a little over 1 month in...

And our life is amazing!:)

Vi is kicking booty learning English.  Her teachers are extremely impressed with her progress and determination...our amazing friend and translator Julia has given SO much of her time helping Vi.  I'm proud to say that at this point, Vi is in class without a translator...and she is succeeding!  Our daughter brought home several 100% quizzes...oh, and a whopping 100% on her spelling test!!

She is eating exceptionally well, and even getting her own food without asking now.  This is something we've been pushing her to do; feel comfortable in HER home and eat/drink when she wants to...she's about there!

Vi loves her sisters, and her sisters love her.  Al and I could not be happier, as we watch our daughters learn and grow together.  We have had to correct Maddy & Bella, who sometimes think Vi is the little sis:)  Bella says "oh Violet, you are such a sweetie you sweetheart" as if she's talking to a baby:) haha...and Madds last night said "Violet, you have to eat your dinner."  Thanks, 2 year old:)

I'm still in awe at how God chose this daughter so perfectly for us...my heart is so full it truly could burst at any point.

Perhaps the most amazing part of this last month is what's happening at Paw Paw Middle School.  Let me tell you about this amazing group of students and teachers....

Vi is in a self-contained classroom for cognitively impaired students...and it should be noted that I've had the privilege of meeting most of these kids, there is not a nicer group of kids anywhere!  They took Vi under their wings immediately.:)  Anyway...she is with the same 9 students, teacher, and para-pros all day.  The only time they mix with the mainstream ed students is at lunch.  So in a time where we turn on the news and hear about bullies, and problems at school...Al and I were naturally nervous about this lunch situation.  Vi is the new girl at school, who doesn't speak English (sorta:), and she is older than all of the students at the school...in many places, this would be a recipe for disaster.  Well well, NOT at Paw Paw Middle School.

It started with two girls, and now has spread to several more.  These wonderful 8th graders took the initiative to approach Vi in the cafeteria, ask her name, and ask about her life.  They didn't stop there...they went home that night, logged into google translate, and typed letters to Vi...translating them into Russian.  They told her she was beautiful and nice...they said they hope she feels comfortable, and that she makes friends very fast.  These 13 and 14 year old girls said that they could not imagine how difficult it was for her with all of this change, and that they want to help her.  They invited Vi to sit with them at lunch...and now she does.  She has met SO many kids...and every single one of them includes her, talks to her, and smiles at her.  She told us last week that she didn't understand this, because in Ukraine...people are not outwardly friendly.  In a matter of 2 weeks, our daughter went from no friends to more than she can keep up with.

I vividly remember middle school.  I was tortured by one girl in particular...and I remember the most insane arguments with friends.  I remember the insecurity and the gossip.  This is why I get choked up EVERY time I think about the magnitude of what these kids have done.  They've stepped out of their comfort zones...lets face it, they could have been ridiculed or bullied for being nice to the new girl.  But they didn't worry about that...they stepped up, and they reached out.  And it spread...I am forever a fan of these Paw Paw students...we need more like 'em.

Kudos to Paw Paw Middle School Staff (by the way...Vi's teacher and para-pros have become family...they love our girl, and there could not be a better group to get her accustomed to American education).  The people we've met along the way have knocked our socks off with their generosity and accommodations.  The teachers and administration care about Vi, and what's best for her.

I'm sorry it's been such a long time since I've blogged...I will try to keep up:)

Thank you SO much to our friends everywhere who've been with us on this journey...

A personal thank you to my best friends (3rd Friday ladies:) for being with me every step of the way.

God is so good.

Sweet 16

We had a wonderful weekend.  Saturday, we celebrated Violet's birthday...she turned 16 in February, but every girl needs a Sweet 16:)

When Vi blew out her candles, it was extremely overwhelming.  It broke my happy heart to realize that at 16, she was looking at her first birthday cake, blowing out her first candles.  Something that we treat as a simple luxury in life, became life changing for our daughter.  What an awesome moment...and even better,our loved ones were  there to celebrate with us...

Laura (Vi's very close friend, and the woman who got us connected to her) flew in from NC for the weekend.  Violet was on cloud nine:)  Our house was packed, and I mean PACKED, with supporters at her birthday party.  She received beautiful and thoughtful gifts...how strange to watch someone show confusion in opening cards and gifts.  I think that truly, she could not comprehend that all of these people...came to celebrate her.

