Not Everyone Should Adopt

Just read this fabulous post over here.  Go read it and enjoy! 

And at the end if you want to sponsor a child instead of adopt, go here to do that :)  Of course, if you still want to adopt, email me here to do that!

Not Another One?!

After reading this recent post, I thought I would go ahead and share some of my personal gossip stuff with the blogworld too...

As some of you already know, we have been "reviewing" a file of an adorable little 4 year old boy.  He caught my eye about 4 weeks ago actually.  When I first saw his face, I was instantly smitten with his smile.  Then once I saw his file and his birthdate, I was almost breathless 9-11.  Yes, another 9-11 baby!  He was given the exact same birthdate as our Shelby.  So my heart began to talk to my head and well ya know...

I did more digging, and started getting more info about this little one.  We did a whole LOT of praying, and as Nicole said earlier, God was still and quiet.  For 4 very long weeks.  But this week, our answer came, and it was no-he is not ours. (Mom and Dad you can breathe now)

Even though it turns out this little guy is NOT ours.  I just wanted to address some of the comments and issues that have come up as we were going through this process of possibly adding another one to our family.

From our friends that have adopted children:

"Wow, congratulations for hearing the call again", "How exciting", "I knew you would go back again", "Five, really five", "You go girl", "More power to you", "I would love to go back again too",  "Have you done your research", " You know 5 year old boys can come with issues", "I have no doubt you can do it", "Let me know if I can help you in any way", "Don't worry about what others say, last time I checked you don't really care what other people think", "I will be praying for you and your family", "If He leads you to it, He will bring you through it"

From others who have not adopted before:

"Can you afford it", "Are you crazy", "Does CJ know about this", "Something must be wrong with you", "What are you trying to fix in your life", "No one needs five kids", "Not another one", "Five is too many", "That is just stupid", "It is not fair to your current children", "Can you afford to put another one through college", "I think you just enjoy the hunt, the paperwork", "You are just obsessed with adoption", "You just need to find some other new hobby"

I suppose you picked up on a common theme here.  If you have not been personally affected by adoption, then it appears that you don't get "IT".  The IT being that adoption is about love and loss.  Love that you give a child, love that your child eventually is able to give you, love that made a difference in someone's life, love that I have in my heart to give to another child, the love for all my children, love that God shows us all by adopting us into His family, and the love that EVERYONE deserves and craves throughout their lifetime.  Loss of a family, loss of love, loss of someone to pick you up and you kisses when you have a bad dream, loss of your birth mother, loss of laughter, loss of someone to love, loss of security, loss of a future, loss of dreams, and the loss of knowing what love really is about.

So in closing, I just want to clarify that fortunately my husband and I only answer to ONE person.  We "play" to an audience of one.  IF we do ever decide to bring another little one into our family, then I hope that you will support us in our decision, because it will be just that...OUR decision.  Our decision that we will truly believe is the right decision that our one and only God wants us to make.  Oh and if at that time you don't "agree" with our decision, don't worry because obviously you won't be the only one ;)

Sigh....

Today we waited in these lines for iPhones...

While on the other side of the world, these children waited too...

I wonder which line had more unhappy, grumpy, critical complainers in it??

Successful Baby Bob

Daddy Day

Wishing all you dads out there a fabulous Happy Father's Day. But obviously wanted to give a big shout out to my own favorite dad...Happy Father's Day Daddy!!

Oh and of course wishing my terrific husband a Happy Daddy Day too! We enjoyed the night out to eat at one of his favorite restaurants last night with the kiddos...yes iHop. What can I say, my man is easy to please :) Good thing too since he got stuck with me LOL.

Here he is with his favorite 4 enjoying our time together as a table of six!!

Just Watch It

Hope is Fading from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

It was done by a student for a project. His family has adopted 12 special needs children.

From their agency, "Clearly growing up in this home has given Allan a very special understanding of the plight of the orphans. His sister Carlin (a special needs child that waited for her special family) is the voice you will hear on the video."

China's Chicken Man

If you think your job is bad...

Everybody remember this guy in Guangzhou?!?! OHh and if you haven't seen him in person, please note that he is constantly blowing a very annoying whistle over and over and over again!!

Sheila and I just loved seeing the Chicken Man everyday :)

Summer Updates

Sorry for being a blog slacker lately. Anyhow, we are in full swing of summer mode around the house. The kids usually just stay around the house during the days, so when I get home from work they are ready to GO! We have been going to LifeTime Fitness alot for their swimming pool and outdoor water slide fun. We also have done the "free bowling" thing as well. Turns out though, that at $4 a pop to rent the shoes it ain't so free ;) Anyhow, lots of fun is being had by all so far this summer! Pics to prove it...












The End... Doesn't she have the cutest little bum :)

My "Other" Job

Fortunately I have been blessed to have another job in addition to my real job. It is one that I love to do, help others find their children. My job title in the adoption world is...Waiting Child Advocate. No, I don't get paid in money for this job, but I do get paid. I get paid in LOVE for the children. My heart holds a special place for each and every child that I was able to "touch" prior to them coming home. I just thought I would post here my disclaimer that I give to all of my "clients" when I am working with them on their journey...

As you consider if this is your child or not, please know that I have NO personal interest invested in this one way or the other. I am simply here to HELP you make the best decision for you and your family. It does not matter to me whether or not you choose this child or the next child. Again I am just here to help you sort through the facts and your feelings. If this little one is not yours, I will continue to help you find your child. It can be a long and bumpy ride sometimes, just know that I am only in this to help :) I will give you my personal opinions, but know that they are just that “MY” personal opinions. I am not a doctor or expert on anything, and I don't claim to be.

Praying for you and your family as you make this decision. I think this child you are reviewing is adorable and would make a great addition to your family IF you are willing to take a leap of faith into this international adoption world. No guarantees, just faith. I don’t know your religious background, so if you are not a Christian I am not sure how you will make your decision. If you are though, then rely on what God tells you and how He guides you through this decision. I can help you with the facts and figures, but only he can help you with the faith. If He brings you to it, then He will bring you through it!! The question of the day is if this is what He wants for you.

So please continue to spread the word about my "other job". My heart is big enough to hold more precious little ones. I really wish that my house was just as big...LOL :)

Mother and Child Movie

Just wanted to let you know that the movie, Mother and Child, opens this Friday, June 4th. It is only showing at two theaters in the Atlanta area. It is showing at the United Artists Tara Cinema off Cheshire Bridge and at AMC Mansell in Alpharetta, GA.

A group of us from the Triad Search and Reunion group are going to see the movie on Sunday afternoon at 1:40pm. We will be going to the United Artists Tara Cinema. We then hope to grab some coffee somewhere and discuss the movie. If anyone would like to join us for the movie, then coffee and discussion, we would love to have you! It will be a great opportunity to hear what adult adoptees and birth parents think of the movie, as well as what you, the adoptive parents, think.

Here is a link to the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H87uMXAQzjc