Follow Us On Our Journey Of Showing The Love Of Our Savior To Orphaned Children Of Eastern Europe Through Mission Work, Advocating And Adoption And Serving The Least Of These, People In Need Along With The Military. God Leads We Follow.......
I say the
18th above because on that day was my last conversation with Brodie as
well as the day our dossier was submitted. Early morning leading into
the 18th about 3AM Ukraine time I received a message from him wanting to
talk about his life here and how excited he was and he was talking
about the things he loved which we also did and he knew. 4 weeks prior
to this we were told there was influence but someone in his school
telling him he would not be allowed to be adopted and come to America.
He was frantic when telling us. When we heard this news it was addressed
at his school and the allegations were denied. So we never did get
clarity on what this was about or if true let alone. Then suddenly
everything stopped on the 18th. My last message was "mom I am ok and I
love you". Then gone...his VK was wiped out, we were taken down as his
family, he gutted over 200 of his friends and took down all the things
about himself. It was like he was no longer Brodie. So alarms went off
and great concern is he was ok...what has happened? Was his account
hacked? Was he drafted somehow? You name it, it was running through my
head. We go from I love you, I am ok to GONE.....our team and friends of
Brodie that are also facilitators were on it. They had the Director
talked with Brodie and he as of almost 2 weeks ago said he has decided
to stay in Ukraine but gave no reason. It was verified by several
parties. Joe and I laid low and just prayed as our dossier was now
sitting in the SDA (DAP) we only got it prepared for him...praying maybe
he will have a heart change or some thing because again nothing made
sense. If he did not want to be with us why did he gut his entire VK
account....why did he say I am ok and I love you then gone. Many many
questions..
Folks our family cannot thank you for all your
prayers and support. Trying to find the right words to explain all that
has occurred since February 18th is hard in that is has been a
whirlwind for us as we were praying for Brodie's safety and
praying he was okay along with all the children we know and have served
with. We have been hearing from many of the children we know and many
are scared especially not having a mother or father to protect them.
Many children we know that declined adoptions to their families suddenly
showed up again to ask if they could return for them or have showed up
to say hello including our Sash we lost the summer of 2013. God is good
that he opened the door long enough to hear Sash say he is okay and he
loved us. So incredibly thankful to know he is okay.
So 4 days ago I got the closure we needed. I
received an email from a friend in touch with the facilitators that know
Brodie he had changed his mind because he did not want to be in our
family as the 4th child but as the only child. We could not offer him
that. So with this news it was clear the door has closed shut.
Last week the following day after getting this news about Brodie we
planned to contact the adoption team and ask them to pull our
dossier. God closed one door and opened another.
The door he opened through a friend that reached out to me the night before we were going to ask to pull our dossier emailed me asking if I had seen all the children on RR from Eastern Europe with no families. People were scared to travel in fear of the unknown and uncertainty. I went on and just plugged in HIV 10+ and that is when it all changed from there.
God closed a door and opened another
We know this is our families last time heading to Ukraine to adopt. Missions work yes but adoption no. So we head to these boys with open arms welcoming them into our family and home and man we can't wait!!!
Again we thank you for your prayers
and support for our family through these journey's. We know God makes us
no promises but we remain focused on Him and lift His name no matter
the outcome for He is our Alpha, Omega, our Mighty Warrior for the
righteous, the broken, the orphan, never failing, never ending King of
all Kings...our God.
After the loss of Denis this past December we used all our referrals. Dossier was done. Approved for 3 and none made it home. This loss was very
difficult as you all know especially with myself. It was right up there is a mis-carriage. No different. Joe and I decided to lay low
and not re-do a dossier and just put ourselves back together again like Humpty Dumpty.
The funny thing about this is I have always known even as a child I was never going to be able to have my own children. I always grew up content with that and had a peace from God. I never had the desire to have my own children and knew if I did it would be through adoption. Nothing ever indicated I could not have my own children as a teen/young adult but I just always new. When I married Joe I found out I could not. Thankfully God had already prepared my heart so this was no shocker for me or sadness let alone disappointment for me or Joe.