Al and I are so very thankful for each and every one of you...and we know that several of you could not make it, but that your thoughts were with Violet on this special day...we love you all dearly.


Our life has been changed in a way that I could never fully describe.  To say that we realize our blessings, would be an understatement.  To say that we appreciate all we've been given, would be an understatement.  To say that God brought our family together, and completed us...filled our hearts, well that is right on point.

family of 7

the link to the news clip is below...I will blog more soon...we are a very happy family of 7:)
http://www.fox17online.com/videobeta/a827fcf1-c08a-4ddc-a5dc-c2339eb077cd/News/Family-Welcome-Adopted-Daughter-Home-9-3-11   

USA USA USA!

Al and Violet will arrive in Grand Rapids tomorrow at 4:30pm...our family is rejoicing!

sometimes it takes my breath away...

when I think about this process.  I cannot believe how much it has drained us..not just financially, but mentally and emotionally.  The stress level that comes from the up & down emotional roller coaster, is sometimes too much to handle.  My husband is stressed out in Ukraine, he wants to come home and is missing our girls like crazy.  Violet is absolutely dying to get home to me, she tells me every time we skype..both of their hearts ache.  Al does not have the comforts of home, he has reached the absolute end of his patience level...and today we learned of another delay.  I do not know what this means for us..for our sanity.

I am exhausted.  I love my daughters more than any words could ever explain...it's just that sometimes, I want to be left alone for 2 minutes...or sleep through the night without someone waking up crying...EVERY time my computer makes a noise, the girls yell "daddy" or "Violet"...when it's Kate yelling, I hear "Biolet":)  Then they talk , and then I am bombarded with the same exact question...when will they be home?  Yesterday, I had an answer...today, I do not.  I am tired of this process.  It makes NO sense to me, and it is the very thing that is complicating my life to the point of absolute and total exhaustion and defeat.

Make NO mistake, I am thankful beyond belief that our adoption was granted.  I am thankful to those who made it happen, most of all being my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Today though...tonight...it's rough.  I am sad, mad, lonely and overwhelmed all in one.

I miss my husband more than I could ever explain.  If you ask me, 11 weeks is long enough for him to be in Ukraine.  I miss Vi...I need my daughter to be home with her sisters.

I do realize I sound like a spoiled brat in this post.

 I also realize that my life is blessed, totally and completely blessed.  We won in the Court of Appeals, when really, we probably stood NO chance.  We have 5 healthy and beautiful, smart & caring daughters...I have a husband who loves me with every last bit of his soul, and I love him just the same.

BUT C'MON.  Enough is enough...I need my family to be together.  I need Vi to be in her home, in her own brand new bedroom, with her family that loves her.  I need my daughters to have their daddy back home...I need them to stop growing up so fast, because he is missing SO much.  I need my husband back.  I need to feel whole again.

I need to continue to pray for patience and understanding....because they are both fading fast.  God has never failed me, and will never fail me...I know this..I am just struggling to keep my stress level down, and my happiness level up.

I have NEVER felt exhaustion like this.

Saturday, September 24th

Please email me at daniellelittel@yahoo.com if you are interested in coming to Violet's Sweet 16 & Welcome Home Open House...

I am choosing not to post our address publicly, because even though I know NONE of you:) are anything but wonderful people...this IS a public forum and I don't want the world knowing where we live!!

Saturday, September 24th 4:00pm-7:00pm

Please stop by to welcome Violet to the USA! We will be celebrating her birthday too, with snack foods, beverages, and cake. We are holding this as an open house type of event, so as not to overwhelm her with so many people at one time. We really look forward to seeing you there, and introducing our amazing new daughter! Thanks for ALL of your support throughout the last year:)

We would love to include anyone & everyone who has been with us on this journey...I recognize that not all of these people are on Facebook or the internet/our blog. Please feel free to invite ANYONE you know who has so much as prayed (because that has been the BIGGEST factor:) for Violet...This is not just for people who have financially supported our cause..while that made her adoption possible, it's the prayer and emotional support that paved the road for us...

We cannot wait to celebrate with you!

Praise Jesus

our daughter is coming home...more details to come...but God worked through these amazing judges..SHE IS A LITTEL!