Orphan Awareness

I think we hear the word orphan and it doesn't truly register.
It is said so often and even times callously.
Even by those who have a heart for the orphan. We hear it daily, we talk about it daily and we read about it daily.
In the beginning of the adoption process it was quite honestly often about us here in America. What age child would be best for the biological children?
What gender of child did Paul and I feel more drawn to?
How would the sleeping arrangements work out best?
How would we do with the language barrier?
Would we love this child as much as the biological children?
What about extended family and friends?
What if the child had significant medical problems?
Could we afford to put two more children through college?

THEN.....we opened an email to this:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I think they underestimated!
This frail, sick, malnourished little package said it all!
It was not about us! It was not about college or bedroom quilts or what so and so thought about having an African in the family! It was not about who was oldest or who was going to be "twined". It was not about the cost of the adoption or which carseat to order....

It was about an ORPHAN, a little boy with no daddy. A little boy with a momma so sick and frail herself she could not even hold him. A little boy so hungry he would have died within days had the orphanage not taken him in immediately and fed him. A little boy with legs so weak he could not walk at 1 1/2 years old. A little boy so full of parasites that he was most likely in constant pain. A little boy so disconnected he would not even cry, only silent tears would roll down his little cheeks.
This was ORPHAN awareness.......
True awareness of what an orphan is and what is needed of us.
They need food....not designer clothing.
They need love....not a DisneyWorld vacation.
They need a home....not entrance to an ivy league school.

So you know the rest of our story. We took that sick frail little guy with no personality, no confidence, no charisma and with food and love and yes, even a Disney World vacation we gave that little ORPHAN all of those things and so much more! He lights up every room he enters, he has a twinkle in his eye and honestly always has a grin smeared across his face!
With God's love and mercy that ORPHAN in the above picture is now this:

So let's remember the orphan and let's remember what can be done with the grace of God when we "look after the orphans and widows" according to his scriptures.

10 months ago....

..... Susan (our adoption agent) emailed these pictures to us! I cannot even remember my feelings that day! I will say it is now weird to look at pictures of the boys "there"....because it feels like they have always been "here". I promise you if are considering adoption or are on the adoption road but still a bit unsure of how the feelings will work out..that God has that taken care of! I truly believe he puts a feeling in your heart for "your" child...just the same as when you give birth and look into their eyes and know they are yours.

I do specifically remember looking at Yishake in this picture and thinking he looks like Paul...short, big forehead and curly hair!!!LOL I also remember that sneaky little grin on his face and thinking "Oh yeah he is a Maynard!!".

Wow..only 10 months ago!

Paul's first Father's Day as a daddy of FIVE!!!...that just means more hugs and kisses!!

The girls have always jumped on uncle Georgie and used him as a human jungle gym....well the boys catch on quickly!!

Look at this handsome face!!

Awwwhhh ain't he sweet!!

Post-court Day 1

I failed miserably at blogging each day of December, but I am going to attempt to do better at this. My goal is to blog daily between now and travel. I know this time will pass quickly and it will end up a blur in months to come. I may follow Jana in printing this count down to my boys by printing the posts in blurb.

After I spoke with Susan I called Paul and told him and a few close friends. Next I grabbed the video camera and yelled for the kids to come sit on the couch. On the way down the stairs Madelyn says oh did we get our brothers!?? There went my big surprise!!! So then I ask the kids to send a message for their brothers on the video camera...which runs out of tape at that precise moment!! The kids were all yelling.."We Love You", "I want to hug you", " I am so glad we passed after court, court, court, court, court and more court....."(Carson of course!)....I just let them talk even though their was no tape!!!....it was too sweet!

This morning was so exciting and such a huge relief, that we debated calling a no-school day, but I just couldn't do it!! We went down and did the basics. Carson wrote in his journal about passing court and he drew precious little pictures of him and his brothers. Madelyn drew all 5 kids and her journal entry was "Yesak and Yohannis love me".

