tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post3180815789721156343..comments2024-03-26T14:14:12.032-07:00Comments on His Hands, His feet: Lots Of You Asked For It, So Here You GoServing the Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05855601974000983589noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-28600660860632708392012-04-19T15:23:20.120-07:002012-04-19T15:23:20.120-07:00Thank you for explaining life with older kids. I ...Thank you for explaining life with older kids. I have three: 11, 10 & 8. Two boys, one girl. My daughter has repeatedly asked for a sister and God has called us to adopt. We haven't taken the plunge yet, but reading this post has helped to confirm that older adoption is for us. To adopt a girl between the ages of 6-8 would be wonderful. I am sure challenging, but God has called us to it, so He will certainly make a way for us to do it. We are an AF family, too. I need to get up and jump in. Waiting on my better half to join me on this wild ride! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-36054016478083097132012-02-26T17:40:07.197-08:002012-02-26T17:40:07.197-08:00Can we use this on We Are Grafted In? Great, great...Can we use this on We Are Grafted In? Great, great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04910258636674801379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-48098409398881942482012-02-26T13:42:45.285-08:002012-02-26T13:42:45.285-08:00Great post, thank you for your honesty as we consi...Great post, thank you for your honesty as we consider older child adoption!Crisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00454964961683551648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-3368481660565184172012-02-24T06:04:49.071-08:002012-02-24T06:04:49.071-08:00Oh, Sonia, as always I find myself smiling and nod...Oh, Sonia, as always I find myself smiling and nodding as I read your post. I have thought of you so often as we've been here in China these past two weeks, knowing the challenges of adopting at ANY age, but particularly the different challenges of adopting older children. You amaze me, my friend. I have missed your blog posts, but I have known in my heart that you have indeed been focused on much more important--and demanding--pursuits than informing and entertaining your posse! Praying for you as you empty yourself daily. May He fill you faithfully as you depend on Him.Amy Cantilinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02821087640041144585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-48354438797966072462012-02-23T09:29:37.209-08:002012-02-23T09:29:37.209-08:00I LOVE this post! Thank you, thank you, thank you!...I LOVE this post! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You have such a great attitude. That means so much. We are adopting an older child...waiting to bring her home, sometime late this fall.<br />Blessings,<br />Rebecca<br />www.loveisonthemove-hope.blogspot.comRebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07491557956365930179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-38580950427827933942012-02-23T06:26:44.536-08:002012-02-23T06:26:44.536-08:00The "EMPTY" part....I so get it! And my...The "EMPTY" part....I so get it! And my precious little from China is only 3!! So my unparenting isn't even to the level of yours X3...but it does empty me...every day!<br />Thank you for your honesty....thank you for your humor....thank you for being willing to share! God Bless You...and I pray that He continues to fill you back up each day!!Gerrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09196297969393367434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-21164864267692417642012-02-23T05:37:10.308-08:002012-02-23T05:37:10.308-08:00Well, It sure is nice to have you back! Happy to ...Well, It sure is nice to have you back! Happy to see that living in a house of 8 boys/men hasn't dampened your sense of humor! God is faithful. Welcome back.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11548711570972840707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-51919007599869758442012-02-22T19:36:24.482-08:002012-02-22T19:36:24.482-08:00There ya done went and did it! Ya done talked me ...There ya done went and did it! Ya done talked me into adding another one to our family. Golly..thought I might catch up to your family..but we still be laggin' behind with only 6. Cotton pick! I done thinks that the ole' man won't be too appreciative of ya blazing ahead like that!!ourchinagirlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10468338665282912994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-26358506665128129792012-02-22T17:39:38.514-08:002012-02-22T17:39:38.514-08:00Thank yoiu so much for this post. I read it over a...Thank yoiu so much for this post. I read it over and over. We are bringing our 7 year old son home from China in late Summer. We have two bio daughters 10 and 7 and an adopted son from China who is 3. So, we will have 10,7,7,4 by the time our son comes home. Keep posting when you have time. Your honesty is preparation for many of us waiting families. Blessings and prayers to your family.Brandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04108670791173367029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-32823613120026384532012-02-22T14:45:26.365-08:002012-02-22T14:45:26.365-08:00BEAUTIFULLY written and from what I can see as a v...BEAUTIFULLY written and from what I can see as a veteran mom (bio and adopted kiddos) you are doing an AWESOME job!!! Sure it is exhausting but when they emerge into lovely young adults all your labor and exhaustion will be SO worth it! Trust me! Keep up the great job mom! You got it goin' on! P.S. three little girls would turn your brood into a nice round number :):) :)<br />JoyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-41435204790123287782012-02-22T13:56:12.703-08:002012-02-22T13:56:12.703-08:00I have to say this is refreshingly honest. Thank ...I have to say this is refreshingly honest. Thank you for that.<br /><br />We adopted 2 boys from foster care at ages 4 and 6. Our little man who was 4 was abused and neglected to the point that he was emotionally a 2 yr old. We're 2.5 yrs later and STILL untraining and retraining. <br /><br />Trying to change the heart from "victim state of mind" when disciplined and discipled to a personal responsibility state of mind. Its downright hard. The repeating over and over...and the having to be "on" all the time is exhausting. <br /><br />It is also a lonely road. The average parent doesn't parent a child with attachment issues, anxiety or past trauma and they don't "get" why we have to parent a certain way...They don't get why I might say no to my child seeing a certain movie or doing a certain activity (because my child will NOT be able to handle it!). I can't vent about the issues with just anyone. Special needs are not always seen, especially when they are emotional special needs. