John has finished his 2nd week of school and seems to be gaining ground on verbal English each day. I talked to the math teacher and he said that John has some very amazing math skill-naturally. Teresa said that watching him do his math is actually fun because his pencil doesn't really stop.
He seems to be happy here. The social worker came for the post placement visit- number 1 of 3 and I think he was pleased with what he saw. I old him that I really can't imagine this whole thing going too much easier since we have been home. BTW- we really were not expecting to get a $350 bill for that visit and the next 2 are then reduced to $300 each. Keeps on giving, but it's God's money we are spending so oh well.
We have an all day appointment at Children's tomorrow with about 6 different doctors and hopefully we will know where we are supposed to go from here, with regard to his surgeries and the rest. John is really a trooper when it comes to stuff like this- maybe he is just happy to be getting worked on.
I'll post more when I have info- but life is starting to get really normal and it doesn't seem like I should be relaying this kind of everyday stuff- but here it is.
It is really fun- through all of this- to see God's hand in each and every step of the way and even as He brings people into our life that we would never have met with John's adoption. What will He do through all of this? Only He knows.
3/14/10
3/5/10
Scaredy Cat
John likes Steve- our cat. Yes, our cat's name is Steve. That is another story for another day.
Steve is a large cat- more than 15 pounds. He might be where they coined the term "scaredy cat". He is afraid of lots of things- in fact right now he doesn't even want to go outside, even when it is nice out.
Apparently John was chasing Steve around the house yesterday after school and Steve ran up the stairs on the bonus room side of the house. They had been playing for quite some time and Steve was tired- it's hard running around when you're fat and out of shape(a little biographical comment there).
So Steve is recovering from all this running around and John sneaks up on him and yells really loud. Steve jumps up and poops all over the floor. John scared the c--- out of Steve. Teresa thought that was hilarious but told John that if he was going to scare the cat from now on that he would have to clean up after him.
Just another day in the life of our crazy family- John is fitting right in.
Steve is a large cat- more than 15 pounds. He might be where they coined the term "scaredy cat". He is afraid of lots of things- in fact right now he doesn't even want to go outside, even when it is nice out.
Apparently John was chasing Steve around the house yesterday after school and Steve ran up the stairs on the bonus room side of the house. They had been playing for quite some time and Steve was tired- it's hard running around when you're fat and out of shape(a little biographical comment there).
So Steve is recovering from all this running around and John sneaks up on him and yells really loud. Steve jumps up and poops all over the floor. John scared the c--- out of Steve. Teresa thought that was hilarious but told John that if he was going to scare the cat from now on that he would have to clean up after him.
Just another day in the life of our crazy family- John is fitting right in.
1 School week almost complete
John finishes his first week of school today. He has had lots of testing and he seems to be alright with pretty much everything.
The math teacher caught T and informed her that he had given John an Algebra test on Monday and that he did "amazing"- in fact he used that word multiple times in their conversation. He is not easy to impress so John must be pretty good at math for his age. We asked him if he likes math and he said "no". Even though he is good at it he said it is hard and that is why he doesn't like it. He'll get over that someday.
Many of the other courses he does pretty well in, but his challenge will be- for a while- verbal comprehension. I am not too concerned with this because as he integrates into student/friend life he will have to speak English more and they will be speaking back to him and he will be a good English comp. person in no time. In fact he already speaks considerably more than he did 4 days ago.
It seems like most of the kids are taking a liking to him- he is fun to be around and has a mischievous sense of humor. T walked into the PE class to see how he was doing and she couldn't find him in the game they were playing. She said she looked around for a bit and then noticed he was standing off to the side- kind of hiding- to see how long it would take for her to notice where he was. Those kinds of things make him laugh.
The math teacher caught T and informed her that he had given John an Algebra test on Monday and that he did "amazing"- in fact he used that word multiple times in their conversation. He is not easy to impress so John must be pretty good at math for his age. We asked him if he likes math and he said "no". Even though he is good at it he said it is hard and that is why he doesn't like it. He'll get over that someday.
Many of the other courses he does pretty well in, but his challenge will be- for a while- verbal comprehension. I am not too concerned with this because as he integrates into student/friend life he will have to speak English more and they will be speaking back to him and he will be a good English comp. person in no time. In fact he already speaks considerably more than he did 4 days ago.
It seems like most of the kids are taking a liking to him- he is fun to be around and has a mischievous sense of humor. T walked into the PE class to see how he was doing and she couldn't find him in the game they were playing. She said she looked around for a bit and then noticed he was standing off to the side- kind of hiding- to see how long it would take for her to notice where he was. Those kinds of things make him laugh.
3/1/10
School
John starts school today- he is in the 7th, 8th and 9th grade. He did very well in all his testing except for verbal comprehension, even in English and grammar when it was written down he did well. He is more than a grade ahead in math, so he can relax a bit on that one and work hard on English Comp.
It seems he is excited to go and I am pretty sure it won't be long in this environment that he will be speaking English pretty quickly.
He is adjusting well to living here and being part of our family. Teresa told me that he came up and gave her a hug the other day- so we are making progress. It still is a little weird having someone that is so different from us being part of our family, but I think in a few months it will seem like he has always been here.
I'll let you know how school goes.
It seems he is excited to go and I am pretty sure it won't be long in this environment that he will be speaking English pretty quickly.
He is adjusting well to living here and being part of our family. Teresa told me that he came up and gave her a hug the other day- so we are making progress. It still is a little weird having someone that is so different from us being part of our family, but I think in a few months it will seem like he has always been here.
I'll let you know how school goes.
2/23/10
Update
A quick update on where we are in the process.
