This story says so well why we adopt.
I hope as you read this you can think of something small you have done that might have changed someones life. Did you love on your kids today? Hmm, I bet you made a difference in their day.
It is not the big things we do, but the small things that make a difference.
The Starfish Story
While walking along a beach, a man saw in the distance what looked like a boy dancing.
He was encouraged by the outward expression of someone dancing to the new day on the beach, and he approached the young man. As he got closer, he realized that the young man was actually running, leaning down, picking something up and then gently throwing it far into the ocean.
As he came closer, he saw thousands of starfish the tide had thrown onto the beach. Unable to return to the ocean during low tide, the starfish were dying. He observed the young man picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them back.
After watching the seemingly futile effort, the observer said to the young man, "There must be thousands of starfish on this beach. It would be impossible for you to get to all of them. There are simply too many. You can't possibly save enough to make a difference."
The young man smiled as he continued to pick up another starfish and toss it back into the ocean.
"It made a difference to that one," he replied.
The older man shook his head at the impossible optimism of the young man, and then turned away and walked home. That night, he sat for a long time thinking of the young man, and determined that the young man was really affecting the world and taking action to make a difference. Something that the older man would like to do. That night he slept fitfully. In the morning, he awoke, went down to the beach and found the young man again. Then together, they went along the beach shore tossing starfish back into the ocean.
--Author Unknown
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008, 4:30pm
We have not gotten "the" call from the adoption agency, but we got "a" call today. Inna wanted to know if we would be willing to go with a child that was 18 months old. She is having a hard time finding younger children right now. We agreed 18 months would be fine.
She said she has a region she is thinking about sending us to IF they will send her medicals of the children BEFORE we travel. Some regions want you to travel "blind" (no medical or pictures of the children) and Kelly and I both agree that would not be in the best interest of our family. If we were not comfortable with the child after having a private medical doctor see them there is no way we could turn them down.
So, it looks like we could have our referrals sooner than later. Please keep all of us in your prayers.
We have not gotten "the" call from the adoption agency, but we got "a" call today. Inna wanted to know if we would be willing to go with a child that was 18 months old. She is having a hard time finding younger children right now. We agreed 18 months would be fine.
She said she has a region she is thinking about sending us to IF they will send her medicals of the children BEFORE we travel. Some regions want you to travel "blind" (no medical or pictures of the children) and Kelly and I both agree that would not be in the best interest of our family. If we were not comfortable with the child after having a private medical doctor see them there is no way we could turn them down.
So, it looks like we could have our referrals sooner than later. Please keep all of us in your prayers.
December 6, 2007
The FBI returned the fingerprint cards I had sent to have my record checked. The girl that had taken my fingerprints smeared them so I had to have them redone. When I went back to the local sheriff's office they decided to use the digital fingerprint machine because my prints kept smearing with the ink. This machine was located back in the jail.
A sheriff's deputy came and got me from the lobby and took me through 4 locked doors. He said they were in the middle of a "situation". The more locked doors we passed through the more I felt anxious. When we got back to the machine it was in the area of all the jail cells. One of the doors was open and 2 deputies were dealing with the "situation." I started to get VERY anxious at this point. I was envisioning the criminal grabbing a gun and shooting the place up. Once again I have a VERY vivid imagination!
I was able to get my prints digitally with no problems. The situation was resolved calmly and I am still alive to tell the story. LOL
The FBI returned the fingerprint cards I had sent to have my record checked. The girl that had taken my fingerprints smeared them so I had to have them redone. When I went back to the local sheriff's office they decided to use the digital fingerprint machine because my prints kept smearing with the ink. This machine was located back in the jail.
A sheriff's deputy came and got me from the lobby and took me through 4 locked doors. He said they were in the middle of a "situation". The more locked doors we passed through the more I felt anxious. When we got back to the machine it was in the area of all the jail cells. One of the doors was open and 2 deputies were dealing with the "situation." I started to get VERY anxious at this point. I was envisioning the criminal grabbing a gun and shooting the place up. Once again I have a VERY vivid imagination!
I was able to get my prints digitally with no problems. The situation was resolved calmly and I am still alive to tell the story. LOL
November 11, 2007
Our trip to Florida to visit Marcus and LaJeana.
This was Kristofer's first time to the beach. He did so well on the 14 hour drive.
Jennifer and LaJeana
As soon as we got on the beach Kristofer had to make a sand castle.
As soon as he put up one tower to the castle it was off to the water.
Kristofer had a great time jumping the waves.
Kristofer and LaJeana playing in the water.
Kristofer and Kelly made an awesome tunnel in the sand.
Time outs on the beach do not work so well. Kristofer had a GRAND time in time out.
What a beautiful and perfect sunset!
Our trip to Florida to visit Marcus and LaJeana.
This was Kristofer's first time to the beach. He did so well on the 14 hour drive.
Jennifer and LaJeana
As soon as we got on the beach Kristofer had to make a sand castle.
As soon as he put up one tower to the castle it was off to the water.
Kristofer had a great time jumping the waves.
Kristofer and LaJeana playing in the water.
Kristofer and Kelly made an awesome tunnel in the sand.
Time outs on the beach do not work so well. Kristofer had a GRAND time in time out.
What a beautiful and perfect sunset!
October 3, 2007
Today I went back to my doctors office to have my TB test done. I took Kristofer with me and right as she put the needle in my arm he started pushing on me from behind. (I was standing) I very firmly and nicely told him not to touch me. Of course, he had to one more time. I called him by his full name in my "mean mommy voice" and told him to GET UP IN THE CHAIR! He backed away real quick. With my fear of needles I was envisioning the thing being ripped through my skin! Whew, such an imagination I have.
September 21, 2007
Today we went to the psychologists office and was interviewed by Dr. Camelle Sexton- . We took a personality test and I'm sure we past. I didn't have any problem with the test, but Kelly was over analyzing it so much that he was so stressed by the end of the test.
After our psych evaluations we headed to KidsFirst to finish signing all of our paperwork.
From left to right: Sarah, Heather, Kelly, Inna, and JenniferSeptember 11, 2007
Heather came today and did our home inspection for the homestudy. She also sat down and talked to us about changes in our life since our last homestudy. She also asked how things had changed since bringing Kristofer home. I had to laugh at that one. What a change it has been, but a wonderful change.
September 7, 2007
We had our first Homestudy appointment with Heather at KidsFirst today. She walked us through all the paperwork we need to gather. Here is just a small list:
- Medical Exams
- Psych evaluations
- Deed to our house
- Cetificate of assets signed by CPA
- Employer reference letters
- Reference letters from friends and family
- Marriage certificates
- Police check
- FBI fingerprint checks
This is so exciting to be starting the process again.
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