She's Home!

Guess who's home!!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I feel like I have already gotten my gift!!

We are so thrilled to have Katie home!

(Thank you Andrew!)

Andrew will be joining us next weekend!

The "kids" have two weddings to go to in the states so they will be a little busy- but we are thrilled to have whatever time we can get!!

Isn't She Lovely!

(I can hear Stevie Wonder playing in the background!)

Isn't she lovely, 
Isn't she wonderful,
Isn't she precious!

She can hold enough spaghetti for the whole family!!

This was my Mother's Day gift!

I'm thrilled with it!!

Except now I need a king size strainer!

The Name Game!

I LOVE THE NAME GAME!!

Even though this is our last adoption I am expecting YOU to carry on the tradition!

I have played this ALL my life and would LOVE to continue playing it WITH YOU!!

We have "kind of" decided on this little guys name BUT as you know I sometimes change my mind!

We have been calling him

Joseph Michael.

Once home he will be "Joseph" and "Joey" to us.

Michael is after our friends son "Michael".

We know many Michaels and it is a great name BUT this is specific. . .

Michael went to live with Jesus when he was 8 yrs old.

He was such a wonderful little boy and we still miss him.

St. Michael is the Protector.

Our little guy has had many challenges in his short life.

I will share with you soon.

We feel God's guiding hand and we are planning to stick with this name.

However we are in a quandary with this little boy!

Hmmmmm?

I was so surprised with the names many of you chose!

They were on the top of our list too!

When big brother Johnny came home I asked him what names he liked?

He right away said "I like the name Will!"

I agree! We love it too!

However, He must have had a momentary memory lapse. . .

your brother Billy (William) would not appreciate it!

Believe me... I did try to think how we could get a "Will" into the family without completely stealing big brothers name!

Of course then when Billy came home he was only slightly amused and suggested we name him John and call him Jack!

Okay, I think these two are so funny!

I still chuckle over this one!

AND I love the name Jack too!

BUT we are not planning on naming him, Will or Jack!

Many mentioned the name MAX.

I like it but it's not hubby's favorite and the boys said no.

The two top names seem to be

Jacob (Jake) or Benjamin (Ben).

I love them both!

We have prayed about it AND have seen signs for both of them.

(BTW he's singing a song in these pics!)

(Oh God Bless Him- he is such a precious boy!)

I actually LOVE LOVE the name JAMES!

BUT, hubby said no (he is a James).

Maybe he'll change his mind?

So. . .

What do you see?

A Jacob(Jake)?

A Benjamin (Ben)?

or 

A James?

 I see a little guy that is not so happy about his leg/ankle braces!

Praising GOD for our two new additions!!

Can't wait to read your thoughts!!

Glasses, Patches, Surgery and more

Melissa and Madeline went to the eye Dr last week.

I figured they both may need glasses from what the Drs said in China.

"both had a weak left eye" and should be seen by the eye DR once we were home.

Of course I kinda hoped they were wrong.

The pediatrician did a very basic eye exam and they both did okay. I did not get a sense of urgency from the pediatricians office.

We made our eye appts but twice something came up and we rescheduled.

Down deep I felt like something was quite right. Both girls would hold the heads in different positions and look out from under their eyelids or from the side of their eyes- like a focusing issue.

I also wondered if Madeline had a roaming eye or a bit of strabismus. She has trouble directing her eyes on people when they are speaking to her (I also wondered if that was deliberate and if she was being a bit belligerent during those times).

Last week we finally had our appt and we got some unexpected news.

Melissa is ver very farsighted and she will need glasses. She also has a classic weak eye and will need to retain her brain to strengthen it. If she is in fact 7 yrs old they are hopeful she will have some positive results. I guess once the child get older the chances to strengthen a weak eye are less.

So she will be wearing a patch for 3-5 hours or more hours per day...

Madeline's right eye is pretty good but her left eye has a large cloudy cataract over the lens.

