Louisiana responds to the charming email she got yesterday in her in-box; she heard from a woman in England who has four children, all adopted (three boys from Russia and a little girl from China).
Saturday, December 17, 2004, 2005~
Dear Rosie (I hope you don't mind my calling you that!!)~
Thanks for your delightful letter; I was intrigued by your happy, spunky nature, and I especially was charmed by some of the British words you peppered your letter with ("postie", "lorry", "come a cropper"--although I think that is more "Down Under" than British; still it is cute!--, etc.). Thank you for writing, and most of all, thank you for reading my book, but..HOW in the WORLD did a copy of my book end up all the way there in ENGLAND?? WOW!! Thank you for reading it, and I am glad you enjoyed it!!
Your family sounds lovely. Three boys (all active, I am sure), and a little girl...nothing near my family yet, but that is okay...you still have the love in your heart to take in children who were in desperate need of a home--and a family--, and that is what counts, especially during this coming Christmas season! What better gift to a deserving child than to give them a home or a family?
To tell you a little about myself, Rosie, I am a RN at a hospital not far from where I live (I have been a nurse going on nine years now), and I have been married to my husband (Bill) for fourteen and a half years now; in June we will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. Bill works too; but he works at Wal*Mart, where he is a greeter (he greets the people as they come into the store). We did have three children of our own, but unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, they all died, two while still very young infants (the other one died on what would have been his fourth birthday). After an extended period of grief and mourning, God started working in our hearts, even when we weren't aware of it, and He brought us a little baby boy from Germany in 1993, and a week later, a little multi-racial girl from Louisiana (she had Hispanic, African-American, Irish, Native American Indian, and Cajun French in her bloodlines). They were immediately welcomed into our hearts and our home, and now we were at long last a family. Johnathon and Ronee' were the first adopted children; now they are to be turning 13 years old next week, Ronee' on December 25 (that's right: a CHRISTMAS BABY!), and her brother, Johnny, a day later, on December 26th! We then added seven more children, instantly swelling our brood from just four all the way up to 11...and there have been more and more kids coming into our family ever since! We just adopted three more this year: a little boy and girl from Sri Lanka (back in February), and in August, another little girl from Romania, so now we have FIFTY-THREE Miracles in our International Family! Our children come from places like all over the United States of America, Africa, Iran, Germany, Canada, Latin America and Mexico, France, China, Japan, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Bosnia-Hergozovina, Russia, and the Netherlands. As you have read in my book, the majority of the children that we adopted are children who have special needs, but they are still children, and while their disabilities ARE there, we try not to focus so much on them; we try to see the child UNDERNEATH the disabilities, and we try to treat them like the children they truly are. Some have disabilities that are "hidden" (learning disabilities, hearing impairment, epilepsy, etc.), but others have very obvious disabilities that are easily seen (arthritis, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, dwarfism, spina bifida, breathing problems, etc.), and we have had to learn about them and help them whenever they run into trouble. Still, it has been worth every bit of time and tears to spend with these precious children, and we now can't imagine our family without ANY of them! They have brought us much in the way of joy, and we couldn't be more blessed than we are right now!
I know how it is to live with disability myself because I have epilepsy (it is under control, thanks to medication), and for years, I had severe back pain and had difficulty walking (I used a cane for years, and sometimes, Lofstran crutches), due to a terrible fall I suffered in childhood (for several years after the fall, I was paralyzed, and I had to walk with Lofstrans and braces on my legs); so I know how these kids feel, and I know the stigma that being disabled often brings. I know how it is to be teased and how it feels to have to struggle with things like walking or trying to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground. It wasn't easy, but I was a determined little cuss, and it never stopped me from doing what I wanted in life! It didn't stop me from going to nursing school and becoming a nurse, and even when I WAS a nurse, other than not being able to do a lot of heavy lifting of patients or bending over, I still worked and did my job well, and I enjoyed my work very, very much. I then had surgery back in the spring to stop the pain in my spine, and it has been nothing short of a miracle because I am now able to walk WITHOUT help, and I can lift and hug my children again, and best of all, I can RUN and DANCE!! It's like I got my life back, and for that I am praising God!! GLORY!! :)
Okay, that is a LOT about myself, but I started writing, and...you know how THAT goes! LOL I am one who LOVES to talk, and I LOVE to tell others about what God has done for me and my family, and I LOVE talking about the children! I am just so blessed, and sometimes I can't help myself! LOL
I had to laugh when I read about the kilt, and what was underneath..I didn't know what was under one myself. I had seen men wearing kilts at different functions, and I had often wondered that myself. Thanks for solving the mystery! LOL
How is the weather there in London? Here it is cold and cloudy; we may get some snow or rain sometime duirng the weekend, and we may even get some snow in time for Christmas! I hope it isn't too miserable there!
Well, Rosie, this is enough for now. I am getting cramps in my hands, and it is getting hard for me to type without making mistakes. I will write another time; until then, welcome to the adoption community, and know that you are among friends! I will be more than happy to write to you again! Until then, you take care, have a very blessed Christmas and New Year, and may God bless you and your family mightily!
(((HUGS))) and love,
In His Name,
Your new American friend, Louisiana Sandusky in Nashville, Tennessee (Mama to *53* Miracles!). :D
When our hearts and minds become a womb, they are always full and never empty... that is what your words about God working away have spoken to me, Karen. And He enlarges our capacities wide and our vision even wider. Wonderfully uplifting and informative writing here, as always. BTW it is dry, dull and cold in England at the moment! And very grey as usual. LOL Kate xx
Karen you just go on amazing all who read you with your gift for writing of other countries and so many kinds of disabilities, you really could be a doctor;=)Splendid, compassionate, warm ,loving write!
When I read this, I envisioned the flags of each country you included here. I am especially fond of your mention of Sri Lanka. It is where the world's finest spices come from, cinnamon and ginger, and speaking of spices, Granadas flag has the nutmeg on it, representing the spice trade. So in your letters, not only are the children being adopted, but the flags are also being adopted of those children from those countries in which they come from. I am intrigued by flags. It is why I posted the Gypsy flag of the Romanis. A lot of culture here flying in the wind. Thanks for the letter today, Karen Lynn.
When two men hit the reset button and decide to go out looking for the good in the world, they not only find it but also a lot more.
P.S. The title is listed on Amazon under Look for Something Good by Robert Drews (not by Robert H. Drews)
