Homestudy In Progress
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Because every family deserves the blessing of a child with Down Syndrome... |
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DILLON for the Greeson family — TX
Gary and Teresa have been married for 11 years and have 5 beautiful children. They have 1 boy and 4 girls ranging from 10 down to 3. In 2009 their daughter Hope was born and unexpectedly diagnosed with Down syndrome. This has been the biggest turning point in their lives. It changed the way they look at everything. She became everything they never knew they always needed. She brings so much love and joy to everyone around her. She is nothing short of perfection in their eyes. This led them to adopting #5 from Russia in 2012. Mila is 4 weeks younger than Hope and also has Down syndrome. In a lot of the Eastern European countries a diagnosis of Down syndrome is shunned and at birth these mothers are told that it is best to leave them at the hospital where they are soon transferred to the orphanage, where they will stay until they turn 4-6 years old, where they are then transferred to a mental institution.
They know that they cannot “Change the world” BUT, they CAN make sure that the world does not change them. They CAN make a difference to someone’s life…an Earthly, and Eternal difference. They have the most accepting and wonderful children. They accepted Mila immediately as if she were always theirs.
They have fallen in love with a little boy with Ds, who needs a family. He is such a happy little boy despite his living arrangements, and never having a mother to kiss and hug him. He came so unexpectedly, but the love was undeniable. They cannot wait (especially their oldest son, Van) to bring home a sweet, little boy and always make him feel wanted. They know that they will learn as much from him as he will from them… together… as a Forever Family.
10/12/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at gatheringoursunshine.blogspot.com
LAURENCE’s family — IL
We are so excited to have Laurence/Lance join our family. I have had a heart for orphans starting at a very young age. I currently enjoy working in the field of special education, and have a great schedule for raising a family. I went back to school to get my Masters in Social work to hopefully start a ministry for orphans/foster kids someday. Although I have these big dreams, for right now, I am using what God has given me in the present moment. I didn’t really plan to adopt overseas, mostly because of the huge expense. In fact, I got my foster care license so that I can adopt a child from foster care in this country. I guess God has other plans at this time, and I am trusting in Him to provide. Lance will join two brothers. My biological son is 8 years old and he is half-Chinese. Lance’s other soon-to-be brother joined us in June of 2013 through a program called Safe Families and will be with us long-term. We are all looking forward to meeting Lance and have enjoyed the pictures and stories from so many people who have already met him and love him.
3/12/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at lovinglancehome.blogspot.com
DANNY and WAYNE for the Anderson family — NM
Michael & Amber met in a choir class at the University of New Mexico Institute of Religion way back in 1998. They have been married just shy of 14 years. They have three bio children, Seth who is almost 13, Evie who is almost 10, and Gillian who just turned 4. They decided they would have a large family, probably six children, and then, when those children were grown, they would start a new wave of children through adoption. As it turned out, biology made that initial plan impossible. Instead of mourning, they moved up their adoption plans! They are certified foster & adoptive parents through their state, but were unable to secure a permanent placement.
They came to Reece’s Rainbow, not to seek international adoption, but because a friend posted a link on FB that spoke of a third friend’s adoption. The Anderson’s viewed international adoption as ‘something rich people did’ and didn’t plan for it to be part of their future. However, once Amber discovered Reece’s Rainbow, she began to research the terrible conditions in foreign orphanages and their hearts were softened that international adoption wasn’t for ‘someday’ when they had more money but that, as MLK said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
They found their son, Danny, in a large Asian country. Sometimes orphanage conditions are better in his country, sometimes they’re not. But Danny has a special need, which means, no matter what, his future in his home country is grim. His personality is dynamic and fun and he’d be perfect in a large, crazy family like the Anderson’s. He deserves a chance based on his potential, not his ability to move, and the Andersons are so excited to be a part of his future. They hope to add a second child before travelling, but pick children based on just the right feeling and have not discovered their second child yet.
