V came home June 2015. He's been with us close to a year now.

Here is a recent picture. He's really grown up. We're so thankful that he is with us and for all who helped. 

Here we are all together! 

We are up to 20,000 of the 30,000 we need for our adoption! 2/3 of the way!!! The first of three trips begins mid March. Less then two weeks away!

Working to bring this wonderful guy into our family in 2015!

During our host - winter 2013

 His soon to be siblings. 

 Our family picture. 

During our host two summers ago

A more recent photo

We brought home our daughter this summer and we're still working to bring our son home!

Hello, my name is Chelsea and my husband David and are in process to adopt a 14 year old by from Ukriane. Currently, we have three children. One, who is 6, was adopted from Ethiopia as a baby, a 4 year old that is our biological son, and a 13 year old girl who was adopted this summer from Ukraine. She has anopthalmia of both eyes, essentially it means she is completely blind. All of our kids are amazing and we are loving having them in our lives. 

This summer we set out with the intent to adopt more than one child but different things happened and paperwork for our son wasn't ready due to some changes. So we came back to the USA and re-did all of our paperwork and are currently getting ready to go back to adopt him. 

We leave for Ukraine in a couple of weeks to re-start the process.  We have already received a lot of gracious donations and with our savings + donations we currently have raised 20,000! We have 2/3 of what we need for his adoption! Funds are tight for us because we didn't expect to have to be making this trip a second time. However, we will do what we can to bring him home and leaving him behind because we don't have enough money to do the process again, back-to-back, was not an option!

 Thanks for stopping by to read about our story. If you want to and have the ability there is a donate box to the right. I've been told it only works by computer (not phone). Our phones don't  have internet so I can't verify this. But the link will take you to pay pal. ALL donations go directly to the kids' adoptions. 

Our summer with "V"

I picked this song because one part of it was continually going through my head when the kids left to go home. I felt like this song was a God send. My heart was broken and these words kept playing in my head: "Isn't it beautiful, the way we fall apart? It's magic and tragic all the ways they break our heart. So unpredictable, we're completely miserable. And then I'd keep thinking, but it is, it's completely beautiful. Thank you, God, for this opportunity. It's Gods "magic", his ways of bringing us together. Even through the sadness of seeing them leave, it was beautiful. I wouldn't have changed our summer for the world!

So here's my feelings on what this song means to ME. I'm certain it's not at all what was intended but it's MY meaning:

The worlds on fire but we're all smiling (because we are doing something about it and we know that change causes a new spark-- it only takes a spark to get a fire going!)
Yes, our worlds on fire but there's so much that can be done to bring new growth during & after the fire, too! To make it wonderful again! I love this host program and those that work to put it together to change lives- laughing & loving together bringing that joy to the kids!
These kids have so many battles they've had to face during their young lives. The permanent scars, how broken they are but they remain standing tall, and our Lord doesn't forget them nor will we! And isn't it beautiful what can come out of those broken lives?!

We're all so imperfect but we are all worth it. We're created in HIS image! These kids are not alone! They need to know others care as they wage their wars, as the hold the pain (the lion they cage) inside-- and isn't it beautiful the way we fall apart as these walls are broken down?

The world is dark but all it takes is your love/heart to spark and set another heart on fire once again! Then, this world is lit by their love and it's no longer as dark, is it?!

-C. Sparks