Day 3 with Samuel

There just are not words to tell you how sweet this little man is. Unfortunately, he's every bit as rotten as he is sweet. He and his little friend are the babies at the orphanage and to say they get there way is an understatement. Who knew you could spoil an orphan? He's very good at getting what he wants. Like when he wants his Daddy to tickle him, he bribes him...

I said, "Oh, Marty, he's got your number." Marty said, "They all do." Which is so true. The easiest way to get this Daddy to co-operate is to give him some love and they all know it!

We had so much fun, today. Samuel pretended his blocks were a car and drove the car on the table for awhile. Then, we played ball and with his sing-a-ma-jig. He is just so much fun. This afternoon we played outside, again. It was cold and he has a nasty cough, so we only stayed for about an hour this afternoon. Samuel's favorite thing to do is clean! He loves to dust and sweep. We need this child at our house. The sooner, the better. Okay. I'm rambling. Here's what you're waiting for...

Mommy and Samuel

Daddy and Samuel

Favorite of the day...

Thanks for checking in on us! I hope you enjoyed the pictures and video. We get to go back tomorrow!

Blessings,

Mandy

Have you ever had a moment where you're sure, positive, beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are seeing God revealed in the life of another? I had one, yesterday afternoon. I came home and was simply exhausted. Our days are long and full and tiring. I pulled up facebook and in just a few minutes had a message from a dear friend. My friend, Connie and her family are adopting a little boy named Ethan from the same country as us. In fact they will travel this same path in just 3 weeks time. Connie has 5 beautiful daughters. They are fearfully and wonderfully made and while they are stunning on the outside, the Jesus on the inside of them is breathtaking.

I tell my children often that we are the salt and the light of the world, that God is calling us to lay up our treasures in Heaven. I have posted about the enormous amounts of money that we will spend as a nation on Christmas, while children wait to be rescued, while children starve to death. We will buy those much needed video games, electronics, toys, things, junk. Idols the enemy uses to distract us, to ensure that when we arrive in Heaven our treasures will be light and easy to carry.

Back to my Jesus encounter. Connie's 13 year old daughter, Victoria decided to give her Christmas money toward our family's adoption. All of it. Do you know how humbling that is? How encouraging it is to our hearts? To see that the next generation gets it. Her parents have lived life in such a way that Jesus has spilled over into her. She has been led by example, discipled and encouraged to walk in Kingdom truths. She is running hard after the heart of God, longing to be used, to be the hands and feet of Jesus and so she gives. She gives ALL that she has to give, with no thought of herself.

I think of all the times I've asked my friends to simply give up a Starbucks and the response is sad. Then I see Victoria's gift and I know a little child shall lead them. Will you be encouraged by Victoria's generous gift? Will you meet her here with an offering? It doesn't have to be to our family. There are so many who need money to finish their adoptions. In fact you can read Victoria's family's journey to Ethan here. Will you let your light shine?

Victoria, shining brightly...

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Victoria does!

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

Any encouraging words you leave here for Victoria, I'll be sure to pass along.

2nd Day with Samuel

He has the sweetest laugh, ever. He has so much personality and knows his own mind. He can turn that pout on quick. Obviously, we're going to have work on that when he gets home. For now, it is too cute.

We met lots of people at the orphanage, today. We met Samuel's doctor, his favorite teacher and his speech therapist. They all love him and he loves them. His teacher is his FAVORITE!

They will be sad to let him leave. He is well loved. There are only about 20 children in his orphanage. He and his best friend (a sweet little girl who is a month younger and also has an extra chromosome) are the youngest here and the only with special needs. The other children are very kind to them and they are all willing to share their food and toys (which is huge for children in an orphanage). He's being well taken care of and it will make leaving him behind a little easier. We're so grateful that God has him in such a good place.

We didn't get a lot of pictures, today. Our camera batteries died pretty early into our morning visit. We have lots of videos, but they take FOREVER to load, so this will have to do for now. We're going to watch a movie before bed. Then, we'll do better with pictures, tomorrow. For now, here's a favorite from yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who continues to give and encourage us! Thank you for loving us and our kids.

Blessings,
Mandy

Our first meeting with Samuel

What a long and wonderful day. To say that we are blessed, just doesn't even begin to cover it. Let's start at the beginning...we left our hotel and drove for nearly 2 hours before we found the orphanage. They don't want people to know they have forgotten children here, so the orphanages are often in remote villages. This boy was worth the drive. We met the director and chatted for a few minutes and then in comes our boy. He has a haircut and has grown some, so he looks different, but I only need to see his little bent right ear to know it's really him. He is so full of life and personality. We knew he was going to be different than Joseph and we gave him his space and let him come to us. It took about 10-15 minutes and then, he was in my lap, cuddled up, like we'd been friends forever...

He's very healthy and seems to be happy and well loved at his orphanage. I was a little concerned that they had moved him, not long after we committed to him, but he has handled the move just fine. It probably helped that his little friend went with him. I'm going to see about getting a photo of the two of them, so he'll be able to remember her. He liked to play ball and be tossed in the air by his Daddy and by Marty (Toni's brother, I know, it's confusing).

In the afternoon, we played outside with some of the other children. We really enjoyed seeing them all and were encouraged to see how well Samuel interacted. He shares well and only pushed a couple of times. He likes to ride the little car and is very co-ordinated. We're already thinking about baby gates and ways to wear this boy out. He's busy! Alright, here's what you're waiting for...

When he wanted to be thrown up in the air, he would point up and bounce a little. He knows how to get his point across.

