These pictures are a beautiful witness to the blessing of adoption. Banner Christian School recently held a pep rally and I've never seen Anastasia smile so much. I had to fight back the tears because I couldn't help but thinking about her life in Ukraine, where there was little to smile about.
When you see pictures taken of her at the orphanage, it's almost as if she didn't even know how to smile. This is my favorite shot of her previous life. Everyone we talked to in Odessa told us that Nastia spent most of her free time in the art room, putting her heart and soul into creating beautiful works of art. Art remains her passion, but today she enjoys so much more.
Katrina is a vivacious young lady who has reached out to both of our daughters.
Mr. Tom Burkett is not only the headmaster, he's also the varsity volleyball coach and very much in the "old school" tradition. Banner Bearcat volleyball is not for the faint of heart as "Mr. B" runs a brutally tough practice. He's a demanding coach who prefers not to lose, but his off-court demeanor is gentle and soft-spoken. He got a kick out of posing here with Nastia. Afterwards he asked, "Did she smile?"
Nastia and her teammates should compete for the conference volleyball championship. They've been a bit inconsistent lately, but should be ready by tournament time to be a contender. This Christian volleyball is ferocious competition and we love the games. Go BearCats!!! 
Galyna with her best friend Anna Winans. Anna is the youngest of three children in an extraordinary missionary family, who recently returned from a five year mission to Japan. Anna's mother grew up in Saigon during the Vietnam war. Their family's incredible story is told in the memoir of Anna's grandfather Sam James. They never left until the fall of Saigon. It is a miracle they didn't become martyrs for Christ. This is an example of how adoption has blessed our entire family as we've all become good friends with the Winans family.
"Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice."
6 comments:
Are you sure you got those girls from Ukraine...is that what 3 months in the states does...you can't tell that they have not been part of your family forever. Isn't God awesome in what He does for us.
May He continue to bless and enrich your lives.
It's hard to believe the girls came to America only a couple of months ago! They look radiant, so happy and relaxed, they truly belong here!
Go BearCats!!!
Just amazing!It gives us great hope to see how well the girls have adjusted to their new lives as Hales! God is so good to have given the girls close friends.
Okay, Jim, I need some advice here. We def want to stay in the odessa Executive Suites, but it looks like they only have a loft or studio apartment available. Did you stay in either?
Seeing how your girls have assimilated into American life is wonderful. There is such joy in the photos you've shared.
I'm so happy for your family.
Kathy
privet solnse
kak dela?chto novogo?ti ochen crasivaya osobenov shcolnoy forme
napishi mne na milo
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