eyed! It reminded me so much of her and how much I love and miss her!

Below are some photos of these last few months. I promise I will try to update more often!!!

Blessings,
The Hills

New House...

2008-09-14T10:43:00.002-05:00

Well, we moved! It was very short notice and it all happened at once but it has been a huge blessing! Our associate pastor and his wife have been called to a church in Illinois. They had a prayer request one Sunday at church that they really needed to rent their home. Craig and I have been renting a precious home but it was beginning to feel really small. We were looking at homes and couldn't decide whether or not to buy or rent. Well, it all worked out and we have moved into their home. Of course, we did it on the same week that a major Hurricane was projected to hit the Texas coast. In the beginning, Hurricane Ike was supposed to hit south of Corpus Christi which would have put New Braunfels in the upper right side - the worse side. So, we prepared ourselves by buying bottled water, canned goods, and battery operated fans. We also moved the movers up a few days because we didn't want to be moving in the rain. Well, it worked out that Craig was out of town!!! So, my mom, Craig's business partner, PMI Movers, and myself moved our home! It was so much fun :) and the girls were great. In the middle of all of this - it was time for my ballet school to start so I welcomed 55 dancers over a three day period to ballet class. It has been quite an interesting week!
My sweet friend, Page, showed up at my new house to help me unpack boxes. Two friends from Houston evacuated to our home and have kept the girls entertained. Then, on Saturday, Page and her family showed up at our old home to help get all the "little" stuff boxed, loaded, moved, and unloaded. They were work horses! Then, my sweet friend, Shelly, showed up to organize my kitchen cabinets with Mom. They have done SOOOOO much and I am soooo grateful! We have been so blessed to be members of incredible churches in this town with incredible friends. We met so many wonderful people and had such a great support system at Oakwood. Then, we moved to RCV and were blessed with wonderful friendships. And, now we are at Christ Presbyterian and we continue to be blessed by awesome relationships! God is so good in providing people in our lives when we need them the most. We hope and pray that we are the type of people that can be a blessing to others.
Our neighborhood is awesome! Molly has already made friends with so many of the little girls. There are 24 kids on our block alone!!!! They have movie night every couple of weeks, cookouts, and lots of playing in the cul-de-sac. It is going to be so much fun. Someone in the neighborhood described it as 50's America! We are so excited!
Madeline is growing up so much. She turned 5 months this month and is almost 13 pounds. She is getting soooo big and her personality is coming out - its so cute to watch her.
Molly started Kindergarten this year too. She is really enjoying going to Ms. Inga's and is also excited about Homeschool.
I guess that is all for now. I will post photos later once I find my camera in one of these boxes!!!

Blessing to you all!
The Hills

4 Months, Sea World and First time in the pool....

2008-08-16T21:14:00.003-05:00

I wasn't sure how to title this post. We've had so much going on that I am not sure what I would call it. We do spend alot of time at home but we are so blessed to get to have fun time with friends.

Madeline is now 4 months. We went to the doctor on Wednesday and she is 11 pounds 15 ounces, 24 inches long and growing. She is still tiny but she is much bigger than when she was born. I think she is doing fine but the doctor ordered more "tummy time" so that she can start to roll over. She did roll over from front to back once! She absolutely HATES tummy time! But, we followed doctors orders and tried it. I could only handle the screaming alittle bit and then I gave in! I am a sucker!

We went to the Ski Lodge today with some friends and we put her in the pool for the first time. We have been so blessed to have my god-daughter, Kayla, with us all week. Craig and Mom were out of town so the extra set of hands was nice! Kayla is excellent with children and she will make a great mommy one day but for now, she is only 12. I have attached a photo of Madeline in the pool - she LOVED IT!

Molly, Craig, and I got to spend the day with some friends at Sea World last week. We had a great time! Craig and I were able to act like kids and ride all the rollercoasters - it was a blast!!! Molly loved the Shamu show and she even got a little teary eyed (along with her mom) at the overwhelming feeling of seeing this huge whale do tricks.

Madeline has been in Kindermusik and loves it. Her Aunt Brooke does a great job and we are having so much fun. We've taken a break from it and will start back in September.

Ballet starts the second week of September and I am already full! More than half the students are NEW!!! Praise God! I am so excited and I have really missed my little dancers so much.

I think that is it for now. Here are some new photos and I hope you enjoy them.

Blessings,
The Hills
PS - I don't know if anyone even reads this thing but I'll keep it updated just in case :)

Happy Adoption Day!

2008-08-06T22:27:00.004-05:00

Wow - its been 4 years since we were given custody of Molly Rebecca Hill. Boy, how time flies. I can still remember sitting in that court room waiting to hear the verdict! We were there for an hour and a half and the questions just kept coming. We were interviewed by so many people about our intentions of adopting Molly. I kept thinking to myself, "Are these people serious!?" Anyway, God is good and He gave us Molly on August 5, 2004. We were beyond relieved!!! I will post my original post from that day. But first - we had an AWESOME Adoption Day Party! As I looked around the room last night, I got teary eyed thinking of what a blessing we have in our friendships. There are so many stories of adoption among our friends and its amazing how God has used adoption for His Glory! Enjoy the pictures - Molly is so blessed to have so many people who love her very much! Thank you to all my friends for your love and support 4 years ago and since that day!

ORIGINAL POST on AUGUST 5th, 2004:

