Two Vernon Boys?

As with each hosting, we needed to discern God's will. We had all felt comfortable with Vladislavs from the very first day he arrived. But, we knew better than to leave such huge decisions to feelings and we started listening for the Lord's direction. I think we had two main questions that were unanswered, would Vladislavs want to leave his foster family and would it be ok if we didn't travel until December or January? That seems like such a long time, but with Ryan just starting high school and Jon coaching football this fall, leaving before December just didn't look possible, even though it would be out heart's desire to have him home as soon as possible if God opened that door.

As I mentioned before, in about 4 days, Vladislavs had already called us 4 times. I have no idea what that is costing his foster family but I hunted for a calling card today! Bless his heart, last time he talked to us, he started crying. It was then that he told us he wanted to spend his last Christmas in Latvia and then come back home for "all time." In one sentence, both questions were answered. Yes, he wanted to come and he wanted to come after Christmas. He had no idea what we were wrestling with, but it just goes to prove God is always at work and if we wait on him, he'll reveal answers to the questions we have.

I remember one night in particular, when I was getting him to sleep. I told him about all the children I met in Latvia and Russia and Ukraine, explaining I probably met and talk to over 500 children. Then, I pointed out that out of ALL those children, and I could have my pick... I chose him. He asked why and I didn't really know what to say other than, "God showed me you were very special." I talked to him about how God has a big plan for each of us. He asked how I knew and I told him that I had so much evidence because no one else could make so much good come from so much bad sometimes. It was a good opportunity to explain that sometimes God's plan sometimes starts from something really bad and might not look like it's good... but it is part of His plan and we have to trust him. I used my example and told him

Photos from Latvia

Vladislavs is blessed enough to have been removed from the orphanage 3 years ago and taken in by a foster family. After seeing what a difference it makes in a child, I wish this for every orphan! However, with the economy collapsing like it is in Eastern Europe, Latvia being particularly hard hit, the government is having to take drastic measures and it is ending the foster family stipends. We are seeing an increase in the orphange population. Orphanage personel are being laid off, having salaries cut in half and families who were already on the brink have been pushed over and many children are entering the system. Plus, many foster families are no longer able to continue fostering, but are forced to look for work. We met many, many people with family members, fathers, adult children, etc, having to go to other countries for work. It's very, very hard for people in Eastern Europe right now. We saw riots in all 3 countries we visited back in January and February related to the financial crisis.

However, for now, Vladislavs is in a safe place, along with other children being fostered in his family. They are kind, considerate and caring people! They have two adult sons who now have children, but they choose to take in 4 foster kids from the system. They are hero's in Latvia for the cause of orphans. They know how much we miss Vladislavs and clearly how much he misses us, so today they posted some pictures online of our boy in Latvia, on the farm they help work. Getting to "see" our kids once they are overseas is a HUGE comfort. Especially seeing a smile on his face!

Summer Hosting 2009

Since God brought Jon and I to hosting, we've hosted a child every summer and winter since. Not all those were planned, sometimes we were backups. Either way, we've had someone every single program since 2007. We've always been open to God's movement in regards to any that were to be permanent members of our family, but more often than not, he has another role for us to play. We hope for more children, but don't want to get ahead of God and now that Ryan is here, feel we have so much more to consider as it relates to him. The truth is though, Ryan has had a longing for siblings since the day we brought him home. He wants to host and loves to have kids in the house, he feels so helpful as he speaks in their native language and puts them at ease by answering a question or explaining something that isn't clear. It's when I see him most confident in himself... and when I see him the most compassionate and loving. It's been clear to me that God did have someone else special for him and us, someone that would make "family" feel like a more complete picture in Ryan's eyes.

When we applied for Ryan's adoption, we elected to adopt 2 children. It wasn't a grand master plan, just a safety net in our eyes in case he had a sibling pop-up along the way. But, since he had no siblings to speak of, that left us with approval for an additional child in the eyes of the US government and the Latvian government who had approved us accordingly. Again, we didn't automatically assume this was God's will, but were open to it.

I went on the New Horizons mission trip back in January and February 2009. That was a long trip taking me into Latvia, Ukraine and Russia. We started in Latvia and I wondered, prior to that trip, if God had someone to show me. Preparation I guess... and as I stepped out of the van on our last stop in Latvia, I quietly contemplated if this final stop in Latvia was more than just an interview. In my mind, I would walk in to find the cutest blonde-haired set of pig tails ever imagined! (I do anticipate the day he brings me my girl...) However, what I did walk into was the cutest, blonde-haired, blue-eyed set of dimples imaginable on a very small boy who simply said, "Hello." I can honestly say, he had me at hello! I couldn't believe it, but it was another BOY! What was it with BOYS? Very similar to Ryan, there was something immediately. As God started opening my heart and awakening my spirit... it was there... something that can't be explained or defined... just something. I knew it.

