The adoption journey started several years ago. Having 2 beautiful biological children but feeling that the Lord wanted us to use some of our circumstances to help other children.
On a cold January day our 4 month old son, became the victim of abuse. What occurred after that was a numbing event of emergency craniotomy surgery, several eye surgeries, years of therapy and legal battles.
During the several years that we had intense therapy and medical issues with our son we learned how frustrating and hopeless parenting a special needs child can be BUT we also learned that love has no bounds and our love for him did not wavier based on his ability to walk, talk, swallow or learn. We were blessed with a group of friends that came beside us and provided support in unimaginable ways. We learned the ropes of applying for Medicaid, maneuvering thru the school system special education programs and working with insurance companies to ensure therapy sessions for our son. We also feel immensely blessed that we were able not only to see God’s grace but we were able to experience it firsthand. Having gone thru this with our son has strengthened our walk with Christ and we have learned to lean on him for all things, giving thanks always. Although we would not wish this circumstance on anyone we see the experience as a gift from the Lord. Thru this life experience we changed, grew and learned to love more deeply.
Fast Forward several years, our son went thru years of therapy and although we were told his prognosis was grim and he probably would never walk or talk, he entered 1st grade at a Christian School and was a “normal” student for the first time ever.
He plays sports, sings in the choir and makes straight A’s in school.
It was about this time that we began to seriously consider adoption and using the knowledge we had gained to help another special needs child. We researched several programs and decided on adoption from foster care. It was a year long process and although there were ups and downs we were very blessed to be able to adopt an 8 year old boy. Our son was considered special needs as well since he had encopresis and often soiled himself many times a day.
We have now had our adopted son in our home for 5 years and he was legally adopted on 12/20/2010. He has been such a blessing and our biological children have done very well “sharing” their parents. Our adopted son’s encopresis has all but stopped. We worked with him diligently using positive reinforcement and making changes in his diet and at this time he seems to be symptom free.
After our sons adoption we found ourselves with 3 happy healthy children and we still feel the call to help special needs children. So we decided to adopt internationally this time because we know that every child deserves to have a family and to know what love is. We choose to adopt our 4th child, a girl with down syndrome and many other medical problems. We were privileged to bring our daughter home in November 2012 and we treasured the sweet beauty that the Lord blessed us with. In March 2013 our daughter passed away. Although she was with us such a short time we count it one of life’s greatest gifts to have been her family. During her short time with us she impacted many lives and upon her death we worked with the school she attended to build a special needs playground in her memory.
In many countries these children are unwanted and seen as a hardship and we feel this is our opportunity to extend the Love of Christ to a child that might otherwise never get to experience that. Although we will never lead a large congregation and we may never see hundreds saved on the mission’s field, we can serve one. We can bring the Love of Christ to this child; we can offer her medical care and a loving family. Her future will be bright for we firmly believe that “I can do all things thru Christ which strength me” Phil 4:13.
As a family we are confident that this is what the Lord has called us to do and we are filled with anticipation as we follow his leading in this next chapter of our lives.
10/23/15—LOA RECEIVED