I don't know about you but I learn so much from other people's journeys...even when they are different in many ways from my own. It always amazes me how God can speak to us through other's words, writing and even dreams..
the family that is fighting to bring Kiril home (which I posted about previously) is waiting as they appeal to the Supreme Court. While waiting, his mommy had a dream ... you can read the whole post by going to the Davis family blog here Below is from her post:
"A few nights ago I had a dream. It was so vivid and I've been replaying it over and over in my mind. I was running a race and I actually won. At the end of the race, I crossed the finish line and Greg was there waiting for me. We were celebrating the victory, but he told me that I couldn't get the prizes for winning the race. I had not paid the entry fee, so I wasn't qualified to win anything. The prizes were also vivid in my mind; there were clothes, money, children's items, and gift certificates to various stores. But I couldn't have any of the prizes because I was never officially entered into the race. I had to accept that I had run the race and finished in first place; but I would not be able to have any material "treasures" to show for my accomplishment of finishing first. And I was okay with this. I was reminded of Jesus and how he ran the race of life, enduring the horrible persecution of men, winning nothing here on earth, but winning everything in heaven."
"I believe God gave me this dream to let me know that no matter what happens with Kirill, I am simply called to run the race. I'm not guaranteed any kind of earthly rewards. My prize is Jesus and being with him in Heaven. My race is to run to HIM. So I will keep putting one foot in front of the other despite the pain. I will keep my eyes focused on the prize and run the path that Jesus has paved for me. Because the race is won and victory is in HIM."
Here at our home my trials seem rather minor compared to what others are going through...but the truth of her statement applies to anyone, and sure touched my soul when I read it. Sometimes the race involves big things, like flying overseas for an adoption and facing many unknowns, or a loved one needing emergency medical attention, or moving away from your home and friends to a new place (we've had all of these in the past year)...
but sometimes the race invovles little things (which also can be hard)...
like a ton of dishes over and over, a fussy or disobedient child, mounds of dirty laundry, sick children (maybe thats a big thing), errands to do with a van full of kids, another dinner to make, a messy house to clean, a a new home with lots of boxes to organize--in your spare time--, another child to feed, having to deal with alot of noise, an adopted child rocking ...again... , children not getting along and needing intervention (again), another bill, getting up with the baby or the 5 year-old, the 4 year-old climbing in bed during the night (or all in the same night)....
I was just thinking about how I need to remember what she said in my own life. Its those every day stresses of things we face over and over that can really wear us down and rob our joy in the Lord...if we take our eyes off of Jesus, the author and pefector of our faith. He can use even these mundane trials to make us more like Him if we keep our eyes on Him. I know nothing happens apart from His Sovereign will...even our dishwasher breaking down (ahh!) and my neck, shoulder and arm being in alot of pain this week....if He is Sovereign and He is good (which I know to be true from His word) then EVERYTHIING is known by Him and for our good. Like the dream above, the race might not be full of rewards in this life--in the here and now--but if we dedicate it all to HIm and seek to learn what He wants and we rely on Him, than His blessings will last for eternity.
Lord, please forgive us when we lose sight of you and get worn down by the here and now ...
help us to keep our eyes on you, and seek to please you in the journey You lead us on. Help us to have faith that if we do the dishes again and take the time to train a little one or feed a little one or change a little one in YOUR NAME that this is valuable in Your sight. Give us the energy and strength and FAITH we need to walk in your ways no matter what we face. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Please pray for some families that are facing BIG trials right now...
the Davis family I mentioned above--they await a hearing with Russia's Supreme Court,
the Hook family--they are supposed to have a court hearing with the same judge the Davis family had regarding adoption of their little girl TODAY,
the Dickinson family-- they are adopting Masha (who our kids fundraised for on earlier posts) and they have already had several surprizes overseas, including that Masha had been transferred to another orphanage, they have to alter paperwork, and she is in the hospital. (You can read about them here), and
the Thumann family-- they are adopting Priscilla ( another precious one from RR) and when they arrived in country their arranged housing didn't work out which has been a big stressor as they start their journey.
Lets lift these dear families up to our Heavenly Father as we go about our day that we might all run this race together.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Unbelievable....
...that a little boy would be denied a family to love and care for him, because he had a condition called Down Syndrome.
If you haven't heard their story, you need to go read the Davis family blog.
It will break your heart to hear of this injustice.
Every child should have a mommy and daddy to love them (and Kirill's mommy and daddy love him so much they wont give up on him...they are taking it to the Supreme Court)
They need all of our prayers...please spread the word.
