Dear Micah and Liam -
We are starting on a journey as a family. While you may not know this and you certainly can't comprehend it right now, we are about to start on a fantastic ride, one that will take us to your new sister.
Daddy and I have been talking about this for a long time. It's been on my heart for as long as I can remember to adopt a child, to give a home to a child out there who really needs one, to give heed to God's call on our lives to care for the orphans.
We are finally ready to take the step. We've spent months trying to discern which path God is calling us to, and we feel like we finally have our answer. We will journey together, as a family, to get your sister from China and bring her home.
With her will come a whole new culture, a whole new personality to mesh with our four, a new spirit to nurture and cherish and love.
She will most likely have some medical challenges to overcome, and will probably need our help to deal with some physical issues. But she will be an example of what we already know. We know that we are imperfect, and are only made perfect in the sight of God. She will be perfect to us. Just as we love you no matter what happens with you, and we would have loved you no matter what ailments you might have arrived with, we will love her.
While we do not know who she is yet, we know that God does. While we do not know her name, God does. While we do not know when she will officially become a member of the Black family, God does. While we do not know what challenges she will bring with her, God does.
There are so many things we do not know, but we take our comfort and strength in our faith that God knows all. He knows about our precious girl, your sister and our daughter, who will one day be such a part of our family that we will not be able to imagine what our lives were like before she was with us.
Micah, you are already a great big brother to Liam. Liam, you are about to join Micah in the ranks of big brother, and we know you will be fantastic too. We know that you both will love your sister and hug her and kiss her and teach her all about trucks and cars and trains. She is one blessed little girl.
We love you both. We love each other. Our family is about to grow in love, and we can't for that to happen. Thank you for being a critical part of the journey to your sister.
Love,
Mommy & Daddy
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Eliminate the Cell Phone
Dear Micah and Liam -
I'm writing this to you in the year 2012. Undoubtedly when you read this, it will be at least 2022. The times, they will have a-changed. And that will sound even more dorky then than it does now.
One of the things that really bothers me today is the use of cell phone. It's a necessary evil, for sure, but even worse is that it has become a pervasive evil. More and more I am seeing people who cannot be separated from their phones.
People on a date in a restaurant who are more concerned with the people they're talking to on the phone than the person they're trying to get to know who's right across the table from them.
People in stores who can't be bothered to get off the phone, even to check out and interact with the cashier.
Parents picking up their children from daycare who would rather talk to someone else than to the children that they haven't seen all day.
People checking texts all throughout soccer games and dance recitals, and paying more attention to their updates on Facebook than the action in front of them.
And these are just some of the things that I see now. It's mean, hurtful, and it speaks to the epidemic in our society of not being present.
There is an expectation in 2012 that everyone will be available to everyone else whenever, wherever and for whatever. That's not right. I hate to think this problem will get worse, but I'm not sure how it can't. With the proliferation of texting and IMing and the like, it seems like there's no way out of accessibility.
You have a right to privacy. You have a right to disconnect. Please stand up for yourself, and your right to live your life without constant interruption.
When you're dating, know this about your date: more than anything, a woman wants to know that you are interested in her, that you are paying attention to her, that you care about what she cares about. You can't possibly do that for her if you are looking more at your phone than you are in her eyes.
At the end of the day, the job won't love you and neither will many of the friends that it's so important to keep in touch with. The job won't run to the door with a big smile yelling, "Daddy!" Set limits in your job, no matter what the job is, so that you know that the people you love know that they are number one. Set limits in your relationships with those less important than your family and closest friends so that those to whom you are very close will know that you treasure them in a very different way.
So here's my request of you. Please put down your phones. When you take a girl on a date, focus on her and pay attention to her. When you have a family, focus on them and pay attention to them. Do it because it's the right thing to do. Do it because it shows them how much you care. Do it because nothing means more than knowing that you're being listened to by someone you love.
Love,
Mom
I'm writing this to you in the year 2012. Undoubtedly when you read this, it will be at least 2022. The times, they will have a-changed. And that will sound even more dorky then than it does now.