They believe that Frederick Douglass was so very right when he said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”, and they hope you will join with them on their journey to build strong children in the arms of their crazy, loud, togetherness seeking, wacky joke telling, hug giving, game playing, trip taking, knowledge seeking, and very, very loving family.
12/27/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at whereyouwantmetogo.blogspot.com
SAVANNAH for the Piatt family — CA
Tami is a single mom to four beautiful girls. Her oldest, Suzanna, is grown and working as an engineer. Her daughter Elisa, adopted from Bulgaria and Lara, from China were joined by Mary, adopted in 2007, also from China. She thought her family was done but God had other plans and she knew she had another child waiting to come home. Over the last few years many children have touched her heart and she liked to think that she had prayed many children home. Last April, she saw Savannah and knew that this was her long awaited daughter. She prayed for many months that God would provide a way for her to bring her daughter home. God opened those doors this fall, and now the whole family is excited to be welcoming 5 year old Savannah into their hearts and home.
1/31/14—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at piattfamilyabc.blogspot.com
Raymond for the Kingma family — MI
Called to Adoption: An Invisible Red Thread
There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.” The Kingma family is connected by many red threads, woven together carefully by God and joined together to create a family.
Henry and Liz have always shared a strong sense of calling to be adoptive parents. Adoption is part of the Kingma family’s response to the gift of salvation they have received from God. Their adoption into God’s family compels them to look at the world differently and to find ways to live out their gratitude. Jesus spent his entire ministry reaching out to those on the margins, including orphans. It is estimated today that there are over 150 million orphans worldwide! So how do you make a difference when there are so many? You do it like Jesus often did, one person at a time.
After Henry and Liz had been married for seven years, they began the process to adopt a child with special needs from China. A year later, they met and brought home their daughter Meili. She was born with a cleft lip and palate and she was a little bundle of energy and joy! Two years later, they began the process to adopt another child with special needs from China. The following year, they welcomed their son Willem home. He was also born with a cleft lip and palate and experienced many developmental delays – partly due to illness and diet, partly because of his environment. Since coming home, he has overcome many developmental obstacles, endured many surgeries and continues to grow and thrive! Meili was delighted to be a big sister and proved to be a very good one for Willem!
At this point, Henry and Liz thought that they were done with adoption. They had completed two adoptions, had accumulated a second mortgage on their home and had lots of debt from travel expenses, adoption fees and their kids’ medical needs However, this past winter, Henry and Liz felt a strong sense of calling to begin the adoption process again. This time the calling was harder for them to comprehend. Financially, they had exhausted all of their resources and didn’t know how they could make it happen again. However, they were encouraged by friends, family and the adoptive community at their church and were reminded that when we trust God to provide, we allow him to work miracles. It was because of all the support that they began the process to adopt again, this time a child with special needs from Hong Kong. They have received Matching Approval for a little one-year-old boy with Downs Syndrome from Hong Kong. They cannot wait to meet him and bring him home!
1/22/14—COMPILING DOSSIER
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at invisible-thread.blogspot.com
KEEGAN for the Vantrease family — KY
Mike and Anita have been married for 28 years. Anita was adopted at 11 months old. Her dad was also adopted but at the age of 3. He actually was one of the last orphans to ride the orphan train. Anita and Mike had a heavy heart to adopt as it’s always been a part of Anita’s life. They have 4 children all adopted from China and began the journey back in Dec. 2000 when they brought home their first daughter Emmi from Nanchang at the age of 12 months with the nsn program. She is now 14 yo. In 2003, they found their second daughter Maggie on the first sn listing. Her need was cl/cp. She is filled with energy and bounces through the house twirling and doing cartwheels. Not even thinking about a son, they felt the call again to adopt. But this time, God had a different plan for them, it was a son. They found Jacob at the age of 3 also on a sn list. He had a club radial hand. Anita advocated for him and didn’t even realize he was to be their son. Then God layed it on her heart and she knew!!! Trusting in Him, they started the journey to bring him home. Again, what a joy he has been to their family. In 2009, their heart became heavy for the older child. With prayer and trusting in God, in 2010 they found their daughter, Faith, age 12 yo. She was listed with Sequalae from a brain injury, cp. Since coming home, Faith has adjusted very well and is learning with leaps and bounds. It is with great joy that she is coming to know Jesus and attends a Friday night Chinese worship group and then of course on Sunday too. Now as the Vantrease family starts the journey again to their second son, the entire family is giddy to get him home. As with the previous 4 children, Keegan will be loved and adored. He will grow and learn about the love of Jesus in a home where He is present everyday.
