Natasha and the Christmas Wish

I really am amazed that this dream of mine is coming true. 

I may not be able to get Natasha home right now to love and care for

by I am so excited to have the story of the Christmas Hats

made into a children's book. 

Natasha and the Christmas Wish

Proceeds from the book will be donated to

Downside Up in Russia. 

Downside Up provides resources to families in Eastern Europe

to help them keep their children with Down syndrome 

instead of leaving them to grow up in orphanages. 

I will also save my portion of the proceeds to help

pay for Natasha to live at our orphanage

instead of being transferred to a mental institution 

when she turns 18-years-old. 

Of course, 

my biggest dream would be for someone with the power

to help us bring her home read the book and

provide us with a long awaited miracle. 

It has been almost 5 years since we last saw her 

and if something doesn't change in the next 4 years

she will no longer be allowed to be adopted and come to live with us

according to US laws. 

To find out more about the book please follow our FB page. 

The person who helped me write the book is Tammi Croteau. 

The Illustrator of the amazing artwork is Jay Boucher. 

Todd Civin of Civin Media Relations and Publishing Services agreed to help 

us get the book out,  Alexander Plotkin is translating the book into Russian and

 Veronica Torraca-Bragdon is composing and recording music for an

amazing book trailer to help with sales. 

I am so grateful to the book team for all they have done to 

make this dream come true. 

Please consider ordering a book and sharing our story with others. 

You never know who might have the power to provide us with 

the miracle we are looking for. 

Tammi recently wrote on her blog about our story. 

"...when I first read Katrina Morriss' Facebook posts about an adorable little girl stuck in an orphanage in Russia because of a political ban on adoptions by Americans, it struck a chord in me. I'm no stranger to the heartbreak of a failed attempt to adopt, but for Katrina and her husband, the fight to bring Natasha home has been going on every day for the past five years. Her story speaks straight to the heart of everyone who has ever longed to be a parent, or bonded with a child. Natasha is Katrina's child, regardless of who gave birth to her, or where she resides, or even what the law says is currently possible. There's a hope and faith and ferocity in this mother's love that sees an obstacle and instantly takes action to overcome it."

"Though I can't change the laws and fulfill Katrina's desire to bring her little girl home, I could offer up the words to help her tell her story and share some of the gratitude (yes, gratitude) that she feels toward the countless strangers, both American and Russian, who have stepped forward to help her maintain contact, send gifts, and improve the quality of life for orphans with Down syndrome like Natasha."

Pre-order Natasha and the Christmas Wish by clicking here. Orders will ship out by May 1st! You may order the book in English or Russia or both if you like. 

When ordering multiple orders just use the coupon codes......2for26, 3for39, or 4for50 (in any combination of English and Russian versions). A single copy is $14.

Christmas Gifts For Natasha

I realize I have neglected this blog.....a lot!

I spend time on FB and do post things there but usually forget about my sad little blog. 

I am going to try to be better to share the updates I get about Natasha here. 

I was able to send her Birthday/Christmas Presents again in December

and I have photos from the very sweet people that delivered them for me. 

I will also include a sweet short dance video of Natasha and some of the 

other girls in her orphanage. 

Prepare for photo overload because I don't feel like deciding which ones are the best

and should be shared. 

 Quick story about her outfit and the little doll. 

I purchased them but then decided it would cost more to ship them to my friend

in Maryland than it would for her to just go to Walmart and pick something out for me.

But standing in line in Walmart I had a meltdown and just couldn't take the gifts I had picked

out myself back. 

So I ended up paying more to overnight the package than it did to actually purchase

the outfit and the little doll. 

But in my mind I could picture Natasha lovingly taking the little pacifier and

putting it in and out of the doll's mouth.  

Well, in the pictures below I have exactly what I imagined and am so glad I 

decided to send my handpicked items instead of just having my friend pick something out.

Also, the sweater dress I sent had black leggins with it. 

I guess leggins aren't big in Russia because they didn't put those on her

making her dress look really, really short. 

Oh well. I will remember no leggins next time and am just so grateful 

for the sweet friends who get my gifts to Natasha every year 

and for the wonderful photos I get of her as I watch her grow up 

healthy and happy. 

And here is the most adorable dance video ever.
The girls all did an amazing job
and my heart is so grateful to all the wonderful orphanage
caregivers who love and care for the children. 

On one final note I have some very exciting news!

The story about Natasha and the Christmas Hats is finally 

going to be a Children's Book and should be

finished by the first of April!!!!

For my next blog post I will share more about the book 

and the amazing illustrations that are included in it. 

So stay tuned..........

