Could we?

Have you ever thought about hosting an orphan into your home? Honestly, we thought it was a neat idea but had not SERIOUSLY considered it.  There seemed to be too many hurdles…. like time and money. Somehow life was always busy, and it seemed a bit overwhelming to have a “stranger” in our home for 4-8 weeks 24:7.  Then there were the fees… which for a big family just didn’t seem practical. We already had a heart for disabled orphans—we’d adopted 3 and still wanted to help more. I didn’t think typical kids were as needy….

Then God opened my heart and my eyes a little bit more.  You see, my daughter showed me two siblings who needed a host family. Sometimes busy mamas like me don’t realize that they can still be used in ways they’ve not thought of.  He led me to inquire, to ponder, to pray, to discuss and REALLY consider as a family if we could host these two.  Suddenly it wasn’t a list of possible kids, but it was two kids…a 14-year-old brother and his 10-year-old sister…who had gotten passports, visas, plane tickets and had gotten excited about spending Christmas in America.

Ultimately the question was COULD we host them? Could we open our home, add 2 to our family table, set up 2 more beds, include them in our daily life and Christmas celebration, & give up some luxuries to get them here? The answer was YES!

The second question was SHOULD we? That was the easy one. “Truly I tell you, whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40)”  YES, if we prayed and believed that we could welcome these children into our home, then we believed that we should.

So, we did! And you may know our story (if you don’t, go read my previous posts!) No, it wasn’t always “easy” but totally worth it. Ask any of my kids.  Basically, as we sought to show them the love of a family and the love of Jesus, these two children became FAMILY. Now we are seeking to adopt them, so they can be here with us.

But here’s the thing…. you don’t have to adopt! In our situation, God had been preparing us for this though I didn’t know it. I believe God brought these 2 just for us, as they fit perfectly into our family in many ways.   However, that is not always the case. We know children who have been hosted who can NOT be adopted & other kids who do not WANT to be adopted…. yet the experiences they have here enrich their lives.  Sometimes they meet their future family through others they meet here, and you get the joy of playing a role in that. Sometimes they meet their Savior....a host mom shared with me that 2 boys they’ve hosted put their faith in Christ and were baptized here.  I have also met families who love their host kids from across the world and have a huge impact on their lives.  What a testimony to the love and power of Christ! God has a plan for each of these orphans!

If you feel “too busy” just know that what orphans need the most is to be loved and included, and to experience everyday life as a family—so you just include them in your busy life!   “V” and “V” were integrated into every aspect of our family’s life…. eating meals, prayer time, reading the Bible (and then translating it—Google Translate was our constant companion), playing, chores, going to the store, & learning time.  Simple things like making Daddy’s coffee, building a fire, painting Mommy’s nails, helping a younger sibling, playing a game, and joking with daddy were special.  Receiving and giving gifts at Christmas, celebrating our host girl’s birthday, witnessing our daughter’s baptism, & having new experiences like petting farm animals were unforgettable.  While we did do some fun outings with them, honestly, what I miss the most since they’ve been gone is just hanging out as a family, doing ordinary stuff.  I'd guess that's what they miss most too.

At one time I had been turned off by the “cost” of hosting, but now I know it is so worth it to pay for the needed expenses (passports, visas, train tickets, plane tickets, food, etc.) to get them here. Many families prayerfully fundraise and see God provide.  We saw in our previous adoptions this to be true… “God can make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, always, having everything you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

When we were looking into hosting I discovered that some people are critical of host programs, thinking it cruel to bring them here only to send them back. What I learned was that there are many purposes of hosting. These kids learn a different culture and language, new skills & experiences. They learn what a family is--which can open their hearts to adoption--and most importantly, they learn about and experience the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. Compare that to staying at the orphanage during a “holiday,” with little recreation, little supervision, and devoid of love. If you know anything about orphanages, you know that’s not a good situation. You also never know how hosting will touch others. We have friends who were deeply touched by meeting our host kids. They cried when “V” and “V” went back and are praying about hosting one day. 

Hosting was an experience we will never forget, and it changed us as we just shared our family and home.  We still have a heart for orphans with disabilities, but God showed us more of His heart for orphans. ALL children need families. Period. Typical kids who are orphans have special needs too--they just don’t it show on the outside. They’ve been neglected and hurt in ways we may never know. They long for love and acceptance and to experience live out of 4 walls. They long for connection and most of all for a relationship with a God who will never leave them or forsake them.

