tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post6656199626995327603..comments2023-03-24T14:15:41.450-07:00Comments on Jewels in My Crown: On the edge.Stephanie @ Ralphcrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583389649340199260noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-79603919143419804142011-08-15T18:58:08.145-07:002011-08-15T18:58:08.145-07:00On the edge too! How can I ever forget almost los...On the edge too! How can I ever forget almost losing a child? Or where our adopted daughter came from? Children are a blessing, all of them, but there is something very special about what happens when you fall in love with an 'unwanted' child. You begin to notice how many there are. I first noticed it in the hospital when our first daughter with Down syndrome lived there until she was well enough to come home (most of seven months). I heard babies crying all the time. I know our daughter would have died if I wasn't there to look out for her. Next I noticed it in Ukraine through adopting our second daughter with Down syndrome (first adoption). Again, what I saw was even more abandoned children whose faces are forever in my mind. Not a day goes by that I am not in tears praying that they too will all be found. Thanks for sharing your experience Stephanie...praying with you on this journey. Our two are both 7 years old now. Sometimes I grieve the fact that I didn't get to watch our adopted daughter take her first steps, or rock her as an infant (we adopted her when she was 5 and found out about her when she was 3). Sometimes I even grieve the fact that I missed a hospital free beginning with our biological child and then I remember it is what God used to take us to one more. God is good and I am convinced His plan to lead us to orphans first began in my heart in the hospital when our daughter was so sick. I know there are many more waiting in distress who need a MAMA to love them too! (James 1:27!)<br />Love, <br />DebbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-10062462482652548532010-08-15T21:17:38.585-07:002010-08-15T21:17:38.585-07:00Our 'process' took 3 trips there over 3.5 ...Our 'process' took 3 trips there over 3.5 years for a child we hosted. They made it hard. We fought, God intervened amazingly. The last and final trip was 2 months long. Crappy soviet apartment...living like a local eventually. Taxis and trains and all the brokeness in things, buildings, systems and people. I thought my hometown was a dump until I returned. Example: we have a little thing called a Lawn-Care Industry. We have been home a year now and still have Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. Not sure why I can't just cut and run...but still check these blogs and care for that stupid country. Couple things I came away with - maybe insightful for you, don't know. - "For God so loved the world..." pause on that one. Are you kidding me? How?? - then "You love because I first loved you." ... as believers we are saddled and provisioned for the dispensation of grace. Fight it...or give into it and move in trust. Sucks having the ultimate choice every day...but we do.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10478443649825335169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-967657873767258392010-08-15T18:16:27.702-07:002010-08-15T18:16:27.702-07:00Stephanie...such wise words and painful. I am pra...Stephanie...such wise words and painful. I am praying about I can do if not adoption. My daughter and I were scanning the church this morning for potential parents for these kids. I sent RR to one of them and she wants to talk so maybe my part will be to share this news and introduce to prospective parents..still praying for some of my own too. Can't wait for you to bring your sweet boys home.<br />Nancy BAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-22963418659824768082010-08-15T16:35:17.838-07:002010-08-15T16:35:17.838-07:00I'm with you... the feeling like I am falling ...I'm with you... the feeling like I am falling off the edge.. needing to trust.... crying for the kids... all of it...Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04814524050417570766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-77283622884592922722010-08-15T13:15:17.563-07:002010-08-15T13:15:17.563-07:00You are exactly right! Every time God starts revea...You are exactly right! Every time God starts revealing things to me about the lives of orphans, I say don't show me this, I don't want to know, this hurts my heart! ANd then I think no wait dont stop showing this to me, but show me what you want me to do about it. Please pray for me as I put together a presentation about God's heart for the orphan. I'm hoping that leaders will let me show it to the association my church belongs to. Thanks! And I will continue to pray for your family during this process!Sherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501452046106627029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8953219386561513049.post-57423097364785496612010-08-15T12:46:49.964-07:002010-08-15T12:46:49.964-07:00Thank you for sharing your experiences. If everyon...Thank you for sharing your experiences. If everyone storms Heaven with prayer for all the hurting children and takes action by going out of their comfort zone to share and do ONE thing, anything to help ease their suffering what a diffference it would make.Sandie Flanneryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627425754384829165noreply@blogger.com