Sweet Cali

Life takes such convoluted paths. When I think of some of the challenges our adopted children have faced, I sometimes weep. Five of the seven were abandoned at birth. Graci was abandoned at age 5. Cali's biological father passed away in a mining accident and she was abandoned by her biological mother, but she was still able to live for a time with her paternal grandmother. Due to the rural, inaccessible area where her grandma lived, once Cali was in a wheelchair, it was no longer feasible for her to live there. At this point, she moved to an orphanage that was about a 2-hour drive away. She continued to have some contact with her grandma and her aunt. We met both of these wonderful women when we went to adopt Cali and also when we went back to adopt Conner. Cali had the chance to travel again to China on her own last summer and see them again. It is such a blessing to live in a time of free and instant communication. She still loves her family in China and keeps in touch with them. A few days ago I came across these pictures that were given to us when we first adopted Cali. So precious!!! We love you Cali:)

Love,

Dad

Cali with her grandma.

Cali with her biological parents.

An Arm and a Leg

Changing the sheets on a bunk bed is an arduous process. Generally the kids will ask me for assistance when it comes time to put the fitted sheet back on. Tonight, Calais came to me and asked if I would put the sheet on for her. "You bet!" So I went in to take care of it. She was waiting in her wheelchair a couple of feet behind me. For those of you who don't know, I had shoulder surgery on October 15. While I am definitely recovering, it is a very slow process and my range of motion is still quite limited. So I'm sprawled across her bed, trying to pull up the corner of the mattress with my strong arm and stretch out the corner of the sheet with my recovering arm. I just can't do it. The arm won't reach. In frustration I say, "This is really hard 'cuz my arm doesn't work!" Pause. Pause. Cali, in her sweet little voice with her slightly broken English, "Well, my legs doesn't work." Doh! She definitely recognized the humor in her remark, but she was also reminding me to suck it up!

-Jeremy

Reflections

I love this beautiful performance. Most of the time our kids with special needs are so strong and independent and capable and able to take on everything life throws at them. But once in awhile tears come as they pour out their hearts to us with the struggles and the pain. Oh how I love them. I am grateful for my strong belief in the resurrection and all that means to our family.

Here comes trouble!

Watch out world, Cali can drive! We finally got hand controls for her to use.  These are portable ones that can be moved from car to car.  They are convenient and inexpensive, but they are also more tiring to use.  We'll have permanent ones installed in the minivan soon.  In the meantime, Cali is so excited to start this next step towards independence.  You go girl!

Random Photos

Best friends!

 Christi loves my beard, but she will not come near me with this thing on my face:

Elli taking a break at church...

 What a lucky dad to have so many delightful daughters!!!

Little Miss Photogenic

Cali loves to have her picture taken.  And she loves to pose.  She loves to look straight at the camera. She loves to look coyly to the side.  She loves to look off into the distance.  She loves to have her hair down. She loves to pull her hair back.  She loves to pose with friends.  She loves...well, you get the idea:).  PS.  She also loves to go on dates!!!

Special Needs Rodeo

Every first weekend of June, Herriman hosts a PRCA rodeo.  (If you read the post from yesterday, you'll realize the first weekend of June is a pretty busy one around here!)  On Saturday afternoon, a lot of the people involved in the big rodeo volunteer at the Special Needs Rodeo.  They give our kids a chance to ride horses, pet small livestock, ride on a hand-powered mechanical bull and enjoy other rodeo activities.  Our kids LOVE this Saturday and several of them look forward to it all year.  We are so grateful to all those who work together to put this on!  They also give us tickets to the big rodeo that night.  We have not been rodeo people in the past, but last year we took a couple of the younger kids and we really enjoyed.  This year, seven of our ten kids went to the big rodeo. I think it's a fun new family tradition:)

Elli loved the bouncy horse!

Conner mostly loved the attention from all of the cowgirls! 

Dream Night at the Zoo

Every June, Utah's Hogle Zoo hosts Dream Night at the Zoo.  For three hours in the evening, the zoo is open only to kids with special needs and their families.  This year I took Cali, Graci, Sophi, Lexi, Jesi, Xander and Conner, along with my nephew Ben and Jesi's friend, Erin.  Chick-fil-A provides food and they have school mascots and Star Wars characters and face painting and princesses.  It is really a fun night for the kids.

Off we go!

With Cosmo, BYU's mascot

This is the mascot for Rocky Mountain Raceway.  He was clearly touched by Conner and Lexi.

Storm Troopers and bounty hunters!

About every 30 seconds Sophi found a new spot in which she absolutely HAD to be photographed.  I've only included a small portion of these pics:)

Looks like she could reach out and pet him...

Aragog or Shelob? I guess it depends on which epic fantasy you prefer.

They thought it was pretty cool to be so close to a bald eagle!

These cuties spent most of the night on their own.

Xander wanted to capture this beautiful sunset.

Conner braves the lion's mouth for a drink of water

These two could be twins!

Conner surrounded by beautiful girls.  He is very happy!

I'm a lucky dad to have all these fantastic kids to hang out with!!!

-Jer