The Johnson Family from Virginia

The next family that I would like to introduce you to is the Johnson Family in Virginia.  They have made an awesome video to share their touching story.  I have permission from them to share it with you all here.

From the words of Erin:  "I'm a mom trying to be the change I want to see in the world.  I am blessed to be married to my best friend.  We have two sons and one daughter.  I was forever changed by our adoption trip to Ukraine in 2010 and have since found myself an orphan advocate trying to be a voice for those who have none. Our latest adventure was hosting a seven year old boy from Ukraine for the summer of 2012.  That turned into re-hosting him for Christmas, plus big brother!  We fell in love with them both...Ukraine here we come again!  God is still in the miracle working business!"

How can you be a part of this awesome story?  Pray, give, and encourage.  You can follow along with their amazing adoption adventure via their blog: The Johnson Journals.  If you wish to make a financial contribution to their efforts you may do so at their Adopt Together page HERE.

Finally, if you are interested in hosting an orphan check out Project One Forty Three, Children's Cultural Connection, or New Horizon's to learn more about hosting an orphan for a summer or winter session.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  John 14:18

To My Son's Birthmother

Today is your son's ninth birthday.  Did you remember?  Did you think about him?  Did you wonder for one moment wether or not he is safe?  Do you even know where he is?

Today is my son's ninth birthday.  He came bounding into my bedroom at 7:00 this morning exclaiming, "Happy Birthday Dima!".  I looked into those bright blue eyes and wished him a happy birthday.  He has been waiting for this day for months and loves to celebrate birthdays with friends and family.

Like all mothers I thought about the day my son was born.  Only I could not recall any details of my son's birth.  You were there.  You gave birth to my son.  I often wonder what my son was like as a baby.  No doubt he was an adorable little fellow, probably lots of smiles and giggles.  Did you ever love him?  Did you ever sit up with him at night and rock him?  I would have given anything to have had that privilege.

The only connection I have to this day nine years ago was driving through a small, rural, Ukrainian village.  Lozova.  The place of my son's birth.  All I have are two videos to share with you.

Since August of 2011 you have never been far from my mind, especially when Dima would talk about you in his Russian/broken English.  When he was first home with us he had many memories and they were mostly unpleasant.  Over time, however, I've encouraged him to pray for you and remember the good.  His prayers for you are sweet and heartfelt and now in English.

I could be angry at you for all that you did.  But I am not.  I pity you.  I feel sorry for you.  My heart hurts for you.  You did, after all, give life to my son and for that I am eternally grateful.  From one mother to another I must believe that somewhere deep down in your heart you loved your son, that you still wonder about him.  I will never have the answer to that nor will your son.

So today, as my son and your son celebrates his ninth birthday, more prayers on your behalf will be sent to our Father above and we can only hope that someday we will all be together in heaven.  I will continue to cherish my son and raise him with all of the love he deserves.  It is well.

Brook Family Fully Funded!

God moved some huge mountains since Sunday's entry!  The Brook Family is pleased to share that they are fully funded for their adoption of Tucker!  A big thank you to those of you who contributed, prayed, or encouraged.

If you are interested in following their journey, you can read their blog HERE.

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord...  Psalm 97:5

from there ... to eternity

I would like to share a video created by Adeye Salem that was shared at Summit 9 in Nashville this past week.  It is safe to say that this video speaks volumes as to why Eric and I adopted (and will again someday!) and why we will continue to scream and shout for little ones from all over the world.  Watch:  be moved, challenged, and changed.  Do not pass up the opportunity to make an eternal difference in the life of a child or a family in the midst of adopting a child.

Meet the Brook Family

If you look on the right hand side of my blog you will see that I have a list of blogs identified by the last names of families.  Each of those families listed are in the process of adopting a child or children.  Each family is working hard to creatively raise funds to give a loving home to a child or children in need.  In time I will attempt to feature as many families as I can in hopes that their stories will be heard.  Maybe you will be compelled to contribute to their cause, maybe you have some words of encouragement, maybe you will commit to pray, or maybe, just maybe you will feel God's tug at your heart for you to have an adoption story of your own.

