Our Little Miracles

This wonderful Missouri family traveled to Guatemala for their baby boy. He was perfect and healthy in every way. His big brother and sister are overjoyed with their new baby brother. Nicco's Mom read her fortune cookie "Seven is your lucky number". On May 7 2008 the family became whole with their beautiful, happy baby from Guatemala. Nicco was an amazing Mother's Day gift for Mom, Dad, big brother and sister.

You can keep up with this family settled back in the US with their blog by clicking the link below:

This family traveled to Russia to adopt the child they had waited so long for. Skylar is a joy to everyone who meets her. Skylar is now growing up in Texas!

You can read about their Adoption Journey by clicking the link below.

Lucy and Aya Gatto are amazing Little Miracles! At age 1 and 3, the girls arrived home in Washington in time for Valentine's Day 2009. Their very busy parents have both full hearts and hands with these beautiful sisters!

Claire loves all sports, but especially soccer. She is an excellent student. Gracie loves to pretend she is Spiderman, Superman, a pirate, or a "bad guy". She has the face of a china doll, but at heart she is all Tom-boy. Gabe plays soccer because Mom thinks it's good for him to get some exercise. He'd prefer to play with Legos, his play-station, or just read. He is also a very strong student and reads well above his grade level.

From Mom: "I have truly been blessed with my three little miracles. I took this picture and put in on my coffee mug and my desktop because it captures them so well and just makes me smile."

It makes everyone at LMI smile too! What happy kids! LMI used to get so many requests to know about "the baby in pink on your website." LMI is so happy to say to that "baby in pink" You are really a beautiful young lady!

Claire came to live with her mother in early 2000 after an adventure in Kazakhstan! She was joined by her brother from Romania in the summer of the same year. Now Claire, her brother and mom have a wonderful life and have built an international family together! Precious Claire has grown and flourished and has continued to bring a smile to everyone who meets her!

Sometimes we have families that inspire us during an adoption process. This is one of those families. They piloted a program for us and faced each hurdle with acceptance, then joy. They assimilated into the culture, they participated, they understood they had to follow guidance, and despite any bumps in the road, they came out victorious and happy. This family is truly a blessing for LMI and we are so proud of them.

In fall of 2007 this Honolulu family of 3 travelled to Semey, Kazakhstan to meet their daughter who was truly “unexpected” (the meaning of her Russian name, Nezhdana) in every way. Traveling blind at the last second, they trusted that everything would somehow work out – and they were rewarded by finding the daughter who was truly meant to be.

Nearly 9 months later: “You would not recognize Nezhanna (Nisha) from the first bonding day, she was so shy and quiet and very much afraid of us. Nisha has blossomed and continues to amaze us every day. She is thriving, full of energy, very curious, has an incredible amount of determination, and is pretty much fearless. OK, I admit, this is sometimes a tough combination when also dealing with the terrible 2's and teething, but it really is incredible how well Nisha has adapted to her new life. She is learning more words every day, is right on target for her age in size, development, skills, etc., and it is so good to see her happy and well-adjusted. Almost-6-year-old brother Ethan loves having a little sister and he’s done well adjusting to the big brother role – he really looks after her and sometimes even shares toys!”

Here's to Hayden! This Georgia Mom cannot remember life before meeting Hayden, and cannot imagine life without her. "She is running, jumping, climbing, etc. A possible future gymnast??" She is extremely sweet and good natured and she loves to love and be loved. Big open mouth kisses and laughs are her favorite things. Mom's favorite thing is when she runs over to mom and lays her head down in her lap and then just looks up at her and smiles.

There's no place like home for Johanna, adopted from Guatemala. Johanna is making a smooth transition to life in Kansas. Her mom, Gail, was originally going to adopt from Kazakhstan, but was ultimately called to Guatemala to find her daughter. Three months after making the switch, a referral photo arrived. Less than 8 months later, mom and grandma flew to Guatemala the day after Easter to bring home the next generation of the Skipton family. Gail reports that Johanna is "doing great...She had 3 teeth when I picked her up, has cut 2 more in the last week and is working on another. She now sits very well...She is very easy-going most of the time and is interested in EVERYTHING around her."

Read about her adoption journey by clicking the link below:

This forever family was complete in September, 2008. Elated first time parents found their pride and joy in Kazakhstan and fell in love instantly with their princess Kara. She is everything to them and they all are living happily ever after in North Carolina!

You can keep up with this family settled back in the US with their blog by clicking the link below:

In the summer of 2000, a family traveled to Kazakhstan and their life was changed forever when they brought home their beautiful daughter who was considered "special-needs." As it turned out, she was perfectly healthy, well nourished and her family in New Jersey were blessed beyond words with this wonderful child.

Update: December, 2007

Can you believe it's been seven years! Araya and Megan are 10 years old now and doing great. Araya is a kind, funny, beautiful young lady. She enjoys horse-back riding and all sports. We moved to Lancaster Pennsylvania four years ago and the girls are loving country life. We check your site often and are amazed at all of the children you have helped bring home over the years.

