Make This Place Your Home

Yesterday was Christmas in Ukraine. We went to see Parental Guidance last night as a special treat.  This was the theme song.

Hold on to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

That fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Liza called her brother to say Merry Christmas and invite him (again) to come visit.  He happened to be at her mother's house.  She talked with both of them happily with smiles and giggles in rapid fire Russian about her life here and what she has been studying.  And you know what?  She wasn't sad afterward.  She studied, she painted, she helped, she played.

She also called her best friend at the orphanage.  Alona told her that they didn't receive Christmas shoeboxes from America this year.  When they don't get those shoeboxes, you know what they get?  A few pieces of candy.  The next time your church hands out those boxes, makes sure you pick one up.  And if you already do each year, pick up twice as many as you normally would.

 The biggest news of the day:

She isn't afraid of the dogs anymore.

"Mommy, she likes me."

"I like her."

"She is my best friend."

She spent the *entire* afternoon yesterday voluntarily helping me rake gardens and playing with Phoenix.  Then she learned to shoot the airsoft pistols with Mercy- one of our 11 yr old twins whose hip Liza has been most recently attached to. :)

It was a good day.
ps Can you tell she got her hair done?