August 5, 2004 - "We name Craig Alan Hill and Amy Rebecca Hill the parents of Molly issued by the Court of Ukraine!" Those were the words we heard today! She is ours! Court started at 3:28 PM - the prosecutor was not there and the judge asked Dennis to go pick her up. She came in and actually started talking to the ladies behind us. She seemed to be in a good mood. Court began with the judge reading the documents that we had submitted earlier today. The letters from the US Embassy, the letters from Dib Waldrip and Carter Casteel, updated NAC letters with my corrected name and others. Once that was done, the questioning began. Craig was questioned first by the prosecutor. She asked him questions like about our finances, our family, the health of the child and pretty much grilled him for 30 minutes! He answered everything perfectly! I was so proud of him. The prosecutor even smiled at times when Craig answered. Then, it was my turn. I just took a deep breath and said "Be yourself!" She asked me about my job, if I was aware of the medical diagnosis of Molly, and then she told me to describe Molly. That's when everything seemed to just fall into place. I told about her finding her toes, the fact that she loves Cheerios and yogurt and that she says a few words. I said that she was quite strong willed and that I have grown to love her so very much. She then asked why I adopted a child with medical problems (even though we know she is healthy) and I told her that I would rather adopt a child that I can provide medical attention too that would not get it here in Ukraine. She then told the judge she had no further questions. It was great! Then, the lady from the NAC stood up and told them that we have followed all the necessary steps to adopt and that its in the best interest of the child that the Hill family adopt her. Then, the lady from the Minister of Education basically said the same thing. Then, the lady from the orphanage got up and went on and on about Molly and told them that she had seen a huge difference in her since we've been there. She said that Molly is so very happy and that she recognizes us as Mommy and Daddy. She said that the orphanage feels we are the best interest of the child. Then, it was the prosecutor's turn - my hands began to sweat! She said we have submitted all the necessary paperwork to her and that based on what she has heard today and the testimony given, it would be in the best interest of the child to be adopted by the Hill family. HUGH RELIEF! Then, the judge asked us to stand and wanted to know if we wanted to change anything or add to anything that had been submitted or said in court. We said no, we just want to adopt Molly. So, she said "I will name Craig Alan Hill and Amy Rebecca Hill parents to Molly by the Court of Ukraine. The final court decree to be picked up 30 days from today." So, the 30 days were not waived but I am perfectly okay with that! I am just so thankful that she is ours!!!! Court was over at 5:00 PM. The prosecutor even shook my hand and took a photo with us. She was smiling and I kept saying "Spasibo" which is "Thank you."
We then left and went to visit Molly. She is not feeling well. She has an upset tummy. They thought I fed her something last night but nope, it wasn't my fault. Atleast not this time. Anyway, she wasn't herself at all but we just loved and loved on her so much. I'm sure she wondered why we were acting like that. The caregivers were so excited for us! They hugged us and were talking so fast in Russian/Ukrainian - we had no idea what they were saying. But, they were happy!
We then went downtown to celebrate at our favorite pizza place - Metropole. We took Edward, Dennis, Anita and Roland with us. It was awesome!
Craig plans to return to the US and he may have to come back to pick up Molly with me. We are waiting to talk to the orphanage director about that. But, he plans to go to Kiev on Sunday and be at the Embassy on Monday to sign some paperwork. It looks like I will possibly move in with Anita and Roland and hire a driver to take me too and from the orphanage. They have a Christian taxi driver that lives in their building. They live in a very safe place and it will be good to have them there with me. So, it looks as if all this will work out. I will be able to pick Molly up on the 6th of September. I will pick up the court decrees and get her birth certificate and necessary documents from the region and hopefully, I will be on my way to Kiev by the 7th or 8th. Then, to the US Embassy to get her passport and visa to come home. I will most likely travel on the 11th or 12th. I am so excited that I think I've probably made many typos/mistakes in this journal entry.
Like I've said before, I can't begin to thank all of you for everything you have done. My friends in New Braunfels that have worked night after night and day after day getting us the necessary documents. Teresa Fillmon with His Kids Too got up at 3 AM and got on her knees praying. I have received so many emails where people were praying all day and had friends/family members that we don't even know praying for us. When my sister in law heard the news - she was at VBS with 1800 people and she shared it with everyone! We have some amazing friends and we consider those of you we don't even know friends! We will cherish our time here for the rest of our lives! We can't say "thank you" enough!
We love all of you so much! I will try to post photos from the court hearing later. We need to get home and get some sleep - we are all so tired!
Thanks to Edward and Dennis - they stayed up so late last night translating documents and then worked until a few minutes before the court hearing translating a letter we received in regards to the Social Worker issue from Dib Waldrip (our District Attorney)! Hey Dib - we promise to work hours upon hours on your re-election campaign!!!!!!
Molly thanks you from the bottom of her heart too. Without each and every one of you and the many different types of support - we could never have made it!
With love from Ukraine! Becca, Craig and MOLLY REBECCA HILL!!!!!!!
Birthdate 1-12-03
Adoption Date 8-5-04

Life with the Hills

2008-08-03T22:15:00.004-05:00

I can't believe its been almost a month since I posted last. I used to be on this thing so much but I guess having a newborn takes a little more time than I am used too!!! Don't get me wrong, I love it! Madeline is growing so much and she finally hit the double digits in her weight! She is now 11.3 pounds and growing. She even has a few rolls on her thighs. She won't appreciate me saying that when she is 15!

Madeline is becoming more vocal everyday. She has decided that she really likes to hear herself talk and most of the time its on her changing table. Its the funniest thing but she talks more while I change her diaper than anytime throughout the day. We aren't sure the fascination with the changing table but its so cute to watch. She is now in Kindermusik and loves it. She loves music and I hear it helps with so much of her development! She is the youngest one in there and its cute to watch her face and her expressions with the various types of activities.

We were able to see Madeline's birthmom a few weeks ago when she got married. We were invited and got to witness such a precious ceremony. I have mixed emotions because I feel like B is a daughter to me. She, her now husband, and her son moved to Vegas. I am so happy for her and want her to start over but I miss her terribly! She called last week and I was so excited to talk to her!!! I hope that one day we can travel out there to see her but we are waiting on her invite. Its still so hard for her to see us at times and I don't blame her if she wants to be distant for awhile. Madeline gave her a precious bracelet on her wedding day as well as a book called, "Never, Never, Never Will She Stop Loving You." Its so precious and I substituted her name for the name in the book. I hope it touches her life like it has ours!!!! I still thank God every day for her!

Molly starts kindergarten this year! She is going to a private school for two days and then I am homeschooling the other three days. I have already heard ALL the comments I possibly can hear and I'm okay - people are entitled to their opinion. But, Craig and I feel such a calling to homeschool and we are learning to be God-pleasers and not Man-pleasers. That is soooo hard for me because I have been a people pleaser all my life. But, I am trusting God in His plan and Will for our lives - He does know best! I have a great support system at our church and there are a number of people who homeschool. I am actually pretty excited about it!

Some prayer requests:

My friend, Jamie and her family - her dad is recovering from surgery. He has been diagnosed with cancer. He has undergone radiation and chemo and had surgery last week. The doctors sent him home today so we are praying for a complete recovery!

Another friend, Ashley, is in Ethiopia adopting a son! They should have arrived tonight and I can't wait to hear all about it! Pray that things go well and that they can get home in a timely manner!!!

My friend, Stephanee, she is Ashley's sister. She is keeping Ashley's daughter! Also, she is getting ready to host the two girls she plans to adopt! They come in at the end of the week. They are also submitting their dossier to adopt these two girls on August 7th!!!

I am going to post some new photos of the girls. I'll write more this week after we celebrate Molly's Adoption Day!!!! On August 5th we will be celebrating this special day!!!

