We spent Thanksgiving away from our home in Tennessee. We went to my brother-in-law's house in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, where we spent Thanksgiving with Marvin, his wife, Antoinette, and their seven small daughters ranging in age from a year to 8. (Marvin is my husband's older brother..one of 8 he has!)
We had a lovely time in Louisiana. The weather was warm, but it rained quite a bit; but that was okay..the children were having a ball playing with their cousins, and besides, they were all wired from having such a big Thanksgiving feast. Somehow seeing a table brimming with hot, good-smelling food does that to a child; they are excited because they get to eat tasty, home cooking, and they always delight in fighting over who is going to give the Family Blessing!
We left for Louisiana last Monday, got there Wednesday morning. After spending the rest of Wednesday resting from our trip, we then visited with Bill's brother and his family, and we all had a marvelous time. We ended the trip by taking the kids to see Santa Claus and while they were busy at a children's party we (the grown ups) went and did a good portion of our shopping. We then left Saturday and got in yesterday (Monday).
We had just been home about a half hour when the phone rang. It was Holt, our adoption agency, calling. They told us about two little girls (sisters, ages 4 and 13) who were currently in foster care; the family that was to take them in weren't done with the required paperwork to adopt the two girls.
Needless to say, we were stunned at the news. We already had more than enough kids as it was..50.., but the lady sounded desperate. She said it was only temporary, and besides, she said the girls needed to get used to being with a family. The lady on the phone told us that the girls were from Cambodia, and both had been born disabled: the older one (Hanh Ly) had severe visual impairments and wore thick glasses, and the younger of the two (Linn Chan) was born without arms or hands and did everything with her feet. But other than these obvious physical disabilities, both girls were very healthy, she told me.
So we consented. The two girls would probably be here sometime later this week.
