Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Jesus Loves Me

My Vietnamese son, Garett, just sang “Jesus loves me”, in Chinese!
ADORABLE
I asked him how he learned it.  Seems Kalyn played it from her computer today for Noelani and Clive, and later, Garett listened to it over and over till he could sing it perfectly.
We worked hard cleaning the house today.  We have special company coming in a few days.  
Please pray....the infection on Caresse’s hand that has put her shoulder surgery on hold has gotten worse.  Tomorrow I take her to a surgery center so that her dr. can do a biopsy on the infection to find our what is going on.  (Do you know how many times I have referred to this as a autopsy?  My dyslexia is having fun with us).  So while it is painful, but O.K. for her shoulder to wait, she was also suppose to have the plate removed from her leg.  And THAT does not need to wait.  Yet, the dr.s are hesitant to do surgery on any of these things while she has the “weird” infection in her hand.  
So we arrive around 7 am in the morning and I don’t know when we will know the results, but I will post as soon as I can.
Thank you all,
and 
LOVES,
Shonni

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Desperate Situation - Where’s His Family?


1ay6f-15H
Boy, Born April 2007
Malcom has spastic displegic cerebral palsy. He is scheduled to be transferred to a mental institution in April 2012 :(
From a missionary who knows him:  Malcolm needs family badly. He is very emotional, sensitive and not a leader by nature and is being hurt by older and physically healthy children in the orphanage. He can hardly walk but retainssensitivity in the feet. There is a chance only in the presence ofcaring and loving parents Malcolm can walk independently in a future but in the orphanage environment the child is afraid of everything even walking. Malcolm has a favorite little toy: stuffed tiger, he carries it everywhere, he kisses it, puts to sleep, worries about it. Malcolm is interested in all new, he knows the names and colors, understands commands, has attachments to friends in a group, he goes on contact easily and is pleased to dialogue.
He can stand and sit independently, moves around on the knees. He can not walk and is afraid to start trying to walk.  
Malcolm will need a smaller, patient, loving, experienced family to help him heal from the trauma in his life. 
From his medical records:  Cerebral palsy and weak muscular tone.  He only started to walk in the hospital as he had muscles tremor. After the physical therapy, massages and injections – the tremor has disappeared.  As of today, Malcolm can walk with support and the orthopedic footwear. He can make some steps (7-8) without any help and then gets tired.   The doctors give a very favorable prognosis about his walking ability in the future: most likely he will not need a wheelchair.  He has incontinence only because he is not potty trained. He feels the processes and tells the nurse when he has soiled pampers and urinates only when the bladder is full.  Malcolm can eat with a spoon and drink from a mug independently.
He sleeps well and does not wake up during the night. After a dinner if being left alone in a room, falls asleep independently. He is an obedient child, he understands the commands and goes on compromises! He is able to agree and listen to words of adults when it is impossible to do something.  He does not show too much concentration on any activity like almost all orphans. But he has well developed cognitive skills. He loves to dress/undress toys; pack/unpack gifts;open/close cases, cars; play on children's kitchen: to wash the children's dishes, to set up the table. He loves to play with the puzzles and listen fairy tales but it is necessary to show him the  pictures in the book first and  then he would listen with more attention and will tell, that he has heard.
His vocabulary has extended lately. Malcolm is a tender and cheerful child.  A close attachment to the family will be developed when adopted.
Contact Reese’s Rainbow to learn more.
$5170.72 is available towards the cost of my adoption!

Monday, February 27, 2012

I’m Riled Up This Morning

Do you know why we keep adopting internationally and not domestically?
Do you know why we don’t foster children right here in our own state?
Because MY state says “no” to me!  My state has a rule that says “Eight is enough”, and will not permit us to adopt right here in our own country or state.  My state will not allow us to foster children here in Colorado. 
So we travel half way around the world because there are always children hoping and praying that someone will “see” them and say “yes” to them.
I CAN be a voice for them though.
Will we as Jesus followers continue to NOT see the children around us in our own cities and states and give them a chance?
You may be afraid, but say “yes” and see what love grows!