The host program we used brings children over each Summer and Winter. Many agencies do this. We are counting down the days until ours come back! And we pray that their friends can come too!  You can learn more about our hosting program at the website below.  Please don’t hesitate to ask us questions about our experience…I had many questions! SO many kids are eager to come over! 

Could your family welcome children into your home and include them in your busy life?

          Could you show them what a family is and share with them the love of Christ?
 
         Or Could you help a family who can by giving or fundraising?

No matter how you help these orphans, you will be blessed, maybe even more than them!

*Please note that hosting agencies do things differently...so definitely ask the policies and even ask to talk to another host family who has used that particular agency.  Also learning about orphans and their typical struggles ahead of time is highly recommended. This post reflects our personal experience

~Traci ❤

Pieces of our Hearts

How does a child come to occupy a part of your heart in such a short amount of time? The only explanation I can come up with is that God did it. He made us and prepares us...not only with the ability to love more than we do already, but in His Sovereignty, He brings souls into our lives.

The question we'd asked ourselves when we first considered hosting our 2 kids was:  "can we show them what a family is?"  That is exactly what they become to each of us.   It wasn't like just having a couple guests in our home. We ate together, did chores together, read the Bible together (then translated it using Google Translate 😏), sang together, prayed together, learned together, played together, went places together.

We did everything with them....so now, everything reminds us of them... which  can trigger both joy and sorrow at a moments notice. The bike sitting outside, the trampoline they loved, the empty beds, the too quiet mornings (because they aren't up early), the chickens he loved to take care of, the Nabi that she loved to listen to songs on, the places we went together.

Its hard to go to the store without remembering...."Store Mommy? Me you? Please store?" The weekend after they left, I had to go Walmart, which reminded me of both of them. And guess who waited on me? The man who waited on us on V's birthday (whom she asked me to make sure he knew it was her special day).

Oh and the STUFF they left behind that keeps showing up in the wash ;) His jeans. Her pajamas. Gets me every time! I won't lie--its tough! Its been harder than I thought it would be. But it all just shows how integrated they were into our lives! And what a blessing it was that God gave us this love for each other.

At first I thought of all the things I wish I'd done with them while they were here. I wished I'd watched The Jesus Movie in Russian with them early on (we didn't get to finish it). We ran out of time to go bowling or go to my parent's home. I wish I'd spent more time alone with each.

But then again, wow!  We did alot-- between Christmas and two birthdays, the pool, church, the store, park, rollerskating... It all went so fast .

What I really miss and desire the most is just to have them here, eating at our table and sitting on our couches for family time, singing with and playing games with them, hugging them goodnight and saying "I love you."  Just being a part of our family. So that is what we are working on with adoption.

 We are just tackling each new step in the process..... One application and document after another, filling out our past addresses since birth for the 6th time, making doctor appointments, finding birth certificates, making copies, going to the Notary, going again, going to the Post Office, going again, getting passports renewed. Each is getting us one step further.

We are so thankful we have had some communication with our boy... but its not much and we've yet to talk to our girl.  :(   Seeing their photos from the facilitator who visited them, hearing they are doing well but missing us and that they are excited about the adoption....these things keep me going! So does hearing an encouraging word from another adoptive parent, or a comment from a friend who is excited or praying for us. It will be worth it and it will come. Even when it feels never ending. Even when there seems to be one expense after another.  God's got this. 

The hardest part of all this is knowing how LONG adoption takes.  How do you explain that to children who have waited so long? Especially if Google translate changes your words and often doesn't come out right?  We are trying to do everything we can to go as quickly as possible. Its all we can do for them right now besides the most important thing, which is to pray.

If you'd like to know some ways to pray for us, please join us in praying that:

* the adoption process will go smoothly and quickly for their sakes. We are praying also for whats best for their siblings (who we are not sure yet if they can be adopted, or if the older brother wants to be adopted--we very well may be his last change since on his birthday he will no longer be able)  It will take a miracle to get there in time! 

* they could be here for the Summer! We'd planned to host them again but are praying that perhaps our adoption could enable them to be home for good for the summer.

* God will continue to provide the funds needed  and open doors for adoption

* God will protect them and keep their hearts full of love and hope during this waiting process.