A statement that has been made by folks that do not know me or by ones that think they do is I must be a mother looking to adopt kids to fill my heart because I could not have children and I have a void. That I am sad....NOPE! Sorry wrong Nicole, not this one. If you look at our three adopted children we did not go looking for any of them. If you look at the boys we lost we did not go looking for them. God actually brought them to us. I jokingly blame others (friends) for how each of our children crossed our paths including the ones we lost. None in which was I looking to fill a void or empty whole. I have been working with teens for 20 years and Joe and I together for 15 years. Teens are our heart and soul. We worked with at-risk youth and housed them as well to help them with any addictions or crises going on in their life or with their family. We still do occasionally today. We had no intention to have our own children but just keep on doing what we were doing, go where God lead us to. Then we became foster parents and God opened many more doors and then lead us to NHFC, an International Hosting Program and everything changed. That is where this story began and where this blog started. So if we were at one point foster parents why did we then go to Ukraine.....easy answer because God lead us there.
Well I made the good mistake of opening my mouth once again and
said "We are done"….no more adopting to God, Joe & my mom.
Funny thing is was like da-za-vu again because I recall doing the same darn thing right before Denis came along and after the loss of each the boys. Except I believe I am more convincing with my "no" after each loss. Guess not!? The funny thing is I am not testing God, nor trying to do reverse physiology on my creator but I am very dead serious when I say these words and once again had myself and everyone convinced as they were also. I am now finally learning after Brodie (you will read about below) coming into our lives to learn how to say things carefully like "Lord thank you for the children you have blessed us with. We thank you for allowing us to bring Brodie into our family and we are very thankful and happy and CONTENT with our family and having the 4 children you are allowing us the privilege and blessing to raise". :) My car only fits 6 so there is no more room we will all fit perfectly. It's all good!
I still sit here like I did after meeting Denis I was dam convincing with "I am done". Mission work to Ukraine yes, no question but adoption nope were done. God must
have found that very funny & laughed at me once again. Joe and I after returning from losing Denis were sent several teen boys information from friends &
asked to go adopt them. With the loss of Denis this was not an option in our minds and we could not move fast even if we wanted to having to re-do a complete dossier again. Then an email came in from a friend, Lisa
(yes I blame Lisa) about an aging out teen that caught my eye. He was being adopted
by a couple in America & they got through court with him, got cold
feet about adopting a teen & never returned for him. Several folks
that knew of this young man and knew him personally wrote to me telling me
about him & how broken he was. Turns out I had many connections myself of folks that new him as well. Small world! I then was sent a photo of him. Personally he looked like an actor and basketball player but there was one clear thing in the photo "BROKEN". Completely broken.
Brodie was so exited about having a
family he changed his last name to match theirs on his Internet account.
He thought they were coming back for him so he gave away all of his
personal belongings & clothes left with nothing. I was asked
to basically hunt him down (yes stalk him in a good way) & interview him to advocate. With his
story although feeling broken at battered after losing Denis I did
because I also could understand partially what he was going through & having the same emotions from just losing Denis. This poor kid I was blunt &
straight to the point with this young man if he wanted a family and let him know if so I
would fight for him. He said he still wanted one. So the interview
started & went on for several days. No thought crossing our minds to adopt him. Then Lisa, our friend that told us about him came out
& said she hopes we would be the ones to adopt him. She is sad we lost Denis but not really because she believes we are suppose to go after Brodie. I giggled
& responded something along the lines of that would take a miracle,
as we are done, no more adoption. Lisa said she would pray for us that
God would make it clear. Within 24 hours of an adamant “no” to adoption
it turned to “yes” adoption. The next morning we called Brodie to have our normal chat and get to know him more to help advocate for him and I went up to Joe's office to say good-bye to him before we left for the zoo with some friends. I walked in and Joe said, "Your glowing" I said, "I am not, what are you talking about". He said, "You talked to Brodie?", I responded "Yes" He said, "You are glowing young lady, don't you get any ideas". HEHE! I said, "I am not glowing and I have no ideas and now I am leaving your office, love you good-bye". DONE DONE DONE.....so I thought.
I came home after a day at the zoo
with our friends and they were hosting a young man from Ukraine. I sat down and started talking to Joe and this young man because we had been spending a lot of time with him and his host family. I told him I felt he was a match for their family. He wanted a family and I believed they were "it". Joe quickly changed the subject to "What do we have to do to re-do our dossier for Brodie?". I told him and he said responded with "I
will work overtime get ready to go get him". HAH? I felt his head and said, "You feeling ok". He said, "I am just fine just get ready we have little time to get him out". WHEW WE!!! HEHA! 24 hours we went from dead no to yes. Holy cow! Totally all GOD. No question.