2/17/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at adoptmilesoftheheartoneless.blogspot.com
AVA and MIA for the LaDuke family — NY
Adam and Karen LaDuke met in college where they became fast friends. A college professor paired them up to share a painting studio assuring Karen, “Adam will be a great influence on you.” Though the professor was speaking in artistic terms, his statement proved to be much more true than he ever imagined. Karen and Adam were married in 1999 and their birth daughter, Naomi, was born to them four years later. Parenting rocked! They loved every bit of it and enjoyed their time with their sweet, sensitive, and imaginative Naomi at home. A week before Naomi turned three, she came to her parents and announced that they were to have another baby. “Her name is Sally and she doesn’t have a Mommy or a Daddy. Mommy will be the Mommy and Daddy will be her Daddy.” This was a remarkable statement for any nearly three year old, but it was especially breathtaking because Adam and Karen had been praying for about adding to their family. Having discussed future plans for adoption before they were even married, they weren’t sure if their next child should be biological or adopted. Their discussions had all taken place after bedtime and out of earshot of Naomi’s room, so they felt stunned by her “proclamation”. They were particularly shocked to find a little girl from China three weeks later on a waiting child website with the name “Sally”. When Karen called and asked for information concerning Sally’s special needs and found out that Sally had the same medical issues that Karen herself had dealt with as a child! Continuing to pray privately as they collected information, Adam and Karen needed to make a decision about adopting. No one had mentioned Sally to Naomi during this time, but praying with Naomi a month after her announcement, Karen asked God to send her just the right brother or sister at just the right time. Naomi, now three, interrupted to interject, “Yeah, God… Send us Sally.” Sally came home one year later and the two have been extremely close since Day 1. Six years have now passed and Adam and Karen felt God nudging them toward adoption again. This time, Karen saw “Ava and Mia” on Reece’s Rainbow and immediately saw the kind of loving relationship between them that Naomi and Sally share. The age difference between the two girls was the same as well. Upon seeing the girls’ picture, Adam immediately felt God calling him to say “Yes!” When the girls’ picture was switched from the “Newly Listed Children” category to the “My Family Found Me” category, Naomi cried tears of joy and Sally screamed and did cartwheels. GOD IS GOOD! Please join with Adam and Karen as they pray for “Ava and Mia” in Africa and await for the girls to unite with them as their forever family.
9/19/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
CHUCK for the Pitcher family — MT
Nate and Julie have been married for nearly 17 years now. They love their chaos filled life; chasing their five biological children from sports, to spelling bees to piano. It’s a simple life, but it’s what they would choose over and over again. Life is about faith and family. It’s about talent shows, Disney sing-offs, homemade pizza, family home evening, wrestling and yes, basketball.
Adoption was not part of their immediate plan when two years ago they stumbled across the profile of a child meant to be theirs on Reeces Rainbow. They spent a week in country meeting and falling in love with her, and then the birth country formed a law that banned this adoption. Their hearts, and those of their biological children, were broken. She would never come home. Starting another journey has been a difficult decision.
The knowledge that there was another child for their family nagged at them. After a few months, Julie and Nate began to study the profiles of children waiting for their forever families. This little face became familiar. And tender. And then, it became theirs…
This journey has taken such different direction that what they would have imagined. But they acknowledge their Heavenly Father’s hand in it, and are so excited to add to their family by bringing this little man home. He has NO idea how life will change with 2 brothers, 3 sisters and a mom and dad.
Bring on the ‘firsts’….
