Our Newest Adventure

Meet Dasha! In just 17 days this little sweetheart will be coming to live with us for a month and a half. I had looked into hosting a child the past few summers, but the timing was never right. We were always either just coming back from Russia or just heading over! This time it worked out perfectly. I received an email query from New Horizons for Children, then Nastia and I spoke about it, and the next day we sent a letter of commitment.

For those of you reading this of the Christian persuasion, this program is something you should look into. I am incredibly impressed with their organization. Their training for host families is outstanding, their support network exemplary, and their commitment to these kids nothing short of awe-inspiring. You can visit their website at: 

www.newhorizonsforchildren.org

They also have a facebook page.

Some of you may wonder why we would give up the time, energy and resources to host a child when we are still struggling to bring Nastia's sister home. Well, it has been nearly five years of working to bring Anya home, and my Nastia truly longs for the experience of siblings. We felt that this would not only help Nastia feel hopeful about getting her sister here, and give her something to do in the meantime -- but also it was a way for us to help another child. Why wait till life is perfect? Why not do it now, when life is messy and complicated? We felt in our hearts that hosting was exactly what ALL of us needed, not just Dasha.

I asked permission to post about Dasha and our experiences while she was here, and they wre actually very encouraging about it. As long as I don't give out her last name, birthdate or orphanage, we're free to share about our time with her! She arrives June 25th. Stay posted for lots of photos and anecdotes. We are waiting with baited breath to see this sweet little face in person!