We don't know why or how it happened.

She can barely see at all out of her left eye.

Poor dear...

it really made my heart sad for her.

She is such a darling child but she has to put up with-
  a large hole in her right ear drum, major speech issues, all 4 quadrants of her mouth were filled with cavities/abscessed teeth and she now has a cataract (that will have to removed at some point- maybe sooner rather than later). 

And I wonder why she is not learning as fast as the other children?

Hmmm?

I wonder no more...

Madeline will also be getting glasses and patching her left eye.

Please pray that the patching will be successful and the sight in her left eye will improve significantly.

At this point the Dr said that if it does not improve she will basically only have one functioning eye.

We go back in a month with Madeline and see if we have made any progress. At that point they will talk to us about the surgical options.

(Melissa wearing my glasses!)

The DR said that when you patch a child's eye they get very subdued and depressed like. They may cry the first couple times. He recommended doing something low key and fun like- TV time, iPad and snack.

Please pray with us for both of the girls vision.

I would love to hear from others that have managed the eye patching and glasses for their young kiddos.
This is all new to us!
Out of 16 children, none of them have worn glasses until now.

Introducing...

Our Boys!

We are so thrilled that they will be joining our family!!

This little guy stole my heart almost a year and a half ago.

I saw him on Sonia's blog and couldn't get him out of my mind!

His special need is one we are very familiar with and very comfortable with...

in fact we are passionate about these children!

Innocent victims through no fault of their own and still ostracized by others who are uneducated about this special need.

We were already working with our agency and the other agency could not transfer the file until they gave it an "all american" try to find a family for him through their agency (nothing wrong with that).

We were then notified that they would transfer his file 
one week after we were committed to our three darling daughters-

Mia, Melissa and Madeline.
Of course I felt a twinge in my heart because I thought we had missed him but we were thrilled with God blessings (our daughters) and moved on.

Months later our agency obtained his file!

BUT we were in NO position to move forward...

Feeling like we had missed out on him, we gave it to God and prayed for him.

AND

we watched him...

Two separate times families came forward.
We prayed for him and his potential new family and for peace for us.

Twice,

the situation changed and the family was not able to bring him home.

Days before his file was to be returned to China we got the go ahead to submit our LOI for him!

Truly, this was planned perfectly by OUR LORD!

We were thrilled and oh so thankful!!

He is just 4 months older than Luke! But to be honest I think he has a Sam personality!

There is such peace in our hearts knowing he is our son!

And

there is more good news!!

This sweet boy has waited over 3 years for a family.

(this is an old picture of him but it was the one that others used to advocate for him- he was known as Max on the advocating sites)

Three years ago when I saw his picture and he was only a 4 yr old-

He took my breath away!

His special need was 
a tough one 
and

well

 to 

be

 honest...

(gulp)

we weren't up for it...

I advocated for him on my blog and on other sites.

He needed a family and 
he needed to get out of the orphanage in order to have any kind of future. . .

I prayed for him in hopes his family would find him soon!

Again, 

once or twice he almost had a family but it just didn't work out.

He continued to wait and wait and wait...

One day I was helping Sam in the bathroom-

 it is actually very bonding helping your kids in the bathroom.

Although Sam is doing great with his repaired IA... 
accidents happen...

My mind wandered to this other little boy and I said to myself

I just can't do that special need...

And by golly, a voice answered me...

"Yes you can!"

I paused and smiled!

"Hold it...

Your right!

I can do it."

Besides...

it's not really me doing it,

it's you God, that will do it.

Through YOU all things can be done!
Through you, I can do it!

I was quite thrilled with this new information and shared it with hubby as soon as he got home.

And the man who said many times "no" to this special need...

immediately said 

YES!

(and then with a big smile he said "Are you surprised?")

YES, I was 
but 
No, I wasn't...

Because with GOD, anything is possible!

Well, that was awesome,

except now we needed approval from our agency to adopt 2 at a time!