4/9/14—HOME STUDY ALMOST COMPLETE
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at pitcherperfect.blogspot.com
SUTTER for the Smith family — IN
Jason and Emily have been married for 19 years. They have 4 children who make them very proud: Hannah (18) Julia (16) Noah (12) and Gracie (5). Jason has a heart for ministry and Emily is a stay-at-home mom. (i.e., she homeschools the kids and shows them love by taking them all over the world and back for the sake of their growth through various activities). While Jason and Emily had talked about adoption before they were married, it wasn’t until recently that they were confident that it was now time.
Jason and Emily ask that you would join them in prayer as they walk this journey to bring home the children God has for them. They also thank you for prayerfully considering supporting them through this process.
11/26/13—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the Smith family’s adoption journey on their blog at somewherebeyondallthis.blogspot.com
EDEN for the McLean family — MA
Kerri and Dan have some very exciting news to share!!! This adorable munchkin will soon be part of their family! Kerri and Dan have many reasons to be thankful for the internet. They met on Match.com four and a half years ago, and knew right away that they had found “the one.” They have been married for two and a half years now, and thanks again to the internet, they have fallen in love with a baby on the other side of the world. They knew right away that she was “the one.”
Dan has a 6 year old son and a 9 year old daughter, who is also lucky enough to have Down Syndrome. While Dan’s children live far away, they get to visit with them as often as possible. They are excited that their new munchkin will have such a wonderful big brother and sister, to help her become the newest member of the McLean clan. Kerri and Dan live on a small family farm, which is home to 5 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, 2 goats, and a handful of chickens. They also both have large extended families who all live nearby. Everyone is looking forward to welcoming this much anticipated member of the family, as soon as they can get her home! Thank you for all your support!
2/24/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at soundscrazyoutloud.blogspot.com
BO for the Christofferson family — IA
The Christofferson family is working on bringing home their son, Bo. Bo is 5 years old, and he rocks his extra chromosome. The Christofferson’s met Bo when they were in China last year adopting their two daugthers Ell and Mae. Bo stole their hearts, and they couldn’t stop thinking about him. Down syndrome is a passion in this family! On May 31, 2006, Carsten Douglas entered their world, and changed it forever. Shortly after his birth, Matt and Meg found out that Carsten had Down syndrome. They have spent the last 7 years not only fighting for the world to hear Carsten’s voice, but all of the individuals with Down syndrome in central Iowa. Megan is the founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines, which services over 300 families touched by Down syndrome in central Iowa. While fighting for people to hear the voice of individuals with Ds, they realized they weren’t listening to Bo’s voice or their hearts. They started the process to adopt Bo after seeing his picture on Project 143′s hosting website. Seeing his face again set their hearts on fire, and they can’t wait to bring him home… where he belongs. Please help them on their journey to their son!
1/18/14—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at myimperfectextraordinarylife.com
HOLDEN for the Byrne-Cox family — KY
The Byrne-Cox family was over half way through completing their adoption of a precious little 8yo boy from China. He has spina bifida with mobility and continence issues. The day they send their dossier to their agency, they saw Holden’s profile online. What they saw was not just a young man about to age out of the orphanage system in China. They saw a young man who was full of love… a young man who took care of the smaller children in the orphanage because he cared about them and because he wanted to be cared for. It took less than 24 hours for the Byrne-Cox family to decide to bring this little boy home too. They know his heart reflected the heart of their family. They submitted their LOI the next day and received their pre-approval in less than 24 hours. The next 4 months are going to be a blur of flurried activity and this unplanned, surprise adoption before Holden ages out is going to make it difficult for the Byrne-Cox family to come up with the funds needed. Please consider helping them bring home Holden.
