Our Little Angel is on the Plane.

Meet Lera,

She is a stunning little girl who lives in an orphanage in Ukraine. We are hosting her in our home for Christmas. I just got word that she is on the plane headed to America with a group of 14 orphans we have worked hard to find host families for. They all come from different orphanages around Ukraine. Some are adoptable and some are not. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them and life changing. We love to host and we love the kids.

I first saw Lera almost a year ago when I was directed to a website that had lists of children to host and adopt from Ukraine. At the time we were looking to host a boy but her sweet little face was so hard to not notice and fall in love with. My only thought at the time was how beautiful she was and that she was going to be snatched up by a family right away.

I then went to Ukraine last October to visit orphanages and bring donations. I was about to do my own hosting program and wanted to see what life was all about for orphans in Ukraine first hand.

I met amazing and beautiful children all over the country. On my last day in Ukraine I was in my going over my list of children with my Ukraine partner, Ilona. We were in her office and she was teaching me what was needed for adoptions, how to update her website and Facebook and how to load the photos of the children I had met. When we came across this beautiful girl I asked her who she was. Ilona told me her name and that she was on my list to host. My eyes got big. I could not believe it. I of course new instantly who my host child was going to be.

I actually had two children selected to host. Lera and a 9 year old boy from her orphanage. One of the boys selected to host with one of my families got adopted at the last minute so they will host Kolya. He is from Lera's orphanage. He is being hosted by an amazing family and they plan to advocate for him.

We had total 14 children hosted and flying into California. The kids and their chaperone are on the plane now and will arrive tomorrow. I have my poster ready and gift for Lera and my kids are bouncing off the walls, excited she is coming. I bought a day bed for my daughter's room and all new bedding for Lera. It's a bed for a princess. She also has lots and lots of presents coming from Santa. I know Christmas not all about gift and we will teach her that, but it was almost impossible to go to any store and pass by girl things and not grab something for her. Just like I do with my other little princess.

She has a 15 year old brother at the same orphanage. He will be getting lots of presents from Santa also. She has a mother that is unable to care for them thus why they live in an orphanage. Her mother writes to then often and loves and misses them. I am sure Lera misses her also. That in itself is so heartbreaking for me to think about. I just think about my three year old and how she would feel if I was not with her anymore.  That is all I know about her. I am just excited to share our life and love with her.

This will be our journey with this amazing little girl. I know we had a huge following last summer when we hosted our sweet boy Vadym who is now back living in California with an amazing family. Although Lera lives in an orphanage, she is not available for adoption at this time so we are just taking this time to love her, cherish her, and make her a part of our family during our short time with her. After this trip she will be a part of us no matter what happens in the future.......