T took John to the dentist yesterday and she was told that they are pretty sure he has never had any work done on his teeth. There is a lot of bacteria in his mouth and this could lead- if not checked- to heart disease. That seems strange to me.
The hygienist was excited about all the work needed and they gave him some gas to relax him for the long procedure- he is going back this morning at 9 for stage 2. The dentist family has a history of CLP so she is familiar with the issues and excited to work with John.
On the 15th of March we are going to Children's to spend the day with a group of doctors who will see him, each with their own specialty. I think it is something in the order of 8 doctors in a row. This will be good so we can get an idea of what needs to be done and in what order.
Many unknowns for us and him along the way, but God is faithful to have us meet the right people at the right time, so we will just trust in His leading.
John is doing well ad adjusting to being in a noisy family. We will probably enroll him in school very soon so he can get his feet wet with verbal English. It seems he has a good grasp on everything else.
I'll keep you posted as things progress
T took John to the dentist yesterday and she was told that they are pretty sure he has never had any work done on his teeth. There is a lot of bacteria in his mouth and this could lead- if not checked- to heart disease. That seems strange to me.
The hygienist was excited about all the work needed and they gave him some gas to relax him for the long procedure- he is going back this morning at 9 for stage 2. The dentist family has a history of CLP so she is familiar with the issues and excited to work with John.
On the 15th of March we are going to Children's to spend the day with a group of doctors who will see him, each with their own specialty. I think it is something in the order of 8 doctors in a row. This will be good so we can get an idea of what needs to be done and in what order.
Many unknowns for us and him along the way, but God is faithful to have us meet the right people at the right time, so we will just trust in His leading.
John is doing well ad adjusting to being in a noisy family. We will probably enroll him in school very soon so he can get his feet wet with verbal English. It seems he has a good grasp on everything else.
I'll keep you posted as things progress
2/17/10
Do you Hear God calling you?
Please read this link and look at your life and examine if God is calling you to something like this ministry. We must be about our Father's business and for some that may be doing something very different than they are currently doing.
2/13/10
The Father and His children
For obvious reasons it is hard for me to determine which blog to post this under, but for one of those obvious reasons I chose to put it on this one.
Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God. This is why the world does not know us. It is because it does not know God, and we are His sons.
--I John 3:1-2
"We know that we were born into sin, and even now we feel the inner corruption that remains with us. It is no wonder, then, that we amazed by our adoption as sons into God s family. But the Scripture says that we are called "the sons of God." What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that-- and even more than that-- we now have through Christ.
It is easy to say that "we are now the sons of God," but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart today? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Don't be afraid! It is not your graces or your feelings on which you are to live; you must live simply by faith in Christ. With all these things against us, it is now--in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be-- now, as much in the valley as on the mountain "now are we the sons of God."
"Ah, but," you say, "look at me! My graces do not shine brightly; my righteousness does not shine with great glory." But read the next part: "It does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He appears we will be like Him." The Holy Spirit will purify our minds, and divine power will refine our bodies. Then, we will see Him as He is."
Morning & Evening, by Charles H. Spurgeon
Revised and edited by William C. Neff, ©2003-2009
This single M&E could be the springboard of a very long post, or numerous posts, but I will try to keep it short.
I am not sure that John yet feels like he is a son, nor do I think he even knows the blessing, privilege and responsibility that comes from being a son. He is starting to understand what it means to be a brother, which is fun to watch. With that said I am not sure that I have fully accepted him as much as I do my bio's- which I think will take time- we have much to work on. Unlike our heavenly Father my love is not unconditional and it takes me a while to get in the groove, but it will come. It actually took me a while with Grant and Garrett as well, but it didn't take but a minute with Kimmy- something about a little girl and her daddy.
With each of our bio's it was different and it will be different with John as well. This is a great excerpt from morning and evening and if you are able you should read that section of this post again and think about all the ramifications it has for you today.
May we know the Father's love for us as His very blessed children.
Behold, what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God. This is why the world does not know us. It is because it does not know God, and we are His sons.
--I John 3:1-2
"We know that we were born into sin, and even now we feel the inner corruption that remains with us. It is no wonder, then, that we amazed by our adoption as sons into God s family. But the Scripture says that we are called "the sons of God." What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that-- and even more than that-- we now have through Christ.
It is easy to say that "we are now the sons of God," but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart today? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Don't be afraid! It is not your graces or your feelings on which you are to live; you must live simply by faith in Christ. With all these things against us, it is now--in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be-- now, as much in the valley as on the mountain "now are we the sons of God."
"Ah, but," you say, "look at me! My graces do not shine brightly; my righteousness does not shine with great glory." But read the next part: "It does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He appears we will be like Him." The Holy Spirit will purify our minds, and divine power will refine our bodies. Then, we will see Him as He is."
Morning & Evening, by Charles H. Spurgeon
Revised and edited by William C. Neff, ©2003-2009
This single M&E could be the springboard of a very long post, or numerous posts, but I will try to keep it short.
I am not sure that John yet feels like he is a son, nor do I think he even knows the blessing, privilege and responsibility that comes from being a son. He is starting to understand what it means to be a brother, which is fun to watch. With that said I am not sure that I have fully accepted him as much as I do my bio's- which I think will take time- we have much to work on. Unlike our heavenly Father my love is not unconditional and it takes me a while to get in the groove, but it will come. It actually took me a while with Grant and Garrett as well, but it didn't take but a minute with Kimmy- something about a little girl and her daddy.
With each of our bio's it was different and it will be different with John as well. This is a great excerpt from morning and evening and if you are able you should read that section of this post again and think about all the ramifications it has for you today.
May we know the Father's love for us as His very blessed children.
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