* our family to balance adoption with every day life & to trust & rest in God!
* for peace in their country

By the way, if you haven't seen this already my husband set up a page where folks can donate. Thank you to all who have already donated....we are so encouraged!

Here is the sponsor page:
https://www.youcaring.com/johnandtraciadamson-1084800

We WILL be starting fundraisers soon... I hope, once the craziness of Homestudy forms/visits, doctor appointments  and everything else settles down a bit.
If you have ideas, or things you have done in the past, please message us! 

Please feel free to share this...thank you!! :)

Blessings,

Traci

A journey begins....

For years my daughter Naomi has sent me or shown me pictures…. little children with Down Syndrome, or other disabilities……Babies who are unwanted, discarded, and waiting in orphanages. My heart broke for them. After adopting 3 with special needs overseas, our family has had a deep burden for these children who are unvalued by some, but invaluable in God’s sight. After being at orphanages and seeing it for ourselves, as well as seeing our children thrive with love, we wanted to help.

So, we found ways. We raised money for other families who were adopting. Our kids did yard sales, crocheted, made bracelets and shared. We advocated and did auctions, shared posts, and prayed for orphans…but have wanted to do more. The need is so great!

More recently, Naomi has shared more about older children…. boys and girls that are aging out soon and will not have a family.  One day she sent me a message about 2 children who needed a host family. Siblings…a 14-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister. Their fees would be reduced but they needed someone right away.  We had thought of hosting before but honestly, never REALLY considered it, thinking the fee was just too high and life too busy.  I don’t know what caused me to think about it and share it with my husband, except that God led me to do it.  I looked into it, got information, talked and prayed.  We had no doubt that it would be a good experience to serve the Lord as a family. 

My first thought was—this is a MAJOR decision!!!...because I know my family, that they would want to adopt them. We talked about it with the kids and made it clear that this didn’t mean we would adopt them…. would they be okay if all we did was host? “Yes! Yes! “We decided that we would leave that to God, and to not make this decision too complicated.  These children had been preparing to come to America for 4 weeks for Christmas, had gotten tickets, passports/clearance and suddenly NEEDED a family.

Could we open our home to share it with a brother and sister with no family of their own…for 4 weeks? Could we show them the love of Jesus and what a family is? (those were the objectives of the hosting program).

We knew we could! We knew we aren’t perfect (that scared me) –we are noisy, active & our home may not be spotless, but we have hearts full of love and plenty of room by most of the world’s standards. We are a family and we have the most powerful gift of all to share…the love of Jesus, which is why we would ever consider doing such a thing. Its what first led us to adopt.

Could we afford it? My husband looked at me with that “look” and said he did get extra pay at his last work trip. I thought, “we don’t REALLY need to get new couches this Christmas (the ones we’d never gotten after moving 7 years ago) … what are couches anyway? We are talking children!

We made sure everyone in the family was okay with it…. they were! :)

So, we decided to do it if God opened the door.  We applied, got a home visit, filled out paperwork, got background clearance, and sent in money…. Yes, a month before Christmas!  We shared what we were doing with our church, family and friends who helped us with clothing and other needs since they brought next to nothing.  We knew that it would be hard in some ways…. with them speaking a different language, dealing with possible behaviors, having to set rules, get along, share…. But we were willing! We knew in our hearts that this would be the best Christmas and that somehow the presents couldn’t match 2 precious lives that we could pour into and possibly impact for eternity. 

Only 3 days after they came, my dear, very reasonable husband told me with tears in his eyes: “I don’t know how I’ll be able to send them back!” I don’t know how but God completely knit these two from across the ocean who speak a different language into our hearts and fit them perfectly into our family, but He did.   There were challenges, and moments along the way of panic and doubt, of course, but we kept reminding ourselves about where they came from, and how they had no family, no mommy and daddy to teach them and love them, and possibly no understanding of a God who loved them. And we saw God work in their lives and in our childrens’ lives while they were here in wonderful way (more about that another time.)

To be honest, I’m utterly amazed by these kids…..that they could travel across the world to live with strangers who speak a different language. That they could accept and give love- not superficially but truly. That they could learn to trust us and open up to us and that they could have such joy.

And I can’t get over how much we love them. I didn’t expect it…. I mean, sure I thought my kids would want to adopt (they want to adopt every precious) & that we would love and care for them, but I didn’t expect to feel and know that they were our children. Maybe not in name right now but in our hearts, and we’d be forever changed.