Blessings,
The Hills

4 Years Ago Today!!!

2008-07-07T09:34:00.004-05:00

It was 4 years ago today that we met Molly Rebecca Luba Hill for the first time. I will NEVER forget that day as long as I live! The fact that she jumped into my arms the minute she saw me still makes my heart leap! I can't believe that we have known her for four years because I can't ever imagine my life without her! She has been the light in our lives, the apple of our eyes, and what makes us wake up in the morning.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing Molly into our lives.
Below is a the journal entry from 4 years ago along with a photo that was taken that day!

July 7 and 8, 2004 - For some reason - it would not let me on yesterday. Of course not, on the day that we met Molly. This Internet Cafe is quite large with many computers. But, that seems to be the worse - it takes up so much that the systems are very slow. Anyway, we met Molly yesterday. She came right to me and clung on to me for dear life. She has blonde hair, brown/gray eyes, and weighs 19.8 pounds - however, we fed her alot today so she is probably close to 20 pounds. It looks like she wears 12-18 months clothing so she isn't as small as we thought she would be. Today, the 8th - she was pretty fussy. Looks like she is cutting 4 teeth!!! I will bring Tylenol tomorrow. She would have nothing to do with Craig today - but that's understandable - they don't see men - EVER. So, its alittle strange. Plus, she was fussy and tired today. That's okay though. She screamed when I gave her to her caretaker for her nap. Needless to say, I screamed too! It was terrible. I think I cry every minute! Craig told me I have to stop crying but I just can't!!!! Now I know what its like to leave a child in the nursery!!!! Its hard! We moved closer to her orphanage - a five minute walk. The caretakers let me feed her whatever I want so she got bananas, cookies, and juice for the first time. She walks, or should I say runs! She talks, eats by herself, drinks by herself - and is very independent. She's a doll and I love her very much! We are hoping to get her photo on here but its not allowing me to upload her picture for some reason. I better run but I will write more tomorrow. I love you all and the emails are such an encouragement! Becca, Craig and Molly

After the appointment!
Okay, it wasn't that bad! The appt was originally at noon but we were pushed until 2:30. The doctor/psychologist was very nice and very old! He was so nice to us and he even laughed alot. They have a parrot in there and he talks or chirps all the time. It was funny, and nothing like I had expected.
We looked through two binders of children until 3. We found two boys and three girls. The last girl was a miracle! She is perfectly healthy and she became available only yesterday! WOW = God is so good! We are leaving tomorrow after 4 PM to go to Dnipro - it was the region we did not want but I guess God has other things planned for us. The doctor said we are VERY fortunate to have found her. He pulled her picture from somewhere, it wasn't in the binder. He called the orphanage and they confirmed that she was an awesome child!
We will go and visit her on Wednesday. Her name is Lubov which is Love in English! She is 18 months old. I saw a picture of her and she is gorgeous! I knew she was mine! The boys I saw were great too. There is one boy in particular that I hope we get to see. Once we accept the girl, we can write a letter to the NAC and request another appointment to view the books again. At that time, we will try for a boy. We can request the same binder that we looked in today and I memorized the photos of the two boys!
Please pray that God will soften the heart of the judge in the Dnipro region. Apparently, she is very mean. Pray that the director will allow us to come back for a second appointment very soon.
Love to you all - we are going to watch the Olympic Torch!
Becca, Craig, Oxana, and Lubov!

Back from the Beach!

2008-07-01T11:12:00.004-05:00

Wow, I can't believe its been so long since I've blogged! I was so addicted there for awhile but I guess the busyness of life gets the best of us!

We left June 18th for Gulf Shores to visit my dad. We spent a lot of time on the beach and the girls had a blast. Madeline absolutely LOVES the beach and the sound of the waves put her into a deep sleep. It was nice to have a beach tent so that she could stay under it for the entire day. She even put her toes in the water but didn't like that as much as the pool. Molly is my beach bum. She could stay in the sand building sand castles all day if I would let her. It was also cool to have her uncle as the beach lifeguard! We would set up right in front of her lifeguard stand so it was neat seeing Jonathan in action saving the lives of so many people at the beach. We even got to see a couple of water rescues! Go, Jon Jon!

Craig joined us in Tallahassee the next week. We made the 4 hour drive to visit my friend, Laurie. She gave birth to a baby boy two weeks before Madeline. It was great to see her!!!! Her boys are precious and its so cool that we have children the same exact age - funny how God does that!

Craig got to do some fishing with my dad and played with us on the beach. It was fun to visit with family and get a tan while doing it!

I talked to "B" right before we left. She is planning on moving to Las Vegas this week. Please pray for her as she makes this move. She, her boyfriend, and her little boy are planning on making the move. I would love to see her before she leaves but I am waiting on her to call me. I don't want to overstep any boundaries!!!

Well, I think that is all for now. We came home to a HOT house with our A/C unit out! We are still waiting for someone to come fix it - its been three days! It reminds me ALOT of Ukraine!!!! Oh, how I miss Ukraine!!!!!

Blessings to all!

Videos of my girls!

2008-06-09T15:10:00.001-05:00

Smiles, Coos and 8 pounds!!!!

2008-05-31T19:19:00.003-05:00

Madeline is really growing! We weighed her this week and she has grown to be 8 pounds. I still think its all in her chins - yes, that is plural. She is still so tiny and people continue to make comments about her size. She is just precious!

This week was a milestone - she began to talk to us. Well, maybe not us but the ladybugs on her changing table cover. She loves them and always has lots to say to them when her diaper is being changed. Its so funny to hear her and we've tried to really capture it on video. It sounds like she is saying "hi." She also likes the monkey, bird, and frog on her swing's mobile - she could stare at them forever!

She has also started smiling at us and I've even heard her giggle a couple of times in her sleep. Its so stinkin cute!

Madeline loves Molly! She can be upset and Molly will start talking and she quiets down - its so precious. Molly is doing so much better as a big sister. I think in the beginning she thought she was being replaced but now she is pretty certain that she is staying.

Summer has officially begun at our house! With the temperatures in the high 90's, it almost feels like August! I can't believe its so hot, so soon. But, we are scheduled to go to the beach to see my dad in late June and can't wait!

Happy Summer!
The Hills

I'm going to be an Aunt!

2008-05-22T10:04:00.003-05:00

Here is Baby Robinson! My brother and his wife, Cristi, are expecting a baby due December 7th!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! Cristi has been on bed rest and will go back to work tomorrow, but keep her and this precious baby in your prayers!!!!

Adoption Day - May 19, 2008

2008-05-19T19:05:00.003-05:00

Today was the most wonderful day! We got to the courthouse around 1 PM to meet Jana, our attorney. She instructed us as to what would happen in court and we were alittle nervous (okay, maybe it was just me)!

