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| The Rowe Family Beach Trip 2010 Well, summer is almost officially over now. Labor Day weekend is approaching and you know what that means... back to school! As a homeschooling parent this is not perhaps as difficult or heart wrenching for me as for some other parents. I am blessed to be able to have my kids around me most of the day. Well, lets say that is a mixed blessing. But seriously, I am grateful for this opportunity to educate and encourage my children and be present there with them each day, though it is a great responsibility. The picture above is a wonderful reminder of the great memories our family has created this summer. We had lots of fun! But I think I am now ready for our school year to begin. If you had asked me a couple weeks ago if I was ready I would have emphatically said "No way!", but I think I'm good now. I am in the process of collecting all those wonderful books we will be learning from this year, fabulous living books as the great educator Charlotte Mason would call them. And I have to say, I LOVE books! Love love love them... am happy to have many shelves devoted to them, love being surrounded by them. So getting this year's curriculum is not a burden to me, albeit a financial one! Amazon is my friend. So off we go into the 2010-2011 school year! I am looking forward to it-- the reading, the field trips, the sojourns into the city to see the children's theater perform, and so much more. I am especially looking forward to one big change.... our foster daughter will be joining us! Her adoption is nearing completion and her social workers agreed to let us homeschool her. Hip Hip Hooray!!! (Can you tell I am excited??!!) I think it will be a great opportunity to further integrate her into our family. It was always so difficult to have her separated from us during the day and having her own schedule of things she had to complete at night. I really don't think it was healthy for her to be apart from us that way, definitely didn't help the bonding process. But there wasn't anything we could do about it. Now all that changes and I am so very glad! So as we move through the year, I am sure I will have lots more to blog about on here as our homeschooling journey continues, all our activities resume and normal life rolls along. Of course there will be more on adoption too, as that was one of the main reasons for me starting this in the first place. So................ AWAY WE GO! |
The Family
Monday, August 30, 2010
Back To School
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Horrifying
The following post is re-posted here from http://gardenofeagan.blogspot.com/ and written by Lynn, the blog's author. I wanted to re-post it here to further drive home the message I have been writing about-- something needs to be done. Conditions like these just should not exist in our world today! It is a crime against humanity. I cannot fathom any child being treated in the ways depicted below, especially those with special needs who cannot advocate for themselves.
"Whatever you do to the least of these you do unto Me" ~ Jesus
"Let us be the change we want to see in the world" ~ Ghandi
Post--
Imagine you're a newborn baby. Born in a land far different than where you are now. A place where the value of human life is much different than it is in developed countries. Now imagine that you were born with something like Down Syndrome, or something as minor as a hand deformity.
Your parents will be told to send you away, that there is no care for you, and you're going to die anyway. So your parents follow the advice of doctors and bring you to an orphanage. But remember, this is an orphanage in a 3rd world country. You spend your days, weeks, months and years cold, hungry, and without medical care. If you're lucky, there will be one caregiver who takes a liking to you and tries to give you some extra attention each day.
But there's something looming over you. Something that most children in the world celebrate...your 4th birthday. Only for you, this birthday brings a death sentence, because in many of these countries, if you turn 4 and have not been adopted you'll be moved to a mental institution where you are no longer available for adoption. For all intense purposes, to the rest of the world you are dead.
There you well spend your days like this
You will be straight jacketed in sheets. Why? Because of the intense boredom and lack of human physical contact you will resort to desperate measures, even if it means gouging your own eyes out. The only contact you will get with people is if you're lucky, someone will notice that your sheets are full of urine and feces and decide to change them. You will never see sunshine. You will never smell fresh air, only the overpowering odor of urine and feces from several hundred children just like you crammed into the same building getting the same lack of care. You will likely die within the first couple of years from some terrible illness, severe dehydration, or hypothermia from lack of heat in the decrepit building.
Or perhaps you would be like this little girl. Bound by her wrists for years already, left alone in a state of severe dehydration. TIED TO HER BED!!!!!
If you don't die within the first couple of years, your body might continue to grow. But don't think it will get you a bigger bed. Instead you'll be forced to spend more years in the same crib, just like these TEENAGERS have been crammed in.