Today I would like to introduce you to the Brook Family.  Though I have never personally met this family I feel a connection to them.  Six months ago they adopted precious little Isabella from the same orphanage as Dima once lived.  She has been such a blessing to their family!  Not only did the Brook Family gain a new daughter, but through this adoption they have gained some "extended family".  They keep in contact with Isabella's birth grandparents!  What a special gift for both families!

Dawn, her husband, Rich, and their precious Isabella.  This picture was taken in Isabella's former orphanage.

But this family's adoption adventure continues!  The following is the biography that is posted on their Family Sponsorship Page with Reece's Rainbow:

"Rich and Dawn just got home from adopting their little angel Isabella who is 14 months old.  They also have two older (bio) daughters Tiffany age 19 and Brianna who is 15.  When they began their adoption journey they committed to a little boy they called Elijah, they were 9 days away from traveling to go meet their son when a dreaded phone call came early in the morning that their soon to be son had passed away in emergency heart surgery.  That day was so hard for them and the many days to follow. Although they had never met their son, he was already their son in their hearts and little brother to Tiffany and Brianna.  The whole family just grieved the news and Dawn especially to this day, grieves he died alone, with no mama to hold him in his final hours.  They sought God’s will and wondered for a moment if this was God shutting the door on adoption.  Dawn and Rich clearly felt right away they were not brought this far to turn their backs on other children who were still over there in cribs just waiting for a mama and dada!  After long discussions with each other as a family they pushed on and found Isabella.  The moment they saw her face they knew they were lead to her.  After first meeting with her they knew she was meant just for their family!  She has brought so much joy and laughter to the home and Love!  It is like she has always been with us.

When Dawn left Eastern Europe, and Rich too, they both felt it in their hearts they were coming back to Isabella’s birth country again.  They did not know for what or why, but they knew it was not the last they would see her country!  One day looking on RR Dawn saw Tucker and showed her husband and kids.  After much prayer and consideration they knew they should go back for him.  He happens to be in the same orphanage as Dawn’s two nephews were brought home from, and when a picture of Tucker was shown to her nephew he became so excited to see him as if he knew him and knew we were going to bring him home!

Handsome Tucker

As they have to fund raise all over again and still trying to pay up things from their first adoption, they appreciate all the prayer and support everyone could give them in this journey.  It is their hearts desire to give a child a home who needs them and know God will honor them for it.   Matthew 25:40"

How can you help be a part of this amazing family's journey?  They leave on May 26th and their FSP needs to show $13,500 in order for their costs to be covered.  At the moment their grant is at $7098.96. Can you help?  I can assure you that heading to this Eastern European country and adopting a child is not a luxury vacation.  It is emotionally, physically, and spiritually draining.  This is a mission trip of epic proportions; it is a forever mission.  It is the ransoming of another human being.  It is the Gospel, living and in action.  How can you be a part of it?

If you are willing and able to make a tax-deductible contribution to their adoption grant with Reece's Rainbow, please click HERE.  This will take you directly to their FSP page.  Every little bit helps and even if you are only able to give $5.00, I can attest to the fact the even the most modest of donations seem to make the largest impact on both the family and the giver.

 Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done.

Proverbs 24:12

Update on Sammy Wammy

It has been awhile since I posted anything on Sammy and his ongoing issues.  This past Monday we had a neurology appointment and have gained some answers.  We still do not have the final answer, but with each round of tests/blood work we are getting there.

Back on March 1st Sammy had a sedated CT scan of his entire head and all the way down his spine.  Thankfully the scan showed nothing in terms of damage or growth (i.e. no brain damage or tumors).  So we then had some blood work done.  The first round of blood work showed nothing out of the ordinary which is also good news.

So what next and what in the world could possibly be going on in that child's body?  Well, the neurologist suspects that there is something  going on with Sammy's genetics.  Either something is missing or switched.  Apparently that is not all that uncommon.  The trick is, however, to find exactly what is missing or switched.  It is going to take more blood work and possibly even a biopsy of some muscle tissue.  In the meantime we continue to help Sammy become stronger through various exercises we learned at OT and making certain that he gets the right food.

