America World Adoption News

Adopting a Child with Special Needs - The Lair's Story

This is a blog of the Lair family Adoption story.  What an amazing journey of faith it has turned out to be! – written by Tanya Lair

In the Beginning

Chris and I were married August 23, 1997. At that time we knew we wanted a family. I wanted 10 kids and he wanted 2- he should have run far away at the time while he could, lol! However, God had completely different plans for our family, and how wonderful His plans are compared to ours!! We began trying to have a family after being married for 4 years. We tried every method imaginable, and read every book out there, took turns standing on our heads, and still after a year of trying, no baby.  I really have zero patience and since I am in the medical field, I found an infertility clinic, and we began seeking treatment.

After seeing the infertility specialists, we were told that we both had severe infertility issues and that even with IVF, our chances were very slim for us to have a baby. As you can imagine, news like that devastated us. I had wanted to be nothing but a mommy from the time I was old enough to walk and carry around my dolls. We began looking into domestic adoption, but became scared off by the fact that a birth mother would have to pick us and then she might change her mind.  At that time, we never even considered international adoption, because we thought it was something only the rich and famous did. We found out that our insurance would pay for IUI up to 6 times. Our doctors told us not to waste our time, but we decided that we really had nothing to lose and that we would pray with all our might that it would work. Well…… after one and only one try, and much to our renown doctor’s surprised looks on their faces, we were told we were pregnant and were absolutely elated. God is so good!

To make a long story short, God not only blessed us with our first child, but he quickly blessed us with a second child soon after. Even during this time, I started doing a lot of reading, and I started watching the adoption stories on the TLC channel. I cried every time a family had a gotcha day. I began to see what a wonderful picture of God’s love for all of us is when He adopts us into his family of God. I saw how that is portrayed as well, when families reach out to the fatherless, save their lives and witness to them. So, the adoption bug began to eat at my heart. I began to pray and pray that if God did not want us to adopt that the thoughts would go away. Well…. they did not go away and it got to the point that I secretly became obsessed with adopting. I knew what Chris would say, so I prayed that if we were supposed to do this, that he would agree.

I approached Chris after we had our first two children to talk about adoption. You should have seen his face. He told me that I was absolutely crazy. Well, I continued to pray and the very next day, I got a phone call. Chris was on the other end of the phone and had a tone to his voice I have never heard before. He said to me in the most serious voice I have ever heard him speak in, “We are going to adopt, and I think we should adopt from China. I also found our adoption agency. It is a Christian agency called America World Adoption……” You could have heard crickets on my end of the phone. I was in shock and literally fell out of my chair. For God to change his heart in the matter of one day and for him to say that to me, I knew my prayers had been answered.

ACT Missions Trips - Join Us In Shaanxi, China

Here is a personal letter from one of our team leaders to China. The Benton family has been a tremendous blessing to the America World family for many years and we are excited to have Toni lead one of our 2013 mission trips to China.

Hi! I'm Toni Benton, and my husband Bill and I are blessed AWAA parents to 7 beautiful kiddos from China. Never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined all that God had planned for us when we filled out that first application back in 2000.

You likely know that AWAA has launched several ACT Mission trips for this summer/fall for the sole purpose of caring for orphans, and God has called me to lead the Shaanxi, China trip. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you!" (John 14:18). We can't forget the orphans who are still waiting. So, we will COME to them!

Our daughters, Faith (18) and Theresa (12) are both Shaanxi girls, and they'll be going on this trip as well. Perhaps you and your child (ages 5 and up) would like to join us? We’re thinking of this as a heritage tour of sorts, combined with serving the King of kings and His kiddos too. Imagine the impact on their lives, going back to serve. Want to come too?

We want these precious orphans to know that they are not forgotten by us, and especially not forgotten by the Heavenly Father who created, formed and sees them. Will you answer the call and COME with us as we ACT out the gospel to visit these children? Come serve Him by caring for His children!

Our current team of 8 needs a few good friends to join us in loving on some of His kids who have no one else to love on them. Won't you pray about coming? The dates of the trip are 7/25 - 8/4 and you can get more details here: http://www.awaa.org/ACT/trips/China(Shaanxi)/.  

