by Stacey | Nov 27, 2010 | Special Announcements
Today we picked the boys up with plans to go to an outdoor Christmas event in their community with their foster family. However Foster Nanny mixed up the dates and we found ourselves in downtown Ridgeway a week early with nothing to do. As a result we snuck away for a few hours of alone time with the boys.
We went to the park, to McDonald’s, and to Wal-Mart. Nothing really special, but our time together was wonderful. We received many compliments on our cute, well-mannered boys.
The boys have never really had a father figure in their life so they have really taken to Kevin. We heard a lot of “Daddy fix it.” and “Daddy do it please.” At one point I was walking towards the park with both boys and Kev decided to drive the van around to snag a closer parking spot. Jonathan looked up and asked, “Where’s Daddy going?” then called back with a wave, “Bye Daddy!” A bit earlier I stepped out of the van and Nicholas cried because, “Mommy was leaving.” They are taking to us really well.
At the same time we can see their happiness when we return them to Foster Nanny and the security they find in her home. I feel so blessed knowing they have been loved and cherished by their foster family the last two years. The attachment they have will make the transition very hard when they realize they will not be returning to her after the 10th. Please pray for their young minds and hearts to understand that they haven’t been abandoned by her.
This upcoming week they start visiting in our home, making it a bit easier on us and a bit harder on them – another transition that needs prayer.
Kate’s excited they are coming over tomorrow. She was at a birthday party today so she missed our visit but got some great one on one time with Oma. Thanks for checking in so frequently. It’s wonderful to see so many people following along with us. Kevin assures me he has a post coming soon.
by Stacey | Nov 26, 2010 | Special Announcements
This morning Kaitlyn met her brothers for the first time. It was wonderful to watch her face light up with excitement when they said her name and how quickly she dropped to the ground when they asked her to play. She gave each of them a Thomas the Tank train and much like yesterday’s bus it sealed her welcome with the boys and earned her a place in their heart.
Neither Jonathan nor Nicholas really understand what it means to have a new sister but they are thrilled to gain an eager playmate.
There are no words to describe the feeling that came over me to see all my children playing together for the first time. We read books, tickled one another and laughed a lot. There was a huge feeling of ‘rightness’ about it all. At one point Nicholas asked where Kaitlyn was, and refused to go down the stairs until she joined us.
It has been amazing to see how God has prepared us for this day. I can see his hand in many of our past decisions, decisions that didn’t seem significant at the time but have had a profound effect on making our transition easier.
As a mother, it is also wonderful to see how God has prepared Kaitlyn for this change. Going from an only child to having to share her parents with two younger children is quite an adjustment. Kevin and I often wondered how this day would stretch her.
But God’s timing is perfect. He brought into our home a collection of children, mostly boys, of various ages over the last year and a half through my home daycare. These kids have introduced Kaitlyn to sharing, compromise, waiting your turn, and trying new things. She has learned that sometimes you are the leader and sometimes you are the follower. All these things aided her as she played with her new brothers.
I am incredibly proud of her today. She will be an amazing big sister. And I am reminded that God is good. All the time.
by Stacey | Nov 25, 2010 | Special Announcements
If anyone reading followed our blog from our previous trip to China to adopt Kaitlyn in 2005 you’ll remember Kevin’s many references to potty humor. There was potty humor connected to the flight, potty humor connected to the odd holes in the ground used as toilets, and potty humor connected to the celebration we had when Kaitlyn took care of business in a timely manner after coming into our care.
This time around you’ll hopefully find less toilet humor, although two boys in the midst of potty training is a ripe field for Kevin’s funny bone. Kevin will be posting a few updates as we go along and I’m sure you’ll recognize his distinct voice in his entries.
Our first visit went extremely well. Thank you for all your prayers. I don’t typically go with the flow as well as Kevin and was quite nervous as we pulled up to the house. But as soon as we entered an incredible feeling of peace and calm surrounded me and I was able to fully enjoy being greeted by two excited little boys.
