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(In the midst of all my other writing projects, I’ve been writing down snapshots from Evangeline’s adoption in Ukraine :). Plus, November is Adoption awareness month, which got me to thinking …) In 2009, my husband Sergei, our older daughters Elaina and Zoya, and I all travelled to Ukraine to adopt a little girl we were to name Evangeline, who happened to have Down syndrome like our youngest daughter Polly. Our special needs adoption from -
On coming out of depression One of the strangest things about coming out of a recent bout of depression is fighting myself not to fall into it again. And then re-learning how to do life. As I get healthier mostly by working on catching my thoughts before they catch me, focusing more on the things of God, seeing a therapist, and taking medication, I am shocked at how ingrained my depressive behaviors have melded into
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http://www.stockfreeimages.com/ What to do with a severe and profound label for my daughter with Down syndrome? I am immobile this morning. It happens with me, what with my struggle with depression, parenthood in general, kids with special needs, pre-teens with attitudes, hang nails, you know, big stuff. Sergei and I had a an eligibility meeting a few days ago with our daughter Evie’s (6 years old, Down syndrome, adopted from Ukraine) school regarding her services and
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10 things to say when a baby is born with Down syndrome Here it is, day 31 of blogging for Down syndrome awareness the month of October. Phew. I’m tired! A few weeks ago I posted 10 things not to say to a parent of a child with Down syndrome. Someone emailed me a day or two later. “My father and I were talking about your post about 10 things not to say to a
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11 Responses
Hi Gillian! I absolutely LOVE this post because it is beautifully written and beautifully honest. I also happen to follow both Erin Loraine’s and Ellen Stumbo’s blogs, and had no idea that your three girls were together in the same group at the orphanage (I recognized Nina Stumbo from the earlier photo from the orphanage)! It is such a blessing that these girls have been adopted by loving families and are thriving – something they would not have been doing had they stayed in Ukraine. God bless you on this Thanksgiving!
Thanks so much, Sabrina. I too, am so encouraged to see so many kids from Evie’s group home. Warms my heart :).
That was so beautiful! It made me cry with such happiness seeing those beautiful children who found their forever home!!
Thanks so much, Anna!
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yes God knows better….. your adoption, and the others from downsyn where the first i followed, i was sitting in my chair in Monterrey, Mexico crying and thinking : what a blessing, but these people must be crazy or rich, HA! but God knew better, He was using your stories to open my heart for adoption. now years later here I am sitting in the same chair, in the same city far away reading you and crying and thanking God for special needs adoption.
it is painful, but it is also beautiful,and you will never fully understand it until you live it.
hugs from your mexican friend 🙂
totally agree, God knew better
years ago I was sitting on my chair in Monterrey, Mexico, crying and reading your adoptiong story (among the others from down syn) thinking: what a blessing, but they must be crazy, or rich. I could never do it (special needs adoption) but God knew better,,, He was opening my heart to adopt. Now im the same chair, in the same city far far away, just thanking God for special needs adoption and for choosing us as Eva’s parents, it hasnt been easy, but it has been worth it.
adoption is painful and beautiful. amen!
xo, lady :).
I love your honesty when you write about the adoption….it’s so easy to sugar coat everything for the sake of always looking perfect
Thanks friend. That means a lot coming from you.
I came across this blog tonight. I am so blessed by your story. My husband and I along with our 2 children were missionaries in Swaziland, Africa from 2009-2013 and in that time met and fell in love with a little girl with cerebral palsy (severe). We are praying about possibly adopting her. We are struggling with that decision. Reading stories like yours gives me hope…God bless your precious family.
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