2 weeks and counting...where this all started

We leave in two weeks...the morning of June 13th. Please pray. We will step foot on our little loves home soil the day of his 3rd birthday. Didn't they know I wanted to be with him on his birthday?? Darn. Oh well. It will be quite the celebration when we see him for the first time anyway. Can't imagine that moment!!!

For those of you just coming to our blog for the first time, I thought I would update you on where this whole adoption started.

Several years ago Dan had a great trip to Haiti with Feed My Starving Children. (www.FMSC.org) We have had a special heart for the people of Haiti since then. When the quake hit in January, we were aching for the Haitains. We both were feeling called to adopt from Haiti. Dan went full speed ahead. I was glad. I was busy and unable to get to the paperwork. We were hoping to adopt a little girl, under 2, from the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order). We were looking for a little girl who wouldn't tromp over our Ricky (who is 3 1/2 with Down syndrome)in size or development. That was most important to us.

Throughout the early stages I was wrestling with the adoption. For every pro I found a con, and every con I found a pro, but I wasn't able to tip the scale one way or another. My spiritual director told me she felt I needed time, I was obviously not ready. Dan was a little disappointed, but quite honestly, the possibilities of getting a little one from Haiti were looking a little dismal. (By the way, we each took a trip, separately to Haiti in the month of March which was amazing!)

About a week after "putting things on hold" Lizzy went on www.ReecesRainbow.com We have been on this site before and had those longing pains for these kids and it was never the right time. It had been a while though. The moment I looked at that page--I HAD COMPLETE PEACE! Every worry, concern, question and "con" just melted away. I knew it was right!! Dan was a little surprised. I think because it was a big change--a sweet little orphaned,impoverished girl with beautiful dark skin from Haiti, and now a little one with fair Eastern European skin, with Down syndrome from an orphanage. Wow--where did that come from? He was an easy sell.

Jimmy found "Ross"--real name Stanislav--on the site and that was pretty much it! He is such a doll, of course they all are. I could not have chosen...it would have been too hard. I intentionally only got approval for one child because I knew myself enough to know that I would come home with as many as we were approved for...that would not be good right now. I can't tell you how hard that is though. I know I will want to go back.

Kids in these orphanages with special needs are sent to mental institutions at age 4. They "live" out the rest of there life there. Of course, they say that 80% die within the first year from neglect and poverty. I want to cry every time I think of this. I'm not sure how I will react to know that I only "rescued" one of these little gifts from God, and left so many behind.

Please feel free to pass this blog around. If anyone has any interest in adopting a little love with special needs---please trust me---your lives will be rich with JOY! They just do something to you that I can't explain. We all feel it!

Please pray for us as we prepare for a long trip with a small part of our gang (Ricky and Lizzy). Please pray for hearts to long for these little ones. Please pray for the orphanage workers and their families, that the workers want the best for these little loves and treat them with dignity. Please pray for all of the judges, court workers and officials who oversee and rule on these cases.

Thanks!!