Yesterday, Jeremy and I received the best Christmas gift anyone could have ever given us (except for actually having Ethan home with us, of course!). An online buddy of ours who is currently in Ethiopia got some photos of our sweet Ethan AND she also captured the most precious 12 seconds we have ever seen on camera, a short video of our son laughing and smiling. I wish I could post so you can see how beautiful he is. But trust me when I say he is just adorable!! We couldn't be more in love with him! His curious eyes were following the cameras and he kept looking at his caregiver as if to ask her for permission to smile and laugh. Simply priceless!!!
It is so good to see him looking well and healthy. God answered our prayers! I pray he continues to stay healthy and strong until we are able to bring him home!
Merry Christmas everyone!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
More adoption disappointment...
The road to adopt is full of disappointments. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Yes, it is beautiful, rewarding, fulfilling and very much the plan God has for our lives but it is by far one of the hardest processes anyone could ever go through. And today we received yet another disappointment.
Jeremy and I had applied for an interest-free loan to be able to cover the final costs of our adoption and unfortunately today we received a "we regret to inform you..." letter from them explaining they did not approve us for the loan.
Although VERY devastating and much uncertainty surround us now, we know that God will supply our every need because "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it..." (psalm 24:1)
We cry a little and then pick ourselves up trusting God is in control and will do "great and mighty things" (Jer 33:3).
So, having said that, I'd like to emphasize our ongoing fundraising efforts once again:
- Our coffee store
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/robinson
- Keyla's CD
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/keylavazquez
- Jeremy Robinson Photography
http://jeremyrobinson.zenfolio.com/
We are so grateful for your contribution!
God bless!
Jeremy and I had applied for an interest-free loan to be able to cover the final costs of our adoption and unfortunately today we received a "we regret to inform you..." letter from them explaining they did not approve us for the loan.
Although VERY devastating and much uncertainty surround us now, we know that God will supply our every need because "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it..." (psalm 24:1)
We cry a little and then pick ourselves up trusting God is in control and will do "great and mighty things" (Jer 33:3).
So, having said that, I'd like to emphasize our ongoing fundraising efforts once again:
- Our coffee store
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/robinson
- Keyla's CD
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/keylavazquez
- Jeremy Robinson Photography
http://jeremyrobinson.zenfolio.com/
We are so grateful for your contribution!
God bless!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Nate and the presidents
This is an adorable video! A co-adoptive mom using the same agency as ours posted this video on YouTube of her son reciting all of the presidents of the USA. After visiting Mt Rushmore earlier this year Nate became obsessed with the presidents of the US and says he wants to be the president someday. It is too cute!!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sip some delicious coffee, help us bring Ethan home!
We've partnered with Just Love Coffee, a fair-trade coffee roaster. Visit our storefront at:
http://www.justlovecoffee.com/robinson
Every item you purchase from this link brings us closer to the day when we can finally bring our baby boy home! Plus, it can make for a really cool and unique gift!
Thank you in advance for your support!
Birthday Boy
Yesterday was Ethan's 7-mo-old birthday.
Although we're not together, we are celebrating with him.
Ethan, wherever you are, know that mom and dad are wishing you health and wishing we can hold you very soon!
Although we're not together, we are celebrating with him.
Ethan, wherever you are, know that mom and dad are wishing you health and wishing we can hold you very soon!
Monday, December 6, 2010
New Bed/Sick Baby
It is so strange how human beings can easily go from one spectrum of human emotions to the complete opposite in a matter of seconds. I'm sure I'm making absolutely no sense to you right now so I will explain.
First emotion: Thrilled!
Jeremy and I found an amazing buy on Craigslist for a crib/dresser combo. I REALLY wanted a Crib4Life set but we knew with all of the adoption costs still lingering we just could not afford it. So I began my search on craigslist for a 'gently' used crib/dresser combo. I came across one that at first wasn't the color I was looking for but the price was just right. I thought, "why not!" So we decided to go take a look at the crib and yep...we fell head over heels with the crib and dresser. The owners had the combo for 10 years and I just could not believe how well taken care of the furniture was. It was just an answer to our prayers. PRAISE GOD!!! He really is in the tiniest of details. While I was away singing in Mexico this weekend, Jeremy and a dear friend of ours from church went to get the furniture and my sweet husband spent Saturday night putting the crib together. Oh, how I love him!! :) He decided the crib was just not complete unless it had a mattress so he headed out to Wal-Mart and purchased a great mattress and some sheets so our sweet Ethan can sleep comfortably and cozy when he is finally home.