But it doesn't have to be this way! It doesn't! While governments and organizations like Mental Disability Rights International will have to deal with the indidual countries, there are ways to save these children! Reece's Rainbow is an adoption organization dedicated to rescuing children with Down Syndrome from certain death in these countries. There are many children who are approaching their 4th birthday. While not everyone is in a position to adopt a child, Reece's Rainbow has established a fund for each child to help with the adoption expenses so that nobody can say, "I would do it if I had the money."
Even if you can't adopt a child, can you spare $5, $10 or more so that someone else can? Please...this makes me sick to know these children are dying. Read through the child profiles. You'll find children that have nothing wrong with them other than an eye that needs surery, or a hand that has a mild deformity, yet they have been thrown away. But we can save them!!!!
"Whatever you do to the least of these you do unto Me" ~ Jesus
"Let us be the change we want to see in the world" ~ Ghandi
Post--
Imagine you're a newborn baby. Born in a land far different than where you are now. A place where the value of human life is much different than it is in developed countries. Now imagine that you were born with something like Down Syndrome, or something as minor as a hand deformity.
Your parents will be told to send you away, that there is no care for you, and you're going to die anyway. So your parents follow the advice of doctors and bring you to an orphanage. But remember, this is an orphanage in a 3rd world country. You spend your days, weeks, months and years cold, hungry, and without medical care. If you're lucky, there will be one caregiver who takes a liking to you and tries to give you some extra attention each day.
But there's something looming over you. Something that most children in the world celebrate...your 4th birthday. Only for you, this birthday brings a death sentence, because in many of these countries, if you turn 4 and have not been adopted you'll be moved to a mental institution where you are no longer available for adoption. For all intense purposes, to the rest of the world you are dead.
There you well spend your days like this
You will be straight jacketed in sheets. Why? Because of the intense boredom and lack of human physical contact you will resort to desperate measures, even if it means gouging your own eyes out. The only contact you will get with people is if you're lucky, someone will notice that your sheets are full of urine and feces and decide to change them. You will never see sunshine. You will never smell fresh air, only the overpowering odor of urine and feces from several hundred children just like you crammed into the same building getting the same lack of care. You will likely die within the first couple of years from some terrible illness, severe dehydration, or hypothermia from lack of heat in the decrepit building.
Or perhaps you would be like this little girl. Bound by her wrists for years already, left alone in a state of severe dehydration. TIED TO HER BED!!!!!
If you don't die within the first couple of years, your body might continue to grow. But don't think it will get you a bigger bed. Instead you'll be forced to spend more years in the same crib, just like these TEENAGERS have been crammed in.
But it doesn't have to be this way! It doesn't! While governments and organizations like Mental Disability Rights International will have to deal with the indidual countries, there are ways to save these children! Reece's Rainbow is an adoption organization dedicated to rescuing children with Down Syndrome from certain death in these countries. There are many children who are approaching their 4th birthday. While not everyone is in a position to adopt a child, Reece's Rainbow has established a fund for each child to help with the adoption expenses so that nobody can say, "I would do it if I had the money."
Even if you can't adopt a child, can you spare $5, $10 or more so that someone else can? Please...this makes me sick to know these children are dying. Read through the child profiles. You'll find children that have nothing wrong with them other than an eye that needs surery, or a hand that has a mild deformity, yet they have been thrown away. But we can save them!!!!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Video about orphans
Please take a moment to watch this video. Perhaps it will move you and motivate you to take some action in the life of an orphan.
So many times, people ask "What can I do?" They think adoption is too expensive. Or others think adoption is fine for other people but not for them. If everyone thought that and held the "pass the buck" mentality would anything ever get accomplished or changed in this world?
But there is so much we can do, from the little things to the big.
Pray-- for the children in orphanages, in foster care and for their workers.
We can give-- give of our time to be a foster parent or to mentor a child. Or give of our money to help support a child in an orphanage, to aid in grant money to get these children home faster, or to a family you know personally who is trying to adopt.
We can learn-- learn about the orphans of our world firsthand by taking a mission trip. Go across the world or just across our country and visit with the children who are so badly in need of a loving family. Or more simply, go to http://www.cryoftheorphan.org/ to learn more about the orphans of this world, their living conditions and what we can do to help.
