Louisiana Sandusky voices her concerns about what people may think of her when they first see her large family.
I don't know why I have this niggling feeling that we are being watched somehow, yet that is exactly how I feel whenever we go out into the public eye.
It isn't easy being a parent to a brood like mine; yet God saw to it by bringing us these children, children who were once considered "unadoptable" because of age (older than the age of two), race or ethnic background (I have children who are African-American, African Black, Oriental, Hispanic, Native American Indian, and Caucasian), handicap (most of the kids are indeed quite handicapped, quite a number of them quite severely), or else they are part of a sibling group that for one reason or another could not be separated when they were put up for adoption.
I haven't regretted being a parent to these kids: my kids have been nothing but a blessing to my husband Bill and myself. They hrought us many moments of unspeakable joy (and even incredible heartbreak).
Yet some people seem to have a problem whenever they see us: they think that we shouldn't have taken in so many children, and they feel that we are "exploiting them" somehow when all we are doing is trying to give them love, acceptance, and a chance to succeed in a world not geared for their particular special needs.
People also feel that some of the children we adopted would fare better in a hospital (or institution) setting. What people fail to understand that some of these children were in a setting like this, and they were not getting the care they needed. In fact, some of the kids were being abused by their so called "caretakers", and their lives were at risk; so we took them in, to get them out of that environment.
People also seem to have a problem because we spend an exhorbitant amount of money for food, medical care, and the like; or else they think that we can't possibly manage so many children at one time Maybe so, but we DO manage our kids (very well thank you; it's a team effort!), and none of the kids are left alone--EVER--; if we go somewhere, there is always someone with the sicker or frailer kids (in case something should happen).
Clothes are never a problem: we pass the older kids' clothes on to the younger ones; if they do need new clothes or shoes, we do just fine at the local flea market or thrift store, where we can get good, quality clothes at a very decent price. (For a family of our size, cheap is very good, indeed! :) )
People wonder how we can raise a large family without going broke. All it takes is a lot of ingenuity and prayer. Our church or friends always help out whenever we need it, so we are never short (we have come close, but when times got tough, God has always provided; He has never failed us!). We have a very strong faith, and we have a very strong belief in a Loving God.
We have often been the subject of investigations from thje state (or county); we have often been harangued by the local Child Protective Services because of the large number of children. There've been times where they've threatened to remove some of the children from our home because they have sported "suspicious marks" (which is a downright lie; we would never intentionally hurt any of our children!), or else the noise level has gotten a bit too loud for the neighbor's liking. (The latter is probably the more common of the complaints we have gotten; the others are just lame excuses to find a way to break up our family, which would be devastating for all involved.)
Yet on the other hand, we have often had to defend ourselves by going to court on behalf of the children, to try to defend ourselves. I can't tell you how many times the police have come by to ask questions or leave waivers about our capabilities as parents. It has cost us much in the way of money (and time), and it's left both Bill and myself shaking our heads in disbelief, wondering why some people would be so cruel to divide our family, to pull us apart.
It has started again. A woman I'd never heard of before called us to chew us out about taking in so many "helpless, tragic children" (her words, not mine), and she is threatening to get the law on our hands, to get the kids taken away. She says that she is bothered by what we are doing and she doesn't want to see the children end up getting hurt somehow. Such poppycock! Now Bill and I are going to have to go to court all over again, and we are going to have to try to undo the reputation of our being "unfit parents"!
I don't know what to do except pray and try to get through the difficult days that will certainly lie ahead for us.
I will keep you abreast of this developing situation; stay tuned!
~Louie Sandusky. :( >tears!<
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Reviewed by Annette Hendrix Williams
9/15/2007
Maybe you should have that woman investigated. I suspect she doesn't do anything for anybody but herself. On second thought, you better not. You hve God's blessings for what you are doing and turning the other cheek.
God forbid that anyone could be cruel to a caring soul who is willing to give love and support to needy children. (Truefully, with that many children, how could one find time to care what anyone else thinks!) If Sandusky wasn't doing an adequate job of caring for those kids Family Services wouldbecome involved. Thus, tell all those complainers to go to.....
God help us with those goody-do-goodies "christians" which they think they can cast the first stone.
Instead of harassing the police should use their time to see what they can do to make more easy the life of that family.
Charitable people? someone must be kidding!!!!!!!
Georg
Reviewed by Lewis Findley
9/6/2007
If ever there is a good samaritan it is you. God Bless you, Donny ((BEAR HUGS, POLAR BEAR HUGS))
I can't imagine someone in this situation; one child is hard enough, add fifty nine more and I'm sure they attract attention, being under the microscope, as you so aptly put it. Excellent peek into a seemingly well adjusted family dealing with public scrutiny.
Suspenseful and close to home, Rain of Deception 2 will leave you in Tears. Much like Part 1, this will shocking sequel will keep you on the edge of your fingertips.
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