I am getting SO excited. More and more of you are bringing me encouraging words! I love it! It really helps us focus on bringing him home instead of all of the red tape. Prayers are so important to us! Thank you!! And we LOVE your feedback!
Before I go any further, I want to thank all of you who have donated without my knowledge! I can only check our fund every two weeks or so please know that if you did donate, I will find you and personally thank you!! You know who you are! It's hard for us to ask for help...as I said before, it is very humbling...but necessary nonetheless. I just keep trying to remember that this is for a little life that needs a family to love him, to help him unlock his potential, and work with him to be the man God intended him to be.
Sometimes I wonder what he'll be like. I know God has a plan for him, as He does ALL of us, but I think about who this little guy will become. He lives in a world of constant silence. I think about him searching the eyes of his caregivers every day for assurance, for love, for acceptance. I wonder if he holds his arms up to them to be held... or if he is used to touch at all. Here, in my family, I still hold Ava and Nick-even CARRY them. I'd hold Alex if I could (although she'd roll her eyes at that, I know she'd secretly enjoy it). I wonder if the kids around him even notice him, or share their toys with him. I was talking to Alex this morning about these very thoughts. I said "Alex, what if he doesn't like to be held, or touched...or kissed? What will we do?" She said " Mom, don't worry, we'll change that!" And you know what? She is so excited about bringing him home that she agreed to share a room with Ava so the boys could have a bedroom to share! At 13, that's HUGE! Even Nick (sometimes) talks about the Thomas the Train room he will share with Chen Chen...BUT, quite frankly, that's on a GOOD day...
I saw my Grandmother today. She came to the salon where I work. I was worried about what she'd think about all of this. I hadn't talked to her personally about it, only through e-mail. I didn't have time to talk to her when she saw me but she handed me a folded up amount of money and said " Put this toward your adoption." I didn't know how much it was, and I didn't care. What I DO know is that I was SO worried about her opinion, and after finally discussing it with her, I found out she was completely supportive! I shouldn't be surprised because I prayed about that too!!!
Oh, I can't wait to get him!
Jace
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Staying Positive
Today's open house was uneventful. We had ONE couple come through from Baltimore. They said our house was 'nice' but they didn't like the fact that we didn't have a deck. Oh well. It's only been a month.
I needed to keep my mind positive today, so my girls and I made a poster to take to my work, and we also made some ribbon pins in red and gold, the colors that represent China. Red is for good luck, and gold represents wealth and happiness. My intention to give out the ribbons is so that people will see it and remember to pray for him and all the kids that need homes. I have a picture of Nick holding the poster--it is almost as big as he is. If I get permission from the agency, I promise to post it here. It has pictures of him on it and I need permission first--I can't afford to be be breaking any rules!
I was reading Listening With My Heart, by Heather Whitestone today. This book is SO inspiring!! She became Miss America in 1995 despite her deafness. It took her 3 hard years of blood, sweat and tears, but she did it! She did it to prove a point to herself. The most important accomplishment that she has made is that she ALWAYS followed her heart. She was always in step with God's will. She stood for Him, no matter the cost. He carried her through, and as a result she helped build an organization to detect early diagnosis of deafness. She will leave a legacy. I love to hear about women like this.
In her book, she tells that the average age of detected deafness is at thirty months, and by that age the most critical period of development of speech and language skills has NEARLY PASSED! This is why I am so anxious to get this little one here. He is almost 3! I am told through the agency that he probably hasn't had any sign language training at all yet, and that he is pretty good at understanding gestures from his care givers. That's a plus...but even if he had sign language training, it isn't universal! To me, deafness isn't so much a disability. Some may call it a blessing! But he needs training and encouragement. He needs a mom by his side every day to do just that-and to help get him through the sweat and tears! I am more than willing to be her, but I HAVE to wait for God to provide the means and make it happen. Sometimes I have perfect peace while I wait, and sometimes I am restless. Today I was restless.
Some friends have sent me messages of encouragement after reading this blog. If you want to, please post your comments here. You never know how your thoughts and experiences may help someone else who may be reading! I love your feedback AND your encouragement!
