That was never so apparent as it was for Lynn Ellen Doxon and Robert Habiger in the creation of their family through the adoption of Anastasia, Janalyn and Lydia. Lynn and Robert’s journey takes them halfway around the world to Ukraine, and lasts for two and a half years. In that time they learn lessons of perseverance, faith, love, hope and surrender to God’s will. The laws and economy of Ukraine are unstable, the officials fearful and suspicious and the circumstances wearisome. At times is seems like the whole world is attempting to block the adoption.
Lynn describes how a couple grew in ways they never expected when they set out to adopt just one unwanted child, how three beautiful girls found their family, and how one region of Ukraine was opened up to foreign adoption despite fearsome opposition.
The story also covers the lives of the three girls, Anastasia, Snijana and Irena from their point of view. They begged in the streets to get enough to eat and were cared for by their older brother and sister when their mother was drunk or absent, which was nearly all the time. Then one day a dog attacked Snijana. The authorities came to investigate and the girls were taken to the regional orphanage for children under four. Life in the orphanage was not easy but Anastasia and Snijana were soon favorites of the staff.
Then came the visit from a strange woman and the girls were told she would be their new Mama. They would be getting a Mama! Best of all, they would have a Papa too! Their new Mama and Papa were very nice; but as time went by, their Mama and Papa didn’t take them away from the orphanage. Snijana didn’t believe they would ever leave, while Anastasia and her youngest sister Irena, never gave up in their belief that their Mama and Papa would come and get them.
Lynn shares the humor, the joy, the fear and the anger she experiences in the process of adopting her daughters. She opens herself up, showing that while she and Robert did not do everything right, continued trust in each other, prayer and belief in their love for the girls would see Lynn’s dream of a family come true.