I confronted
Brodie about us being the family to adopt him, he said, “Dah” very calmly. I said ok so is that a "Dah" like no or "Dah" like yes he yelled "Dah" at the top of his lungs like he is singing. Which would make sense because he is a singer. After that call doubt filled his mind. Will they really show? Are these people real or are they kidding me? A couple days after talking with his "Dah" I get an email with sad faces saying "Nicole I hope you understand but I decided to stay in Ukraine. I hope you are not upset and I cannot thank you enough for being willing to adopt me". This was followed by more sad faces. We responded to him that we love him no matter his decision, support him and are always there for him. Soon as Joe and I got the text we knew fear was overtaking him. We went back and fourth with him with it being clear he was being polite and this not being what his heart really wanted. Sad faces still followed. Then a friend of his that is a facilitator spoke with him I assume that night or the next day to assure him we are real, we are serious and we will show and good people. That next morning I woke up to a text saying he is sorry and he spoke to someone that could tell him that we were real and serious and we would care for him. He asked please will you forgive me and take me back as your son. Will you still come for me. Our answer "YES". We wrote a little more then yes and he anxiously was on the other end waiting as he saw me come on the internet but was not responding fast because I was trying to make sure what I wrote translated right. So I got a "Did you get my message will you still come for me?" Our answer again was "Yes we love you and nothing will change that and we are coming for you.". The smile is back on his face again!
Now that school is back in session and many kids have returned from their families from the holidays all his friends are finding out he is being adopted. There was rumor being said to him he could not be adopted which was not true. He wrote again worried we could not come for him. Our adoption team was on it like a tick on a dog. I told him in the waiting remember Mama is a bullet train and anything in my path will get run over. I am not making any stops or taking any passengers I am coming for you. Joe and I reassured him it was all going to be OK and we will come for him. Brodie
said, “I love you Mama and I will always wait for you". He has showed us his
desire for family & willingness to trust again by putting us down
as his parents on the Internet. This blew me away. This was a very bold & huge move on
his part to be willing to trust again & profess we are his family
being a teen & after his loss of the first adoptive family.
We are off and running! Dossier is complete and in Ukraine! Our fatest one yet we have tackled & only
$9000.00 to raise & we are ready to move to bring Brodie home
before he ages out in April. Time is short but we know there is
nothing God cannot do & we know God cannot be contained to a box. The beauty
in our eyes on this specific adoption for our family is Brodie does not know Jesus
and we are praying he sees God arise to His rescue & bring him
home to what he has always wanted, a family. Our family thanks you for
all your prayers and support & helping us bring home our children
that have made it home & the ones that have not. We know the Lords
word does not go void nor does the love given. He will always be
glorified no matter the outcomes!
******************************* We have Matroyshka lip gloss in
large amounts to help bring Brodie home! These are adorable and in flavors of Strawberry, Grape and Vanilla. $10.00 each to
help bring Brodie home! If you would
like one or more of these adorable lip glosses contact me at
diveshark@yahoo.com with how many and what flavors and I will message
you back! Thank
you for your support and prayers in bringing Brodie home!
******************************* TAKING
DOGGIE GOURMET BROWNIE TREAT ORDERS NOW, OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO BRING
BRODIE HOME: "Bonkers over Brownies" chocolate, wheat, sugar and corn
free! $12.00 for a bag of doggie brownies (20 brownies) Your pooches
will be lining up for more!
AS YOU CAN SEE THESE BROWNIES ARE ON HIGH DEMAND BY MY 3 DOGS. I WAS A DOG TRAINER & VET TECH FOR YEARS AND ALSO SOLD FRESH DOG FOOD AND COOKIES SO THIS IS ONE OF MY OLD RECIPES AND IT EXACTLY FITS HOW THE DOGS ARE AFTER EATING THEM...."BONKERS OVER BROWNIES"!
Look at these happy poochie customers that have already received their Bonkers for Brownies treats!
TO PLACE AN ORDER PLEASE EMAIL
NICOLE AT DIVESHARK@YAHOO.COM.
FOR $5.80 SHIPPING WE CAN FIT 20 UP TO 60 BROWNIE TREATS IN ONE BOX FOR THE BEST SHIPPING VALUE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER DIRECTLY YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE DOGGIE BELOW THAT GOT INTO THE BROWNIES!