Praise the Lord they were very kind and discussed it at a meeting.

A couple weeks later, we had their approval and full support!

Knowing that if he was ours, his file would still be available- 
if he was taken, then that was God's plan.

As it turned out his file was available, getting dusty and hidden somewhere on the shared list.

We sent in questions but accepted his referral before getting the answers back...

we already had all the answers we needed!

He is 3 months older than Sam. It wasn't originally our plan to bring home another darling with a 2006 birthdate BUT it was our God's plan!
(I'm going to have a large home school graduation class!)
In fact he just turned 7 yrs old last Monday.
We sent him a cake to celebrate!
He seems to be a bit more like Luke!

We are praising God and so happy to share our good news with you!

Friends, there are so many treasures hidden on the shared list!
If you are wanting to adopt a special needs kiddo 
join the advocacy yahoo group,
check out twentyless.com ,
go to wonderful waiting kids ,
visit coleman bunk beds ,
and there are many more wonderful sites to see the children and to find your child! 
They are there... waiting for you!

Yes, we will be playing the "name game"!
I am counting on YOU to help us!

We have one of their names but we need to find our other son's name! 

We are looking forward to your help!!

Praising GOD for our bio children(and their amazing spouses and significant others), our children that are home and our waiting children!

What Would You Do?

Please follow this link and hop over to the http://www.nohandsbutours.com

I posted on whether or not Abby should have a bone marrow transplant.

We could really use some thoughts, conversation and prayer on this issue.

Thank you!

Blessings, 

Jean

One More Time...

Although we have 11 home from China, Hubby and I still feel the call...

to go back

one

more 

time.

 (the pics are from a walk we toke with the children a couple weeks ago)


There are days that are so busy I wonder how it will all work 
but each and every time God figures out a way.

 (teaching the children how to skip stones)

HE helps us to focus on what is really important...

And it's not the messy garage

or 

the unorganized closets

or

the laundry that needs to get done

or 

the cards I have not been able to send

or

the fact that winter may come again before I can even get the summer clothes out.

 (Mia worked hard at it and she skipped a stone)

No, that is not what is important.

It's all about the children.

(Sam kept asking- can we stop and skip stones! He is such a boy! It turned out to be so much fun and three more children learned how to skip stones!)

HIS children

That don't have parents.

That are aching for LOVE.

That are in desperate need of someone to care for them.

The children that need to hear HIS words.

We have seen HIS miracles happen within our own home.

AND through other families that have stepped out in faith and brought children into their home.

I never tire of God's miracles.

It is uplifting and energizing!

Everyday we see HIM in their eyes-
the delight in the sprouting green grass and brightly colored tulips!

The wondering if Daddy's is going to make it upstairs to kiss them goodnight,

the happiness on their faces as we fix them a good meal,

the fact that they ask every Saturday "Are we going to church?" and we wouldn't dare say no to them!

The smile they are hiding when they have done a good job on their school work.

Their helpful attitude, 

the fears and concerns they share as we talk with them.

The walks we take "as a family".

And it is not just their lives that have been forever changed.

The fact that the big bio children can no longer stand the injustices of the world when it comes to 

the  orphans.
I can't tell you how many children they just want to 
"go get"!
They have seen the changes that the Lord has done within their siblings.

A child getting the medicine they need, 

the surgical procedure that helps them,

the cavities that have turned into beautiful white teeth!

(Emma fixed Ann's hair for the day ; - )

It just NEVER gets old!

Every day God shows us why we are doing what we are doing...

I could go on and on and on.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

God has been so gracious to allow us to bring these children home and love them.

It make me smile as I hear so many darlings call me MOM!

The joy fills my soul!

Why God? Why have you blessed us so abundantly! 

It brings me to my knees in gratitude.

So one more time we will head back to China to meet our sweet blessings and bring them HOME!

I just gave you a hint ;-)

Of course

right now we have more information than you do

BUT

I promise we will share...

SOON!