What a beautiful video. I can not believe that it has been a year already. I think this video really captures the year.
Joy

Yep. I had tears.

Congratulations on one year as a family!

How precious. You have truly been blessed with a wonderful son. It seems like I have been reading your blog for more than a year now and I am amazed at all the changes that Iliya has expereienced in such a short time.

Oh yes, there were tears!! He is one cute little boy-and so loveable! We always have fun together.
Hugs and kisses!
Love, NANA & PAPA

LOVE that song and LOVE that video. Of course I had tears and now I feel like a celebrity being in your video and all. :-) (of course I'm still not color coordinated). Your little man has grown so much and that smile tells it all.

Beautiful Video! I cried because I am just so happy for you and N. Happy 1 year anniversary of the day you guys offically became parents. What a wonderful thing to celebrate!

Time goes too fast. But I wouldn't trade any moment for any price. What a beautiful child and a beautiful wife I have been blessed with.

I know God loves me because I can see what beutiful blessings I have.

That was great Melissa! I remember so many of those pictures of the past year. I love how happy Iliya is and how he is always smiling and up to something.

What an amazing video. I can't believe it's been a year. You all have been so blessed...such a beautiful family!

Love the video. I can't believe we sat in that airport lounge together almost a year ago. Iliya has grown into one darling, happy boy. Here's to beginnings.

Ronda

Happy Adoption Day to you ALL!! It's amazing to see how much he's grown in the last year. And I remember thinking what a big boy he seemed like while we were in Russia...but in reality, both of our boys were still such babies. Precious wonders, is what they are. You guys are a great family and I feel lucky that we know you and were able to spend some time together in Vlad. Hopefully we'll meet up again one day. :)

That video brought tears to my eyes! What a year! :)

What an absolute wonderful video and first year!!! It truely is just the beginning of a wonderful life!!! Enjoy and cherish every moment...they grow up waaaaay too fast!

Love,
Andrea

Now for the coming days & years God blesses you & us with...

"I turned on the evening news
Saw a old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today
Asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said "All I can say is.".....
Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads...."

Last summer when this song came out, Sarah was back at home for a short while (& being the Kenny Chesney fan she is), she wanted me to listen to what was his new hit song & said she thought of us because you & Nathan were "turning into a mom & dad" at that very moment in time & what a wonderful moment is was & still is! (needless to say, she & I both cried while we watched his video & thinking about how your lives were changing :o). I thought of the lyrics to this song when I read your post & looked up to see Iliya's "July" picture on the 2008 calendar that Tessa & Johnathan made as gifts for all of us & it's titled "Don't Blink".

You realize how quickly time passes when you chronicle a year or watch a video made 21 years ago when I was the age you are now (thanks Sis!) -- even tho' we talk about how life changes, the video reminder gives us a visual perspective...and the video you so artfully pieced reminds me of a quilt -- each picture is a remnant from a beautiful moment in time and it's pieced together showing the love in Iliya's forever family :o)

Much love,
mom & dad (granmom & grandad)

Melissa-- that video was pieced together beautifully. Even though I've been around on weekends here and there and during the whole month of June, it's hard to think back to the little boy he was when I first saw him last August. He's such a bright, active, happy child-- truly a blessing, not only to you and Nathan, but everyone around him. He has a very unique story to share with others as he continues to grow with the abundance of love he's receiving. You're both amazing parents. He's a beautiful boy, inside and out.

Love,
Sal

PS- On a much lighter, and more playful note, Mom-- I think you should include WCC somewhere in your above story...
...I'm pulling for you, WCC. :)

Natalie and I approve of the video, too! What a nice way to celebrate a year together as a family!! Love you all, Kristy

Truly, God does love you and has blessed you and all your families and many others through Iliya. The video is wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Tears were shed all over S'boro. Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Pam Parker

That's one of my favorite songs. ;> Can't wait to use it myself! I've had it in reserve for a while now...

Got some great memories there, Melissa. Congratulations on your beautiful family.

Melissa,
Once again I have balled my eyes out. I watched it twice and still cried the second time through. You have definitely come a very long way in one year, and I'm so happy for you and Nathan. Iliya is truly a precious little boy and completely created for you and Nathan. It has been a blessing to watch him grow and to be a part of your "journey". It makes me see in yet another way what a great and awesome God we serve. Congratulations on the progress you've made and the family you were always meant to be.

Love Always,
Cindi "Nini" L

That video was awesome! You are extremely talented in how you can put these videos together. Your family is beautiful! Congrats on your first year together.

God's Blessings,
Shane, Kathy, and Trey

Gorgeous! What a precious video, absolutely beautiful and full of love. I am so happy for your family. You radiate joy in every picture, video, and post.

OMG!!! That was wonderful!!! I can't quit crying now. I can't beleive he has been your for a whole year!!! It seems like he has been with yall forever!!! He is still so freaking CUTE!!!!!! Shana

Okay tears... yes. Thank you for that, though. It was a beautiful reminder that Frank and my have a new beginning coming soon. And it is worth waiting for....

What program did you use to put that together?

That truly was a beautiful video! I'm a pretty regular reader of your blog and I had tears! Congrats on your first year together!