tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8127043151960294972024-03-13T21:19:57.808+03:00Gavin QuestWe set up this blog to help our family and friends follow our journey to Ethiopia to get our son, Gavin. Now, 2.5 years later, we have added 4 more children to our family. We hope this blog will be an encouragement for others to boldly step out in faith and do whatever it is God is calling you to do!Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-69217876129041191882019-02-10T17:21:00.001+03:002019-02-10T17:21:52.503+03:00I've heard lots of good reviews<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US>Excellent quality <a href="http://thought.northeastwisconsinrealtor.com/">http://thought.northeastwisconsinrealtor.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-61347737258194619982018-12-06T17:01:00.000+03:002018-12-06T17:05:54.752+03:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>It never occurred to me that it really works! <a href="http://come.jeremyerose.com/O6/">http://come.jeremyerose.com/O6</a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Stacy Sweeney</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-34260625697054701632018-11-07T10:32:00.001+03:002018-11-07T10:32:52.069+03:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>I didn't expect to find such a powerful thing!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://famous.omrhythmcircles.com">http://famous.omrhythmcircles.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-53936144265473980702018-10-18T22:29:00.001+03:002018-10-18T22:29:14.300+03:00Re:<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoSubtitle style='line-height:115%'><a href="http://chart.amayliasheart.org"><span style='letter-spacing:0pt'>http://chart.amayliasheart.org</span> </a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'>Stacy Sweeney</p><p class=MsoSubtitle><sup><o:p> </o:p></sup></p><p class=MsoSubtitle><sup><o:p> </o:p></sup></p><p class=MsoSubtitle><sup><o:p> </o:p></sup></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-28980806663659879212018-10-12T12:57:00.000+03:002018-10-12T12:58:00.454+03:00Re:<div class=WordSection1><h3 style='margin-top:0in'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://information.salonstaffingagency.com">http://information.salonstaffingagency.com</a></p><h5><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></h5><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></p><h5><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></h5><h5><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></h5><h4><o:p> </o:p></h4></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-77205065736631604602018-09-20T22:27:00.000+03:002018-09-20T23:17:03.461+03:00Re:<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://value.advbikes.pl">http://value.advbikes.pl</a></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></p><h1><span class=Heading2Char><s><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></s></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span class=Heading2Char><s><span style='font-size:13.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></s></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-14365618213057469052018-08-28T13:18:00.000+03:002018-08-28T13:37:45.956+03:00Re:<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://recommend.sanfransixco.net">http://recommend.sanfransixco.net</a></p><h2><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></em></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-85993825887574412472018-07-11T11:26:00.000+03:002018-07-11T14:27:21.018+03:00Re:<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoSubtitle><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoSubtitle><span style='font-size:8.0pt;color:black'><a href="http://hold.visionsourcesantafe.org"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;letter-spacing:0pt'>http://hold.visionsourcesantafe.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><span style='color:black;font-style:normal'>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoSubtitle><span style='font-size:8..0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-19322967916259898202018-03-24T18:23:00.001+03:002018-03-24T18:23:09.985+03:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://between.realfitclub.com">http://between.realfitclub.com</a></p><p class=MsoTitle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney</p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-16409973607400146592018-02-08T12:52:00.001+03:002018-02-08T12:52:48.173+03:00<div class=WordSection1><h2><sup><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></h2><h2><sup><a href="http://respect.arpwaveworld.com"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;vertical-align:baseline'>http://respect.arpwaveworld.