How DO you know? =)

We LOVE this song. Everybody start singing!!

Time for a Solemn Assembly

In the last General Conference, we were honored to raise our hands and stand to sustain our new Prophet and his counselors. President Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf were sustained in an historic solemn assembly. How comforting it is to know that the work of the Lord goes on - and to see these great men take charge and lead us in these latter days. As President Monson said " As your hands were raised toward heaven, my heart was touched. I felt your loved and support, as well as your commitment to the Lord."

I watched with tears as my girls got to stand as members as young women. I thought of Elder McKell, who has been out in the field thirteen months, giving up his precious time working so hard for the Lord as a missionary. His sacrifice has been so sweet and humbling to us. I watched my sweetheart stand as a high priest. This conference was one I will not soon forget.

I loved Elder Lance B Wickman's talk on seeking forgiveness while extending charity to others. He stated we should not postpone matters of repentance until tomorrow. Today is the day to forgive others their trespasses, secure in the knowledge that the Lord will thus forgive ours... Perfection may elude us here, but we can be merciful. And in the end, repenting and forgiving are among God's chief requirements of us.

I am not perfect. In saying such - if I have offended anyone - I am truly sorry - and will strive harder every day to become more and more Christlike.

Living the Gospel

We, collectively and individually, as a family, number one in our lives, love to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. Vinny and I are now studying and reading "Preach My Gospel" - Elder McKell has challenged to do so. We can't believe or would want to know where our lives would be without the atonement that our Elder Brother, even Jesus Christ made for us, so that we can repent and go on to fill the measure of our creation. We want to share the "good news" with everyone out there. We invite all to read your scriptures as a family, say individual and family prayers together, go to the Temple often, and attend your meetings. Keep close to your Father in Heaven, for He truly loves you and watches over you. We, as a family, have a divine testimony of this. Although we are not perfect, and bear many faults, we truly try to love one another, and try to bear each other's burdens, and try not to talk about other people. We LOVE our faith! We hope all who practice any faith to do the same.

Musings on Cami

So there we were. On a journey to get a child in Russia. We were excited and scared at the same time.

They suddenly, across the miles, thousands of miles, this small, scared, sweet face pops up on the internet.

Se is thin. She looks cold. Where is her hair? And yet....... I cry... I see a princess - diamond in this bruised unkept little body of a girl. And so... I make her ours.

Cami. Where do I start. Three years ago a tiny girl with short blond hair and beautiful eyes jumped into our lives. Literally. Jumped. She jumped and sprang from chair to chair. She was delighted when we saw
babushka's" (grandma's) and babies. She didn't come to me as much as the others did at first. She would play on her own for hours at at time. She fought with Aliana. They BOTH wanted to be so right, and the first one to be so.

Cami was so loved at school. Wherever she went she made friends. She loved to color and draw and play in mama's make-up. She loved animals. But could she love me???

So - three years later, Cami is a hauntingly beautiful girl, who only gets prettier by the day. She loves gymnastics, music, animals, coloring, etc.. (mom's make-up). But now, Cami laughs and laughs and laughs!!! She loves me unconditionally. She is silly and talks and talks and talks and talks and talks and talks.. and well, you get the picture. =)

Cami's bubbly personality spills out and effects everyone that comes in contact with her. but most of all, Cami is mommy's girl! We love each other so much, and grow closer every day. I can't imagine life without her, and to think I almost didn't adopt her because I was afraid she was "too young". But Daddy held firm, he wanted that beautiful six year old!! She can read, write, loves school. Oh, Cami, How I love you!!

They are my three bugs,

Aliana - Lady bug - Jitterbug
Nikki - Love Bug - Snuggle bug
Cami Baby bug -Hug bug


For more info on the girls and their stories on how they got here, go to, www.mythreelilttlebugs.blogspot.com

Musings on Nikki

Nikki -

Three years ago, in Stavropol Russia, I found my Nikki.

Those eyes cried out to me seven thousand miles away. And so for seven months I worried over her. Was she cold? Wet? Hungry? Tired? Abused? How I longed for heer.

When Nikki first arrived to her new home in America three years ago, she was happy, friendly, dark olive skin, and somewhat shy. Always content to be in the background, she was the last to ask for anything, always waiting patiently for her turn to come. There were no attitudes on the way the other two girls demanded attention. She accepted that in her quiet unassuming way.

About a year and a half ago, just before we moved from Utah, Nikki finally opened up and literally "busted" out of her shell. Nikki had always been a book worm, always reading, absorbing everything around her like a sponge. She at times had showered us with dry wit, but when she finally exploded, she really "exploded'. What joy! She instantly turned from a shy "pick me last - I don't care girl" to someone, who decided to believe in herself. She is hysterically funny. She is bright, articulate, well read, and extremely happy go lucky. She has a very european exotic beauty look. She doubts herself on her beauty, but Nikki's beauty is VERY special because she doesn't even realize how beautiful she is - she is beautiful in the most beautiful way - INSIDE AND OUT. She has a heart of gold. Nikki can do amazing things with her hands and fingers. She could be a Doctor if she so desired, her hands are that steady and sure. She helps me with my hair, I LOVE it. She would be a great Beautician. Nikki has the world at her fingertips, and it is because she is so well - informed.

She is my Russian Beauty, who defied all odds to be here, with her Mama that loves her so much. Don't ever forget your beauty or your self worth, my little girl, and don't forget your daddy's love either! (Nikki shown in my dress I wore at 18 also)

Musings on the girls

This was written Nov 2nd 2007, on our way to Utah on an airplane. Aliana has asked me to publish it, so here I go.

Well, the girls have been here from Russia for three years now. The journey has been an incredible one. I can't believe that that three short years ago, we went seven thousand miles. It was a great wonderful experience then, and continues to be so.

Aliana came here loud and boisterous. She was demanding, silly and fierce. She knew what she wanted and went after it. At ten years old, she thought she was in charge, and most of the time, we helplessly stood by, and gave her the control so we could translate Russian to English. Not that she understood the English, but she was able to pick up very quickly on things we needed - temporarily- and with keeping both other girls in check. She was a huge help in Russia. (And home in America).

Now, three years later, Aliana has calmed down somewhat - but can still be load and bossy. She doesn't like the teasing and silliness as much as she did before, and sometimes now she is sullen and acts like she is bored to death and just doesn't care about anything. It's called "I'm thirteen now, and I'm all that and a bag of chips". "Word up'!

She is amazingly beautiful, and smiles so delightful that it captures your heart and takes your breath away. She loves to dance, chorus, she loves to sing. She loves music, her IPOD, Frankie, (our shit tzu), and is now big into wearing fashionable clothes. Her hormones are all over the place, (of course, I would be worried if they weren't!).

Would I trade her? Do I ever regret getting her "last minute"? NO!!! NEVER!!! She has added so much dimension, diversity, frustration, giddiness, spirituality, you name it, that I know - yes I KNOW ----Aliana is supposed to BE HERE. She is a gift from up above. Thank you Heavenly Father for her life.

She is very helpful and self sufficient. She has the mind of an engineer - always can figure out how to do something and to put things together. Beauty and brains make for a lethal combination. She is a handful, but has sung her way into our hearts. Also, Aliana is a Daddy's girl!!!! How she is loved! (this pictures is a picture of Aliana in a dress that I wore at 18 years old!)