Thankful - National Adoption Month

Thankful…the first thing on my mind this morning as the new month began.  

Oh, how I welcome this time of year!  The time of year where many of us slow down and look around at the many blessings God has given over the last year.  And always near the top of my "Thankful" list, for many years now, you would find him….

And her…

And him…

And I stand in awe that this year I can add him.

Last year I could not imagine what life would be like with 4 children.  And this year, I do not WANT to imagine what life would be like with ONLY 3 children!  

How appropriate that November, the month of thankfulness, is also designated as National Adoption Month!  Many organizations have pulled together to spread the word about the many children waiting for families!  I have heard so many people say things like, "I always thought about adopting, but…(finances, insurance, job, age, spouse, lack of a spouse, other children)"  But I have great news!  You do not have to adopt to make a difference!  There are SO many ways to fulfill God's command to take care of the fatherless!  

Can you…

Cook a meal for an adoptive or foster family?

Offer babysitting to an adoptive or foster family?

Advocate for waiting children?

Volunteer with a local foster care/adoption organization?

Donate to an adoption fund for someone that is adopting?

Support many of the nonprofit organizations here and abroad that care for these kids daily?

You can check out some of these links:

iCareAboutOrphans.org

www.chinalittleflower.org

halfthesky.org

reecesrainbow.org

www.feet2ourfaith.blogspot.com
give1save1world.blogspot.com

Or maybe you are considering foster care or adoption, but are overwhelmed at the process or don't know where to start!  Here are some great resources for you!

www.wacap.org

lifelinechild.org

defendfoundation.org

twentyless.com

There are SO many opportunities out there to help!  Get your family involved!  Get your Bible study group involved!  Get your office involved!  Just get involved!  Make a difference in the life of a child this year.  

Maybe next Thanksgiving, you'll realize you are the one that can add something (or maybe even someONE) to your "Thankful" list!

October...Already??

As we enter October, I sure would like to know what happened to August and September!  Since you probably do not want to read 2 months worth of Saylor happenings, I will use lots of pictures!

Mycah turned 5 on August 9th!  We took his first trip to the movie theater to see Planes.  He was amazed!

A little last minute summer fun with the little boys...

A couple weeks later we celebrated Zachary's 14th birthday!  I am still not sure how that is possible?  He wanted to go to Mandalay Bay and see the Shark Reef.  It is actually an extension of the Monterey Bay aquarium in California, so it is very well done!

Then there was the first day of school!  It took a couple of weeks, but all 4 of them are finally at the same campus now.  I love K-12 schools.  They are great when you have a 9th (seriously?), 6th, 3rd, and Kindergartner.

I may or may not have been a little teary-eyed at this moment.  High School AND the first time I have ever dropped off my kids at a school and driven away!

This was actually BEFORE we even got to school!

Always ready to pose!

The kids even had a visit from Nina (thank you, Mom!) while I spent a few days in Philly.  My friend's little boy had a successful open heart surgery...2 actually...and I am so glad I got to be there!  What a little miracle he is!

And I got to do a little sight-seeing while I was there, too.

Alyssa's first meet since California.

Last week we had a visit from Opa and Oma, so we went to see the Hoover Dam and then took them to Red Rock Canyon.

And the most exciting thing....we celebrated 6 months as a family of 6!  I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it has been to watch this transformation.  From a blank stare to sparkling eyes.  From shaking his head "yes" or "no" as his main form of communication to a motor-mouth little boy!  From single word baby talk to impressively long sentences!  From orphan to treasured son, brother, grandchild, and nephew.  God is so good!  I am still humbled and amazed that He has allowed me this front row seat to witness his amazing grace through this whole process.

Mycah is now in half-day kindergarten.  He was not what I would have considered "kindergarten ready" academically, but he absolutely LOVES to go to school.  According to him, he has "alotta" friends!  He loves to watch Go, Diego, Go!  He has mastered the DirectTV remote and DVR.  He is getting quite adept at catching football passes from his brothers.  He loves soccer, and is pretty good at it!  But his favorite thing to do these days...gymnastics!  Anything he can climb on, swing on, crawl under, flip over, jump on, roll around on....he is ALL about it!!

God has used many of you to bless us with prayers, gifts, and financial support over the last 18 months.  We could not have done this without you!  You are forever woven into the story of Mycah's life.  Thank you!  

Although not every day is easy, and is often tiring, it has been a joy to watch him learn and grow in so many ways.


"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord.  'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

Kings, Queens, and Sammy

UPDATE:  Sammy's family has found him!  Praise God for ONE LESS!!!!

As I was driving to pick up Zachary from soccer last week, I was listening to the radio and heard this song.  It has been out for a while, but seeing as I am rarely in a vehicle quiet enough to hear my own thoughts, much less the radio, I had never actually heard all of the words.  And as I listened, the words hit home.

Kings and Queens - Audio Adrenaline     

           

                Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me

                Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
                On their own, on the run when their lives have only begun
                These could be our daughters and our sons
                And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
                I know my God won’t let them be defeated
                Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

And again I remembered their little faces.  

And then I look back at this one.  

Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these                       

Then they will be brave and free             

Shout your name in victory               

When we love when we love the least of these               

When we love the least of these

Yes, Mycah is home.  But my job isn't done.  I need to do more.  I WANT to do more.  There are 150,000,000 kids out there waiting for SOMEONE to do MORE.  

So I will continue to make people aware of this crisis. 

And I will pray.

And I will advocate!

For kids like this.

Meet Sammy.

Sammy is "the least of these."

Sammy is 5 years old and lives in a Chinese orphanage.  Originally, Sammy was believed to be deaf since he never talked.  But then his caregivers noticed that he could hear them.  So he was sent for testing, and recent tests have proven that he has NORMAL hearing.  Although he can hear, he still does not talk.  

Sammy needs a mommy to sing to him.  

Sammy needs a FAMILY!

Sammy is someone's son.  

Is he yours?

I would love to share more about Sammy and how anyone can do MORE for these "Kings and Queens."