Monday, January 15, 2007 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), 2:21 p.m., C.S.T., Nashville, TN~
Dear All~
Here I sit at the computer, contemplating on several different things. It is an ugly, windy, grey, rainy day out, and I am wondering if I will ever see the sun come out again. The kids are playing with their toys or games in the family den or in their rooms, trying to scare up something to do. Bill is at work; he went in less than an hour ago; he works until eight tonight.
But mostly my mind is full of joy. We are adopting four more children, two boys and two girls. The boys, ages 1 1/2 and 5, are from Iraq and India; the girls, ages 5 and 8, are from China and Vietnam. Their names are Emir Muhammed and Habir Vijay (the boys), and Mai Fong and Huong Vu (the girls). I have their pictures in front of me as I write this, and I can't help but feel a rush of love towards them. I am already counting the days to when they will join our ever-expanding International Family.
I know i am crazy to take in more children when we are already the parents to fifty-five others, but God has seen to it, and He has brought us these children. Adopting children is our calling, especially children with special needs.
Our children come from different parts of the world: Iran, France, Africa, Russia, Italy, The Netherlands, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Germany, Bosnia, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, the United States of America. Yet, through the Miracle of adoption, they are brothers and sisters, and they have all grown up so much. The youngest child we have now (Arjun Ravi) is now no longer a baby: he is nearing the age of three, and he is just about through with his toilet-training. The oldest (Lightning) is married and is the mama to six children, making me a proud grandma!
Kids. They sure do grow up fast!!
Even the children we adopted over ten years ago (Johnathon and Ronee' Le-Anne) have grown up. They are both fourteen years old, heading headlong into teendom. They are quickly becoming young adults, and things that once held their interest as children no longer seem so important (excepting for music; both still enjoy singing or performing in front of a crowd of people). Next year they will start attending high school; a few years after that, college.
Just thinking of all this makes me feel as old as the hills! *Siggghhhhh*
Later, same day, 6:30 p.m.~
It is still raining; we are due to stay unsettled for the next several days. Currently, we are under flash flood watches (and warnings), a tornado watch (until seven; we only have a half hour to go, thank goodness!), an ice storm warning (the rain is due to change over to sleet and freezing rain later on tonight), and to top it all off, a blizzard watch! We are due to get some snow by Wednesday morning or afternoon; right now the weather people are calling for as much as a foot of snow!! Crazy weather here in the Tennessee Valley!! *Sheesh!*
I have just completed cooking supper for the kiddoes; they are now eating in the kitchen. I am sitting here in the dining area, watching them, making sure they don't make an ungodly mess and clean up after themselves. I also want to make sure that they do the dishes and put them back where they belong. As I said earlier, Bill went to work at two, leaving me to fend for myself (and the kids). He gets off in less than two hours. Camey, Tammi, and Barbara went to work too; they get off at eight as well.
I have written some letters (to Eileen Weston in Texas, Jerilyn Lotz in Kansas, and Naomi Cohen in California), have more to do yet. I have been contacting several families in Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania who are interested in adoption. I have been very busy, even when I am not AT work or taking care of my brood!
I will be getting off the computer; it is starting to lightning and thunder again. Sounds like we are going to get yet another storm; bad weather is west of here, heading this way. Don't need to get zapped by lightning! Take care, and God bless! I will write in here in a day or two; stay tuned!
~Love, Louie May. :D
