A New Family Begins - The Stories of Adoptive Families
Everyday, millions of orphans around the world are looking for a new family so they will feel save, wanted, and most important of all, loved. This is particularly true for special needs children.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to provide assistance to a few adoptive families during their final yet most important step of their adoption journey: uniting them with their adopted children.
The Cox Family
Below are extracts from Lisa Cox's online diary in which she documented her year long adoption journey.
God is so good to us. I fathom to understand how He knows us so intimately and loves us so deeply. We started our adoption journey together over a year ago. We knew from the beginning that we wanted to adopt a little girl with special needs. We did not know exactly what that need would be. That morning I looked at my email, and it said "Another Special Needs Child that is Available"! I knew before I opened it, that it was her and as I saw her photo, I knew even more!
We left the motel at 7:00 am this morning, went to the airport and arived in Guangzhou at 12:15 pm. We went straight from the airport to the civil affairs office. Our group had a 2:00pm appointment. It was hard to not know how long it would be before Claire would arive. One minute later, she came walking in the door!!!! She never cried, she just looked at us and came to me right away. She loves her little doll and even took right to James.
We had the best evening with Claire. She was running around and playing. We had a chance to change her into a pediatric ostomy bag (they gave us HUGE adult ones for her) right after giving her a bath ... which she LOVED! She is so sweet.
Claire did fine on the flights. She did not sleep well, she was getting a rash. She itched and itched, the whole flight. James did not get to sleep at all. There were TV screens and very comfortable seats. Cathay Pacific is a fabulous airline. Way nicer than the flight through China Eastern.
Having a toddler around has been a great joy again! She (Claire) makes us laugh continuously. She is also very active! She is so beautiful. We really are enjoying her. I pray that this journal will help to prepare others about to make this journey. It IS a bed of roses... you just have to remember that roses have thorns, but the Lord will help you remove them.
~ Lisa Cox
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| Claire with her new siblings - Tori, Tacia, Jordon, Claire & Jace (from left to right). | Claire enjoying herself in the middle of a pumpkin field. |
The Heydinger Family
We'd like to thank you for making it possible for us to travel to China Aug 30, 2006 to complete the adoption of our daughter Kaia. We returned to the states Sept. 14, 2006. Kaia is adjusting well in her new family, she likes the United States and she likes her new home. Kaia has been busy getting to know her family of one brother and two sisters, she also is learning the English language. The arrangements of our flights was handled well, they covered all our needs. The addition of a child by adoption can be very expensive and you have helped ease the financial burden by providing these flights for us. Thanks for your contribution in bringing this child to her forever family. We are forever grateful
~ The Heydinger's
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| First day the family met Kaia, the newiest addition to the family. | Kaia (left) with her new sister, Kami, at the airport. |
The McKelvey Family
We have often talked about adopting children, each time the conversation was concluded with "… after we raise our (biological) children and we have the money to adopt, then we will do it." In October 2005, Adam and I became convinced that God was calling us to adopt from China. At that time and through most of the process, we had very little idea how we would come up with the necessary finances for the adoption, but we rested in the knowledge that God would provide.
In January 2006, we received our 2 ½ year old son’s referral. Because of his special needs (severe deformity of both feet and lower legs necessitating amputation and prosthetics), the adoption process was to be expedited – meaning even less time to gather the necessary funds. God always provided the money just before we needed it and in a variety of ways. He provided a buyer for 2 expensive dogs (that we had purchased years ago to breed, but it never really worked out), large and unexpected refunds, extra work for Adam, a Silent Auction fundraiser and donations from people we don’t even know following the printing of an article in a local paper.
As we anxiously awaited our travel approval, we continued to call out to God for the remaining adoption and travel expenses. God answered in miraculous ways! One day, we received a call from our adoption agency stating that we had been approved to receive a $2,500.00 grant from an anonymous granting source. A short time later, we were contacted by Shaohannah’s Hope stating that if we were willing, they would connect us with the C.A.R.E. Society for assistance with our international air travel. The C.A.R.E. Society contributed enough frequent flyer miles for the roundtrip airfare to China for Adam and I on Cathay Pacific airlines (The tickets were valued at almost $7,000.00 total). We had previously never heard of Cathay Pacific airlines (which we decided that it was a good thing that we didn’t remember this airline ever making the national evening news). The Cathay Pacific flight attendants and airport staff were very helpful, always seeking to make our trip as pleasant as possible and they were eager to accommodate the needs of our two little travelers.
Our son, Seth, fills a whole in our family that we didn’t know that we had! He is a fun-loving and caring son and big brother ("Ge Ge"). He is outgoing and very affectionate. He is eager to be helpful and likes to teach/encourage his new "Mie Mie" ("little sister" who is 21 months old).
In our time of need, God provided in miraculous ways using individuals and agencies dedicated to do His will! Reflecting upon the adoption process and the blessing that this adoption has brought to our lives, we are yet again awed by God’s tremendous love and never-ending watch care over each of His precious lambs.
~ Deanna McKelvey
posted by C.A.R.E. Housing Society at
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