Most importantly you can ADOPT! Open your heart and your home to a child who needs both so badly.
The Road of Life
The Road of Life
At first, I saw God as my observer,
my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heaven
or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I saw it,
but I really didn't know Him.
But later on
when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was
that He suggested we change places,
but life has not been the same since.
When I had control,
I knew the way.
It was rather boring,
but predictable . . .
It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,
and through rocky places
at breakneck speeds,
it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious
and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life
and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed,
gifts of healing,
acceptance
and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord's and mine.
And we were off again.
He said, "Give the gifts away;
they're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did,
to the people we met,
and I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him,
at first,
in control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up
and pedal
in the strangest places,
and I'm beginning to enjoy the view
and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,
He just smiles and says . . . "Pedal."
-- author unknown
This is another great poem I have been meaning to post here for awhile. It is especially poignant when you think of it in the context of adoption. The road might be bumpy, there might be curves ahead or mountains in your way, but with God and His direction you will succeed! Relying on Him as your travel companion in life is always the best way to go!
At first, I saw God as my observer,
my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heaven
or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture when I saw it,
but I really didn't know Him.
But later on
when I met Christ,
it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ
was in the back helping me pedal.
I don't know just when it was
that He suggested we change places,
but life has not been the same since.
When I had control,
I knew the way.
It was rather boring,
but predictable . . .
It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
up mountains,
and through rocky places
at breakneck speeds,
it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal!"
I worried and was anxious
and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.
I forgot my boring life
and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people with gifts that I needed,
gifts of healing,
acceptance
and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey,
my Lord's and mine.
And we were off again.
He said, "Give the gifts away;
they're extra baggage, too much weight."
So I did,
to the people we met,
and I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him,
at first,
in control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
but He knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And I am learning to shut up
and pedal
in the strangest places,
and I'm beginning to enjoy the view
and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.
And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,
He just smiles and says . . . "Pedal."
-- author unknown
This is another great poem I have been meaning to post here for awhile. It is especially poignant when you think of it in the context of adoption. The road might be bumpy, there might be curves ahead or mountains in your way, but with God and His direction you will succeed! Relying on Him as your travel companion in life is always the best way to go!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
It Couldn't Be Done by Edgar Guest
It Couldn't Be Done
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
Wow-- what an inspirational poem! This applies to so MANY things in life and just goes to show that if you want something bad enough, if you feel the need to do something bad enough, you shouldn't listen to the nay-sayers. Just get out there and do it! Begin the process! Like I said in one of my previous posts, there should be no room in life for regrets. Life is short and we need to make the most of it. If there is something in your life you are feeling compelled to do then gather your information, take the appropriate steps and go for it.
We begin our homeschool year in a couple of weeks and I know the first poem our children will be memorizing! I want them to know they can do whatever they set their minds out to do and I want them to be equipped with a positive attitude as they journey through life. With God and some determination, all things are possible.
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.
Wow-- what an inspirational poem! This applies to so MANY things in life and just goes to show that if you want something bad enough, if you feel the need to do something bad enough, you shouldn't listen to the nay-sayers. Just get out there and do it! Begin the process! Like I said in one of my previous posts, there should be no room in life for regrets. Life is short and we need to make the most of it. If there is something in your life you are feeling compelled to do then gather your information, take the appropriate steps and go for it.
We begin our homeschool year in a couple of weeks and I know the first poem our children will be memorizing! I want them to know they can do whatever they set their minds out to do and I want them to be equipped with a positive attitude as they journey through life. With God and some determination, all things are possible.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Ukranian Children
Here is a link to a story on the news about the wonderful children we had the pleasure of meeting this week!
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/video?id=7609285
or just click on "The Ukranian Children" title above.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/video?id=7609285
or just click on "The Ukranian Children" title above.
Praying Through it All
We know God is in control, and we know His will is perfect for our lives, but sometimes still it is so hard to accept his answers. So much has gone on in our lives these past two weeks and I know that things happen for a reason, but it is still hard to give up control in our lives to Him and understand we will not always receive what WE think is best for us.
