Visiting Maya's orphanage and foster family

Today was a very emotional day. I was allowed to see where Maya has lived since she was 8 months old. I met her main nanny who cared for her until the age of three, and her foster parents who have cared for her from age three until present. foster families live in a building near the orphanage. Each foster family has four children with special needs. Next week a new child will move in with Maya's foster family. Her foster mother and father were very loving, and I am so grateful for the love she received. to see the children in the orphanage and know so many of them will live there whole lives in an institution was hard. Half the Sky foundation runs in Maya's orphanage, so it is a very well run orphanage, and the children are well cared for. However, an orphanage is not the love of a family. I especially had a soft spot for Maya's 14 year old brother with down syndrome. At 14 he is no longer eligable to be adopted. He will live his whole life in the social welfare institute. I asked to take a picture of him and he had a sweet pose for me. I cannot express how grateful I am to be raised in a loving home in our beautiful country. I am emotionally exhausted, and will never forget today. I also remember that God reaches into every corner, and I can do what I can do, but, must give the rest to Him. But, we also need to allow our hearts to break for what breaks His....and that heartbreak hurts.

Family Day and official Adoption Day

Yesterday, I arrived in Nanjing and was brought straight to the civil affairs office. I was nervous, and walked into a very full building full of crying babies and kids with adoptive parents. walked throught the room, and recognized Maya right away. Maya did not make strange, and seemed rather indifferent to everything going on. She was very, very quiet, so, at that moment I was still thinking she was none verbal. The staff gave me the gifts we had sent her, they took our picture, and we were sent off to our hotel for some bonding time :) At the hotel, we began playing, and I saw a very giggly girl, who also had much more language then I had thought she would have. She is charming, and a bit of a stinker, all good signs of her personality. I was not sure if Maya would be toilet trained, she is, and tells me when she has to go. The kid scrubs her hands after like she is prepping for surgery. she eats well, and really likes to eat with a bowl and spoon. Today we went and finalized her adoption I find it very special signing the papers and making it official with my red fingerprint. Like blood it reminds me we are now blood relatives. FAMILY Maya loved going shopping and riding in the cart, she also loved riding in the stroller, such blessings,as I had put her in the back carrier, but will save my back for the trip up the great wall. Again, thank you for your continued prayers, on this journey to Maya in China. I have been doing very well, am healthy. I enjoyed a huge apple tonight, which was nice, as I do not think I can eat more rice or noodles for a few meals. The food is much better in Beijing.

Beijing-Day 1

Today we took the bus to pipe alley and enjoyed some hotpot. I loved this hotpot restaraunt and was so happy we traveled back there. We also saw a lovely lake and enjoyed looking in the stores in pipe alley Tomorrow morning, I fly to Nanjing and in the afternoon will meet our sweet Maya for the first time. I am excited, yet, it somewhat seems surreal that the day is here.

The Count Down.

It seems like a lifetime ago when I first saw her picture. The face that captured Kevin's heart right away. The little girl whom we will soon call our daughter. On Dec. 6th I will be flying out to Beijing and on to Nanjing, Jiangsu to adopt our sweetie pie. Please keep me in your prayers, our daughter Maya, and my husband and kiddos who will be staying in Edmonton.

YES, YES, YES

YES, YES, YES "Get your "YES" straight at the very beginning. Decide on it. Roll around in it. Put it on the table and shellack it. Because you cannot let every delay and snag derail your certainty about adoption. When you say YES, you are saying YES to enter the suffering of the orphan, and that suffering includes WAITING FOR YOU TO GET TO THEM. I promise you, their suffering is worse than yours. We say YES to the tears, YES to the longing, YES to the maddening process, YES to the money, YES to hope, YES to the screaming frustration of it all, YES to going the distance through every unforeseen discouragement and delay. Do not imagine that something outside of "your perfect plan" means you heard God wrong. There is NO perfect adoption. EVERY adoption has snags. We Americans invented the "show me a sign" or "this is a sign" or "this must mean God is closing a door" or "God must not be in this because it is hard," but all that is garbage. You know what's hard? Being an orphan. They need us to be champions and heroes for them, fighting like hell to get them home. So we will. We may cry and rage and scream and wail in the process, but get them home we will." --Jen Hatmaker

The Price of Children

The Price of Children This is just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into: * $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, * $171.08 a week. * A mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is: don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140.00? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last! * Glimpses of God every day. * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. * A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites. * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek, * catch lightning bugs, * never stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, * watch Saturday morning cartoons, * go to Disney movies, and * wish on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodlewreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: * retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, * taking the training wheels off a bike, * removing a splinter, * filling a wading pool, * coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat in history to witness the: * First step, * First word, * First bra, * First date, * First time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!! Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren!!!!!!! It's the best investment you'll ever make!!!!!!!!!

Canadians Adopt: Kevin and Jessica's adoption story

Our storey is featured on the Canada Adopts Blog...just follow the link :)


Canadians Adopt: Kevin and Jessica's adoption story: Psalm 68:6a God sets the lonely in families Our Adoption Journey… Sometimes, we do not realize what an amazing journey God has led us th...

