Diapers and Wipes, Joy and Connections

You did it!  You helped us really make a difference.  

Here's our final stash from last week...

plus another bag and box that we picked up 

on the way to make our great delivery!

Silas was beyond excited!

Our first stop was Children's Home and Aid.  They help out foster families and homeless families.  The receptionist kept repeating "thank you."  She was so grateful.

Both of the boys got involved in carrying boxes.  This makes me melt!

Teamwork between brothers...

I really didn't do much myself.

They were all about it!

Proud of "helping all those babies."

And then on to the big one, the place where he has spent countless hours visiting his birth family - The Baby Fold.  When we pulled into this parking lot he instantly said, "I remember this place.  I played on the big dinosaur."  And he really truly did!

 We hadn't been in this building in almost two years.  Yet he remembered his caseworker, and he knew exactly how to get to the visiting rooms.  He literally led us there, up to the security doors and down the hallway.  He knew where to take a left to get to the visiting rooms, and started heading toward the biggest one (their favorite), which was currently in use, so we turned into this room...

He immediately started playing with toys that he recognized.  Within two minutes he got out one particular toy and his caseworker said that he and his siblings had played with it very often.  He even brought up their names, which I think made his caseworker's heart glad.  I am so very glad that we added the visiting room to our outing.  It really helped him understand everything more.  Tomorrow we are meeting up to play with his siblings again.  I wonder if he will make any more connections, 

even though he has seen them often for years.

When I first picked the boys up from the sitters that day, I handed him a photo album and pointed out the pictures throughout it that showed his siblings and his birth mom, on different days they had visited at The Baby Fold.  I wanted him to make the connection when he saw the entry way and the visiting room.  Of course he could tell me his siblings names in each picture, but he couldn't remember his birth mom's name when I pointed out her picture.  BUT the day after our delivery, I showed him another picture of her, in a different picture album.  And he immediately told me her name!  We are getting somewhere!  He was also very struck by the fact that he helped people.  Literally the day after the deliveries he asked me, "When can we do that again?"  I love his heart.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this a wonderful experience.  We could not have done it without your donations.  And it wasn't just great for us...those diapers and wipes will be used quickly, by people who truly need them.  To God be the glory!

Diaper Drive Update

We are up to 11 packages of diapers and wipes!  A big thank you goes out to everyone who has donated so far.  Silas loves carrying them from our van or front step to this pile.  We are still hoping for 20 packages so we are extending our goal date to November 1st.  Looking forward to seeing our old caseworker and handing over these goodies for foster families!

Challenge: Helping Silas Understand Adoption

     We have been intentional in telling Silas that he is adopted.  Many times I have told him the story about how he came in the middle of the night, and immediately woke up and smiled at us, when he didn't even know who we were.  We knew he was special right at that moment. Usually when I have told the story I've added some information, such as telling him there were other kids in the van that night. Later I told him the names of his siblings that were taken to other homes after they left our house.  He was very excited to hear their names, because we still hang out with them a few times each year.  Even though he loves them and has an incredible bond with them, he doesn't really GET that they are his siblings.  I have told him how the judge said he could stay with us forever.  He seemed really in tune with that, and then followed up by asking if he could watch "Bob the Builder."  People say it's a bigger deal to the parents than the child to tell them about being adopted, and he seemed to prove that there.  One important day I asked if he wanted to know the name of the person whose tummy he and his siblings were in...when I told him, and instantly said, "and _____?" (birth dad's name).  He knows their names because we have prayed for them every night for years, and he instantly made that connection. Yet he had never asked who they were.

     Sometimes he refers to being in my tummy, and I remind him that he was not inside me.  I say, "remember, you came in the middle of the night when you were four months old?"  He's not connecting everything.  Yet he has a big passion to pray for friends who are in the process of adopting.  His heart is there.  We dance around the kitchen to a song called "I'm adopted."  We actually did that today.  But I don't know that he could really define the word "adoption."  I know he is young, but his siblings are not much older and they understand.  I will continue to be intentional, but will you help me in this process?  
     I am organizing a diapers and wipes drive, because all foster care agencies need them on a regular basis.  Part of the donations will be delivered to Children's Home and Aid in Bloomington, because of the agencies in our area, they currently have the most need for diapers and wipes.  The other foster care agency we will be delivering boxes to is one where Silas spent countless hours visiting his birth parents and siblings.  I want to walk him in there, visit his old case worker, and for him to SEE what used to be a huge part of his life. Now that he's older, I'm hoping he will make more of a connection when he sees those visiting rooms, and I can show him the many pictures I have of him in those rooms, over a period of three years...pictures of him and his siblings playing, at all those different ages.  I also want him to desire to serve those who are currently in foster care.  I am picturing him carrying those boxes of diapers and wipes in those front doors, and being very serious about helping others.  Anyone that knows him knows that he is a big helper; he thrives on having an important job to do.  So I am trying to mesh his deep desire to help with opening his eyes up a bit more to foster care and adoption.  If nothing else, it will at least serve as a great service opportunity for him.  Will you help?  Here's how:

- Purchase wipes or any size of diapers.
- Let me know that you have done so and I will get them from you.
- OR if you are an Amazon shopper, you could purchase them online and have them shipped to our house.  (If you don't have our address you can email me at sarajean2001@gmail.com and I'll give it to you.)

     I can't wait to start seeing diapers and wipes pile up in our house.  Silas' eyes will light up each time the Fedex truck comes, or I bring home diapers or wipes that someone has given me.  I promise I will update with pictures of how high the stack goes.  My goal is 20 boxes by October 25th!  It's a double challenge - help us open Silas' eyes to understand adoption more, while serving those in the foster care community who truly need diapers and wipes.  This will be fun!

Sara