I miss Agniya.

I miss my Russian 'daughter.'

She is half a world away....
and I just want to hear her laugh, share a cup of tea, and head to T.J. Maxx.

Is that asking too much?

Backing up: LOVE MY GIRLS

Here are some pics of an amazing weekend spent with my love and my friend/daughter/family girls!!!!! I never got to post about it 'cause I was awfully busy just Living the Thing!

I just love these stinkin' precious girls. To say that we have fun together would be a vast underestimation.

oh. and in case you didn't know:

Paisley is back in style. {wink}

These moments are precious to me... because now that Agniya is back in Russia, who knows when or if we can share these times again.

{You know. There are an awful lot of amazing colleges and cute boys in America, Agniya.}

Love you, Liney Bug and Anan.

See you later Alligator... After a while Crocodile....

*this is a repost from 3 days ago, but with 'our' friendship song added on to the end....
You can't even imagine how heavy it feels to say goodbye to this precious girl.

But on Wednesday morning, there will be a moment.

A moment when...

When the unknowing lady at Security will simply whisk Agniya through her line....

and we will have to say goodbye.

for a while...

It is too big for me to wrap my small mind around.

This Goodbye.

And although we pray that it is an "After a while Crocodile" kind-of Bye... well,

we are not truly in control of the future.

So,

for this final day,

We will hold on tightly to each other until we have no other choice.

For Good, from the musical “Wicked”

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led To those who help us most to grow

If we let them And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit, As it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder, Halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good

It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring, By a wind off the sea

Like a seed dropped by a skybird, In a distant wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

Because I knew you I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness

For the things I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit, As it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder, Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring, By a wind off the sea

Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood,

Who can say if I've been Changed for the better?

I do believe I have been Changed for the better

And because I knew you... Because I knew you...

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for good.

I love you SO BADLY, Agniya.

After a while, honey.

After a while.

less than 4 weeks.....

how in the world am i going to live without this girl???

my daughters. my friends. my family.

Caroline, Agniya, and Darlene.

We are family.

Just,

not the blood kind.

And this weekend I got to be with both of my special girls in New York City.

We dined.

We hit Times Square.

We had a last-minute Broadway date-of-a-lifetime. One only God could arrange.

It was a dream.

A dream I will never forget.

I love you Agniya.

I love you Caroline.

You are so very, very precious to me.

Ski Pros

To celebrate my hubby's birthday, Nana and Pop Pop took us to our local ski mountain, and we had a blast.

Caleb skiied all by himself {!!!!} and Matt and his Dad got to ski together for the first time in a very long time. It was a special {and *brrrrrrrrr* cold day}. We laughed a lot, and just had a fantastic time.

Mommy and Caleb get ready for the slopes:

Agniya is ready!!!!:

Pop Pop helps Caleb try skiing for the first time!

The Snow Bunnies on the lift:

Caleb was ready to try it all by himself. Here we go!!!!:

Caleb does it all by himself! Age 4!!! I love it!

And a blog birthday wish to my amazing husband! We did lots of celebrating and gifting and laughing last weekend!!! I love you, honey!!!!!!!!!!! Toujours.

Agniya's Blog!!!

Our precious exchange daughter {and my, she is precious!} has started her own blog. Hop on over to Finding the Way. Meet her and her family there, and be sure to send her some encouragement and lots of comments. Thanks! Love you guys!!

We came to host Agniya through an exchange program at our local Christian school. You can click here to read more about our Agniya and click here to enjoy Agniya's very own blog!

Snow Bunnies

Can you tell how much I love this girl???

When God calls you to open up your heart.... say YES!