Children of the State Free to view on Youtube for limited time

The complete documentary Children of the State can be viewed by clicking on this link http://bit.ly/2hZ8Jjj and is only available for free on youtube until midnight December 19, 2016 PST or it can be seen in Russian only with no English Subtitles here  

Please share this short video clip below and post asking President-elect Trump to make bringing the orphans caught in the Russian Adoption Ban home a top priority. They have been waiting over 4 years. Information can be found at Parents United for Russian Orphans on how to help by writing your local congressman.

#PleaseTrumpUsAMiracle #RussianAdoptionBan

Dear President-elect Trump,

In December 2012, the Russian Government signed a law banning all Americans from adopting Russian children in response to a law the US Government signed called The Magnitsky Act. When the law passed, over 300 children who had met their potential families were left orphans once again. One of these children is Natasha, who will turn 11 on December 19th. She was only 6 years old when she met her American family and has lived 4 additional years in an orphanage because of the ban.

Since the ban Katrina Morriss has worked ceaselessly with other parents in the same situation to find a way for their intended children to come home either to America or to adoptive families in Russia.

Please help to finally make their dreams come true by negotiating with President Putin to make finalizing the adoptions of the orphans stuck in the Russian Adoption Ban a top priority.

Sincerely,

Parents United for Russian Orphans

Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban

Dear Friends/Family,

I urgently need your help in assuring we have congressmen and senators at our upcoming congressional event to discuss our children caught in the Russian Adoption Ban. Below you will find 6 things you can do to help us out. Even if you can only do one of them it will be extremely helpful.

#1 This Weekend email your local congressman and state senators. See sample letter below or change to make it more personal.

#2 Tuesday - call your local congressman and state senators to see if they received your email and if they will be attending the event. See sample phone call below.

#3 Ask your friends and family to help us out by doing the two things above.

#4 Share the trailer of the film To the Moon and Back helping us reach 15,000 views and showing our government there is interest in our cause.

#5 Report back to me either by commenting on this post or messaging me privately letting me know what you have done and the response you have received.

#6 Allow me to personally deliver a letter to your representatives while I am in DC letting them know you would like them to attend the event or thanking them for RSVPing saying they will attend. I will send you a copy of the letter to make sure you approve.

We have less than 2 weeks to pull this off so I am in desperate need of an army to help make sure we actually have an audience at the event. You all have been amazing during the last 4 years and I thank you very much for all the support you have given to try and help get our children home.

Sincerely,

Katrina Morriss

Sample email to send and links on where to send it.

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Dear Congressman/Senator......,

This week you will be receiving an invitation from Congressman Collin's office for an event titled Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban. This issue is very important to me and I urge you to make it a priority to attend the event scheduled for June 22nd.

I have a friend who still desperately wishes to adopt the child their family was in the process of adopting when the ban happened. There are approximately 25 children still living in orphanages 3 years after the ban because no one else has come forwarded to adopt them. Many of these children have special needs and have been emotionally tortured due to not knowing why the families they thought they were finally getting never came back for them. Some have even been adopted in Russia only to be returned back to different orphanages and separated from siblings or sent to live in horrid mental institutions.

My friend is trying to work with congress to find a humanitarian solution that will finally allow these precious children to come home where they belong.

Please contact Katie in Congressman Collin's office to let her know you will be attending this very important event. I would also appreciate an email back letting me know you have RSVP'd.
Sincerely,
Your Name
City, State

Tuesday's Phone Call

Hello, my name is ......... and I recently sent Congressman/Senator ....... an email asking them to attend a very important event titled Bring Our Children Home - A look into the 2012 Russian Adoption Ban. I was calling to find out if they received my email and if they have had a chance to RSVP to Katie at Congressman Collin's office. If not, please remind them that this issue is very important to me and ask them to kindly notify me regarding their ability to attend. Thank you.

Petition and Banana Muffins

CHANGE IN MUFFIN RECIPE!!!!!
Well, not really a change in the recipe but a change in which Fuel category
it belongs in.
When I made the recipe I was new to THM and thought because the carb and fat content
fell under the requirements of an FP my recipe was an FP.

I have since learned that Bananas and Apple Sauce are always an E Fuel
no matter how much you eat of them.

So I am changing the Fuel on this recipe to E.

Please sign our petition that we plan on taking with us to the
congressional screening of To the Moon and Back.

If you are here for the Banana Muffin recipe it is at the very bottom.
My blog is mostly about our journey in the Russian Adoption Ban.
Which is the reason for all my weight gain and the reason I joined
THM. So the two go together for me. Most my readers don't care
about my weight loss journey but they do care very much about my sweet little
girl stuck in Russia :)



I have had so much going on since December when I blogged last. 

I had surgery the beginning of February (hysterectomy) 

and then I went to the Sedona Film Festival the end of February. 

The festival was amazing and the film 

To the Moon and Back was extremely well received. 

It received a 4.75 out of 5 star rating. 

It was the 3rd place documentary as far as audience ratings went.
There were about 75 documentaries entered in the festival. 