So, that little man did arrive in Atlanta on June 24th and spent almost 6 weeks with us this summer before he returned on August 4th to Latvia. The fact that I am doing this blog post-hosting should tell you what a crazy summer it was. I actually took a position with New Horizons in December, so this was my first summer working the hosting program, as well as being a parent, as well as hosting!

We had a blast with Ryan and Vladislavs. While Jon and Ryan had football all summer and I was working with the hosting program, he just tagged along and we fit in every little placement of extra-special fun we could! We visited my parents in Gatlingburg, always a treat for kids with all those go-karts and arcades. There were bikes and trampoline jumping, water fights in the back yard, swimming at the pools, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, dressing up in boy costumes, Fourth of July Fireworks, playing with the dogs, a trip to the zoo and Aquarium, Vacation Bible School, the spinning restaurant atop the Westin hotel, basketball outside, bowling, skating, my birthday, Ryan's birthday, Vladislav's "early" birthday, a trip to the ocean at Hilton Head... and the summer was GONE!

But, in the middle of all that, was a precious, loving little boy who followed Ryan like a shadow, adored Jon and let me tuck him in at night and gives him kisses. He was gracious, polite, affectionate, fun, brave, excitable, crazy, loud, shy... everything you could hope for in a host child. And, on his final morning with us, he burst into big, fat tears that kept rolling half-way to the airport. In his first 4 days home, he had called us 4 times. Most recently, he let us know he would like to come for "all time."

Ryan Update

The past 18 months since Ryan came home have flown by! Probably the only disappointing thing I have discovered as a new parent, is how fast things move and how quickly they grow and change. I admit to reminding God that he just isn't giving me enough time, to which he responds with something like... "I didn't have to give you this much..." at which point I ask forgiveness, move on and relish the days I do have.

Ryan's first year in school was great and wonderful and hard and tough and difficult and packed and crazy and busy.... you get the picture! We started Ryan in 7th grade. He was at a wonderful private school where I could closely monitor him and his progress. Well, 7th was a little too easy for him, so we moved him to 8th grade at Christmas. He did really well both semesters, all A's and B's both semesters. I'll never forget his awards day at the end of the school year. I honestly didn't know if he would get a thing, but wouldn't miss it if he did. Having never gotten a school award, he didn't think too much about the day, but I was hopeful! He finished that day with 3 certificate awards, English, Bible and PE... as well as another special little trophy called the Barnabus Award. He's never had such a day and I could just cry thinking about it again.

That gave us the confidence to place him in 9th grade this fall. He will be going to school with Jon, something I really love. In fact, they have already started. He got lost his first day and will have many, many more things to learn in such a BIG school... but he can do it because he's my son and he's my hero. I was never as brave as he is!

Ryan is playing football this year... with his dad. He's been participating in practice all summer and is OH so proud of his newly formed muscles! It should be a fun fall of watching my newest football player take the field. What is it with the Vernon men and football?

Our 1st Latvian!

It all started with Ryan... well, then he was Gvido... now he is Ryan! In September of 2007, I found myself sitting in a Latvian orphanage singing along to a praise song while a teenage boy beatboxed the melody. Two years later... that teen boy is my greatly adored and horribly spoiled son. After being hosted that Christmas 2007, Jon and I traveled to Latvia to begin his adoption in March 2008. Almost 18 months later, he is the son we always knew he could be and brings more joy to us than we could have ever imagined. I never knew God could enlarge and morph a heart so much! I am certain neither Jon nor myself knew what God had in mind when the two of us got together at Samford University in Birmingham Alabama way back in 1994.

In the past two years, God has given us the pure joy to host so many precious orphans of God who spoke languages we could only guess at... Matiss, who turns 16 in September and is still studying hard in Latvia... Igor, who we had for a brief time last summer... Liza, a delight to my soul who wrote her name on my heart instantly and has a family traveling for her next week... and this summer, another little Latvian boy named Vladislavs.

Orphan hosting is the hardest and greatest thing of my life. I find myself crying more as I just watch the visiting kids do the simplest things, like stroll into the ocean for the first time. The emotion that can captured by 1 single photo, I am still surprised to find myself balling sometimes as I flip through photos submitted by host families. My heart is filled with such love and wonder and awe at a God who can make such wonderful connections from so far away. I'm amazed at his love for me and his love for them and the fact that he brings the two together and so forms instant bonds that it takes my heart a while to get over it... perhaps I never will. I cannot, in words, express the joy and gladness, triumph and sadness that embodies hosting. But, I can tell you it's supernatural, it's God-sized, it's not like anything else I have ever experienced in life. It breaks me and tears me up, then fills me to overflowing. I think I recall David speaking the same way about God in Psalms... so maybe I'm on the right track.