1/30/14—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at drmommyandherpumpkins.blogspot.com
FELIX and GRETA for the Barnett family — TX
David and Stephanie met in 1991 at First Baptist Church Frisco through David’s sister, Cindy, who was Stephanie’s Sunday School teacher. Stephanie grew very close to Cindy and her family as she began babysitting Cindy’s son and daughter. David and Stephanie were only initially family friends who only saw each other at church when David came to visit his family since David was in college and Stephanie was in high school. Once Stephanie graduated high school and began college, their relationship forged into a friendship where they occasionally met up to hang out. However, all of that changed in November 1996 when David’s mother was in the end stages of terminal cancer. Stephanie rallied around David’s family and became a strong support and source of comfort to David. It was during this time that God made it abundantly clear that their relationship would become more than “just friends.” In the month that followed, they began praying and seeking God’s will and timing for their new dating relationship. A month later, in January 1997, David and Stephanie became engaged to be married. Over the next eight months, as Stephanie finished her senior year in college, they continued to seek the Lord in their relationship and prayed for ways to serve Him together. In September 1997, David and Stephanie were married.
Initially they did not want children, so David continued his career as an accountant and Stephanie began her career as a secondary English and Reading teacher. For the next four years they happily continued on their career paths and continued to pray that God would open doors for them to serve Him in a mighty way through their daily lives. In May 2001, Stephanie’s life was shattered when her brother, Shane, tragically passed away. During this time of unspeakable grief, David and Stephanie sought comfort in God and remained steadfast in their desire to serve Him. God, in return, began to change their hearts in relation to their views on having children. Within a few short months, Stephanie was pregnant with their first child. What started as an uneventful healthy pregnancy changed when Stephanie entered her second trimester. On December 23rd, during a routine sonogram, the Barnett’s were informed that their precious baby no longer had a heartbeat. They were completely devastated and in mourning, but found comfort in knowing that, without a doubt, their precious baby was in the arms of Jesus and that they would one day be reunited as a family. The Barnett’s also found solace as they continued to place their trust in God and believe that, in His Sovereignty, God still had a plan for them that included children.
In February 2002, the Lord led the Barnett’s to begin an apartment ministry and Stephanie took a leave from teaching to focus on the ministry full time. They absolutely loved the diverse apartment residents and cherished the fact that they were serving the Lord through ministering to this community. As they were serving, they could not help but feel that God was using this apartment ministry to prepare them for a bigger life-changing permanent ministry. They continued to pray and ask God to lead them where He wanted them to serve by opening the doors “to get there.”
On a Thursday night in April 2002, God widely opened the first door that would place David and Stephanie on their life ministry. Stephanie was on her way home from a ladies’ night out event for the apartment community when she received a call from a family member. This family member knew of a perfect blonde-haired newborn baby who needed a family because his birth mother was unable to care for him. Immediately, Stephanie told the family member that she and David wanted this baby! It was only after she hung up the phone did the word “adoption” form in her mind and sear into her heart. Her very next thought was, “Oh my goodness, I just committed to this baby and did not even consult David!” Oops! When David got home from work later that night, Stephanie informed him that he would be a daddy in a matter of days. Thankfully, David reacted with more enthusiasm over adopting their son than Stephanie did! Several days later, the Barnett’s became first time parents through the beautiful world of adoption. They named their precious gift from God Copeland Shane after David’s grandpa, Copeland, and Stephanie’s brother, Shane. It was at this moment David and Stephanie knew their family would be built through adoption and not biologically. They could not believe that God would bless them in this way and could not wait to see how He would grow their family!
In 2004, the Barnett’s moved to San Antonio and began to earnestly pray that God would once again open the doors to adopt another child. Stephanie had returned to the high school classroom by then and, in 2005, met a teenager with Down syndrome who changed her life forever. Although he was not Stephanie’s student, this amazing boy asked her to help him with his homework each morning. As Stephanie tutored him, she could not help but fall in love with him and marvel at just how perfectly and beautifully God had created him. So, for the next three years, David, Stephanie, and Copeland prayed that God would bless them with a child with Ds whom they could adopt. In 2008, their many prayers were answered when God blessed them with a beautiful blonde-haired hazel-eyed newborn baby with Down syndrome! God had now wonderfully added the words “Down syndrome” to the word “adoption” while building their family. They named their new son Silas Eli. In the New Testament, Silas was one of the first Christian missionaries who served beside the Apostle Paul. It was only fitting that they chose this name because this was the missionary journey that they had been praying for and that God had called them to. Eli was David’s grandpa’s middle name.
