First time I meet Grandpa and Grandma in Russia. I love my Grandpa and Grandma. I went with them a movie, take pictures.

My grandpa have a stroke and after, he was in the chair. [A couple of years after Emily came home, my father had a stroke. He has been in a wheel chair, since.]

My grandpa came to visit me with my dad to the orphinige. Also we have fun together. Grandpa and Grandma went with me to Flad Mos can [the hotel we stayed at in Far East Russia was called the Vlad Motor Inn] and we have a nice dinner. We have hot BBQ chicken and we have so much fun. First time Grandma and Grandpa we go to the zoo and I ride animal like camel and we have so much fun. Also we look [at] animals and they amazing. And my sister Annie, she likes animals too.

My grandpa and grandma they came to the orphinige then I [k]new that I will come to the Amarica.

I feel bad because I got scared about my grandpa when he have a stroke. And my dad told me that he was in the wheelchair. I care about my grandparents.

My grandpa and grandma we went to New York and I got ice cream cone. Children need grandparents because they need love, home, shelter, food. Because children like grandparents. Also children need addication [education] and support. Children like me need a good way prompted. Disabilities like me need help or take care of.

I will love to say my grandpa and grandma thank you that you got me from Russia and be freedom and be happy. And that I am luky girl. Nobody have chance to come to Amarica like me. And I want to say my family and friends thank you so much. I want to support children with freedom. I never thought my grandpa and grandma and my family cheach [teach] me a be a good person. We did so much fun, zoo, or New York, or Mockow [the c in Russian makes the sound of an s in English] because we went to church like a bell. And bell very loud and beautiful. [On the way home from Russia, we stopped in Moscow for a couple of days. Emily was fascinated with the churches at the Kremlin and one of the churches had a big bell.]

And my sister Annie we have lots a snow we walk.

Bell it is big.

Bell it is nice.

Bell it is snow.

[I don’t know if she is combining events, but there was no snow on our trip home, or in Moscow when we came through.]

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About the Author

Emily Simmons was adopted from Russia at the age of fifteen, in 2006. At that time she joined three younger biological sisters and four new brothers in her new family. Emily has struggled with several forms of mental illness and she is intellectually challenged. She has been in several institution type settings and now lives in a group home. She is still very involved with her parents and the rest of her family. Emily often says: “Family, most important thing!”