He also pouts, if Marty doesn't move fast enough to suit him. It may be difficult to tell this one no.

He is beautiful with his big blue eyes...

Checking out his family. Love his expressions.

He loves to ride this car and the older kids are very nice and share with him. He's one of the youngest here and the older children seem to be very kind to him.

To all of my adopting friends, do not leave home without one of these little magnetic boards. You can get them at Wal-Mart for $1 and so far, both of our boys have loved them. All the other children like them, too. Marty and I think we will bring some back for them when we return.

Friends, I want to say this, too. We have no idea how we ended up so blessed. God gave us Eli and Julianna and then led us down this path to Joseph and Samuel. We are humbled by the process and in awe of God's mighty hand working in our lives. If you are considering adoption, please, don't hesitate. There are many beautiful children, who just need Moms and Dads to love them. They long to be a part of a family. Be the hands and feet of Jesus, you'll end up so blessed, that you'll forget you were trying to serve.

More tomorrow, in the meantime...Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support!

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

The Work of God Displayed in a Life

As I'm reading my Bible, today, these words from John 9:1-3 leaped off the page at me.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him,"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Many will look at our boys and see their differences and may ask, "Who sinned to cause this child to be different?" I assure you that Marty and I have seen God's purpose in Joseph's life clearly on display this week. It was not because anyone sinned that our boy was born with an extra chromosome, but simply to allow the work of God to be displayed in his life.

We so often question whether a Holy, Righteous God loves us. The miracle that is happening for our boys should prove without any doubt that God loves each of us. That he would take the time to move heaven and earth for an extra-special orphan boy means he is compassionate in his care toward each of us. Whether or not Joseph ever learns to talk or walk (and we believe that he will do these things) his life will forever display the work and glory of God. We will share his testimony, the one about a boy frozen in time, waiting 6 and 1/2 years to be chosen. Waiting for someone to be obedient to God's call and to snatch him back from death. You see not too much longer and Joseph would have been transferred to a different kind of place, a sadder place, where he most likely would not have survived. God called and we obeyed and Joseph's life has the fingerprints of God all over it.

He was not born with Down Syndrome, because someone sinned, but so that God could receive the glory for the work he would do for Joseph. He sets the lonely in families and our family is overwhelmed by his greatness in allowing us to love this lonely child. He will come home and grow and learn about Jesus and be a favored son of the house. The work of redemption and restoration started this week and will continue for many years to come for Joseph.

If you're considering adoption, consider the next words of Jesus in John 9:4-5.

"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

The voice of Jesus calls. He longs for us to be a light in this dark world, to do the work the Father has laid out for us. There are many more lonely children waiting for families. Won't you join us and watch as God performs miracles in your own life and the life of a child?

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something, the night is coming.

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

Black Friday

It's Thanksgiving at home. We're missing the day with Eli and Julie and the rest of our friends and family. We're thankful for the time here with Joseph and next week with Samuel, but it's still hard to miss a special day with our other kids.

Tomorrow will be an even more difficult day...Black Friday. Normally, I love to shop on Black Friday. This year it seems to have a whole new meaning. Black Friday. The day we will leave Joseph behind and pray that God will continue to watch over him and speed our journey back here to him. Our 20 pound, 6 year old, who lives mostly in his own world, we'll leave him behind. Covered in prayers, we'll stand firmly believing that God has him in his hands. It will still break our hearts.

While our friends and family spend hundreds of dollars this holiday season, starting tomorrow with Black Friday sales, we are faced with the challenge of $10,000 that still stands between us and bringing our boys home. It's a daunting task.

Do you love us? Have you fallen in love with Joseph this week? Will you help or will you turn away? Your silence speaks volumes. We need you. We even have prizes...Christmas Cash Giveaway. We're praying that God will move on your hearts. If you're going to shop tomorrow, will you skip Starbucks and help bring our boys home instead?

It's humbling to ask for help again and again, but when I look at this beautiful boy, I know it's worth it.

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy

Day 4 with Joseph

We had a wonderful visit with Joseph, today. We missed the afternoon visit, yesterday. Joseph had an allergic reaction and had to go to the infirmary. He had a shot and is all better, today. We were able to take him out into the city to have his Visa photo made. What a chore. They need a head shot that shows both ears and our boy is not an easy one to photograph. After many tears, we finally got an acceptable shot. It's not great, but it will do.

He was quite out of sorts by the time we got back to our little room to finish our visit. It took about 30 minutes for him to settle in and relax. Then, imagine my surprise when after another 15 minutes or so, Joseph turned around on my lap to face me. This is huge for him. He doesn't like to make eye contact or have you in his space, so he mostly faces away from us when we hold him. Marty didn't get to hold him except for on the car ride, because he was so distressed when we made it back to the orphanage and once he settled, we thought it best not to move him.

We have one more visit this afternoon and one visit tomorrow morning and then it is time to leave our boy and head back to the capital city. We will be so sad to say, Goodbye. He is a love and we can't wait to have him home with us. I've been calling him Cookie Monster, because he loves food and he makes a sound that sounds just like Cookie Monster...nom, nom, nom.

Here's your pictures :)

Riding in Mitko's van. He loved the vibrations, the bumpier, the better.

He loves to have his hand and arm rubbed.

He flipped himself over and got comfy.

He decided maybe he'd like to see what this Mommy business is all about.

Favorite of the visit! Don't you want to squish those cheeks?

Thanks for taking the time to check in on us! I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Mandy