Oh Happy Days

It was one year ago today (3/17) that Jenny and I first set our eyes on Alexandra Sasha Carr at a baby home in Armavir. Our first trip to Russia was an adventure before we even left the US. Due to some freak weather in New York our flight over on the Russian's subsidized airliner took over 2 days in transit (not counting the time zone change). We left on an early Saturday morning out of Wichita and arrived in Krasnodar, Russia around 9 PM on the following Monday. On Tuesday the 16th, we had a meeting with the Ministry of Education official to formalize our desire to meet Sasha. Early (5am) on March 17 we climbed into a van and made the long, bumpy three hour trip to Armavir. We met with the baby home Dr to go over Sasha's medical history. After what seemed to be an endless meeting it was finally time-time to meet the girl God had set aside for us to adopt. I will never forget the very first time I saw Sasha. There wasn't a whole lot to see... after all it was winter and the Russians know how to bundle up kids. If one layer is good, 2 layers is better, and 6 layers is best! All we could see is a little round face peering up at us with two of the most beautiful eyes one could ever want. I have always wondered if love at first site is possible, that day answered the question withclarity - YES!

Looking back a year later, a lot has happened. We made another trip back to Russia to go to court and back to the US with our new daughter, we adjusted to life as first time parents living with a 2 year old, and I faced the most difficult and painful thing

I have ever experienced. One thing that is unchanging and was true a year ago and is true today and will be true tomorrow is that God is good and worthy of praise. He is a merciful, loving, caring, and a deeply Awesome God. There is not a day that goes by where I don't thank Him for the precious gift of Sasha.

Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am

God;"

God bless,

Matt & Sasha

Little Miss Pizza Maker

Just a quick video I put together. Friday nights are typically our pizza night. Sasha has always "helped" to a degree, but usually gets board and finds something else to do. This night, Sasha was with me from the making of the dough to rolling it out, to sauce, and toppings. She really actually a fantastic job. I know I have already shared this on Facebook, so forgive me for the repetition, however, not everyone has a Facebook account... hard to believe but its true!

Happy Birthday to Me

Ok, I have slacked off a bit and am now a couple entries behind. Non-the-less I can’t believe my little girl has turned 3! On Friday the 28^th of January Alexandra Sasha turned 3 years old. Sasha has had some recent birthday experiences (with her cousin Aaron’s birthday in September, Caitlin’s b-day in November, Papa’s birthday in December, Jesus’ birthday in December, and then Michael’s birthday 3 days before Sasha’s big day) and she was geared and ready to go by party time.

We wanted to make this a special birthday for Sasha as it was probably the first birthday she has ever celebrated, they typically don’t have the resources to celebrate in the orphanages. Thursday night after Sasha went to bed, Grams came over with a car load (and I mean a car load) of helium filled balloons.

We put up balloons, streamers, table decorations, and about everything else you can imagine to give little Sasha a very Curious (George) birthday. The next morning when she woke up she was very excited to see all the decorations. She went from sleepy, groggy, slumber-like trance to a toddler auctioneer in about 2 seconds.

That day Papa came home from work at 11am and took Sasha to the park....yes the park. It was 70 degrees on her birthday, maybe a little present from above (granted the following week was 18 below). We played at the park and then had a gourmet meal at Sasha's favorite 4 star restaurant... McDonalds.

That night we have a few close friends over to help us celebrate this big event. Sasha and the other’s had a fantastic time with pizza, cake, presents, and much much playing. All in all it was a fun and successful night.