Pequenopie “Little Feet” November 29, 2010

 

Adoption

 

The NAIC found that while one third of Americans have considered adoption, only 2% will ever adopt.

 

These statistics are really not encouraging and this may be why so many children, eventually age out of the system. I think some of the things that come in the way, can be so much bigger than they need to be. I think people are overwhelmed with so much, fears, costs, having strangers in your home, evaluating your family. So many things, but when we look at Abby we know it was so worth it. Every worry, every fear, every question, not knowing what would happen.

We had our friends over this weekend, and both Michael and I felt so good, when they said she knows this is her house, her parents and that she belongs here. Yes, she is our little girl, our daughter. This is her family, her home, she in comfortable here, this is what she knows.

Abby is walking all the time now, she is so cute waddling here and there and everywhere. She now knows how to blow kisses to us, so precious. There is nothing as soft and cuddly, as a baby in her footed pajamas. 

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

 More to come!

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Pequenopie “Little Feet” November 21, 2010

Foster Care

This week we received a call from our agency and they were looking for a home to take in siblings. One was two and I’m not sure how old the other one was, I felt horrible for these two children that I have never even met. I had to tell the agency at this time, we weren’t willing to take on any more children to foster. Abby keeps me up almost every night from 1 to 3 and we want her to have this time fully with us.

 I don’t think my feelings are guilt or anything like that, that we couldn’t take them into our home. I have to as a parent, know what my own limitations are and base decisions on that. All of us are working up to the holidays, Thanksgiving is in 4 more days. I feel sad for all the children that are taken out of their homes around this time of the year, bad enough that it happens at any time. 

When Michael and I took our foster care classes, the agency taught us that this time of year, close to the holidays is on average the most time children are taken away from their parents. With Thanksgiving coming up and most people think about the things that they are thankful for, I would have to say I am thankful that I had a loving, warm, safe home when I was growing up. That Michael and I have that also and that we are so blessed by so much goodness. Friends, family, God, our children and so much more.

If you can’t adopt a child, think about foster care, there are children all over the world, in your own back yard, that need a safe place.  

Abby is walking all the time now, she is so cute. We can’t believe not having her in our home every single day, she really is one of us. I am so thankful that she is our daughter, our little one. She is now saying za za, for Lizzy. She also says Aubrey, Bobby for Beka, num num when she wants to eat, ma ma, daddy, and tons of babble. She loves to clap and gets real excited when she walks a few steps. It is so sweet seeing her walk and getting her stance right to begin taking steps, then she usually falls into our laps.

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way-with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” November 14, 2010

Happy 3rd Birthday Sharon

I am continually amazed by how quickly the time can fly by, one moment you are holding a little baby in China who is under a year old and the next she is turning 3, so much can happen in 2 years and some things stay the same. Beka is married, our girls are getting older and Abby is now a part of our family. We spend more time with our family and friends now and have really prioritized the things we do and put our hands to. Our family has grown with not only Abby but also Tiffany, Gabby and hopefully Mattie.

One thing that I can say for our family, is the love that Sharon still has in our lives. She was the child I held two years ago, that God did a major change in me. He showed me orphans and put something inside of me that I still wonder at. Each morning I wake up and sometimes  I look at Abby in wonder and amazement. I would not change one thing, how it all happened, the things that our family went through in growth and also those things that needed to be pruned.

At one time we were so hooked into other people’s ministries that we were not tending to our children and what we had at home. We were consumed with doing what we thought was God’s work. All these years being a stay at home mother, which is such a difficult job, and one that so many people demean. I look at it now like this is what God made me to be, it doesn’t matter if my job is at home or out in the work place. Michael and my purpose as parents is to be there for our children, to mentor, teach and spend time with. We are to teach them God’s way and purpose in each of their lives. What greater thing can a parent give to their children.

I remember holding this little baby girl in China, feeling her hair rub up against my face and I was in heaven. She is what started this change in me, I will never forget her and hope to see her again one day.

I also know it’s coming up to the end of the year, those that like to send a donation in to a good cause. Sheherds Field is a wonderful ministry, they have to pay for their heat bill up front. They need a total of $14,000… Here is the link to their website. Prayerfully consider all the children and the good work that this ministry does every year. Help to keep these precious children warm.

http://www.chinaorphans.org/shepherdsfield.php

Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” November 7, 2010

Sisters

Sisters and siblings are so important to our growth and wellbeing, they share so much with us in our hardest years and beyond. They are with us in so many things, in the good and bad, while we are trying to figure out who we are going to grow up to be. In my teen years my sisters were there, for me to cry on their shoulder, when my heart was hurt.

We had a wonderful visit with Gabby, Tiffany and Mattie; I can’t believe how big the girls are getting. Seeing little Mattie, in a baby outfit that Abby used to wear was so surreal. We see her everyday, so we don’t notice how tall she is getting, so quickly. I could not believe  Abby used to wear that outfit and it was big on her, boy how time flies.

It was so cute seeing Gabby and Abby play together, Gabby kept saying Abby and sissy. She also put her head next to Abby’s, so sweet. Abby doesn’t really understand that Gabby is her sister yet, since she’s only a year old but they do have a connection. She is also very comfortable with Tiffany, I held little Mattie to see if Abby seemed jealous at all, I don’t really  know what she thought of her. It seemed at first that she didn’t even notice and then later she didn’t seem threatened that I was holding a baby, maybe she thought she was a doll.

 

Abby is so blessed, to have so much love in her family, so many sisters. She has Beka and Aubrey who are young adults and then Lizzy who is growing up so fast. Also having Gabby and Mattie, if Tiffany ends up adopting her. Also I believe in the future there may be other siblings. She is surrounded by love, by a huge family, Michael’s side, my side and then Tiffany’s family also. She also has extended family, Aunt Dennis and Uncle Sharon, nope that is written the correct way.

Abby was giving Mattie the sweetest little kisses, so precious. There is a story of two little girls who woke up Christmas morning and opened all their gifts. Mom and dad were still sleeping and caught these two fighting over the toys . The oldest one decided which toys were hers and which were not. These two girls were my sisters, and I hope that Abby doesn’t do this but I hope and pray for her and her sisters to have great memories of the things they shared and did when they were little. I consider both of my sisters my best friends, not just sisters, so that is what I pray for Abby to have.

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she’s the reason you wish you were an only child. Barbara Alpert

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5

More to come later!

Pequenopie “Little Feet” November 1, 2010

 

Happy Halloween

 

 

 

 

 Tonight was Abby’s first Halloween with us, she was all dressed up as a ladybug. She was so cute when we showed her the pumpkin for the first time, she started biting or kissing it, we are really not sure which.

Abby enjoyed seeing a few of our neighbors and going trick or treating for the first time. Beka, Dustin, Aubrey and Derek took her to a few houses but she had to come home since it was dark and she was not liking it. It’s so amazing to celebrate another first in our family, with our new baby girl. We also received Abby’s birth certificate this week, it really feels like we are mom and dad now. So wonderful..

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; the peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

 More to come later!