adoption - sister's view (pt. 2)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all are destitute.

Proverbs 31:8

I do have updates about my life as a college dropout. However, I am still waiting on a few more things before I spill all the beans to you all. Also, I want to thank everyone who is reading and keeping up with my blog. I appreciate every single one of you. This is truly something I love doing, and I am so happy people are actually taking the time to read it. 

Anyways, it is time for part 2. As I mentioned in the last blog. I was a very stubborn kid, and I wanted more siblings. Those five years with my new sisters were great, but I was not 100% satisfied. So naturally being the annoying and persistent kid I was, I begged my parents to adopt once more. 

Finally one day, my parents decided to go through with another Ukraine adoption. We were going to adopt my brother, Dennis. He was eleven at the time. It was not a little baby/toddler again, but I was still happy. At the time of this adoption, I was thirteen. One thing to note is, adoption is not easy. It costs a lot of money, and can be extremely stressful. Not to mention, my parents had to go over there while Ukraine was becoming a war zone and protests were happening all around them. Now, that's comforting. 

Of course, I still was persistent on getting a toddler. I knew I was crazy, but I was having vivid visions and dreams. I told my mom about it, and explained I would do whatever it took to help bring another child home. I had this conversation while my dad was over in Ukraine finalizing Dennis's adoption. (A total of three trips were taken for his adoption. My mom and dad went the first time together. My dad went the other two times alone.)

Yeah, you are thinking, "Goodness, Grace! Give your parents a break lol." Turns out during the first trip there, our social worker showed them a picture of a little girl (two at the time). She asked if they would like to adopt her. Obviously, they said yes. They began a third adoption while finishing the second. So, if you have met my family and thought we were crazy, you were right. When I found out, I was freaking out. Four kids/three adoptions later, I was finally getting a little sibling. 

Remember my promise I made to my mom? Yeah, I lived up to it pretty well I would say. I renamed her, Lily Faith. (Her Ukrainian name was too similar to Kristen's, my older sister.) Lily Faith was three at the time she was brought home, and is now seven. To this day, I share a room with her and have gotten her ready for bed the past four years. My parents are the craziest and bravest people I know. I am who I am today because of the crazy journey of adoption we went through.

Side stories: My dad was at a store before they went to Ukraine for Dennis's adoption. At that time, my dad had feelings about adopting another child before he knew about Lily Faith. He told a man about Dennis's adoption. He never spoke a word about a second. The man asked if he could pray for my dad. A quote from the random man's prayer was, "... and maybe they can bring home a second." I don't know about you guys, but if someone told me they were adopting a child, my thought would not be, "Eh. One is not enough." My whole family believes God was speaking through that man. 

The last story is short and sweet, but the biggest miracle I have ever heard. As mentioned before, the time my parents went over to Ukraine, parts of the country were volatile. My parents were leaving in a plane to go to a different part of Ukraine with Lily Faith. Three days later, the airport they left from... was bombed and destroyed. 

Many adoptions were denied because of all this. We were approved for not one but two. God did crazy stuff throughout that journey. It would take many blogs to share all the miracles. My family is now the size it is supposed to be. It comes with challenges, but for the most part, we are one happy family. 

Let's talk! I love hearing your own stories and opinions! If you have any questions / comments / concerns that you would rather not comment down below, direct message me or email me!

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Email : Newkindofliving@gmail.com  

PEACE OUT UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!