7 years later...

...I'm still strolling down memory lane this time every year. It's hard for me to believe, but seven years ago today we were standing before a Russian judge, in a Russian court room presenting our petitions to adopt Olga and Nina!

Olga's High School Graduation (in pictures)

To God be the glory, GREAT things HE has done!

The happy graduate!


Olga receiving the "CHEF (Christian Home Educators Fellowship) Scholarship"


Olga receiving the "Jaron Holliday Music Scholarship" from Jaron's father. Jaron Holliday was killed while serving in Iraq in '07--he was a local home school graduate, accomplished pianist, and lover of music. This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded.


Olga with her scholarship certificates.


Olga with her high school diploma from Grace Academy (our home school) and certificate from CHEF (Christian Home Educators Fellowship)


Nina congratulating big sister!


Mom and Dad with our graduate!

College Graduation--sort of!

It was a rare joy tonight to watch our oldest daughter participate in her college commencement exercises -- a week before she walks in her high school graduation!

During her junior and senior years of high school, Olga has been attending college concurrently. In the spring of 2008 she earned her "International Language Certification" in Russian with honors (requires 20 college credit hrs. in target language).

In case you are saying/thinking, 'That's nothing, she grew up speaking Russian!' please remember that she has been completely immersed in English since Oct. 2002. She has not had the advantage living with family who converse at home in Russian--we try, but we are NOT fluent by any stretch of the imagination (although we do valiantly try for the sake of BOTH our girls!). Russian has been a part of our girls' daily home school schedule since very early on, but it still requires a great deal of hard work to retain a language you have little opportunity to use regularly. Congratulations Olga!

Happy Graduate!

Hmmm, the cap fits Nina, too! Someday... :-)

Olga's 'Senior Recital'

Olga and five other high school seniors study music (piano and/or cello) under the same teacher. So, we were treated to a very special "Senior Recital" and reception today in a beautiful turn-of-the-century home.

Fantasy No. 3 in D Minor, K. 397 ~ Mozart

Tarantella, Opus 23 ~ Squire

And now, for a little music...

courtesy of Olga!

2009 ~ Resurrection Sunday

Olga's Senior Banquet

Olga's Senior Banquet was last night--mom and dad got to attend too!

The dinner was quite nice--in a private club/restaurant atop one of the buildings downtown--the fellowship was rich (Christian home school support group), and the memories will last forever!

Olga auditioned to play a piano piece during the banquet and was one of three selected--she played "Give Thanks" arranged with Pachelbel's "Canon in D". That's the grand piano she played in the picture above.

We've been 'counting down' since this time last year, but as we draw nearer to the end it just seems to be speeding up!

April Fools?

Guess which university Olga was accepted to today? :-)





That's right, mom & dad's alma mater--Oklahoma State University!

Russian food!

Our girls had a craving for Russian food yesterday, good thing there's a Russian store nearby!

Olga also bought some syroki, but we devoured those very quickly!

It's so neat to hear the girls talk about and remember familiar and favorite tastes and smells from Russia!

7 years ago today...

(Update: 03/08/09 Olga received word earlier today that she has been accepted into the music program at OSU!)

...we received an email that would literally change our life forever--we heard about an 11 yr. old Russian orphan who wanted a family.

Today--7 years later--we took our oldest daughter (that FORMER Russian orphan) for a piano audition at the university where John and I met 26 yrs. ago. For now, here's a picture--I'm trying to upload a short video of her warming up.

Olga accepted into College Honor Society!

Olga received her membership packet today officially recognizing her as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa College Honor Society!

She was invited to join earlier this year after achieving eligibility requirements of completing 12 college credit hours with at least a 3.5 GPA. Which, she managed to do as a concurrently enrolled Junior in high school (home school)!

She continues to take advantage of concurrent college enrollment this year--her Senior year of high school--and is likely to have 46 college credit hours (some through advanced testing) already accumulated when she graduates from high school in May '09. She definitely is taking after her father in this area of her life! :-)

She's thrilled and we're very proud of her!

Olga's Senior Portrait

Our Girls...

...continue to grow and 'blossom'--too quickly. :-)

July 2008

Kids' World 2008

Today our girls and I volunteered to work the Russia booth at the local "Kids' World" event--booths highlighting various countries and cultures!

Nina helping the kids color and make Russian flags--and loving it!

Olga writing the kids' names in Russian in their 'passports'.

Me, handing out info. sheets to the kids and sharing Russian history and trivia.

Olga's first car!

Olga has been saving her money and is now the proud owner of her very own car!

NOT "born in the USA", but still an American!

Olga got to vote in her first election today--and a "Presidential Election" at that! (Trivia: She was born in Russia while it was still under Communist rule.)

Fall 2008 ~ Cello Choir performance

"Gotcha Day" ~ Six years ago today...

...we legally "got" our daughters! We celebrate this day EVERY year by eating out or going/doing something special--this year will be no exception, but it's still a secret for now!

This photo was taken just before we left the flat where we had lived for almost a month! Pictured front to back, Fareed (our driver), Nina (our youngest daughter!), Olga (our oldest daughter!), Helen (our translator), Nelya (hosted us in her family's flat), and last but not least a brand new Mama and Papa!

And, here we are at the Yekaterinburg airport waiting to fly to Moscow--finally on our way HOME!


And, these are our girls today!

"The King" and I...

...err, and my daughters!

On our way home from vacation we stopped at the Memphis Visitor's Center, and just look who we ran into!! :-)

Readoption ~ 2008

We spent part of our afternoon today in court--readopting our girls so that the state can/will issue American birth certificates. Their new birth certificates will have all the original information (Russian birth place, etc.), but will be in English and issued by and in the U.S.

FYI - we were given Russian issued birth certificates that list us as their parents, but of course they are in Russian with an attached English translation. :-)