Our heroes.

She and I have never met. But when I read about her daughter, I strangely felt as if she was retelling the story of our life these past 3 years. Beautiful, amazing, life changing, heart wrenching, and sobering all at the same time.

It floors me that so many people don't want to recognize their child's post institutionalized behaviors. From what I have seen, most of the kids, even ones like Gianna who was in foster care, have some obstacles to overcome. It's nothing to be ashamed of. 

In fact, I could not be more proud of both my daughters and the progress they have made. We have a ways to go. It may take a lifetime to prove that we will always be there. That looking into someone's eyes is not too intimate. That food will readily be available. That crowds of people isn't cause for a melt down. That mommy won't leave and never come back. 

Most importantly, that GOD's love is all sustaining. That He can mend broken hearts and heal little minds. That HE will never leave us or forsake us. It is our mission to minister these truths daily.

When Greg read the article, he cried. Tears of relief that someone else out there understands. Tears because like her, we see our daughters as our heroes. Tears because we want to erase those memories that haunt them subconsciously today.

Here is an excerpt thanks to Donna.... You can read the whole article here.

I know that like many adoptive parents I too believed what I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe that her beginning was one of the “good ones”. That her orphanage cared. That her orphanage was a good place. If adoptive parents don’t believe this, then how can most of us deal with the image of our daughter in “that place”? There’s only so much a human heart can take. But my daughter’s orphanage wasn’t a good place. It wasn’t unusual either, as far as orphanages in China go. After my trip, I can say with certainty that those babies do NOT get out of their cribs. They are fed randomly. One spoon in a boiling hot cauldron of congee. When the nanny feels like moving on to the next crib, she does. She doesn’t care if the first child has had enough to eat or has even burned her mouth for that matter. Baths? One big tub that’s wheeled around the infant room. Each baby is dunked in- that’s it. Bottles? Propped up. If the bottle falls out? Too bad. Diaper wet or dirty? It will have to wait. The urine soaked wooden board in the crib- stays in the crib urine soaked. No toys. No music. In fact no sound. When you walk in that room full of infants- you can hear a pin drop. Now tell me- how normal is that? Babies old enough to walk or crawl, can’t. Physical developmental delays?? Obviously significant. But worse- much worse are the emotional scars taking place every day in that place. Can ANY baby start out in that environment and NOT have issues or scars? I believe that’s impossible. I also believe that this is another area where it’s very difficult for many parents to face the facts.

What a HIGH calling we have to our daughters and sons. First to recognize what they have endured, and secondly to be a part of the healing process. It is only by God's grace. I am humbled and blessed beyond belief that God gave us the privilege to parent these two miracles. I pray that we will be worthy of that calling...