World's Best Babushka!

That there is a candid shot of my mom interacting with my niece Kaylie! She is the best grandma ever, and she is welcoming the new title of Babushka!

This picture captures very well how precious each grandchild moment is for my mom. She has a gift for sure.

She has taught kindergarten for some 20+ years, and she loves it! She is retiring this year, however, to be Z and S's nanny. Plus she needs a break from some of the stresses that come along with teaching.

My mom is my hero. If I can be half the woman she is, I will be happy. She loves the Lord with all of her heart, and it flows out of her pores. She is kind and considerate, gentle and loving. She is sincere and sacrificial. Now she can get cranky once in a while, but that is tied to the pain in her back or in her two artificial knees! Which brings me to my next points. She takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. She is quick to apologize and slow to blame. She is my biggest fan, and she will be the Babushka of all Babushkas!

I can remember my mom sitting at the foot of my bed during my teenage years with her hand on my foot praying for me as I "slept". She asked the Lord to give me wisdom as I grew into a young lady. I cannot wait to do the same for Z and S. Talk about feeling precious!

I can't wait to see her interact with Z and S. I just know I will have tears in my eyes! Z and S are going to be so loved in every way!

I love you mom! Thanks for passing on a legacy! I'm so lucky to have you!!! I'm one of nine, but I feel like her only child! I think most of us feel the same! :)

Meet Nanny McStephanie

I wanted to introduce you to my youngest sister, Stephanie! She has volunteered to be the live in nanny for Z and S until my mom retires from teaching this coming July. She is jazzed, and has an innate Mary Poppins personality. I know she is going to be great with the kids. I will get to be home for 6 weeks during which Stephanie will be there with me observing me as I attach with them and helping them to become familiar with her, Josh, and Kenny.

Steph is the one on the left and Momma Gina is the one on the right! Gina is our sister from another mother or our sister in the Lord whichever you prefer, but she is definitely a part of the Rivera crew. She turns our eight into nine, and we all keep the drama meter pretty high! Gotta love it cause anything less would be boring.

Thanks Stephanie Joy! Little S Joy is sure to love her auntie just as much as Kaylie, Josh, and Kenny do! Love you my angel baby girl!

Josh and Z's Room Pics

Josh is waiting so patiently for his little cousin to come home! Just about 10 minutes before this picture was taken, Josh helped me make Z's bed. He's excited to get to share his room, toys, television, etc...! Josh asks each day how many more days it will be, and each day I have to say I think it will be about 21 days. Josh is getting tired of that answer! Tonight he said, "D, even if you said 6 more days, that would be too long!!!" "I am going to pray that Zack and Sophie come home from Russia soon."














Josh has quite the set up. He and Z will have tons of fun together!

Some pics

Here is a pic of Gina's handome boys taken on Labor Day weekend in San Diego! I can't wait to have pics like this of Zack and Sophie and the four cousins together!!!


Tucked away inside this building is Z! Please keep him and the other 60 children who live here in your thoughts and prayers! Don't let the nice look of that car fool you! The cold came in the floorboards like an air condition set on high! Gina and I had popsicle feet after the 3 hour ride!!!! Z and S will be dressed very very warm for the trip home!!!!

The Latest News

Well, the latest news I have is that I should be traveling back to Russia the second week of February. Now, this news is from the agency, but it is NOT official. It is unnerving! I think all day long about what Zack and Sophie are doing and what they are thinking. I wonder if they believe that I am really coming back for them! I hope they do! I just can't stand knowing that there are 5,000+ miles between us!

Today, I am going out with my sister, Stephanie to register at a few stores for a toddler shower that she is insisting on throwing for me, Zack and Sophie. I have to be honest. I am SO GLAD because the more I try to prepare for them, the more I realize I need and in this case, it will take a village to get it all together in time.

There are plenty of boy toys in this house that are age appropriate because Josh is only 1 1/2 years older than Zack and he is a neat freak. All of his toys are in mint condition and thoroughly organized! I love that about him. So, of course Zack will need some new toys, but he will not go wanting. There are, however, NO GIRL TOYS in this house! Yikes! She needs babry dolls, My Little Ponies, Princess stuff, etc... You know girl things! Then there are clothes - deep breaths...okay, all will come together in the next few weeks, I'm sure.

As soon as I get an official court date, I'll certainly shout it from the mountain tops!!!! Thanks for reading! Please comment! I can use some words of encouragement!

Zack and Sophie's "Big Cousin"

This is the Joshter! He is my little angel although he really does belong to his momma Gina. Yes, she's Italian! :) He continually blesses my heart! He spent a week in Texas visiting his best friend, my niece Kaylie. Upon his return which was two weeks after we left for Russia, he put his shoes in the closet and brushed his teeth. Did I mention it was after midnight? He is such a cool kid!!