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the honesty. Parenting older children (and yeah I consider 4 and 6 with lots of abuse to be older) is not for the wimpy or weak...and it is definitely the most beautifully painful thing I've ever gone through. I would NOT change my decision ever...I just would have humbled myself way beforehand because I came into this underestimating things too. Now I have to be real...very real. Its an awesome thing and we're glad we did it!Jolenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05951367929237400765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-70757900681585561932012-02-22T13:12:54.735-08:002012-02-22T13:12:54.735-08:00Thank you for returning and thank you for this blo...Thank you for returning and thank you for this blog! As a single mom about to bring home two older girls I needed to read this! Thank you for giving your all for your family! Thank you for taking time out for us in the blog world! I pray that your strength will be renewed and you will be refilled each night as you rest to keep on keeping on! Bless you!Vickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08603269459384230189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-17768608954731907652012-02-22T12:18:22.130-08:002012-02-22T12:18:22.130-08:00Then endless talking we get to do. My voice sounds...Then endless talking we get to do. My voice sounds like a teen boys these days..I think because I'm constantly talking when the kids are home from school.And I have only ONE boy that age.<br />Keep going...and please keep blogging!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103378389155773502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-34663978920940130842012-02-22T12:08:37.981-08:002012-02-22T12:08:37.981-08:00Well, this one has produced a dam of tears that ar...Well, this one has produced a dam of tears that are trying to break free from my eyeballs. Sonia Martin, I miss you! When I think that you are raising 7 boys without screaming, and yet the older will say, "He doesn't know what he's dealing with.", well, it just makes me want to sit with you again. Thank you for being willing to empty yourself every day for those boys. They are going to make great men.<br />Blessings...Donna O.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-11731498549118361752012-02-22T11:32:53.801-08:002012-02-22T11:32:53.801-08:00Agh! What is with the food thing, why can't it...Agh! What is with the food thing, why can't it just remain in their plate uneaten? Luci always points to some random piece of food and says " me no like eat this" and wants it off her plate?? Throws it right on the table! We don't make them clean their plates so not quite sure what is up with that. Maybe our little ones can explain that one to us one day. Thanks for writing and keeping it real.<br />Tarataralee815https://www.blogger.com/profile/02377771814373909150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-49981159441448609802012-02-22T11:20:53.103-08:002012-02-22T11:20:53.103-08:00Awesome post, thank you so much! Love that last p...Awesome post, thank you so much! Love that last picture! :)Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03228094717864369438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-56162002015532443642012-02-22T10:22:46.168-08:002012-02-22T10:22:46.168-08:00Annnnndddddd that's why we ask you to blog. B...Annnnndddddd that's why we ask you to blog. Because you write with honesty, humor, and the truth. And you do it well. Thanks for sharing, my friend. Once the boys get to 14, promise me you'll write a book. Okay? Good. I'll be your agent.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06212664393746141154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-36426477034270458472012-02-22T09:56:16.612-08:002012-02-22T09:56:16.612-08:00LOL! "walking down the hall stark neked"...LOL! "walking down the hall stark neked" At least you're the only girl in your house! <br /><br />Yes, unparenting and parenting at the same time is hard. Some of it is just cultural stuff, too. (Like chewing with your mouth closed and not talking with your mouth full!) <br /><br />But I'm with you. I wouldn't change a thing. And I would do it all again. Just not anytime soon; I'm exhausted at the end of the day with my 6.Mom2Sixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735386709874653639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-42585247326269579762012-02-22T08:54:35.276-08:002012-02-22T08:54:35.276-08:00Where is the like button?
This needs to be linked...Where is the like button?<br /><br />This needs to be linked to, re-posted, SHARED. Can I link to it?<br /><br />I really need to get real on my blog about older child adoption. It is not that I've been romanticizing. I just haven't talked much about it.<br /><br />Thanks for keeping it real. BTW, I met one of your IRL friends, Alisa, and it was great fun getting to know her. She speaks very highly of you BTW! :)<br /><br />Great to hear updates on Joseph (and his heart). Thanks again for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-31483913152121436712012-02-22T08:17:08.033-08:002012-02-22T08:17:08.033-08:00hehe...'life training' makes me laugh (wit...hehe...'life training' makes me laugh (with you, not at you!) Can I add to that: you don't have to say what you're thinking; when you decide to hug someone you do not need to throttle their neck; if you wish to ask me a question about someone i'm talking to, please wait until they leave our presence :) <br />Thank you, Sonia, for taking time to post!Connie Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03105757409356865785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-49944350754780975272012-02-22T07:49:29.099-08:002012-02-22T07:49:29.099-08:00You rock. I love your honesty and the fact that yo...You rock. I love your honesty and the fact that you freely share your heart. I want so badly to not be on easy street and continue to walk in His will.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058314814552954216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4559196589404180345.post-65861683246297203112012-02-22T07:45:57.763-08:002012-02-22T07:45:57.763-08:00What a great post! YOu inspire me! I was just si...What a great post! YOu inspire me! I was just sitting here thinking how tired I am and how time consuming parenting these 2 is....and I only have 2! I agree with everything you wrote. We did go back to diapers with Wesleigh and that was a VERY hard transistion for me, but there are things about Gracie being older that are hard too (yes...throwing the food off your plate!!! UGH!!!) I get it. You are amazing!<br /><br />PS...I had 4 extra boys here Sunday night and 3 extra on Monday. I thought of you as I was feeding them all an ungodly amount of food!!! You'd better be saving for that food bill NOW!!!jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812758330851051793noreply@blogger.com