So yes, if you’ve been wondering secretly…. YES, WE ARE ADOPTING!!!! 

The days counting down for them to go were tough…telling them they’d be going back, helping them pack their clothes and gifts (letting them know their things may become communal or taken from them), and spending as much time as we could enjoying them. We were told that kids often withdraw before they leave, as their way to protect themselves & survive. I’m so glad ours didn’t…. our last times together at the airport, eating and playing games, was precious. Nothing prepared us though for the raw awful heartache and sorrow that came when they left. We cried like babies, they cried, and I felt like a piece of my heart was walking away from us.  Still do.

We felt totally helpless…. they were going back to the orphanage across the sea where we could not help them AT ALL, & we only know a little of all they deal with.  Sure, we packed them dinner and snacks, sent lots of clothes, personal supplies, gifts, a Bible…. but would anyone give her the antibiotic she needed when she left? Who would remind them to brush their teeth, tuck them in, play with them, hug them, & love them there? We didn’t know if or when we’d hear from them or see them again.  But they knew that we loved them and would do everything we could to bring them back.

For those wondering, our children were on board way before us…. because they more easily see through eyes of faith.  They aren’t blind to what is involved—they’ve lived it already having adopted twice. But to them, there’s no question what so ever.   Each night the last week when I'd tuck in my youngest,  he’d ask, “how many days until they have to go?” and he’d look sad and say, “I wish they didn’t have to go.” I told him that if we adopted them, Mommy and Daddy would have to travel far away to get them and it can be a long time. That would be hard, huh?”  He smiled sadly and cutely and said, “yea, but it will be worth it.” I've never seen him cry so much after they left.

SO, now the journey begins…. now we get busy, and we ask you to pray with us that God will move mountains to bring our kids home where they belong. We’ve done this before and know it is not easy. Honestly, I never thought we would do this again.  Some liken the adoption process to a “labor” …it’s long and intense but worth it.  And it can’t be done alone.   If you are wondering how we can afford it…. we cannot! But we step out in faith that what God has begun, He will complete.  He is faithful and able to bring these precious children home. We would be honored if you would come along side us and join us in this journey. 

"And God is able to abound in you, so that in all things at all times, having everything you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Blessings,

Traci, for the Adamson family

**Since we've started the adoption, I've not included pictures (sorry! I love them too) on this public blog BUT I'll be making a private FB group and may put this blog to private (or start a new one) so please let me know if you'd like to be added to those where I can share pictures :) **

Miracles still happen!

Most people know about the parable of the fish and loaves of bread that a boy offered when Jesus' disciples were needing to feed a huge crowd of people....where He takes what is given, blesses it and multiples it, providing much more than was needed.... miraculously!

God is still in the business of doing miracles. Its not always physical ones, often it happens in our hearts and minds. I wanted to share one that our family has been blessed by recently.

Miracle of Adoption Christmas Campaign. It used to be called Angel Tree, and it is put on every year by Reeces Rainbow, an organization that helps orphans with special needs find families. Over 9 years ago we heard about Reeces Rainbow and first saw a picture of our son Sean. We were forever changed & long story short, brought him into our family in 2009.

The next year our Lily was on the Angel Tree.

See, when we adopted Sean we had prepared to adopt Lily too, but found out that she was not "paperwork ready"....and couldn't be adopted. We didn't think we could come back--I was pregnant, we had no money (especially since it would cost much more to adopt her separately) & honestly, not only was leaving our children to travel across the world WAY out of our comfort zone--but we realized Sean would require constant supervision and was extremely active. Regardless, my kids prayed and begged their Daddy if they could fundraise for her....he agreed, and guess what our kids got that Christmas? A commitment to Lily...and an ornament with her picture on it from the Angel Tree.  Many miracles God worked in our hearts and how He provided--but that is for another day.

That is why Miracle of Adoption Christmas Campaign is so dear to our hearts.  Adoption advocates come together and advocate for and raise money for children on the webpage from November 1 until New Years Eve!! This year my 18 year-old daughter asked if we could be a warrior family for a child on MACC..... with all going on with our family, I hesitated to committing to raise $1000 for a child but we decided that we would do our best and step out in faith.  When she found out that there were a couple children left and someone could be a warrior for 2 children, guess what she asked me? Yup! How could I say no? The hardest part was picking which children. A few of her favorites were already taken but she showed me a few with big needs.

