We just got our referral on monday for our gorgeous boy from Ethiopia. He is fourteen months old…I too wonder if he will remember his caregivers…thankful that God heals even what we can't see…
As an adoptee, I can say I don't remember anyone but my parents. The hardest and easiest lesson for me to learn about my family was that my parents are the people who cared for me when I was sick, walked me to school that day I was terrified, and held me when a boy broke my heart.
If he does remember, it won't matter. You and your family are his family. I believe that God puts us far away from our "best souls" because it makes the reunion that much sweeter. You can never look for the easy way with God, he understands the journey is the reward.
Ethiopia is near and dear to me – a part of my heart and soul is forever buried in the soil there with my son who went home to his heavenly Father before we could get there. And my 17 mnth old daughter was born there as well…
Embrace this journey – going their to visit Brighton's grave and bring our daughter home radically changed us…
Bro, you make me and my bride want to adopt. Like you, we have already been blessed with two beautiful girls. Every time you have a Losiah post, she tells me she wants a little Korean of her very own!
Dude… I was adopted… when my mom married my "dad" I was 5 when they were married and 7 when I was adopted. I have so many people that will know him and when they meet me, will ask, "Are you Lindell's son?" And, with pride I alwasy reply, "YES!" Our mannerisms, voice inflections, characteristics even our looks are so close that you would never even guess that I was not his by blood.
The coolest of that is that it reminds me of our relationship with The Father, Romans, says we receive the spirit of adoption, that makes us cry out, "Abba Father," or "Daddy." No matter what our history was, not matter what our destiny looked like before the adoption… it has all changed now, we have a New Daddy! And the longer we are cared for by him and spend time with him, the more we look, talk and act like him to the point that people will begin to say… "Are you HIS son?" "Are you HIS daughter?"
Before LIndell adopted me at the age of 7, I was part of a culture and environment that no doubt would have lead me along with many of my family through a life of drugs and crime. He rescued me! Before the Father adopted me I was born into a culture and environment that there is not way I could have won in and would have self destructed, but HE rescued me and gave a life of purpose and a plan. (dang this is too long!…)
LOS… you may never know what you have rescued you little guy from! But know this.. YOU ARE A HERO! Love him unconditionally. Show him how to love women by the way you treat your wife and daughter, show him how to love God the example you set in your personal life and how you lead your family. And as your Pope Stanley say's better then anyone… Choose To Cheat!
Btw… Tim Elmore is a friend, I am one of the coaches on his Growing Leaders Team.
(this ended up much longer then expected… LOS, pull it if you need too, I will respect it)
I really doubt he remembers man. He will really only know what you share with him.
I often take a second and think about the millions of memories that our young kids will never remember. Think of all that we have poured into the kids….they will only remember just a tad bit of these things. What we are doing, though, is creating a reservoir of love that will last forever.
I kiss and hug and love and dote on my 2 year old boy so much and I just can't get over the fact that he really won't remember any of it. What he will remember when he's 3 is that I loved him when he was 2. When he's 4 he'll remember that I loved him when he was 3, etc.
I wonder the same thing about my daughter, adopted from China. She was a year old when we got her and we just celebrated our 8th gotcha day a couple of weeks ago. She's asking questions about her time in the orphanage, but doesn't seem to have any memory of it. We have noticed some "survival" behaviors that we think she learned while there, but I guess we'll see as she gets older if any memories surface.
We adopted our precious 11 yr old 2.5 years ago from Rwanda…we talk a lot about Rwanda and the culture. We talk about her memories and the things she misses and the things she doesn't miss. You know..she is my daughter but she is also Rwandan. We celebrate the national holidays of Rwanda. I guess I am okay with her remembering her background. What I never want her to forget is how much we love her and that regardless of color or background she is ours and our family wouldn't be the same with out her.
Acutually….I have a hard time remembering what life was like before her! That is the truth!!!
He may not remember not being yours, but I imagine that he will have a sort of kinship with others of the same nationality. I only say that because I am half Japanese, and I have always felt that. I really want to visit Japan with my mom, my husband and my kids. I dont' dwell on it, but there's just a part of me that feels somehow disconnected for never having been there. Then again, maybe I'll always feel like that song "Half Breed" by Cher. Never really belonging anywhere except in the Kingdom of God.
I am in awe every time you post a great pic like this. I can't imagine what it would take to get my 2.5 year old to hold still enough, in the right spot, long enough to get things set and snap the pic.
