A reminder of why were are doing what we're doing

Adopting a child with Down Syndrome ....from across the world...at tremendous financial cost, time and effort...while already having a full house....

many people we come into contact don't understand why.

And, at times, in moments of trial I wonder too....until I remember the reasons God put this on our hearts, and led us in this journey.

I've been meaning to post the following but am just getting to it. Back in February, 2 of the orphans at Reeces Rainbow passed away. These precious and healthy girls had been sent to an institution because they had already reached the age of 4 ....it is typical there for disabled children to be transfered to an institution, where they may not be able to be adopted and have the hope of a family, love, a home, an education, therapy to reach their potential, or to know the love of God. We've heard some places are better than others, but the conditions are generally much worse than the orphanages, and they may not survive long. A flu passed through there, and they did not survive.

The poem below was written by another adoptive mom of special needs children, who has seen an institution first hand-thanks Meredith for sharing it with us all, and reminding us of our blessings and their needs, and why special needs adoption is close to God's heart.

While we were... in memory

"While we were eating... ... they were hungry
While we were playing... ... they were restrained
While we were tucking our kids into bed... ... they were alone
While we turned up the heat... ... they laid in the icy cold
While we wrapped our children in blanket sleepers... ... they laid in their own excrement
While we sang songs and listened to music... ... they listened to the screams and cries of those around them
While we rocked our babies... ... they silently rocked themselves
While we hugged our kids... ... they scratched at their own faces and pulled their own hair for stimulation
While we cried over scraped knees... ... they moaned in their loneliness
While we brushed our daughters' beautiful hair... ... they had their heads shaven to stave off the lice
While we fought off the flu with love and nourishment... ... they got the flu and went Home.
No longer suffering... but so many more still are.

In memory of those that have never felt the love of a family, but have passed away alone. "

Margarita




Katarina