Twists and turns along the road

This update is long, and 2-3 weeks ago I wouldn't have anticipated sharing this, but here we go....
Over the last couple of years, Brandon and I have talked and prayed about moving to a place where we could have some land. When we returned from vacation at the beginning of August, our neighbor/friend mentioned that she may have someone who’d want to look at our home if we were interested. After talking it over, Brandon and I agreed that we’d be willing to show the house and see what happened. During those days prior to our showing, Hebrews 11:8 and 9 were running through my mind....By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. I contemplated if the Lord was speaking to me, or if it was me creating something that wasn’t there? Was HE asking us to leave a home we love, and step out in faith??  We prepared for the showing (Monday the 14th), while looking for land, or homes on land, and had no success. The night before our showing Brandon shared that he felt, "if we didn’t have a place to go, he didn't want to pack up his family and move". So, I went to bed that night thinking this was likely over and we’d stay put after-all. I woke up the morning of our showing, had a cup of tea, and started my reading. My reading that morning just happened to be Hebrews 11:8-10! The same verses that were running through my mind earlier that week.  My heart skipped a beat!  I sent my reading off to Brandon and said...”I think we might be moving, honey”  The buyers came through that evening and made us a generous offer the same night. We then spent the rest of the week trying to find a rental place that would take our 3 dogs, fit our family, and our new little one to come. As the week was coming to a close, we were weary and tired, and the opportunities of us finding a rental weren't looking promising.  We had to meet certain criteria spelled out by our social work agency for our adoption and that just wasn't happening. Then, God again provided in some truly miraculous ways!! Our buyers offered up rental assistance, AND a new rental came on the market (that day) that just happened to be right across the street from our very dear friends!!!  Their son is one of Wyatt and Hadley’s best friends!  What were the "odds"?! 😉  We were watching Gods hand move on our behalf.  We’ve since had the inspection, signed the final agreement, and providing all continues to go well, we’re moving in September, to a town-home in Zionsville. Our hope is to stay there until we find either land to build on, or land with a home on it. It has been a whirlwind to say the least over the last couple of weeks! But even with all the ups and downs, He has provided every. single. step of the way. 

So the adoption....This move does affect our adoption timing. When a family moves amidst an adoption, and I’m sure most aren’t crazy enough to do it, 😉 they have to have a homestudy update done on their new property. The update gets sent off to China, and then we will also do a USCIS update as well. According to our agency, this will potentially delay us approx 2 months. After speaking with them, they will  likely not give us a referral/match until after the update. This is due to a concern that we wouldn’t meet the 3 month travel deadline. So, a little more waiting is ahead, but not without purpose!!! The God who orchestrated this has certainly gone before us on the backside as well!  We're excited to follow along on the journey He has set before us.   We know it won't be easy...But He is faithful!<3 span="">

Love,
Robin

THIS!

So much truth wrapped up in this post...

http://briegowen.com/2017/07/30/is-satan-stealing-our-families/

China process and timing

This past week there were additional changes made in the adoption protocol from China. For the last several years, China has held agency partnerships with orphanages. These partnerships allowed agencies to go into the orphanage, meet the precious, waiting children, and then advocate on their behalf so that they would have a better opportunity of finding a forever family. This is important because children that may be considered “more challenging” to place, would have greater opportunity and visibility than previously. At the end of the year, this policy will also change. China will be discontinuing the agency partnerships and go back to, "shared list matching". Shared list matching is what we had when we were matched with Hadley. The adoptive family is basically given a photo or 2 (which may be months old) and a brief medical write up, as well as some info on the child. Some of the medical needs these kiddos have can look intimidating on paper. But behind each photo is a beating heart, and a child created in the image of the one true God. They all share one thing in common, they are all waiting to be chosen and they all deserve to be chosen.  Please pray that the Lord would raise up families to GO>>> to China, to fill in the gap that’s been created by these new rules. That He would raise up families to bring home children that are fatherless from wherever He calls. 

Psalm 10:14- But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

On the adoption front for our family, I recently reached out to our agency to get a pulse on timing. Where I had secretly hoped we’d be matched soon, it sounds like realistically it could be up to 6 months. I say that loosely because I know that ultimately, God is in charge of the matching.  Even though visibly our matching process may be held by human hands...He's orchestrating all of it. So we sit eager and hopeful for whenever that day comes. 

Thank you for all the continued love and support!! 💛😘

We are LID!

