CHANGING THE LIVES OF SPECIAL KIDS

I remember Vicki and Penny from back in the 1950s. Gene and Estelle Haworth, my parents friends, brought them home one day. They were young kids when I first met them. I grew up with them, not realizing until later that I had never seen them as babies.

When I asked my mother about that, she explained that they were not born into their family. They were adopted into their family because their parents could not or would not take care of them. They were special kids.

Later in life, my cousin Nancy Ball and her husband Gary adopted two young boys who were special kids. They were brothers named Shane and Sean. Our kids grew up with them. They spent many happy times together during holidays and family get-togethers.

When our youngest son Kelly and his wife Lexi married, they could not have kids. So, they adopted our grandson Ty from Guatemala. The following year, they adopted his brother Sam and brought him home to be with his brother.

Instead of a tough life growing up on the streets of Guatemala, they grew up on a farm in Wisconsin. They helped take care of the chickens and sheep. One of their favorite things with their Dad was target shooting with pellet guns or bows and arrows.

They have fished, camped, hiked, and played in the water both at their cabin on a Wisconsin river and when they visited us at our cabin in Missouri. Making smores around a campfire was a popular thing to do at both places.

Kelly, Lexi and the special Guatemalan boys have also been to many of our national parks all over America. When Ty graduated high school, he wanted, as a graduation gift, his Mom, Dad, and brother to all go to another national park together.

They would have never done the things they have experienced in Guatemala. Ty is now in college. Sam graduates high school this year. They are young men now. They are always in our hearts. I have no doubt they will pass on their love of the outdoors to their kids someday. Our prayer is that our son, who is battling cancer, will be there when the time comes to help teach his grandkids to enjoy the outdoors as he did their Dad.

There are more of these special kids in my life. Greg and Jennifer Porter from our church were also unable to have kids, so they went through the foster care system. Ado and Avayonna are brother and sister. Ado was three and Avayonna was two when they got them. They adopted them in 2014 and they are now eighteen and sixteen.

Ashlynn and Feinoxx came from different families and also through the foster care system when they were both one-year-old. They were adopted in 2013 and are now fourteen.

For Christmas a few years ago they sent me a picture of all of them. It hangs on the wall in my home office.  It says on it – There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family. Sometimes I look at that picture and I have to wipe a tear away.

I have watched them grow up into fine young people. They are blessed to have grown up in the country. They love the outdoors and have a great Mom and Dad that does things with them. They are all very special to me and always will be.

Ado plays in the band at one of our church services. He can play several musical instruments and loves cars and old trucks. He even has a car detailing business. Feinoxx posts the stories I write on my blog for me and likes to go deer hunting with Dad. Avayonna is quiet but still gives me hugs. Ashlynn has special needs and is non-verbal. Her eyes shine when she is around someone she loves. Her smile will melt your heart.

I cannot imagine what their lives would have been like if they did not have Greg and Jennifer. These special kids will also have kids one of these days. Grandma and Grandpa will be there for them.

Also at our church, another family is a special part of my life. Austin and Ashton Hartweg already had daughters, Emma and Arlie. They decided to try to adopt a boy. Instead of one, they took in four brothers from the foster care program.

Eleven-year-old Aiden is the oldest, followed by nine-year-old Charles, eight-year-old Ryder, and six-year-old Jace. If I were to tell you how these boys had to live before Austin and Ashton brought them home, your heart would break. No kids should ever have to grow up like they were. But, kids are going through things in their young lives all over America that they should not have to go through.

What they did for these boys changed the lives of four brothers forever. Because of them, they are enjoying the outdoors and love it. They fish, hunt squirrels, target shoot, help build campfires, and more. Learning to enjoy the outdoors can change anyone.

They also have chores like feeding chickens, gathering eggs, feeding livestock, helping in the garden, and other things. They are learning life lessons and growing up in a family they know loves them.

A new grandson named Beau recently joined the family. He will grow up with these special boys. I know all this because they call me Grandpa Larry. I am honored and blessed to have been adopted by them. I even got to help baptize Emma, Arlie, Aiden, and Charles. When Ryder and Chase are ready to make that decision, I will baptize them with Dad’s help.

Many children, like these, need what these kids have. Adoption and foster care are about stepping into the world of a child and promising you will love them, protect them, defend them, advocate for them, teach them, support them, actively listen to them, and absorb their hurt and pain. You can give them the comfort, safety, and stability they need.

The most important thing is to keep your promise no matter what. No matter if medical issues change how the child lives, reacts, responds, behaves, learns, and loves. No matter if they want to find their birth parents and leave you. No matter if they cannot give you emotionally what you give them. Keep your promise to them.

Also, always remember that it is not about you. It is about a child deserving a home they did not have, for whatever reasons. You need to want to help and be committed to the kids. You will not only bless the lives of these kids, but also yourself. Your reward is when they put their arms around your neck and say thank you or, I love you!  As it says in the first part of Mark 9:37 – Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.

Some of you have read this and would like to help. But, you do not think you could ever do what these people have done and are doing. There are other ways you can help. Go online and search for organizations you can donate money to help with what they do for kids. Or donate a little time to help with their efforts.  That also can help change the lives of special kids.