Pray for this judge as well for there are 3 other families I think that will be trying to adopt children with Downs in the near future. Kirill would have been the first child ever adopted with Downs. If they can get this overturned, it will pave the way for many others...so many special needs kids that are wasting away in institutions.
Carrington, whom I posted about below,also was an orphan with Downs. She is now fighting for her life ...just brought home by her family from the Ukraine, but barely holding on. Please pray for her too. Pray that Kiril and these other children will be granted the right (that every child should have) to have the love of a family, and not perish behind locked doors as Carrington would have if not for God.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Pray for Carrington
A family from Reeces Rainbow that just got home from adopting 2 sweet girls need our prayers...one of their girls, Carrington, is in the hospital fighting for her life as she was overly malnourished and shutting down. Please click on the button on the side bar that says "Pray for Carrington" This will link you to a blog that gives updates on her and her family.
Challenges but also Hope
Just wanted to share that Joshua is doing okay...no seizures (on his medication) that we are aware of. We will follow up with a neurologist soon who will hopefully do a thorough evaluation and give us more insight into his condition and options.
THe first 2 nights on the meds he slept like a ROCK...not a single peep out him (which is unusual) and the next days (after sleeping) he was very content and seemed amazingly more alert ...he'd look at you and smile alot and seemed much more calm. I think John said it, that he seemed like a different boy.
Then after those 2 days, the next 2 or so nights he cried most of the night and was very fussy in the day...not sure why.
Since then he has done pretty well but usually wakes up upset once and we've been putting him in his high chair to get him upright as he's been really congested. A few of the other little ones have colds so it may partly be that. He's fluctuated some between being sleepy and overly excited when happy ...kind of more like before the meds maybe. One thing I noticed is that often when he lookds at you and is happy, his gaze seems to be right above you. One thing I think was different on those 2 days was that he was looking right at us , and he was CALM when he was happy.
(Of course, it could be that he just slept so well that he felt better too... we wonder if he'd been having seizures at night and we didn't know.)
I am anxious to talk to the neurologist about it, and it makes me wonder if something could help him...a different dose or a different medication or another intervention, I"m not sure. It is hard because it was like our son "woke up" and was more interactive (he's been increasingly interactive since we brought him home but this was signicantly more so)...and then it went the other direction. But at the same time, it gives me hope that there is potential for him to progress alot.
If you've had any experience with medications and brain disorders, let me know!
THe first 2 nights on the meds he slept like a ROCK...not a single peep out him (which is unusual) and the next days (after sleeping) he was very content and seemed amazingly more alert ...he'd look at you and smile alot and seemed much more calm. I think John said it, that he seemed like a different boy.
Then after those 2 days, the next 2 or so nights he cried most of the night and was very fussy in the day...not sure why.
Since then he has done pretty well but usually wakes up upset once and we've been putting him in his high chair to get him upright as he's been really congested. A few of the other little ones have colds so it may partly be that. He's fluctuated some between being sleepy and overly excited when happy ...kind of more like before the meds maybe. One thing I noticed is that often when he lookds at you and is happy, his gaze seems to be right above you. One thing I think was different on those 2 days was that he was looking right at us , and he was CALM when he was happy.
(Of course, it could be that he just slept so well that he felt better too... we wonder if he'd been having seizures at night and we didn't know.)
I am anxious to talk to the neurologist about it, and it makes me wonder if something could help him...a different dose or a different medication or another intervention, I"m not sure. It is hard because it was like our son "woke up" and was more interactive (he's been increasingly interactive since we brought him home but this was signicantly more so)...and then it went the other direction. But at the same time, it gives me hope that there is potential for him to progress alot.
If you've had any experience with medications and brain disorders, let me know!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Joshua update
Joshua is back home....they got back late tonight. He was able to come home on an antiseizure medication. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around what they said but basically, with his medical condition with microcephaly, he is prone to seizures and for whatever reason, he is reacting in that way right now. The dark flem was thought to be due to irritation of his esophagus with vomiting which can occur.
He isn't showing the level of severity of symptoms that would indicate a life-threatening development in his brain that would require surgery....of that we are thankful and relieved. So for now he needs to be on this med to control the seizures and which will allow him to not vomit what he drinks and eats (which is good as he is already very thin). We will have to followup with a neurologist and get some testing done, as well as with a cardiologist.
I was feeling frustrated earlier (as I was kept informed on the phone) as I was hoping to know why this sudden change and seizures ...but for now we need to accept that this is part of his condition, and while I tend to think "how can we fix the problem? ", there are some things that we can't control. My husband reminded me that God made Joshua like he is and we won't be able to necessarily fix him.
