TV Appearance

It will be interesting to see how our story is told on Miranda this weekend. I have included the link to her home page for those of you interested in watching. Her website outlines times, but I was also told that it will air on WXSP Channel 18 this Friday at 7pm. http://www.mirandatv.com/

The Family LIfe

We spent last evening at a potluck with many of the west Michigan families that adopted from Haiti. Everyone was interested to see how the children would react. A funny thing happened. Nothing. The kids had no reaction. It was as if they didn't know each other. It was as if a group of random kids and their parents met. The parents were social, but the kids took their time assessing the situation. The shyness slowly lifted from many of the children and they would begin to play, but others stayed within an arms reach of their parents. I am not sure what we expected, but there was some anticipation that memories would be triggered. An idea crossed my mind. Is it possible that their lives just began? Not so distant memories have been replaced by a new home, a new family, and a new way of living. Do they only remember what they have been searching for their entire lives? A family.

Trust has been built with Josie and parenting is starting to take shape. We still

try to balance on that tight-rope of parenting and friendship building, but we are starting to lean more towards parenting. Yet we still under

stand her circumstances are different, so different that Wood TV stopped by this week to tape a segment for Miranda. Next, the Advance Newspaper is coming by next week for an interview. Soon we will move into our normal lives and interest

will fade. Yet I hope everyone continues to realize that there are so many children that need families, and there are so many in this world are suffering and need our help.

So we move on. Isaac started drum lessons and absolutely loves it. He wants to be like his uncle who used to be a professional drummer. The drums are loud, but his smile is louder.

So we move on. Kade continues to dream about animals. He continues to want to add to his collection. I wonder if John Ball Zoo has a ro

om we can rent?

So we move on. Moving forward as a family. Appreciating things a little more. Looking forward to our next steps wherever they may fall.

As tiring as life can be, we cherish those moments that so often make us so tired.

Time...

"That was fun". Simple words that rolled off Isaac's tongue. Words that are worth remembering. Today was a "guy" day, which meant my boys and myself were taking a little time together. Time they deserve. Our house and our time has been dominated for the past 3 weeks by our newest member. Josie is great, but so are my other kids. Kelly and I felt the boys deserved a little attention, so today they became my focus.

"That was fun". Words that filled the car ride home after a day of snowboarding. The unexpected timing of these words make them so memorable. The words suddenly appear and I realize they still thrive on time and attention. They , like Josie want to be loved. So our time today served its purpose. It allowed them to know that they are as every bit as important today as they were when they were born. When that focus is on them, their eyes shine and we as parents realize that the time spent together as a family can never be replaced. It is so easy to lose focus in our hectic lives, but suddenly, "That was fun!" can bring a little perspective to our lives.

A Girl After Kelly's Own Heart

She loves shoes, but she thinks Uggs should come with directions.

Where We Are

Kelly and I spent the evening having dinner.  A date night. One of those moments without kids.  Yet we all know that our kids are still present, just not physically present.   Much of our conversation involves our children.  Recalling those special moments that one of us may have missed.  It is a time for ourselves, but also a time to relive the excitement of our kids.  We tell our stories.  We smile.

We both agreed that we have reached a place where we our content.  A moment in time where we can just breath.  It may be after 3 years of an adoption nightmare, we can finally be free ourselves of that weight.  We get to move beyond those daily dinner time prayers of hope and live in the moment.  

Our lives are good.  Things seem a little clearer, and I am not sure why.  Even the kids have changed.  Just today their teachers were discussing our kids.  They have seen a change.  A change that is difficult to articulate, but a change that apparently has been impressive.  Their teachers are proud of them.  I am proud of them.  

Today was one of those days that just felt right.  I could certainly go into the time I spent at a visitation for the sister of a new friend, but that is a story that more than a few words could describe.  I was fortunate enough to have free time this week, to allow him to spend those last few precious hours of his sisters life with his sister and family.  To know that he was able to create a lasting memory, allowed me to smile as I left the visitation.  Another moment where where  God shows us his existence by sufacing during a time of sorrow.  A smile not to belittle the moment, but a smile at the understanding of fortune.   Not wealth, but a feeling of well-being.

Remembering Others

Recently we hosted a dinner to help support one of our friends that soon will be headed to Africa as part of a 2 year commitment as a missionary. I'd love to tell everyone her name, but it is her own story to tell and I am not sure that I could do it justice. The dinner was fantastic, but her story was so much more. A story of love, a story of belief and a selfless attitude that cannot be adequately described.

When I was first asked to do this blog, it was never intended to be about me. It was intended to keep whoever was interested aware of the wonderful people that we many of us work with. So it is with that in mind that I raise awareness to those who deserve it. I have had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with many in Advantage Health as well as with Saint Mary's Health Care System that are doing outstanding things with their lives. Offering, not only words of hope, but lending hands to perform any task asked of them. The story above includes just one of our courageous colleagues. Other wonderful people have just returned from Haiti, with stories that can truly touch ones soul.

I can only imagine what others are doing. We may never know how proud we should be of those working around us. Who knows what would happen to so many if it wasn't because of so many kind hearted people?

An Education

Unfortunately I returned to work this week.  I had planned more time off, but for all of us, things are in a constant state of flux.  So we begin a second stage of life with an adopted child.  I had previously told my kids that even though Josie is home, life continues to move forward.  This week was an example of the perpetual movement of our world, which meant work was calling.  So I was gone.  Gone, wondering how things were at home, jealous that I had to be missing something.

In my absence, things were definitely more difficult.  Josie is adapting well, but she is adopted and there are     behaviors that you don't expect and parenting skills that you are unsure  should be applied.  Between the indecision, my other kids still have their needs.  My wife is holding up well, certainly meeting our kids needs, and loving her children dearly.  She does get tired.  Kelly loves her kids, but like every parent, kids demands can be draining.  

The greatest challenge is bed time.  Josie needs to be held to fall asleep.  Mom is the security blanket.   However, our other kids are older, so going bed with Josie nestled in like a Koala is not possible.  When I am gone in the evening the bedtime ritual becomes quite difficult.  I am so impressed with my wife for handling the adversity and challenges that come with our new family.

We are all learning.  Learning each other, learning our roles, and learning the intricate movements of each part.  We are a family.  We may have our frustrating times but we have each other.  At times we question ourselves as parents.  And then we kiss our kids goodnight. We look down at them in their sleep and realize  how empty we would be without them.  A true gift from God.  

Thank You

During the chaos of the past few weeks, I have forgotten to thank everyone for their support.  It is hard to believe the outpouring of support that our family has received.  Those that we have never met have offered so much, and those that we know continue to amaze me with the sincerity of their daily offerings.  It seems that Josie's story has touched so many lives.

 Laying in bed last night I was thinking, we spend everyday walking among so many people, those we work with, those we see in our daily passings, and those that we consider our close friends.  We interact with so many people, but we don't always see them.  We fail to notice all of those qualities that so many possess.  Those qualities that make people, kind, compassionate, and caring.

I feel as though I need to apologize for those wonderful qualities that I fail to recognize.  I want everyone to understand that I appreciate everything that have done for our family, but also everything that they contribute to our world.  Through devastation comes rebuilding.  Rebuilding of our lives, but more importantly rebuilding of the human spirit.

Thanks everyone!