We were there to terminate rights of Madeline's biological parents and then to adopt her as well as change her name. We also made the decision to re-adopt Molly and give her a Texas birth certificate. This helps in the future if her Ukrainian birth certificate ever gets misplaced. Like that would EVER happen in the Hill house!?!

The judge was awesome! She asked Molly, Craig and I to raise our right hand and she swore us in. I felt so official or like I was on TV! She asked Molly if she really wanted to be a big sister and was she up to the responsibility. Molly quickly told her that she wanted to become a big sister today! The judge told her that because she came to court and asked to be a big sister, that she would grant this adoption! It was precious. She then asked us to come behind the bench for pictures. She showed Molly all her pins on her robe and told her she would call her in a couple of years to check on her. Then it was done!!! I could breathe!

I couldn't help but grieve for B today. I got to talk to her this morning. She and M (her boyfriend) were in a horrible car accident on Friday. She broke a couple of ribs and can't do much. Please pray for her!!!!! My heart still breaks for her. I am forever grateful to her for giving me this precious life to love and care for!!! She has helped fulfill a desire of mine since I was very young. May God bless her for a courageous and selfless act!!!!!

Happy Adoption Day Molly and Madeline!!!!!

Adoption Day!!!!!!!

2008-05-19T19:00:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Precious Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T14:28:00.003-05:00

I never in a million years would have thought that I would be celebrating Mother's Day with two precious girls! I can remember in the summer of 2001 being told that we would not be able to have children. I can recall sitting on the floor in my pink "princess" pajamas and crying. I remember Craig saying "We will get through this." But, in my hardness and bitterness, I did not want to believe him. I struggled with the words but assured him that I would be okay. After years of trying to bear a child, I had no clue the joy that these two little ones 7 years later would bring to my life!

In 2004, our lives changed with the adoption of Molly from Ukraine. Before adopting her, to be honest, I had no idea where Ukraine was on a world map! I knew it was close to Russia and that is about it. Now, Ukraine is very special and dear to my heart and I left a piece of me there when we departed on September 11, 2004. Molly is one special child and she is identical to me, drama and all! We are peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly! We are the best of friends and I love being her Mommy!!!!

Then, came Madeline. I remember saying over and over to numerous people - "I don't have to have a newborn, I am really done with diapers, formula, potty training, and such." Little did I know that God had something very different in mind for our lives. Little Madeline was due today - MOTHER'S DAY! But, she chose to come 5 weeks early and surprise us ALL!!! Even though things are not set in stone and the adoption is not final, she is mine. I love her as if I birthed her. I know what she likes and what she doesn't like. I know how she wants to be held and that she would prefer her feet and arms out rather than covered. I know that she is hot natured and that she loves to sit up versus being on her back. I know that she prefers a certain bottle over another and she LOVES her big sister. There is a part of me that wants to remain guarded until all is signed and final. But, no matter what happens, she will always be my daughter.

A wise woman (Jane Mills) once told me that "mother" is a verb not a noun. That was such a comforting thought. Adoption is so wonderful! Even though these girls were not conceived in my tummy, they were conceived in my heart. I am forever grateful to their "Life Mommies!" They chose to give life to these girls so that I could love and care for them as if I gave birth to them myself. I am thankful for the lives that I hold so dear to my heart - Molly and Madeline - I will ALWAYS LOVE BOTH OF YOU!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. Some of you do not have children of your own but you are still mothers in some way. There are so many children out there that need women to care and love them in a motherly way. May you be encouraged to seek those out that need that type of love this Mother's Day! Maybe it is someone that has lost their mother. Maybe it is someone that has an absent mother due to circumstances beyond their control. Or, maybe it is someone that needs a Godly influence in their lives because they did not grow up in a Christian home. Whatever the situation, consider being a mother in some way.

On a different note, I am headed to a very special celebration of a mother that lost her life to cancer on Thursday. What a day to celebrate her life and the impact that she has made on her children as well as so many of us that knew her. Please keep the Morris and Ganaway families in your prayers as they say goodbye to their precious wife, mother, daughter and friend, Cherie Morris.

May God bless all of you!

In the home stretch...

2008-05-06T11:39:00.003-05:00

Well, its almost a over. The waiting has been so hard. We had to wait 30 days to file a petition to terminate paternity rights. Well, Thursday marks the end of the 30 days. It will take a couple of days for the court to get back to us on our filing. So, we are hoping to go to court next week.

I spoke with B's grandmother today. Apparently, R has been calling asking about "his daughter." Because he is in jail, he has to call collect so the grandmother has not been accepting the charges. So, we will wait and see what happens.

I am nervous but there is nothing I can do so why worry. I am so thankful that I believe in a Sovereign God. I know that He is in control. I may not feel it all the time but I can find comfort in knowing that He has my best at heart. I stared at this precious angel while I fed her a few minutes ago and I grieve just thinking I could lose her. I don't feel like we have anything to worry about but there is that little reservation! Again, we serve a BIG GOD and He is in control!!!!

Madeline is doing great. She is growing so much and changing so much, so fast. We are now officially in "newborn" clothing and diapers!!!! No more preemie stuff. I can't believe that she is 4 weeks today. It seems like yesterday that she was born. But, then again, it feels like she has been in our lives forever.

I love this child! I love her as if I gave birth to her. Everytime I hold her, I am so thankful to B for her gift to us. I miss B so much and pray that she is okay. I sent her a package the other day and she received it yesterday. Her grandmother said she was excited to receive it and even cried. Oh, my heart still breaks for her broken heart. I really love that girl!!!

Molly is doing well. She loves being a big sister. She is such a big helper and I am so thankful to have her in my life. You should really hear her play. She has quite the imagination and I love listening to her on a daily basis.

Well, I need to take a nap while Madeline is sleeping!!!!!

Blessings,
The Hills

2008-04-24T21:49:00.000-05:00

Life with the Hills

2008-04-17T22:53:00.005-05:00

Boy, its a been a whirlwind the last week or so. As many of you can tell, we have an addition to our family. She is the most amazing little thing I have ever laid my eyes on. I'll never forget the day she came into this world. God started the day with a 3.7 earthquake 60 miles from our home and then ended it with the birth of Madeline Grace Hill.