Next it is going to the Nashville Film Festival in April.

We are also trying to get a congressional screening and I will 

keep everyone posted as to when that is and how you can  

help get your senators and congressmen to attend. 

For those who have not seen the trailer you can view it below. 

I was much more impressed with the film than the trailer

as I feel the trailer is kind of dry and focuses too much 

on the political side of the ban. 

The film is very different and I feel like Susan Morgan Cooper

did a very good job of pulling all the stories that led up to the ban together. 

We started a new petition to take with us when we go to the 

congressional screening. 

Please take a moment to sign and share. 

We need our government to understand that these children 

have not been forgotten even though it has almost been 4 years since we last saw them. 

The Russian documentary Children of the State can now be seen with English Subtitles
on Vimeo for $3.99 to rent.



If you speak Russian it can be seen for free here.

As far as updates on Natasha go I recently found out why she was no longer

on the database.

Someone had guardianship over her but she still lived in the orphanage. 

She did go home a few times with them on the weekends 

and I was so excited for her to finally have someone to 

love her like a daughter. 

But then I found out they will not be renewing their guardianship after March.

I am so grateful they didn't take her from the orphanage only to return her. 

I have a friend who found out the little boy she loves and still 

desperately wishes to adopt had that happen to him. 

He was taken home to a Russian family but returned to the orphanage

a few months later. 

His brother was adopted by a different family. 

We keep praying that someday these two boys will finally end up together.

That's all the updates I can think of for now. 

Thanks to everyone who has supported us with their kind words

and prayers over the past 4 years. 

I know I stay quiet on my blog but there is not a day that goes by

that I am not contacting someone or trying to figure out some way

to get our children into families. 

Please continue to pray for us as no matter how much time goes by

the hole in our hearts has not healed. If anything the ache to see and 

hold Natasha again has only grown larger as we continue to watch 

her grow up in an orphanage when she could be growing up in a family instead. 

Banana Muffin Recipe

CHANGE IN RECIPE
Well, not really a change in the recipe but a change in which Fuel category
it belongs in.
When I made the recipe I was new to THM and thought because the carb and fat content
fell under the requirements of an FP my recipe was an FP.

I have since learned that Bananas and Apple Sauce are always an E Fuel
no matter how much you eat of them.

So I am changing the Fuel on this recipe to E.

To my new friends joining me because you really want some 

yummy FP muffins I am so glad you stopped by. 

I am very grateful to THM for helping me get down to my 

pre failed adoption weight. 

I still have lots to lose though and so I am grateful I finally 

perfected my banana muffin recipe. 

Oh how I have missed a good banana muffin. 

I was so anxious to get this recipe out to everyone that I only 

took one photo. 

Sorry, 

this really isn't a food blog but I will 

do my best to make sure your muffins are really yummy. 

I do have an affiliate link to THM. 

You can substitute any of the THM items

for other things. So you DON'T have to use THM products

to make the recipe. 

Any money earned from them will help me with my trip 

cost to film festivals and to DC to speak with congress.

Here is the pin link for Pinterest. 
I am afraid I haven't learned how to add that to my photos yet. 

Ingredients needed

Wet

2 medium ripe bananas

3 Tbsp, Natural Apple Sauce No Sugar Added

3 Tbsp, 100% Liquid Egg Whites 

6 Tbsp, Almond Milk, Unsweetented, Vanilla

1/4 Cup Triple Zero Vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 tsp, Vanilla extract

4 Tbsp(s), Erythritol and Stevia Blend  (I use THM Sweet Blend)

Dry

1 tsp Aluminum Free Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking soda

1/4 tsp, Salt

1 1/2 cup, THM Baking Blend

 1 scoop, THM Pristine Whey Protein Powder

(You can find recipes online that tell you how to make your own. It is basically almond flour, coconut flour and oat flour. If you search pinterest for Brianna's baking mix you can find a nut free version too. I use the THM because I am lazy and I don't think it cost any more than mixing it together myself)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

place 12 cupcake liners in cupcake pan

Smash the 2 ripe bananas and then add all the wet ingredients together along with the sweet blend. 

Add all the dry ingredients together and mix well. 

Combine the dry and wet ingredients together and mix well. 

Scoop mixture out into cupcake liners.

I used an ice cream scoop and filled them about 3/4 way full. 

Bake for 25 minutes but check after 20 just in case they start to get too brown on top. 

Muffins should feel spongy to the touch when you take them out. 

I have posted below the nutrition information that myfitnesspal says

about the muffins. 

I plan on eating one tomorrow with my bacon, eggs and a little butter on top of it. 

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

P.S. If you get a chance please sign our petition. 

