Finalization!

We are on the Docket!!
April 23rd at 1:30.  We're going to do his dedication that weekend and have a BBQ to celebrate the end of the legal process of this journey.  It's been a long road with many turns and even some back tracking, but next month will be a good one in the C household!

Neighborhood Safety

I'd like to propose a movement.  As grass roots as it gets.  Stick with me, this is completely non-political.  It crosses every demographic.

We need to CARE about each other.
When you are at a park, pay attention to everyone, talk to the other parents for a moment, tell them your name, ask them to take a look around the park and pay attention to people who avoid eye contact and seem out of place.

On the street, when you're walking, pay attention.  Watch out for the people around you.

My dear friend lost her cousin because people just weren't looking around.  Amber DuBois could have been rescued if other people's parents, other adults cared about the people around them more than getting where they were going.

Cell phones are a huge problem, when you drive with them, your world becomes 50% less clear, people disappear,  you literally don't see them because your attention is focused on your conversation.  Put the phones down, and stop being so centered on your social life and pay attention to your community.

We need to take care of one another, we need to be the first line of defense for our children.

We need to let these creeps know that Mommies and Daddies are their worst nightmares!  That not only are we watching them, we're taking care of everyone's children.  That I am protecting your children just as ferociously as I protect my own. I will put myself in harms way for your child.  I will speak up, and I will be there to protect them.

Amber wasn't my child, she was a friend's relative's child, she and Chelsea King deserved to live.  They deserved to be safe.  Lindsay Baum deserved to make it to her friend's house.  If her neighbors had been watching, just paying attention to their world as they drove or walked or biked through it, They all would have made it safely to their destination.

We can't afford to wait for the government to round up the nasties.  The Neighborhood Watch needs to be re-invented and reorganized.

WE the people need to care about one another. No more looking out for #1.  We need to look out for the children.  And it needs to happen NOW.

/soapbox (I need to go make cookies to take to the neighbors that moved in months ago that I never said hi to).

Missing and Exploited Children

The Day We Met

Morning began before dawn, it was so dark when the phone woke us from sleep.
Orion's belt was gleaming from the sky as I hurried through the icy cold to wake the neighbors. Your dog needed to be cared for.  Daddy took forever to send his work an email, or so it seemed.  We drove through a pink and blue dawn toward Mt. Rainer, a beautiful frigid sight, the day you were born.  That mountain isn't always out in December, nor is the weather so very cold.  Usually the sky is grey with clouds, and rain drizzles through the day, but even the sky felt the joy of my heart the day you became my son.

Oh man.

My friend's mom just passed away totally unexpectedly. Please keep Jenn Lee in your prayers.

God is Awesome

I am so thrilled I can't even write!  H has a baby!!  I'm sure you already read it, but just in case go Here.  It seems our hearts must break before they can experience the true joy God has for us. (sometimes anyway)  It is my sincere hope that this is their little girl forever.

Speaking

The three of us were asked to be on the panel of adoptive families on Saturday, Jer isn't much for emotional public speaking, but he knew I would want to do it so he's going and going to hold Jack and I'll talk...but our wait was long, and I want to tell them not to be afraid of a long wait, I believe ours was perfectly planned for Jack's benefit as well as ours.  I grew in my faith tremendously in the last six months of our wait, it was a spiritual growth spurt really.  And it was trusting God AFTER the events of our second failed placement that was the impetus for that growth.

Is there anything that stands out to you all that I should talk about?  HELP!

Wordless Wednesday

Pictures

Would you ladies mind sending me pictures of your lovely families via email?  I'd like to make a spot in Jack's album for our "Adoption buddies".  The stories of your children have meant a lot to me and still do, If you think it's silly or would rather not be included, I understand!  And BY the way, as soon as you who're waiting are placed, I want photos of your families too.  There is no time limit.  In fact, if you want to send me a photo before you're placed, that is awesome too!  In a way all of our stories have come together through blogging and I'd like to commemorate that. kelley at jeremiah and kelley dot com or my other email address if you already have it ;D

In Memoriam Amber LeeAnn Dubois

Over a year her broken body lay undiscovered.  For over a year her family couldn't and wouldn't give up on finding her.  I prayed daily that she would be one of the stories of homecoming.  Sadly, on Sunday evening, I was informed that she would not.  My heart breaks for a family that will miss her forever.

Here for more info.

Jack