We started off last week on a trip to my husband's parents' house at the beach in NJ. Delightful trip except for a major glitch on the way there-- the car broke down on us. Luckily we weren't far from our destination and luckily too Tim's mom gifts us with AAA every year, so we were able to have the car towed and repaired in time for our return trip home. We had a great week while we were there, playing at the beach and enjoying some fun family time.
When we returned home it was off to Raleigh to help out with the visiting orphans from the Ukraine. A group of 15 of them were being sponsored by various families and have been doing camp and Bible lessons for the last 3 weeks. We went on Monday and helped teach a Bible lesson to the kids, and got to spend some time hanging out with them. We brought all our children with us as well and they had a blast! They connected with the kids pretty well, despite the language barrier. Some of the children had begun to learn English, and they helped teach our kids a few phrases in Russian. It was so cool to see our children interact with other kids from a different country, with a different language, and yet still find things in common-- like the peace symbols my daughter loves to wear... there was another girl there about her age with one on her shirt too. This helped break the ice and the two of them were fast friends after that.
Both we and our children enjoyed ourselves so much that we decided to come back the next day. By then we were starting to fall in love with two of the kids-- siblings-- who were being hosted. I prayed for them to find a family, and after much discussion with my husband, thought it might actually be us. He was getting so attached to them just over the course of those two days. It caught me by surprise! Usually it is me discussing adoption with him or pointing out adorable faces on various websites. This time it was he who was saying "I wish we could just go grab them and bring them home with us!" I was really stunned at how much he cared for these kids and at his immediate willingness to gravitate towards adoption-- really without any prodding on my part. But that was just showing me that God was at work softening his heart and opening him up further to the plight of orphans.
In the end, although heartbreaking for us, another family stepped forward and committed to the children before we did. Everyone believes this will be a good match for them, so we can only pray now that they will have a great future and thank God that He did not allow them to be returned to the orphanage with no hope of a forever family. That we are truly grateful for. If we could not be their family we are glad at least that they will have one!
And as my friend Eleni told me-- albeit through my tears-- God would not have lead us through this experience for no reason. He has a plan. If nothing else we have had our hearts opened to the idea of adopting more older children from an orphanage, something we might not have considered otherwise. And my husband was able to understand how wonderful all these children are! They are not a lost cause, they are not all troubled and violent and beyond repair just because they are older as many people would have others think. And he got to experience firsthand what it is like to begin falling in love with a child who really needs you and wants to have a loving family.
I have to believe God has a plan. We don't have a crystal ball and we cannot see into the future, but the future is there and it is what we make of it. For now I know, as I have for a while, that more needs to be done to help these orphans. I need to make sure I do my part to advocate for them, spread the message, make people aware of their desperate situations and do something to CHANGE their lives....even in some small way.
So although today was a day of sadness for us, while my poor kids were crying at knowing that we were not meant to help these children through adoption this time around, I reassured them that we will have another chance. There will be more children, there will be-- lord willing-- another camp set up next year for the orphans to attend, and we will be involved. We will do our part. And for now I can be content that the seed has been planted- in my heart, in my husband's heart and in the hearts of my children. If nothing else I know that they will never forget the experiences they had this week. It has changed their perspective I know about others in this world and what we need to be doing for them. It pray that it has helped them more to have a servant's heart and opened their hearts and minds to adoption for themselves in the future. And for all these things I am grateful to God, for I know He has a plan.
Please pray for these wonderful children who we were blessed with meeting this week. They travel back on the long flight to the Ukraine tomorrow morning, and although they have all been matched with families now-- which is a huge blessing-- they will not be back with them for 6 months or more. Some of the children have to wait a year before the Ukrainian government will clear them for international adoption as it is their policy to wait approx 14 mos so that Ukrainian families have a chance to adopt them first. So pray that these children are kept safe while they are waiting to come home to their new, loving families and pray that their futures with these families will be bright ones.
And please, search your hearts and see if you can find it within yourself to do something to help in the plight of orphans across this world. There are so many ways to help. If anyone is interested in donating to help provide support to the camp for the orphans next year, leave a comment and let me know. I would be happy to put you in touch with the right people!
