Lemonade Award

Jack & I received a very special award nomination from an amazing person we met in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It's the "Lemonade Award" -- this award recognizes someone who keeps a positive attitude in spite of all that's going on. Karen, thank you so, so, so very much!! What an honor!!

Here we are with Karen, Bob & Garrett at a pizza place in Almaty ...

The kind words that Karen wrote about us:

Cheryl and Jack (Return to Uralsk) are an amazing couple with the biggest hearts. We met them and their tween daughter Hailee in Almaty. They were on their way to Uralsk to adopt an older girl, so Hailee could fulfill a dream of hers to become a big sister. Hailee was adopted nine years ago from Uralsk, so it was a home coming of sorts. Well, their story did not have a happy ending. After bonding with two other girls (after which both decided they couldn't leave Kaz), they found their daughter Vika. Unfortunately, her aunt blocked the adoption at the last minute and left them broken hearted (and empty handed). After much soul searching, they’ve opened their hearts again, but this time it’s Bulgaria that’s calling them. I pray their daughter is waiting there with an open heart and open arms. We're rooting for you, Cheryl and Jack.

This award is not one that you can keep, you must pass it along to others -- up to ten people. You must post the graphic, write a post that links back to the giver and leave a comment on the blogs that get the award, so they know what's happened.

I didn't have to think very long on who I would like to pass this award on to:

My choice is Catherine & Jamey and their young daughter, Oksana .... although we've never met face-to-face we've forged a bond through blogging and e-mails. While we were visiting with Vika we did see Oksana -- she and Hailee look very much alike, so much so that Catherine and I have tried to figure out if they are related in some way. Hailee thinks it would be awesome if they were cousins! I'm not comfortable disclosing a lot of information about their journey, but while reading their blog I was struck with how often there was humor mixed in even when they were feeling frustrated and angry. And, trust me, there were plenty of times that they had every right to feel that way. Even now when things aren't exactly "perfect" Catherine manages to see the positves ... a trait every parent needs!!!


Before I close -- what's new on our adoption??? NOTHING! (ugh!)