I needed to keep my mind positive today, so my girls and I made a poster to take to my work, and we also made some ribbon pins in red and gold, the colors that represent China. Red is for good luck, and gold represents wealth and happiness. My intention to give out the ribbons is so that people will see it and remember to pray for him and all the kids that need homes. I have a picture of Nick holding the poster--it is almost as big as he is. If I get permission from the agency, I promise to post it here. It has pictures of him on it and I need permission first--I can't afford to be be breaking any rules!
I was reading Listening With My Heart, by Heather Whitestone today. This book is SO inspiring!! She became Miss America in 1995 despite her deafness. It took her 3 hard years of blood, sweat and tears, but she did it! She did it to prove a point to herself. The most important accomplishment that she has made is that she ALWAYS followed her heart. She was always in step with God's will. She stood for Him, no matter the cost. He carried her through, and as a result she helped build an organization to detect early diagnosis of deafness. She will leave a legacy. I love to hear about women like this.
In her book, she tells that the average age of detected deafness is at thirty months, and by that age the most critical period of development of speech and language skills has NEARLY PASSED! This is why I am so anxious to get this little one here. He is almost 3! I am told through the agency that he probably hasn't had any sign language training at all yet, and that he is pretty good at understanding gestures from his care givers. That's a plus...but even if he had sign language training, it isn't universal! To me, deafness isn't so much a disability. Some may call it a blessing! But he needs training and encouragement. He needs a mom by his side every day to do just that-and to help get him through the sweat and tears! I am more than willing to be her, but I HAVE to wait for God to provide the means and make it happen. Sometimes I have perfect peace while I wait, and sometimes I am restless. Today I was restless.
Some friends have sent me messages of encouragement after reading this blog. If you want to, please post your comments here. You never know how your thoughts and experiences may help someone else who may be reading! I love your feedback AND your encouragement!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Be Still, Be still, be still...
Well, tomorrow is open house for us from 1-3 pm...I HOPE we get a buyer. We scrubbed, painted, polished, and organized...Surely SOMEONE will like our house. But it's just like me to be anxious and impatient. I would LOVE to be that wife and mother that is always calm and of a quiet nature. My life verse is Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God". I am really trying to be still, but it is so hard when we want to bring home this little boy now! But this boy and our house are out of my control. If we do get a buyer I can have enough money to start the adoption process. I try not to think about the 'lump' sum. I need quite a bit to actually 'claim' him. I just want to concentrate on the beginnings. Thankfully, there are hearts out there dripping with love and encouragement. Those hearts are trying to help us bring Chen Chen home. Perfect strangers wanting to help. I never realized there was that much hope in this world anymore. That is encouraging! Not only am I encouraged by financial support, I love to hear others' stories. I love to hear advice from people in similar situations! It makes me feel like we're not alone in this. And believe me, I love prayer and feedback. So if you feel inclined to send a comment or a prayer--please do!!
We were brainstorming on fundraiser ideas. Ron was thinking of a raffle for the Steelers tickets this year. My mom and sister mentioned and multi-family yard sale/bake sale. My boss said I should sell candy bars at work. Any other ideas out there? I'd love to hear your ideas! I hate to feel like I am 'begging' for money. But then I try to remember it's NOT for me. It's for a little boy who is probably just waking up as I am ready to go to bed. Waking up without a family. Waking up hoping his diaper will be changed soon. That he will be fed soon-even held. See? This is what my mind does to me....Be still, be still, be still!!!
Sigh.....
We were brainstorming on fundraiser ideas. Ron was thinking of a raffle for the Steelers tickets this year. My mom and sister mentioned and multi-family yard sale/bake sale. My boss said I should sell candy bars at work. Any other ideas out there? I'd love to hear your ideas! I hate to feel like I am 'begging' for money. But then I try to remember it's NOT for me. It's for a little boy who is probably just waking up as I am ready to go to bed. Waking up without a family. Waking up hoping his diaper will be changed soon. That he will be fed soon-even held. See? This is what my mind does to me....Be still, be still, be still!!!
Sigh.....
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