STICKS AND STONES

For all that Ben has had to adjust to, we are very proud of how amazing he is doing with it all.  For the most part, he is a bright and happy little boy who seems to really enjoy his new life in his new country and family!

However, one area that continues to be a struggle for him is in the area of play.  Ben just doesn't know what to do with toys most of the time.  Jonah will be busy playing with his blocks, Little People, etc, and I will often find Ben just laying around sucking his thumb and waving some object in front of his face.  When I try to encourage him to play (and I confess, sometimes it feels more like force), he often gets angry at me.  But I think the anger is really more confusion- he just doesn't know what I am asking him to do.  Creativity and imagination are not part of his repertoire yet.  I am seeing some progress in the area thanks to his wonderful role model Jonah!  But it is definitely still in process.

That being said, outdoor play is much easier for Ben. I think this is because his orphanage schedule was 2 hours of play outside in the morning and afternoon.  And the thing about Ben playing outside is he doesn't really need toys to occupy himself outside.  Not to sound "orphany" (I know this isn't a word), but he really just loves to play with sticks and stones (and dirt and grass).  He can keep himself busy just wandering around our yard.  This is where I see the most creativity and imagination in Ben. 

Does this make me happy?  Of course, I think a child's imagination is one of the most beautiful things about childhood.  I like watching Ben have fun and play rather than lay there and stim with a object in front of his face.  

However, there is a part of me that is sad that sticks and stones are all this boy ever really had to play with.  I am not advocating that kids need toys to be happy, but I feel sad that Ben's life was so empty of what most kids just take for granted.  I wish Ben would have had a family that surrounded and filled his life with love and attention from the very moment of his birth instead of being left at the hospital because there was such a fear of his Down syndrome.  I am sad that his birth parents missed out on having this precious boy in their lives.  I am sure they feel a loss and sadness that I can't even imagine because of leaving him that day.  

We are making up for so much lost time.  I want to give him so much so seeing him most happy with stick and stones is a bit humbling.  Not bad, just humbling.  

Here are some photos from our walk on Sunday- the boys had so much fun playing with....you guessed it sticks and stones!

 

MATH ACCORDING TO GOD

In follow up to the Power of One post:


INTERNATIONAL:
The international orphan crisis affects more than 140 million children.  In the United States alone, 137 million people claim to be Christians of some denomination.  If only 1% of the Christians in this country adopted just ONE CHILD, 1.37 MILLION CHILDREN from abroad would have loving, Christian families to grow up in.  

(Taken from http://showhope.org/3-things-orphan-crisis/ and http://reecesrainbow.org/background/staggering-statistics)

DOMESTIC:

U.S. statistics indicate over 500,000 children in foster care. These numbers should move us to action. If one family from every three churches committed to adopt one child and those three churches committed to support that family, there wouldn’t be children waiting to be adopted in foster care. Sure, there would still be temporary placements and other similar constructs, but the foster care system as we know it would be destroyed. 

(Taken from https://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/what-if-the-church-destroyed-the-foster-care-system-as-we-know-it/ and https://chosenforlifeathens.com/what-we-do/foster-care-inititative/)

God has worked out the math for us- 1% of Christians in this country or 1 family in every 3 US churches....

we just have to act on it!

THE POWER OF ONE

The Reece's Rainbow website brings about many emotions as I peruse it.

I feel excited for the children and families who are in the process of adoption.  What some inspirational stories and incredible testimonies of how the Lord works to set the lonely in families!

I also feel sad for the many children who have no one interested in them.  Our Ben was actually one of those kiddos. We first saw Ben's listing back in 2014, but I am not sure when he first appeared on the website.  Ben was just over 6 years old when he finally came home to our family.  That is a looong time to wait for a family.

The other emotion I feel is just plain overwhelmed because there are so many children.  Where do you start praying and advocating?  Sometimes it can feel like because I can't help all the children, why even try?

I understand I am having a very small view of God when I feel overwhelmed.  God can handle all the children on that website because He loves each one with a fierce and strong love that can bear through anything.  God also works through many people to achieve His purpose in these children's lives so if we each do our one part, we can accomplish much for the Lord.