Matroyshka
Russian Nesting Doll Sensory Bean Bags! I have cracked open the closet
and got my old buddy the sewing machine out to make some sensory bean
bags made a minky soft material with matroyshka material and each is
filled with rice, beans and poly beans to let your kiddos play with.
Each has a different feel and has a soft texture. Selling sets in a
group of 4 bean bags (2 teal minky and 2 pink
minky) to help bring
Brodie home for a $25.00 donation. Or ya know these would be great corn
hole bean bags too!!! Multi purpose. I know my kids love there's! $25.00 (set of 4)
From boarding school, to foster home, to institution back to a new boarding school and there was no one. Never a word, never a peep from any living relative or any potential family to actually adopt him. As he sat in the institution as a temp holding tank until he could transition into the new boarding school he was basically freaking out and did anyone come for him...no?? He started reaching far and wide to anyone to hear him please help me find a family. He was found through a loophole of friends being told I would advocate, fight tooth and nail for a child I knew that wanted a family.
Through a couple weeks of communication getting to know this young man Denis says "Nicole I love you, will you adopt me". Do I believe him or do I think he is just throwing a line out and seeing who grabs? I reach to friends seeing is this being said to others....no one is hearing this from him except me. Every fear to the core of my body of losing yet another child surfaces and circles my head after recently losing my boys in Ukraine. I say I don't want to do this again God. I don't want to loose another one. I can't. I won't yet I know I had fallen in love with this boy and want to do everything in my power to protect him like my own children at home. I did not want to get on that plane in fear of rejection but Joe said go God said go and I cast aside all fears and plunged into the unknown.
He walks in the room hugs me in disbelief and says "I did not think you would come for me". I reminded him I am a woman of my word I said I would and did. We both had talked about our fears of the other running but at that moment fears.....what fears.....all fears subsided. However there were flags but I was assured my concerns were not a concern. He had assests and there was distant family and it was important to make sure to secure this asset so no family shows to take it from him. My first thought when told about this this distant family and his asset
was give this Aunt this asset she will want it. I was assured she was no threat or concern. Then told of a TB possible concern so Denis and I rush to Kyiv to get X-rays to make sure he is ok. Then a call from this distant Aunt that never called him before I show to adopt Denis says Denis are you sure you want to be adopted, are you sure you want her to be your mom? He responds smiling at me "yes". I asked him if I needed to be concerned and he assured me not at all she just wanted to make sure he was ok. The bonding was establishing, the connection and mother son relationship was forming as was the trust. The fear was subsiding we both had felt in that the other would run. I extended my stay in order to further this bond with not a threat in sight nor a fear of rejection from him all green light go. I was assured by his social worker (who was awesome by the way) and others this long distance kinda sorta Aunt was no threat to the adoption.
Denis signing the letter he wants me to adopt him.
BAM WHAM 4 days after getting home just waiting for our court date the communication with Denis I am
losing with like I am a distant thing in his past, no answered calls, people answering his phone saying there is no Denis at this number, no email communication just darn dead. I am reaching to grab my boy back. Our adoption team was reaching and assured over and over again Denis wanted his Mama yet the communication like an umbilical cord attached to a child being miss carried there was no life on the other end of the child you are about to deliver and so badly want to hold in your arms alive, well and bring home is fading is losing life. Then I get the news his distant basically non related kinda sorta Aunt pulled him from the boarding school on day 4 after I left but yet is supportive of our adoption but meanwhile no one at the school, our adoption team nor me can get a hold if him. If there is contact there is an assurance he wants to be adopted to others but the lines are dry not a word is shared with us personally. I finally reach him and although he is saying yes I have been around the block I know this tone, demeor all to well I am losing him. I am on the phone trying to get the team and school on it to figure out what is going on with all his words saying yes to everyone but his actions and tones saying no no no. I have a flight on hold ready to board Christmas day if I need to. Then emails are coming in from his other friend demanding me up adopt him or move him next to Denis. Then being told by his friend Denis does not want to be adopted and he will tell you why so you need to call him. I grab the phone being told by the school and our team yes he wants me to adopt him then being emailed from his friend no he doesn't. Conflicting news like being in the hospital being told your baby can come to term but has a 50/50 chance of making it. You may deliver or miscarriage right at delivery. I choose deliver, I move forward that he is coming home he will make it taking the word he is personally giving the school and my facilitation team over a friend whom is making demands at me. I go to deliver and get my flight ready to go not knowing will I hold this baby boy or loose him and will I make it to delivery and board this plane Christmas Day to fly and....I lost him before take off. He did not make it. I sit here empty. Joe walks in the door and I fell in his arms and to weak to even wrap my arms around him crying saying I didn't want to do this, I didn't want to go (deliver), I didn't want to loose another one. The letter comes in Christmas Eve night.