I drove to SA to pick up B for her regular doctor's appointment. She was taking a shower and fixing her gorgeous wavy hair! All of a sudden, B doubled over in pain. She started having contractions and we timed them at 4 minutes apart. She said it was the worse pain she had ever felt. We quickly got into the car, made a stop at Jack in the Box for chocolate shakes (yummy) and headed for the doctor. By the time we left Jack in the Box, the contractions were 3 minutes apart. WOW - she was in so much pain and I hurt for her. I wanted it to stop so desperately for her. We got to the doctor and the Nurse Practioner checked her cervix. 7cm dialated, 100% effaced, and bulging bag of water. Her doctor's office is across the street from Methodist and a tunnel under Medical Drive connects them. They put her in a wheelchair, draped blankets over her and we were on our way to Labor and Delivery. Everthing was happening so fast and I quickly made some phone calls to Craig, Camille, Shelly, and my Mom. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!

Once inside L&D, things moved so fast. She was contracting so much and I felt so sorry for B. They gave her an epidural and things slowed a bit. The doctor came in about 5 and broke her water. Then, it all began to happen... Fast moving nurses, doctors, surgical techs, people everywhere! Her precious boyfriend, M, got on one side and me on the other. Sweet B pushed three times and then there she was! I can't explain what happened to me that day in Labor and Delivery Room 27, but I can assure you I'll never be the same. I cut the cord and then they took her to evaluate her. Craig drew close to the baby and I stayed with B as we both cried our eyes out! I looked over at Craig and his face was BEAMING! All I could do was hold B in my hands and pray silently over her. She just did an amazing thing - she brought life into this world! I kept thanking her and telling her what an incredible job! She was a trooper!

They moved us to 10 South at Methodist and it was amazing. They treated all of us like royalty. We both had a room with two large wooden doors separating us. It worked out well but we later found out that open doors are much better than closed doors!

Then, two days passed and it was time to leave. That experience has changed me forever. I can't tell you what all happened in that room when B told her daughter goodbye. All I can say, is I've never had to do anything remotely close to what she did that day. She handed her daughter to us. There is nothing I can do or say to possibly even thank her enough for the gift she gave to us. I can never repay her. All I can do is promise to love that child with every ounce of my being and I DO!

Madeline fits so well into our family. She actually looks like me when I was born but I think she is cuter! She eats well, sleeps well and is just a very happy baby. We took her to her first doctor's appointment. She weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces when we left the hospital and after one week, she was up to 6 pounds, 3 ounces!!! She is doing so well and the doctor's are amazed that she was actually born at 35 weeks. SHE IS AMAZING!

We just have one more hurdle and that is the birthfather. My prayer has always been that he would have a softened heart. I don't know what God is doing but I pray He is working in R's life. I pray that there are no complications with this adoption and that things move smoothly. B has given so much of herself and its been so hard for her to do. She is so brave and courageous! She is amazing - I guess that is where Madeline gets it from.

So, please pray for us for the next 21 days. Pray that God's will is done. Pray that I submit to that will even if its hard. PLEASE pray for B!!!!! Pray that things begin to get better. Pray for things going on in her life that I am not at liberty to talk about. Pray that she begins her new life together with M and that they can move on from her.

Thanks for all of your prayers!

Love,
Craig, Becca, Molly and Madeline!

2008-04-13T17:25:00.004-05:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Madeline Grace...

2008-04-10T00:05:00.001-05:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

3 more weeks!!!!

2008-04-07T22:51:00.003-05:00

Oh the waiting is so hard! But, I know that God has perfect timing and that precious little girl will make her appearance when its time.

We go to the doctor with B tomorrow at 2:30 and we'll know if she has dialated any more than the 4 cm at the hospital during Easter. I am guessing that she has dialated even more based on some of her symptoms but we'll wait and see.

I will be posting an update tomorrow. I do have the baby's bag packed and the infant carrier in the car just in case the doctor sends us to the hospital tomorrow. You just never know. :)

I'll update tomorrow.

Blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Sister to be!!!! (we are leaning towards JennyLynn Grace Hill but we are not set on it - we have to wait and see her!!!)

Uncle Bubba...

2008-04-07T12:02:00.003-05:00

On Friday, April 4th, my great uncle passed away and went to be with the Lord. Mom was on her way up to Virginia when he died so she did not get there before he passed. She was devastated and still is. She is up there helping them and planning his funeral. I am so glad that she is up there with my Aunt Polly.

When we adopted from Ukraine, Uncle Bubba wrote us almost everyday. He was so in tune with the adoption and prayed fervently for us the entire time while we were there. When we got home, he had printed out all of our journal entries and photos and bound them for us. It was the sweetest gift! He was so dear to our lives!

You can read his obituary at http://www.henryfuneralhome.net/index.cfm

Here is a photo of him. I am glad that he is dancing on the streets of gold with his brothers and sisters!!!!!!

A friend sent this to me today - I needed it!

2008-04-02T10:42:00.001-05:00

Sand and Stone

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE! AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.
BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.

Ukraine Video

2008-04-01T21:22:00.001-05:00

Prayers Please

2008-04-01T21:19:00.001-05:00

If you guys could just keep us in your prayers - that would be great. Without going into too much detail, just pray for us. Pray that God's Will is done and that I would submit to that Will even if its hard. I know God is in control and I know He has everything worked out according to His plan. I must trust that right now more than anything. I am learning a lesson in trust like I learned in Ukraine with Molly. I thought I learned that lesson already but apparently God thinks I need to learn it again ;)

Thanks to all of you for your sweet messages!

Blessings,
Becca and the rest of the gang....

Humility

2008-03-31T22:33:00.003-05:00

I am beginning a new Bible study on Humility and boy is it humbling! I've never really thought of myself as a prideful person (does that mean I am?) It's a fine line but I am pretty sure my life is full of pride. One of my biggest issues is trusting God. In an effort to control my life and distrust Him, I am manifesting a prideful nature. I always seem to think that God has so much on His plate, that He needs my help at times. I'm sure He is up there thinking, "I don't remember putting you on the payroll to control your problems." I'm sure He gets a kick out of watching me trying to take the wheel.

There is so much to take "control" over in my life. The main issue is this adoption. If I say the right thing, do the right thing, pray hard, believe even harder, then B will place her child with me. But, in reality, none of that matters. It is important to pray, its important to believe, and its important to act in a moral manner - but that will not change the outcome of this situation. God has ordained this from the beginning of time and there is nothing I can do or say to change it. Why in the world do I wake up every morning thinking I can!?

B and I had a great conversation on Sunday. She has been hurt lately and my heart breaks for her when she is broken. Like I have said before, I have really grown to love her. She is more like family than anything and I pray that she feels that way too. I hope she knows that I am not just flying in and out of her life just to benefit myself. I know that I have been put in her life for a reason. Anyway, back to humility. I was feeling alittle down today for some reason. I have a lot of things going on internally that I find hard to get out. My hormones are out of whack right now. I am hoping to breastfeed and I am on many herbs and meds to induce lactation. So, my moods are not easily controlled. Here I am not wanting to "control" the situation and bother B, so I made sure I did not get in touch with her today. I don't want to be desperate and act like a "baby starved wing nut" - a line from the movie Juno. I want her to know how excited I am but in the same sense, I don't want to act crazy!