One of the things that really bothers me today is the use of cell phone. It's a necessary evil, for sure, but even worse is that it has become a pervasive evil. More and more I am seeing people who cannot be separated from their phones.
People on a date in a restaurant who are more concerned with the people they're talking to on the phone than the person they're trying to get to know who's right across the table from them.
People in stores who can't be bothered to get off the phone, even to check out and interact with the cashier.
Parents picking up their children from daycare who would rather talk to someone else than to the children that they haven't seen all day.
People checking texts all throughout soccer games and dance recitals, and paying more attention to their updates on Facebook than the action in front of them.
And these are just some of the things that I see now. It's mean, hurtful, and it speaks to the epidemic in our society of not being present.
There is an expectation in 2012 that everyone will be available to everyone else whenever, wherever and for whatever. That's not right. I hate to think this problem will get worse, but I'm not sure how it can't. With the proliferation of texting and IMing and the like, it seems like there's no way out of accessibility.
You have a right to privacy. You have a right to disconnect. Please stand up for yourself, and your right to live your life without constant interruption.
When you're dating, know this about your date: more than anything, a woman wants to know that you are interested in her, that you are paying attention to her, that you care about what she cares about. You can't possibly do that for her if you are looking more at your phone than you are in her eyes.
At the end of the day, the job won't love you and neither will many of the friends that it's so important to keep in touch with. The job won't run to the door with a big smile yelling, "Daddy!" Set limits in your job, no matter what the job is, so that you know that the people you love know that they are number one. Set limits in your relationships with those less important than your family and closest friends so that those to whom you are very close will know that you treasure them in a very different way.
So here's my request of you. Please put down your phones. When you take a girl on a date, focus on her and pay attention to her. When you have a family, focus on them and pay attention to them. Do it because it's the right thing to do. Do it because it shows them how much you care. Do it because nothing means more than knowing that you're being listened to by someone you love.
Love,
Mom
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
You guys are so much fun
I had the privilege of taking you both to Disney yesterday. We first took Aunt Heidi (whom Liam calls "No Heidi") to the airport and dropped her off after a few days with us. Then we headed to Disney (Mickey's House) and Micah started to talk and talk and talk about all the things we could do, and which order we would do them in. He is big on itineraries and the schedule, just like his mother.
And I so enjoyed toting you both around, first EPCOT, where we ran in to Suheir and Robb Pfeil and Laila and Landon, then to the monorail and to a very busy Magic Kingdom. It was fun to be with you, though exhausting because Liam still needs to be carried now and then. We watched the parade and ate popcorn. We tried to ride the train, but it was too full. We then had ice cream. We rode the Peoplemover two times in a row, then watched the Electric parade, where I had Liam on my shoulders and almost dropped him trying to pick up Micah because we couldn't see over the crowd. A nice lady offered to hold you on top of the fence so you could see. We then stayed for my favorite--the fireworks, where you both yelled "WHOA!" to nearly every big display. Then we trudged to the monorail, then to EPCOT, then to our car where you both swiftly fell asleep as I was driving us home. It was a full day, but one I'll treasure with you. I love sharing these times with you both.
Love,
DAD
And I so enjoyed toting you both around, first EPCOT, where we ran in to Suheir and Robb Pfeil and Laila and Landon, then to the monorail and to a very busy Magic Kingdom. It was fun to be with you, though exhausting because Liam still needs to be carried now and then. We watched the parade and ate popcorn. We tried to ride the train, but it was too full. We then had ice cream. We rode the Peoplemover two times in a row, then watched the Electric parade, where I had Liam on my shoulders and almost dropped him trying to pick up Micah because we couldn't see over the crowd. A nice lady offered to hold you on top of the fence so you could see. We then stayed for my favorite--the fireworks, where you both yelled "WHOA!" to nearly every big display. Then we trudged to the monorail, then to EPCOT, then to our car where you both swiftly fell asleep as I was driving us home. It was a full day, but one I'll treasure with you. I love sharing these times with you both.
Love,
DAD
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