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

Thank you, Toni for these beautiful words! This trip is right around the corner and we’ll be booking airline tickets and getting visas within the next two weeks, but there’s still time to join if you feel called to do so. Please feel free to contact us at 800-429-3369 or send an email to missions@awaa.org. 

A Change of Plans: The Schrader Family’s Story

Like many families who begin the adoption process through China, the Schrader family originally began their journey seeking to adopt a healthy infant when they first started their process in 2007.  At that time, the Schrader family had 2 children, but dreamed about adding a baby girl to their family through adoption. The Schraders would like to share a brief testimony of what happened in their process and their video of their adoption story. 

“We began our adoption process in 2007. Five years later and after having a third baby, we were still waiting. After much prayer and consideration, we realized an older child would be a perfect fit for our growing family and made the decision to switch to China’s Waiting Children Program with America World. We were soon matched with our daughter Mia (age 7) and we brought her home this past November. Our daughter, Mia, is full of joy and laughter, and we can’t imagine life now without her. Please watch our family’s story through the video below.  We also invite you to learn more about our story through our blog.

Adoption Video - 2012 from Adam Schrader on Vimeo.

The Benton Bunch

photo credit: Gretchen Phillips

Check out this article in the Southern Maryland Online Newspaper about the Bentons, an America World adoptive family. Parents Bill and Toni, who are also AW Associates, talk about their eight children, seven of which are from China. Several of their children were adopted from the Waiting Children program. 

Read the full article here. 

If you have been featured in a news story and would like to share with our blog readers, email us at blog@awaa.org. If you haven't, you may consider reaching out to your local news outlet to ask if they are interested in featuring an adoption story! 

Two Grateful Families

The Dennis and York families of Spartanburg, SC recently shared their adoption stories in their local newspaper. It's an amazing testimony of God's goodness to read of the seperate paths both families took to begin their adoption processes, and then the shared time they spent in China meeting their daughters. 

David Dennis says about the adoption of his daughters, "People think we are a blessing to them, but they are a blessing to us. The blessings and the thanks that come from these little girls are a thousand times more than what we can do for them."

The Yorks heard David's adoption testimony at the church they both attend, First Baptist Spartanburg, and this solidified an earlier calling she felt to pursue adoption. Both families adopted a special needs child (learn more about this program here). 

We are grateful both families answered the call to adopt and encouraged others to do the same. Check out the full article here, as well as a photo gallery.

If you would like to share your family's adoption journey with our blog readers, please email blog@awaa.org. 

Andy's Smile

Last week, you may have read the Nguy Family's Adoption Story. Upon their return home from China with their son, Andy, a friend of their family decided to write a brief poem about Andy’s cleft lip and palate and the lens from which different people may view this condition. We love this sweet perspective and wanted to share it with your family.

Andy’s Smile

By Heather Ward- October 2012 

When I smile, sometimes people don’t smile back.

They stare at the cleft in my lip.

My mom always smiles back.  She says my smile is like a tunnel.  It reaches deep down into my soul.

My dad always smiles back.  He says my smile is like a rocket.  It makes his spirits soar.

My sister Ellie always smiles back.  She says my smile is like sunshine.  It brightens her day and warms her heart.

My grandfather always smiles back.   He says my smile is like when the Red Sox win at Fenway.  It is a celebration.

My grandmother always smiles back.  She says my smile is like getting a good fortune cookie.  It is a sweet surprise.

My uncle always smiles back.  He says my smile is like a donut.  It is missing one piece, but still a scrumptious treat.

My aunt always smiles back.  She says my smile is like lightening.  It is a zigzag surrounded by energy and sparkle.

My friend Adam always smiles back.  He says my smile is like a roller coaster ride.  It twists up, down, and around.  Whee!

My neighbor always smiles back.  She says my smile is an ocean wave.  It is full of beautiful swirls and curls.

Take a closer look at my smile.  I bet you’ll smile too!

If you have ever considered adopting a child with a cleft lip and palate or another medical need, there are many children like Andy who are waiting for a family. There is a great need for families who are open to adopting boys with either repaired or unrepaired medical conditions. Families open to adopting a boy of any age with a repaired or unrepaired condition or interested in adopting a healthy older boy will generally have a shorter adoption process. If your family is interested in learning more about adopting a son or daughter through the Waiting Children Program (children of all ages with a medical/repaired medical need or older healthy boys/girls) please email Waiting Children for more information.

