Today our social worker called. I panicked. Why??? What did I do? Did something change? Did we wait too long? She's so nice and just casually started the conversation with "I was just wanting to check and see when you wanted to start your homestudy.....because it has been paid for."... ... ... crickets...I think she was secretly enjoying it! I had no words. None. And I ALWAYS have words. I stammered and fell all over myself. What? How is that possible? Who? Why? Stephanie went on to tell me that an "anonymous donor" had paid for our entire homestudy! In full! The whole thing! That is a lot of money, folks!
And you see, I think I know who this "anonymous donor" is....and we can never repay them. And I know they know how much we love them and thank them for this gift. This is beyond what we can comprehend. I watched in awe yesterday at family, friends and complete strangers blessed my friends.....and I stand in awe today as our family has been blessed. Thank you "anonymous donor"....I love you, "whoever" you are. You did an awesome thing today and it will never be forgotten.
I know this is far beyond eloquent and I am once again stammering all over myself...I just don't have words. All I can say is that it is a God thing. And He showed up big again!
Just the story of our little family that is slightly off kilter and just a wee bit strange...we laugh inappropriately , are super loud , we appreciate the small stuff and have a lot of fun doing life. Cause really , normal is so overrated anyway.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
It is better to give...
So we have these friends that we truly love. When we met them they had 4 children also, very similar in age to ours. They are an awesome family and they step out in faith without batting an eye. I really feel like it is a one-sided relationship. I feel that they do way more for us than we do for them. They introduced us to our church and some amazing people, they are so good to our kids and don't even blink when the little man says something crazy. They are just good, fun people to be around and our lives have been blessed immensely by knowing them. Chrissy even coined the term "Jackelope" and she is the ONLY one allowed to call him that. Just ask him. You can't use it. He won't let you. "Jackelope" is a Miss Chrissy exclusive!
They brought 3 siblings home from Ethiopia about a year ago and we were lucky enough to watch vicariously as it all happened......and they are doing it again! This time there are 5 siblings. 5 sweet children that didn't ask to be orphaned, but have been all the same. And they need a home and a mommy and a daddy to love them and lots of siblings tofight play with!
Yes, they will have 12 children when they are all home...Am I surprised? No. Do I think they are crazy? No. Do I think they can handle it? Yes. But really, why does it matter? This is what they are supposed to do. It fits for them. And guess what??? It is okay. Really. It is. Trust me.
So why am I writing about this? Well, today I watched as a miracle happened. I know, I know, people throw that word around all the time, but today......truly. A miracle. They set up a fundraising web page yesterday evening...go here http://www.acharityproject.com/f/7for7tickets to see. They needed $10,000 for plane tickets home from Ethiopia for 2 adults and 5 children! So, $7 for 7...catchy, huh? My friend, she's clever like that. I made the off-hand comment to Jeff that "oh, they'll have it by tomorrow afternoon" and by 9:00 pm last night, they were at the $10,000 mark! That's like, just over 24 hours! HOURS people! Haha! See, a MIRACLE. Don't say that it isn't, cause that is the only explanation.
So, yeah. Amazing stuff. God showing off and letting us all know that when it comes to His children, He shows up. And He shows up BIG! And I think it is nothing but cool! But they've reached their goal, so why am I blogging about this now? Because I want it to keep going. I want to blow the doors off this fundraiser. I want people to know for an absolute fact that there is no other way that this happened than but for the grace and awesomeness of a God who loves His children. Especially "the least of these".
Adoption is hard, expensive, emotionally draining stuff. Jeff and I know....we are starting our adoption full force with engines blasting in January. I won't lie...we are scared. We don't have enough money yet.....January is going to be a stretch for us having the funds for even our homestudy. But we are starting, because we know we are supposed to start. The fact that a few months ago Jeff was still at the "I don't think so" phase and we are now starting is ah-mazing! We know a little of what we are in for because we have seen what our friends have gone through with their first adoption and with this adoption. She is my "go to" girl for adoption info! I know she gets tired of myendless, ridiculous, mind-numbing questions.....but she answers them with a smile and a slight roll of the eye any way.