So, in an effort to not control - I am trying to let her make the moves. I want her to call me if she needs me. I know she has so much going on with her internally that she may want to distance herself from me, I'm not sure. But, again, I have to trust the One who ordained this - the One who planned this from the beginning of time! Its soooo hard at times and I can feel like I am going crazy.

People ask me ALL the time if I am scared. To be honest, I am not exactly "scared" but I am cautious, if that makes sense. I have been down this road before but not quite this far! It has been such an exciting journey and I would not trade it for the world. I have met some incredible people on this road and I will forever be blessed. However, there is an element of worry that creeps in every once in awhile. Who can help that when you are dealing with another person's emotions, decisions, feelings, heart, etc? I have to respect the fact that B has her own mind - she can do what she wants - this is her life. It goes back to that whole trust issue. We are not to trust in man but God. He is in control. I pray earnestly that His plan is for us to have this precious little baby girl in our home.

We have prepared her nursery with the crib, cradle and all the bedding. I have so many clothes that I could open up my own Children's Store. I have been so blessed. Molly packed the baby's bag yesterday and she is getting so excited. I am more concerned with her than anyone. If this adoption does not go through, she will be devastated. We all will be devastated but I care more about her heart than my own. I am a grown woman (or I am supposed to be) and I will move on. But, she will be heartbroken. Maybe that is a bridge we will not have to cross.

I pray for B and the baby that grows inside of her every day - many times a day. I can tell that she is trying to do what is right in all areas of her life. She is connecting with people in her past that love her and that are good for her. She is making a difference in her life by getting a job and doing what is best for her and her son. Her fiance, M, is doing the same. He is job searching right now and I am so proud of him. I pray that he finds a job this week and can begin to provide for he and his family.

Pray for us as we only have 4 weeks. I can't believe we will have a baby in our home in 4 weeks or less. Its so surreal but its so exciting! Pray that I would let go and let God! Pray that I would relinguish my control and that I would trust Him with everything. Pray for B as she approaches the birth of this precious baby. Pray that she can get through this with God's strength. Pray that her faith is strengthened and that she can move on after the birth and placement of this child. Pray for everyone involved and that everyone's hearts are protected. Pray that God's love is shown throughout this entire process.

Blessings to you all!

Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Girl Hill

Our TV Debut...

2008-03-30T18:31:00.003-05:00

Copy and paste the entire link below and put it in your address bar... Have fun watching!!!

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/videoplayer/dayportPlayer.aspx?articleIds=488649@video.woai.com,176590@video.woai.com,131540@video.woai.com,72048@video.woai.com,57818@video.woai.com,502858@video.woai.com&categoryId=Search for text "orphans"&loadPlaylist=true&contractId=2&articleID=488649

4 weeks and 2 days...

2008-03-29T18:00:00.004-05:00

It supposed to be 4 weeks and 2 days until the BIG DAY! But, I have this feeling it will be alot sooner than that! B is having a contraction about every 45 minutes and feeling some pressure in her belly. The baby is not moving as much and seems to be in position for delivery. So, we'll see!

I got to keep her son yesterday! We went to Chuck E Cheese, HEB Plus, Walmart, Ice Cream, and Jason's Deli. We had the best time and then it was time to take him home. When we got there, he didn't want me to leave. So, he got his diapers, pajamas, and a change of clothes and headed to New Braunfels with us. He spent the night and was sooooo much fun. He is so cute and followed me around saying, "Becca, what you doing?" He just turned 2 but his vocabulary is like that of a 3 year old. You can really tell that B talks to him normally and not like a baby. You can also tell that she spends a lot of time with him and has taught him alot. We took him home after lunch today and he started crying when we left. I wanted to take him home but he needed to spend time with Mommy. She loves him soooo much! And, he loves her.

We are on our way to the storage unit to get more baby items. We are going to wash all the clothes, put the crib and cradle up, bring in the changing table, and get the clothes put away. I got the diaper bag out of storage too and plan on packing that tonight, just in case! You never know when we will get a call from B telling us she is on the way to the hospital.

We do have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday so if everything is okay the next few days, we'll go to it. I wonder what is on the doctor's agenda if she is dialated more! We are still thinking she is further along but we'll see.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I have a few prayer requests...
My friend, Jamie - her dad was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus.
My friend, Cherie - she has cancer and her lungs are not cooperating. Her oxygen level is at 80%!
My friend, Camille - she found out some devastating news about the little girl she hosted at Christmas from Ukraine.
My friends, Stephanee and Zach - they are adopting two girls from Ukraine that they hosted this past Christmas.
My friends, Laura and Brad - they are adopting from Ethiopia!!!

That's all for now!

Blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Girl Hill

Question of the day...

2008-03-27T23:04:00.004-05:00

How do you get excited without being insensitive. I feel bad about something I told B today. I got so excited that my friend, Devin, gave me some little baby clothes and I mentioned it to her. I am now afraid that I was being insensitive. I want her to feel my excitement so she knows that I will love and care for her little girl as much as humanly possible. But, how do I relay that excitement and still be sensitive to her struggle with letting go? I have grown to love B so much and I would never intentionally be insensitive to her or her feelings. So, if you have any ideas, please let me know. The last thing I want to do is trample on her feelings during all of this. My goodness, she is making the largest sacrifice of her life! She is giving me her child to love, cherish, and take care of. B is my first priority. I feel that God put her in my life for a reason and its not just to adopt her child, its to love her. I am just trying to make sure I am in check with everything.

Thanks in advance for the advice....

Becca

Nothing new today....

2008-03-27T08:09:00.003-05:00

I've received many phone calls and emails checking on B's progress. Nothing new as of today but that could change at any moment. I still feel like she is further along than the doctor's are saying based on her symptoms of early labor. The baby seems bigger and acts as if she is ready to make her grand entrance. We just hope and pray she is fully developed when she comes out into this big, big world. I'm sure God is growing her just perfectly!

I am getting so very excited! People ask me all the time if I am excited and of course I am!!!! I am nervous too but not that B will change her mind. I just want to make sure I have everything ready for her arrival. My dear friends, Camille and Laura, surprised me and told me they were giving me my infant car seat! I cried! That is so incredibly sweet and now I have something to take her home in when we leave the hospital. My dream of not having a car seat is over and done.

