Benjamin and Timothy: Adopted from Krasnoyarsk

Dear Mr. Putin,

We are Benjamin and Timothy. We were adopted from the Krasnoyarsk region of Russia in June of 2010 and September of 2012. We now live with our four sisters in the United States. Before we were adopted, we lived in an orphanage. We were cared for by nice ladies, but we did not have the care a loving family can now give us. We will always know where we came from and the country as our parents have spent about two months in the country throughout the two adoptions. 

We beg you to give other children a chance to have a family in whatever way you can. Reopening American adoption from Russia is one way to do this. We ask you to reconsider your decision so other children can be loved like we are. 

Thank you,

Benjamin and Timmy

Sophie: Adopted From Sosnovoborsk in Krasnoyarsk

Our family of 5 had the pleasure of adopting a beautiful Russian baby girl in October of 2011, making us a perfect and complete family of 6! 

Sophie was in the Sosnovoborsk Baby home#5 in Krasnoyarsk.  We are extremely grateful to the caretakers and director of the orphanage for taking such good care of Sophie before she came into her Forever Family! Not enough attention is ever paid to these women who care for our babies long before we get to hold and love on them.  They told us that Sophie was so easy to take care of.  I would like to give credit for Sophie being such a sweet child to the love and attention her caregivers gave to her.  I can’t imagine how hard it would be to take care of a room full of 20 babies.  To bathe them, feed them, change them and give them any sort of attention it must take a huge heart to do that.  We will be forever grateful for them!

We have been deeply hurt by the news that American families might not ever get to adopt Russian children again. 

Sophie’s entire being has changed since she came into our home.  It’s as if she was given life!  I know she had that full energy and infectious personality inside of her but there was just too many other children to compete with, she just kept it inside because she wouldn’t be noticed!  Not because of neglect, but because there were just so many others to care for.

She has become this child that never stops laughing or smiling!  Everyone she meets wants to learn about her and when we tell her story, it’s encourages other families to look into adopting from Russia.

See, Sophie has become her own advocate.  Each baby, child and teenager needs an advocate to tell the world they need a home.  When you look at Sophie, before and after she was adopted, it is a true testament as to how a loving nurturing family can bring out such a beautiful work of God!

Please consider giving the other children in Russia an opportunity to be loved and nurtured so they  may live a full life and to be given opportunities to achieve their fullest potential!

Thank you,

The Boyd Family

Sophie “Marina” Boyd

Anna: A 6 Year Old Girl Adopted from Krasnoyarsk

Dear President Putin, 

I am Anna.  I was born in Russia.  I lived in my crib there.  I wanted somebody to love me but nobody loved me there.  Jesus took care of me.  

One day two people came to see me and I felt happy.  I wanted them to be my Mommy and Daddy.  I wanted them to bring me home then but they couldn't.  I don't understand.  They came to see me again and couldn't take me home.  Then they came and adopted me and brought me home.

I like the food here.  I was always hungry in Russia.  I like my family.  My family loves me and I love them.  I get to be a cheerleader and I like to cheer.  I like Alabama football.  

Can you please let the other Mommies and Daddies adopt the other babies?  I want them to be happy like me.

Anna, age 6

Adopted at age 23 months from Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Four Year Old Girl Adopted from Russia

Dear President Putin,

I am 4 years old, and I was adopted from Russia last year.

I have a medical condition that caused me to be turned away from many Russian families that were interested in me. So I think I would have lived my entire life in the orphanage if my American parents hadn't adopted me.

I am doing great here in America! I have 2 big brothers and a little sister who is my best friend. My parents talk often about the country I was born in, and I would love to go back some day. But I am really thankful that I came the U.S. and get to have a family now, especially a mommy and a daddy!

I am sad to think that some of my friends from my orphanage may not get families now.

Please change your mind.

Two and Four Year Old Girls Adopted from Leningrad and Perm

Our beautiful Russian daughters, 2 & 4, were adopted in 2011. They are living with serious medical conditions which are being treated here in the United States and they are now thriving. One of our daughters was inquired about and refused by more than 100 Russian families upon learning about her medical history. Our girls are growing up knowing about their Russian heritage and they are very proud of it. They love watching Russian movies, they have a Russian speaking babysitter, attend Russian school and are happy to tell people where they were born. We love Russia and the Russian people and we are so happy that we were allowed to adopt our precious daughters. Thank you!

Alina: Adopted From Astrakhan

Those who know our story, know that we have been blessed with the most amazing Russian born daughter. Our adoption process began summer 2006. Alina joined our family FOREVER summer 2007.

I am not in process to adopt again. But I weep for the children left behind.

When we met Alina, we fell in love. She was tiny and frail. I worried. I was a pediatric RN. I had 2 great kids at home. What if......But when we stood in front of Valentina our judge in Astrakhan; we asked and prayed that the court would grant our adoption - they could have said no...We PROMISED to ALWAYS love and cherish their Alina. We promised to provide for ALL of her needs - we didn't know what those might be. And we Thanked them for allowing us the honor of adopting one of their young and vulnerable citizens. These were vows. We did not take them lightly.

