Sweet Hannah

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to have a very special girl in our home. Her name is Hannah and she is from an Orphanage in the Ukraine. She arrived today after so much anticipation and preparations. Most of you know we have been planning this for a while. So they arrived today very tired and unsure and for a few hours I felt I may have made a very big mistake. Hannah doesn't speak any English and It was a little uncomfortable for a while. We sat in silence for a few hours as Joey is gone to Austin for 2 days. Then I asked her via an online translator if she wanted to go out and she seemed excited and so I took her to Maddie's favorite place "Chuckee Cheese" So loved it and I had the best time watching a little girl with no family, hope or known future see such fun for the first time in her life. She is the girl on the far right. She was very shy at first.
You can see some of the other children here. They are all orphans and all seeking families. Hannah is 15 and considered very old. At 16 they are turned out and 60% go in to prostitution and more to drugs. Below she is playing with Grey. Amazing how a baby can bridge any language barrier. She has really taken to him and is so gentle and sweet. Maddie calls her "my sister" hmmm maybe she knows something:)

Joey will be very happy to see she is already pretty good at video games after only one trip.

So why are we doing this??? Well Joey and I took on this commitment with an open heart and a longing to help someone who is so much in need of love. I don't know where this will lead. Hopefully as her advocate we will help her find a home and a family over the next three weeks. I know that she is already changing us. When is the last time you really stopped to think about how lucky we are to live in the country. I know with gas prices so high and the economy sliding it can be hard but we are so lucky. We waste and waste because we can and we want and want because we think we should. I hope that this experience will change my heart and make our family better.
Did you know that the Bible references taking care of orphans and widows over 50 times. For example James 1:27 "pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and the widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us"
Please check back often and follow this very unique journey. I am nervous and scared but hopeful that we can impact this sweet sweet girls life I know one thing we will never be the same!!!