What a fun first Mothers Day I had!
We started our day at Church, where now when we arrive Trent smiles instead of screams!
(This is a huge gift in itself.)
Then we had a wonderful time hosting dinner at our place.
As you can tell, Trent likes to have his cousins over.
Unfortunately, AJ didn't think this was as funny as everyone else!
He likes to pull her pig-tails too.
HA! These are the only pictures I took all day!
At church a prayer was said for all mothers. Mothers unable to hold their child, mothers who stay up all night with a sick child, mothers who give up everything to attend soccer games and plan parties. Mothers who give their children everything and mothers who can give their children nothing. The prayer covered just about every type of mother, but this last one of "mothers who are unable to provide for their child" really hit home with me.
Jake and I recently concluded that we were going to try and help one of these mothers.
After a deep conversation one evening it was settled.
I was super excited.
I knew this was always my calling.
To adopt a child.
In my childhood diary I wrote that I would for sure "adopt a kid from Romania".
Well, as luck (or fate) would have it, three days after our deep conversation a pastor and head of an orphanage was speaking in Hays.
We thought this was definitely meant to be.
Our hearts were filled with excitement and hope.
We went to the meeting. It was very interesting and heartbreaking.
Did you know that prior to the earthquake there were 300,000 children living on the streets of Haiti?
Now there are over 600,000.
No clean water, no food, no where to sleep.
Orphanages must turn kids away daily.
We can help! We have clean water, shelter and lots of LOVE! (see above pictures :) )
*
Remember in my last post how I said that this was going to be one crazy big summer?
Well, this was one thing we were looking forward to.
A new family member.
Then, pure disappointment.
At the second adoption meeting we found out-
we don't qualify for adoption.
I KNOW!
It made me sick.
All those kids with nothing to eat, no one to hold them.
and
we
don't
qualify.
To adopt from Haiti the couple must have been married at least 10 years and one of them must be over 35.
I understand the government wants to protect the kids.
But really.....
With more digging I have found out that it isn't the government setting these guidelines.
It is UNICEF.
Their stance is that if they are providing the country money, then,
they want kids to be raised in their own country.
OK, feed them - U.N.I.C.E.F. (BLEH).
This was very disheartening and frustrating.
It is hard to want something and know it is right and then hit such a road block. But the hardest part is knowing there are so many kids suffering and have such road blocks set against them.
Maybe it just isn't meant to be right now.
My dreams of a "Romanian child"- Romania is closed to adoptions.
China is a four year wait.
Some day things may change, but for now we will keep all those children and mothers in our prayers and we hope you do to.
"And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:16
Love, the rockinryans
*To read about two missionaries from Haiti and their adoption process go to
To receive more information on Haiti adoptions-
