Frosty winds blow outside in Russia as a baby girl was born.

Junior Kristina Kendrick was born May 7, 2001 in Izhevsk, Russia. Her birth parents put her up for adoption, and she was adopted by Mary Dunn and Paul Kendrick at the young age of one year old.

Kristina was brought back to the United States by her new parents and was granted dual citizenship. Having dual citizenship means she’s a legal citizen in both countries. She worries that because she is a minor and owns two passports, the Russian government could claim her as their citizen because of their laws.

However she is still connected to her Russian roots. She celebrates Russian Christmas with her family every January 7. Instead of Santa Claus, they have Grandfather Frost who wears an all blue outfit.

Mary and Paul did not try to keep Kristina’s adoption a secret from her. It was not until Kristina was in middle school that she truly understood what her parents meant when they would tell her they were not her biological family.

Kristina has accepted that she was adopted, but she views her parents as her biological family.

“I don’t say ‘that is my adopted dad’, I say ‘that’s my dad’.” Kristina said.

Kristina often finds herself thinking about what her biological parents would look like. She assumes her mother would have long brown hair and brown eyes just like her. Due to her curiosity of what her biological parents look like, she plans to return to Russia when she is at least 18 years old, in search for her Russian family.

  “I want to hopefully find who my parents are,” Kristina said “I know that is going to be very hard.”