* I challenged Adam to learn how to play Flood by Jars of Clay. He did, and very quickly I might add, so I told him that in order to win the challenge he had to sing the lyrics too. Let's just say that I was impressed.
* We were supposed to provide respite starting this past Friday, but something happened that the family decided to hold off until later this summer. It was out of my hands, but a part of me felt like I was somehow not keeping my promise to this family until the mom reassured me that my offer and friendship had been a much needed encouragement to her. My point in sharing this was that I didn't really do anything but reach out and offer some free respite and an ear for listening. In the process, I feel like I have made a new friend. So go ahead and reach out and touch someone! You never know how it might help them.
I know a few of you have also offered respite, but I think families are looking for respite families in the same state, so it might take a while to hook up. I know there is a need and I know that by spreading the word, people will become more comfortable with asking for respite and offering it. So spread the word!
* Andrew had his piano recital today. He played his two pieces without mistakes! It was obvious how much he practiced with Grandma!
* Over the weekend, I cut Caleb's, Anna's, Dennis', Andrew's, and Willliam's hair. Caleb's is the biggest change (unless you count Jonny).
*I opened up the new silverware I got from my Mom. It is so nice. I cleaned out two of my drawers and got rid of all the spoons that had been nicked from the garbage disposal. No more cutting my lip or taking forks out of the dishwasher and hand washing them for dinner! Thank you Mom!
*Tonight, we watched Slumdog Millionaire. It was stressful for me. I had heard a little bit about it, but I was not prepared for the tragedy upon tragedy these three children endured. I really had no idea of the plight of orphaned street children in India and how spoiled we are here in America. I do not normally watch alot of movies, but I would say that this movie was worth watching. I wonder if India is open to adoptions?
* VBS (vacation bible school) starts bright and early tomorrow morning, so I am off to bed. I have signed up not only myself, but Adam, Rachel, and Caleb to be helpers. The rest of the kids are going through the curriculum. It looks like it is going to be a lot of fun. I even went out of my comfort zone and invited a neighbor boy--- although I do not think he can come. But I do think we are bringing two girls from school. :)
27 comments:
* Caleb's hair looks really good and summery!
* You are so lucky to have such beaitiful and talented kids! I was also looking at your previous post of Dennis, and it's so striking to see him turn into such a real little Californian!
* VBS is such a good idea, keeps kids busy in a very good way.
My littles are off to volleyball "camp" (Anastasia) and flag football "camp" (Zhen) at the Catholic HS. It is such a nice opportunity for the older kids to teach the younger ones.
In the evening Maxim has football "camp".
As you can tell, I find it odd the way the word "camp" has come to be used for just about ANY children's summer activity....even those very far removed from anything like a true camp! But I see that a word was needed...."summer activity" just doesn't flow from the tongue.
Adoption from india is possible. However, because of the length of time it takes and, the amount of paperwork involved many indviduals decide it is too difficult to persue. However, the poverty is vast and the orphan-homes for these children are ill staffed.
Journeysoftheheart.net
indiaadoption.com
The above are two sites to investigate. They are up-to-date and offer a wealth of information.
slumdog was HORRIBLE for me to sit through. it's an excellently-made movie - that's why it was so hard - it was too realistic. i'm fully aware of what happens - i'm a social work major and an abuse victim, i've seen it most of my life - i don't need reminders.
as far as i know, india is still open to adoption.
the little girl who plays the female of the 3 main people as a kid - her dad tried to sell her, and one of the boys was beat when he got home cuz he wanted to sleep after traveling all the way from the oscars rather than being put on display at his house.
the real tragedy is that these kids won the oscars one day and went back to those slums the next... all while millions were made off of their movie.
just read Love Our Way: A Mother's Story
By Julia Rollings
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life′s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. -- Kahlil Gibran
Managing a household of eight children is not for the faint-hearted. And when you have adopted six children from overseas and succeeded in weaving together a riotiously happy family, there′s a good chance you can deal with any challenge life throws at you.
That′s what Julia and Barry Rollings thought until they received the devastating news that two of their children had not been willingly given up for adoption in India. Much worse, Akil and Sabi had been stolen from their mother while she slept - and sold by their father.
How do you deal with such heartbreaking news? Bow to the advice that ′You adopt the child, not the family′? Perhaps not tell the children until they are older - or not at all? But Julia Rollings is not one to take the easy road. She takes the courageous decision to reunite Akil and Sabi, 13 and 12, with their birth mother, Sunama, and her family.
In Love Our Way Julia shares her moving journey of discovery to India and how it has expanded and enriched her family in more ways than one.