Hi Nicole. I want to apologize to you ... I decided to stay in Ukraine, because I have my family here that I did not know. I did not know what
they are and, therefore, promised you that I will live with you. I have a dad, aunt, grandmother, great-grandfather, a younger brother. So I
decided to stay in the family. I'm sorry that it happened ... Excuse me, I hope that we will remain friends. I wish you all the best. Denis
I have mis-carried once again, the thought of what was, what could be has blown into the wind and will never be.
I promised God when I felt I was losing Denis that no matter the turnout He will be gloried. I am a woman of my word God is glorified in this loss. I know Satan wants to destroy my hearts passion and desire for helping teens orphaned or not and destroy my will to fight. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN I am still standing and once again my fight has even strengthened more then the last loss. Satan will not defeat me. God us before me, beside, behind and within me. In every loss He is glorified.
Why do I not give up or quit on these kids? God never made us any promises. He never made me any promises if I trusted Him again with my heart to adopt another child they would make it home. He never said that child he blesses you with in your tummy as you are carrying to term will make it to delivery but he wants you to love it non the less and stay focused on him and praise Him all the way through. He never said our birth or adopted children would grow up and be men and woman of character although you have high hopes in seeing your children live a life of serving Christ, happiness, love and reaching their hopes, dreams and goals. He never promises that will come to terms. He never promises adopting a child of any age, disorder or health issue will be successful health wise or that they make it home or survive their medical battle. But the matter is when it comes to being a parent God calls you to be a parent not like a salmon that migrates, mates and then dies never to return. God calls us to seek and care for the orphans and widows. HE CALLS! Yes HE CALLS ME, YOU, HE over there, SHE over there. He does not promise these children will grateful for the care and love you give them. He does not even promise you that they have an ability to function in a family. He does not promise you they will love you back, He does not promise you they will succeed in life, He does not promise you if you adopt a child they will come home with you but He makes it clear to make a move, to not be a pew pusher and do nothing. You do not need to be an adoptee family to honor this COMMANDMENT by God you can be a prayer warrior, a donor, a babysitter to help the family out that is adopting, adopt, do mission work serving with orphans or be a foster family. You could help make meals for the family left behind as the couple goes to adopt, you could help donate or hold a fundraiser for the adoptive family. There are so many things you can do to take part in this awesome commandment by God. I sit here and look at kids I know and knew some I have worked with and others not and their decisions in this world filled with selfishness, greed, anger, hatred, jealously, lust, fear, control, drugs, crime, alcohol, sex and it breaks my heart watching each generation fall to this more and more to this lifestyle the way of the world not the way of Christ but I am reminded in this do I just roll over, quit and give up on these kids wherever they are? Do I just turn away from it and ignore it and pretend I do not see if or do I come in and show them who Jesus is, show them love, kindness, good and real fun rocking it Jesus style and what it looks like with boundaries and structure? Yeah baby. It ain't about me it is about God, My Savior, My Lord, My Alpha & Omega....My all in all. I am battered, I am bruised but God be the glory. He took on way more then this for me and for you then I will ever endur. My battle is small compared to the weight of the world and sin he took up for us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC617kE1maU
For every child that does not come home there are many that do!
Denis was my loss but His gain, Christ's gain for I know Gods word does not go void. Denis knew to the last minute I would fight for him. I told him the only way I would not be on that plane for him was if he told me no. He had to stop me by telling me no don't come and I still was going to board a plane. I was sending Denis reminders as this photo below like we use to share to each other to keep his faith and stay strong and know I was coming for him.
