Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Grateful!

What a day! We have been very humbled! So many people-- friends, family, and strangers-- have left the sweetest comments and words of encouragement on the blog, facebook, and youtube. It was so much fun to take breaks in between the homework and diapers and messes and Family Home Evening and dentist appointments and projects to read such nice things! It feels soooo great to have the support of so many people. Thank you for your kind words!! I am always worried that people will just think we are crazy. It’s not that I would be offended if you called us crazy. After all, it’s the same word I’ve used over and over to describe our family for several years now. As my mother-in-law put it, “You have to have a bit of crazy in you to adopt seven kids with special needs!” Are we crazy? No question.

But I am trying to let go of using that word day in and day out. I’m trying to let go of it because for me, it has been a crutch. Like if I admit we’re crazy, maybe people will think we are less so. You see, somehow, when I tell people we are adopting again, I feel almost apologetic—as if I need to justify what we are choosing to do. Don’t ask why! Probably because I used to look at other big families and think they were crazy!! I can’t tell everyone of the hours and hours of thought and prayer that went into each decision. I can’t tell them of the many sweet, sacred ways that I have been told by the Spirit that our decisions are right. I can’t tell them of the hours I have spent contemplating what each new child means to our family and of my concern for the children already in it. It’s far too deep and too personal to explain how we arrived at each decision.

That is why, when I first emailed Annie to tell her that we were not only thinking of adopting sweet “Monica” from her blog list of “wonderful waiting children,” but that we were considering “Abraham” as well, I felt the need to end my email with,

“I know—we’re certifiably crazy, right?”

And what a blessing it was when this dear lady, who I’ve never met before, and who was the first person we told of our plans, ended her very sweet response with this:

“Oh Christianne, you all are not certifiably crazy, just certifiably faithful!!!!!!!”

An immediate peace washed over me when I read those beautiful words. Here is someone who understood. In fact, she understood it more than I. To be constantly apologetic and timid when explaining our family is to take away from the beauty of God’s plan for us. Adopting special needs kids over and over may indeed be crazy, but it would be far crazier for us not to. We have been called. We have been commanded. We have been blessed beyond comprehension each time we have answered. And following our Father in Heaven is the farthest thing from crazy there is.

So thank you, Annie, for choosing the words I needed to hear. And thank you…EVERYONE… for affirming that to us today! It means so much to us—to me! And though I am sure I will again refer to us as crazy, and there is indeed a “bit of crazy” in us, I will always remember inside that we are something more important. We are faithful. And though we may fall short in so many areas, in the Lord’s commandment to “visit the fatherless in their afflictions,” we are certifiably faithful! (:


I promise to fill you in on all the details about our sweet Conner and Cali in the next few days! For now, I can tell you that they are both 11 (Parker’s age.) Conner is blind and Cali has spina bifida and a few other minor health issues. We are IN LOVE.

Thanks so much again for the love that you have all poured out today! We are feeling so, so blessed. And for those of you that keep saying we are amazing, you should see my house today!! Holy stinking cow, it is a MESS!!

By the way, Graci found a ladybug today! (The adoption community will catch the significance of that!)



Oh, and congratulations to my brother Danny, and his wife, Breanna. They had their first baby today-- a precious girl! Can't wait to meet her!!

16 comments:

  1. Christianne, Thank you so much for this post. It is oh so true! We have been called both "crazy" and "amazing", and we only have 6 children (3 adopted, 2 of them with special needs) :) And I know for you, the blessings will come, and keep on coming. I love your hearts, and we understand them fully.

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  2. Guys - I'll go with you are certifiable! Certifiably wonderful / beautiful / brilliant / Faithful beyond words / happy / compassionate / Christian / loving / family oriented / cool / and on and on and on! And yeah - crazy too - but so what's a little crazy between friends eh? ;)

    And yeah - great about the lady bug!! Just in case you needed a little affermation? ;)

    Love you guys - aus and co.

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  3. I hope to one day be as crazy as you!