Remember, there are many children listed on RR, but they each only need ONE family to step forward for them.  Could you be the ONE family for ONE of these children?  

Please prayerfully consider adopting!
Reece's Rainbow-Waiting Children

In particular, please consider beautiful Bryannah:
Our family is her prayer warrior.  This sweet girl has been in a mental institution since 2011.  Please!
Bryannah

If you would like to "talk" about adopting, please feel free to leave a comment on this blog.  I would love to start a discussion!

Don't be overwhelmed.  Instead be the ONE God can use.

WHAT ALMOST HAPPENED

In Russia and most eastern Europe countries, the standard procedure is to allow a child to stay in the orphanage until 4-5 years old.  At that age, the child is then often transferred to a mental institution.  

This was the case with our Ben.  It was only because we were in the process of adopting him that he was allowed to stay in his orphanage past his 5th birthday in June 2015.  

At our hearing in July 2016, the orphanage director told us that if this adoption had not went through, Ben would have been transferred to institution in August 2016 at the age of 6.

That is what almost happened.  This is what happened instead:

HE BECAME PART OF A FAMILY: OUR FAMILY.  

Thank you Lord for rescuing this precious child from a life of loneliness and hopelessness. 

Andrew and I just read the book Boy From Baby House 10 .  Even though this is a story about a boy adopted from Russia, it was a very good read for us for several reasons:

1. It clued us into some of the reasons for the attitude and mindset we encountered in Ben's country.

2.  It showed us what life may have been like for Ben if he had been transferred.

3. It made us very grateful for how progressive and forward-thinking Ben's country is becoming in terms of dealing with children with Down syndrome.  It's not where it should be yet, but at least there are steps being made in the right direction.  Truly a miracle of God!

Please read the book if you can or here is the link to the NBC documentary based on the book:

2011 NBC Documentary on The Boy from Baby House 10

CELEBRATE THE EXTRA!

IT'S WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY, 3-21- 3 copies instead of 2 of chromosome 21!

These boys are not mistakes- they are exactly how they were meant to be!

Back of tshirt says "Am I rocking this extra chromosome or what?

STILL PART OF THE CONVERSATION

Jonah, at 6 1/2 years old, is for the most part non verbal.  He has made great strides this past year in saying the beginning sound of words, but he does communicate mostly by sign language.

What we would like people to know is that even though Jonah doesn't talk much, he understands everything that is said to him.  This is actually very common in Down syndrome kiddos- their language comprehension may be much higher than their language production.  

So if you have a Jonah in your life, please feel comfortable to talk to him just like you would any other 6 year old boy.  He loves to hear your stories.  He loves to have you ask him about his life.  In his own way, he will answer your questions or try to tell you a story too.  Please don't underestimate him- he is listening to everything you are saying, and he understands everything you are saying to him.  

Like we said, Jonah has made great strides in the area of language production this past school year. We are very hopeful that one day he will be quite the talker.  

However, even though he is non verbal now, Jonah is still very much a part of the conversation.

Now time for a flashback.  In honor of Jonah's IEP meeting that is happening tomorrow, here is a photo of Jonah's 1st day of his Early Childhood class when he was just 3 years old.  Now, we are getting him ready for 1st grade next year!  This means after almost 4 years with his Early Childhood teacher, he now will transition to the 1st-3rd grade Special Education department.  

It has been a great 4 years with a great teacher, Mrs. S.  We love you, and thank you so much for all you have done for Jonah and for us- we have learned so much from you over these past 4 years.  We also say thank you to all of Jonah and Ben's therapists at school and their incredible 5K teachers and aides.  We are truly blessed to be part of an amazing team of educators for both our little boys!

Wasn't he just the cutest thing going off to school?

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HOPING FOR

Yesterday, the above photo was sent to me by one of the boys' teachers at school.  The boys had a class together and found each other to sit by.  This is exactly what we are hoping for: that these boys will not only be brothers but forever friends!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss Day at school