Adoption Interview with the Dear Family

There is a great article in The Ohio Homeschool Companion magazine featuring an interview with an America World family, Noel & Donna Dear. The Dears adopted one of their daughters from China in December 2011. 

Donna answers questions about their decision to homeschool, favorite family activities, and also includes some helpful tips on getting through the process of adoption. Click HERE (page 20-21) to learn about this family!

We love to share family stories here on the blog! If you are interested in sharing something about your family or your adoption experience, please email blog@awaa.org. 

America World Family Honored as "Angels in Adoption"

We would like to congratulate Tom & Susie Walrond for their recent selection as "Angels in Adoption!" They received recognition from their Congressman, Randy Forbes, through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), an organization dedicated to raising awareness for the orphaned children here in the US and internationally that need safe, loving, permanent homes. 

A portion of the press release (full release can be read here):

The Walronds are being honored for their commitment to an adoptive child. The Walronds have adopted a 3 year old boy from China who has a life threatening heart condition. This condition is usually detected and surgically fixed within a few months of birth; however, this child has not yet had the opportunity for surgery. The 3 year old little boy finally arrived in the U.S. before Easter of 2012 and is now recovering and waiting for enough strength to have the needed surgery in the U.S. The Walronds have biological children, but they still made a home for this little boy.

Follow the Walrond's blog where you can read more about their adoption journey, including the progress of the surgery mentioned above. We are thankful for them and the many, many families that open their hearts to adoption.

China Family Adoption Video

The Benton family has adopted through America World’s China program and serves as one of our Maryland Associates. Their adoption testimony and family story has been broadcasted on a news station in China. You can view their testimony below or on YouTube here.

 

A Child's Bedtime Prayer

by Amy Howard, AW Adoptive Parent

Bible story time this evening consisted of Blister the Lamb, a story that combines the parable of the lost sheep and Jesus, explaining that He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Our daughter Meiying  had picked up a small booklet at church last week that talks about sin separating us from God.  She's understood for over a year that Jesus died for our sins.  When we've talked about why He did that, I've tried to help her understand that Jesus died and rose again, so that we could be with God forever; however, we have to choose to let Him be in charge of our lives.   If you know Meiying at all, you know that letting someone else be in charge is NOT something she does willingly.  

I think the story of Blister resonates with her quite a bit.  In the story the little lamb wants to be in charge of himself and doesn't want a shepherd.  He gets his foot stuck and ends up out in the storm alone and unprotected.  The Good Shepherd goes looking for Blister.  As Blister calls out for help, he finally acknowledges the shepherd as his master.  Then the shepherd carries Blister back to the sheepfold cuddled up safely in his cloak next to his heart.  

After reading the story and the booklet, which included a short prayer along the lines of "I'm sorry for my sins, thank you for dying for me so that I don't have to be separated from God."  I asked Meiying if that was something she wanted to pray.  (I asked her this a few weeks ago and she said no.)  This evening she said, "Let me think.  Think, think, think......  I think, yes."  So, after I did a REALLY good job of not falling out of my chair, she prayed.  This is the prayer she composed (not one I prompted her to repeat.)

Bedtime prayer, May 20, 2012, by Meiying:

"Dear God, please be in charge of my life.  Thank you for being my Good Shepherd and for keeping me safe in your cloak and hooking me when I go too far."  

After telling her what a beautiful prayer I thought that was (and trying very hard not to cry), she went out to tell her daddy what she prayed.  Before going on with the rest of our bed-time stories, I asked her if I could pray for her.  She said yes, that I should pray the prayer she just prayed and that I should thank Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins.  I basically repeated what she prayed, but forgot to mention Jesus and the cross.  (After I said Amen, she corrected me so I could finish praying everything I was supposed to.)

I'm sure there is a lot she doesn't understand, though I think she understands a lot more than I did at 4 years old.    Thank you for your continued prayers as we walk alongside her in this journey she's decided to start.  Parenting is a humbling and exciting job!