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></sup></h2><h2><sup><o:p> </o:p></sup></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></p><h2><sup><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></sup></h2></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-73003376757127433282018-01-13T16:00:00.000+03:002018-01-13T16:11:08.762+03:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><a href="http://mention.kayleighroselewis.com">http://mention.kayleighroselewis.com</a><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stacy Sweeney<em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></em></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:12.0pt'><span class=MsoIntenseEmphasis><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-40614475781492460552017-12-15T12:43:00.000+03:002017-12-15T12:53:13.742+03:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNoSpacing><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><a href="http://actual.reservewinelist.com">http://actual.reservewinelist.com</a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'>Stacy Sweeney</p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-90802204796229186812016-03-23T14:33:00.000+03:002016-03-23T13:33:38.652+03:00RE:<div class=""> </div><div class=""><a href="http://decherryclassics.computesolve.com/added.php" class=""><font face="Times" class="">http://decherryclassics.computesolve.com/added.php</font></a></div><div class=""><font face="Times" class=""><br class=""></font></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font face="Times" class="">Best regards,</font></div><div class=""><font face="Times" class="">Stacy Sweeney</font></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-59913432738360294192016-02-20T04:56:00.000+03:002016-02-20T04:07:34.410+03:00Re:<div><a href="http://gewater.pl/act.php">http://gewater.pl/act.php</a></div><div><br></div><div>Best regards,</div><div>Stacy Sweeney</div><div><br></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-66120503647167204022015-11-22T07:52:00.000+03:002015-11-22T18:52:41.862+03:00RE:<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><div id='yahoo__compose_area' style="background-color:white; display:block; font-family:HelveticaNeue-Regular,Helvetica;"><div><i> </i></div>Hi! <br><a href="http://www.shicklaw.com/note.php">http://www.shicklaw.com/note.php</a> <i><br></i><br><br><div>Stacy Sweeney<div><a href="https://yho.com/footer0">Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone</a><div><br></div></div></div></div><div id='yahoo__original_message'></div></html></td></tr></table> Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-13167667767416311332015-10-08T12:35:00.000+03:002015-10-08T11:35:48.582+03:00From: Stacy Sweeney<div> </div><div id="AppleMailSignature"><a href="http://ertuproje.com/make.php">http://ertuproje.com/make.php</a> <br><br> <br>Stacy Sweeney<br>Sent from my iPhone</div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-20969936553995611622015-09-18T15:05:00.000+03:002015-09-18T14:05:14.051+03:00From: Stacy Sweeney<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font><font>Hi!</font></font><font> </font><font><a></a><a href="http://loverastaradio.com/pleased.php?Stacy_Sweeney" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">http://loverastaradio.com/pleased.php?Stacy_Sweeney</a></font><font><font></font></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font></font> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stacy Sweeney</font></p><br>Sent from my iPhone Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-3192922488944241882015-04-30T04:50:00.000+03:002015-04-30T15:50:20.934+03:00from: Stacy Sweeney<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hi! </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">How are you?</span><div> </div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Have you seen this <a href="http://laquintacolumna.com.mx/slowly.php">http://laquintacolumna.com.mx/slowly.php</a> ? It was shown on the Oprah's show! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Best wishes, </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stacy Sweeney<br><br><br><br><br></span></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-83008471576236898262015-01-06T07:23:00.000+03:002015-02-06T18:24:47.258+03:00from: Stacy Sweeney<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top"><div id='yahoo__compose_area' style="background-color:white; display:block; font-family:HelveticaNeue-Regular,Helvetica;">Hi! How are you?<div>Breaking news <a href="http://profi-comp.com/himself.php" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://profi-comp.com/himself.php</a> it works!</div><div><br></div><div>Stacy Sweeney<br><br><br><br><a href="https://overview.mail.yahoo.com?.src=iOS">Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone</a></div></div><div id='yahoo__original_message'></div></html></td></tr></table> Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-36665036423972792602014-12-13T04:49:00.000+03:002014-12-13T15:50:04.615+03:00Re: Stacy Sweeney <div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hi! How are you?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>You can read about it in the new Oprah's book <a href="http://goccgo.info/ktdkl/watched.php">http://goccgo.info/ktdkl/watched.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Stacy Sweeney<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-66143291316266628512014-06-10T14:20:00.000+03:002014-06-11T01:21:07.445+03:00from Stacy Sweeney<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hi!</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>News: <a href="http://kiralikvito.org/whx/sat.php">http://kiralikvito.org/whx/sat.