Friday, February 24, 2012

She Told Me...

O.K., This is a wow, praise the LORD.
Of all things, we were watching “Puss n Boots” (only so-so from my perspective, but I was desperate for a movie because Steve and Kalyn are at the Father/Daughter dance tonight),
ANYWHO....
during the movie it came up that the cat was an orphan - had no mommy or daddy.
Well, Noelani, who doesn’t understand much English yet, picked up on a few important words and asked me about them.  She asked me “No Mommy, no Daddy?”,  I answered “That’s right, the kitty has no mommy or daddy and is at an orphanage now.”
She thought on that for a minute and then asked me again.  I answered the same.
After a second, she tapped my arm and said.........






Are you ready for this?








She pointed to herself and with smiles said “Noelani - no orphan, has mommy and daddy now.”


My heart melted.  And I smiled back at her and said (holding back the tears), “Yes, Noelani has a mommy and a daddy now.”
The pain of “birth” is worth it.  Thank you all for your prayers for our family!!!!

Rally The Troops


My dear friends, Jean and family need us!  They have received such painful news.  Their new daughter, Abby, has cancer.  
Please visit here to read their story, and let’s lift them up in prayers and encourage them all as they walk this road with the LORD.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~




I am finishing up a beautiful blue shaw for Caresse.  She really wants it before she has her surgery in a few weeks.  
I am also working on this adorable sweater for Noelani (if it fits her). 

The book that I’m reading during nap time is Nine Hills To Nambonkaha - Two Years In The Heart Of An African Village.  It is fun and interesting.  


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Little Moments

 “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people...” I Tim. 4:10
 These pictures capture a special moment.  Noelani has not let me read to her since she has been home.  Of course, I understand that partly that is due to not understanding English.  Yet, I believe the biggest reason is that sitting and reading together is an “intimate” and special time with a mommy and daddy.  She has seen us read to the others, but never wanted it.  In fact, she usually leaves the room and acts busy somewhere else.  
On this night though, she picked up the book I am reading to Landon and Kiana and asked me to read it to her.  My mind quickly reeled as I weighed the fact that the book had no pictures, and there is no way she would understand it.  I quickly grabbed a Dr. Seuss book and hoped that she would like it.  She did and Clive enjoyed sitting beside me looking at a “First Words” Book.  It was a tender moment which I was thankful for.  
On a funny note, I am teaching her to read from Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons.   She was sounding out the sounds “E a T”.  And then she excited said “hungry”!!  I laughed because it showed that she had the comprehension, in other words, she knew what the word meant to her...”I’m hungry, we eat.”  She also signed the word “eat”.  
Eating is also a strong incentive for her.  She had been very negative and complaining about EVERYTHING.  I finally had enough and told her she would get no more snacks until she learned to answer us with respect and nicely.  She continued her negative attitudes and I went a step further - early bedtime.  This really upset her!!!  The next day, no snack until the birthday party that night.  She was respectful and polite all day and showed me how smart she is.  She has spent several days now continuing with her respectful answers to us.  
So, I am encouraged as our days seem to have fewer battles and bad attitudes.  Yet, even as I say that I also know we will still have “days”.  Non the less, a few steps forward is always encouraging.  

Saturday, February 18, 2012

He Provides

“He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.” Ps. 111:5

 I walked out early this morning in my favorite warm Saturday pajamas and my snow boots to see if the chickens had given us some eggs for breakfast.  I needed a few more eggs to have enough.  The air was cold, but being warmed by the sun and the quietness was refreshing to my soul.  
As I searched the chicken house for a few hidden treasures, the chickens clucked around me wanting their breakfast also.  Six eggs where just enough this morning, and six is what I found.  “Thank you chickens” I said to them, and “Thank you LORD” is the prayer I said as I walked back to the house. 