Here are some photos of our great find!
Second emotion: Heavy-hearted
We received word from our agency that our precious Ethan is sick...again. He suffered from pneumonia early last month and it seems it has returned again this past week. Our hearts are just so heavy in knowing across the other end of the world our child is sick and we cannot hold him and take care of him. We know there are nannies and capable medical staff taking care of him but I can't help think how scared he must feel and how much more he needs his mommy and daddy near by to reassure him that everything will be ok. It's been a hard day for me. I really hope you can keep him in your prayers as he recovers from this infection and also pray that our court date can be scheduled REAL soon so we can finally be together with our son.
Lots of love!
Keyla
First emotion: Thrilled!
Jeremy and I found an amazing buy on Craigslist for a crib/dresser combo. I REALLY wanted a Crib4Life set but we knew with all of the adoption costs still lingering we just could not afford it. So I began my search on craigslist for a 'gently' used crib/dresser combo. I came across one that at first wasn't the color I was looking for but the price was just right. I thought, "why not!" So we decided to go take a look at the crib and yep...we fell head over heels with the crib and dresser. The owners had the combo for 10 years and I just could not believe how well taken care of the furniture was. It was just an answer to our prayers. PRAISE GOD!!! He really is in the tiniest of details. While I was away singing in Mexico this weekend, Jeremy and a dear friend of ours from church went to get the furniture and my sweet husband spent Saturday night putting the crib together. Oh, how I love him!! :) He decided the crib was just not complete unless it had a mattress so he headed out to Wal-Mart and purchased a great mattress and some sheets so our sweet Ethan can sleep comfortably and cozy when he is finally home.
Here are some photos of our great find!
Second emotion: Heavy-hearted
We received word from our agency that our precious Ethan is sick...again. He suffered from pneumonia early last month and it seems it has returned again this past week. Our hearts are just so heavy in knowing across the other end of the world our child is sick and we cannot hold him and take care of him. We know there are nannies and capable medical staff taking care of him but I can't help think how scared he must feel and how much more he needs his mommy and daddy near by to reassure him that everything will be ok. It's been a hard day for me. I really hope you can keep him in your prayers as he recovers from this infection and also pray that our court date can be scheduled REAL soon so we can finally be together with our son.
Lots of love!
Keyla
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Positive Adoption Language
As we wait for the time when we can bring our sweet Ethan home, I would like to share a great article I read on positive adoption language. I wanted to share this with you all because if you're reading this blog you are either related to Ethan or you are a friend of the family which means you will have many interactions with him. Hope you enjoy the information and if you see any other articles online worth reading, feel free to share on a comment.
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Positive Adoption Language
Politically Correct Words Depicting Adoptive and Birth Families
By using positive adoption language when speaking to people, adoptive and birth families encourage others to use appropriate adoption words as well.
Sometimes people feel uncomfortable talking to an adoptive parent or an adoptee about their adoption situation for fear of using politically incorrect terms. Much has changed in the world of adoption over the past thirty years and efforts are being made to shed a positive light onto adoption issues. One way to effect positive change is to update the words and phrases used to describe adoption.
Positive Language in Reference to Birth Families
Many terms referring to birthparents have gained a negative connotation over the decades due to media portrayals and unfair stereotyping. As perspectives on adoption have evolved from keeping a family secret to full contact between birth and adoptive family members, the vocabulary of adoption has changed as well.
Birthmother, birthfather and birthparents are the generally accepted terms when talking about the parents who created a child. Some birthparent organizations such as Exiledmothers.com feel that the terms natural mother, first mother and life mother are more accurate than the words birthparents or biological parents. The term real parent is sometimes used to refer to birthparents, but is not appropriate as both birth and adoptive parents are real, not artificial.