Nice Shaun – "a reservoir of love that will last forever". What a great way to think of it. I often wonder what my daughter will remember from these early years. But I make it a point to be a part of as many memories as I possibly can. And I go out of my way to make my part of those memories filled with love.
In his little world you've always been daddy! And what an amazing dad you seem to be to all 3 of your beautiful children. I enjoy the insight and hilarity that you bring. You remind me a lot of my brother, he two is a proud papa of 2 precious girls and they just found out that they're having a son. Oh, and he like you is involved in ministry.
Ive had my daugher for 2 weeks now. She was in a wonderful foster home for her first 11 months and then they moved to an orphanage for 1 week, I wonder what she felt that week? Did she wonder if she would ever have a mom or dad? Ive been a mom for 2 weeks and i have a lot of questions
what a beautiful photo! and such a precious child. my son was adopted at birth and i think there are always going to be questions, from him as well as myself. nice finding your blog.
Los…I first came across your blog because it was linked from another adoption blog. I have to say…I cried through all the adoption posts on here…especially the one of saying goodbye to the foster mom! I've always wondered…do you and Heather send her updates? Are you all still in touch with her? I've wondered how she is doing. If you don't want to share, I respect that…but I was just curious.
My adopted son and I have "our song" and some of the lyrics are "I knew I loved you before I met you, I think I dreamed you into life". That says it all for us….
I'm going to echo the sentiments of several who've already replied that yes, he was always yours in your heart – even before he was in your arms. My favorite quote re: adoption is
Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
Yet still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute –
You weren't born under my heart, but in it.
RAIN IT DOWN
Beautiful shots bro! I have wondered that too with my son who we adopted at 2yrs old. He's 5 now.
We just got our referral on monday for our gorgeous boy from Ethiopia. He is fourteen months old…I too wonder if he will remember his caregivers…thankful that God heals even what we can't see…
CONGRATS!!!
i think he was always yours… he just wasn't always living in your house. he's always been in your heart.
and seeing your love for him makes me SO excited to adopt one day.
Dude, that first pic is golden. Beautiful color behind.
Thanks man
The memories I hold the deepest to are the ones with whom I've lived the longest beside. ch:
Me too.
i tell my trio that God put us together way before the flood
As an adoptee, I can say I don't remember anyone but my parents. The hardest and easiest lesson for me to learn about my family was that my parents are the people who cared for me when I was sick, walked me to school that day I was terrified, and held me when a boy broke my heart.
If he does remember, it won't matter. You and your family are his family. I believe that God puts us far away from our "best souls" because it makes the reunion that much sweeter. You can never look for the easy way with God, he understands the journey is the reward.
Wow. thanks for that.
not that it will matter; the important part will be remembered – when he was yours
Wow. I can't wait until I'm a parent…
CONGRATULATIONS BRANDY!
Ethiopia is near and dear to me – a part of my heart and soul is forever buried in the soil there with my son who went home to his heavenly Father before we could get there. And my 17 mnth old daughter was born there as well…
Embrace this journey – going their to visit Brighton's grave and bring our daughter home radically changed us…
Bro, you make me and my bride want to adopt. Like you, we have already been blessed with two beautiful girls. Every time you have a Losiah post, she tells me she wants a little Korean of her very own!
You are are blessed, Los… blessed indeed.
ADOPTADOPT!!
Dude… I was adopted… when my mom married my "dad" I was 5 when they were married and 7 when I was adopted. I have so many people that will know him and when they meet me, will ask, "Are you Lindell's son?" And, with pride I alwasy reply, "YES!" Our mannerisms, voice inflections, characteristics even our looks are so close that you would never even guess that I was not his by blood.
The coolest of that is that it reminds me of our relationship with The Father, Romans, says we receive the spirit of adoption, that makes us cry out, "Abba Father," or "Daddy." No matter what our history was, not matter what our destiny looked like before the adoption… it has all changed now, we have a New Daddy! And the longer we are cared for by him and spend time with him, the more we look, talk and act like him to the point that people will begin to say… "Are you HIS son?" "Are you HIS daughter?"
Before LIndell adopted me at the age of 7, I was part of a culture and environment that no doubt would have lead me along with many of my family through a life of drugs and crime. He rescued me! Before the Father adopted me I was born into a culture and environment that there is not way I could have won in and would have self destructed, but HE rescued me and gave a life of purpose and a plan. (dang this is too long!…)
LOS… you may never know what you have rescued you little guy from! But know this.. YOU ARE A HERO! Love him unconditionally. Show him how to love women by the way you treat your wife and daughter, show him how to love God the example you set in your personal life and how you lead your family. And as your Pope Stanley say's better then anyone… Choose To Cheat!
