A family in Memphis, Tennessee, shares their story and what has been up with their lives.
I know it's been a long while since you last heard from me, Keneesha Damaris Diamond, but I have been very busy with my family.
It isn't easy, what with my working part time as a financier, plus my husband (Lowell; he's a surgeon, and he works as a neurologist) is hardly ever home; his job ties him up at the hospital. I have to be with the kids when I am not at work, and at times, they drive me CRAZY; but I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING in the world; they bring me such joy!
We are the adoptive parents of eight wonderful children who range in age from 12 on down to just three years of age. We wanted children of our own, but unfortunately, we were unable to conceive; so we turned to adoption, and we haven't been sorry! Our kids are all disabled; some more than others, but they are still very good and smart kids who don't cause us any problems. Our oldest, Shon, has recovered from his latest heart surgery, which he had six months ago, and he is just now starting to feel stronger. (He has struggled with heart problems all his young life.) Khalid, who is 10 and has Down's syndrome, is still his loveable and mischevious self. The twins, Keisha and Kendra, who are both nearing the age of nine, are both doing very well at their school, and they may be home soon. (They are learning to use a cane and how to negotiate the world around them without sight and are waiting to be approved for a guide dog.) Kenya is still a little terror on her crutches, and the baby, Tanisha, still has her daddy wrapped around her little finger; in his eyes, she can do no wrong, even when she does something like put shortening on the cat. (The cat, as you can imagine, was NOT amused.)
I often wish that Lowell were home more, but with his being on call, that can be next to impossible. Thank GOD I have my mama, Dorthea, over; and thank GOD she lives close by! She is so good with the kids, and they all just adore her!
The kids have benefited since joining Lowell and I, and we have benefited from the kids. They have taught us much about the world of the disabled, and they have taught us that, despite their disabilities, they are just like any other child. They have dreams, desires, and goals, too, just like any other child. They teach others that the disabled child is NOT to be feared or pitied; all they want is to be loved and accepted (but then ALL children want that!). They have been through so much in their young lives, being uprooted from past family or home lives, or through traumatic experiences, and they have had problems in the past from these experiences, but they are all starting to heal, and they are emerging into beautiful, happy children who shine with the love of Jesus Christ. They love church so much, and they love to sing in front of people. They love seeing their friends each and every week, and they love the "dinner on the grounds" afterwards; I think that is probably the biggest reason why they look forward to church, so they can EAT!
Wonderful story! Children are so much stronger than adults and can endure a lot! I think that is why I have lived and gone through so much at a young adult age, I did not know any better! Ha!
Children are stronger than adults and will always teach us what it is like to walk a mile in their shoes...all we have to do is be smart enough to listen and watch. A wonderful story of enlightenment.
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