I'm not big on medications to begin with but if it is what he needs, of course, that is what we will do. Hopefully, he won't need to stay on them, and we can pray for better health for him but accept whatever the Lord has in store for him.
I shared with the children today about how we don't know what that is...but we can seek to love him each day and make the most of whatever time the Lord gives him. We can be thankful that however Joshua is (or how long he lives...as often their longevity is shortened) , that God rescued him from certain death this past summer and that he now lives in the love of a family...
toddling little ones crawling up to pat him on the back and babble
being held on Daddy's lap (and legs stretched...not always fun but good for him)
brother with DS bringing him toys and "talking" to him to tell him how to use it
big sisters making and helping to feed him
big brother rocking with him
hearing hymns and singing around him
watching his mommy walk around the kitchen
sitting by the window
going outside and seeing beautiful trees and feeling fresh air
eating homemade baby food
hugs and kisses...
even from the doggies :)
These little blessings remind me that while he may not be able to "DO" much, that he is so much better off ..just being in our family, and we too are blessed by having him.
O, Lord, help us love this precious one more...to make more time to just show him your love.
He isn't showing the level of severity of symptoms that would indicate a life-threatening development in his brain that would require surgery....of that we are thankful and relieved. So for now he needs to be on this med to control the seizures and which will allow him to not vomit what he drinks and eats (which is good as he is already very thin). We will have to followup with a neurologist and get some testing done, as well as with a cardiologist.
I was feeling frustrated earlier (as I was kept informed on the phone) as I was hoping to know why this sudden change and seizures ...but for now we need to accept that this is part of his condition, and while I tend to think "how can we fix the problem? ", there are some things that we can't control. My husband reminded me that God made Joshua like he is and we won't be able to necessarily fix him.
I'm not big on medications to begin with but if it is what he needs, of course, that is what we will do. Hopefully, he won't need to stay on them, and we can pray for better health for him but accept whatever the Lord has in store for him.
I shared with the children today about how we don't know what that is...but we can seek to love him each day and make the most of whatever time the Lord gives him. We can be thankful that however Joshua is (or how long he lives...as often their longevity is shortened) , that God rescued him from certain death this past summer and that he now lives in the love of a family...
toddling little ones crawling up to pat him on the back and babble
being held on Daddy's lap (and legs stretched...not always fun but good for him)
brother with DS bringing him toys and "talking" to him to tell him how to use it
big sisters making and helping to feed him
big brother rocking with him
hearing hymns and singing around him
watching his mommy walk around the kitchen
sitting by the window
going outside and seeing beautiful trees and feeling fresh air
eating homemade baby food
hugs and kisses...
even from the doggies :)
These little blessings remind me that while he may not be able to "DO" much, that he is so much better off ..just being in our family, and we too are blessed by having him.
O, Lord, help us love this precious one more...to make more time to just show him your love.
Pray for our sweet boy
Joshua is being taken to the ER by my husband (and big sister Naomi) right now. Until we know something I am waiting here with the kids so I figured the best thing I can do is pray ...and ask others to pray too.
Joshua, if you don't already know, has a disorder of the 18th chromosome which caused his brain to not develop normally (he has microcephaly, and agenesis of the corpus callousum) HE is 4 but functions on the level of an infant in many ways. When we traveled to adopt Lily and Joshua we didn't know much about him, except for his sweet picture, his diagnosis, and that we were told that he couldn't sit, but could feed himself and understood what was being said to him. We quickly realized that he functioned much lower than we'd been told, as he was fed by a bottle and we couldn't tell what he could understand. I've been wanting to post more about our special boy and will try to do that soon.
Last night he began coughing and sneezing out flem that was dark brownish red in color...it was a mess and it happened a few times. We put him up in his chair for the rest of the night and he did better, and we were going to take him to the pediatrician today. This morning he seemed himself but a little sleepy but I thought he might have had a mild seizure once when he looked agitated and not himself once. THen, after lunch, I noticed he looked strange and then he got all tense and his eyes started rolling backwards and after that he vomited out his mouth and nose. So, I called my husband who came home right away to take him into the ER instead of the doctor.
Please pray for this sweet boy. He is so loved by God and one of His precious ones. I know people don't understand why we'd go through all we did to adopt him. I can't claim it to be our idea--as we never sought out to adopt a profoundly disabled little boy--but GOd has perfect and better plans than we do, and for us, it included Joshua. GOd is teaching us alot about His love through JOshua and we love him.
I will update once I know something but thank you so much for praying.
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