Hey friends, it's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm getting back into this swing of things with our adoption process picking up pace.  We've been back in process for the last 2 years.  We're at a place now where we're hopeful things will start moving along a bit faster. We're through the home study process, have our 800a approval, and were DTC at the beginning of July!  As of July 11th we were notified we are officially LID!!! Hooray! That means we have our China login date! This is good news because it opens us up to more precious, waiting children available for adoption. It's also another required step in the process, and another box we check off, as we move along. From here we await LOA (Letter of Acceptance) from China, and this typically takes a bit longer. I just checked in on the wait for LOA and it appears it's taking anywhere between 40 and 55 days. During this time we'll be working on our book reports that are required prior to travel. We'll read 6 books over the next couple of months pertaining to adoption, and it will serve as good reminders for us as we move closer to our little one!   

One foot in front of the other

It's been almost a year.  A year since we shared that we plan to go back to China.  It's been a year of one foot in front of the other.  Does slow and steady win the race?  If so...we are on the right track.
We had a couple of delays along the way.  A man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.

Moving at a quicker pace since spring and things are seeming more real.  I'm revisiting many memories.  Replaying them in my mind.  Thinking through processes and of course the nerves and all that goes along with this journey.  We are getting closer.  More than half of our dossier was sent off and apostilled at the Chinese consulate and safely returned to us on June 30th!  A victory!

Next round of documents to be sent off in the next couple of weeks, followed by FBI fingerprints shortly there after, and then waiting for our homestudy document to be written.  When those steps are complete we will send off our packet, which will make it's way to China until we receive our LID (login date).  There are a whole LOTTA acronyms in this process.  All significant.  All milestones for a family.  We'll celebrate each one with you as they come.  For now...Back to slow (hopefully not really slow....and steady wins this race.  Enjoying all of the moments today and in between.

Love and hugs to all!

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

A gift

As life has gotten busy with the dynamic duo and homeschooling over the last few years, I've stepped away from blogging for a time.  So what brings me back? Lord willing, baby #3, a gift.  Adoption has remained on my heart since we went to China for Hadley.  Going back has stirred in me and tugged and has never completely gone away.  After years of waiting, Brandon and I have started the process to return to China.  There is at least one little angel out there that is missing from our family and waiting on us to come, and bring them home.  As of right now, we have asked for a blind referral, so we don't know who this angel is and may not know for a few months yet.  

I couldn't post without briefly sharing about the duo!  Boy are they getting big.  They are growing into such amazing little people and they've taught us a thing or 2 along the way.  So what are they thinking about this new journey our family is on?  They are thinking that God should bring us a boy AND a girl.  Ha!  Let's just say the Lord will need to work a miracle for that request...At least for 2 at one time.  They are excited and asking all kinds of sweet questions about how this will go and what to expect.   And since there is nothing quite typical about the adoption process other than the paperwork and an approximate timeline, we are keeping them involved in what we can.  So as things get rolling, I will share.

So where are we at this point?  We turned our paperwork into our agency back in May.  We had a rather full summer that kept me from really digging into gathering forms and preparing documents but I'm definitely in full swing now.  We submitted our home study application about 2 weeks ago and we are amidst waiting for our first home study meeting.  So for now we are just busy gathering docs, preparing and of course...waiting. 

Isaiah45:2-
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.   

Shopping with PURPOSE!!

Just a quick note to let you all know that our travel buddies from our trip to China, to bring Hadley home, will be hosting a WONDERFUL online auction! This auction is to help raise money for their adoption of their daughter Talia.  There are loads of fantastic goodies to check out!!! I can't think of a better reason to go shopping!!  Please take a look at shop with a beautiful purpose... http://thetalesoftwo.blogspot.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I was going to post an update for Christmas...And then...I received a crystal clear message of a family that is actually living Christmas.  So instead, here are some updated pictures of the dynamic duo and one of the most amazing posts I've ever read. http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/room.html

The cuteness and fun factor are on the rise with these two...And did I mention their energy level has slightly increased?