When we walked in they both spied the two toy school buses we brought as gifts with eager eyes and itchy fingers. Those buses were our ticket in! It didn’t take long for them to drag us down to the floor to play. Over the course of the morning they warmed up to us eventually cuddling in our arms. They read stacks of books with us snuggling right in and enjoying every moment. Jonathan especially loved the lift the flap style we brought from home.
They called us Mommy and Daddy right away, coached from their foster mom (who goes by Nanny). Like most toddlers they were thrilled to be the center of attention for the morning. Nanny and our case worker stayed with us but somewhat removed themselves from the visit. Nanny re-directed to boys to us for help ‘fixing’ the toys and before long they were turning to us for comfort and hugs.
Our schedule for the next two weeks is insanely busy. We visit every day and have to prepare our house for their arrival. Our case worker has set December 10th as a tentative moving date assuming the rest of the visits go as well as this one.
Please pray for God’s hand to guide us through this process and give us the energy to complete the many tasks needed to bring them home. We are still not allowed to post pictures, but they’ll come as soon as we can! For now we can announce their new full names: Jonathan David Ray Weeks (for both our fathers) and Nicholas Kevin Weeks (for daddy).
by Stacey | Nov 25, 2010 | Special Announcements
For the next few weeks my blog will be devoted to introducing readers to our newest additions in the Weeks family and chronicling our journey through our second adoption.
Last week at this time we had grand plans for the holiday season, huge commitments at church, and a home based business flourishing. Now, our seasonal plans have been scaled back, we have handed off many commitments, and the business is on hiatus. Why? One long-awaited phone call.
We have been praying for years that God would expand our family and bless us with more children. Last week we were told about two boys, ages two and three, in need of a forever home. After meeting them and reading about their history we feel a great sense of peace moving forward and proceeding with adoption. It’s been seven days since that first phone call and everything has changed.
Today we go to their foster home to get to know them, to play with them, and start the transition process into our home. We plan to visit every day until they are ready to move. Tomorrow we hope to bring Kaitlyn to introduce her to her new brothers. She is beyond excited.
So, if you’re at all interested in joining us on this journey check back as often as you like. We’ll post pictures once Family and Children Services allows us too. You can subscribe to the blog to enable our adoption updates to go directly to your inbox by entering your e-mail address in the bar to the right, clicking “sign me up,” and following the instructions.
As I write this first entry I am excited, nervous, and beyond grateful. God is good and His timing is perfect. Please pray for us, for Kaitlyn, and Jonathan and Nicholas as we get to know one another in the days and weeks to come.
by Stacey | Oct 13, 2010 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
As I sit in the kitchen typing this blog I can hear the wailing of my six-year-old daughter. She is in her room until Dad gets home. Why? She’s been telling lies.
She’s recently discovered that she can avoid trouble by telling a lie – as long as she doesn’t get caught. I’m not sure how to impress upon her the importance of truth when sometimes the truth has obvious undesirable consequences.
Like today, she pushed a friend down resulting in a cut lip. She told me he fell ‘all by himself.’ I suspected the truth was he had a little help hitting the pavement but since he wouldn’t confirm my theory I had no choice but to doctor his wound and let it go.
Later the truth came out. Help had come in the form of two six-year-old hands pushing him down. When confronted this time my daughter told the truth and now she sits in her room crying.
I’ve often told her that consequences are bigger if you lie. I said, “Had you told the truth you would have had to apologize and have a time out and then you could have played again.” Now, she waits for Daddy and me to discuss the consequence of both her actions and her lie. The truth would have been simpler. The truth would have been less painful. Yet, the truth is not the route she has been taking lately.
How does a parent impress upon a six-year-old the importance of truth? In some ways I think, “She’s only six.” In others ways I think, “Six is plenty old enough to understand the value of honesty.”
To all the parents and grandparents that have gone before me and to the friends walking the same road with their kids, I humbly ask for your advice!