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div> <br /><br /> <hr style='border:none; color:#909090; background-color:#B0B0B0; height: 1px; width: 99%;' /> <table style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none;'> <tr> <td style='border:none;padding:0px 15px 0px 8px'> <a href="http://www.avast.com/"> <img border=0 src="http://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png" /> </a> </td> <td> <p style='color:#3d4d5a; font-family:"Calibri","Verdana","Arial","Helvetica"; font-size:12pt;'> Ce courrier électronique ne contient aucun virus ou logiciel malveillant parce que la protection <a href="http://www.avast.com/">Antivirus avast!</a> est active. </p> </td> </tr> </table> <br /> Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-53234242369798820632012-09-07T19:08:00.001+03:002012-09-07T19:08:39.292+03:00To RunIsaiah 40:31- "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint."<br />
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For as long as I can remember, I have loved to run. In high school, running became my "thing." Other people knew me as a runner and I found success (worldly success) in my racing. Running also became an avenue for better health, both mentally and physically. I'll never forget seeing my Mom hand Mike my running shoes on our wedding day. She told him, "Don't be afraid to tell her she needs to take a run." Ha- she was sharing a now well known fact, on the days Stacy or Mom runs, the days go a little smoother, there is a little more patience and more grace extended. There have been times when he has asked me, "Did you run today?" and I instantly knew that I wasn't being the wife I should be. Boy, do I love my husband.<br />
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Then, my Mom's health deteriorated and I realized that running could also mean a better quality of life for me. She had pulmonary fibrosis and I was just sure that if I kept running, my lungs would stay just that much stronger. When Mike would travel, my run times also became my time alone with God, talking to him about everything. The more I got into this habit, the longer the runs became, until last year. Two things happened around that time: 1. Williston became an unsafe place to run. 2. My own struggles with an autoimmune disorder didn't allow my body to run like I desired. Now, as I run, I praise God that I still can. I'm not running from Sjogren's, I am running towards a goal, trusting in the LORD to find new strength each day.<br />
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About the same time, my running completely slowed down (I'm sure there are days when people drive by me and comment on the lady who thinks she's running but could really be accomplishing the same thing by walking-) my kids started developing a love of running too- and are beginning to find that same worldly success in it. They each have their own stories on why it is such an amazing accomplishment to run.<br />
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Just over two years ago, we brought Micah, Gabe, Leah and Hallie home from Ethiopia. During the three years prior to them becoming Sweeneys, they lived in an orphanage. The amount of daily activity was horrible. I believe the only running they did, was to escape a nanny's reach with a stick. Running for them was always running from something, never running towards a goal. As Micah won the JV cross country race last week, he yelled to me, "Mom, I feel so good!" You see, he was now running towards a goal- running FOR something instead of FROM something.<br />
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For my child with reactive attachment disorder, running first thing in the morning allows this child to focus more and keep her emotions in much better check. It brings a smile to her and those around her. (To my new neighbors- You may see one of our children running and screaming at the same time. It is OK. For one of our kids, a bit of running from the past is still occurring and sometimes it is painful. We look forward to the day when she reaches the finish line of healing and runs into our arms).<br />
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Gavin just happens to be the most beautiful runner I've ever seen. He takes great JOY in running and it shows. Three years ago, we would have never imagined, this scared, completely malnourished young boy would be transformed into an 8 year old who begs to run every day, just because he can.<br />
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When LB was a baby, she was incredibly delayed in all of her motor skills. As she began to walk, then run, she carried one side as if she had had a stroke. Within the last year, all evidence of those early delays have disappeared and she runs with a HUGE smile on her face..God has done what no doctor ever imagined..and she RUNS.<br />
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Elli uses her position on the cross country team to encourage some kids around her who have really needed that encouragement. With every step she runs, her singing voice becomes stronger and her songs fill the house each morning and night. I'm so proud of her for tackling something that really isn't her first love but using the time to lift up those around her.<br />
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From Janika and Kael, I have seen this verse lived out in their running.<br />