All of my spoons are nicked from the disposal as well! :)
We have nicked spoons too, you are not the only one! :)
I saw Slumdog when it first opened, and I didn't really know anything about it. It was very moving. I cried through much of it.
Will have to check out Slumdog.
Boomerang Express VBS starts today.
my sister...who is adopted from india...told me to watch the slumdog movie. it touched her as it did me. very sad. i hope adoptions are open in india as my sister wants to eventually adopt a little girl from there herself.
Little Varsha on Reeces rainbow is from India. Her adoptions keep falling through. At one time she had a huge grant. I WANT her so bad, but hubby was only open to adopting a boy, and I am in love with Oskar.
I haven't seen slumdog millionaire, but I have seen the documentary Born into Brothels. It was sad, happy and then tragically sad.
In India, it is my understanding that you must have Indian citizenship to adopt unless there is a special needs child. But it is difficult.
Sounds like a packed but fun weekend.
VBS used to be one of my favorite summer things to do. I wanted to put my two boys in it but not sure if it is going to happen or not.
Anyways, hope everyone has a great time.
I found Slumdog brilliant, but so harrowing. I'm glad I watched it though, really opened my eyes.
Cxx
Yeah, India is open to adoptions, here in Iceland most people adopt from India or China. But I've heard it takes a looong time.
Indian adoptions are open. If you are interested it is a good idea to join the Ichild yahoo group as they have the skinny on that
There are obviously a lot of children to adopt in India but the problem is that in the past many people were stealing children off the streets, money was involved, and the children were being put up for adoption. Many times families would wait for the mother to go out to work in the fields and then give the girl children up as unwanted. The government have recently come out with some new guidelines CARA.
Abortion has put a big dent in Indian adoptions too as so many people have ultrsounds as they are only interested in having a healthy boy. The rate of fetal female abortion in India boggles the mind. The people are often Hindu so they believe the baby will just be reborn to someone else or as something else.
There are also many many gray areas where the children have families but they are so poor that the children live on the streets, or are put into orphanages for the orphanages to raise until they are old enough to go out and earn for the family, or the children are sold to work as domestics, in carpet factories, the circus, or brothels. Many children left in orphanages have not been visited for several years.
When you walk around places like India poor people just let their kids run free as pictured in the movie. It is a social service nightmare for the USA but for India it is ok.
Some of the people who have reported their children stolen slept on the side walk every night, had no home or way of support, no way to feed their child, and thought the baby had wandered off only to find out years later they were adopted and living happily in another country.
No video of the playing and singing? I was so hoping! lol
So know the feeling of cutting my lips on "chewed up spoons"!
I want to see that movie but not sure I could handle it.hmmmmm
I love new silverware (and boy do we need it also, darn garbage disposal. hehe
just dropping in to read up on your precious family and the way you have of inspiring all of us foster parents or not....to be....better parents...God bless you.
Christine,
Our first son Samuel is from India and it really IS like that there.
There are gangs that steal kids and make them beggars. We saw it first hand and the movie brought back so many memories. Very powerful movie. Unfortunately the process for India is long and unpredictable but it is still open. Unless you are a non resident Indian or married to one, you can only adopt special needs and they have a family size limit of 3. I think they make somem exceptions but rarely.
I just went to your other blog and what you wrote is not there - just the pictures.
My friend adopted 3 boys, 2,5 and 5 (twins)from India. They have been home since October.
I forgot to mention. They are not special needs but maybe because there are 3 of them they were available? I'll have to ask her.
Unfortunately, taking one child out of a poor and sometimes violent country and Americanizing them is not the answer to that country's problems. (Not that I am against international adoption, just that I would advocate for looking at the larger problem and using resources in a useful way).
Rather than demonizing the religious traditions practiced in countries like India (for example, Hinduism and abortion do not necessarily go hand in hand), we could learn some more about them and how compassion or 'help' could be offered in the context of their religious and cultural beliefs. You know, rather than imposing our belief systems on others.
Just a friendly suggestion from an occasional visitor from Canada.
Hindi adoptions require at least one parent who has lived or does lve in india. This rule is relaxed for non hindi adoptions AND special need adoptions. Also, the 3 child rule is also relaxed in special need and older adoptions.
I would not rely on ichild.com as a source. That site has not been updated since 2006.
National or special needs sites are the best place to start.
that's awesome Adam has such an ear for music! and is Caleb playing the sims? sweeet!
Hope you all have fun at VBS!!!! There was never one happening when I was the age to go along but I have helped out at a few (I think dating the youth pastor meant I was an automatic inclusion) and they are great fun!
Oh, yes, India does adoption! I have a dear friend with the most GORGEOUS daughter from there!!!! They even do single adoption still, as far as I know...which is becoming a rare entity, sadly.
Nancy in CT
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