Our thinker

Daddy's girl

Like father like son

Our spunky whiz-kid

He's loves to play ball with daddy and she's daring and loves gymnastics (or as Hadley would say..."nastics mommy")

She's the comedian and he's our analyst

free spirit and giggly

Then and now...1 year today

One year ago yesterday, we held Hadley for the first time.  One year ago today was our "Forever family" day in Nanchang (Jiangxi), China.  It was just about one year ago today that Brandon and I left Orlando, FL for China.  When we left, we had no idea what to anticipate upon our arrival and I know that neither one of us expected what actually transpired.  An amazingly precious little life was placed in our arms and officially our baby girl on August 8th, 2010.  It was an overwhelming journey that began back in 2007 and in 2009 we had a shift in our journey that lead us to our son, Wyatt and then soon after...To our daughter, Hadley.  Looking at our baby girl last August, I knew we had a sick little peanut that was going to need both Medical attention and the unconditional love of a mommy, daddy and her brother to get her through what her first 18 months had not given her.  I've chosen to keep the details of Hadley's story private because I believe that while blogging is therapeutic in some ways to a family and helpful to other families in process...I've struggled with what is truly mine to tell.  I've never quite come to a happy medium in that regard and so until I do, her story remains "her story"...To tell at a later date, if ever.  What I can share and will share is that my assumption that it would take a loving family, full of nurturing was not all our daughter needed.  What Hadley needed most was Gods healing power and mercy to repair and restore her precious life.  One year ago, I never, ever in my wildest dreams could have imagined that we'd be in the place we are in today.  Never did it cross my mind that Hadley would be a new creation (Revelations 21:5- He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.").  I look back at the day we met Hadley in China and the fears and concerns that filled my head.  Today I am reminded yet again that HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW!  Should I have been surprised by His mercy and love for our daughter...HIS daughter.  She's our walking miracle and testimony of the power of prayer and Gods grace, mercy and love!  Today I marvel at how far she's come...At how far we've come.  Today I marvel and weep in admiration of the King of Kings who makes all things new!!!  Thankful that He chose us to not only parent our daughter but to watch His hand move in her life!   


We love you Hadley Jo!!!  You are an amazingly feisty, happy, joyous, energetic little girl and we adore you!


                                                               THEN

NOW- 2011

Heart surgery today

Hi all,

Today at 12:45 one of our very good friends precious daughters is having heart surgery.  Our friends will be posting updates on their blog (below).  If you would please remember them in your prayers, they would be so thankful!  

Hugs and love,

Robin

http://www.weknowwhatloveis.blogspot.com/

Precious 2 year old and Helen update

Hi all,
Wanted to let you know that Helen still does not have a family.  Please join me in praying for her!  I sent her file to our local Pediatrician in hopes of getting info to share with anyone who inquires about her. The long and short of what I learned is that she should be just fine if she is adopted and gets help for her scoliosis but if not she runs the risk of paralysis later in life.  The thought of that is just heartbreaking and unnecessary, she's such a doll!  If you'd like to review the info that I gathered from our Pediatrician as well as the Radiologist, please email me via the comments section and I'll happily send you the info that our Pediatrician gave us.  Also, Madison Adoption Associates has several video clips of Helen from their recent trip to China.  If you'd like to see them, please contact Madison @ 302-475-8977 (ask for Sara, Lydia or Diana)


Today I received an email from an agency with several waiting children.  One little girl struck me!  She desperately needs a family!  She is absolutely beautiful and her story tugged at my heart strings.  The agency is allowing me to share this small blurb on her and said that I could pass on additional info privately if you email me.  If you are interested in learning more, please email me.  This sweet little girl (we will call her, Sarah) is 2 years old.
Sarah came to the orphanage at one 

month old.  She has been diagnosed with a con- 

genital heart defect called Tricupsid Atresia. In the 

US, she would have already had her first heart sur- 

gery - without surgery, she will only have a few 

years left. Sarah is described as a pretty girl with 

good mental and physical development.  She is a 

bit shy, but can make her needs known when she 

is hungry. Sarah needs a family who can support 

her through her future heart surgeries and help her 

to live a long and healthy life.

Again, for info on either of these girls, please feel free to email me.

Robin

Helen

Madison Adoption Associates recently held a camp for kids from Bao'an.  There are SO-SO many sweet children that are in need of their mom and dad...Please contact Madison for questions on these precious kids.


My eyes filled with tears as I looked at Helen's sweet face...There is just something about her that is so warm and tender.  This is what Madison had to say about Helen.


For information on Helen, please contact MAA at, (302) 475-8977

Helen 

DOB 5/10/01 

Scoliosis, Nevus on back 

Helen is sweet, smart and very social.  She LOVED Lydia and constantly sought her out.  The nanny 

described her as very loved, smart, social, loveable and very affectionate.  She loves to give and share 

hugs. 