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  4. I love this post! We have been called crazy lately having 2 bio kids, 1 adopted SN child, we are in the process of bringing home a severely special needs child from the foster system and then because my heart couldn't so no we took in 4 very hurt foster children a month ago. Annie's answer to you was so perfect! Too bad not more people are willing to be crazy too :)

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  5. MaLeah & Marin (age 3) from Nashville, TN! I can't remember exactly how long I've been a fan of your family, but at least since your journey to Gracie. We loved the video! Marin was playing pretend piano on our kitchen table while we watched! :) My favorite part is when Lexi bursts out laughing after dancing. :)

    You guys have got to submit this to all the big morning shows, Ellen, etc! Someone somewhere may be able to help with a new house! You need to send your video to Extreme Makeover Home Edition! I was going to nominate you guys, but I think the family has to do it themselves. Good luck! We will be following along with you!

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  6. Congratulations! I just stopped by your blog for the first time after watching your video announcement on a friend's blog...LOVE IT!!! Blessings to you all!

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  7. I also call it crazy though faithful has a nice ring to it. I pray nightly that I will someday be crazy just like you. It is a beautiful kinda crazy.

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  8. What a wonderful woman Annie is. I love the thought of being "certifiably faithful!" May we all strive for that.

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  9. I love this post. I wanted to tell you that I showed the kids the video last night, and they loved it. Jessica said, "Mom, Sister Green is soooo pretty!" Then she pointed at Graci and asked who that was. "Wow! She is absolutely beautiful!" She asked what was "wrong" with Graci, as she knows all the kids have special needs, and she was a little emotional when I told her. She liked seeing Jesi, too, and was surprised how big she had gotten and said she looked like a lot of fun. The boys were a little jealous of Taylor and Parker for getting to sing in a studio and enjoyed watching them dance. Miss your family! Ü

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  10. I love this post. I wanted to tell you that I showed the kids the video last night, and they loved it. Jessica said, "Mom, Sister Green is soooo pretty!" Then she pointed at Graci and asked who that was. "Wow! She is absolutely beautiful!" She asked what was "wrong" with Graci, as she knows all the kids have special needs, and she was a little emotional when I told her. She liked seeing Jesi, too, and was surprised how big she had gotten and said she looked like a lot of fun. The boys were a little jealous of Taylor and Parker for getting to sing in a studio and enjoyed watching them dance. Miss your family! Ü

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  11. All we can say is thank you for being so faithful and for opening your hearts and listening to the spirit. You must meet our neighbors and ward members who have 4 children of their own and have adopted 20 children from all over the world and many have handicaps. In fact, their son who is a priest, comes on Sunday in his wheelchair to administer the Sacrament to our assisted living residents. He has spinal bifida. Congratulations and we look forward to meeting your new family members. As for the home makeover, our neighborhood did a Utah home makeover for the Richardson family I just told you about. They now have a home to meet all of their needs. Sure love you, Dave and Dian

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  12. Your family is so amazing and inspiring! I couldn't believe that you would have the faith and patience to do this once (or twice) again! I should have known better! I started following your blog after we came home with our first Chinese daughter, right at the same time you came home with Lexi & Sophi! Too bad we didn't meet you in Guangzhou! We are also returning this fall for another one (dossier done!), but now I think I need to convince my husband into bring two sweet children home! How do I find Monica's blog? BTW, we already have three adopted children plus two biological. Suddenly a family our size doesn't seem so big! Also, our friends who gave us your blog link, are in China right now adopting their third Chinese orphan, a ten year-old boy with cerebral palsy. I think you have had an impact on way more families, and Chinese Children than you will ever know!

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  13. SO happy to know you crazy faithful people! Much love from down south!

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  14. You have just explained my feelings and thoughts lately perfectly. Thank you for putting it so eloquently.

    Kelly
    http://extra-chromosomes.blogspot.com

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  15. When I first saw the video, My first reaction was "They found one or two lady bugs".. It is always a joy to go to your blog, so much to see and learn.
    You are wonderful not only in our eyes but in the eyes of God.
    Lois

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  16. Oh Christianne!!!!! I am in tears just reading this post! You are amazing, your family is amazing and our wonderful Father is amazing!!!! What a great combination! I have to tell you that my kiddos LOVE this video! My girls have watched it about 100 times!!!!! I am just SO happy for you and so is our Heavenly Father and that is really all that matters!!!!

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