Amazing...wonderful...marvelous...strong

First, I want to thank each and every one of you for following us and our story to bring Jadon home. But, I have to say something, with all the compliments on how great Shawn and I are and how what we are doing is amazing and strong we must be to do it...well,, maybe in your eyes. In reality we are none of those.

We are a married couple, plain and simple. To us, God is strong. God is amazing; this journey is amazing. If you had told me a year ago we would be sitting in K*********, Ukraine; I would have laughed in your face! This was not of us or our plans. BUT I am SOOOOOOO grateful we are of this plan now.

Shawn and I are just like you. You could be us. It really is that simple. Is it that easy? No. But it is that plain.

So, in my humbleness, thank you; I know what you mean. But for us, we give all the praise to the One that sent us. This is not about us, it never has been. It is all about Him and His glory. I can scarcely believe the privilege we have been given.

I've seen other children in this orphanage--something I understand does NOT happen regularly, if ever. We do not have "our run of the building" but I have seen children on their way to eat and going out to walk the grounds. I cannot say "play" because that entails something I am not sure these kids now how to do the way American children do.

The place is clean inside. Nice on the outside. Cheerfully painted. But, still, no place for love and home for a child that allows adequate growth physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Some stats on Jadon, Joseph and Jackson for size comparison.

Jadon is 28 inches tall, his shoe size in American shoe is 2.5 in baby shoes, he can probably wear 9 month clothing and it fit. He will be 3 in 2.5 weeks. He might weigh 15-18 lbs. He does NOT register on any growth chart, not even the Down syndrome chart.

Joseph is 37.5 inches tall, his shoe size in American shoe is 6.5 or 7 baby shoes/toddler shoes, he wears 5T shirts and 4T or 4 jeans. He is 4 years and 4 months old. He weighs 36.5 lbs. Joseph weighed 17 lbs at one year, I believe.

Jackson is 44 inches tall, his shoe size in American shoe is a size 1 in little boys, he wears a size 5/6 shirt and 6 jeans. He is 4 years and 4 months old. He weighs 47 lbs. Jackson weighed 19 lbs at one year, I believe.

Jared is 57 inches tall, size 8 mens shoe, size 14 Husky jean and S/M men's shirts. He is 9 years old and weighs 115 lbs. He weighed 15 lbs when he was 2 or 3 months old. My boy doubled his birth weight within a month or so on nothing but momma milk he was born weighing 7 lbs. 7 ounces.

It breaks my heart to see these numbers on this page. I remember when I was married to Tim. John and Tami brought home C and I remember her being soooooo very tiny and petite. I still have pictures of Geneva with C at Gene and Marie's table that first holiday dinner home. I think when have my boys together it is really going to hit me.

So, anyhow, that turned into a ramble. Thank you all for following our story.

Love,


"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:2-3 (NIV)