It has been only 2 months since we have had Vahnya in our arms. I find it sad how easy it was to forget.I'm not saying I have totally forgotten, how could anyone ever walk the walk we walked and forget it all.
What I'm saying is that our life so quickly got back into routine. It is as if Vahnya has been with us always. Our days are full of giggles and firsts. Yes we have challenges once in a while but not much, is it too perfect?
I just don't want to ever forget the children that are still out there, the ones that still don't have any one to kiss them when they fall, hold them when they are scared, feed them when they are hungry, clothe them when they are cold. I don't want to forget that but I find my self letting it slip away. We are happy things are great for us. But the Lord had opened our eyes to something we can not close them now just because one is home, one is out does not mean we are done.
During our court trip I felt so overwhelmed, I told Mike we are never doing this again its just too hard. I really felt that in my heart. Then Mike said to me "I feel like we aren't done, Vahnya is not the last". after he said that I had an empty feeling inside me until I agreed totally agreed with him that God was not done with us, that we were going to someday do this again.
I go back and forth now with urgency and piece. Sometimes I have the urgency that I need to look at every childs picture and look into every country to find out our options. Other times I feel like God will lead us to our next child just as he did with Vahnya and I should just rest in that.
I felt like if I even thought about domestic adoption I was a horrible person because of what I know about children in institutions in other countries. but are not all Gods children worthy if it be in my back yard or across the world. There are different ways of suffering just because you can't see them tied to a crib doesn't mean their heart is free doesn't mean they are not suffering doesn't mean they don't need your love.So now I feel ok about what ever way God will lead us.
So there you have it now you all know so you will not be surprised when the time comes that we say we are doing this again. We don't know when it will be, a few years from now or tomorrow. That is up to God, we will just be ready to act when he tells us to.
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his smile is JOY to my heart
3 years and 3 months old
3 years and 4 mo old
3 years 6 mo old
3 YEARS 9 MO OLD
4 years 3 months
Joshua (18), Vahnya (3),Jordan (10),Amanda (16),Amelia (5),Madison (14) Mike,Katrina,Makenzy(13)
Vahnya is a three year old boy who has Down Syndrome. No longer an orphan! We adopted him on March 1st 2011 he is home and loved by all.
so sweet
contact me
katrina9@clear.net
Followers
time in Russia
Vahnya Josiah when an Infant
Vahnya Josiah at 2 years old
Vahnya Josiah at 3 years old
Vahnya Josiah our 1st visit 11/15/10
his smile is JOY to my heart
Vahnya Josiah 2nd visit Feb 2011
3 years and 3 months old
Vahnya Josiah gotcha day! 3-21-11
3 years and 4 mo old
Vahnya Josiah HOME!
3 years 6 mo old
Vahnya Joaiah home 4 months
3 YEARS 9 MO OLD
4 years 3 months
4 years 3 months
Our Family.
Joshua (18), Vahnya (3),Jordan (10),Amanda (16),Amelia (5),Madison (14) Mike,Katrina,Makenzy(13)
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Puzzle Pieces for Josiah
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Blog Archive
time line
- found Reece's rainbow 2/24/10
- first saw Josiah's picture 2/25/10
- committed to Josiah 3/10/10
- home study visit 4/17/10
- home study complete. 6/8/10
- sent I-600A to USCIS 6/10/10
- got fingerprint apt from USCIS 6/23/10
- fingerprint apt for USCIS is 7/16/10
- got I-171H 8/4/10
- Application Dossier was submitted for MOE 8/23/10
- Court Dossier all done and sent to agency 8/25/10
- got our date for our 1st trip 10/26/10
- 1st visit with our boy 11/15/10
- flew home from 1st trip 11/20/10
- dossier was submitted to court 1/13/11
- got our court date 2/1/11
- Vahnya Josiah Nine is our son 3/1/11
My Blog List
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Merry Christmas 201510 years ago
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Quick Update...15 years ago
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A Home Decor Post?12 years ago
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The Girls Have Moved12 years ago
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Glass Stair Balustrade14 years ago
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New BLOG!14 years ago
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Jan 23, 201213 years ago
Josiah at 2 years and 4 months old
Background
Dear God, with only a word you spoke me into being, I know that you thought of me before I was even conceived in my mother’s womb. It is you who have given me life and breath. It is you who knew my purpose before I was ever a thought in any persons mind.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16)
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16)
Myths and Truths about Down syndrome
Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.
Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”
Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.
Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live births is a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.
Myth: People with Down syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old simply because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely “retarded.”
Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs that fall in the mild to moderate range of intellectual disability (formerly known as “retardation”). Children with Down syndrome fully participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still discovering the full educational potential of people with Down syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at home with their families and are active participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community. They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down syndrome are valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with Down syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in segregated special education programs.
Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in small- and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes, hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions, childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.
1 comment:
Well, I will tell you this--whoever this child is that God leads you to will be one lucky kiddo! I have been reading your blog, and I think you are amazing people to be thinking about doing it all again! We are still early in the process and it is so hard! Worth it, without a doubt, but hard! The funny thing is that I have no doubts about Carmen being home with us, just about my ability to get through this process.
We just started our first giveaway to raise funds to bring Carmen home. She is in a very expensive part of EE, and we have such a long way to go it is terrifying. Can you please share our fundraiser? There are so many going on right now that I am feeling like we will never be able to get anyone's attention and raise what we need. Here is the link:
http://moveanymountian.blogspot.com/2011/05/carmens-1st-giveaway.html
Thank you,
Elizabeth
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