I hate that money is the thing that stops most people from pursuing adoption. Money is what has been in our way of adopting for a loooong time. It is the reason Jeff has said no for so long. And I don't want my friends to worry about the money part of it. I want them to worry about going over there and bringing those children home to their siblings so they can know the love of a family. A FOREVER family. The kind with kisses and hugs...going to bed with a full tummy, a kiss on the forehead and a "I love you sweet baby"...knowing that mommy and daddy are just down the hall if you wake up scared and will be right there for you if you should ever need. That kind of family. The kind every child deserves.
So please, forget your double tall, super gi-gundo, mocha-frap-u-what-ever you were planning on getting on the way to work, don't eat that calorie-ridden, your pants-ain't-gonna-fit-if-you-keep-eating-like-this-for-lunch, fast food...skip your "it's winter anyway, no one is gonna be looking at your toes" pedicure and do something that will make you feel good for a lot longer than ANY of those things will!
$7...that's all I'm asking. If you can't do $7, do whatever you can, or heck, if you can do more, please...DO!
But please...
Just. Do. Something.
It will honestly change a life...14 lives, in fact.
Read my friend's blog at www.paulandchrissy.blogspot.com
She's super funny and I love her...you will too!
They brought 3 siblings home from Ethiopia about a year ago and we were lucky enough to watch vicariously as it all happened......and they are doing it again! This time there are 5 siblings. 5 sweet children that didn't ask to be orphaned, but have been all the same. And they need a home and a mommy and a daddy to love them and lots of siblings to
Yes, they will have 12 children when they are all home...Am I surprised? No. Do I think they are crazy? No. Do I think they can handle it? Yes. But really, why does it matter? This is what they are supposed to do. It fits for them. And guess what??? It is okay. Really. It is. Trust me.
So why am I writing about this? Well, today I watched as a miracle happened. I know, I know, people throw that word around all the time, but today......truly. A miracle. They set up a fundraising web page yesterday evening...go here http://www.acharityproject.com/f/7for7tickets to see. They needed $10,000 for plane tickets home from Ethiopia for 2 adults and 5 children! So, $7 for 7...catchy, huh? My friend, she's clever like that. I made the off-hand comment to Jeff that "oh, they'll have it by tomorrow afternoon" and by 9:00 pm last night, they were at the $10,000 mark! That's like, just over 24 hours! HOURS people! Haha! See, a MIRACLE. Don't say that it isn't, cause that is the only explanation.
So, yeah. Amazing stuff. God showing off and letting us all know that when it comes to His children, He shows up. And He shows up BIG! And I think it is nothing but cool! But they've reached their goal, so why am I blogging about this now? Because I want it to keep going. I want to blow the doors off this fundraiser. I want people to know for an absolute fact that there is no other way that this happened than but for the grace and awesomeness of a God who loves His children. Especially "the least of these".
Adoption is hard, expensive, emotionally draining stuff. Jeff and I know....we are starting our adoption full force with engines blasting in January. I won't lie...we are scared. We don't have enough money yet.....January is going to be a stretch for us having the funds for even our homestudy. But we are starting, because we know we are supposed to start. The fact that a few months ago Jeff was still at the "I don't think so" phase and we are now starting is ah-mazing! We know a little of what we are in for because we have seen what our friends have gone through with their first adoption and with this adoption. She is my "go to" girl for adoption info! I know she gets tired of my
I hate that money is the thing that stops most people from pursuing adoption. Money is what has been in our way of adopting for a loooong time. It is the reason Jeff has said no for so long. And I don't want my friends to worry about the money part of it. I want them to worry about going over there and bringing those children home to their siblings so they can know the love of a family. A FOREVER family. The kind with kisses and hugs...going to bed with a full tummy, a kiss on the forehead and a "I love you sweet baby"...knowing that mommy and daddy are just down the hall if you wake up scared and will be right there for you if you should ever need. That kind of family. The kind every child deserves.
So please, forget your double tall, super gi-gundo, mocha-frap-u-what-ever you were planning on getting on the way to work, don't eat that calorie-ridden, your pants-ain't-gonna-fit-if-you-keep-eating-like-this-for-lunch, fast food...skip your "it's winter anyway, no one is gonna be looking at your toes" pedicure and do something that will make you feel good for a lot longer than ANY of those things will!
$7...that's all I'm asking. If you can't do $7, do whatever you can, or heck, if you can do more, please...DO!
But please...
Just. Do. Something.
It will honestly change a life...14 lives, in fact.
Read my friend's blog at www.paulandchrissy.blogspot.com
She's super funny and I love her...you will too!