The next morning he said, "D, We forgot something last night." I said, "What"? He said, "We forgot to pray to our Lord." I smiled a great big smile. I don't think I remember his mom or anyone in the family using the words our Lord. It must have been my mom!

Josh then said, "And, D, don't forget to bring me something to eat in the car." "You know an apple or a banana." He said, "I prefer a banana." "You know." "You remember, right"?

Why do I share such a simple story? Well, it is because I met Josh when he was Sophie's age. He was 3 going on 35 and had the attitude to prove it. His mom out of love for him and his siblings had emibarked on the journey of becoming a single mom. Her story is hers so that is all I will say. I was happy to give them a home in my little condo so I got to experience Josh's TERRIBLE threes! He was a handful and a half who had temper tantrums that would make your hair curl. People who know him now simply don't believe it!

Back to the point, Josh now is this happy well adjusted 6 year old who LOVES God, Loves his parents, Loves life, and after two weeks reminds me of how things should run lest I forget to care for him properly! His mom is kind to let me fill in for her in small ways while she finishes her degree. What a little ray of sunlight for me as I now and again worry I will have trouble with Zack and Sophie adjusting, thriving, behaving...

Josh's prayer last night, "Thanks for God and Jesus and that He loves us so much. Thanks for my family and for D and thanks so much that I get to love Zack and Sophie, my little cousins. Keep them safe please." Amen

Even if you're not one to pray, that must melt your heart just a little... Don't let anyone tell you love and structure doesn't work. Josh is proof that it does!!!!

Here's to all of the angels in Russian orphanages waiting for loving mommies and daddies to come and take them home! I LOVE YOU my Zack and Sophie and "my" Josh loves you too!!!

Winter in Russia

Here I sit wide awake at 11:24pm. Typically I am in bed by 9:00PM for early rise at 5:00AM, but not this week! Since the quick turn around trip to Russia my internal clock is way off. I have tried Melanin and Tylenol PM but no luck. All I can do is think about Zack and Sophie and where they are and what they might be doing at this moment since they are awake when I should be sleeping.

My last day in Russia we went to the notaries office where I signed the final paperwork needed to prepare for court. After that we drove the 3 hours to and from the orphanages. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to see Sophie as long as usual. We had only about 30 minutes together. I had just enough time to love on her, play with her hair, and give her some more new clothes which she loves. I will never forget the look on her face when that door opened. She saw me and a big smile took over her face as she ran into my arms as fast as she could and held on tight. I miss her so very much!

I spent more time than usual with Zack on my last day there. He was so excited to see me. He brought with him all of the toys I had given him the days before including the purple balloon that he was very focused on blowing up himself. He was pleased to show me that he had figured it out. He blew it up and then stuck about 50 Bambi stickers to it. He had never played with stickers before! He had a toy sword in his hand which we were told Santa brought him. It was all he asked for and it was all he got. He was very proud of his new sword. He kept touching it and Gina would act scared. He said in Russian with a giggle, "It's just a toy." She kept playing along, and he'd touch it with a finger and she'd wince and then he'd do it again and again. He had a great time, and a I took many pictures of him as Gina engaged him. I was glad she was there because I was exhausted from the game of balloon bopping we had played for at least 30 minutes. He is all boy, and I LOVE IT!!!! I find myself dreaming of him in little league someday.
I miss him so much!

When I got home, my friend Wanda and her family were waiting for me at the airport! I was so thrilled to have someone there eager to hear about the kiddos! What a great reception it was! Shortly after the pick up, we were at Taco Bell. There are no frijoles in Russia!!!!! This little half latina was looking for some good Mexican food. Taco Bell had to do because babushka was waiting and boy was she eager to see me. She called like 4 times requesting that I get home as fast as possible! Once home, we watched every video that Gina took of Zack and Sophie and we looked at all 400 pictures! I am happy to say that my mom and family are so eagerly anticpating the arrival of our new little ones. They are already so LOVED!!!

Now, I wait to receive an appointment for a court date which is when I will return to Russia to pick up my little ones. In Nizhky Novgorod, the second trip will go something like this:

Day 1 drive to see kids in Vizhka.
Day 2 go to court in the morning.
Day 2 afternoon see town while Olga files paperwork.
Day 3 go to pick up kids in Vizhka.
Day 3 take overnight trip by train to Moscow.
Day 4 - Day ? complete kids medicals, wait for necessary paperwork to leave Russia

This second trip could be as few as 5 business days! This is what I am hoping happens! I can't post pictures openly, but if you're curious, feel free to email me, and I'll see what I can send.