Aura Lee had lost her family...and her pictures show that she is deteriorating quickly in the institution.

You see, overseas, when special needs orphans turn 4 years-old they are usually transferred to an institution...with adults. In addition to not having the love and stimulation of a family, they are often neglected, mistreated by adults and older children, and its not unusual for a healthy children to not survive.  So we picked her first.

Then we chose Harold, who has hydrocephalus--and has not gotten the treatment he needs for it. That means that he has too much fluid on his brain causing his head to swell. His sweet picture shows a twinkle in his eye and him reaching for something--he looks like he is full of life and joy despite his circumstances.

Now here is where it got interesting. Shortly after we committed to advocate for these children, Naomi shared with me a picture of a brother and sister whose host family had fallen through. They were all set to come over from Ukraine to the US and spend 4 weeks over Christmas time  with a  family, but no longer had a host family. The fee was greatly reduced though still a considerable expense. Naomi sends me pictures of orphans often...she has a huge heart for orphans and probably knows about 100 of them by name! She talks to her Daddy and I often about her desire to help orphans and shares about specific ones. Hosting has always been something she would love to do but we couldn't afford it and well, life was already busy with our 9!


For some reason, I shared it with my husband and inquired about it...there was a family deciding whether to do it or not. When that fell through my husband and I talked and prayed...and talked to the kids and prayed. Our kids were all on board. And we had extra from my husband's courses that he teaches and well, we don't REALLY have to get long awaited couches right now. So we decided to apply. It was only a few weeks until they would came so it was a flurry of getting a home visit, sending paperwork, and getting things ready! They arrived December 15th!

Its basically been a blur ever since! As a result, we haven't had much time to fundraise for Aura Lee and Harold. We crocheted some hats, potholders and other things, made bracelets and painted....and put on a fundraiser Auction on Facebook with these and some donated items.

My daughter shared her heart on a blog post and we spread the word. Despite not many coming to our auctions, we made a few hundred dollars....but not anything near our goal.

But God still provided. One day Aura Lee got a huge donation to the MACC that put her over $6000!! That moved her to the top of the page.

The other day, Harold was at the bottom with about $270 raised....we've been so busy with hosting Victor and Victoria the last 2 weeks that honestly I've not gotten to much else besides cooking/serving food, cleaning up, laundry (with a broken washing machine), Christmas and other activities, getting to know them and lots of translation, and of course caring for our other children! Heres a few pics...but make sure you read the rest of the story!

Yesterday,   we found out that Harold has been bumped up to $1000 by a generous grant!!!  I know that we likely had no part in those generous donations, but it doesn't matter....God did it, in His chosen way.  We could've said we can't host orphans this year as we have too much to do...but we knew He would want us to open our homes to these children. We believed would be the best gift for our children, even if it meant less material gifts. And it was! The fact that God allowed each of them to meet and even exceed their goal blessed us so much.  You can read more about these Aura Lee and Harold on Naomi's post here

Remember the fish and the loaves? It reminded me that when we do what we can,
and give what we can give--whether its our money, or our time, or our home.....God multiplies it abundantly to accomplish His purposes! If you feel that you can't make a difference for orphans, I hope our story encourages you to give and do what you can. God sees everything you do and He is sufficient.

Guess what? Tonight is the LAST night for the MACC fundraiser! There are orphans who still need donations to get to their goal of $1000. There are many orphans on there who need families too!
Please consider helping them--even if its $5 or $10....God can multiply it! And He may just do a bigger miracle in your heart too!And if you do not read this before New Years Day, and the end of MACC, don't let that stop you. These kids are waiting and have been waiting for a long time. You can help them any day of the year. And it WILL make a difference ...to them and to YOU.  It sure has for us.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."  2 Corinthians 9:8

Two Names, Two Lives, One Race Against Time

Brandon and Scottie.  The names could belong to anyone, anywhere. Brothers, highschool friends, hired help. The names could mean anyone with out the pictures, without the facts. Without both of these things, the people attached to them would be easy to ignore as we would not know them. It is very easy to ignore something we don't see. But that does not erase them or make them go away. Please don't look away, please keep reading and let for just a minute the lives of these two people take over your thoughts. 

