What a difference...

a year makes.



This day last year was perhaps the saddest day of my life.  I left the six plus my sweet husband at Dulles Airport.  Piper was sobbing, and I had to leave.  No possibility of pulling her into my lap, snuggling her, praying with her.  I had to leave.  I had  to travel back to Ukraine to bring home Katya.

If you recall, swine flu broke out during the ten days between our court date and our return.  Airports were awash with face masks.  Even brides and grooms wore them.  Nationwide alerts were posted with dire consequences for travelers with a cough, sneeze, or slightly flushed look.

I was worried that I might be banned from traveling over to Ukraine to pick up my daughter and bring her back home, for good.

In Ukraine, we visited the Ukraine Toys-R-Us to buy Katya a dress for her court date.  

Yesterday she sported the same dress and cheered with family and friends the beautiful, intense, cold, emotional, beautiful wedding of Jessie and Pippin.



Notice the stud in the middle.  That would be my husband.

This year, on November 8, Katya was partying it up, arm in arm with sister, Piper, hanging with brothers and sweet friends Kaley and Preston Hutter.

What a difference a year makes!