Helen loves to play with the parachute.  She lives at the orphanage but goes to the regular public school 

in Grade 2, where she is doing very well and excels.  She is very good with basic English knowing basic 

terms, phrases, colors and numbers.  Her greatest wish is to be a singer.  She loves butterflies.  She has 

a lot of friends and is very comfortable with both children and adults.  She states she really wants to come 

to the U.S. as she has many friends who have already been adopted. 

Although Helen’s scoliosis is quite extensive, her mobility is very good.  She walks, runs, jumps and loves 

to hula-hoop.  We asked the orphanage if we could sponsor a brace for her so MAA will follow up with 

this. 

When we asked to see Helen’s back, she refused to let us see it or let Dr. Bonnie feel it.  She is clearly 

embarrassed.  We pray she finds a family who will build her up and help her reach her highest potential.  

Helen will do very well in a family. 

China Bridge of Hope

We learned not too long ago about the Bridge of Hope Summer program that will be put on this year in June or July.  This program has previously not encompassed China but this year they will!  Its very exciting and a new opportunity for the children and families participating.  Its my understanding that approx 40 children will be participating, ages 6 and up.  They are taking host family applications for interested families into mid-March.  Ideally an interested family would be paper ready, with a completed home study.  You can get a much more detailed description of the program by reading the information that I've cut and pasted below and contacting your appropriate contact based on where you live.

Bridge of Hope Summer 2011

Information Sessions & Regional Coordinators

Here are names of BOH regional coordinators who will offer information sessions for families interested in learning more about hosting possibilities this summer.  If session dates are listed, please RSVP to the coordinator to receive details about times and locations.  If dates are not yet listed, please contact the coordinator to indicate your interest in attending an upcoming session.  Sessions will include an overview of BOH, discussion about issues of older children from institutions, and presentations by past BOH hosts.        

  

CONNECTICUT Kathleen Hickey, 203/459-2659,  HYPERLINK "mailto:kwhickey@earthlink.net" kwhickey@earthlink.net

Saturdays January 15, February 19, March 12—Monroe, CT

MASSACHUSETTS Todd Kates, 617/926-5480 x241,  HYPERLINK "mailto:tkates42@aol.com" tkates42@aol.com

Saturday, February 12—Watertown, MA

ILLINOIS Michaelyn Sloan,800/252-4152,  HYPERLINK "mailto:msloan@stmaryservices.com" msloan@stmaryservices.com

      Saturday, January 22

LONG ISLAND, NY Marisa Bernhard,  HYPERLINK "mailto:mettaworks@aol.com" mettaworks@aol.com

Debra Servinskas,  HYPERLINK "mailto:debserv@optonline.net" debserv@optonline.net

Sundays February 6 and February 27—East Northport

MID-HUDSON, NY Liz Evans,  HYPERLINK "mailto:elizabethpevans@yahoo.com" elizabethpevans@yahoo.com

Terry Naumann, 914/302-6760,  HYPERLINK "mailto:selavy@optonline.net" selavy@optonline.net

Sunday, February 13—Yorktown Heights

NEW JERSEY Janet Bodner,  HYPERLINK "mailto:bridgeofhopenj@yahoo.com" nj_bohrc@yahoo.com, 908/696-0851

Trish Tatrai,  HYPERLINK "mailto:ttatrai@verizon.net" ttatrai@verizon.net, 609/584-1939

Deborah Phillips,  HYPERLINK "mailto:deborahphillipsprivetera@yahoo.com" deborahphillipsprivetera@yahoo.com, 732/446-1328

Sunday, January 30—Manalapan, NJ

Sunday, February 27—Millington, NJ

WASHINGTON DC AREA   Patrice Gancie, 301/587-4400 x207,  HYPERLINK "mailto:pgancie@cradlehope.org" pgancie@cradlehope.org

Saturdays February 5 & March 5—Silver Spring, MD

New auction items...

Check out the new items available for auction to bring Liliana home to her family!   Click on the icon below...



You can also read more about their journey at... http://dreamingofteafortwo.blogspot.com/

Fabulous online auction to bring home a very sweet little girl!!

Another China mommy and blogging friend of ours is working to bring home their precious Liliana!  Please take a minute to check out her online auction with BEAUTIFUL items!  You won't be disappointed.  They are hopeful that they will raise enough money by February 7th to purchase their plane tickets...Click on the icon below...

It's been 6 months today!