Brandon and Scottie. Two boys. Two different countries. Two different conditions. Put along side one another by one word. Time! You see time hurts us all but you may never know just how many things, Time, is going to take from them. Families, Love, a Future, A sense of belonging, and maybe even the chance to hear about God. You may have guessed their story by now. You may know what I am going to tell you but I am going to say it anyway. Brandon and Scottie are orphans. 

Their chance to have a family is going away. The flame of HOPE in both of these boys hearts is about to be snuffed out. By what you ask? Time.

 They are aging out. Most orphans age out at sixteen, some at fourteen. It's hard to believe that both of these boys have been in a orphanage that long. Sixteen years! Sixteen years in a orphanage. Sixteen years knowing that from the minute you were born, someone didn't want you. Sixteen years hoping, dreaming even, for a family to walk in that door but nobody ever did. And maybe, just maybe after sixteen years, thinking that nobody ever would. Nobody cared.

Maybe you'll forget about these two boys as soon as you leave this post or maybe you'll remember these boys in the years to come. Whichever one may happen to you, I would like to introduce you to Scottie and Brandon.

                                        This is Brandon!!

   He may not look like much on first glance but take one more look at his face, his smile. His smile needs no words! God made this boy to shine for him. His smile says that although he is different, God made him special. That though he may be weak, God is strong. That he is precious no matter what other's may say.

 Brandon has Down Syndrome. He was born July 2000 and he is aging out this July.

When a child with special needs ages out, they may as well be given an early death sentence. At age four they are transferred to a adult institution. I was once told the story of a healthy little boy with Down Syndrome who was transferred to an institution. In a couple months this little boy had died.

 My brother Joshua was four when we adopted him and my sister Lily. He was the child that we added on to our adoption as we were already going to adopt my sister Lily. When my parents got there, they found out that unlike what we had been told, he could not take care of himself at all. He could not feed himself, he wore diapers, he could not speak, he could not support himself in any way.  My parents didn't know what they should do. The road ahead with a child that disabled was dark and full of shadows.

  Joshua was at the time fed by bottle. We were told that they had started to feed him mashed up banana to get him ready for the institution. I hardly believe that he could not have survived a month there! We were not sure of the future. My parents knew that he would in a way tie our family down some. But our answer was yes! It had to be yes. We could not look him over and forget. We could not abandon him to death. We could not say no after our heavenly Father had placed him in our path and believe me when I say that although the road has been hard, I could not imagine life without him. He is our little angel.

 So please look past Brandon's disability and love him for the person God made him to be.

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                                                           This is Scottie!

              

Scottie has HIV. He probably understands more than Brandon what his 16th birthday will bring. Someone wrote on his post about him, that he is very much hoping that his family will find him before its to late.  He is also very concerned about his condition. (HIV) He is aging out in August. A 1600a must be filed  by August 2016.

  I know that some people may get scared at the idea of a person who has HIV. It can seem scary or even dangerous. But to be honest, to me Scottie is just like a child that has a food allergy. There are different things any parent has to do to keep each of their children safe and their needs met. Each child has a need. Scottie has a need.

Scottie has HIV but my dad has told me of people who have lived with HIV and have had a normal life. Please don't let his condition scare you. He wants a family of his own, who will love him double for the years that have gone by without love.  He needs to be told that he is special despite HIV. Despite spending his childhood in a orphanage. 

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It has been a year or maybe more since I've last brought a child before you. I can see that my post was the last post written on this blog. Please look upon these kids as more than orphans or disabled kids. They were made by God just like you and me and He did not make them to spend the rest of their lives in the institution. When Jesus said "You are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:31) he was talking about Scottie and Brandon too.

I know I have been keeping you for awhile but I wanted to show you one more child. But this child is different because I won't be begging you to consider sharing about her or adopt her. Time is up for this precious angel. The curtain has fallen.

                                                               This is Isolde!

If you look her up on Reece's Rainbow, her name will not be under the waiting children. Her name is under the list "Aged out before family was found." I don't know about you but those six simple words cause so many emotions to fly around in my mind. The biggest one? Anger probably. Because to me those six words should have never crossed her page. Those six words should have never been connected to her picture or to the pictures of the countless other orphans that are also on this page.

Someone should have looked on her page, at her picture and said, "That is my daughter. She belongs in our family." but nobody did. And the bell of time has clanged its final ring.

 This girl that God made, this girl that God made for a special purpose can only watch as other kids are adopted around her. Can only think "Why?" Why did no one come? Why?