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Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."<br />
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Last week, Janika finished the JV race in 2nd place, but ended up being the first Sheridan runner by time to finish. During her second and third miles, she looked focused, and quite intense but there was something missing. As she finished and ripped of her shoes, I saw her feet- they were completely ripped open along the bottoms and heels. How she finished that race, when she ran the last two miles with those sores, I don't honestly know, except that her favorite verse is: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."<br />
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This week, I witnessed one of the hardest things ever, as a Mom. Kael's cardiologist told him, "I'm sorry, Kael, you can't race." If a lifetime was a race, Kael is definitely an endurance athlete. Kael was born with a coarctation of his aorta, which means his aorta is too narrow and thus doesn't provide his legs with enough blood flow when his heart gets really pumping. He has had 6 procedures on it over his lifetime to correct the coarc, but with his rapid growth this year, it became evident that it needs repair again. BUT KAEL LOVES TO RACE. In fact, if you watched him run, you would never know that he had ever had any health issues. He works hard all of the time, pushes himself and has been running some pretty darn fast times. I'll bet there's never been a time when a coach had to ask him to push himself more. Now, he has yet another race before him and one that instead of cheering from the sidelines he needs the prayers of his supporters to see him through. ( We covet your prayers as we wait to head back to Boston for another procedure).<br />
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I now understand why God uses so many references to running in HIS WORD. Sometimes running hurts, sometimes it's just plain hard, just like living a life of Faith, but the rewards are great. If we train hard (grow in our walk each day), God promises us great things. Today, I choose to run the good race.<br />
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1 Corinthians 9:24- "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!"Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-4638882634685014452012-07-16T06:17:00.000+03:002012-07-16T06:17:24.630+03:00My thoughts on the Ranch for KidsRecently, there have been several news organizations covering a Russian delegation's attempt to enter the Ranch for Kids in Eureka, Montana. Joyce Sterkel, the Director of the Ranch, has denied them access. (GO JOYCE!) Their request for access stems from a treaty the U.S. (under Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State) signed with Russia to help monitor children adopted from Russia who enter the U.S. If you have read some of the articles, you will see that the Russian delegation is calling the Ranch, " a trash can for unwanted children." They complain that the kids are isolated from others and don't receive adequate schooling. (The isolation is breath of fresh air for kids who are completely overstimulated but the American way of life. I've been to the school and it is well run. Our child went there not reading and now reads at a third grade level- pretty impressive)<br />
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As a parent who has adopted from Ethiopia, I have to fill out paperwork every year on the anniversary of their entrance into the U.S. so the Ethiopian Government can follow the outcomes of the children here. I'm ok with that. I'm ok with governments showing concern for their former citizens, in an effort to fix a problems in their system that may affect other children. What I'm not ok with is a foreign government insinuating that people like the Sterkel Family are doing anything wrong.<br />
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We have a child who was at the Ranch for Kids for 8 months. It was the toughest decision we ever had to make but one we thank God for daily. With their help, we were able to go from a place of desperation to a place of hope. Without their help, I'm not sure we would still have 9 children in our home. You see, parenting a child with severe reactive attachment disorder is TOUGH. It's the toughest thing we have ever faced as parents. The more you love the child and the safer the child feels, the more they PUSH you away. We had read every article we could to prepare for parenting a child with RAD. We'd been foster parents and adopted several times before. NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING could have prepared us for the what we experienced. I won't go into the details of that child's spiral but suffice it to say, we fully understood why some families choose to disrupt their adoptions, especially when one child makes it unsafe for other children to be in the home.<br />
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I can guarantee no one goes in to adoption thinking it won't be forever. I don't think there's an adoptive parent anywhere who would go through the hoops, trainings, paperwork, and expense to just "dump" a child when they become a little difficult. When a parent reaches out to Joyce and her family, they are desperate.