Its 6 months today that we arrived back home from China, very-very early in the morning with Hadley.   We had what turned out to be an amazing faith filled journey with so many unexpected twists and turns that landed us at just the perfect time and place... Nanchang, Jiangxi China.  Looking back at the pictures from our days in China, I feel like it was years ago in some ways.  It feels even further away when I look at our precious daughter now!  She's filled with JOY and laughter all of the time, even as she tells me..."no-no-no" shaking her head, with the cutest big smile :)  So, very different than that short 6 months ago when she was so very sick, weak, could not sit up unassisted and in desperate need of medical care and her family.  6 months later she's a different little girl.  We still have challenges to work through but don't we all face that?  Isn't that just a part of the Christian journey and not isolated to adoption?  Doesn't it have alot to do with how we cross those bridges and how we chose to view them?  TODAY everything is new for Hadley, its exciting and fun.  She is filled with life and energy!  There are so many things that she enjoys...She has thoroughly enjoyed the snow and the outdoors, even when I'd prefer to stay inside toasty warm.  She loves story time at the library and the toddler dance parties they have there.  She loves to blow kisses and put bows in her hair.  She loves the song, "head shoulders knees and toes" and always wants me to play it again and again.  She runs to the door with her brother yelling, "da-da, da-da" when we hear him pull in the driveway.  She has adored her brother from the very day she met him.  Which reminds me of an instance just two days ago when he was feeling very sick...He's not one to fuss and on this day he kept crying and crying as we tried to console him.  Hadley kept bringing him toy after toy and handed him one after another in hopes of cheering her brother up.  You could see the tenderness she has for him. 

So I started out posting to celebrate her 6 months home with us even though it feels as though she has always been with us.  I realized as I got half way into it that I could go on and on and on with little chance that I'd stop sharing all of the blessing Hadley has brought to our family.  I remember at one point, early on in the adoption process, of bringing home our second child that I prayed God would point us to the child meant for our family.  That sounds so funny to me now because...It wasn't until much later that I realized that not only did God sovereignly place our little girl in our arms but equally as important, we were the precise family that she needed as well.  I don't say that in the sense that we are, "the perfect family" but there is something about us that she needed and needs and so we were chosen for her and her for us.  The responsibility in that still blows me away!  Brandon and I talk about how fortunate we are to have been given the gift of parenting our two little ones.  Had you told me 6 years ago our lives would look the way they do today...I would have stopped you in your tracks and said, "I highly doubt it!"  Boy am I glad that I'm not responsible for writing the story of our lives because we would have missed out on joy unspeakable!  Yet another reminder of how amazing the God we serve is!

1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

                                            November 2010

Precious and perfect!

                                         Me and my brother

                          Loving kissies for my brother

  Look at us!!! REALLY....Does life get any better than snow, mom?!

This is the life!!!  (January 2011)

Hugs,

Robin

Indifferent?

I haven't been online much over the last couple of months because we've been on the go and not online much lately.  The last couple of days, since returning home, I've taken time to catch up on some blogs that I follow which brought me to, http://www.jewels-of-my-heart.blogspot.com/ and in turn brought me to the video I've embedded below.  My husband Brandon and I sat and watched it together twice and were so convicted. The Lord used Eric Ludy in this message in a tremendous way.  Its well worth taking the time to watch....

Nolan and Dallas

I wanted to share with you about Nolan and my conversation with Aleda about him.  Aleda adored Nolan and said he always- always had a huge smile on his face!  He's simply put, an amazing little boy.  Nolan's story probably hit me the hardest.  I could visualize what Aleda shared and for a child to endure so much in his short life...This just seemed like too much to swallow.  Nolan has been in the very same foster home for a long time, since he was very young.  His foster father is terminally ill and his foster mother is also found to be ill now and they can no longer care for Nolan.  On his Birthday and during the camp that Madison had to get to know the children...This information was shared with him, at that time.  He was told upon arriving to the camp(and not before) that he would not be going back to his foster home.  He broke down sobbing.  Can you even begin to imagine?!  This is one of the those instances that you just keep asking "why-why?"  Hasn't he endured enough in his short life?  Its times like this that I HAVE to remind myself that God is sovereign over all circumstances and He is the father to the fatherless and His hand is on little Nolan even during this extraordinarily difficult time.  Nolan wants to be a soccer player one day!  Madison went out and got him a soccer ball for a Birthday gift prior to leaving and it made his day!!  If you'd like to learn more about Nolan, please contact Aleda at Madison Adoption Associates...She'd love to tell you all about him!  Please pray for Nolan and all of the other waiting children!  Nolan's special need is club foot and possibly CP.    Certain fees are waived for Nolan...Please contact Madison for info.