I turned sixteen the same year and month she did but my story is a lot different, but what if our paths in life had been the opposite. She could have been born to a father and mother who loved the Lord. She could have been raised alongside siblings and family members that loved her for who she was. I could have been in her place. I could have been stuck in a chair while watching kids run by. I could have hoped for a family as the years ruled by. My heart sinking as child after child was taken and no eye ever turned to meet my mine. Longing for love but getting none. I could have realized as my 16th birthday rolled in, that I had no more time. That the sun had risen in the sky and left me alone in the dark never to see that light again.

 All this could have happened to me but it didn't. Isolde had this life not me. I have sobbed thinking about the life this girl could've led if only someone had adopted her. 

 Please share, share about Brandon and Scottie before the light goes out. Even if you can't adopt them, you can share about them.  We can still save them. Jesus loves them and he made them perfect. You can see his finger prints all over their faces. Please share today about these precious boys who are "worth more than many sparrows."

      Thank you so much for reading this post, it means a lot to me, Scottie and Brandon.

             In Christ,

           Naomi Adamson

 ^"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-30

 

God's Precious Angel

            Hi this is Naomi Adamson. Some of you have met me and know I am the secund daughter of John and Traci Adamson. But some (maybe most) of you have not met me but have seen my name once in awhile on facebook and this blog. I am fifteen years old and I LOVE kids. I hope to be a mom one day and have as many kids as God gives me and adopt more. I also hope if God wills to go overseas and help kids there.


            Right now however I am only fifteen and I am needed right where I am as a older sister and daughter in our family. When we started our first adoption I didn't know very much about being a older sister. I was at the time the second oldest of five children, but I don't think I had gotten the meaning of the word "SISTER" and to this day I am still trying to figure it out. Have you ever stopped to think about the word "SISTER" and what it means?



            Well, back to why I am writing this blog post. My mother asked me to write to tell you about a very special person. Now this girl is not very smart or very rich but she is special. More than all the sparrows as God put it. God died for her too and He has a very special place for her in this life.
This little girl was born to a lady in the Ukraine. But this lady (her mom) the one who should have loved her more than any person on this earth gave her up. I am not blaming that mother, I don't know her story or what happened. Her mother could have loved her a bunch but was forced to give her up. But this little girl has grown up with out a person to call "mama" or a papa to cuddle with or sibling to love on her. She has grown up alone watching people come in and take a child and leave.
This little girl is:

Leila

 

             She is known by a different name at the orphanage when I saw her but this is her Reeces Rainbow name. I was nine when I first saw her. It was the first trip of Sean's adoption and we went up to Sean room once in a while because he wet his underwear a lot. (I don't know why they keep it on when all he ever did in it was wet it) As we waited for the care giver to change him, we would look about the room. At that time of the day most of the children would be outside playing happily but not Leila. She would be in her crib staring into space at nothing. I don't remember any toys there with her. I would smile at her and sometimes touch her hand. (I was a little afraid of the caregivers so I didn't try much) I wondered if she would ever have a family and get a loving home like Sean was getting. Only once I think did we ever see her outside. I may have seen her on our second adoption but I'm not sure as Lily and Joshua were in different age groups.

              After seeing her my mind cannot forget her and once in awhile I will remember this little gift from God and yearn to hold her in my arms and whisper words of love that she has never heard before. To tell her that her Maker loves her just the way she is. That she is never too far away from His love. Because His LOVE ran though her the day she was born and it still running though her. God made her perfect and if more people in this world realized this truth, that all that God makes is special, than the world would be a better place. I believe that if God put these kids in the world then there must be a perfect reason. One of the reasons is that these children (all children really) teach and show us God's love for us. God's love doesn't mean loving/serving someone who can serve and help you back. God says to love even your enemies. Even those who hate you and who you hate. He says to do good to them, to love them. Do you know why? "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

             When we show love to children like Leila, if we just smile at a child like her at WalMart or if we pray for these kids, we are really reaching out and helping Jesus. Jesus said, "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me."   Now, I know that not everyone can adopt and I'm not saying you have to. There are other things that we all can do that are just as important.

1. Pray. Prayer is the biggest gift you can give to an adopting family. They need those prayers! The orphans need your prayers.

2. Give money and donations to families  going to get a child.

3. Help and encourage the families as they raise their special child. The road can be LONG and hard and the family needs your support and prayers.