Friday, December 16, 2011
My very first blog post....EVER!
So my husband convinced me to start a blog. Yes! Let's blame Jeff! My favorite game! He was all like...you are so witty and clever, such a great writer (he's still sucking up for me helping him with some papers while getting his Masters), you have great ideas...blah, blah, blah, BLECH! But then he pulled THE card. The "It's such a good way to document and remember funny stuff the kids said or did"card. I caved. Evil genius No, gonna stick with that....evil genius, that man. And because I know y'all want to live vicariously through me! Right???
So yeah, that did it. I'm always complaining that I forget so much about the kids and their childhood. I mean, surely I bathed them when they were little! And I know that I had to have taken them to the park a few times....I honestly can't remember small details like that any more. Maybe I will blame it on the genetic brain disorder, or the thyroid disease, or constant insomnia or the fact that I have given birth to 4 children....one the size of a small calf. I usually try and post funny little stories about the kids on FB, but it is fairly annoying to go back through and find them. Sooooo, the perfect way to remember it. Blog it!
So here it is in all of its disturbing glory! I never wanted to put our family out there for people to pick apart. I mean, what if someone says something mean? I'll cry. Okay, so I cry over commercials and stray dogs. It's not my best trait.
I'll warn you now...it may be messy, or crazy, and definitely a little lame. I tend to ramble and am easily distracted by shiny things. Oh and did I mention the sarcasm? I could post daily or once every 93 days. I just don't know. But it could be pretty cool. I guess we will see.
We have a fairly unique story....4 children all with a genetic brain disorder that affects them all differently. Our kids have a glorious plethora of initials to stick behind their names and not one of them have even started college yet! Autism, ADHD, OCD, sensory processing disorder, apraxia, dyslexia, memory issues, sleep issues, speech impairment/delay....but wait, there's more! You name it, we probably have it! And the more different and rare, the better! Our neurologist says we hit the brain disorder lottery! Woo hoo! AND we are in the early stages of adopting a child with Down Syndrome! Which honestly has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I'm so stinkin' excited, it isn't even funny! I mean, how often does a dream come true??? Squee! MUCH, much more on that subject later!
The evil genius My husband and I learned long ago that you must laugh and have sense of humor about raising kids with special needs. My motto is if you don't laugh, you'll cry. It is our coping mechanism. It has kept our marriage strong and our children well adjusted and still alive happy. See....there it is. Haha! Honestly though, our kids are awesome. And amazing. And beautiful. And exactly how God intended them to be. We are truly blessed.
And so it begins....I'm already rambling! Thanks for reading my VERY FIRST BLOG POST and not laughing too hard. Remember I cry easily...
So yeah, that did it. I'm always complaining that I forget so much about the kids and their childhood. I mean, surely I bathed them when they were little! And I know that I had to have taken them to the park a few times....I honestly can't remember small details like that any more. Maybe I will blame it on the genetic brain disorder, or the thyroid disease, or constant insomnia or the fact that I have given birth to 4 children....one the size of a small calf. I usually try and post funny little stories about the kids on FB, but it is fairly annoying to go back through and find them. Sooooo, the perfect way to remember it. Blog it!
So here it is in all of its disturbing glory! I never wanted to put our family out there for people to pick apart. I mean, what if someone says something mean? I'll cry. Okay, so I cry over commercials and stray dogs. It's not my best trait.
I'll warn you now...it may be messy, or crazy, and definitely a little lame. I tend to ramble and am easily distracted by shiny things. Oh and did I mention the sarcasm? I could post daily or once every 93 days. I just don't know. But it could be pretty cool. I guess we will see.
We have a fairly unique story....4 children all with a genetic brain disorder that affects them all differently. Our kids have a glorious plethora of initials to stick behind their names and not one of them have even started college yet! Autism, ADHD, OCD, sensory processing disorder, apraxia, dyslexia, memory issues, sleep issues, speech impairment/delay....but wait, there's more! You name it, we probably have it! And the more different and rare, the better! Our neurologist says we hit the brain disorder lottery! Woo hoo! AND we are in the early stages of adopting a child with Down Syndrome! Which honestly has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I'm so stinkin' excited, it isn't even funny! I mean, how often does a dream come true??? Squee! MUCH, much more on that subject later!
And so it begins....I'm already rambling! Thanks for reading my VERY FIRST BLOG POST and not laughing too hard. Remember I cry easily...
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