As you can tell from his pictures...He lights up a room!!

Will you answer?

I am still waiting for photos to be sent to me of Dallas and Nolan from my previous post.  As soon as I have them in hand I'll post them for you to see and share with others.

Hugs and love,
Robin

Nolan

Very sorry for my delay in posting!  This is a continuation from my previous post. I wanted to share with you about Nolan and my conversation with Aleda about him.  Aleda adored Nolan and said he always- always had a huge smile on his face!  He's simply put, an amazing little boy.  Nolan's story probably hit me the hardest.  I could visualize what Aleda shared and for a child to endure so much in his short life...This just seemed like too much to swallow.  Nolan has been in the very same foster home for a long time, since he was very young.  His foster father is terminally ill and his foster mother is also found to be ill now and they can no longer care for Nolan.  On his Birthday and during the camp that Madison had to get to know the children...This information was shared with him, at that time.  He was told upon arriving to the camp(and not before) that he would not be going back to his foster home.  He broke down sobbing.  Can you even begin to imagine?!  This is one of the those instances that you just keep asking "why-why?"  Hasn't he endured enough in his short life?  Its times like this that I HAVE to remind myself that God is sovereign over all circumstances and He is the father to the fatherless and His hand is on little Nolan even during this extraordinarily difficult time.  Nolan wants to be a soccer player one day!  Madison went out and got him a soccer ball for a Birthday gift prior to leaving and it made his day!!  If you'd like to learn more about Nolan, please contact Aleda at Madison Adoption Associates...She'd love to tell you all about him!  Please pray for Nolan and all of the other waiting children!  Nolan's special need is club foot and possibly CP.  (I'm not in Indiana and using a computer remotely, so I'm having difficulty posting pictures.  I hope to get them up sometime today)

I will be sharing about Dallas next...

Look at these lovable little boys...

What amazing stories I was able to hear about these boys and I'm so excited to share them with you!  I had a chance to chat with Aleda Madison at Madison Adoption Associates yesterday afternoon about these amazing little ones!  By the time I hung up the phone with Aleda, my heart was heavy because each of them struck me in a different way during our conversation.  Aleda met all of the children they have listed from Qing dao (Also called the "Blue Sky Home").  All of the kiddos were truly unique and amazing.  There were several children that impacted her, personally.  I'm going to share a little bit about each of the boys below.  All of the children from this camp currently have a $1500 grant.  Maybe one of them is your son?


XAVIER
What an absolutely, beautiful smile this little guy has!!!
Xavier was diagnosed with polio but the disease is inactive.  The Physician in China shared with Aleda that Xavier is not contagious and that he will not get any worse than he currently is.  A diagnosis of polio is something that might quickly scare a family off but Aleda said that Xavier is really not someone that anyone should be afraid of.  She said the things that are noticeable about Xaviers special need is that all of his teeth are missing and that he has a different gate when he walks (likely due to the disease).  Other than those two factors, she said you wouldn't even know that he had a special need.  He is a little guy, 7 years old and very-very sweet!  She shared that he is an extremely bright little boy.  She was kind enough to share a couple of very sweet stories about her time with him.  There was one instance when the children were viewing a video of a child that had been adopted and was now home with their family in the U.S.  Some of the children were not focused on the video but Xavier was especially focused and in awe!  He was so intent on watching the video and was entrenched in it and mesmerized...He is so looking forward to finding his forever family!!  There was another instance when everyone was sitting around a table (care workers, the Madison group and the children) eating corn on the cob.  Xavier was picking each kernel of corn off of his cob and nobody did anything to assist him (bare in mind he doesn't have teeth) and so Aleda went over to him, took his corn and began to cut the corn off of the cob for him.  Everyone watched in amazement at what was happening and finally when she had cut all of the corn off of the cob and handed it to Xavier, he accepted it very thankfully, with a huge smile on his face.  If you are interested in learning more about Xavier, please contact Aleda Madison at Madison Adoption Associates, (302)475-8977.  Aleda stressed that while all of the information that was shared on Xavier was positive in regard to his health, it is mandatory that a family considering him must verify all of the medical information with an International Adoption Physician.


