I have been blessed in many ways. I have a loving husband, wonderful children, and a great support system in my church family as well as loving support generated from the adoption community I belong to.

I live in the state of Georgia, in Smyrna. I'm a homeschool instructor as well as a mother. I am always with the children: that way, if they need anything, I'm readily available to them.

Our children come from a variety of places: Africa, the Orient, Russia, even the United States. Our children are also handicapped: physical, mental, emotional, even all three, as in the case of my daughter, M'bute', who is almost nine. Some of the kids were born disabled; others became disabled from illness, injury, or accident.

We don't coddle the kids or give in when they whine when they can't do something. Just the other day Bethlehem, who was tired after a long day at school, wouldn't pick up her clothes off the floor. "Her stumps were hurting her", was what she told me. I told her to get her crutches, get her rear off the bed, and pick up the clothes.

I wasn't very nice about it eiether. She got the message. She picked up her clothes and stuffed them into her closet, a scowl crossing her face.

Just because a child is handicapped doesn't mean they can't do anything. They can do whatever they want (along as it's within reason)., and they should be able to do what their friends do (as long as they don't cause problems or act foolish).

God has been good to me in bringing me these special children into our lives. We had alwayas wanted children, always wanted a big family. We didn't have much experience with disabled children, but ever since these kids started coming, we were more than willing to learn, take them in, love them as our own.

We haven't looked back.