When Parker's family decided to adopt from Africa in the spring, little did they know they would bring home the ultimate gift in time for Christmas! Little Parker joined big brother Aden (adopted from Ethiopia) in early December 2011. It certainly made for a wild and crazy December, but this family wouldn't have it any other way!

Sweet Hannah came home to her mom, Erin, and grandmother in Ohio in spring of 2010. Hannah's mom arrived in Almaty in the midst of terrible weather, but a little blizzard wasn't going to stop her from meeting her daughter. When flights were canceled from Almaty to Shymkent, the Little Miracles associates in Kazakhstan quickly implemented plan B: a 12-hour overnight train ride that would ultimately bring Hannah's mommy to meet her baby.

After all was said and done, Hannah arrived in Ohio and has been the talk of the town. She already has a few Kazakhstan comrades. Several families in Ohio have adopted from Kazakhstan with LMI and Hannah has Dalton (adopted from Semey in 2008, here with Hanna's mom Erin) to show her around town!

From the family:
"We are so happy to have Sophy as part of our family. She was so tough and strong-willed at the orphanage, not seeming to need anyone, I nervously wondered how she would fit into our family. The amazing thing is that she has, without sacrificing any of her natural liveliness and spontaneity. She came out of her tough little shell to reveal a very affectionate, warm, little girl, giving hugs and kisses, and asking for them many times each day. She knows and loves all her extended family, including aunt, uncle, and cousins. She went from someone who could not sit still to have a book read to her, to knowing all her letters, and being able to write her own name in English! Her language skills are amazing, and she is very expressive. All of this happened in nine months. She is someone very special to have made so many adjustments so fast."

Brandon came home to South Carolina just in time to ring in 2009. This family originally wanted to adopt a baby girl. When the call came about a beautiful baby boy to adopt, they packed up the pink and painted the room blue! They were over the moon happy to become parents, and within a few days they were in Shymkent, Kazakhstan and in love with their son. Mom says, "We thought we had to have a baby girl, but God gave us exactly what we needed - we can't imagine life without Brandon".

A bright smile in Illinois! At near 2 when she arrived home from Kazahkstan, she developed quite a sense of humor, and keeps everyone laughing. She has particularly bonded well with her big brother who absolutely adores her. Not only does she have Dad wrapped around her finger but big brother, too

This family was matched with a sweet, healthy baby even faster than they could have dreamed. What a blessing to be able to visit their baby while waiting for the paper work to be processed! They met the foster family and felt comfortable that somebody knowledgeable and loving was caring for our daughter in their absence. They were in love. Margareth has been home since February 2008 and the Morales family has had the joy of bonding with their daughter and watching her bond with her siblings as well. They report: "Life has never been sweeter."

Madeleine's parents didn't know what awaited them as they traveled blind to Aqtobe, Kazakhstan in July of 2007. When they first met, "It took all of one day to fall in love with Madeleine. Aside from being beautiful, she's so entertaining and very expressive."

Flash forward one year and look how Madeleine has blossomed! According to her parents, "She's adjusted really well - starting to say sentences, gained eight pounds, and has added about three inches in height. Overall, she's a happy child that enjoys going to school, most foods, and doesn't like sleeping."

What a difference a year makes!

In 2004 this family traveled to Russia with LMI to adopt their handsome son Will. Their family would not be complete without adding sister Julia from Kazakhstan. May 24, 2007 three years later, Julia made her trek to the US to join her wonderful family. You would never know they weren't bio siblings! Just look at how happy they are!

The family commented: "Julia is thriving and growing like a weed. Julia is a happy toddler and we are enjoying her so much. Will is happy to be big brother (most of the time) and they are really beginning to play well together. Julia has blossomed over the last year and she and William are our true joys!!!!! They both are little lights and we are so blessed to have had them come into our lives."

At the time Jenna was adopted from Azerbaijan, her mommy was single, however shortly after she was adopted, her mom met a wonderful man with two sons and they all became a family. Jenna and her new family live in South Texas and all are having a wonderful life together.

As you can see from her updated photo, Fall 2007, Jenna has grown into a beautiful little miss, and from the looks of things, All American Girl!

Ryan and Anna came from the same city in Kazakhstan. Anna was living in the Baby House and Ryan was in the Children's House. Anna was 3 and Ryan was 5 at the time of their adoption. They were not related siblings before the adoption. They joined their parents and a brother at home in Georgia. Ryan and Anna quickly learned how to be siblings and are enjoying life with a family of their own! Anna and Ryan came to live with their family in the summer of 2000. To find out more about Kazakhstan adoption and their experience, E-mail their family!

Anna and Ryan are doing great in Georgia. They were accepted into the gifted program at their school. Anna loves drama and music. (Her favorite artists are Elliot Yamin and Justin Timberlake) She is growing so fast! Ryan loves to take things apart and rebuild them, and loves woodworking. Their older brother Daniel is their hero.