PIERCE
Pierce is a deep thinker and a leader...He was very kind, sweet and gentle.  He is at the top of his class and very bright!  He shared that he loves to do Tae Kwan Do and someday hopes to be a policeman.  She shared that at one point the kids were performing and some of the children that were suppose to be sitting around watching the performance were being stinkers.  Pierce motioned for them to come over to sit down so that the children that were performing could have their time and so they did.  She said the other kids loved and respected Pierce and she can see him being a great, "big brother".   He just turned 8 years old in October.  His special need was congenital lip and bilateral cleft.  If you would like more information about Pierce, please contact Aleda at Madison Adoption Associates, (302)475-8977.
Could Pierce be your son?



Information to come on two more waiting angels....

November Is National Adoption Month

A couple of weeks ago I decided to shift gears with this blog and use it as an advocacy blog on the topic of adoption and begin to advocate for children and orphans.  They don't have a voice and so in some small way, I'm hoping to be a squeaky wheel.  With that being said... I haven't shared this on our blog yet but for those of you who have followed along over the last several months...There was a precious little girl named Marlee (Mei Mei) that I advocated for earlier this year while we were in the process of bringing Hadley home.  She was suspected to have CP but it was later determined that she had a rare neurological disease.  I originally saw Marlee on Madison Adoption Associates shared list.  There was something about her that grabbed a hold of my heart immediately and I began to advocate for her, in hopes of her finding a family.  A few weeks after I began to advocate for Marlee, I learned that her condition was getting desperate and she was in need of immediate medical care.  Along the way, someone stepped forward on a yahoo group that was in China working in Marlee's orphanage and was trying to get her the medical attention she needed.  She reached out to me and I was able to stay in contact with her and get updates on Marlee and her condition.  When we returned home from China with Hadley in late August,  I received an email from my contact stating that Marlee had passed away.  Up until now, I've only shared her passing with one of my friends. Sadly, I think I knew that Marlee would not survive in the orphanage.  I would check in with my contact in hopes of hearing good news but somehow knowing that she would be called home soon.  Its difficult to express how it feels to have a connection to a little girl that you've only seen photos of...But the Lord gave me the privilege of seeing her and connecting with her, thousands of miles away.  I'm sharing Marlee's story for two reason...Because I know that many people prayed for her, inquired about her and cared about her.   I'm also sharing because her death reminded me of how many children die every single day alone, without a mother and a father to hold them, comfort them and love them.   It reminded me of something a read in a book not too long ago...I'm going to steel a few paragraphs from, The Hole in our Gospel.   About 26,000 children under the age of 5 die every day of causes related to their poverty.

That is the equivalent of 100 planes filled with children crashing every day. If one jet liner crashes in America, it makes world headlines. There is an immediate flurry of activity: Why did it happen? What does the "black box" say? Is there a safety issue with the airplane? Was it a pilot error? And we start to learn about the lives of the people that died.

But where are the headlines? Where are the hearings, the acts of Congress, the things that would happen if a hundred jet liners were crashing every day?

If you looked at the death certificates of those children you would probably read words like starvation, respiratory infection, malaria, maybe HIV/AIDS. But you could easily cross that out and write apathy as the cause of death. The deaths were largely preventable, but those who could have prevented the deaths chose not to. I know that's harsh but I've seen and I know that it is possible to change the equation. It's the sin of our generation. The sin of my parents' generation in the United States was racism. The sin of our generation will be apathy. 


So here is a small opportunity to do something, to get involved and to not be apathetic.  There are so many children just like Marlee out there...Both overseas and in the U.S. There isn't a person around that doesn't have a full schedule these days but we can all do something.  For each of us, that "something" is very likely different.  The point is...Chosing to do nothing isn't an option for those of us that call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ.  As a very dear friend of mine says..."You either believe it ALL or you believe none of it."  We don't have the option to decide what portions of the Bible we will believe or chose to follow.  November is national adoption month and November 7th is Orphan Sunday.  This is a chance for Christians to get involved and take seriously what the word of God says about caring for the orphans and widows.  James 1:27- Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.


To learn more about how to get involved and what you can do in your local church for Orphan Sunday, please check out... http://www.orphansunday.org/about  There are all kinds of resources on this site that give ideas from acknowledging these precious, innocent lives with a few simple words before or after Sunday service, all the way up to sermons and events that can be done in your church.   If you get a chance, take a look!


Hugs and love,
Robin