Family of origin, birth family and biological family are appropriate terms that are used interchangeable to refer to the first parents of adoptees as well as siblings, grandparents and extended family that are genetically connected to the adopted person.
The context in which birthparents are mentioned also affects the meaning of such words. If adoptive parents and adoptees talk about birth parents in positive ways rather than perpetuating stereotypes others will learn to do so as well.
Correct Terms for Describing an Adoptive Family
Many adoptive parents cringe at how other people and the media describe their families, so it becomes the job of adoptive families to educate others on positive adoption language. It is also important to use politically correct adoption vocabulary with adopted children so they can speak about their adoption status with ease.
Unless it is necessary to indicate that the parents have adopted a child, it is politically correct to refer to the people raising the child as the parents and to not refer to them as adoptive parents. In addition, reference to a child’s adoption by labeling him the adopted child in any situation is not appropriate unless it is relevant to an issue being discussed.
When mentioning birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees as a group, they were traditionally referred to as the adoption triad. With the prevalence of open adoption, the triad has expanded to include other birth and adoptive family members as well as foster families. As a result, adoption professionals are beginning to use the terms adoption constellation or adoption circle when describing the relationships and people involved with an adopted child.
Sometimes the words used to describe family relationships are charged with negativity and do not accurately describe the nature of the relationships. Unfortunately, this is what has happened with adoption language. However, if the adoption community educates the general public with a view towards changing stereotypes, adoption language can become more positive one conversation at a time.
http://www.suite101.com/content/positive-adoption-language-a122829
--
Positive Adoption Language
Politically Correct Words Depicting Adoptive and Birth Families
By using positive adoption language when speaking to people, adoptive and birth families encourage others to use appropriate adoption words as well.
Sometimes people feel uncomfortable talking to an adoptive parent or an adoptee about their adoption situation for fear of using politically incorrect terms. Much has changed in the world of adoption over the past thirty years and efforts are being made to shed a positive light onto adoption issues. One way to effect positive change is to update the words and phrases used to describe adoption.
Positive Language in Reference to Birth Families
Many terms referring to birthparents have gained a negative connotation over the decades due to media portrayals and unfair stereotyping. As perspectives on adoption have evolved from keeping a family secret to full contact between birth and adoptive family members, the vocabulary of adoption has changed as well.
Birthmother, birthfather and birthparents are the generally accepted terms when talking about the parents who created a child. Some birthparent organizations such as Exiledmothers.com feel that the terms natural mother, first mother and life mother are more accurate than the words birthparents or biological parents. The term real parent is sometimes used to refer to birthparents, but is not appropriate as both birth and adoptive parents are real, not artificial.
Family of origin, birth family and biological family are appropriate terms that are used interchangeable to refer to the first parents of adoptees as well as siblings, grandparents and extended family that are genetically connected to the adopted person.
The context in which birthparents are mentioned also affects the meaning of such words. If adoptive parents and adoptees talk about birth parents in positive ways rather than perpetuating stereotypes others will learn to do so as well.
Correct Terms for Describing an Adoptive Family
Many adoptive parents cringe at how other people and the media describe their families, so it becomes the job of adoptive families to educate others on positive adoption language. It is also important to use politically correct adoption vocabulary with adopted children so they can speak about their adoption status with ease.
Unless it is necessary to indicate that the parents have adopted a child, it is politically correct to refer to the people raising the child as the parents and to not refer to them as adoptive parents. In addition, reference to a child’s adoption by labeling him the adopted child in any situation is not appropriate unless it is relevant to an issue being discussed.
When mentioning birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees as a group, they were traditionally referred to as the adoption triad. With the prevalence of open adoption, the triad has expanded to include other birth and adoptive family members as well as foster families. As a result, adoption professionals are beginning to use the terms adoption constellation or adoption circle when describing the relationships and people involved with an adopted child.
Sometimes the words used to describe family relationships are charged with negativity and do not accurately describe the nature of the relationships. Unfortunately, this is what has happened with adoption language. However, if the adoption community educates the general public with a view towards changing stereotypes, adoption language can become more positive one conversation at a time.
http://www.suite101.com/content/positive-adoption-language-a122829
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