He remembers His covenant with us.  May we also remember the covenant of love He has made with us, and thank Him each day for His provisions. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Debate

Now see, I’m one of those persons who see debate as an argument.  So I tend to avoid them like the plague.  
Yet, my husband and my daughter, Caresse, are showing me that the art of debate can be a very good and healthy form of communication.  This is the first year that Caresse has been involved in a Speech and Debate Team ... one of the largest home school speech clubs in the country.  
I am so proud of the work that she has done to prepare for her first ever competition.  (Though, I think that because she is her father’s daughter, she has been practicing debates for years...LOL).  Caresse has spent months perfecting her original oratory - an original speech that she wrote and memorized.  Guess what it was about - the medical help of herbs.  She has loved herbs for years, so this was such a natural and passionate topic for her.  
Today, she gave her 1st ever speech.  I heard she did great.  I couldn’t be there, because I took Kalyn to the doctor for the 3rd time to decide the best course for her health.  She is severely anemic which is why she has been so sick.  And yes, I am having my little “herbalist”, Caresse,  look into natural ways to help Kalyn. 
Thank you all again for your precious comments and encouragement as we continue to adjust as a family with Noelani and Clive.  Today I really focused on “love is patient, love is kind.”  Time to stop fussing and start “exercising” some love.  There were plenty of opportunities to “exercise” love.  And what I saw today was a little girl who wants so badly to be loved!  Praying that the walls continue to come down!!! 



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Smiles and Thoughts

Just can’t help smiling with this little cutie. 

I keep not posting....sorry.
It’s funny - we have spent nearly a year and a half on our journey to bring home Noelani and Clive.  
Now, the real journey has started for me; becoming their mother.  It’s very emotional.  Not what I was expecting.  Harder.  I’m a rather “passionate” person.  It’s like the “gas” that runs my little red wagon.  Yet, that “passion”, that emotional energy just really isn’t there.  And, dog-gone-it...I like my passionate emotions that get me going.  
It’s not the new children’s fault of course.  Oh, yes, they definitely has “stuff”, difficult stuff.  People have said that older child adoptions are not for the weak or faint of heart.  That’s true.  Would  I change the decision that we made to bring them home?  Absolutely NOT.  We followed the LORD’s leading; not emotions, or passions; just our love for Him and for children who wait.  
Now two children no longer wait.  They are here in my home.  They are my son and my daughter.  They need me to teach them what a mother is, what she does.  They need me to teach them what real love looks like...God’s love.  I think God is trying to teach ME something.
Once again, I see my selfishness, and laziness.  It is so easy to love when the emotions are all warm and fuzzy.  When my new son smiles and say “I wub you Mommy.” - well, yea, that’s a warm and fuzzy.  When he yells at the top of his lungs and teases me - not so warm and fuzzy.  When she helps makes supper - yea, that’s sweet.  When she sticks her tongue out, crosses her arms and yells - no lovin’ feelings around.  
Yet, the LORD is showing me to be faithful in loving when I don’t feel it.  I need to let go of my expectations that this journey would be like our others - receive child, fall in love, and walk the journey of life together.  I’m thinking this one may look more like - receive the children, walk each day, faithfully show love and mother them.  And trust the LORD for the “feeling” of love to come with time.  
Well, I’m not sure if this is thought through very well, but if I wait to write a perfect post, I wouldn’t write at all.
Right now, I have to get some little ones down for a nap and go shop with Kalyn for her shoes to match her dress for her special Father/Daughter dance.  

Sunday, February 12, 2012

To My Littlest Love...










 WE LOVE YOU KESHAWN LEE.
Happy 3rd birthday to you my sweet little man.  

Saturday, February 11, 2012

I Heard Him Say...