There is one piece of information that I failed to share with the neurologist.....

Sammy IS a laundry monster...maybe that is the cause?

Piecing It Together

The adoption of a child with special needs is like having to put together a giant puzzle. Each piece of that child's past, present, and future must somehow all fit together as it was meant to be. It is up to us, the adoptive parents, to lovingly, patiently, and carefully put it all together. What we so often forget to realize is that the puzzle was created by an awesome God who already knows the end result of His great masterpiece.  -Jenny Monier

Adoption is a wonderful blessing to a family.  So much joy, love, and happiness.  So often we read adoption blog after adoption blog of a journey that is just so blissful and perfect.  Adoption soon becomes romanticized.  But I want to take a moment and share the stark reality that adoption, while wonderful, can be messy, painful, and enigmatic.  Most adoptive families are not very quick to share the tough times because that can illicit a negative reaction from friends and family.  Today, however, I want to share some difficulties with you all.  It is my hope that if I share my struggles it can somehow bless or encourage someone else that may be facing the same struggle.

For those of you that are new readers our son, Dima, has Down Syndrome and no other health issues.  We adopted him when he was seven years old and he is now about to turn nine.  He is an energetic, clever, very verbal, and a very high functioning little boy.  Dima currently attends a typical school and is in a self contained ESE classroom that has multiple grade levels though technically he is in second grade.  When it comes to academics he is doing extremely well.  He has had straight A's, can grasp a new concept that is at his level with ease, and he enjoys learning.  Our family is so proud of him and all that he has learned this first year of school.

Behaviorally, however, he struggles at school (not at home).  I do not think the details are important but suffice to say he can be disruptive and unkind.  His teacher, the ESE specialist, and I have wracked our brains for months attempting to figure Dima out and why he does what he does.  We email back and forth, we have phone calls, we have IEP meetings, and yet Dima's behavior continues to decline.  I will not lie, it has been trying and very stressful.  Sometimes we wonder if Dima even understands that he is making poor choices.  But today something hit me.

Dima is a huge, complicated puzzle.  A puzzle so complicated it takes a very long time to complete.  It is not a 100 piece puzzle that you can complete in one afternoon.  The pieces of this puzzle represent his past (a very abusive and traumatic time in his life), the present (a time of adjustment and learning), and the future (a time of reflection on the past struggles and success; having overcome the past).  Moreover, the individuals responsible for piecing it all together, Eric and I, must piece it all together.  Carefully, patiently, lovingly, one piece at a time.  What makes it all the more complicated is that there is no completed picture to look at as we work.  Eric and I are merely trying to fit the pieces together without forcing anything together thus ruining any of the pieces.  The good news is that there is Someone who knows what the end result will be.  God.  The Creator of all things!  He is able to guide our hands as we painstakingly piece together this extremely complicated puzzle.  All we need to do is ask for His help and ask often.

There has been tears, trials, smiles, laughs, pain, mistakes, and even times of doubt.  But ultimately God will not allow us to fail.  In fact with Him we cannot fail.  Not if we are truly seeking Him in all situations.  Not if we trust Him to guide us.  We as parents also must believe that God did not bring Dima into our family to fail.  God has a plan for his life.  This holds true for all of our boys!  

So this afternoon as I walked into the assistant principal's office to get Dima, it hit me.  My puzzle was sitting in that chair writing his name over and over again, somewhat aware that he was in trouble for the hundredth time this week.  I wanted to scoop him up and cry.  Instead I firmly told him it was time to go home.  We drove home in silence for a bit but then I blurted out how much I love him and it makes me sad to see him making poor choices at school.  As I glanced at him in the rearview mirror I saw two brilliantly blue eyes looking back at me.  Dima said nothing.  At that moment I would have given just about anything to read his mind but I could see the gears turning.   I think sometimes he is just as confused as I am.

There is one truth about our adoption that I am certain of:  Dima was meant to be a part of our family!  Dima is pretty sure about that, too.  In time we will figure it out and Dima will heal.

Someday we will see  this complicated puzzle completed and whole.  Someday we will understand all of the nuances of how each piece fit together and give thanks to the designer!  Until then.....