A Day Late...

Yesterday, we celebrated Malachi's second birthday!

 Malachi's referral picture....

A smile...we worked so hard to get these :)

SECOND BIRTHDAY

January 17, 2013

His birthday party didn't really go as planned...or at least how I had planned.  I imagined it would be perfect, with smiles, laughter, and peace.  I mean after all the waiting we were finally a family!  After missing his first birthday, we finally were going to get to celebrate HIM!  Apparently, Malachi did not get the memo...he was fussy, only wanted me to hold and carry him, cried when we sang "Happy Birthday", tried to touch the candle, and refused to eat any cake.  The whole evening, I was so stressed!

But, you know what, God is teaching me (and I am learning very slowly:) that it's not about me....we are a family, we love each other, Malachi has bonded with me, Malachi is safe and loved, and, finally, he has a family that loves him and will have a party, make a cake, and sing "Happy Birthday" to him while he screams.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to my son, Malachi...a day late!

Happy Birthday, Isaac!

One year ago, across a large ocean on another continent, a little baby boy was born.  Here, at the Siegrist household, we had no idea.  We went about our normal business...church, Noah's basketball game, and I am sure a little football!  However, God knew that our lives would forever be changed.  I am so glad that God lead us to be a family with 5 children.  I feel blessed that He gave us Isaac...which means laughter!  Here are some of my favorite pictures of Isaac....

 Our referral picture...March 2012

First Steps...December 2012

The joys of having sisters...who love to dress you up :)

FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!

January 15, 2013

Two Different Worlds

The holidays came and went this year with a flurry of activity.  We saw family and friends.  We ate wonderful food...too much food!  The presents were abundant.  I enjoyed every minute of being with my kids, visiting family, eating good food, and opening presents. 

However, several different times on the radio, I heard this song " Do They Know Its Christmas Time?".  This year, it meant something totally different to me...this year it struck a chord! The lyrics are as follows...

It's Christmas time
No need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light
And we banish shade
In a world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
If I could say a prayer
And pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight thank God it's them
Instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
When nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Here's to you - raise a glass for everyone
Here's to them, underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

As I listened, I would remember the poverty.  I would remember the orphans faces....looking for love or even a smile and a hug.  I would remember how desperate the situation seemed.  Then...

I would go on...

to my life of plenty, ease, comfort...and forget the pain, sadness, desperation, and need.
I struggle with how to combine my passion for orphans, my desire to make the world better for the fatherless with my materialistic, American life. 

Brian asked me a question yesterday, that really made me think.  He was taking Noah and Malachi to the store and I was trying to get them in clothes and shoes that were not just clean but matched and looked semi in style.  He asked, "How can you care so much about orphans and the impoverished and still care about what shoes the boys are going to wear to the store?"  I tried to offer an explanation, but it sounded lame even to my ears.  The truth is...I don't know how to mix these two worlds.  I know God is calling me to more...I am just unsure of how or what or when this "more" is going to occur.

Letting Go!

About a month ago, a friend sent me some Christmas advice...try to let go and truly enjoy the holiday season!  Now, those of you that know me know that "letting go", "going with the flow", etc. are not ways you would describe me.  More relevant descriptors are "uptight", "not flexible", and "anal".

Well, I got a chance to practice this a little over a week ago....let me start at the beginning of this ridiculous story.  Two years ago, Brian made a deal with the kids...if we cut down a tree off our land, then we could go out for dinner to a restaurant.  Now, let me tell you, we do not have beautiful blue spruce pines or even white pines on our land.  No, what we have are ugly, straggly cedar trees.
So, two Saturdays ago, Noah and Malachi went out to find our tree (first mistake).  Brian promised Noah he would cut down whatever tree he picked (second mistake).  Well, Noah located 5 trees he thought would work but he needed a little help narrowing it down.  Out went Anna to help with the final decision (third mistake)  So, they come in triumphant...they found the perfect tree!

 

 

 

A few minutes later, I am called out to look at the tree.  It is 16 feet tall...we have 9 foot ceilings.  It is ugly, straggly, and hideous...but Noah is so proud.  So, Brian cuts it in half and brings it in.  We have a Christmas tree!

Even after the decorations are hung, the tree is still hideous.  There are huge holes where there are no branches.  However, with the decorations, Chloe decides it is a beautiful tree (She, like me, was not impressed with the tree at first).  As I stood back and looked at it, I decided that it might be ugly but my kids will never forget that they went out and searched for the tree, we decorated it with the fragile glass ornaments, and it was in many ways the "perfect" tree.

 

 

Compassion or Sympathy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9szEu9Ag&feature=share

Unless your compassion compels you to move, its really not compassion, its sympathy. And there is a huge difference between compassion and sympathy.

Proverbs 24:12  "If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weights the hearts consider it?  He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?  And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?"

The Other Side of the Table

Tables...they can bring us together.


Tables...they can separate us.  I was thinking about this as I sat down with four professionals to discuss Malachi's eligibility for Early Intervention services.  They were on one side...they were the ones with the professional evaluations....they were the ones who would decide if my little boy was delayed enough to "qualify" for services.  I was one the other side.  I was the mother....I had no professional evaluations...I had no power to decide if Malachi qualifies...I was just there to listen, fight for my child, and hope for the best.

Malachi did qualify.  He is significantly delayed in speech.  He is also slightly delayed in gross motor skills.  "Too much time in a crib.  Not enough stimulation in his first year of life.  Not enough verbal communication.  Not enough experiences.  Not sure if in a year in a half we can overcome a year and a half of deficits.  There is really no way to make up for the losses that are experienced in that first year of life."  I listened and I thought about all the children in the orphanages around the world that will never get  a chance to have a "forever family".  Children that will never get to have early intervention services because they will live out their lives in an orphanage.

As I listened throughout the meeting, I felt confident.  I believe with some work on his ears and some intervention services, my little boy will make great progress.  I mean I have seen where we have come from in just 2 short months...he smiles and laughs now, he will get off my lap and play when someone visits, he gives kisses, he takes your hand and leads you to what he wants, he will walk without your hand around the house and outside in the yard, he loves to gather eggs from the chickens, he dances, he know where his shoes are located....

 

Do we have work to do?  Oh, yes...a lot.  However, looking back at where we have come from gives me great hope as to where we will go!!!

Storms

This week our area suffered the effects of Hurricane Sandy.  At our home, we experienced about 4+ inches of rain and some strong winds...and 2 days without school!  Except for a tree that fell on my garden fence and raised beds, we suffered no damage. 

New Jersey and New York suffered the greatest damage.  While watching a TV program about Hurricane Sandy, there were several interviews with families that refused to leave their homes despite the impending hurricane.  As I watched these people explain why they were not leaving, I was disgusted by their behavior.  I mean seriously...LEAVE! THERE IS A HURRICANE COMING!!  Why would you stay in your house, no matter how comfortable, when a huge storm is going to hit your house?  After the storm, everyone of those families said if put in the situation again, they would leave. 

Later, as I was thinking this over, God pressed this upon my heart.  How many times do I stay in my "comfortable place" even when I see an inevitable storm brewing?  How often do I refuse to leave my comforts and go to safety with my Lord?  The answer...far too often.  Unfortunately, I love my "comforts".  Too often, I am willing to withstand a storm (or some sin) in order to remain where I am comfortable.  How different my life would be if I would learn to cling to God instead of my comfortable life?  How different would my life be if I would leave the material things and go to a higher safer place?  I really don't want to look back after the "this storm called life" and say I wish I had left my comforts, my material things...