We then cleaned up and headed to Gattiland to celebrate our adoption as well as Pauls dads b-day and his nephews b-day. Then a headed out to a homeschool meeting...which was great because I was able to see so many friends wishing me congratulations on the adoption! I pulled out my pictures any chance I got to show my little guys off too! I am exhausted and I do believe I will sleep better tonight than last night!

"Do you believe in miracles?"

Those were the words I heard this morning from my agency......
And OF COURSE I do!!!!

After a very long labor (heck my water broke back in December!) we are finally the proud parents of Yesak and Yohannis!! I am still unsure of any specifics of how we passed court, if birth mom was able to get there or not and what happens next with TB tests. Just let us bask in the glory of relief and most of GODS hand in bringing these boys home.

Meanwhile I still pray for the boys birth mom, that she is free of pain and that she is comforted in knowing that the boys have a family that already loves them as much as she does!!

Mikias Post #3

The embassy appointment went very smoothly according to Rob. One family was held up with lots of questions and the other family was told their fingerprints were out of date. They all did go through as needed in the end. He went shopping and pick up Christian CDS in Ahmaric, Amharic Bible stories, an Ethiopian flag and more of what was on Aprils list!
They are enjoying the pool at the guest house.
He said Mikias is sleeping well.
He has told Paul that the high altitude is going to kick Pauls tail!! He told Paul to start working out TODAY!! He said he has lots of travel advice for Paul too!

While at the orphanage Rob was also able to meet Mikias' father. He asked Rob to wait a minute and he returned with the grandma and other friends/family. The grandma was only 4 ft tall so they were teasing Rob for being so tall. They seemed very gracious and excited for Micky! Eyob told Rob that his father was very helpful through the adoption process and had cooperated so well that Mikias was one of the last ones in the orphanage and one of the first to leave because of that. Rob pulled out the photo album of April and the girls, the house and Mickys bedroom and his father asked if he could keep it...and he did. It seems as if Mikias was very well prepared for everything and seemed to deal with the "goodbye" well.

He will return tomorrow to the orphanage to say his goodbyes to his friends.

So that was all about Mikias...now who wants to know about MY boys!?!?!?
We received the BEST wake up call this morning. It was Rob. We put him on speaker phone and I videotaped it. First of all he said the orphanage is run very smoothly and the children are all very well behaved. He likened it to a military base for the structure and discipline.

Yohannis: This is our approximate 2 year old little boy. He was sleeping at the beginning of Robs visit but after he awoke Rob said he was like an 8 year old in a toddler body. He said he would wonder into one room where the boys were playing playstation (yes they have one there!!!) and he would just sit and observe, then he would venture into another room and stand and observe! He said he wasn't like the 2 years we have here that are into everything. He said he is quiet and simply takes everything in!

So on to our WILD CHILD! Yesak is approximately 4 years old. Rob recognized him as soon as he entered the orphanage! Upon catching his eye he began a hide and seek game with him. Yesak was very loving and he hung on Robs leg, he said the only other child that was hanging on him more was Mikias! Rob said he never stopped the entire 5 hours that Rob was there. He said he ran non-stop! He told Paul he needs to sign him up for track as soon as we get him home! He was very talkative and very friendly. Oh and Rob was taking video of him and he was cheesing real hard thinking it was taking a regular picture, Rob was trying to get him to do something for the video but he just kept cheesing harder and bigger :) so then Rob waved to him and he waved back...Rob told Paul that he even choked up watching and knowing what a crybaby Paul is he is sure Paul will sob like a baby!

All 3 families that have met Yesak on their trip have really remembered him and he stands out from the other children....wow I think I have my work cut out for me!!! Rob is planning to call us in the middle of the night when he arrives at the orphange to let us talk to the boys! WooHoo!!! So another update will be coming soon!
BTW They will be arriving in Louisville at around 6pm on Saturday for anyone wanting to welcome them home!