Btw… Tim Elmore is a friend, I am one of the coaches on his Growing Leaders Team.
(this ended up much longer then expected… LOS, pull it if you need too, I will respect it)
thank you so much for your perspective. It is inspiring.
I really doubt he remembers man. He will really only know what you share with him.
I often take a second and think about the millions of memories that our young kids will never remember. Think of all that we have poured into the kids….they will only remember just a tad bit of these things. What we are doing, though, is creating a reservoir of love that will last forever.
I kiss and hug and love and dote on my 2 year old boy so much and I just can't get over the fact that he really won't remember any of it. What he will remember when he's 3 is that I loved him when he was 2. When he's 4 he'll remember that I loved him when he was 3, etc.
I wonder the same thing about my daughter, adopted from China. She was a year old when we got her and we just celebrated our 8th gotcha day a couple of weeks ago. She's asking questions about her time in the orphanage, but doesn't seem to have any memory of it. We have noticed some "survival" behaviors that we think she learned while there, but I guess we'll see as she gets older if any memories surface.
will be interesting.
We adopted our precious 11 yr old 2.5 years ago from Rwanda…we talk a lot about Rwanda and the culture. We talk about her memories and the things she misses and the things she doesn't miss. You know..she is my daughter but she is also Rwandan. We celebrate the national holidays of Rwanda. I guess I am okay with her remembering her background. What I never want her to forget is how much we love her and that regardless of color or background she is ours and our family wouldn't be the same with out her.
Acutually….I have a hard time remembering what life was like before her! That is the truth!!!
Me too.
Is your adoption story somewhere online?
I am amazed when people adopt older children. I would love to read it.
he is adorable.
thanks
He may not remember not being yours, but I imagine that he will have a sort of kinship with others of the same nationality. I only say that because I am half Japanese, and I have always felt that. I really want to visit Japan with my mom, my husband and my kids. I dont' dwell on it, but there's just a part of me that feels somehow disconnected for never having been there. Then again, maybe I'll always feel like that song "Half Breed" by Cher. Never really belonging anywhere except in the Kingdom of God.
Only long enough to be thankful he is!
I am in awe every time you post a great pic like this. I can't imagine what it would take to get my 2.5 year old to hold still enough, in the right spot, long enough to get things set and snap the pic.
Mad props
Nice Shaun – "a reservoir of love that will last forever". What a great way to think of it. I often wonder what my daughter will remember from these early years. But I make it a point to be a part of as many memories as I possibly can. And I go out of my way to make my part of those memories filled with love.
Hey Los
Been watching your Losiah story since before he really became part of your lives together, and it's jus been a joy…miraculous, really.
God is good.
You are blessed.
You are a blessing.
Peace be with you, and your amazing family.
J
In his little world you've always been daddy! And what an amazing dad you seem to be to all 3 of your beautiful children. I enjoy the insight and hilarity that you bring. You remind me a lot of my brother, he two is a proud papa of 2 precious girls and they just found out that they're having a son. Oh, and he like you is involved in ministry.
Maybe we were seperated at birth.
Ive had my daugher for 2 weeks now. She was in a wonderful foster home for her first 11 months and then they moved to an orphanage for 1 week, I wonder what she felt that week? Did she wonder if she would ever have a mom or dad? Ive been a mom for 2 weeks and i have a lot of questions
I remember Amy and CONGRATS!!!
Right on.
I like that point of view
It is amazing
gracias
Thanks man. And Apache. Down.
good thoughts
That was ONE out of like 97
You are a Ragamuffin OG
That's a compliment.
Glad to have been able to watch the adventure!
J
what a beautiful photo! and such a precious child. my son was adopted at birth and i think there are always going to be questions, from him as well as myself. nice finding your blog.
Los…I first came across your blog because it was linked from another adoption blog. I have to say…I cried through all the adoption posts on here…especially the one of saying goodbye to the foster mom! I've always wondered…do you and Heather send her updates? Are you all still in touch with her? I've wondered how she is doing. If you don't want to share, I respect that…but I was just curious.
My adopted son and I have "our song" and some of the lyrics are "I knew I loved you before I met you, I think I dreamed you into life". That says it all for us….
he doesn't =0)
He IS yours, bro.
I'm going to echo the sentiments of several who've already replied that yes, he was always yours in your heart – even before he was in your arms. My favorite quote re: adoption is
Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
Yet still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute –
You weren't born under my heart, but in it.
Confused.
Are you talking about Losiah? Or the D300?
peace|dewde