I was thinking of outfits to bring her home in and I remembered that I have the dress I came home in from 1971! I just need to find it. The cool thing is that we will be delivered at the same hospital so that makes its extra cool. B was delivered there so that is triple the blessing. Methodist is a great place to have babies - they really know what they are doing. We got a taste of that during our hospital stay this past weekend.

I have a couple of prayer requests regarding B and her boyfriend, M. M really needs a job. He is trying to make a fresh start and really wants something where he can do something he loves, that is working on cars. I sent him some jobs over email yesterday that I found in the SA paper. I really hope something happens for him. He loves B so much and wants to take care of her. He called me yesterday and was so excited that he just sold his rims and stereo equipment. He immediately put money in the bank and I was so proud of him. Please pray that he finds a job soon.

Also, please pray for B. I know that she is struggling with how hard this is going to be. She is so certain in her decision but it does not replace the pain that is associated with placing her baby with us. I just hope and pray that she is okay. I pray that the pain will be minimal (if that is even possible). I pray that the people in her life will be sensitive to her struggle and will be there for her unconditionally. I pray that she can move on and continue to be the best little Mommy to her son. She is incredible to him and loves him sooooo much. He is a great kid! And, did I mention that he loves me :)

I appreciate all the prayers and precious emails that I am receiving from all of you. We are so excited that we can hardly stand it! Still no name set in stone. We go back and forth with all of them. I'm sure when we see her precious face, we will know what her name is to be at that time.

I'll post with more updates. We have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday so we'll possibly know more from the doctor. She is 33 weeks and 5 days today. So, we are really in the home stretch!!!

Oh - one more tiny thing - if anyone knows of someone trying to find homes for a puppy, please let me know. B really wants a puppy and I think it would be good to help her let go. Thanks so much!

Blessings to you all!
Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Girl Hill

The rollercoaster ride called adoption....

2008-03-24T22:09:00.003-05:00

Well, B was checked out of Antepardum on Sunday afternoon after having no other signs of labor other than being 3-4 cm dialated. So, she went home to complete bedrest. I'm not sure if she'll heed the warnings of the doctor, but we can only hope and pray.

She is not resting well and she is very uncomfortable. She is certain that she is further along than the doctors think. She delivered a full term baby last time they weighed 6 pounds. She is very small and the father is small. So, they may just have small babies :)

I was diagnosed with bronchitis last night so that explains the cough that I have had for a week. I got some really good antibiotics and I am on my way to recovery!!!!! Thank you, Lord!

We have a busy week this week with getting into the groove of things. Ballet starts again as well as Molly's school. Spring Break was good and it was nice to have a break from things. We met with the attorney today at B's house and she signed the preliminary paperwork with her intent to place the child up for adoption and chosen us as the parents. That was pretty exciting but we know that nothing is a done deal until after the official paperwork is signed and sealed.

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement and their prayers during this time!

Blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Girl Hill (name still to be determined)

Life on Antepardum Floor....

2008-03-23T10:24:00.002-05:00

We received a call at 4:30 AM on March 20th from our birthmother's dear boyfriend. She was having 11 contractions an hour and in a lot of pain. He rushed her to the hospital and they immediately admitted her into Labor and Delivery. Of course, this will make our 3rd trip to the hospital in two weeks. However, this visit was different - she was there to stay. Her doctor was on call and checked her cervix - she was dialated to 4 cm! So, she wasn't going anywhere. They adminstered several different medications and finally found one to work. The contractions stopped and the cervix went down a little bit. The doctor said she will be there until the baby is born. Her original due date was April 28th but she may not make it until then.

She was moved the Antepardum floor where they have a lot of women who are high risk pregancies. Our little one is only 33 weeks but there are women there that are 24 and 27 weeks along. In fact, the 27 weeker delivered yesterday weighing in at 2 pounds 1 ounce. He'll be in NICU for a while. We also saw another little one coming in on LifeFlight in an incubator and headed straight to NICU. We are hoping and praying those little ones hang on and fight!

B was given hospital privileges, which means she can ride in the wheelchair 20 minutes a day twice a day. She is so excited! She also gets to wear her own clothes and not that gorgeous hospital gown. The food stinks though so I make frequent trips to the food court or Whataburger down the street. Life in Antepardum can be quite boring. The rooms are big but there is not a lot to do. We have many magazines, word games, cards and movies! You can only watch so much TV, which B does not do too often. We get frequent visits from friends and family!

The doctor are hoping that she atleast makes it to 34 weeks, which will be next Sunday but they are hoping even more that she makes it to 35 weeks! Two more weeks laying flat on your back - yeehaw!

Thanks everyone for the prayers! Its so exciting to think we could have a baby soon! We have not even prepared a room. And, I need a carseat to take this little one home in!

Please pray for me as I have a cough that will not go away! Its a constant tickle in my throat and I'm sure my husband is very close to throwing me to the curb. He is so tired of my cough but not as tired of it as I am!!!!!

Love and blessings,
Becca, Craig, Molly and Baby Girl Hill (name still to be decided)

Headed to the Beach!

2008-03-15T11:44:00.002-05:00

Well, we are almost packed and ready to head out in the morning for Gulf Shores! We are so excited and think the break will keep us sane. I can't believe we have only 6 weeks before the arrival of our little one.

I had a dream last night that she arrived and I was not prepared at all. Molly and I frantically searched for a car seat for the little one and could only come up with one that was way too big. It was funny but we quickly made our way to Target to get a pretty pink one. It was the wildest dream and the baby was soooo small. I guess I am having dreams like a pregnant mom would right before the birth of their child. Who knows - but you should hear some of my dreams.

Its beautiful here today in Texas. It was 95 degrees yesterday and it felt like summer. We are anxious to get near some saltwater and soft sand for a week. Molly is really looking forward to seeing her Pop and Mia. She told us last night that it sure is more fun seeing them than just talking to them on the phone. She packed her suitcase early this morning and is waiting ever so patiently (ha ha) for tomorrow morning. I hope and pray that Pop and Mia are ready for us to take over the condo with our bag full of Barbies and babydolls.

Nothing new on the adoption front. We are just waiting patiently. We view the ultrasound pics quite often. We seem more like bragging grandparents showing them to everyone we know! Its funny to see people's faces when they try to determine how to actually read the ultrasound pics.

Well, I hope that each of you have a wonderful and blessed Easter. May we all remember what was done for us on that day many years ago. Hallelujah that He is Risen!

Ultrasound...

