Sura Valentine is our little angel.  She came to us last year from Egypt, when we applied to adopt a child from overseas.  She's been nothing but a blessing to our lives; we've gotten to where we can't imagine our family without her, we love her so much.

It was a year ago today, in fact, when Sura arrived.  She is our Valentine's Day present in more ways than one. 

Sura is perfectly healthy other than some hearing issues; however, they're nothing that hearing aids cannot fix.  With them on, she can hear as well as you and I.  She does have some speech problems, but she's presently having speech therapy; it seems to be working.  Her speech has improved markedly!

Her brothers, Callahan and Colm, ages seven and ten, dote on their little sister.  (Sura is six.)  They love roughhousing with her; we are always scared that they are going to hurt her because she is so delicate, but Sura has shown that she can defend herself if necessary.  Last week, Colm got slugged by Sura when he tried to throw her doll out the bedroom window as a joke; needless to say, Colm doesn't bother with his sister's possessions anymore.  LOL

I don't know why we didn't do this sooner:  adopt a child.  We should have done this sooner had I known that Clarke (my husband) was so crazy about Sura.  She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger; they are the best of buddies.  In fact, right now, as I write this, Sura's sitting in her daddy's lap, and they are eating red hots, giggling and tickling each other.

Callahan and Colm, meanwhile, are sitting at daddy's feet, playing with their new Valentine's Day gift:  some toy cars.  They are all wrapped up in their own little world.

As for me, I'm in the kitchen, writing this, while I wait for my cake in the oven to finish baking; it still has at least five to ten minutes to go before it's through.  I made a chocolate cake; when it's done, I will spread strawberry icing on top, and we will have a wonderful dinner of fried chicken, french fries, salad, and for dessert, my famous chocolate cake with strawberry icing.  Just perfect for Valentine's Day (and Sura's "Gotcha Day")!

The weather has quieted:  we had some snow here in Pensacola, Florida, which is a rare thing.  We got at least two inches before it all melted; now it's just wet outside.  Foggy, grey, dreary:  the perfect kind of day to stay indoors and sit by the fireplace, and enjoy the family.

Well, I am going to continue observing my cake and then get lunch on.  Take care and God bless!

~Love, your new friend in Florida, Katie Rose Ubermeyer.  :)