Our Brilliant Son

Eclipsed by the bad news we got about Zechariah yesterday, was our son Dominic's big news:  He left for college yesterday!  Here is his acceptance letter!

Those who know us personally are surely asking: But wasn't he already in college?  Didn't he graduate?  The answer to both of those questions is, yes, he did.   2 1/2 years ago, when he was still married, Dominic undertook to get his license in Aviation Maintenance (A & P).  And he did brilliantly!  Got the best of grades, aced his tests, top of his class, and graduated with honors.  However, the job market was not what he had expected.  For 7 months, he faithfully searched, networked, applied, everything but begged for a job, but there were none to be found.  Several of his classmates found themselves in the same position.  Nada, zero, zilch. 

His dream had always been to go to Huntingdon and pursue a degree in History, but he put that aside in favor of the A & P so that he could support his family more quickly.  But seeing as how his wife said "Sayonara" shortly after he began the program, he found himself free to pursue loftier goals.  So he took the ACT (26!) and applied for Huntingdon. 

Faster than he ever dreamed possible, he got an answer.  Accepted!  And not only accepted, but accepted for Spring 2012.  As in starting in January.  If you look above, you will see that the acceptance letter was dated December 8, a mere month before he had to start!  So he put his affairs in order as quickly as he could, packed his things, and arrived on campus for new student orientation yesterday.  He will start classes on Monday the 9th.

I won't lie, it's tough for Momma to not have him around on a daily basis.  We shared so much together, that a feel a part of me is missing.  But as a Mom, I know that this is not only what he wants, but what he needs.   He needs freedom, independence, a chance to make mistakes and gain victories and spread his wings and truly FLY.  All without his parents being right there looking over his shoulder.

I am and have always been extremely proud of Dominic.  But I am doubly so today.  I know that he has what it takes to make it out there.  I know that I have taught him all I can, and that now it's up to him to use and apply the things he's been taught.  I know that he will grab life by the horns and wrestle it to the ground, if needed.  And most of all, I know  finally, after fits and starts and life-changing tragedies,  that he is a grown man.

And I wish him well.  Mazel Tov, my son! 

I love you forever

I'll like you for always

as long as I'm living

My Baby you'll be

 

 

 

Broken (Yet Hopeful) Hearts

This has not been a good day.

This is Zechariah, the little boy we intended to adopt.   Isn't he precious?

Please notice that I said intended to adopt.  We were notified this morning by our agency that we do not meet USCIS guidelines to adopt him from overseas.

We are heartbroken.  I know they tell you not to fall in love until you get an official match, but it's much too late for us.  If the adoption process is akin to a pregnancy, we feel like this must have been a miscarriage.

The good part of this is that Zechariah is still alive and well, and still waiting for someone to be his Mommy and Daddy.

He will need lots of help.  He will need your prayers, your sharing, and your donations to help him locate and attract a family to go scoop him up and bring him home.

We have to believe that G-d had a better plan for him than our family.  To think otherwise is just too painful.

Please, please, please share this blog post.  Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers about this precious little boy who needs a family.  Who almost had one, until bureaucracy said different.

He will again be listed at reecesrainbow.org  Please go find him and do what you can to help him.

Thank you and much love to you all!

New Year, New Kiddo

Artem

Happy New Year!

As you may or may not know, Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree campaign for 2011 was a HUGE success!  Every child listed on the Angel Tree met or exceeded the $1000 goal set for them.  This means that whichever family chooses to adopt a particular little one will have at least a $1000 grant waiting for them when it's time to travel!  Believe me, folks, that helps A LOT!  To those of you who have donated, and prayed, and advocated, and blogged and shared and posted, THANK YOU!  You are truly miracle workers!

Alissa

Jakob

Over 50 children have recently had families committed to bringing them home thanks to Reece's Rainbow and the Angel Tree campaign.  Over 50 precious kids who will no longer wear the label "orphan."  50+ kids with changed lives.  50+ kids who will find the love and security of a real family.  No doubt some of them will have their very lives because of RR.

Lucien

Lucille

Mara

One of the over 50 children getting new homes is very special to us.  Because he is coming to OUR home.  RR and and agency rules don't permit us to tell you his name, what country he is from, or any other identifying information.  I can tell you that he is two years old, and will be known as Ari James McAda when he gets here. I can tell you that he is already loved and wanted and missed by his new family.  I can tell you that he will be a wonderful (little) big brother to Miss Abby.  That he will be adored by his older brother Dom and his grandparents.  And that he will be given every opportunity possible to grow and thrive.  Yes, our little prince also has Down Syndrome, like his little sister.  Yes, we know what we are doing.  Yes, we are prepared for two little ones with DS.  Yes, we know how much work and commitment it will be.  No, we have not lost our minds!

Zechariah (soon to be Ari)

And yes, we realize how expensive it is to adopt from another country.  The country that Ari is from is thankfully one of the least expensive.  We are prepared to tighten our belts and use every dime not allotted for household expenses toward bringing Ari home.  We are prepared to look into grants, loans, fundraisers and whatever else we have to do to make it happen.  It will be a lot of work.  But this precious boy is worth every penny.

We are asking for your help, however.  We are asking you to pray, to advocate, and to spread the word.  We will be setting up an FSP page on Reece's Rainbow to help raise funds.  All those donations will be fully tax-deductible, and will help us with our final expenses, like travel costs, lodging, passports and visas for Ari, and any unexpected in-country expenses we may encounter.  We will also be putting a chip-in on this page to help with expenses along the way.  Those donations, will not, unfortunately be tax-deductible, but we do promise you full transparency and accountability along the way, so you can see where those dollars are going.

I know times are tough, and money is tight.  Any help will be sooo appreciated.  Ari has spent his entire life in a hospital ward, and we HAVE to go scoop him up out of there!  Please continue to pray for us, and wish us well on this journey.  We love you all!

Lisa, Shane, Dominic, and Abby