This is why the Ranch is so vitally important. It's all they do- and they do it so well.<br />
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Before I write more of my feelings, please hear the words of our child. The only thing I have changed is the word child so as to give our child a bit of privacy.<br />
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"Hi. I am a child that used to be at the Ranch for Kids. I learned so many stuff. They talk about Jesus. They tell kids that their families love them and then they let kids go to their families because they have learned to be nice to their families again. And I was not nice. And I am with my family and it is a good place. I was safe there. They teach so many stuff. Kids learn about Jesus and they go to be with their families. The people that work there are nice. They don't hurt kids. When I was there the first time they made me feel safe there. When I was not at the Ranch (before going) I used to hurt my sister and hurt my mom and now I don't do it."<br />
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The problem isn't with the Ranch nor with allowing international adoptions. The problems start <u>the minute a child is orphaned.</u> It compounds as that child grows without attaching to a consistent care-giver, especially if that child is under the age of 5 when orphaned. It compounds when children are left in cribs day and night in an orphanage (this happens all over the world, especially in Eastern European countries), or when they are left to fend for themselves on the streets. It compounds when little girls are raped in orphanages over run by little boys or by men in their villages who know there isn't a parent around to defend them. It compounds when nannies are too busy to make sure each child is getting the correct nutrition they need to grow and develop. It compounds when alcohol is involved in the pregnancy, as is the case with MANY Russian adoptions.
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There aren't enough people to step in the minute a child is orphaned, to fill that role and allow a child to develop attachment. There just aren't enough people ADOPTING or countries allowing ADOPTION. There aren't enough people to come alongside adoptive families and offer them respite. The PROBLEM is that there <b>aren't enough Ranches for Kids!</b><br />
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The idea that a delegation from a foreign country can come to America and tell us how our organizations should be run is ridiculous but moreover, frightening. How did we get to a place where we allow our sovereignty to be dictated by the very country that won't even adopt their own children or fix the institutions that cause the very behaviors to develop in kids that Joyce is trying to help?<br />
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You may think these are the rantings of a crazy adoption Mom, but this is just the tip of the ice berg. What is next? Is someone from France going to come count my guns? Is someone from Germany (where homeschooling is illegal) going to come into my home and tell me that I am going to go to jail for homeschooling my children? (for those of you not in the homeschooling community, this really does happen. Parents in other countries go to jail if they won't send their children to public school) Perhaps a gentlemen from China is going to tell me I can only have one child.<br />
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If any of this resonates with you, please go to <a href="http://parentalrights.org/">parentalrights.org</a> and educate yourself. What is happening to Joyce Sterkel and her family and the work they do, can happen to any of us. Please also, pray for the Sterkel Family and all that they do, as well as the kids who are at the Ranch for Kids. We will be forever grateful for their help in our time of desperate need. Please step up to be a voice for those who have no voice, the millions of children all over the world who are waiting desperately to have a family.<br />
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If you know my kids and think they're as cool as we do, get involved!Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-68689927885619665352012-04-09T23:45:00.004+03:002012-04-09T23:49:43.012+03:00Together again!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jqldFO2V4jc/T4NLH4IwbtI/AAAAAAAAAkk/W_OJTTwdLIU/s1600/Easter%2Bfamily%2Bphoto%2B2012.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jqldFO2V4jc/T4NLH4IwbtI/AAAAAAAAAkk/W_OJTTwdLIU/s400/Easter%2Bfamily%2Bphoto%2B2012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729505749645684434" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's the first family photo taken with everyone in it again. Praise God! Things are going well. We are so thankful for the Ranch for Kids.Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812704315196029497.post-62461785458882927372012-04-09T20:28:00.001+03:002012-04-09T20:30:15.339+03:00Happy Easter!!!It is so nice to have our family all together again! Hope you all had a happy Easter!!Sweeney Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00039533011346877937noreply@blogger.com0