About Our Family

El Paso, Texas, United States
We are James, Lisa, Patrick, Christian, Carson, and Ella Payne a military family serving our country via service in the U.S. Army. Jim and I have been married for 18 years and have 3 wonderful home grown sons -Patrick, Christian and Carson. We recently adopted our beautiful daughter Ella Grace Ana from Donets'k, Ukraine in September. Jim and I began our Army life together at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas and every assignment thus far has extended unique opportunities and challenges for our family to grow and learn; to become a stronger, committed, and a prepared Army family. Having recently lived abroad for six amazing years, we cannot express how thankful we are for the opportunity to have represented our great country and to discover the cultures and customs of other countries; to become close to the people and learn from them; to open our hearts and minds to the unfamiliar languages and way of life in other countries. Having now moved back to the United States, we are looking forward to discovering what new adventures await our family. Rest assured, wherever the Army sends us we will continue to serve you and our country proudly. Army life, we wouldn’t trade it!

January 26, 2008

Pack 10 Pinewood Derby Day

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January 19, 2008

Final Exams


We have entered the last week of the second semester. Christian and Carson are still working on multiplication with factors in parentheses and word problems, writing, and reading. Patrick has finals this week - he has finished 2 (History & Geomentry) today, followed by English on Wednesday and finishing with Spanish and Chemistry on Thursday. GOOD LUCK PATRICK!

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January 18, 2008

Counting Until the SDA Opens

Lilypie Date is set Ticker
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January 15, 2008

Adoption Update


Today, a new announcement was issued by the U.S. Embassy with regards to adoptions in Ukraine. Basically, it states there are 1,453 allowable adoptions for foreign citizens in the year 2008 from Ukraine. They have removed country (number of adoptions per country)and child (age category)restrictions. Once a dossier (official packet of papers) is complete it may be registered with the State Department of Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Chid. (SDAPRC).
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January 13, 2008


This morning we hung out together as a family - the boys built forts out of sheets and blankets using their bunkbeds. Totally so cute. Later, we joined friends for dinner (it was delicious) and some cards while the kids all played Xbox and DS.
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January 12, 2008


Today we visited El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial in the town of Escorial. It is an extraordinary building here just outside of Madrid; approximately twenty-seven miles north west of Madrid and situated on the south-eastern slopes of the Sierra Guadarrama. El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial is comprised of a monastery, church, pantheon or royal mausoleum, a palace (intended as the summer and autumn residence of the court), college, library, art galleries and more. The Spaniards refer to this beautiful structure as the eighth wonder of the world. In 1563 and by order of Phillip II, construction began by the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo who was assisted by Lucas de Escalante and Pedro de Tolosa. El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial is breathtakingly beautiful.
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January 8, 2008

Back to School



The boys started back to school/work today. What will I do with so much quietness? There are numerous projects to begin/finish beginning with cleaning out all the "stuff" we don't need to lug with us when we move this spring.
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January 1, 2008




Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to our family and friends! We hope 2008 brings you much joy and happiness.



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This is our "spot" we began at the beginning of our journey in May 2007, to adopt a child from Ukraine. In August 2008, we traveled to Ukraine to bring our daughter/sister Ella Grace Ana home; and on September 12, 2008 we did just that.

While our journey to bring her home is complete, our journey together is just beginning. We will continue to keep our spot here, posting as frequently as we can; and keeping you updated on our next journey in life...maybe a second adoption is in our future.

Please join us by following us by clicking on the "Follow" link to the left and posting your notes at the bottom of any post we have made.

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