Celebrating 10 Years of Mariah

It seems as if we have snapped our fingers and ten years has come and gone. The month was January leading into February and the weather was brutal. So much snow and ice and there isn't a word that could describe how cold I was. Our actual adoption day was late January and then Doug left Ukraine and headed back to North Carolina to be with Drew because we had been away from him for a month. I had to leave Kiev alone with Mariah and travel to Poland to spend a few days there. We had to receive her American visa in the US Embassy in Warsaw. Staying at the Sheraton  was pure luxury and the day before we were to leave I became very ill with a fever and stomach virus and didn't think I would be able to travel.

By the grace of God and an unbelievable airline I made the flight to Chicago and home. Looking back at this pictures of us while we were in Ukraine, on the plane home and in our home in Durham is a nice visit down memory lane. These past 10 years have not been easy and I question myself about what and how is the best way to parent you but we have survived.  Today I took Mariah for a private dance lesson to work on her floor routine. At the end of the session I went back into the studio to watch her and smiled from ear to ear and watched as she moved with confidence, passion and desire. I want her to know that through tick and thin I will always love her and am so happy to be her Mom.

First time out in the snow. 

Spiked hair styles

Loving Oksana

Feeding Mariah porridge 

There are nice people in this world. Thanks to these 2 wonderful flight attendants

Mariah Visa to enter the United States of America