From the moment the Barnett’s brought Silas home, he absolutely rocked their world! They now knew that God would call them to adopt more children with Ds. In 2010, Stephanie happened to be reading her weekly People magazine when she came across an article about Andrea Roberts and why she was inspired to start Reece’s Rainbow. The Barnett’s lives were forever changed because of Andrea and RR. There were absolutely devastated and their hearts were broken when they learned that special needs babies are abandoned at hospitals as newborns and then sent to mental institutions by age three or four to live out the rest of their lives, with a large percentage of them dying within the first year of transfer as a result of malnourishment and mistreatment. They could not believe that the majority of people in this world could not see just how worthy and capable children and adults with special needs are. They immediately realized that God was calling them to action in order to show the world just how wonderful, worthy, and capable those with special needs are. The Barnett’s had living proof: Silas Eli.
Over the next few months, the Barnett’s found themselves praying about RR and growing their family again through “adoption” and “Down syndrome.” During Thanksgiving week 2010, Stephanie reached out to RR for the first time. She made contact with Andrea and implored about the possibility of adopting ONE boy from Ukraine. Over the next couple of weeks, God made it clear to the Barnett’s that they would be bringing home TWO boys from Ukraine as He led them to Igor’s and Tihon’s pictures and profiles on the RR website. As David, Stephanie, and Copeland prayed over their two boys’ pictures on RR each night, they could not help but scroll past the picture and profile of a tiny little girl named Leeza with both Ds and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Stephanie found herself literally knocked to her knees late each night for almost two weeks sobbing as she begged God to bring Leeza a mama through a forever family. Little did Stephanie know that she was actually praying for herself, David, Copeland, and Silas! Through a series of miraculous events, the Lord completely opened the doors for the Barnett’s to bring home THREE children. A few days after Christmas 2010, they officially committed to bringing home Igor, Tihon, and Leeza. In October of 2011, David and Stephanie landed on US soil with Igor (whom they named Teague Josiah), Tihon (whom they named Trenton James), and Leeza (whom they named Maclayne Faith – Mackie for short). The Lord had now graciously added the word “orphan” to the words “adoption” and “Down syndrome” as He continued to grow their family.
Now, a little over two years after bringing home Teague, Trenton, and Maclayne, the Lord has answered the Barnett’s prayers of adopting again by opening initial doors for them to bring home two more orphans, Felix and Greta, with Down syndrome from Eastern Europe. The Barnett’s are absolutely head over heels in love with Felix & Greta and cannot wait to bring them home! Please join the Barnett’s on their journey through prayer and support as the Lord once again grows their family through “adoption,” “Down syndrome,” and “orphan.” The Barnett’s are forever blessed and humbled by all those who have joined and will join them on their beautiful journey to fulfill God’s calling for their lives and ministry. Thank you!
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.” ~ John 14:17-19
2/4/2014—HOMESTUDY in PROCESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at obedient2hiscommand.blogspot.com
VIOLET for the Greene family — ID
Alison is a single Registered Nurse. She has always dreamed of having children, but has not been so blessed. Alison has worked with children and adults with special needs in the past, including Down syndrome, and has always enjoyed it. One night, she had a dream that she and her sister were looking at a website of children for adoption with Down syndrome. When she woke, she did a search on her computer, and found Reece’s Rainbow. After years of looking at the site, and much encouragement from family and friends, she decided to give it a try! There have been many roadblocks in the process, but she has finally fallen in love with the little girl she feels was meant to be her daughter!
12/29/13—HOME STUDY UPDATE in PROGRESS
Follow the family’s adoption journey on their blog at achildforali.blogspot.com
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ABC NEWS: Hidden Angels
Diane Sawyer reports on the adoption of Mia Cox:
