National Adoption Month

"Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.”
From the book Radical by David Platt

 Since November is National Adoption Awareness Month, I thought I'd tell you about some orphans I know.  I won't tell you about Ansley and Turner because they no longer are orphans.  There are more.  Millions more who are orphans.  Some by social reasons.  Some, true orphans who have no parents living.  No matter the reasons for their circumstance, the reality is THEY did nothing to deserve their status as ORPHAN.  It was thrust upon them and something NONE of them want.  

This is Tamirat.  

The tallish one with the head dress on.  He's celebrating the Epiphany during Ethiopian Christmas.  He became an orphan when he was 11 years old.  His Mom died leaving him and sister and a brother without a parent.  His sister was younger and adopted into an Italian family.  His brother was older and joined the Army. So he was ALONE.  At the age of 11, he went to live in an orphanage by the name of  Kolfe.   Kolfe was better than living on the street.  However, Kolfe is an old war prison, many decades old.  Until recently, many windows were busted out and bathrooms were in disrepair.  He is 20ish now.  He does not know  his actual age but he's guesses.  He had NO ONE to help usher him into manhood. The boys mostly just raised themselves in a very Peter Pan sort of way.  He did the best he could and has turned into a pretty good guy from what I know.  I am hoping to meet him some day.

This is Silas. He had the misfortune to be born in a country the limits the number of children allowed in a family.  I don't know much about him, except what I've read on Reece's Rainbow.  I just know I like the spunky face and I want him to find a family to love  and accept him.  

This is Andrew.  He had the misfortune to be born in a region who places NO value on kids who have any perceived imperfection.   This happens a lot in Eastern Europe.  He, too, deserves a family.

So, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I want you to know some names.  See some faces.  Not just say, "I'm sorry" or "I'll say a prayer" but REALLY see them as human beings worthy of life and love and everything we all want.  I could put you in contact with some blogs/stories that let you see what happens to these children.  It's not pretty.  But it's enough that you know their faces.  You know their names.  It's enough that you open your heart and mind and become involved.  It's enough that you don't ignore them.

 

 

Happy Halloween Yall (2011)

The kids (big and small) love this holiday.  Dressing up!  Candy!   Doesn't get any better.

This year we took them to our local grocery first.   They had several stations set up for trick or treating around the store.  Of course, everyone knew Sawyer.  So that was a bonus! 

Then we went to our neighborhood party and had pizza. 

Now Sawyer and I are handing out candy while Randy is taking the other 3 trick or treating.  (Randy will only quit when he cannot make the kids walk any more...just saying)

Judson cannot do the split fingers-Live Long and Prosper, but he tries.  This is his 3rd??? year as a Star Trek character.  Not that he really is much of a trekky.  More like he doesn't like scary costumes and doesn't want baby costumes anymore.  So by default, Star Trek.  Sawyer wanted to be  a super hero. (If you have a cape, you're a super hero)   Ansley wanted to be a frog princess.  Turner kept changing his mind so he got 'stuck' with Superman.  Now to get them down from their sugar high.

We Celebrate

Dear Sawyer

We celebrated your birthday today.  We most generally celebrate birthdays as a family.  No big parties like some kids.  That's just the way Mom has always done it.  Hope you don't mind.

Did you know that you have been in a baby swing forever!  Mom and Dad decided it was time for a new swing for our big man.  So that is what you got for your birthday.  A new swing.  Here you are trying out the new swing!

Your siblings came out to celebrate too.  Yes, Judson was doing his homework outside.  It was too pretty to work inside!

I hope you enjoyed your birthday celebration today.  You came out of speech class today wearing a crown that said "Happy Birthday, King Sawyer".  Very appropriate. 

It's been a wonderful 7 years Saw-man.  You make my heart soar each and every day. 

Love,
Mom

Down Syndrome Awareness Month-Birthday

Dear Sawyer,

You are ready to turn 7 soon.  How better to mark this birthday than to lose your first tooth!!!!

It's the one on the bottom.  (The gap between your two front top teeth make it look like you've lost 2 teeth but you only lost 1.)

The two things that remain constant as I look back over the last 7 years are:  Your imagination and your sense of humor.

You have the most vivid imagination.  You love to reenact movies you've seen.  Whenever you come into a room with some dress up clothes on, I just ask "Who are you?".  You tell me and then we go into your story.  Sometimes you are a 'father' dressed in my old robe and a ratty blue fuzzy hat.  Sometimes you are a wicked queen.  I know this because of your evil laugh.  Sometimes you are the huntsman come to save Snow White.  That is when you wear a cape (which you call a TAPE) and have a sword.  Every day it's something new and fun. 

Your sense of humor cracks me up all the time.  Like the time you just watched Hook and we sat down to eat dinner.  You asked if you could say grace.  Silly me thought you wanted to say the blessing because some days you do volunteer to do that.  I said, 'sure'.  So you bowed your head, clasped your hands and yelled "GRACE" and then proceeded  to tear into your food.  Just like the kid on Hook did it!  We still laugh at that one. 

You are an amazing kid.  I look forward to each new day and each new adventure you lead us on.

Love,
Mom

Awareness: Math

Dear Sawyer,

One of the things that you enjoy is numbers.  You seem to really like it and are very proud when you learn something new.  Now while some concepts are harder than others (Generalizations especially), you are working very hard to learn your addition.  There are some things I want to get for you that others have had success using.  For now we are muddling through pretty good on our own. 

Here you are doing your 0's!   We are working on your 1's too. 

Love you, Saw-man!

Awareness: Thankful

Dear Sawyer,

Today, you wore.me.out.

Thankfully, days like today are rare.

Usually when there are days like this, your siblings seem to sense that Mom is at her wits end and they act very good.  Today, was one of those days. 

One thing I ALWAYS do on days like today,  THANK GOD. ( I do that everyday but on days like today, I am super thankful)  Because my dear son, if it had not been for Him you would not be here to kick Mommy's butt. And a good butt kicking every now and then helps Mommy realize what's important!

Love,
Mom