Louisiana is as happy as a lark: she and her husband have adopted four new children ranging in age from a year and a half to eight years from Iraq, India, China, and Vietnam.
Saturday, February 17, 2007, 10:05 a.m., C.S.T., Nashville, TN~
Dear Journal~
Well, they're here! Our four newest children are here, safe with us, and we can't be any happier than we are right now!
We adopted two little girls (ages five and eight) from China and Vietnam (Mai Fong and Huong Vu, renamed Opal Lee and Emma-Ruth) and two little boys (ages 1 1/2 and 5) from Iraq and India (Emir Muhammed and Habir Vijay). They are all so beautiful! They came yesterday afternoon, and we are all overjoyed!
We didn't plan on adopting four more children (we have already adopted fifty-five others!), but like the ones before, once we saw their faces, we could not say no!!
Three of the children (Emma-Ruth, Opal Lee, and Vijay) are healthy; the youngest one (Emir Muhammed) is not. All four of his limbs were blown off by a roadside bomb in his native Iraq: he will now spend the rest of his life as a quadruple amputee. He is an innocent little victim of this darn war. It's a tragic story.
The time will eventually come when we can't imagine the family without the new children: it always happens! Right now they may be scared little strangers, but in time, they will learn to accept us as their new family; they will learn to love us. They will learn that the world is not a cruel, unforgiving place, that they can have a good life, that people really do care for them and their welfare.
Ysterday's drive to the airport proved to be trickier than usual: we had nearly five inches of snow; we slid our way to the airport. Thank God we made it there in one piece; we didn't hit anything (or anyone!). At the airport, we cried tears of joy as we laid eyes on our new children. People stared at us; I know they were probably wondering what was going on. It was indeed a very happy day! :)
After we left the airport, we celebrated the kids' arrival into our family by taking them to Fire Mountain for supper. Again, we were met by stares and shocked looks. (That tends to happen when our family walks into a public place: after all, we are bigger than most! :) )
I got very little sleep last night: I kept waking up to look at the new kids, comforting them when they cried out or got scared, making sure they were all breathing or were okay. (Thank GOD they were!) All the while, all I could do was cry tears of happiness as I whispered grateful thanks of praise to a loving God who gave us these (and our other) precious children.
Louie is more than amazing, Karen. Once I had to babysit three little girls...ages 1-5. After fifteen minutes, I was exhausted. Another time I babysat the one-year-old. All she wanted to do was play hide and seek! I take my hat off to the amazing Louie! 59 kids is no small feat! :)
This exceptional book, Celebrating the Gift of Being Alive, has the perfect thoughts and words for birthdays, graduations, engagements, marriages, and any life celebration or family tradition.