Our daughter is the light of our lives. She has the same relationships, the same benefits, the same privileges that our birth sons do. She is thriving in every way. I weep for the families in process; those that don't know when, if, how they will see their babies again. That 7 week period between trip 1 and 2 was the HARDEST thing I have ever done! I truly felt like I had a daughter thousands of miles away. I worried that she was alone, cold, hungry. I worried that someone else would come along a realize what a doll she was. I worried that Russia would change their mind about adoption. I thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives and for Russia allowing us the privilege of being her mom and dad.

U.S. Mama to a Russian Princess

Lizzy: A 10 Year Old Adopted From Nizhny Novgorod

                                                                                                                                       12/29/2012


Dear President Putin,

I am Lizzy McLaughlin.  It is fun at my county.[ U.S.A.]  I like to have fun with my family and friends.  I like to play Hide and Seek, Flashlight Tag, work on the computer, swing in my backyard and play in the snow, of course.

I like to have ice cream with my family.  I like to go to Church.  I like to be on the swim team during the summer and soccer team during the fall.  I like to go on vacations with my family.  I also like to go on field trips with my class and Girl Scout Troop.


Can you let people from U.S.A adopt  Russia kids? Why or why not? I am asking you this question because I am from Russia. 

I wish I could see my brothers in Russia!

A Kid from Russia,
Lizzy

Jack: An 8 Year Old Adopted from Krasnoyarsk

Dear Mr. President,

My name is Jack McLaughlin.  My Mom and Dad adopted me from Krasnoyarsk, Russia when I was 32 months old. My adoptive parents came to play with me in the orphanage.

I am now 8 years old.  When I left Russia and went to the United States of America, I went to our house.  I saw that I had two sisters and two brothers.  I like to play with my brothers and sisters a lot.  I like to play games and go to parks.  I like to play Hide and Go Seek with them.  I like to play with them in the snow, too.  I like to play in my front and backyard when it is hot.  I like to play football in the front yard and play trucks in the backyard with my sister, Mary Christine.

I like to go out to dinner with my family to restaurants.  I like to play on the playground at McDonalds and Burger King.  I like to say prayers and go to Church together.  I like to play tag with my Dad in our backyard.  I like to spend time with my Mom when it is quiet.  I like to go to the swimming pool.  I like to go to my Grandma’s house and play.

Please let Russian children come to live with families in the United States instead of orphanages.

From,

Jack McLaughlin

Patrick: A 13 Year old Adopted from Krasnoyarsk

Dear President Putin,

    Hi, my name is Patrick McLaughlin and I was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. I used to live in an orphanage in Kansk until I was adopted by a great family. I am an adopted Russian who has spent a great quantity of my life, living a dream that would never existed if it wasn’t for Americans to adopt Russian children. I live with two great parents who take care of me and provide me with the education and love which I know a lot of kids don’t have in Russia now. I also am blessed with seven incredible siblings who always make my day, one way or another. Plus three of my siblings are from Russia too, and my parents even went to the next step by getting my biological brother Jack. We are all very smart, healthy, and loved by wonderful parents and that is all you need to fulfill a wonderful life.
    Now Mr. President I have heard you signed a bill that does not allow Americans to adopt Russian kids. As you can see, the adopted Russian kids in America are happier and healthier than the kids that still live in Russian orphanages. All I want is any kind of caring, nice families, who want beautiful children in their life from Russia to be given that opportunity. Mr. Putin, my life has changed in such a positive way I can not start to describe it. All the terrific things I have been able to see, all the new foods I got to try, so please don’t take that opportunity away from families like mine. Mr. Putin, the decision is in your hands you can either bring together nations, families, and cultures or you can throw all of it out of the window where nobody can reach it.
   
   
    With Great Thanks,
   
  Patrick McLaughlin

William: A 14 Year Old Adopted from Krasnoyarsk

Dear President Putin,

    Hi, my name is William McLaughlin. I am in eighth grade in the Kirkwood School District. I was adopted from the orphanage in Minusink, Krasnoyarsk in 1999. I was already in the orphanage over sixteen months. My adopters were living in the United States for all of their lives and they are the best parents. They provide me with a wonderful education, great food to eat, a nice house to live in, and brothers and sisters to play with. Three of my brothers and sisters were adopted from Russia also. The day I was adopted, was the best day of my life. It felt like it was a new beginning.
    So, I heard you passed a law that “only” Americans can’t adopt Russians anymore. I think that kids up for adoption should have the chance to have a new life by getting new parents who are willing to take care of them and make that child’s life change forever. In that orphanage, I thought that I would never have a great family to take care of me and give me opportunities. I want all Russians to have the chance of getting this wonderful chance like I had. I know that there could be thousands of Russians in orphanages that are waiting every day to be adopted, but since you passed this law, they will have no chances of having a good life with parents who love them. Please, change this law and you could make thousands of orphans have families. It’s your decision. Make thousands of orphans have loving families, or leave helpless kids in orphanages never have a loving family for the rest of their lives. You decide.




                                        Sincerely,
                                        William McLaughlin
                                   

                            

This is a work in progress...just created @ 10:45, 12-29-12...please email any letters and photos to DearPresidentPutin@gmail.com