SARAH and ALEIGH for the Roodhuyzen family — NC
Who knew when Paul and Stephanie Roodhuyzen met 24 years ago that the path their marriage would lead them on would be this wonderful and exciting and oh so full of joy . The saying ‘love at first sight’ was a very real occurrence for Paul and Stephanie. They both had previous marriages and had no thoughts to marry again, but God had other plans! Very different plans from what this couple ever thought would be possible. Stephanie had 2 wonderful children from her first marriage and Paul had none. It was natural for them to want to add to their love by having a child of their union and God agreed by giving them a second precious daughter. Ten years later, they felt that there was still so much more they could do to help children so they became foster parents. The first placement in their home were twins that had been born ‘grossly premature’. The tiny little boy and girl were born at 23 weeks gestation and weighed only 1 lb. 4 ozs. and 1 lb. and 2 ozs at birth. They were 5 months old and weighed only 7 lbs. when they were taken into custody and brought to the Roodhuyzen’s home with a bag of medicines, a list of doctor appointments, Apnea monitors a diagnosis of ‘failure to thrive’ . The little boy had already undergone 4 surgeries for a hernia, removal of his appendix and eye surgeries for ROP which was successful. The little girl had 3 eye surgeries which had not been successful. She was left sight impaired with no vision in her right eye and very little usable vision in her left. But, the children grew strong and healthy under the watchful eye of the Lord and their foster Mom and Dad. Five years later the Roodhuyzen’s prayers were realized when they were able to adopt the twins that they loved so much and had already come to feel were their son and daughter . Now, yet another ten years later, Paul and Stephanie have been tapped on the heart again by our Lord and told that there are two more little girls that He needs the Roodhuyzen’s to love, cherish and raise for Him. The Roodhuyzen’s feel, who are they to question God’s will. There is only love, faith and joy ahead on this journey to bring home two very special sight impaired little girls who are very wanted and already loved by the Roodhuyzen family. Their daughter, who is now almost eleven, is so excited to have sisters that are just like her. She is eager to teach them all she knows about Braille and being “fearless” as her twin brother calls her. The strength and courage of these amazing twins, through the grace of God, can only help two other little girls also grow stong, confident and independent. There is a very large extended family waiting for these little girls to finally come home and be so very loved. Oh what a day that day will be!
5/13/13—FIRST TRIP JUNE 1
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at http://helpinggodssmallestofangels.webs.com/