4. Share about these children. You never know if their new mommy and daddy will see it and go get them.

               Please pass along about little Leila! She is going to age out of the orphanage soon. The place she will go, I really doubt she will survive very long. Pray for this little Angel that God has blessed the world with. She has work to do to share about his love to others. She may need a lot of help but she will teach others a lot. She needs a family! A mama to hold her tight and tuck her into bed each night. To whisper "I love you" into her sleepy ear. A papa to make her laugh and tell her stories about the One who loves her better than anyone could.

              Leila's mama if your out there see her and bring her home. She is waiting for LOVE. Waiting for someone to love her for the way she is!There are hundreds of children without families all over the world and more children become orphans every hour. Please share about Leila and the other orphans around the world. They are special in His eyes!

"Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

 

Here's the link to her listing on Reese's Rainbow where you can learn more about her or make a donation to her adoption: http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=Leila

 

The long awaited WELL

When we moved to this home several years ago, we were so thankful to finally have a place of our own.  We had very graciously been allowed to live temporarily for a few months in the basement of a family (friends of friends of ours from seminary).....11 people in a finished basement with 1 bedroom (where most of the kids slept), pull out couch (John and I) in living area, kitchen area and storage area. It was tight but we did it, and yes, it was noisy and chaotic at times, especially with 2 kids with Downs and a child who rarely slept through the night and often squealed or cried (Joshua).


We had loaded the kids in the van and looked at many homes up to an hour away in either direction and finally settled on this one, the first one we had seen (again, friends of friends)! After settling in here, we soon discovered however that despite how beautiful and private it is here, and how wonderful our neighbors are, our well was failing! In the summer time, we would run out of water by the late summer....where there would be just a little in the morning or sometimes none at all. We'd do as many dishes as we could in the morning and have to leave the rest. We ate primarily on paper plates but even still, with a family our size, the pots and bowls add up fast (and the paper products run out even faster!)  We all couldn't shower each day , and got very good at very quick showers. We had to depend on bottled water.....not just to drink, but for our animals and at times to wash our hands.  Laundry was, shall I say, overwhelming? Dear friends started picking up our laundry or taking it at church and rotating doing it for us....for a summer or two, and after that we did it at the Laundromat.  After a busy day or traveling, my dear husband would have to go with 2 of my children to do MANY bags of laundry....so much for family  together time. They actually got quite good at it, and Naomi and Jonah enjoyed their time with Daddy despite the work....but it was very expensive, monetarily and on our time.
And each summer, it ran out earlier and earlier.....
Very stressful way to live.  Yes, there are worse things--and we reminded ourselves often, but it sure is challenging.


I can't tell you how many times people asked how I could stand it. Well, what else could we do? We could not afford a well. We had to try as best we could to get through it and trust God. And yes, there were the normal things too and some other unexpected  health crises, car problems, laundry machine and dishwasher breakdowns,  financial stressors, and a child in the PICU for 5 months! While I wouldn't wish these things on anyone, nor want to repeat them,  I can see many blessings in disguise.


First, we quickly learned more  about our weaknesses and sins ( dealing with frustration, impatience, and disappointments etc.)
We learned to be ever so careful with and value our water supply (ie not running water when washing dishes or taking long showers).
We learned to make do, be creative, work together and persevere.
We prayed a lot!
We learned to humbly accept help from others, to see God's provision, and to be thankful.


One really amazing provision God gave us was the help of a local church (the same one that helped us to put in a ramp). They took an offering for us and gave to us what they made from their craft/food fair.  They raised over half of the amount we needed for a deep well. We saw God's love for us IN ACTION.  We actually were offered by a well company to put in a shallow well just for the cost of supplies and with help from people to do the labor.....but it was determined that we needed a different kind of well (a deep one). After saving more, we finally had enough for a different company to put in our new well a couple of weeks ago.

Quite an interesting process. It ended up taking an extra 3 days and they found water at 300 feet or so....so it was more than the estimate but thankfully by hundreds and not by thousands. After fixing a few gliches (like our sink and toilet not working, and not being able to use or drink the water for a week, and new lay dry machine not working), we now have a working well that should be more than sufficient for our family and animals. Praise God!!

Life , while never easy, will be SO much easier this summer, and hopefully, we will not take it for granted. I deeply respect the many people who do not have the luxuries of running (clean) water, laundry machines, dishwashers, cars....and yes, that is what they are....luxuries!