We started off last week on a trip to my husband's parents' house at the beach in NJ. Delightful trip except for a major glitch on the way there-- the car broke down on us. Luckily we weren't far from our destination and luckily too Tim's mom gifts us with AAA every year, so we were able to have the car towed and repaired in time for our return trip home. We had a great week while we were there, playing at the beach and enjoying some fun family time.
When we returned home it was off to Raleigh to help out with the visiting orphans from the Ukraine. A group of 15 of them were being sponsored by various families and have been doing camp and Bible lessons for the last 3 weeks. We went on Monday and helped teach a Bible lesson to the kids, and got to spend some time hanging out with them. We brought all our children with us as well and they had a blast! They connected with the kids pretty well, despite the language barrier. Some of the children had begun to learn English, and they helped teach our kids a few phrases in Russian. It was so cool to see our children interact with other kids from a different country, with a different language, and yet still find things in common-- like the peace symbols my daughter loves to wear... there was another girl there about her age with one on her shirt too. This helped break the ice and the two of them were fast friends after that.
Both we and our children enjoyed ourselves so much that we decided to come back the next day. By then we were starting to fall in love with two of the kids-- siblings-- who were being hosted. I prayed for them to find a family, and after much discussion with my husband, thought it might actually be us. He was getting so attached to them just over the course of those two days. It caught me by surprise! Usually it is me discussing adoption with him or pointing out adorable faces on various websites. This time it was he who was saying "I wish we could just go grab them and bring them home with us!" I was really stunned at how much he cared for these kids and at his immediate willingness to gravitate towards adoption-- really without any prodding on my part. But that was just showing me that God was at work softening his heart and opening him up further to the plight of orphans.
In the end, although heartbreaking for us, another family stepped forward and committed to the children before we did. Everyone believes this will be a good match for them, so we can only pray now that they will have a great future and thank God that He did not allow them to be returned to the orphanage with no hope of a forever family. That we are truly grateful for. If we could not be their family we are glad at least that they will have one!
And as my friend Eleni told me-- albeit through my tears-- God would not have lead us through this experience for no reason. He has a plan. If nothing else we have had our hearts opened to the idea of adopting more older children from an orphanage, something we might not have considered otherwise. And my husband was able to understand how wonderful all these children are! They are not a lost cause, they are not all troubled and violent and beyond repair just because they are older as many people would have others think. And he got to experience firsthand what it is like to begin falling in love with a child who really needs you and wants to have a loving family.
I have to believe God has a plan. We don't have a crystal ball and we cannot see into the future, but the future is there and it is what we make of it. For now I know, as I have for a while, that more needs to be done to help these orphans. I need to make sure I do my part to advocate for them, spread the message, make people aware of their desperate situations and do something to CHANGE their lives....even in some small way.
So although today was a day of sadness for us, while my poor kids were crying at knowing that we were not meant to help these children through adoption this time around, I reassured them that we will have another chance. There will be more children, there will be-- lord willing-- another camp set up next year for the orphans to attend, and we will be involved. We will do our part. And for now I can be content that the seed has been planted- in my heart, in my husband's heart and in the hearts of my children. If nothing else I know that they will never forget the experiences they had this week. It has changed their perspective I know about others in this world and what we need to be doing for them. It pray that it has helped them more to have a servant's heart and opened their hearts and minds to adoption for themselves in the future. And for all these things I am grateful to God, for I know He has a plan.
Please pray for these wonderful children who we were blessed with meeting this week. They travel back on the long flight to the Ukraine tomorrow morning, and although they have all been matched with families now-- which is a huge blessing-- they will not be back with them for 6 months or more. Some of the children have to wait a year before the Ukrainian government will clear them for international adoption as it is their policy to wait approx 14 mos so that Ukrainian families have a chance to adopt them first. So pray that these children are kept safe while they are waiting to come home to their new, loving families and pray that their futures with these families will be bright ones.
And please, search your hearts and see if you can find it within yourself to do something to help in the plight of orphans across this world. There are so many ways to help. If anyone is interested in donating to help provide support to the camp for the orphans next year, leave a comment and let me know. I would be happy to put you in touch with the right people!
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