the Life of Olena

I took this picture of Olena about a month ago.  I edited it and was sitting here looking at it when I glanced up at my cork board where I have the picture on the left hanging of her bio-brother....WOW!  I couldn't believe the likeness in this picture.  He is much younger here, I believe he is 4, but it was too striking to ignore. 

American Heritage girls had award night.  She received 4 badges that she earned from her projects and she also won the "Highest Achiever Badge" for selling the most candles for the fundraiser in all troops combined! Thanks to her Dadu for helping her sell so many. 

It seems like just yesterday I was helping his momma bring his beautiful little soul into this world.   He has won my heart with those big blue eyes and I see my best friend in his little face every time I look at him.  I couldn't love him any more than as if he were my own.   I was lucky enough to get the chance to take his 1 year photos and we had a lot of fun with the cake smashing shoot! :)  Happy birthday little man.  Silas William. 

Along with spring comes new life...new beginnings.  Thankfully, here in Michigan, the record breaking winter has decided to move on, the flowers have started sprouting and the birds have come back home. There has also been lots of changes in the Warchol house.  Our family has expanded again and we are now a family of 4.   Late last year, an opportunity to adopt through disruption presented itself and after much prayer and discussion we decided God was handing us exactly what we had requested...an older daughter, Ukrainian heritage, no out of country travel, no physical challenges (....hhhmm if you don't count clumsiness) and it has been a fairly "easy" adoption process. So how is it going you ask? HOLY TOLEDO!!!! I thought becoming an instant parent to a toddler was difficult, try doing it with a teenager....a hormonal one at that.  :) First lets start with the amazing facts.  She is beautiful, inside and out.  She has a gorgeous smile.  She can be tender, attentive a