Provincial Approval

We are one step closer to adopting another kiddo from China. On Friday we received our Provincial Approval from the Alberta Gov't. Now our Dossier(interpol fingerprinting, medicals, homestudy, birth certificates etc) will be off to be authenticated, than off to China

Great News-Results from Noah's videofluoroscopy

Yesterday Noah had a videofluoroscopy done at the stollery.  Our wonderful speech therapist was concerned Noah's Palate was not moving, and air was continuing to pass through when it should be closed off and held in the back of his throat.
I was sure Noah would need another surgery, BUT, results showed otherwise.  Noah's palate is moving and he has minimal air flowing through.  Minimal, not enough to warrant surgery.
In two weeks Noah will be starting a new technique in speech to help him stop air.
Just so thankful our fellow will not be back in surgery.

Why God Made Moms:

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2 Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don’t do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet – you know, her hair. I’d diet maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Source Unknown

Blessed Beyond Measure

We have been blessed with this adoption to be part of a wonderful fair trade store called Once Was Lost. This store was made by an adoptive mother to help out Canadian families in the adoption process. With every purchase designated toward us, we recieve 50% of the sale towards our adoption, PLUS, every 25 dollars spent feeds a child in Africa for a week.


I love all of the products, they are funky and cool..and change frequently enough that their is always some new products popping up. 

If you are interested in purchasing please click on this link
http://oncewaslost.storenvy.com/

When you make a purchase please put our names  in the notes to seller box (Kevin and Jessica Leicht) when you are checking out.

more surgery

Last May, being only home two months, Noah had surgery to repair his cleft Palate(above picture pre-surgery)

We were told that cleft palate surgery is one of the most painful surgeries a child can go through. 

Three weeks of wearing arms splints, and six weeks of baby food was not very fun(sidenote:never, I mean never puree bbq pork chops-  you will never look at them the same again)

We learned today that Noah will likely need a palate revision.  This is needed in about 10 percent of cleft palate surgeries when a child sounds nasally, which in this case, is our Noah. 

On a brigher note, the reason we know Noah sounds Nasally, is that he is talking so much, very hard to understand, but talking, and that makes this momma's heart jump for joy.

I have learned(the hard way many times) that it is all in God's hands, not mine.  What a comfort that is.


Philipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

A lifetime..with only a few minutes of love.

Have you heard what happens to children who are not loved...THIS is what happens to children with not only no loving family, but, truly no one who loves or cares for them. 
It is heartbreaking..but, ignorance will not fix the problem, nor, averting our eyes from the problems of this world will.
I imagine since this video was taken, this sweet girl now is in the arms of Jesus..running, laughing, singing...because her healing, her love of a family, of a father, came to her not in this earthly life, but, in her heavenly one.

Our appt at the adoption clinic!!

Today Noah saw the O.T to be assessed for his one year home.  He is pretty much age level for both fine and gross motor skills, and has made some huge gains this past year in these areas.

As for attatchment, well, Noah has attatched very well, he currently likes to know where mom is at all times, the last month has been a little out of sorts, so this would perhaps explain the anxiety in our little guy.

The hurdle that Noah faces has to do with his repaired cleft lip and palate.  Although both are repaired, Noah still has huge issues with his expressive language and articulation.  The doctor implied that we have some challenging  years ahead of us, including some pretty intense therapy.(which is not suprising)  Noah has such wonderful receptive language and is such a bright little guy, we always pray the best for Noah, and God's will be done in his life.

Noah is such a blessing in our lives, adoption is such a blessing for parents and kids. Adoption is not just a blessing for the adopted child but, for the family who grafts the child into their family.  Noah has taught me so much this year, about God's love for His children, he has helped me understand why God has called us to care for these kiddos.  Because of His love and sacrifice, he works through me and has allowed me the blessing of adopting our child.

Failure to Thrive

The term failure to thrive in our Canadian medical system is often equated with infants who are not meeting growth and developemental milestones.  In institutional settings throughout the world, we see children up to release(usually a mental institution or streets)who still would be labelled as failure to thrive.
Noah , came home delayed and put on  30% on his body mass in a year and added quite a huge amount of height( beyond what would be considered an average growth on the  curve for a child of his age.)
Sadly, we find 16 year olds the size of two year olds,  starved enough to not kill them, but, not allow them to grow or to develop.  Orphans we assume are toddlers are a few years older than they appear, not only physically but developmentally as well.
I encourage you to read the link below.  Brandon Hatmaker has written a wonderful post on Orphans failure to thrive.

Brandon Hatmaker - Failure to Thrive

James 1:27

 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

 

Our week in pictures...

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

 



 THURSDAY

 

 

 

It has just been one of those weeks.  So thankful my parents live near by..they were a HUGE help. 

 

1 Peter 5:7   Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

 





One year ago today....

One Year ago today, we arrived safely home with our sweet bundle in our arms.
















Thier were four very excited children, who had been without mom and dad for two weeks, and who were anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new brother.















In some ways it seems like less than a year...to watch any of your children grow and develop is a wonderful thing...watching Noah transform from a scared little boy...to a happy toddler has truly been a beautiful experience. 


I love the saying "thier are no unwanted children, only unfound families!!"  If only the families would realize this!!!!

Ephesians 1:5
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Lost Children of the Coal- China

Orphan Justice