I am praying that one day my daughter will finally be allowed to come home. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings 12.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 67
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2 g	2 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	3 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 205 mg	9 %
Potassium 97 mg	3 %
Total Carbohydrate 16 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 6 g	25 %
Sugars 5 g
Protein 6 g	11 %
Vitamin A	1 %
Vitamin C	3 %
Calcium	6 %
Iron	3 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

You're Here for a Reason

You're Here for a Reason (just part of the poem that I love)

Nancy Tillman

You're here for a reason, you certainly are. 

The world would be different without you, by far....

Even the smallest things that you do 

blossom and multiply far beyond you....

It travels much further than you'll ever know...

under the treetops....over the snow...till it's wandered...

and fluttered....and floated....and twirled -

making things happen all over the world.

You're here for a reason. 

It's totally true. 

You're part of a world that is counting on you.

So don't be too worried if some days fall flat. 

Good things can happen, even from that.

You're here for a reason. If you think you're not,

I would just say that perhaps you forgot -

I was in Kohl's the other day when I saw this book

by Nancy Tillman

(affiliate link money earned goes toward AT child)

I have always loved her books.

I read the book

Wherever You Are: My Love Will find you
to Natasha in the Documentary Children of the State.

(affiliate link money earned goes toward AT child)

And I love, love, love that book. 

So I knew I was in for a treat. 

But I didn't expect to sit down and cry as I read it. 

So many times we can feel so insignificant in the world. 

So many times we can feel like what we do does not make a difference

and the world would go on just fine without us. 

Like I have said in previous post

December is a very hard month for me. 

Natasha just turned 10 on Saturday. 

She was 5 when we first committed to her and 6 when we finally met her. 

She should have been home in 2012. 

She should have celebrated her 7th birthday at home with us. 

I have so many she should have moments in December that sometimes

it makes it hard for me to even function. 

So it is hard for me to focus on how I could be Here for  Reason right now. 

but

"You're part of a world that is counting on you.

So don't be too worried if some days fall flat. 

Good things can happen, even from that."

This month it feels like everything I have tried to do has fallen flat. 

The Russian producer worked so hard on a documentary about the ban and

no matter how hard I have tried no one in the US seems to have any interest in it. 

Fortunately it has been seen in other countries all over the world.

And I got the flu last week so I have fallen short in our goal of raising $1,000 

for our AT Child. 

We have raised almost $350 for her by selling bracelets and necklaces

but Christmas is here in a just a few days so I don't think we will

raise the rest before the end of the year.

You can still purchase our beautiful bracelets.
They just won't make it to you in time for Christmas.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.617270988413214.1073741830.219257711547879&type=3

So I start to really get down and wonder if I really have anything to contribute

that can really make a difference in this horrible world. 

Then I remember the wonderful Russian citizens who worked hard to 

orchestrate the deliver of Natasha's gifts for her birthday. 

And the ones who randomly contact me and tell me how sorry 

they are that the ban happened and our two governments have not

been willing to find a solution to help Natasha and about 25 other children still living in 

orphanages even though they have families in American who love them.

I try and remember how I pulled it together and cleaned my house and put on make-up

even though I was running a fever and not feeling that great

so a reporter from a German TV Station could come over to my house 

and interview me because a Russian couple living in Germany had been denied

the opportunity to adopt a sick little girl and they wanted to hear 

about how we still very much wanted to adopt Natasha and had also been denied. 

Most likely the interview will never air because shortly after 

they were here the Russian Supreme Court overturned the ruling and the couple

in Germany will be allowed to finish their adoption. 

So wonderful that this little girl will now have a loving family instead of

being left to grow up in an orphanage. If only we had an option 

to bring Natasha home. 

So although I can sometimes feel like everything I am doing seems to fail

or fall short of how I wish it would turn out I know 

I am Here for a Reason. 

Thank you to all the Russian citizens who have 

shared, commented and contacted me about Natasha's story. 

Knowing how much you care about her and the other 

children who could have families right now if the politicians 

would think about the children's best interest

means a lot to me and helps me to keep going on really rough days. 

For anyone else who might be reading this blog

please consider donating to Prudence's account or sharing her 

photo and story with others. 

She is available for adoption and was born the same month/year

as Natasha. So she too has been living without a mom and dad for 10 

long years. 

Every child deserves a family so please help Prudence find hers. 

One last request. 

If by chance anyone has any connections with Netflix or Amazon Prime

please ask them to consider showing the film 

Children of the State on December 28th for the 3rd anniversary of 

the Russian Adoption Ban. 

Children of the State can be rented/purchased on Vimeo

but I think it would do better if people didn't have to pay extra to watch it

or download it. 

Things can only change if people know there is something

that needs to be changed. 

Please share our story. 

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/childrenofthestate/108227844

And if YOU ever doubt if YOU are Here for a Reason

Just remember

You're here for a reason. If you think you're not,

I would just say that perhaps you forgot -