My facilitator spoke with me like a doctor breaking the news you lost your baby he said Nicole he came in with his newly found family and he's set in stone and he will write you a letter this evening with his family which was like having closure through the pain in burying your child. Denis had to do this because he knew I was an unstoppable force to fight for him. I know somewhere in Denis's life that will stand for something. He even told me he loved knowing I would defend and protect him as I did and showed him several times in Ukraine and he wanted that. I only hope that his family will be true to their word and love him as I do and care for him as I do and have what he should have always rightfully had. I called his family out and called the "kettle black" asking them where were they all these years through his transitions when he was only 3 measly hours from them all and suddenly they love him. Suddenly they want to care for him. Suddenly when I show up and there is an asset at hand in his name. This Mama just don't buy it! I have seen this scheme over and over again like a broken record. I pray that in an act of selfishness on his families part that because of me showing to adopt him it has and will turn Denis into one less orphan and their act of greed turns to a real relationship, a real love for him so it is not in vein and they will take him as their own and adopt him. That is our families prayer for Denis and his family. This has always been Gods battle, His orphans, Sergiy, Sasha, Sasha, Slavic, Denis, Kolya, Tania, Stopha for the ones that made it home and the ones that have not GOD IS STILL GLORIFIED! AMEN! Now pass the bread and let's gather together and find more of Gods children that want and need to come home to the arms of their family awaiting then with open arms as Christ does for us. God I am ready when you are to send me back to Ukraine for missions work! He never gave up on me and I have no right to give up on another.
On Christmas Day I had to call the adoption team to confirm to pull the respirator on Denis as he was not longer with us he had made it clear to the school, our adoption team and myself. Bitter sweet on this day our Savior was born.
We stalled a couple days to have our court documents pulled in case he may have changed his mind. More like hoped and prayed. Friends I knew reached out to him with no response. The lines were cut. His Aunt is getting legal custody of him. As we were hoping and waiting for a possible change I clung to this song listening to it literally over and over again and although Denis is not coming home this song still says it all.
We had promised Denis we would not have Christmas until he was home even if in February. With the news he was not coming home I had to do Christmas eve last minute Christmas prepping and shopping oh my. Here was our jimmy rigged Christmas decorating.
We had planned Christmas day to make & deliver desserts for police, fire stations & local emergency hospital for the ones sacrificing to be with their families on this special day to keep us safe and care for us if in need. So we kept our word and delivered. It's about Christ in action through our actions.
In great tradition in an effort to help the family laugh through the holidays Mama had to whip out some new camera sessions and make a total fool of herself to laugh instead of cry.
Pretty girl by tree
Mama thinking she is all pretty by the tree
Another pretty girl leaning against the tree
Yes Mama hugging the darn tree
Pretty Girl By American Flag
Mama tangled in American Flag
Pretty girl staring in window
Mama stuck bending over looking in window
Pretty girl with guns
No way is this Mama rocking a bathing suit like that above but by golly I will rock the guns and I actually know how to shoot, no acting here.
Lovely lady doing her yoga.
Mama stuck trying to do yoga!
Pretty lady smelling or about to eat the flower I am not sure which.
Oh shoot this Mama is allergic to flowers
Pretty girl walking down the runway
Mama breaking a ankle walking up the driveway
Pretty girl "I think can't see her face" in the oven
Mama burning her freaking hands with no mitts on
Pretty girl pumping some weights
Mama lifting her 20's.
Who me issues??? YES!
I know on the trip to meet and adopt Denis is was very much Godly orchestrated. I met some up with incredible people like my friends Traci & Joel from Project Hopeful, Mariana & Jim Peipon, Julia Nalle, Carla Dobrovits and a very special young man that I got to interview "Sheppard". This young man I met in the hospital on a very cold night as he was in there being treated for his HIV. Crazy thing is I had been asked by many for months to interview this boy with never getting the chance to do it then suddenly I am brought to him out of the blue to talk to with my dear friend Joel. He had lost hope and given up a family would ever come. It was written all over his face. I told him to hang on and made jokes that he needed to practice his American smile in the mirror. It broke the ice then I got to see this awesome kid come out as my dear friend Joel and I interviewed him. I am happy to report this young man was heavily laid upon the hearts of my dear friend the Fahringer family and they are adopting him! Glory be to God. Sheppard has a family! To help follow their journey and support them in prayer and funding please come see and read their story at : http://reecesrainbow.org/?s=sheppard
In the midst of losing Denis this song kept circling my mind after I never he was not returning. It says it all....it's all about you Jesus.
Our family once again wants to thank everyone for praying, supporting, fighting silently and verbally along side of us for this young man. He is and was so worth it. I know this loss is not in vain.