2008-03-10T22:18:00.002-05:00

Well, we saw and heard her today! She is so stinkin cute! I mean, I know its just an ultrasound and I am alittle bias but come on - you can see alot in those things! She looks great in Black and White.

Our precious little birthmom is so cute too. We had a couple of "false labors" this weekend. It first started on Friday afternoon with contractions and a trip to Labor and Delivery. After spending a couple of hours in the hospital, they sent her home. Then, on Sunday, she thought her water broke but after another trip to the hospital, they assured her it was nothing but told her to come back if she felt anything else. She is only 31 weeks along so we want this precious baby girl to stay in her tummy for atleast 4 more weeks.

When we saw her today, she was completely stretched out and relaxed. I think she was even sleeping. Her lips were puckered as if she were blowing kisses. Again, it was too cute!

We remain guarded but so excited. Our birthmom asked if I felt this little girl was mine and I said "Of course!" I do mean that but I don't want to seem desperate, you know? I do feel like she is mine and I have seen excitement in Craig like I did when we were headed to Ukraine to get Molly. So, I am trusting that God has prepared our hearts for what is to come. We continue to pray for His will to be done, not ours.

Molly has picked out some names of our little one....

Savannah Grace
Elizabeth Jane (to be called Lizzie Jane)
Madeline Grace
Jenny Lynn (after my mom's sister that was killed at age 17)
Ariel - Molly's favorite though I am not too fond of it :) I think she had just watched "The Little Mermaid"
Emma - I know WAY too many Emmas but Molly likes it - don't think it will happen
Lauren Elizabeth

I think that is it for now. Molly's longtime favorite name is Katrina Frosting Hair Done - not sure where she came up with it but that is the name of most of her dolls.

Anyway, Mom told me to come up with a list of names and when we meet her for the first time, we will know what to call her. So, I am trusting that advice!

I will keep you updated as much as possible. We have a doctor's appointment next week but I may be out of town. I'm sure we won't know much but you can be certain that I will be hightailing it back to Texas if she goes into labor next week. Let's just pray that baby girl stays right where she is until its time to come out. Pray, pray, pray!

Blessings to you all,

B, C, M, and soon to be baby girl

7 weeks and 3 Days!!!!

2008-03-06T21:46:00.003-06:00

I write this with a VERY cautious but excited heart. I have asked God over and over to please guard my heart (all of our hearts) in this process. We wait hopefully and patiently for the arrival of a new addition to the Hill family.

A few weeks ago, we found out that the child we hosted for Christmas, Oksana, was not available for adoption. Our hearts were devastated. We wondered why in the world God would allow a child to come to the US, melt our hearts, and then not be available. We went through many different emotions and realized that God most likely had something else much better for our lives. Our hearts broke for little Oksana but realized that she does have 5 older brothers that can take care of her once she ages out of the system. We are praying that her parents get their act together and can come get all of them from the orphanage.

Well, after our debut on the local TV station, I received a phone call from a lady in San Antonio. She and I talked for over an hour about Ukraine adoption. She and her husband are in their 40's and are beginning to think that its better just to be childless. After we talked, she apologized for taking so much of my time. I assured her that things don't happen as coincidence. A week later she called to tell me a neighbor's granddaughter was pregnant with her second child and wanted to place the baby up for adoption. She asked if I would be interested. I said of course. But, I didn't push the issue and then didn't hear from her after that day.

My friends and I traveled to Dallas in February for a mother conference and on the way home, I made the comment, "I wish a baby could just fall in my lap." Then, I got home and guess I was still on my pity party and continued to tell Craig that I was just ready for the pain to go away. He told me to be honest with myself and admit that I did desire an infant and that it was okay to desire such. I think I did cry that night and ended up crying out to God "Why can't a baby fall in my lap!"

So, the following Tuesday, I pulled myself up by my bootstraps! I talked with a friend of mine about adopting out of the foster care system and approached Craig with the idea that evening. He said, "Sure, pursue it until God shuts the door!" I was amazed! Thank you, Lord, I told myself. About an hour later, I received an email from the lady I spoke to a month prior about the neighbor's granddaughter. This young girl wanted to talk to ME! She called me an hour later and wanted to meet me the very next day. So, on February 20th, our lives changed! After looking through our adoption scrapbook of Molly, she looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said "Will you adopt my baby?" WOW, my heart sank. I wanted to jump up and down right there in the McDonald's dining room but I feared she might retract her question. I replied with "I'd love to adopt your baby," as I swallowed the lump in my throat. Then, she pulled out sonograms pictures and said "Here, these belong to you, this is going to be your baby!"

Well, our journey continues and its been an amazing experience. This little girl is a product of her environment. She didn't grow up with much of a family. Her parents were in and out of her life. She lives with some wonderful grandparents whom I have met and have grown to love. They care for her, her two sisters, and her brother. I have met everyone and they are so excited about the adoption plan. Her two younger sisters, age 9 and 11, are wonderful too! They are so sweet and told me that Grandpa insisted I adopt the two dogs, cat, and rabbit with the baby. When I went to their home on Sunday, they pulled out baby pictures galore! They are so proud of their children and grandchildren. Its been a great experience!

I went to the doctor with her today. The doctor explained to us that he wanted to schedule a C-section on April 28th! I almost fainted! That is only 7 weeks and 3 days away, I thought to myself!!! Storage - I've got to get to storage, I kept thinking! But, then part of me keeps saying "Guard your heart, its not over until that ink dries!" So, I am trying to be excited and cautious at the same time. I ask for your prayers for our family but mainly for this sweet girl! I have grown to love her so much. Craig and I may be the only thing close to parents that she will ever experience. She doesn't want much contact with us after the baby is born so we know we must be a good influence to her in this short time. I try to talk to her everyday and just ask her about life. She is very open and honest with me. I've assured her that even if she changes her mind, that I will not hate her. I told her that we would be heartbroken but that we would survive. She continues to tell me she is not going to change her mind but I know that once she sees that precious baby girl, she might. I am prepared for that as much as I can be at this point.

Please pray for a continued healthy pregnancy, pray for God's Will to be done in this process, pray for the birthfather as he sits in jail that God would soften his heart, pray for this girl's heart and her salvation, pray that Craig and I can be there for her as God would have us to be, and pray for our hearts to remain guarded. Sorry so long but I felt like writing tonight!

Blessings,
Becca

2008-02-06T23:37:00.000-06:00

The First Post...

I started an adoption website about 4 years ago with our adoption of Molly. In an effort to keep everyone up-to-date, I went with another website where I was able to post daily our journey in Ukraine. That website (http://beccaandcraig.tripod.com) has been dedicated to Molly. So, I thought I would try a different type of blog. So, here is my attempt.