We have a new family member in Rahid. Rahid Akbar.
Rahid has been with our family for over a year; it was only in the last six weeks when we finally got the news that we were waiting for--the news that told us that Rahid was finally our child.
At the news, we cried with joy. Our prayers had been answered at last.
Rahid is originally from Iraq. He is six years old, a child who lived in fear, a child who lost his entire family in a terrorist attack. He saw his family killed; ever since he's been unable to speak. He is mute, and is prone to nightmares at night.
One can only wonder what horrors he saw; we don't really want to know; yet as his story unfolded, we were compelled to learn the truth. What we learned was shocking, to say the least.
Now that Rahid is with us, he goes to counseling. We go with him, to lend our support, to let him know that it is okay to let out his innermost feelings. It's been healing for him, yet it's been hard on us to see so much inner pain being released in his bouts of crying or yelling.
Rahid is learning to read English. He is also learning to write. If only he could talk again!! He then could unlock even more heartache from his tortured past, and he could become a happy, well-adjusted child.
Rahid is a beautiful little guy with his shock of wavy, black hair, huge, black eyes, and dark-brown skin.
He is slight of build; no matter what he eats he can't put any extra weight on. If a windstorm ever came up, he'd surely blow away!
In a few weeks, we will be going to court to finalize the adoption of our newest son. Rahid Akbar bin-Mushariff will soon be known as Rahid Akbar Reynolds; he will then become our son, legally-and permanently. Yes, he will be scared, no doubt; we will be scared right along with him--not to mention, estatic!
The dream we've had ever since we first took him in will finally become a reality, and Rahid will finally have the family he's needed, a family who isn't afraid to love him as their own.
It's been a long time coming. We will soon be a family of six: two parents and four children ages four (Erica Dalene), six (Rahid Akbar), eight (Taylor Briana), and twelve (Scott Benton).
