Olivia’s Letter: The Story
of Your Journey Home

Dear Olivia,

As I sit down to write you this letter, I wonder where to begin as I tell you about the story of your “journey home.” I hope that these words convey our love to you, our faith in God, and our gratitude to all of our family and friends who prayed for your homecoming.

This story begins before you were born. In May 1998, I met a beautiful 3-year old girl at church. I learned about her recent adoption and homecoming. I shared that conversation with Dad and kept thinking about that beautiful little girl. I was totally taken aback by her. Weeks later I mentioned to Dad that I felt God had placed international adoption on my heart. He tenderly responded that we would think, talk and pray about adoption. The idea remained before us as we evaluated career opportunities, because Dad was in the midst of a career transition!

I began Internet research on adoption and agencies and networked with families who had completed Russian adoptions. We prayed for guidance and received affirmation from God through your big sister, Mel. One day Mel, quite unexpectedly, asked, “Could we adopt a baby from another country and share our love.” We knew God was answering our prayer, already preparing our hearts for you.

In my research I found Christian World Adoption. I remember watching their information video and crying as I heard (in the video) the words I had just spoken to your Papa, “We (Dad and I) can’t change the world, but we can make a difference for a child.” So we started the paperwork process in September 1998!

On Christmas Eve we received our BCIS approval in the mail. What a blessed Christmas! I remember standing in the kitchen, talking on the phone to Aunt Jessie, my hands trembling as I opened the envelope! We all cried with joy and excitement! Finally in February 1999, we were “document ready!” With another milestone completed, we fervently prayed that God would lead us to the child He had chosen for us.

We initially thought we had met “our little girl” when we traveled to Nizhney in May 1999, and applied to adopt Lauren Anastasia, “Annie.” But after we returned home we received a call that Annie’s birth mom had come forward. We prayed. By June we received word that Annie would remain with her birth mom. We accepted this as God’s will.

We prayed again that God would lead us to the right child. That prayer was answered when we met you in August 1999, in Nizhney. You stole our hearts! You stared at us with your huge blue eyes, gave us many “fishy” kisses and nuzzled into our shoulders!

The next six weeks were filled with excitement as we anticipated your homecoming. We decided to name you Olivia Grace. Olivia being the English translation of your Russian name, Olga; and Grace because of God’s grace and faithfulness. At the age of 2 and a half, your big brother, Philip, understood that we were bringing you home from Russia. Each night as we looked into the sky he would ask, “Is the moon high Gracie’s?” and pray that God would keep you safe.

Gran was on-call to baby-sit Mel and Philip whenever we received our court hearing date, which was October 14, 1999. We left home filled with anticipation! This trip was similar to our previous two trips-only this time we were bringing you home! It seemed like an eternity as we waited to go to the orphanage to see you again. It was so good to cuddle you before our court hearing.

We arrived for the hearing but were asked to move to another courtroom. As we walked down the hallway, Natasha said not to be intimidated by the courtroom, which contained a huge metal cage to hold criminals during their hearings. Dad joked that we should have had our picture taken in the cage!

When the judge read the decree and congratulated us, your Dad and I wept with joy. At noon on October 16, 1999 we picked you up at the orphanage. After we dressed you, your caregivers came in to say goodbye. They all kissed and hugged you, but one caregiver struggled letting go of you. She continued to hug you as I held you in my arms. I released you and she lovingly cradled you, gently sobbed and kissed you. She tearfully handed you back to me. I will always treasure that memory and her expression of love to you.

You slept peacefully on the overnight train into Moscow. We checked into a hotel, and for two days we spent the hours playing with you, smiling the whole time! As we bonded, your personality unfolded like a blossoming flower.

During our flight from Zurich to Atlanta, a lady commented about what a good traveler you were. She and her husband said they enjoyed watching the three of us and the bond we shared. I was amazed. I thanked her for her very high compliment since we had just adopted you! Our homecoming was awesome! Mel, Philip, Gran and several friends met us at the airport, and then about 30 friends and neighbors met us at home! The whole time you smiled, cooed and took in the world. What an answer to prayer our trip was!

Daily you continue to bless our family. People say how lucky you are to have us, but we know we’re lucky ones! We’re blessed to be your parents. Someday we’ll take you back to Russia to share with you your rich heritage. Thank you, God, for bringing us together as a family.

”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Love, Mom & Dad