Been almost a year

It has been almost a year since John Robinson (Jan jan) as he is knows as a nickname in Iloila, Philippines spent those wonderful busy 3 weeks with our family.

I learned today that he still has no family to love him and take him into their home.

If you know of anyone who would love to have a 10 year old boy with a love of Christ and church and a willingness to learn anything.  Please look through our blog, SEnd them this blog to learn more about John and have them contact Madison Adoption Associates at  http://MadisonAdoption.com
This is a loving boy willing to attach and be part of a family.

My heart hurts that we can not be that family.  Please there must be some family out there for this boy.  He is just sweet to leave in an orphange.

Sorry for the begging...but that is what I will reduce to if I can find him a family

3 months since our decision

It has been just over three months since we made our decision to not add John to our family.  I still miss this boy and think of him often.  One of the kids mentioned the other day that they missed his annoying habits just a little.   Then retracted quickly when it was passed on to us.  I know they are glad that we did not add another brother to our family. 

I am asking yet again if you know any family who would be interested in a very smart, cute 10 year old boy, please think about giving John a forever home.  I tried to really tell about him and his personality in the blog in hopes that if we did decide not to adopt him, then someone else might feel a connection to him. 

Decision has been made

Most of you know how crazy our lives are here..  We are hardly ever home and when we are we are playing catch up on mail, house cleaning and laundry....

We finally decided today that we would not be adopting John.  He is a wonderful kid... I hope he finds his forever family...  If there is anyone who reads this that would be interested leave a message or send me a note on Facebook.  I will put you in touch with the right people..

He was a pleasure to have in our home.  He was a bit over stimulated and his English was beginning to come along.  He tries very hard to please and he will eat anything you offer him. 

Please pray for John to find his forever family soon.....

Two and a half weeks later

Wow...  is that all!  It seems as if it has been so much longer!   We still struggle with what will we do and will it be the right decision for our family and John.  I worry about him and pray for his safety and continued good health.  I pray for guidance with our decision that we have not made yet.  The kids are worried that if we adopt him we will not have enough time for them.  I understand their worry because we have the same worry.  I know we will do the right thing when we do make the decision. 

I would like to say that part of that decision is not about the cost of all the agency fees, and government fees and donations, but it is...  We have grown comfortable with our lives.  We also know that if we are going to adopt one more, now is the time before we both age out of the requirements.

Based on the three weeks, I think we could handle it.  We would have this crazy fall season with band and fall sports, but we have started allowing ourselves to depend on others who offer assistance to take the kids to their events or bring them home if we can't.  It is a feeling of acceptance in the community.  That is what I like about this small town.

We will, of course update when we have made a decision one way or the other.  I miss John and his silly song "baby I like it" rendition.

John's goodbye

On August 25 John returned to the Philippines with the rest of the children and their chaperones.  I came to really liking John and his chaperones.  It feels like a small part of me is gone now.  
The days are quieter without all the fuss of the kids tattling on one another and the constant movement and noise.  The dogs are quieter now too.  Life is going on as we wonder, did John like us.  Did he enjoy his time here?  Did he start feeling the same as I did, or is he just a kid who was having the time of this life?

The airport was a very emotional time for me and others when the children left.  When John went to the restroom, he told Boyd, "Mom is crying".   That was his only statement.  I gave him a big hug and told him I would miss him.  Here are pics from the airport farewell.

This last picture is the last we saw of John.   He was heading to the security gate....

Last picnic of the three weeks

Sunday was the last picnic for the children before they return to the Philippines.  I didn't get many pictures because there were so many people to talk to and socialize with.  The photographer (Kaci) that I hired for free did not feel like taking pictures.  She made a new friend named Eliza.  I believe she lives in St. Louis. 
The kids all played a game or two of soccer and played on the play ground.  The water balloon toss turned into a water balloon throw.  Which is what I expected for children over the age of 4. LOL 

John goes back to the Philippines in just 2 short days.  He will be missed by Boyd and myself.  The kids, they just need a break.  Which they are getting now that school is back in session full time.

Football season has begun and playing around

Friday night was the first scrimmage of the high school football season.  I loaded all the kids up and took them to the field.  Paid our canned goods to get in and settled in for the excitment.   It was clouding up and looked like it could rain.  It sounded like it could rain too!  I brought three umbrellas just in case.  The players were announced one at a time to the crowd that attended and the scrimmage began!  The thunder in the distance was getting closer and then the lightening started in the distance.  Within 10 minutes of the actual scrimmage starting,  it was delayed due to lightening, then later due to weather...   We came home and the kids started fooling around on the tumbling mat with music from a cell phone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2dvuG5hFyk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTx5nbwRlCg


Saturday morning we went to Kole's first game with his team of 2nd and 3rd graders.  It was a great game.  John likes to watch the game, but not play football. 
Here are some pics from the day!