“Carry their burdens.”  I had just read Gal. 6:2 “Carry one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  I felt very clearly that the LORD was telling me to carry my newly adopted children’s burdens for them.  
The children and I were reading 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 the other morning, 
 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

I asked the children what they felt that “steadfastness” or “perseverance” might mean.  Kiana answered right away “Holding on tight”.  (From the mouth of babes, they say).  
I have copied one of Mother Theresa’s quotes in my book, “I do not pray for success, I pray for faithfulness.” 
 
All these thoughts were swirling around as I was thinking back to this week, and some of the harder moments that we have had with Noelani and Clive; especially Noelani.  This poor child whom I want to love is really struggling, and our days have been rough.  
I’m sitting in my bedroom writing this right now, and I gazed out my bedroom window at...
wait, I’ll show you a picture...

It is snowy, icy and cold this morning.  Can you see the icy snow sticking to our pine tree?  But it’s also a picture to me of the pain and fear that clings to Noelani’s heart right now.  
And I think I know what the LORD is asking me ... will I faithfully “hold on tight” and persevere with this little girl; will I carry her burden of pain, fear, bad attitudes and painful choices?  Will I stand strong for her in this “cold of winter” till her heart warms up?
“Yes, LORD.  Thank you for the promise in Ps. 55:22 that assures me that as I cast my burdens on You, You will sustain me.  I can trust You to uphold me.  May my new children learn that they can trust me now as they also learn about Your great love for them.  Show me how to carry their burdens.”
Amen

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

She Started Our Day....

...crying.  I’m ending it in the same way. 
My newest daughter, Noelani, was awake and crying at 5:30 this morning.  I’ve become familiar with “that” cry.  She’s sad and misses her 1st home - China.  Sometimes she let’s me hold her, sometimes not.  This was a “not” moment.  My heart hurt for her as I listened to her grief.  Yet, grief is part of our journey also.  
Sometimes grief is very ugly though.  After her tears dried up, she went into major “Operation Control”.  I understand this also; she has lost so much, and it is quite “normal” for an older adopted child to deal with his/her fear by controlling what they feel they can and fighting like heck the things that they can’t control.  
So the clock has ticked along today.  The battles only took time to “regroup”, and the other children began to react to the stress.  Or may be they just thought today was a good day to be naughty.  At one point I had six children in “time-in” beside me while I tried to fix supper.  Now, don’t think that they were sitting quietly, like angels.  There was a symphony of sound - not the relaxing kind!!!!
Steve walked in from work, and I broke.  The only words I have to explain it is that I feel raw.  Like skin that has had a cheese grater working on it all day....just plain ol’ painful and raw.  
So, I cry.  And I think back to this morning when her sobs woke me up.  She was grieving, and feeling a little afraid of this unknown journey.  She’s never done “this” adoption/family thing before and it is scary.  Everything that she is familiar with is gone.  Everyone she knows is far away.  All of the sights, smells and sounds are different.  Her feeling become tired and raw.  
And mine are too.  I feel guilty for not being stronger for us all; handling things better.  Then I think, this is part of our dance; part of our story.  And though she and I have come from very different places, we are together now.  This is our story.  
Today, she started our day crying; tonight, I’m ending it crying.  She asks me, much as I did this morning, “Are you O.K.?”  I answer her with a single word, “Yes”.  And we walk our journey together.   

I Don’t Like...

...being fussed at in Chinese....

Monday, February 6, 2012

“Here"




My favorite song right now!!!!  It is so good to just breathe in the love of my God, my LORD, my Father.

Friday, February 3, 2012

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.


If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


New sisters - getting to know each other....precious.
Visit Soule Mama to enjoy other special moments with other families.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I’M BEGGING - WATCH THIS



Xiaoyun's video was unscripted - she wanted to tell people about the orphans, so we sat the camera in front of her and asked one question  "What do you want to tell others?". This is her reply.
Xiaoyun was adopted in April, just days before she turned 14 and would no longer have been eligible for adoption.


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